"Our
Father in Heaven understood that for us to make desired progress during
our mortal probation, we would need to face difficult challenges. Some
of these would be almost overpowering. He provided tools to help us be
successful in our mortal probation. One set of those tools is the
scriptures." ~ Elder Richard G Scott (Oct. 2011 Conference)
Truth #1: Difficult, overpowering challenges are something we "need".
Truth #2: We have been given the tools to successfully help us with those challenges.
Truth #3: The scriptures are one set of those tools.
Last April, there was a 5th Sunday that my bishop taught a lesson on "Things As They Really Are" a CES talk by Elder Bednar. We discussed what counterfeits were. There were all kinds of things that people listed: drugs, alcohol, etc. The point being that there are all kinds of things that we use or do to deal with the pain of life, the unpleasantness of it all. Yet, it doesn't work. It doesn't heal us. The only thing that is real and is able to help us manage the pain is the Atonement.
Since April, this idea of managing pain has been on my mind and I've recognized the "drugs" I use, basically the things I do when I don't want to deal with something. The problem is, that it doesn't go away. I've noticed other's "drug of choice" and can see that they are avoiding something.
So back to today. That statement by Elder Scott being forefront in my mind, I turned to the scriptures and read, not really believing that I was going to find the strength I was looking for in the chapters that was a part of my normal schedule, the wickedness and destruction of the people before the Savior's visit to America.
And then I read this: "...will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" (3 Nephi 9:13)
These were those that were the "righteous" that were spared destruction, yet not so righteous that they didn't need repentance. Here they were experiencing the destruction, the darkness... yet it wasn't too late. How many times do we give up on ourselves, give up trying to be happy, give up trying to be better, give up trying to recognize and feel the spirit, give up trying to stand against the evils that surround us, thinking that it's too late, that we just can't do it anymore.
It isn't too late! Are we still breathing and living? And the promise is sure! He will heal us. He will! We just have to turn to Him to deal with our problems. Not to whatever else we turn to for comfort. We just have to change and repent, which is the same thing as turning to Him, in my opinion. We just have to go to Him to be healed.
Yes, we will feel pain. Yes, we will feel alone. But the healing does come! The comfort is amazing! And the knowledge that He is always with us will remove the darkness of being alone.
But it's our choice. Not just once, but everyday. The little choices of having Him in our lives: turning away from the things that offend the spirit; doing the things that invites Him more fully into our lives.
Isn't this the best way? Isn't this the only way to true and lasting happiness?
I believe it is.
"...will ye not now return unto me... that I may heal you?"
