Turning Back

One day when I was serving in Mayfield, KY my companion and I had a day that was a complete bust.  Either no one was home, didn't have time for the missionaries, or straight up ignored our knocking.  Needless to say we were feeling a little discouraged, but we had decided to try to meet some people who had formerly been taught by missionaries.

I knew the streets of the city of Mayfield pretty darn good and so I made my way over to where the house of a former investigator was.  We were going down a street and then at the end of that street we would turn right and the house would be just up to the right. 

Well evidently I didn't know the streets of Mayfield like I thought because when we came to the intersection I found out the road I needed to turn onto was a one way street and I could only turn left.  This was the sign we saw at that intersection:





It seemed to mock all of our efforts of the day.  (It summed up our day so perfectly that we had to take a picture of it!)  By that point I wanted to just give up and go home and take a nap.  But we didn't and instead we found a different route to get the house, and of course, to follow the pattern of the rest of the day, no one was home.

I've had times on my mission when I've felt like I did that day.  All I wanted to do was give up and go home.  At a time when I was feeling discouraged and thought it would be easier to just give up, I started to notice a couple of people in the Book of Mormon who I think at one point could relate with me:

"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back..." (Alma 26:27)

"And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto the people, and they did cast him out, and he was about to return to his own land..." (Helaman 13:2) 

(Some other good scriptures on turning back are Alma 8:13-18, Helaman 10:1-12, D&C 67:14)

Turning back.  Easily one of the greatest temptations we face in life.  It's so much easier and more comfortable to return to our old ways and our old life. 

But we can't turn our backs on the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  We can't turn our backs on the mission the Lord has given us or on the covenants we have made with Him.  We can't turn back and not suffer.  We will suffer because we are turning away from the source of peace and happiness, even if the road before us may be difficult.

The Savior Himself taught us that, "No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)

So I guess what I'm trying to get across is that even when the road is hard and you face rejection on all sides and it seems so much easier to give up and turn back, the Lord will comfort, sustain, and support you.  He will bless you in your efforts to follow Him.  He's promised us that:

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)

Walking On Water

Growing up, I spent a lot of summer break in the pool we had in our backyard.  My parents had bought a really nice pool cover that we could open and close automatically.  My parents told us that the pool cover was so high quality that it could hold an elephant.  (I'm pretty sure they made that up.)  But we were convinced and had almost as much fun running across the pool cover as we did actually swimming in the pool.  I think I liked it so much because that was the closest I have ever gotten to actually "walking on water."

Recently I was at a meeting with a bunch of other missionaries and our mission president and we actually read through the story of Jesus walking on water.  Here's the account of it from Matthew 14: 

25. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 

26. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out with fear. 

27. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29. And he said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 

What I realized in reading through this account is that Peter understood that Christ has the power to save us.  We call Him the "Savior" because we know that if we call out "Lord, save me!" like Peter did, He will come to our rescue.

But I think that maybe Peter didn't fully realize that Christ not only can save us, but He can also empower us to do miraculous things, like walking on water.

I believe many of us can relate with Peter.  I certainly can.  I have a strong testimony that the Lord can rescue me from sin, sorrow, loneliness, pain, etc.  I know He can save us.  I have faith in His saving power.  But I am not so sure that I understand His enabling power. 

Elder David A. Bednar taught, "The enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement helps us to see and to do and to become good in ways that we could never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity."

Peter recognized that in his limited mortal capacity there was no way he could walk on water, especially in the midst of boisterously blowing winds, and so he began to sink.  The same goes for us.  But as we look steadfastly to Christ as our source of strength and power I know we will begin to see changes and miracles within ourselves.  We will be able to confidently say, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)

The Truth Shall Make You Free

The Savior once told a group of his followers, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  (John 8:31-32)

I am thoroughly convinced that we will never be able to fully progress in life if we don't accept and embrace certain truths.  These truths are what set us free from any doubts or sins that hold us back.

One truth that is essential for us to understand is that we are children of God.  As we embrace this truth we gain a confidence that we are of worth and value.  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf once said, "Brothers and sisters, the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love."  How could our lives be changed if we more fully believed this one most basic truth?

Another truth that sets us free is the understanding that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can repent and be forgiven of our sins.  This truth enables us to correct any behaviors or thoughts that are not in line with the Lord's standards and enjoy the freedom that comes as we keep the commandments of God.

I love what the third verse of the Battle Hymn of the Republic says:

In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me.

As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free,

While God is marching on.

 

We can help to make men free as we share these precious gospel truths with others.  I feel so blessed to be a full-time missionary because I get to witness people experience the liberating power of the Atonement.  The gospel of Jesus Christ truly changes lives.  I have seen it time and time again, including in my own life.

The Savior taught, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life." (John 14:6)  It is only through Jesus Christ that we can truly be free.