The Book that Changes My Life

I've read about him before.

He's one of my heroes.

But I've come to see him in a different way. Not because I'm like him; just because that's what happens when Heavenly Father answers my prayers. I see things a different way.

Today I read about Abinadi. Courageous, faithful Abinadi. (Mosiah 11-18).

He loved the Lord and he understood the importance of the gospel. He tried to teach the people, but they cast him out and threatened him. And when they caught him the next time he returned, they took him to the king because they "sought to take away his life."

He must have been so afraid. Did he ever wonder why he had been asked to go teach a people whose "eyes were blinded" and who "hardened their hearts against his words"? Even if he did, even if he did ask God why he had been called to that city just to be taken and killed, even if he questioned, he didn't back down - in fact, he didn't even back down when he was told to take back his words. If he didn't recall all he had said, they would kill him.

But he knew of something more valuable than life itself.

And so he stood and taught them about the Saviour - how He "comfort[s] his people" and was "wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

And they didn't listen.

No one listened. Except one. Alma, the one who heard and believed, stood up and pleaded for Abinadi's life. He saw the example of one who stood up for what was right, so he decided he would stand up, too.

Because of Abinadi, one believed. One listened and changed his life.

Was it worth the faith, the trials, the heart ache, the rude words, the fear, and eventually his death? Was it worth it for him to stay strong and follow the Lord?

Yes.

I once heard that courage isn't the absence of fear but the ability to act while facing fear. Abinadi had courage.

Because of Abinadi's courage, one person carried on his legacy of faith and endurance. Oh, how Abinadi must have felt when he saw Alma stand up for him. How he must have thanked God for that moment.

But then Alma fled for his own life, and Abinadi was taken, bound, and suffered death by fire, "having sealed his testimony with his blood."

I realized that if Abinadi hadn't had the courage to stand and, in the power of the Lord, tell the soldiers to "Touch me not . . . for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver," if he hadn't said this, Alma would have never heard all he needed to hear. Alma used Abinadi's words to teach the people - and if Abinadi hadn't had the courage to stand and rebuke the wicked men, so many people would have continued to be lost in a world of confusion and darkness. With Abinadi's teachings, Alma taught 204 people how find hope and happiness. These people escaped bondage and came over to the land of Mosiah, being a great strength to his kindom. Later, Alma's son also became an instrument in God's hand, and his friends taught thousands of the Lamanites about the Saviour and Heavenly Father. These Lamanites had sons - the 2000 stripling warriors, who fought in the strength of the Lord and said that "if they did not doubt, God would deliver them."

I couldn't help comparing Abinadi to Joseph Smith. The parallels are amazing. Beacause of Joseph's faith and endurance, over 14 million people have been blessed.

All this because of the strength of one.

And then, I related the lives of these two men to the life of our Saviour.

He was despised and rejected of men.

He testified of the truth.

He didn't back down.

And He didn't give up in the face of danger because He knew of something more valuable to Him than life itself.

That something was You.

You matter more to Him than life. You are so important to Him that He listens to you when you pray. He watches you and keeps you safe.

You can live because He died.

All this because of the love of one.

One man in 147 B.C., one in 33 A.D., and one in 1830 A.D.

And here I am.

Because of one.

I love the Book of Mormon. It's another tool - another "one" - that changes my life.

Love, Sunshine

A Legacy.

Wee Granny - Mary Murray Murdoch - joined the Church in Scotland when she was 67. Having lost her husband, John, in a mining accident where he went back to rescue a fellow co-worker, she was a widow and had to carry many of the burdens of mortality on her own small shoulders.

Her son, John, joined the Church and left with his wife and family in 1852. He worked hard for four years and sent Mary the money she would need to come to join them in Salt Lake City. With faith and hope much greater than her four feet eleven inches,  she began the trek to Utah when she was 73 years old.

She came across the plains in the Martin Handcart Company. Her determination, though, was never dimmed, despite her weak body. I can only imagine how it must have been for her to come by herself to the United States, tired and aching for her family and husband. How she must have relied on the strength of the Saviour. I love her for her example.

Wee Granny made it as far as Chimney Rock, Nebraska. Her fatigued body could take no more of the hardships she had endured. As she looked into the eyes of her friends she said, "Tell John I died with my face toward Zion." And with that, she died, leaving behind her a legacy of faith and endurance.

Because of her faith and detemination, and I am sure because of her example to her children who eventually came across to join the Saints, I have the gospel in my life. I am reminded of the Hymn "Come, Come Ye Saints."

Come, Come Ye Saints. No toil, nor labor fear, but with joy wend your way.

Though hard to you this journey may appear, grace shall be as your day.

Tis better far for us to strive our useless cares from us to drive.

Do this and joy your hearts will swell.

All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? Tis not so - all is right!

Why should we think to earn a great reward if we now shun the fight?

Gurd up your loins, fresh courage take! Our God will never us forsake.

And soon we'll have these words to tell.

All is well! All is well!

The song goes on to tell how, even if we die, or if we are again spared, all will still be well because of what the Saviour has done. As President Monson said, "The future is as bright as your faith." Even in the darkest of circumstances, whether crossing the plains in winter, or crossing college campus to take a chemistry final, truly, all is well because of the Saviour. He stands by each of us every step of the way, whether you pull a handcart or carry a backpack. I am so grateful for my pioneer heritage. And even if you don't have pioneer ancestors who came across the plains, you still have a legacy.

In fact, the greatest legacy of your life starts with you.

May we all learn from the lessons and people of the past.

Thank you, Wee Granny.

Love,

Sunshine

Faith.

One breath at a time is how I breathe.

One step at a time is how I walk.

One day at a time is how I live.

One month until I move into college is how I count.

And I will find joy in the journey as I go.

It's just a little hard to find the faith to step.

Picture taken by Chloe M.

Love,

Sunny

4000 Bolts of Fabric on the Wall . . .

 The end. And welcome to my job. ")

The Little Things.

I suppose some of the most memorable memories deal with times that really played with our emotions.

For example.

Remember that one time you laughed so hard you wet your pants?

The time you meant to say something extraordinarily witty but you spit on his/her face instead?

Or perhaps it was a boy you really liked, but he decided he liked somebody else more than you, so you commenced debating if you still liked him.

There are even those memories that seldom take their place anywhere but your heart.

:) Those are arguably the best kind.

And then there are the memories that get placed gently on your shelf in the form of teddy bears and dolls, corsages and dried flowers from your grandmothers funeral. Little things that remind you of places you visited, people you met, birthdays you celebrated, and Christmases you enjoyed. The saddest part about these wonderful little memories, these wonderful little things, is packing them into brown boxes, sealing them with tape, and placing them in the storage pile.

Thank you, Chloe :)

My shelves are empty, my walls are pictureless, the closest is depleated of stuffed animals, and there are two piles in my room. One is for college.

The other?

For putting away the little things that mean so much to me. I know I should be excited about starting a new adventure, but there's something about having to pack away all the little things - the animals I used to hug and the dolls I used to dress up, the glass figures I used to collect and the bouncy balls I used to name - and place them in boxes, not to be taken with me on my next adventure.

While something like this may seem a trivial thing to be sad about, and while no one may ever understand my individual sorrows, no matter how small, one always does.

And the best part is?

They matter to him, too.


Love, Sunshine.