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Life is wonderfully messy!

When Adam and Eve were in the garden (in the days BEFORE the fall), they were perfect.  Then their lives got messy.  Things started happening.  First they had to move, then they had to figure out how to eat and protect themselves from the weather, how to raise children who also had messiness of their own.  But, as Enos (and so many in the scriptures) report, they lived their “wrestle” or their messiness before God.  They didn’t try to hide it, they kept Him in the loop and let Him help them. It didn’t change what was happening – only how they came through it. 

Our lives are messy, too.  This is the beautiful plan of our Heavenly Father.  He stands ready to help us through our messes (whether they are self-inflicted or not), if we would only ask and if we do our best to keep the commandments and keep our covenants.

David Butler once said that God is a God of second chances.  That is so true. We seem to need to repent over and over for the same things.  Yet, He is just waiting for us to stop, repent, and try again.  We were born perfect and we can be perfect again – but the middle part is the messy part.  I pray for all of us that we will allow Heavenly Father to work with us in figuring out how to get through this part.  The end goal is so worth it!

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A Lesson from the First Vision

God appeared to an audience of one – because a boy asked

We are just getting ready to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Restoration of the Gospel.  Just in that phrase there is so much to ponder and learn.  But I want to share some of the things I have been learning as I’ve studied the Restoration.  The restoration was not just a restoration of a church but was and is still a restoration of people. 

JSH 1:10 we see the people in a “war of words” and a “tumult of opinions” If you will listen to what is going on in the news and even in your classrooms, we are in a war of words with a tumult of opinions.  What did Joseph do?  He read in James 1:5 (v.11) that anyone can ask God questions.  He pondered on this scripture for a time, then decided the only way he was going to receive answers was to ask. This was an inexperienced boy who had never before prayed out loud (v. 14).  In verse 16 and 17, we see that God and His Son showed up for an audience of one – a young boy with a desire to know the truth, kneeling in the woods. 

God shows up for us – individually and in the place we are.  Often in our normal places!  This is one of the truths of the restoration.  There is a God in heaven, and He cares about each one of us, in our real lives. 

God has shown up for me many times.  Sometimes I don’t recognize it until later, but He always shows up.  He knew I needed a friend, so He planted Gayla and her family right across the street from us.  He protected me on several occasions even when my bad choices would have gotten me in trouble.  He planted your Grandpa in my path so I could eventually have an eternal family.  In all of our moving, I have learned things and have gotten to know many good people who have taught me what following the Savior looks like (and some who taught me what a mistake it is to not follow the Savior).  He showed up for me every day when I was sick.  In my hard times and in my joyous times – well, all of my times – The Savior of the world and the God of the universe has been there just for me – for an audience of one. 

He will be there for you, too – I promise!

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What a night! (First Vision post)

What a night. I read again Joseph Smith’s account of a special night when he was visited 4 times by an angel. Why four times? Not sure, except with just one visit, it could have been easy for him to discount it as a fluke. With four visits with repeated messages — it would be harder to discount. What I thought was really cool this week was a thought I had about that awesome night!

Wow, Joseph had an amazing night. But just think of Moroni! He had a cool night, too. He got to be the one to speak to Joseph four times about the Book of Mormon — which he had protected for so long. I just imagine him thinking, “Wow, I finally get to tell someone about the book I protected and buried so long ago.” He must have been excited to see the fulfilling of the Lord’s promise to bring the book back at a later time. Now, it was time!

It was fun to think of a different perspective on that night. Joseph surely had a lot to learn about the gospel and the spirit – but what great teachers he had!