“Men and Women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their soul, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whosoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life.” ~President Ezra Taft Benson
AND… “I have learned that where there is a prayerful heart, a hungering after righteousness, a forsaking of sins, and obedience to the commandments of God, the Lord pours out more and more light until there is finally power to pierce the heavenly veil. … A person of such righteousness has the priceless promise that one day he (she) shall see the Lord’s face and know that he is.” ~President Spencer W. Kimball, “Give the Lord Your Loyalty,”Ensign, Mar. 1980, 4; Tambuli, Feb. 1981, 47.
Just as we teach obedience to our children from a young age by encouraging them to follow correct principles, so our Heavenly Father wants us to embrace correct principles that lead us back to Him. He is all about patience with us and is totally aware of our mistakes, challenges and difficulties. Thus the way is often challenging and difficult, but Christ is our only way to eternal joy. He has FELT and PAID the price of all of our sins, pain and difficulties, a confidant like no other. He FULLY UNDERSTANDS! Anything less than His path–choosing self-indulgent ‘joys’ of this world instead — are a disappointment to our Heavenly Parents and Savior and lead to a place and reward far below our eternal potential. When we turn our lives over to Him we ‘win’ far more of real and eternal value than this world has to offer… because the direction and discipline He teaches to our vulnerable hearts brings joy and inner peace outside of ‘worldly wisdom and motives’. There is no better way! kdm
related article… if we are not on a course of steady improvement we will miss out on the important experiences God wants to give us. ~Elder Larry R. Lawrence , see ‘What Lack I Yet’, Oct 3, 2015
11.4.15
