I really enjoyed the Sabbath today. I went to Sacrament Meeting with a prayerful heart today. I really opened up my heart to the spirit and the messages that were given. I really believe there isn't ever a boring sacrament meeting if you go in with the right spirit and attitude. I've been in interesting, inspiring but also boring meetings on Sunday. I now know what I get out of it is up to me. There has been some heavy matters weighing on me with much concern about a family member. I have to admit once this crisis started several months ago, I have been more diligent in my prayers, scripture reading, attending my meeting, accepting any assignment, etc. I don't know about you but it seems like it takes a crisis to humble me. I go through the motions in good times, and I try to do the things the Lord would have me do, but I don't do it with the same intensity or with the same heart as I do when I really need the Lord's help. I really need to work on that. Anyway, things are happening for the better in this family member's life that I know it's due to the spirit working in their life. It's not totally better, but it is getting better. That let's me know that there is still hope. Faith is another thing I could really work on. Well, as I was saying, church was very comforting this morning. I also received a new calling that won't go into effect for a couple weeks, so more on that after it happens.
Tonight, there was a CES Fireside. Cheryl Lant, the General Primary President spoke to the students at BYU to all church education students. I watched it on the BYU channel and was looking for Sean, since I knew he was in the Marriott Center, but of course I didn't see him. I did see my former Bishop, Gary Moore, sitting up on the stand. He is an administrator in the CES. He was my Bishop when I was a kid in California. Anyway, it was interesting that Sister Lant talked about prayer. She made some very good points. She talked about what keeps us from praying (many I knew from experience) and why we should pray, how to get an answer, etc. I thought it was a very good topic for all those college students, many who are away from home for the first time and not able to have family influence on saying their prayers. I'm sure Sean was listening and took in every word. Lacey was on the computer but I had it on, and I was hoping she was picking up the message even though she seemed deep in thought on the computer.
I think in order to get through the conflicts and traps of earth life, we desperately need to have prayer as a way to protect ourselves and get extra help. I can remember one of the first times that I gained a strong testimony of prayer. I was a young boy and I had lost my wallet. I looked everywhere. I retraced my steps, I double checked. I tore up the house looking for this wallet. I was the only one home at the time. I must have spent over an hour looking with no positive results. I then had a thought come into my head. I should pray to my Heavenly Father for help. I know in the scheme of things a lost wallet isn't a big deal, especially because I don't think I really had anything in it of value, but it was important to me. So I knelt down in prayer and asked my Heavenly Father to help me. As soon as I finished, I was prompted to go back outside to the garage (but I looked out there several times already!), as I walked out to the backyard, I didn't go to the garage but out to the patio. I don't know why because I don't remember going out that way with my wallet, but I did it and on a patio chair was my wallet. I couldn't believe it. I found it within minutes of my prayer. I knew right then and there that Heavenly Father heard my prayer, and that meant he knew me. What a powerful lesson I learned that day.
I need to remember that even when there is no crisis in my life.
Tonight, there was a CES Fireside. Cheryl Lant, the General Primary President spoke to the students at BYU to all church education students. I watched it on the BYU channel and was looking for Sean, since I knew he was in the Marriott Center, but of course I didn't see him. I did see my former Bishop, Gary Moore, sitting up on the stand. He is an administrator in the CES. He was my Bishop when I was a kid in California. Anyway, it was interesting that Sister Lant talked about prayer. She made some very good points. She talked about what keeps us from praying (many I knew from experience) and why we should pray, how to get an answer, etc. I thought it was a very good topic for all those college students, many who are away from home for the first time and not able to have family influence on saying their prayers. I'm sure Sean was listening and took in every word. Lacey was on the computer but I had it on, and I was hoping she was picking up the message even though she seemed deep in thought on the computer.
I think in order to get through the conflicts and traps of earth life, we desperately need to have prayer as a way to protect ourselves and get extra help. I can remember one of the first times that I gained a strong testimony of prayer. I was a young boy and I had lost my wallet. I looked everywhere. I retraced my steps, I double checked. I tore up the house looking for this wallet. I was the only one home at the time. I must have spent over an hour looking with no positive results. I then had a thought come into my head. I should pray to my Heavenly Father for help. I know in the scheme of things a lost wallet isn't a big deal, especially because I don't think I really had anything in it of value, but it was important to me. So I knelt down in prayer and asked my Heavenly Father to help me. As soon as I finished, I was prompted to go back outside to the garage (but I looked out there several times already!), as I walked out to the backyard, I didn't go to the garage but out to the patio. I don't know why because I don't remember going out that way with my wallet, but I did it and on a patio chair was my wallet. I couldn't believe it. I found it within minutes of my prayer. I knew right then and there that Heavenly Father heard my prayer, and that meant he knew me. What a powerful lesson I learned that day.
I need to remember that even when there is no crisis in my life.
4 comments:
bhanks for sharing your testimony of prayer. I really needed to hear that this morning! Your the best!Karie
I mean thanks
Mike, thanks for sharing this incredible testimony on prayer. Indeed we tend to turn to the Father most fervently when our hearts and spirits are troubled. You are right that we need to turn to Him on a daily basis.
And I was thrilled to see you say that you go into Sacrament Meeting prepared to be inspired. I say a prayer before every single meeting asking that I learn what the Lord would have me learn that day. You always learn something then, even from a child.
It's true that we do seem to be the most humbled in our crises. I'm glad to hear that things are turning out better for your family -- the power of prayer is an amazing thing.
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