When the Bishop of my ward here in London encouraged the members to arrive an hour early for a Regional (U.K. and Ireland) Stake Conference on Sunday,
I knew something special was going to happen.
I didn't realize that something special would happen for me.
As of late, I've felt especially burdened by my mistakes, shortcomings and weaknesses.
How far had I really come since last year at this time?
(Well, I definitely eat less pizza - that's for sure!)
But, in all sincerity, was I any stronger, more charitable, or more dedicated to the gospel?
Everything in me wanted to cry, "Yes! Of course! Can't you see how far you've come? You've learned so much - you've come so far!"
But I couldn't listen because I was blinded by all the weak moments, the memories of mistakes, the evidence of my imperfection.
And then, sitting there in the chapel, I came across this scripture:
2 Nephi 10:20
And now, my beloved brethren,
seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things,
let us remember him,
and lay aside our sins,
and not hang down our heads,
for we are not cast off;
nevertheless we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance;
but we have been led to a better land,
for the Lord has made the sea our path,
and we are upon an isle of the sea.
And then Elder Patrick Kearon
(sorry if I spelled it wrong)
spoke in conference about these Hawaiian Black Crabs
When captured, many attempt to escape by using all of their strength to crawl out of their buckets;
however, the other crabs, in their attempt to escape as well,
pull at the escaping crab,
preventing him from ever escaping.
Sometimes when Ellie forces me to join her in chocolate binges such as these...
I'll joke with her about being my hawaiian black crab...
but I think i've been my own crab.
Elder Kearon stated,
"We are the ones that limit ourselves."
But the Lord knows what we can become.
How grateful I am to Him that He sees something in me - more than I ever saw in myself.
No more hanging down my head.
No more underestimating myself and my readiness/ability to improve.
No more wallowing.
"The Savior has given each of us a new start, so who are we going to be?
What are we going to change?
We can come back,
We can renew -
Step by Step -
Through the power of the Atonement.
THIS is the Gospel's invitation to all."
-Elder Kearon
I knew something special was going to happen.
I didn't realize that something special would happen for me.
As of late, I've felt especially burdened by my mistakes, shortcomings and weaknesses.
How far had I really come since last year at this time?
(Well, I definitely eat less pizza - that's for sure!)
But, in all sincerity, was I any stronger, more charitable, or more dedicated to the gospel?
Everything in me wanted to cry, "Yes! Of course! Can't you see how far you've come? You've learned so much - you've come so far!"
But I couldn't listen because I was blinded by all the weak moments, the memories of mistakes, the evidence of my imperfection.
And then, sitting there in the chapel, I came across this scripture:
2 Nephi 10:20
And now, my beloved brethren,
seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things,
let us remember him,
and lay aside our sins,
and not hang down our heads,
for we are not cast off;
nevertheless we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance;
but we have been led to a better land,
for the Lord has made the sea our path,
and we are upon an isle of the sea.
And then Elder Patrick Kearon
(sorry if I spelled it wrong)
spoke in conference about these Hawaiian Black Crabs
When captured, many attempt to escape by using all of their strength to crawl out of their buckets;
however, the other crabs, in their attempt to escape as well,
pull at the escaping crab,
preventing him from ever escaping.
Sometimes when Ellie forces me to join her in chocolate binges such as these...
I'll joke with her about being my hawaiian black crab...
but I think i've been my own crab.
Elder Kearon stated,
"We are the ones that limit ourselves."
But the Lord knows what we can become.
How grateful I am to Him that He sees something in me - more than I ever saw in myself.
No more hanging down my head.
No more underestimating myself and my readiness/ability to improve.
No more wallowing.
"The Savior has given each of us a new start, so who are we going to be?
What are we going to change?
We can come back,
We can renew -
Step by Step -
Through the power of the Atonement.
THIS is the Gospel's invitation to all."
-Elder Kearon
I love you.
ReplyDelete