This was a great conference talk from the last general conference and we talked about it a few Sunday's ago in Relief Society. I loved this talk. We live in a crazy, mixed up world. It seems to get worse every single day, and as much as I love it, I am sometimes very afraid for what the future might hold. Especially for the children and youth of the world.
We have so many technological advances available to us. Things that can bring us great joy, or great sorrow depending on how they are used. This talk was comforting to me because he reminded me that fear is a choice we each make. If we are living righteous lives, we do not need to fear the eternal outcome of life. It won't matter what the world does, it matters what we do and what we choose to follow.
"Since ancient times, fear has limited the perspective of God’s children. I have always loved the account of Elisha in 2 Kings. The king of Syria had sent a legion that “came by night, and compassed the city about.”2 Their intent was to capture and kill the prophet Elisha. We read:
“And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?”3
That was fear speaking.
“And [Elisha] answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”4
But he didn’t stop there.
“Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”5
We may or may not have chariots of fire sent to dispel our fears and conquer our demons, but the lesson is clear. The Lord is with us, mindful of us and blessing us in ways only He can do. Prayer can call down the strength and the revelation that we need to center our thoughts on Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. The Lord knew that at times we would feel fear. I have been there and so have you, which is why the scriptures are replete with the Lord’s counsel:
“Be of good cheer, and do not fear.”
“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”"
Do not fear has ever been the message of a loving Heavenly Father to us, His children. I think it is important to not only remember who we are as we struggle through this life, but to also remember and acknowledge "whose" we are.
For me, it was always the dark. I was terrified of the night. That blanket of darkness that would swoop down and take away my sight. My heart would thump in my chest and I just knew that something awful was going to happen to me.
The darkness was something that hid my deepest fears. The monsters that went bump in the night came from there. I had a very vivid imagination. I still do actually, and to this day, I won’t watch scary movies.
During that time of my life, my brother and I shared a room, and I would lay awake, long after he was sleeping, watching in the darkness. One night, I saw eyes in my window. They were shiny in the night. I was terrified, too scared to even scream. I could see the face trying to look in the window. It became my first real experience with prayer. I had just learned about using prayer to calm a troubled heart. I know that I clasped my hands together tightly and prayed with all my might. I was too afraid to close my eyes, but in spite of that, eventually the eyes went away and I was able to go to sleep. I have never forgotten the comforting feeling that washed through me when I prayed. I knew that all would be well. I felt safe for the first time in the darkness.
I was fine in the dark when someone was with me, even if it were my younger brother or sister. I could handle being in the night as long as I wasn’t alone. As I grew into a teenager, we would spend evenings walking in the quiet desert. We could see the brilliance of the stars overhead and the welcome light from the full moon. Sometimes we would light a fire in one of the sandy washes and roast marshmallows while talking and laughing. The desert is a wonderful place with friends.
You could smell the mesquite trees in the spring and especially after a rain. There is nothing quite like the smell of the rain in the washes of the desert. The first few sprinkles will bring out the smell of mesquite and of earth. If I close my eyes, the memory still comes back to me; the thunder in the distance, crashing in large, jagged lightening streaks in the sky, the smells of rain all around me and the sounds of a summer thunderstorm.
It was the aloneness that got to me. We lived in the city, but back then, it was quiet at night. There were big river toads that came out in the monsoon season in the desert. There were owls and hawks. There were crickets that made a loud symphony of sound in the evening twilight.
I remember walking outside my door one night and finding a frog on the doorstep that was bigger than one of my shoes. It scared me sitting there all silent and creepy, then it’s throat bubbled out and it made a very loud sound. I was not expecting that!
I have never quite gotten over my fear of darkness. It feels like anything can happen once the lights are gone and then I become afraid. I am good when my husband is home, but I don’t like being the only adult in the house at night. Usually, I need to leave the television on so that I am comforted by the sound of other voices.
It is funny how that one childhood fear has stayed with me all my life. Even now, when I am old enough to know better, the fear is still there.
Today, we live in a small town. There are no lights after dark and it is a deep dark that surrounds us. I still find myself afraid when I am alone. I still have a need to others to be with me. I still want to feel protection. I don’t like the dark, but without it, I would never see the stars that twinkle brightly overhead. I would not see the face of the man in the moon looking down at me and my silly fear. I would miss the sound of the night whispering in my ears.
I have learned that with others, I can face my fear of the night.
The picture above was of one of my daughters who discovered at the aquarium where we were visiting, that when you put your hands in this fish tank, the fish immediately swim to your fingers and start lightly nibbling. She loved it once she worked her courage up to try, but no matter how much she told the other girls that it did not hurt, not a single one was willing to put their hand in there for the fishes to taste.
In this case, there was no wound for her, except for the unbelief of those around her. The peace comes in doing our own individual best, not in convincing anyone else that they need to be just like us. She had her own amazing experience because she wasn't afraid. One of my all time favorite scriptures reminds me to trust the Savior in all my fears. I love this one.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
Ahh, we have a couple of extra dogs up this weekend. The biggest one that you see there is Madden. He is 11 weeks old. As you can see, he is pretty big already and going to get a lot bigger in a very short period of time. The little angry dog with teeth is our Yorkie, Yoda. He is not happy at all with a new bigger dog visiting our house. He runs around growling and showing his teeth a lot. Obvioursly, he has not learned when and with whom to pick his battles.
In his case, it is easy to see how Yoda needs to be a little more selective in his battles. The rather large puppy might not hurt him now, (although those teeth are sharp as my shoes can now attest!) but Yoda ought to be forming a friendship and not a case of mortal enemies! Sometimes, peace really is better.
We all have experiences like my little seven pound dog. We want to be right. We want to know the answers. We want to protect our own territories. We want our kids to not be picked on. But sometimes, it is better for us to find a way to have peace in our lives rather than always being right. We learn more by forgiving rather than holding grudges. Every single one of us make mistakes. Every single one of us has sinned and every single one of us need the peace of the Saviors love.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
One of my favorite quotes ever. I am a well known worrier. I worry about everything. I worry about my children getting hurt physically, as well as emotionally. I worry about mean-ness and lying and unkindness. I worry about what people think of me. I worry constantly about how good or bad of a mother I have been. I worry about making such bad mistakes that my children will never recover from them. I worry about things that have happened as well as about things that might happen. I am afraid all the time.
In the past couple of years, I have struggled with an overwhelming sense of anxiety. I am literally scared of pretty much everything. It has been so bad, that I finally went on medication to help me with the symptoms. I am slowly getting better. I am still scared, but it is more under control than it used to be. I am learning that just being scared doesn't change anything. The only way things change is action. We have to choose the right, not just wait and worry.
The picture above is one of my daughters. She has always been terrified to try sports. I have girls that sing and play instruments. They are not physical. Nevertheless, in our small town, nearly every kid plays at least a few sports. She decided on her own, that she would learn to play. She started last year and totally believed that she was awful. Last to play nearly everything she tried. But she kept going and she kept learning and she is starting to get it right. She is leaping and jumping and feeling good about herself for the first time in years. I love this picture because it represents how far she has come. It represents real effort and growth on her part. Being afraid, never would have helped her to play a better game of Volleyball. What helped her was her own willingness to get out on the court and learn.
So go ahead and jump child. You can do it, in spite of all your fears. You are more than you ever thought you could be. Just jump, and keep trying.
Being a Grandparent is the best. I love that I have more patience and more ability to do fun things with them that I used to as a mother. This sweet little one wore me out! We went to visit my beautiful daughter and son along with their two children. We decided to take the kids to the St. Louis City Museum, which is supposed to be amazing. So, we did. We took them straight into chaos. I mean that literally.
The four older girls took off for the scariest things they could find to do. They went exploring everywhere. They found things they have never seen before. They climbed in a wire enclosed cage up over five stories and took a slide down to the bottom. They ran and played and explored and wore us all out.
My sweet Sadie wanted someone with her at all times. She needed us to go down the slides first and wait to catch her at the bottom. We spent six and a half hours crawling under floors, over ceilings, sliding down ten story slides and hiding in nearly everything. This museum is an amazing place to be for kids of all ages. Not so much for claustrophobic grammy's though.
However, I bit my lip and we went everywhere. Into the recesses of a whale, up spiral staircases, around waterfalls and through at least thirty different slides.
Sadie usually doesn't need me. She is happy to run with the older girls and leave the adults behind, but here, it took a few hours for her to warm up to doing things that were a little scary for her. She needed me. She needed a hand to hold and someone to watch her overcome her fears. She wanted someone who would be patient and wait for when the time was right for her. She wanted someone to climb through the bars and crawl way up in space and show her that scary things can still be fun.
That day, I was her candle for a short while. I was her anchor in trial. And I have never been more privileged than for that one, single, short day of need.
I had to read this a couple of times, and then I loved it. You see, a long time ago, I was terrified of heights. I didn't know what to do or how to overcome it. I couldn't go up on high edges because I imagined myself falling off.
I had some friends who believed that the best way to treat my problem was with a healthy dose of rock climbing. I learned to climb. Small heights at first, and finally larger ones. I have climbed in Las Vegas, Colorado, Utah and California, as well as all around the state of Arizona. I have climbed in the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite. I have stood at Toroweap and looked down to the river far below. I learned to overcome my fear until it had no power to control me.
I can't say that I am completely over my worries of heights, but they don't stop me from doing what I enjoy anymore. I am more willing to hike and be outdoors. I am more willing to look over the top of a canyon. I still worry about the kids falling, but I have stopped worrying about falling myself.
I have had some amazing experiences all while overcoming my greatest fear. I have seen beautiful places, and beautiful things. I have had moments that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Sunrises and Sunsets, Vistas and views all within my reach as I struggled and learned and overcame.
When you get to the end of all the light that you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly. Edward Teller
I love that quote on faith! We seem to live in a world today where people think if they can't see it, hear it, taste it, or touch it right now than it doesn't exist. Sometimes, I just have to sigh. I know that it is asking a lot to believe and have faith, but I can get pretty tired of hearing the phrase "it is so hard".
Of course it is hard! We were never promised an easy road. As a matter of fact, I have often heard earthlife described as a test! All tests are hard, especially if you don't study! (and more especially, if you can't cheat!) I love the scripture in Alma 32:21 "If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true"
When we read the scriptures, there are countless stories of great men and women who had faith. They knew what was right, and no matter how hard their task became, they went and did it. Men and women such as: Adam, Abraham, Sarah, Ruth, Nephi, the Brother of Jared, Moroni, Joseph Smith, Gordon B Hinckley, and Thomas S Monson. They have all been obedient to the word of the Lord and exercised faith to live their lives.
They have all had struggles and difficulty. Not one of us comes to this world without trials. Part of the plan was for us to progress, not sit easily on a green hill learning nothing. Those men and women had ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to know and feel. They trusted in our Heavenly Father and He blessed them and strengthened them in their lives. If we develop that trust in Him in our own life, He will send down His blessings upon us. I think His blessings are often there for us, but if we don't ask for them, or look for them in our life, they are not seen or known. Sometimes faith requires us to ask first for the blessing.
I have been blessed so many times in my life. I know that the Lord lives and that He is very real. This is one of the first poems that I ever memorized. I hope that it strengthens you as it does me and helps you to make it through the darkness of your day. Remember that He is waiting with His arms stretched out. All you need to do is reach and take His hand.
" The Faith of Mary"
The father, a well digger, strong was he,
And as loving and kind as a father could be.
And Mary his daughter, five years old,
Was very much dearer than millions of gold.
To Mary her father was big, grand and nice,
So each had a treasure, beyond any price.
One day to the well, little Mary was sent
To take daddy’s lunch, how gladly she went.
But when she looked down, not a thing could be seen.
The well, like a pocket, was dark as could be.
The father saw Mary and heard her voice, too,
But made not a sound, just to see what she’d do.
She dropped to her knees, the dear little soul,
And called down, “Oh, Daddy, are you down this hole?”
“Why yes Mary darling, I’m here at your feet,
Just drop my lunch for I’m ready to eat.
Just let it go easy, I’ll catch it alright.
“She did and she saw it fall out of sight.
“Why Mary,” said father, “There’s enough here for two,
Now this is the thing I would like you to do.
You jump down here to me and we’ll eat it together,
Down here in the cool and away from the weather.”
“Oh, daddy, I’m afraid, I can’t see you at all,
Be sure now you catch me and don’t let me fall.”
Then just for a moment she wavered in doubt,
Then closing her dear little eyes she jumped out.
In the darkness, yes, that was the test,
She trusted in faith in her father’s request.
And both were so happy he kissed her and smiled
Because of the sweet trusting faith of his child.
“Oh, sweet little Mary, you put me to shame,
How often my Father has called me the same,
But because it was dark I turned back in doubt.
Refusing the call, though his arms were stretched out.”
It's not what you leave to your children,
it's what you leave in your children that matters the most.
I was reading in one of my many books about testimonies. One of the things that was brought up was that you need to bear your testimony often so that it grows. It is also the responsibility of parents to teach their children to bear testimony. I have been feeling like a complete failure as a mom in that particular area.
Most of our children are grown now, but we still have three little girls at home. None of them like to stand up in church and bear their testimonies, even though they will do it at home. I have one daughter that will not talk in church. She will sing in front of hundreds of people. She will even do solo's and has been doing them since she was three. But do not ask her to speak to those same people. It makes her cry!
Sometimes, it seems as if home is the place that we want people to just accept us how we are. We want them to forgive us, we want them to appreciate us, we want them to love us. We want them to see our potential instead of our reality. As a mom, it is so easy to see all my shortcomings at home! I have so many things I want my family to know and understand. I have so many things I want to share with them. Have you ever felt as though no one was listening?
The wonderful thing that I have learned about a true testimony is that it is reflected not just in words, but also in deeds. I have come to appreciate the deeds that show me how much they value their testimonies.
My sweet daughter, Miracle, may never have born her testimony before, but she has sang it so many times. She has blessed us with her talent and her music and helped bring the spirit more fully into a meeting. My Mikayla, asks questions, finds answers, and loves to read the scriptures. It is our morning habit, and all of them participate and talk about the stories that they are learning. Kayla always directs us on where we are and what we need to read. She is so giving to others and has a tender heart. Anya is always happy and cheerful and teaches me what a good attitude can do to bring the spirit into our everyday life. She is the one who can make me smile even on the worst of days.
They may not bear their testimonies as often as the other children in our ward, but they each live that testimony through their actions. I am in awe of their strong and valiant spirits.
So, I had been praying about what to do and how to reach these wonderful little girls. I had been praying for guidance on how to teach them of the importance of this great principle and how to encourage them to do something that they were so afraid of. I have been praying to know that what I am doing is right and that they are learning what they need to know. Without asking them or prompting them in any way, all three of the girls got up in Sacrament meeting and bore their testimonies. It brought me to tears! Their testimonies were so sweet and I was so overwhelmed with gratitude to my Heavenly Father that He would prompt them to do this when I was questioning my own abilities.
Isn't it amazing that He really does care for each one of us individually, He cares enough to answer such a simple prayer in such a way that there could be no mistaking it. He knows exactly what we need most and when we need it.
"The relationship between testimony and appropriate action is emphasized in the Savior's instruction to the Saints in Kirtland: 'That which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do' (D&C 46:7). Our testimony of gospel truth should be reflected both in our words and in our deeds. And our testimonies are proclaimed and lived most powerfully in our own homes. Spouses, parents, and children should strive to overcome any hesitancy, reluctance, or embarrassment about bearing testimony. We should both create and look for opportunities to bear testimony of gospel truths—and live them."
David A. Bednar, "More Diligent and Concerned at Home," Ensign, Nov. 2009
May you find that spark of courage today that you need in order to share your testimony, in some way, with others.
Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is. ~German Proverb
We live in a very small town. The nearest stores are 45 minutes away, but if you want to really go shopping,(read MALL here), it is a two hour drive to Flagstaff, or a three hour drive to Phoenix. We go down every couple of months to do a Costco run and stock up on the bulk food. We also go to buy some of the things that you can't find in a small town. It is one of our favorite family times and not a single one of the girls would ever dream of staying home.
We were traveling to Flagstaff to go shopping and the girls were talking about where they want to go on vacation. (Don't worry, we have to save lots of money for this one, I think we will actually make it for Miracle's 50th Birthday!). They all tossed some different destinations back and forth and finally decided, as a group, that Hawaii is the place they want to go next. Then, Mikayla thought a little more about it and said maybe she didn't want to go by the ocean because they might have salami's and she didn't want to drown. John and I looked at each other and tried to figure out how in the world the ocean has salamis. I am imagining meat swimming around in the sea! Boy, was I wrong! We finally figured out she meant Sunami's and we were able to reassure her that Hawaii doesn't have "salami's" and she would be fine if we ever had the chance to go. Just think, her fear almost cost her the vacation dream of a lifetime.
How many times do our own fears cost us something so important to us in our own individual lives? Have you ever noticed that we often fear the things we don't know? Not only do we fear, but our fear is usually totally out of proportion to the problem. Who among us can say that he or she has not felt fear? I don't know of anyone who has been entirely spared. Some, of course, experience fear to a greater degree than do others. Some are able to overcome it quickly, but others are trapped and pulled down by it and even driven to defeat.
Fear can be totally debilitating. Some people are so afraid that they can't possibly come out of their home, or out of their own comfort zone. We have all suffered for fear, of one kind or another. The fear of ridicule or shame, the fear of failure, the fear of loneliness, the fear of ignorance, the fear of change, and even the fear that things might not change. Some fear the present, and some the future. Some never get over their fear that their past mistakes have made it impossible for them to ever join their Father in Heaven. Some carry the burden of sin and would give almost anything to relieve themselves from those burdens, but they fear to change their lives.
Mikayla feared the possibility of a natural disaster. I have to admit that can be a little scary for each of us. I will never forget my first flood or my first earthquake. There are a lot of things in the world to be afraid of. But if we let our fears determine our course, we will, in the end, go nowhere.
It is important for us to realize that fear does not come from our Heavenly Father. This gut wrenching, gnawing, destructive element comes from the adversary of truth and righteousness. He does not want us to believe in the truth. He magnifies and twists the things we fear. He encourages us to fear those things which we do not know or understand.
A little like Mikayla's Salamis!
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).
I think the sound mind is the ability to educate ourselves, so that we don't fear simply because we don't know. The more knowledge we gain as we seek to know our Heavenly Father, the greater our faith can grow. We need not fear as long as we have faith in our Heavenly Father's plan. We need not fear as long as we are striving to live righteously. We need not fear as long as we are building a firm foundation on the Rock or our Redeemer.
We have nothing to fear if we stay on the Lord’s side. The Lord long ago gave these wonderful, reassuring words to this people:
“Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap.
“Fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. …
“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:33–34, 36).
My hope for you today is that you will find the courage that you need to face your fears. That you will walk through them and find your dreams. (No matter what they are!)
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. The danger lies in refusing to face the fear, in not daring to come to grips with it. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
There is a true story of a battleship cruising the Atlantic off the northern coast of Maine one stormy evening. The commander of the battleship was notified. "Sir, there's a light ahead. Oncoming vessel."
"Signal oncoming vessel, 'Change your course ten degrees to the west.'" The message was sent, but a light flashed back, "Change your course ten degrees to the east." The commander barked, "Signal again, 'Change your course ten degrees to the west. I am an admiral.'" The light flashed back. "Change your course ten degrees to the east. I'm a seaman third class."
By this time the admiral was incensed as he thundered, "Signal again. 'Change your course ten degrees to the west. I am a battleship.'" And the message came back, "Change your course ten degrees to the east. I am a lighthouse!" Needless to say, the admiral changed his course!
Sometimes we act like we think we are admirals. We're the boss. We're the one in charge. We are going to do it our way! But if we listen, our "lighthouse" is saying, "Change your course." When that happens, we need to change our course.
Jeffrey R. Holland has said, "Love. Healing. Help. Hope. The power of Christ to counter all troubles in all times—including the end of times. That is the safe harbor God wants for us in personal or public days of despair. That is the message with which the Book of Mormon begins, and that is the message with which it ends, calling all to 'come unto Christ, and be perfected in him' (Moroni 10:32)."
Storms fascinate me. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the Arizona desert where rain, or even a cloud, is not something that you see every day. I grew up east of the city, in an area where the washes ran into the roads and a storm would seem to completely cut you off from civilization. Since each storm in the desert is an Event, I have learned to anticipate and enjoy the few I have encountered.
One of the most amazing storms in the desert is a "common" dust storm. These storms are not little like you might see in other areas of the country. On a hot summer day, in the late afternoon, a dust storm rolls into the Valley of the Sun. You might notice a brown blur off in the distance. It looks a little like brown smoke. As it blows nearer, it takes form as an immense wall of dust.
This storm comes at you literally like a wall. You can see the edge and gauge the distance. If you are smart, you bring in the outside laundry, put away all the toys that are loose in the yard and bring the kids into the house. You also close all the windows, no matter how hot it is! (And believe me, in the summertime it is HOT!) I have found from sad experience that it is easier to bear with a little heat in the house instead of spending hours and days cleaning up the sand and dust!
But once we are all safe inside the house, we enjoy the wind. We watch the storm blow in. First, you can see the trees in the park across the road start to flutter and blow. Dancing a slow dance. Soon, they are moving faster and faster, like they are listening to their own dance music. Then the wall of the storm hits! All you can see is brown bits blowing through the air outside the window. You can't even see the neighbor's house. You feel like you are all alone in a strange, brown, whirling world.
A brief rainstorm usually follows with big splashes of water, dampening the desert, bringing out the smell of the mesquite trees and the orange blossoms. Seeing the difficulties coming and preparing for them can help us to find our own safe harbor. We feel safe together inside the shelter of our home.
But dust-storms fade next to the amazing treat of a real rain storm on the Arizona desert. I have not always enjoyed storms. In fact, I remember being afraid of thunder and lightning when I was younger. In the desert, the lightening dances around the sky in a big blaze of white light. It is a spectacular show, even more brilliant than the fourth of July fireworks. When the thunder rumbles throughout the desert, it drowns out all other sound, and the rain falls in sheets of water, drenching everything in it's path.
My three little girls have always been afraid of storms. They don't like the loud noise of the thunder or the bright flash of the lightening. When we moved up into the mountains of northern Arizona, we realized that the lightening storms are even more spectacular and often bring with them the added scare of starting a nearby tree on fire. (Never a pleasant experience when your house is right next door!)
Every year, in the months of July and August, the storm builds up and breaks loose on our little town.
One year, the lightning was so fierce that the girls were terrified. They called me when I was at work, crying and sobbing, hysterically, on the phone and than held hands and huddled under the dining room table until I could get home to them.
That was the first year that we lived on the mountain. I did not know how to calm them, except to be home with them when they were so afraid. Every time the thunder rumbled or the lightening flashed, they would cower in terror. Their dad was living and working in the valley at the time and selling the old house before he moved up with the rest of us at the end of the summer season. It was a long summer for us. I did not know what to say to help the girls through their fear.
The next year, he wasn't working and was home with the girls during the monsoon. He would go out the door when the wind picked up and stand in the driveway or on the dirt street, shielding his eyes from the blowing dirt, and teach the girls about storms. He talked about the movement of the clouds and how to tell if a storm was coming. He talked about the different types of clouds and what caused the storms. He talked of larger weather patterns and how to calculate the distance from you to the lightning.
But more than teaching them the scientific facts about the weather, their daddy quietly taught them, through his example, not to be afraid. He taught them that storms are to be appreciated and admired, watched and studied, but not feared. Knowledge and love help to counter our troubles and bring us to our own safe harbors were we can be less afraid.
As we plan and prepare and are anchored by the love of our families and the gospel of Jesus Christ, we find the safe harbor that Helaman spoke of: “Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, … when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power to drag you down … , because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation” (Hel. 5:12).
Yes, I have seen the storm. I have experienced it's power. I have been amazed at it's magnitude. I have even felt it's fear. But I have also learned that the "lighthouse" of our Savior stands ready to help guide us in our journey and lead us home. He is the rock. Only He can calm the winds and the waves of trial and adversity in our lives.
He alone has the power to say, “Peace, be still”.
