Circumstances Don't "Determine our Destiny"
By Julie Grange
Quotes taken from Bishop Waddell October 2017 Conference Talk
In 2007 we decided to take our children to Nauvoo. It would be the last summer we were all together, before missions, weddings and college. My sister's family lived in Omaha, Nebraska, so we would travel to her home, spend a few days, and travel on to Nauvoo.
While in Nauvoo we decided to save money on hotels as we had a large family of 8 and would need to rent 2 rooms, each night. We planned to pull our tent trailer out there and camp. Our plan didn't work out so well. As we were driving through Wyoming we discovered that in spite of our abundant preparations, the changing of our tent trailer tires resulted in a huge problem. The lug nuts didn't get tightened down, and with in a few hours they worked their way off and the tire nearly came off. We were blessed to notice something was wrong before we lost the tire completely.
We spent the entire next day of our trip in Rock Springs while they repaired the damage to the hub. We felt like we were robbed of a whole day of vacation time and we paid for a hotel that night. Not at all what we were expecting.
We missed out on a few things we had planned. But the visit with my Sister's family was a huge treat. Nauvoo was amazing. And the spirit was strong, we had a fabulous experience.
THEN . . . on the way home to Utah, the radiator sprung a leak, and the driver's side window got shattered and blown out. What was going on? Why were all these things happening to us? When the window blew out, I was sitting by my daughter, and I turned to her and had to either laugh or cry, I laughed. We were going to be home by 9:00 that evening, but with those two events we pulled in at 3:00 in the a.m.
I saw and felt a small glimpse of the pioneer trek. Their circumstances where harder than any of what we experienced but don't we all ask the same questions when troubles come along? . . .what is going on? . . . why me? . . . why us?
"There will be times in our lives when we find ourselves on an unexpected path, facing circumstances much more severe than a disrupted vacation."
Q "How do we respond when events, often out of our control, alter the life we had planned or hoped for?"
"We are spirit sons and daughters of God, and we accepted His plan by which [we] could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize [our] divine destiny as heirs of eternal life.”2 No amount of change, trial, or opposition can alter that eternal course—only our choices, as we exercise our agency."
We are of great worth never doubt your DIVINE DESTINY!
READ A STORY OF HYRUM SHUMWAY Who understood his divine destiny when life dealt him a hard blow.
In the above story "Hyrum Shumway’s life [was] changed by war, but he never doubted his divine nature and eternal potential." When this happens, when we do not doubt, when we understand and find our true potential, life is truly a miracle.
Our reactions to life's moments, trials, and circumstances are important. I often hear lately that we shouldn't react. I think that has been morphed from being careful about how we react into worrying that we will react harshly or wrong in a given moment. I believe our thoughts should be about HOW we will react.
"President Boyd K. Packer taught: 'The mercy and grace of Jesus Christ are not limited to those who commit sins … , but they encompass the promise of everlasting peace to all who will accept and follow Him. … His mercy is the mighty healer, even to the WOUNDED INNOCENT .'0"
Bishop Waddell tells us "In this mortal experience, we cannot control all that happens to us, but we have absolute control over how we respond to the changes in our lives. This does not imply that the challenges and trials we face are of no consequence and easily handled or dealt with. It does not imply that we will be free from pain or heartache. But it does mean that there is cause for hope and that due to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can move forward and find better days—even days full of joy, light, and happiness."
We have a daughter and 5 sons. One year we decided to move the entire family to a farming community in central Nevada. We had wanted too for several years and an opportunity to work there open up to us. So we took it. We sold our house on contract, since we had living arrangements provided for us. We were so excited for this experience. It would be soooo wonderful for our children.
I would home school the children as the bus ride to town took 2 hours one way. We were done with school in the 4 hours they would have spent on the bus. My husband took care of 1200 acres of farm land in the spring, summer and fall, and cattle in the winter.
We were there one year, and then got let go from the job. There were some troubles and the city folks were to blame. We were so sad. We worked hard for the next month to find another way to live out there and also have our needs met. It didn't happen and we moved home to Utah.
It was a good year, we loved it dearly, but now our lives were a mess. At least it felt like it at first. We didn't have a job, and we didn't have a house. My husband was able to work at odd jobs, but it took 2 1/2 years for him to get a job in the field of engineering again. And then, we were able to purchase a home.
I was always going to be an "at home mom" but all this forced me to go into the work field.
Again, none of this was in our vision. We had not planned on this hard turn of events. It did grow us however, and we learned how to stay happy as a family. I never could imagine how little we could live off of, but we made that work too.
Alma 36:3 “I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.”13
Christ is our greatest mentor, Alma gets this. His suggestion to put our trust in God is not just a clue, it works. We will see His hand in our lives, in our trials, when we have true trust in Him. When we focus all our strength and efforts in staying "worthy to receive." We will see His works, His love and His devotion to us. It will not be on our timing, but it will be in His timing. Patience is the key.
The Common Element
"There is a common element in the resulting trial or challenge—hope and peace are always available through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ."
I'm not going to lie and say our challenges of being under-employed for so long were easy, because of our faith in Jesus Christ. But I do want to say that He did "bear us up." And I saw His hand in our lives.
The Common Element
"There is a common element in the resulting trial or challenge—hope and peace are always available through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ."
I'm not going to lie and say our challenges of being under-employed for so long were easy, because of our faith in Jesus Christ. But I do want to say that He did "bear us up." And I saw His hand in our lives.
"In these latter days, the Lord has provided us with numerous resources . . . all of which are designed to help us look to Christ and place our trust in Him. Dealing with the challenges of life is not about ignoring reality but rather where we choose to focus and the foundation upon which we choose to build."
"These resources include, but are not limited to:
- Regular study of the scriptures and the teachings of living prophets.
- Frequent, sincere prayer and fasting.
- Worthily partaking of the sacrament.
- Regular temple attendance.
- Priesthood blessings.
- Wise counseling through trained professionals.
- And even medication, when properly prescribed and used as authorized."
I have come to understand this first hand. That when we choose to rely upon the Lord, wait patiently, "the hand of the Lord will be revealed."
Joy in the Journal Exercise
Use these questions to add meaning to your journal today. These questions are evocative and can help you dig deep. Answer at least one Question, but consider the others in your answer.
Q What are your thoughts and feelings about the circumstance?
Q What recourses will you choose to use, to increase your devotions to God?
Q How will you choose to respond?
***All blog posts in this section are from LDS Conference Talks. All Quotes are from one indiviual talk, with references to whom the speaker was also quoting. This is how I started recording my thoughts while reading Conference talks. Now I want to share them with you.***
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