but we don't have to feel that way.
"O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions? And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy? Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul." {2 Nephi 4:26-28}
our Savior wants us to feel the peace He offers. He wants us to continually move forward. He wants us to try a little harder to be a little better. He wants us to grasp onto the hope He willingly gives us. He wants us to know that He has risen & because of that fact, we can conquer all things because of Him. we can fulfill the purpose of this life because He lives.
the purpose of this life is to become like Him.
becoming like Him is the process of a lifetime. it isn't completed overnight. it isn't completed in a year. it isn't completed on your mission. certainly, we can have days and nights, years, and mission experiences that help us to become like Him. it is a day by day, minute by minute, second by second conscious effort to become better.
"Try a little harder to be a little better." -- President Gordon B. Hinckley
"Do not expect to become perfect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you were today." -- President Lorenzo Snow
the only way we can work towards becoming like Him is through the help of our Savior's Atonement. sometimes it's hard to know how to use the Atonement. but here's the best news: the Savior can help you with that too! one of my favorite hymns tells us exactly how He does that!
sometimes when we describe a person's favorite hobby or duty, we say, "he lives for sports." or "she lives to care for her babies."
"He lives to bless me with His love. He lives to plead for me above. He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need. He lives to grant me rich supply. He lives to guide me with His eye. He lives to comfort me when faint. He lives to hear my soul's complaint. He lives to silence all my fears. He lives to wipe away my tears. He lives to calm my troubled heart. He lives all blessings to impart." {Hymn no. 136, I Know That My Redeemer Lives}
because our Savior has risen and is indeed, our Savior, He lives for us to become like Him.
our Savior lives to help us in ANY way He can. He gave everything He had to offer to make it possible for us to become like Him. we have the best Support System we could ever ask for. and we can succeed with His help and His hope.
"My God hath been my support; he hath led me through my afflictions..." {2 Nephi 4:20}
i am so grateful for the peace the Savior brings. becoming like Him is in our Heavenly Nature. i'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who put me on this earth at this time not to fail, but to succeed gloriously. and with the help of my Heavenly Father and dear Brother, i can do just that. and so can you.
happy easter everyone! #hallelujah