The Lords Provisions

[rosie321]

There's been a lot of problems going on in our world creating many heartaches for people and a feebling of the faithfuls knees.

Scriptures do not promise that our life will be problem free but it does promise that we will be able to make it through. Last year there was a focus on faith. This year on miracles.

What are your favorite stories that demonstrate the Lords provisions for man to be able to survive? What are your favorite verses, thoughts and ideas?

For example I like the verse "Peace I leave you not as the world giveth I unto you"

I like the story of Moses and how each step of the way God kept helping the Israelites (its only unfortunate they were not more obedient). They were delivered from slavery, food and water, recieved salvation (by looking at the snake). God met their needs every step of the way only when they refused to heed or have faith did they feel abandoned.

I like the stories where God speaks to people whether through vision, dreams, Godly appearances or His appointed one sharing the need to move on, the will of God or how to escape harm. While each person experienced some temporary loss the plans of the Lord were fulfilled. Its nice to know that God can and will help us out.

What things do you like or are helpful to you?

[a-train]

While daily scripture study is the backbone of spiritual understanding, what we see personally is our life's testimony.

My mother had an abusive father who left her family when she was very young. Her mother quickly remarried a man who was secretly a transvestite and more abuse ensued. Horrible and disgusting abuses were heaped to my mother and her siblings from both parents throughout their childhood and adolescence.

As a pre-teen the LDS missionaries baptized her family, but abuses went on behind closed doors. Still in her teens, my mother graduated High School early and moved in with the family of the Relief Society President in her Ward. At a Church activity she met my father, a recent convert, who she married at the age of eighteen.

When nineteen, she bore myself, at twenty years of age she had my sister, and then, when she was twenty five, she had another girl. Things were looking their best for my mom. I was six and had two younger sisters and a worthy priesthood baring father with a successful business in rare coins and jewelry.

My mother's rough beginnings were finally over and you would think her life would then be happily ever after. Until, one night thieves murdered my father at his business making my mother a widow with three children, one an infant, and no higher education at the age of twenty five.

Although the criminal went free, he was later convicted of another murder and now resides in a Texas prison. My mother worked what small jobs she could get and never found a suitable husband willing to provide for her and her children. We were living in poverty as my mother waited tables and had taxes withheld from her check which could be attributed to the garaunteed housing, meals, health care, cable television, and other freely provided eminities afforded her husbands killer in prison where he worked no job at all.

I got my first health insurance at the age of twenty five when I personally bought it myself. My mother's testimony of the Church and her faith in the LORD was unshaken through all of this. She remained valiant and raised her children in the gospel and in the Church until I was about seventeen.

Then, she quit reading her scriptures. Her prayers dropped off and eventually ceased. Church callings became burdensome. The tithing she'd paid through all these years of trial started to bother her. She'd decided she had paid enough and that her work as a single mother should afford her a break, or a time to do things for herself.

She fell away.

I still grieve and pray she will return.

But I take courage and stand with boldness in the memory of my mother who was so valiant and brave, who at an age younger than I am now bore a greater burden than I will probably ever see. And I understand now that only when we seperate ourselves from the Holy Ghost will our heart be hardened.

When we read not the scriptures and cease praying we partake no more of the Spirit. This is when the Evil One comes. He comes not in disease, he is not there in death, he has no power in our trials. But I have learned this one great lesson, this one great truth: that only when we harden our heart we are delivered over to the buffetings of Satan. (D&C 82:21)

Therefore 'let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.' (Alma 34:27)

GOD BLESS

-a-train

[rosie321]

As the many examples of scriptures demonstrate, its to know that we can survive all the problems life throws at us. Our problems might not be removed, as Christs for example were not, but we can make it through and accomplish what we have to do here on earth. There is joy in that.

"In the World ye might have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world"

"All these things will give ye experience"

[rosie321]

A train sorry to hear of all your hardships. thanks for your post I read your post after posting my second so that is the reason for the strange somewhat insensitive followup post.

My heart goes out to you. Its difficult not knowing for sure what's happening to your loved ones or to be concerned with where they might wind up. To burdens become so heavy at times that one gives up.

Your post hit home with a struggle I've had. My soul is troubled at times by a loved one I know that passed to the other side. He diligently served God to the best of His knowledge (not LDS) and was very faithful serving in his church. Lots of bad things happened to this person though. His hope kept withering away. He was not able to go to church because of the situations and was so discouraged by all the trials. I watched as this person kept trodding along. While he tried to keep the faith with each problem the trodding came slower and more difficult. He was drained. I helped out as I could and kept hoping this person would find joy. Instead this person was taken suddenly before they were able to find joy or really overcome. How can such a thing happen I wondered? Why couldn't we see him with the joy we used to see on his face. Just for a minute? But who knows whats taking place on the other side. I"m hoping he's experiencing some joy as he's learning about Christ.

I don't know why such struggles befall people. Maybe our hope is in vain but I can't believe that or I would have died along time ago. I can't help but feel joy when I think of the truths in the restored gospel. The story is not finished right now. Keep doing all that you can do. Be faithful and diligent and pray for her.

Each person will recieve true understandings and will choose one way or another. Right now it seems like your moms judgement is clouded by pain, doubts, hurt and maybe even loneliness. Pray for her strength. A-train you seem like a strong person. Keep plodding forward.

I've found comfort in God's promises and through restored gospel principals. Even if in this mortal existance we don't see our loved ones where they should be on earth that doesn't mean the story is done. God has prepared a way whereby if they were unable here on earth but in the time before judgement to choose and serve. Maybe they needed to be taken to give them new environments and to build up the faith of those left behind? There might be people on the other side who can reach them that could never do so here. In the case of your mom if she doesn't have the opportunity to go back to what she used to on earth other plans may be in the works to accomodate her. For instance maybe your dads on the other side ready to recieve her and help get her prepare for judgement? I don't understand fully all the ins and outs but I do believe that God will take into account all factors we can not see and will not penalize someone unfairly. He will take into account all things and will make his final judgements accordingly.

Watching and worrying over those we love seems some of the hardest things in this life

Probably because trusting Gods promises and help, exercising faith and enduring personally to the end are the things we should be more focused on. He'll help us with the other

While daily scripture study is the backbone of spiritual understanding, what we see personally is our life's testimony.

My mother had an abusive father who left her family when she was very young. Her mother quickly remarried a man who was secretly a transvestite and more abuse ensued. Horrible and disgusting abuses were heaped to my mother and her siblings from both parents throughout their childhood and adolescence.

As a pre-teen the LDS missionaries baptized her family, but abuses went on behind closed doors. Still in her teens, my mother graduated High School early and moved in with the family of the Relief Society President in her Ward. At a Church activity she met my father, a recent convert, who she married at the age of eighteen.

When nineteen, she bore myself, at twenty years of age she had my sister, and then, when she was twenty five, she had another girl. Things were looking their best for my mom. I was six and had two younger sisters and a worthy priesthood baring father with a successful business in rare coins and jewelry.

My mother's rough beginnings were finally over and you would think her life would then be happily ever after. Until, one night thieves murdered my father at his business making my mother a widow with three children, one an infant, and no higher education at the age of twenty five.

Although the criminal went free, he was later convicted of another murder and now resides in a Texas prison. My mother worked what small jobs she could get and never found a suitable husband willing to provide for her and her children. We were living in poverty as my mother waited tables and had taxes withheld from her check which could be attributed to the garaunteed housing, meals, health care, cable television, and other freely provided eminities afforded her husbands killer in prison where he worked no job at all.

I got my first health insurance at the age of twenty five when I personally bought it myself. My mother's testimony of the Church and her faith in the LORD was unshaken through all of this. She remained valiant and raised her children in the gospel and in the Church until I was about seventeen.

Then, she quit reading her scriptures. Her prayers dropped off and eventually ceased. Church callings became burdensome. The tithing she'd paid through all these years of trial started to bother her. She'd decided she had paid enough and that her work as a single mother should afford her a break, or a time to do things for herself.

She fell away.

I still grieve and pray she will return.

But I take courage and stand with boldness in the memory of my mother who was so valiant and brave, who at an age younger than I am now bore a greater burden than I will probably ever see. And I understand now that only when we seperate ourselves from the Holy Ghost will our heart be hardened.

When we read not the scriptures and cease praying we partake no more of the Spirit. This is when the Evil One comes. He comes not in disease, he is not there in death, he has no power in our trials. But I have learned this one great lesson, this one great truth: that only when we harden our heart we are delivered over to the buffetings of Satan. (D&C 82:21)

Therefore 'let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.' (Alma 34:27)

GOD BLESS

-a-train

[CrimsonKairos]

Suffering teaches us what the Spirit can't.

That truth was revealed to me in a powerful way, and ever since it was, I've seen my experiences and the experiences of others validating it.

Suffering still hurts like heck, and I wouldn't seek it out or pray for more trials. I am grateful for what lessons I have wrung from life with my broken and blistered hands, though.