English: Painting by an unknown painter, circa 1842. The original is owned by the Community of Christ archives. It is on display at the Community of Christ headquarters in Independence Missouri, where its provenance is explained. The painting was originally in the possession of Joseph Smith III (died 1914), who is recorded as commenting on the painting. The c. 1842 date is given by the Community of Christ, the painting’s owner. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
All day I was thinking that I let off too much steam in my post yesterday. I thought I’d better hurry and explain further tonight. But I just re-read my post, and other than a sentence about hubby saying what a great commercial the Ford F150 that tows an alien vessel is that is showing on HULU lately, I think I handled myself pretty well.
Coincidentally (course, I do not believe in coincidence!) as I was reading in the scriptures this morning, I ran across one that helped put things in perspective:
Doctrine & Covenants 122:7, “And if thou shouldst be cast into the apit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the bdeep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to chedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of dhell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give theeeexperience, and shall be for thy good.”
This puts my puny troubles into their proper light. This scripture was the Lord’s answer to Joseph Smith when he’d been wrongfully jailed for many months, the members of the church were being persecuted and suffered terribly, and Joseph had prayed for relief. But it applies to us all. No matter what we are going through, God will help us and will make those things work for our good. Plus, as we see the trials others are experiencing, ours usually don’t seem as bad.
Another scripture: “Let thy abowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy cconfidence wax strong in the dpresenceof God”. D&C 121:45. Makes me want to try harder to push those negative thoughts out of my mind, and to move on.
By turning to our Father in Heaven, we are comforted and will be guided through the trial, and become more like Him.
And, as life continues and other things take my time and attention, the thoughts and experiences that bothered me over the weekend have less and less impact on me. It is time to look forward and leave the past behind.
Related articles
- Rebuked but Not Rejected: The Role of God’s Chastening in Our Lives (fourmormonbrethren.com)
Courage and Reverence 