Lessons from Friends/Faith

I had a fun visit with some of our friends yesterday.  We talked a lot and I learned a lot.  At one point she said that she has to rely on the Savior and the Atonement to make up for the love that she cannot give her children.  She loves them but her weaknesses do not always show that and she prays that they will feel loved through the Atonement.  I loved that idea.  In my life right now I am functioning good but not perfect.  I need the Atonement to make up for what I cannot give my children right now. 

She also talked about how important siblings are.  That in China one of the problems with only having one child is that there are no aunts, uncles, or cousins.  The family network is gone.  How as parents we may not be able to give our children all the love that we would like but they are still getting loved from their siblings.  That as children we fought with our siblings but now as adults we are closest to our siblings.  This gave me great hope for my children, yes they fight and have hard times with each other but then they go and do something like Elizabeth, Samantha, and Michael all walking to Target together and Elizabeth buying each of them a little gift.  It was delightful to see them come home happy together.

Book of Mormon, Alma 43:19

"19  And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing—"

I want to be able to arm my children every day with these spiritual weapons and armor. As I talked with a friend yesterday I was reminded how as a leader of the youth and a leader in primary I could tell which children were "armed" daily with scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening. These children knew themselves, knew the gospel, and knew they were children of God. My patriarchal blessing promises me that if I do those things with my children they will all be saved in the kingdom of God. I know I am not perfect at a lot of things but I am perfect in trying to do those activities daily in my family's life. My greatest desire is for my family to be in the Celestial Room together when Michael goes through the temple for the first time. And then carry that devotion as a family on to the Celestial Kingdom.

Book of Mormon, Alma 44:3

"3  But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us; and ye behold that he has delivered you into our hands. And now I would that ye should understand that this is done unto us because of our religion and our faith in Christ. And now ye see that ye cannot destroy this our faith."

As the world changes around us and wickedness threatens us at every turn I am comforted with the knowledge that nothing can take away my faith. It can be tried, and tested, and challenged, but cannot be taken away unless I give it up. But I will not give it up. It is too precious and too valuable.