Yesterday, we had a stake youth temple day and today I can feel just how much love Heavenly Father has for each one of us. The brother who led our chapel session talked about how each of the youth only get 4 names to baptize now, rather than 5- a recent change. He said he knew we were faithful enough that if we knew that one person in the spirit world had accepted the gospel and our stake president made a phone call to all the youth that we would make this a priority and make it down to the temple and perform this one person's baptism. We know how important this is to our exaltation and we would want this person to have access to baptism.
When we got out of the temple I got a message from my good friend who said she grew up with one of my counselors and had only good things to say about her family, especially her mother, who is currently my relief society president. My friend said "Momma" was her Young Women's President and eventually her Visiting Teacher. "Momma" helped shape the spiritual powerhouse my friend is today.
I met my friend while working at some little fabric store. We had samples of her work displayed in the store and they were FAB-U-LOUS! I "knew" how to sew but I wanted to really KNOW, so I asked her if I could apprentice with her. I was a new member of the church and it was so nice to work with someone with a testimony, and that we could have long, meaningful, gospel centered conversations while we worked. At the time I was struggling with the notion that I needed a divorce because my husband wasn't a member. What did this mean for my family on an eternal platform? I longed for an eternal marriage, and my husband was so against the idea of joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, that I thought it would never happen. I found great solace in 1 Corinthians 7:13-15
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
Phew! I could stay with my unbelieving husband! My friend knew this and was encouraging all along, and when I read this and the Spirit confirmed the truthfulness to me, I was glad I finally knew this too.
Finding out that my friend knows "Momma" is just such a testament to me that this is the true church of Jesus Christ, the same as he established when he walked this earth. He sowed the seeds of my faith long before I had any interest or knowledge in the church, they all started sprouting around the time a child is usually baptized, age 8. When I worked for my friend she had made the comment that I came down to the earth without the gospel because Heavenly Father knew I would be strong enough to search it out and accept it. Right now I feel like my friend and Momma are such little angels- I'm grateful that their testimonies are firmly rooted and they have endured faithfully, so that I could likewise have such a strong testimony.
I can suddenly see my calling through completely different eyes- maybe I'm not serving these youth for today's trials, maybe I'm serving their friend in 20 years. Maybe that friend needs to hear the gospel, or have her marriage strengthened, or have a mommy friend they can share all their cares with. The Lord loves you. He will wait patiently for a moment when you will be willing to hear Him calling you to the path. His love is patient. He wants you in His Heavenly home once again.
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