How Do I TRUST in God/Heavenly Father?

 Good Morning, Good Afternoon or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

Have you ever wondered how I TRUST in God/Heavenly Father in the past and now? 

I think it should not matter how much TRUST that we have in God/Heavenly Father in our lives but we should always try to remember that we all get to wake up to brand new day each day, and if we made it through the daytime, we would be able to sleep overnight. 

This post focuses on how do I trust in God/Heavenly Father in the past and now? I would like to share several ways of how I TRUST in God/Heavenly Father. 

~ I used to be able to participate sacred ordinances in the Temple often; it has helped me to remind myself the sacred covenants that I have made when I have received my endowments in February 2017. 

~ I always feel grateful to have the opportunities to partake the sacrament on Sundays; it has helped me to reflect on my baptismal covenants, I always do my best to remember Jesus Christ and keep the commandments during the week, and I always do my best to remind myself for the promised blessings as I do remember Jesus Christ, and keep the commandments during the week. 

~ I kept a habit of daily personal prayers for ages now (I am not too sure how long to be exact); I always have been enjoying to express to God/Heavenly Father for what I have been going through, I know that he always listening to my prayers even when at times when I do not receive answers straight away. It does teaches me patience to wait for the answers to come. 

TRUST

~ I kept a habit of daily personal scripture study. I have been on and off with daily personal scripture study in the past.

I really want to keep a habit with daily personal scripture study, because it has helped me to know that at times when I do not get answers to my prayers, I get answers through reading my scriptures and doing scripture study to reflect on what I have learned while reading my scriptures. 

                                                                                                ~ Jacob and I have listened some past General Conference talks most days during the weeks, and it has been a habit since July 2020 or August 2020; I always look forward to watching and listening to General Conference sessions every six months. Most times; I have felt the Holy Ghost impressions while I have been listening to the past General Conference talks, and I know that I would do my very best to not ever deny those impressions. 

General Conference talks really speaks me, motivates me to feel inspired to become a better individual, and when I do not get answers from my personal prayers, just by listening to speakers from past General Conference talks has answered my prayers. 

~ I have reminded myself time to time based on the lessons that I have learned throughout youth years to know that I am a daughter of our God/Heavenly Father; I am grateful to that the knowledge that God/Heavenly Father loves us, he cares about us, he is always mindful of us, he has not ever let me down, he has always have the Holy Ghost to keep me to stay focus and make righteous choices. I know that whenever I make a righteous choice, I feel happy. 

In what ways did you trusted in God/Heavenly Father in the past?

Stay Tuned until next time.

Consistent and Resilient Trust

 Good Morning, Good Afternoon or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on October 2019 General Conference talk, and it is called "Consistent and Resilient Trust" by Elder L. Todd Budge. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was listening to the talk. 

Elder Budge has mentioned the following; "... We too had had those times in our lives when God spoke peace to our souls and caused us to have hope in Christ even when life was hard and uncertain. Lehi teaches that if Adam and Eve had not fallen, “ … “But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. 

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”

In a paradoxical way, afflictions and sorrow prepare us to experience joy if we will trust in the Lord and His plan for us. This truth is beautifully expressed by a 13th-century poet: “Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. ... Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place.”

President Russell M. Nelson taught, “The joy the Savior offers [us] … is constant, assuring us that our ‘afflictions shall be but a small moment’ [Doctrine and Covenants 121:7] and be consecrated to our gain.” Our trials and afflictions can make space for greater joy. 

The good news of the gospel is not the promise of a life free of sorrow and tribulation but a life full of purpose and meaning a life where our sorrows and afflictions can be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ.” ... His gospel is a message of hope. Sorrow coupled with hope in Jesus Christ holds the promise of enduring joy.

... Have you ever poured out your soul to God in such a way? When striving to live as the Lord commands and righteous expectations are not met, have you ever wondered if you must go through this life in darkness? The brother of Jared then expressed an even greater concern about their ability to survive in the barges. 

... Have the difficulties of life ever made it hard for you to breathe and caused you to wonder how you can make it through the day, let alone make it back to your heavenly home? After the Lord worked with the brother of Jared to resolve each of his concerns, He then explained, “Ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare [a way for] you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come.”

The Lord made it clear that ultimately the Jaredites could not make it to the promised land without Him. They were not in control, and the only way they could make it across the great deep was to put their trust in Him. These experiences and tutoring from the Lord seemed to deepen the brother of Jared’s faith and strengthen his trust in the Lord.

"Trusting in the Lord includes trusting in His timing and requires 
patience and endurance that outlast the storms of life."
- L Todd Budge.

Notice how his prayers changed from questions and concerns to expressions of faith and trust: “I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; … “Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.”

... To commend means to entrust or to surrender. The Jaredites did not get into the barges because they knew exactly how things would work on their journey. They got aboard because they had learned to trust in the Lord’s power, goodness, and mercy, and they were therefore willing to surrender themselves and any doubts or fears they may have had to the Lord. ... Trusting God may not always feel safe at first, but joy follows.

Merry Go Round

The journey was not easy for the Jaredites. ... Yet it is recorded that “the wind did never cease to blow [them] towards the promised land.” As difficult as it is to understand, especially at the times in our lives when the headwinds are strong and the seas are turbulent, we can take comfort in knowing that God in His infinite goodness is always blowing us toward home.

... We live in a world where the monster waves of death, physical and mental illness, and trials and afflictions of every kind break upon us. Yet, through faith in Jesus Christ and choosing to trust in Him, we too can have light continually, whether above the water or under the water. We can have the assurance that God never does cease to blow us toward our heavenly home.

... They felt joy and thanksgiving even in the midst of their afflictions. They had not yet arrived in the promised land, yet they were rejoicing in the promised blessing because of their consistent and resilient trust in Him. The Jaredites were driven forth upon the water 344 days. Can you imagine that? Trusting in the Lord includes trusting in His timing and requires patience and endurance that outlast the storms of life.

Ultimately, the Jaredites “did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.” 

If we are faithful in keeping our covenants, we too will one day arrive safely home and will bow before the Lord and shed tears of joy for the multitude of His tender mercies in our lives, including the sorrows that made space for more joy. 

I testify that as we commend ourselves unto the Lord and consistently and resiliently trust in Jesus Christ and His divine purposes in our lives, He will visit us with assurances, speak peace to our souls, and cause us to “hope for our deliverance in him.” I witness that Jesus is the Christ. He is the source of all joy. His grace is sufficient, and He is mighty to save. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. He will not let us perish. ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time; here is the link below.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/27budge

Trusting God When Things Go Wrong ~ Part Three

 Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on BYU Devotional in September 1997, and it is called "Trusting God When Things Go Wrong" by Brother Todd A. Britsch. This post is part three. I hope that you would be able to learn something new as you read throughout this post.

Brother Britsch has mentioned the following; "The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; ..." [D&C 121:45–46] It is a trust and confidence gained through the ever-present companionship of the Spirit. This spiritual blessing is with us today. ... The message
was relayed to the daughter, who called her father later that week to tell him not to worry. 

She had received a priesthood blessing and was visiting with her Church leaders. Some time later she told her father that she had been contemplating terminating her activity in the Church. She had become so disillusioned by disappointments and seemingly unfulfilled promises that her life was filled with confusion and numbness. Her trials were far from over, but by then she had the support of Church leaders, family members, and, most important, the Holy Ghost.

My fourth suggestion is closely related to the previous one: 

Become alert to the softening and protecting influence of God, even in the midst of troubles. For the plan of this second estate to work, we must be exposed to all kinds of risks. But God often tempers these trials to make sure that they do not push us beyond our capacities. ... All around us there are signs that we, too, are in God’s arms, often when we are not completely aware of the fact. Let me give you an example from my own life.

The October conference of 1993 was particularly moving to my wife and me. For once, we were able to sit down in our family room and listen without interruption. Both of us were especially struck by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk. ... Elder Holland was clearly not aware that his talk would have special meaning for us teaching us to trust but it did. 

And my experiences in priesthood meeting were a critical preparation for us even though we did not know that at the time I had them. Event after event gave evidence that we were encircled by protections and comforts. And these comforts were not a revising of the record to make ourselves feel better. 

Some were so specific that even the cynic would need to concede that God was there for us. What we experienced was not exceptional. Loving fathers often need to chasten and correct their children, and they sometimes need to let them learn hard lessons through experience but they are always there for them. ...

"Trust Jesus." - Jeffrey R. Holland.

Fifth, we should learn that on this earth God expects our obedience and best effort, not our perfection. 

Often, when things go wrong, we feel that it is because we have failed in some way. There are times this is true and others when it is not. We live in fragile, mortal conditions and are sometimes quite weak. 

In chapters 7 and 8 of his epistle to the Romans, Paul discusses the tendency of humans to fall short even of their own expectations and desires. 

... The King James translation of Paul’s apparently complicated Greek seems to be saying this that even those who wish to obey God’s law, and who keep that wish in their minds, are still subject to the temptations of the flesh. Because of this, we sometimes fall.

But, Paul continues, Christ has overcome our frailties, sorrows, sins, and mortal weaknesses. We are enabled through him to live in the Spirit (see verse 25). ... Thus Paul can express his faith: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). 

We should not add to the anxieties of this world a lack of confidence in what God has promised he can do for us through his Son Jesus Christ. He can overcome our sins and failings and cleanse us from our iniquities. Ultimately it is this faith in what God has done for us and revealed to us through his Son that will strengthen our trust in him when things go wrong. 

We believe Christ when he said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). ..." If you would like to read the whole Devotional either now or in your own time, here is the link below.

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/todd-a-britsch/trusting-god-things-go-wrong/

Stay Tuned until next time.

Trusting God When Things Go Wrong ~ Part Two

 Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on BYU Devotional in September 1997, and it is called "Trusting God When Things Go Wrong" by Brother Todd A. Britsch. This post is part two. I hope that you would be able to learn something new as you read throughout this post.

Brother Britsch has mentioned the following; "... Second, it is good to know how trials can serve us. In Gospel Doctrine class in September or October of this year, nearly all of us have read or will read sections 121–23 of the Doctrine and Covenants. These sections concern what was, at least until the actual martyrdom, the low point of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s life. ... At one point he says the following:

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, we are the more ready and willing to lay claim to your fellowship and love. For our circumstances are calculated to awaken our spirits to a sacred remembrance of everything, and we think that yours are also, and that nothing therefore can separate us from the love of God and fellowship one with another; and that every species of wickedness and cruelty practiced upon us will only tend to bind our hearts together and seal them together in love. We have no need to say to you that we are held in bonds without cause, neither is it needful that you say unto us, We are driven from our homes and smitten without cause. 

... It shocks all nature; it beggars and defies all description; it is a tale of woe; ... yea a sorrowful tale; ... too much for contemplation; too much for human beings; ... it cannot be found among the nations where kings and tyrants are enthroned; it cannot be found among the savages of the wilderness; yea, and ... women be robbed of all that they have their last morsel for subsistence, and ... [HC 3:290–91]

It is no wonder then that the Prophet cried out, “O God, where art thou?” and asked how long his hand would be stayed (D&C 121:1–2). I, for one, do not like to tell someone my troubles and then have them respond that theirs or others’ are worse. But the Lord does tell Joseph that he is not yet as Job, that others have suffered even more (see D&C 121:10). 

And later he adds, “The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?” (D&C 122:8). But God does give the Prophet comfort: My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. [D&C 121:7–8] Later Joseph is told, “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (D&C 122:7).

At the time of trials, it is difficult for us to understand how suffering can be for our good. But all of us have had the experience of learning afterward what great gains we have made when things have gone wrong. ... Certainly it would be wrong to seek out adversity. And it is not likely that all difficult experiences are sent by God. But he has given us the opportunity to be where bad things can happen, and he knows what we can become if we trust him when they do.

"You can trust His light will be there for you."
- Sharon Eubank.

Third, we become more trusting as we accustom ourselves to the divine presence of the Holy Ghost. Latter-day Saint teachings inform us, both in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, of the concept of spiritual death, the separation of our spirits from God. In D&C 29:41, the Lord says: Wherefore, I, the Lord God, caused that he [Adam] should be cast out from the Garden of Eden, from my presence, because of his transgression, wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when I shall say: Depart, ye cursed.

In calling this separation both the first and the last death, the Lord seems to be telling us that such a death can be temporary that unless we are finally thrust from his presence, this separation can be overcome. 

And the process of overcoming our separation from God is described in the fourth article of faith. When we have developed faith in Christ’s atonement, repented, and been baptized, we can receive the constant companionship of a member of the Godhead. The gift of the Holy Ghost means that we no longer need to endure an existence away from God. 

... Having a member of the Godhead always present in our lives should develop our trust to a high degree. When the Lord promised the companionship of the Holy Ghost, it was to comfort disciples who were becoming aware that they would soon be without Christ.

... Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. [John 14:16–18] He also promised peace: 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. [John 14:27]

A good place to observe the nonworldly peace that the Comforter can bring is in the lives of those very disciples who received these promises. ... This is clearly the same confidence of which the Prophet Joseph wrote: ... be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven."

Stay Tuned until next time.

Trusting God When Things Go Wrong ~ Part One

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on BYU Devotional in September 1997, and it is called "Trusting God When Things Go Wrong" by Brother Todd A. Britsch. This post is part one. I hope that you would be able to learn something new as you read throughout this post.

Brother Britsch has mentioned the following; "... Mentioning the possibility (or better, certainty) that things can go badly caused me some uncomfortable moments in the past. ... There will be times when earthly hopes = hopes for material rewards, for changed circumstances, for loving relationships, for health, for repentant loved ones, even for lots of sleep and ... and then it will be important for all of us to rely on spiritual hope, on the trust we have developed in a loving and all-wise Heavenly Father.

... Others might think, based on their experiences, that both Mormon and Paul would be bitter or at least perplexed about their lives. But such is not the case. In his last writing but for the epistles recorded by his son, Mormon first laments the destruction of his people and then pleads to those who will come after, especially his enemies, the Lamanites, that they come to Christ and his gospel. 

As he describes Christ’s victory over the grave, he adds: And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat. And he hath brought to pass the redemption of

the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end. [Mormon 7:6–7]

Let’s think of this for a moment. Here is a military commander who, having just experienced the virtual annihilation of his people, concludes his work with a promise of endless happiness to those of his enemies who turn to God. What can cause a person to think this way? We’ll leave that question for a moment.

Paul is equally positive: after declaring himself prepared to be offered, he adds: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. [2 Timothy 4:7–8]

I believe that the characteristic that helped both Mormon and Paul face difficult lives with calmness and optimism is trust in the Lord and his promises. For them this trust transcended any circumstance, however negative and threatening. 

Once believers have come to know that God’s assurances are true, no circumstance can undermine their fervent and, ultimately, optimistic view of the world God has created. They understand that the reason for their existence, even in times of trial, is joy. For the next few minutes I would like to make some suggestions that might strengthen our trust in God even when conditions are not the best.

"Faith is trust - trust that God sees what we cannot, 
and that he knows what we do not." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf. 

First, it is good to know how things will ultimately end. That is, it is important to know that God’s promises of the ultimate triumph of goodness and righteousness are valid. I would like to illustrate this point with an analogy from football. I do this with a bit of an apology to my colleagues who can’t understand how someone who makes his living teaching about poetry, music, and painting could be such a fanatic about this slightly rough sport.

A few years ago, before the time that all BYU games were televised live, I landed at the Salt Lake airport just as a BYU “away” game was concluding. I rushed around the terminal until I finally found someone who could assure me that we had won, although by a very close score. That evening, after returning to Provo, I went downstairs to watch the replay of the game on KBYU. My demeanor was amazingly serene. 

When we fumbled or had a pass intercepted, I hardly reacted. My wife could even let our children get around me. Usually I feel obligated to help my brethren in striped shirts by pointing out their errors in judgment. Because my seats are on row 25, such correction often requires a rather high decibel level. This loudness has carried over to watching football on television. 

But on that day I remained absolutely calm, even when I had the benefit of instant replay to verify my claim that their defensive back clearly arrived early and that the ground had obviously caused our running back to lose the ball. I was a veritable model of football decorum, never becoming unduly upset or ill behaved.

The cause of my improved behavior was obvious: I already knew the outcome of the game - BYU would win. It is amazing how that knowledge changes things: cornerbacks can get beat, running backs can fumble, linebackers can miss tackles, offensive guards can blow blocking assignments, and other things can go wrong. But when we know the final score, such things can be endured and sometimes even ignored.

We also know the final score for the history of this world and for the life of the righteous. The Lord and his people will triumph. It is true that the sorrows of this world and the strength of Satan’s forces will win a number of the skirmishes. ... Satan and his followers, as well as the natural circumstances of mortal life, will inflict many bruises and win many battles. 

But God, who knows the end from the beginning, has promised that those who serve him will receive the fullness of his blessings. When we realize that righteous living puts us on the winning side, we can learn to trust him during trying times."

Stay Tuned until next time.

Remembering in Whom We Have Trusted

   Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is based on a October 2005 General Conference talk, and it is called, "Remembering in Whom We Have Trusted" by Elder Allen D. Haynie. I would like to share with you some highlights while reading the talk.

Elder Haynie mentioned, "Before we came to this earth, we participated as spirit sons and daughters of God in a grand council. Each of us was paying attention, and none of us fell asleep. In that council our Father in Heaven presented a plan. Because the plan preserved our agency and required that we learn from our own experience and not just from His, He knew we would commit sin.

Because Heavenly Father loves His children, He presented a plan that included a Savior, someone who could help all become clean no matter how dirty they have become. Jesus Christ suffered, both body and spirit, so all could return to their loving Father. “What does He ask us to do in return?” he asked.

"Repentance is real and it works." - Allen D. Haynie.

“He simply pleads with us to confess our sins and repent so that we will not have to suffer as He did. He invites us to become clean so that we are not left outside of our Father in Heaven’s house.” 

What does matter is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, suffered “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind” so “that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people.” 

What does matter is that He was willing to condescend, to come to this earth and descend “below all things”and suffer “more powerful contradictions than any man” ever could.

What does matter is that Christ is pleading our case before the Father, “saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.” 

That is what really matters and what should give all of us renewed hope and a determination to try one more time, because He has not forgotten us. I testify that the Savior will never turn away from us when we humbly seek Him in order to repent; will never consider us to be a lost cause; will never say, “Oh no, not you again”; will never reject us because of a failure to understand how hard it is to avoid sin. 

He understands it all perfectly, including the sense of sorrow, shame, and frustration that is the inevitable consequence of sin. Repentance, of necessity, is not easy. Things of eternal significance rarely are. But the result is worth it. As President Boyd K. Packer testified in his last address to the Seventy of the Church: “The thought is this: the Atonement leaves no tracks, no traces. What it fixes is fixed. The Atonement leaves no traces, no tracks. It just heals, and what it heals stays healed.”

And so it is that our hope to live again with the Father depends on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, upon the willingness of the one sinless Being to take upon Himself, notwithstanding the fact that justice had no claim on Him, the collective weight of the transgressions of all mankind, including those sins that some sons and daughters of God unnecessarily choose to suffer for on their own.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we attribute greater power to the Savior’s Atonement than most other people because we know that if we make covenants, continually repent, and endure to the end, He will make us joint heirs with Him and, like Him, we will receive all that the Father hath. That is an earth-shattering doctrine, and yet it is true.

He who suffered for our sins, who is our Advocate with the Father, who calls us His friends, who loves us unto the end, He ultimately will be our judge. One of the often overlooked blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is that “the Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son.”

I would like to encourage you to read this whole talk either now or in your own time. Here is the link below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/remembering-in-whom-we-have-trusted

Stay Tuned until next time.