Have you ever been to Disneyland? It’s the most magical place on earth! it’s full of fatty foods, cartoon characters, awesome rides, and the longest lines you will ever stand in! I love it.
you don’t think about the lines when you prepare to go. that’s why you get blisters on your feet. but in reality, you are spending hours of your day in LINE! why would you do that?
in some cultures, people will get in line because it means food. i had a professor who tried out an experiment with a couple friends. they stood in a row and within minutes there was a line forming. as they realized they had created a false promise for these people, they sheepishly, one by one, left the line.
at Disneyland, all the lines lead to good things. and you can choose which one to get in. you either get a deliciously hot churro, a picture with Mickey Mouse, himself, or a thrilling and adorable ride.
not only do you get what you’re promised, but the atmosphere while you’re waiting is fun and inviting. AND you have your family and friends to talk to creating wonderful bonding experiences!
i have heard that standing in line is what hell is like, but i would like to submit that is it what life is like. Heaven is different. Heaven is what we’re standing in line for. only, it lasts a lot longer than a ride at Disneyland, and is infinitely better!
you see, what we don’t always realize about standing in line, is when we move forward. slowly but surely, we go from the back of the line to the front. and if we are wise, we spend our time in line growing closer to the people we love, recognizing the beauty around us, and becoming better for the wait.
when i was asked to speak on “going forward with faith” i almost laughed out loud. this topic is one that i have been dealing with a lot lately, and honestly, i think this was the answer to my prayers. i am grateful to have the opportunity to study this topic and share the things i have learned.
President Packer shared a story about a time when he felt a difficulty moving forward. He said, “We once had a major decision to make. When our prayers left us uncertain, I went to see Elder Harold B. Lee. He counseled us to proceed. Sensing that I was still very unsettled, he said, “The problem with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.” Then he quoted this verse from the Book of Mormon, “Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6).
He added, “You must learn to walk a few steps ahead into the darkness, and then the light will turn on and go before you.”
one of the key principles i discovered in moving forward with faith is patience.
President Uchtdorf describes patience as the ability to put our desires on hold for a time. He says, “Patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience requires actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results don’t appear instantly or without effort.”
in the Strength of Youth, we learn that much is required of us. but we are taught that we are capable of reaching our full potential. we should ask ourselves two questions: 1. Am I living the way the Lord wants me to live? and 2. How have I been blessed by living these standards?
when we put the Lord first, He will make much more out of our lives than we can do by ourselves. (just as in institute this week. A member of the temple presidency spoke, and he said, talking about marriage, look for someone who loves the Lord more than he loves you. Because if they love the Lord most, he will love you more than he could have if he thought he loved you more) He will increase our opportunities, expand our visions, and strengthen our ability to meet lifes challenges.
President Uchtdorf said, “Never give up on anyone. And that includes not giving up on yourself.”
even when things seem to be going all wrong, if the Lord is first in your life, you can know you are right on track! Place the wisdom of the Lord above your own, for He is the source of all wisdom.
Elder Holland said, “Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. Moroni spoke of it in the Book of Mormon as “hope for a better world.” For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead. It is enough just to know we can get there, that however measured or far away, there is the promise of ‘good things to come.’”
He counsels, “Cling to your faith. Hold on to your hope. “Pray always, and be believing.” Indeed, as Paul wrote of Abraham, he “against all hope believed in hope” and “staggered not through unbelief.” He was “strong in faith” and was “fully persuaded that, what God had promised, he was able to perform.”
when we choose to get in line, we have faith that whatever we are getting in line for will be worth the wait. likewise, when we chose to come to earth we knew it would be worth it. and we can choose to endure well while we’re here if we exercise faith we can know it will all be worth it.
President Uchtdorf said, “Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!”
go forward with faith. in whatever you are working toward.
Elder Holland encourages us, saying, "Don’t give up. Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead—a lot of it. You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come.”
Pray to our Heavenly Father daily. express to Him your gratitude, and the desires of your heart. Study the Scriptures and apply what you read to your life. Go to church every Sunday, feel the Spirit, and let it change your heart. these are the "primary" answers, but they really do make all the difference, if you apply them.
When You go forward with faith, you will gain a stronger testimony and find true joy as you come to know your Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, and feel Their love for you.
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