This week: Jacob 2:8- Scriptures to heal the wounded soul

This week was pretty good. Haha I don't really know what to say...

I wanted to write this week about scriptures that have changed my life. As I think I have written before, I have a hard time with the word change. Because sometimes I think change needs to be huge and dramatic. But that is not always the case. So I have rallied up a few different verses in the scriptures that have changed me, whether by a lil or a lot.

My desk...haha

But... to start off. Alma 31:5 talks about how the "word" aka the "word of God" aka the scriptures have a more powerful effect on the minds of the people than a sword, or ANYTHING ELSE. Wow. If that isn't a bold claim. I don't know what is. But... I prayed about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon last week, it's true, and so I guess that statement HAS to be true. haha good logic huh? Anyway... The power of the word of God is AMAZING. In so many ways. :) In Jacob 2:8 it talks about how the word of God has the power to comfort our wounded soul. So there is my plug to read the scriptures more. NO. Correction. Study your scriptures. Do not just read them. That's the lazy way to do it. Sit at a desk, sit with a pen and a notebook, and record what the Spirit tells you about those scriptures. It will bless your life. And make you very happy! :)

First one, Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-9. All through high school, if you would have asked me my favorite scripture, that would have been it. The sorrow that Joseph Smith went through and overcame in Liberty Jail inspires me. The words the Lord speaks to him in those verses is some of the most comforting words in the scriptures, in my opinion. "Peace be unto thy soul." And so on. AMAZING WORDS.

I didn't want to put that one on my mission plaque because I thought it wasn't very missionary minded and I didn't want everyone to walk by it and think I was all depressed and all that jazz. So it was a big deal to me what one I should put next to the outline of North Carolina and a picture of my face. I procrastinated picking a scripture and then finally one day sat in my room studying the scriptures with the intent to choose one. As I read D&C 68:6, I felt the Spirit so strongly. This verse really comforted me and told me my purpose as a missionary. To bear witness of the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I was to be of good comfort and to preach His gospel. :)

For a good lil while at the start of my mission, I never had a favorite scripture from the Book of Mormon. Now I can say that it is Alma 31:31. This verse is AMAZING! Again. A theme to all these scriptures. They can heal us! And this verse healed me in a hard time on my mission. LOL at the memory of me sharing this verse with a less active member in a live-in care center and she said it made her depressed. hahahahhaha. Anyway, I shared it with my companion at the currrent time and she was glad that it helped me. But it didn't CHANGE her, until she came through it in her own studies, at a hard time for her, and then went to point out the verse to me. After I mentioned that was the verse from way back when (yes we were together for 4 transfers!! A long time!!) she had completely forgotten that I had shown her that verse. In her trying moment, that same verse changed her and comforted her.

Also, I later learned that you need "contacting" scriptures that are easy reads and maybe not as deep as that one. haha That probably would have worked better for my good friend at the live in center haha. Which leads me to another verse that changed me... Alma 26:37. We had a super meaningful street contact where we prayed for this woman and read this verse with her. :)

Sometimes I pray to get answers. Sometimes I pray to receive comfort. Sometimes I pray to simply talk to my Heavenly Father. The same can be applied to scripture reading. :) The other day I asked my Heavenly Father if it was still His will for me to be on my mission. He said it was. I thought so. Hahaha. :) So once I have His will confirmed, there's no questioning it. Find out His will for you and do what you need to do. :)

I read this scripture this morning and it helped me. 

D&C 9:14 

Stand fast in the work wherewith I have called you, and a hair of your head shall not be lost, and you shall be lifted up at the last day. Amen.

 So, if you are a tired RS president, Bishop, Mia Maid advisor, Teacher's quorum president (KEVIN RAY), primary teacher, member missionary, stake high counselor, cub scout leader, mom, sister, wife, husband, child, teacher... Pray to know if it is still God's will for you to be in that calling. He will tell you His truth and then re-read that verse above. Stand fast. It really is not easy to do this missionary thang. But I love the Lord and I love His Church and I love His Gospel. So here I am. And here I will be for 7 more months.

Yeah yeah yeah, I get what you all are saying... she should love it more or she shouldn't say those things... but TRUTH HURTS. MISSIONS ARE HARD. YOU CRY. You get rejected. You get annoyed of people. You're always (re-emphasis- ALWAYS!!!) tired.

But the Lord's love covers it all. It really does. He has more grace and mercy that I can ever imagine. He enables me to be do more and be more than I ever thought I could be. He puts people in my path that need me. He puts people in my path that I need. He will provide a way. ALWAYS. :) And that's my testimony. :)

       Some fun pics of getting ice cream!