In Case You Missed it

Here's my farewell talk. Just imagine me standing nervously at the podium, making jokes that no one really thinks are funny, and speaking in a semi-monotone voice. It'll be like you were there!

 Covenants: God's Promises

The Merciful Contract

There are three kinds of very serious promises in the world. First and lowest is a legal contract, where two or more parties agree to a trade of goods or services in exchange for something the other party deems equally valuable. These are recorded on paper and signed by all contributors, and if broken, the offender faces serious monetary and possibly legal consequences. There is plenty of room for negotiation and both parties can supply their own terms to the contract.

Second comes the pinky promise. It is a serious and binding process between two individuals, often children and teenagers, where one party sets the terms and the other can negotiate, but usually ultimately accepts. It is sealed when the parties lock pinkies, and unless one of the parties crosses their fingers behind their back (which can easily be voided by the other stating “crosses don’t count”) the contract is effective immediately and unbreakable. If you break a pinky promise, you make a lot of people sad and people are less likely to promise you anything.

Highest of all (yes, even higher than a pinky promise) is a covenant. A covenant is also an agreement between two or sometimes more parties, except one party sets the terms and the other either accepts it and all the promised rewards that come with it, or rejects it and forfeits those rewards. There is no negotiation, no barter. In the church, the offering party is always God and the accepting party is always man. The contracts usually go as follows: We promise to keep certain statutes and rules that have been laid out before us and explained so we understand, and in return, we are promised rewards that far exceed our obedience. In the covenant of baptism, for example, we promise to try live the commandments laid out in the scriptures, and in exchange, we are promised forgiveness of our failings and, so long as we are faithful, the constant companionship of a member of the Godhead. The covenants are binding, and if we void our portion of the contract we forfeit the blessings and rewards promised us, just as any other contract However, the covenants we make, just like our Heavenly Father, are both merciful and just. The promises our Father makes us provide a way for forgiveness, and we are permitted to accept the terms of the contract over and over, despite our frequent failings. However, if we choose to reject such a generous offer, we are left without the promised rewards. The balance is already set—through the atonement of Christ we just have to add as much as we can to the scale and Christ will even out the rest. He has taken the full contract and permitted us to take part in it.

Like how a debt can be co-signed between two partners, usually a person with more wealth and one with less, so are the covenants we make co-signed with Christ. In the book “Believing Christ” by Stephen E. Robinson, he relates the parable of the bycicle. His daughter wanted a bycicle, but Elder Robinson knew it was far out of her capacities to pay for one. He told her to give everything she had by saving all of her money, and he would cover the rest.[1]

This parable is not only referring to the Atonement, but also with the covenants we make. We want the rewards of the temple, the rewards of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, but even if we save all our spiritual pennies we don’t have anywhere near the merit needed to receive such wonderful gifts. Fortunately we don’t have to do it alone. We’re in a partnership, and in that partnership we are only required to do as much as we can and are still given the reward despite our ultimate unworthiness as mortals.

However, just because we are asked to give so little compared to the Saviour does not mean it is easy. In the scriptures it often is said “it is by grace ye are saved after all ye can do.”[2] The same goes for our covenants. They’re surprisingly similar. Just because we are the lesser partners in the contract doesn’t mean that we can slack off and not give our whole selves. The Saviour has more to give than us, but our giving should be proportionate to what we can do. This is not an easy world to live in. It’s not an easy world to abide by the laws our Father set out. Christ says in Malachi that this world is like “a refiner’s fire…”[3] Allow me to go nerdy for a minute here and a bit blatant with the analogies. Refining consists of purifying an impure material, in this case a metal. It is different from things such as smelting in that smelting involves a chemical change to the raw material, whereas in refining, the final material is usually chemically identical to the original one, only purer.[4] In old times, before Nitric Acid could really be used, a refiner would sit at his fire, for example, with silver, and burn the impurities away until He could see his own reflection in the precious metal. That’s when He knew it is pure enough to work with. It hurts. The fire’s hot. The metal has to be melted to mould into the form the refiner wants it to be. In case you didn’t notice, we are not the refiner; we are the silver. The covenants we make are the moulds the silver is poured into after it is malleable enough to change form. They help us keep our form in the years to come, after the original firing process has cooled.

Ordinances—The “written agreement” of a Covenant

Ordinances are “sacred [ceremonies] or [rites] that show we have entered into a covenant with God.”[5] An ordinance is an outward manifestation of inward commitment, but ordinances and covenants go hand in hand. Why do we use ordinances, then, instead of just making the covenants and leaving it at that? By witnessing and often partaking of the ordinances we have been given, we remember the covenants we have made and refresh our commitment to them. Ordinances hold us accountable to the covenants and make the covenants easier to understand.

The Covenants We Make are Merciful and Important

Baptism/Sacrament

In our church, there are certain principles that cannot be fully seen or understood with a mortal mind. It’s just the way we are—we can’t understand celestial things in the state we are now. That’s where the symbols come in. As a church, we are surrounded by symbols and often don’t pause to think about what they mean. The sacrament, for instance, is administered every Sunday at our normal, commonplace meeting. That little bit of bread and water, though, symbolizes the covenants we have made, sacred promises with God that we are willing to remember Him and stand as His witness at all times and in all things and in all places. We promise to remember the Savior, and at the end we say “Amen,” a Hebrew word that means to be firm, reliable, and faithful until the next time the word Amen is used. It also means, “so be it,” meaning that by accepting that prayer we accept any consequences that come with not keeping the covenants we have made. In essence, the word amen binds us even before we take the sacrament. Surely this sacred and binding covenant and its accompanying ordinance deserve a little more than just a passing glance each Sunday.

One important thing about the sacrament that shows the unending mercy of God is that the wording of either prayer does not say basically “if you sin you’re condemned.” The prayers say that if we are “willing to take upon [us] the name of [the] Son, and always remember Him and keep His commandments which He has given [us]….”[6]  That we may have the Spirit, His Spirit, the third member of the Godhead, always with us. We promised when we took the bread and water earlier today that we were willing to try. God knows we’re not perfect, and He’s not going to make us covenant to do something that He knows we are unable to do. It’s like Elder Holland said in April’s General Conference: “Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with”[7] He makes it possible for us to keep our covenants because He knows He can’t expect perfection from us. We promise every Sunday that we are willing to do our best, and even if we make a mistake, it’s okay, as long as we try and do better the next time around. The reason we’re on this earth and the center principle of this church is the plan of mercy, after all.

We are offered the blessings of making covenants as early as possible. Why are we allowed to take a step into the path of exaltation as early as 8 years old? Obviously an eight year old doesn’t have the same knowledge as a 19 year old, and a 19 year old doesn’t have the same knowledge of a 40 year old. Each of us is only responsible for what we know and understand. But the longer we have those blessings, such as the gift of the Holy Ghost, the more we learn to understand and appreciate them and the more good we can do for ourselves and our future families.

Temple

If we take the sacrament weekly, doesn’t that show how important it is to frequently renew our covenants of all kinds? Why, if we take the sacrament so often, should it be acceptable to shirk in performing the other ordinances leading to exaltation? Here we sit, with a temple just 15 minutes away. Do we take advantage of it? Are we participating in and renewing the covenants that will let us become Gods and Goddesses in our own time? Those of you who not have received your endowment yet, do you still try to attend the temple as often as possible, to perform sacred saving ordinances and prepare yourself for the day you’ll go inside? I think if we truly understood the importance of the covenants we make in the temple, no power in heaven or earth would be able to keep us away from it. No power on earth would keep us from striving to be worthy to enter its doors. As it is, I feel we have grown casual. I know, I’m a 19 year old girl. I only went through the temple 4 months ago. I really have no right to lecture anyone on temple attendance, but I had the opportunity to really learn to appreciate its blessings. The first month after I received my endowments, I was so desperate to understand that I often went to the Logan temple more than once a week with some friends who were also preparing for their missions. After a while, we only went once a week, but the difference it made in my life and my insanely busy schedule was really amazing. I’ll admit, I’ve slacked off since I got home and the contrast is stark. I echo the General Authorities and invite everyone to make temple attendance a regular part of their schedule.

Blessings of Keeping Covenants

Guidance

Why are missionaries asked to make more covenants before they leave to teach the world about the restored gospel? The promises we make open the doors to the fullness of the Holy Ghost, which is one of the greatest gifts ever given to mankind. We send 18 and 19 year old kids out to preach the gospel to people much older then them? How on earth do we expect any conversions to take place without that Holy Ghost? I have a fair number of friends returned from and currently on missions, and the impact the Holy Ghost has made in their life as missionaries is impressive, even just hearing about it. One of my friends said that it helped him and his companion with everything from planning to contacting. How do you expect two complete strangers to come together, live with each other and constantly be in each other’s company, and not murder each other? There’s got to be some help there, more than any mortal can give.

Even just in daily life, this world gets harder and harder to live in. The fire is getting hotter. Each of us has our own special group of trials that were made just for us, and without the guidance and influence of the Holy Ghost; they become a lot harder to deal with. With baptism and confirmation, we allow the Spirit to enter our lives more fully so we can have help in everything we need. I am so grateful for the guidance of the Spirit in my life.

Comfort

Covenants also help on the days there seems to be no point in getting out of bed. Whether that be the loss of a spouse, child, or friend, or just the debilitating loneliness that comes from knowing you won’t see someone again for a long time, the covenants I have made help me realize that this life is short enough that I will see them again soon.

When I was younger, two of my very good friends were sisters, Kylene and Hayley Knutsen. Kylene was my age and Hayley was two years younger. My mother substitute taught for their mother and we generally got along quite well. Hayley had leukemia that went into remission off and on throughout her life. She dealt with everything, from dialysis to radiation and chemo to bone marrow transplants. She went into remission, but her body was scarred and needed help. She needed an extremely expensive liver transplant, but Haley never faltered with her smile or her positive attitude. She was a beacon of hope and love to the community. She brought the entire city of Chandler together in a massive effort to help pay for her medical costs. One of the high schools raised over $30,000. Together, we as the city raised over $175,000 in the fundraiser “Hope For Haley.” She was going to get the liver transplant she needed. Prayers were being answered. Then, the Monday before she flew out to be evaluated, the doctors told the family the worst news—the cancer was back.  They couldn’t operate and there was nothing they could do except maker her comfortable. On September 15, 2005, Haley passed away at age 9.

As an 11 year old kid, I had already been baptized. I didn’t fully understand, but seeing the funeral, held in a massive catholic church that was packed past capacity for this little nine year old, it tore me to see her family so completely heartbroken. They thought she was going to beat it. Here was a 9 year old who had never deserved any of what she went through. She was brave and cheerful and kind. She was sweet and always optimistic. I rarely heard anyone in her family complain. But the wrenching loneliness that comes after a death of one so young is almost unimaginable. I know tragedy has struck this ward as well and I am speaking far too close to home for some. But through the covenants that we have, because of the knowledge we have, we can “Enjoy the same association we have in this life in the world to come.”  We know, through the promises made at the altar in the temple, that no matter what happens, if we are faithful we will have those we were separated from with us again. What a joyful reunion it will be.

The power behind the covenants we make is real. It is eternal. And nothing will take those blessings from us except our own foolishness. I cannot wait for the day when I am sealed to my future husband and know that despite what comes, we are together for eternity. We have been promised that we will be given all that the Father has, but it will require sacrifice on our part. But Brother Pilimai said it right last week in his Sunday school lesson—“All that the Father has is certainly worth all I have to give to get it.”

I am so blessed to be a member of this church where I can receive such rich rewards when I am nowhere near sinless. I am grateful for the mercy of our Heavenly Father, and I’m thankful He truly is our Father and He acts like one. He is not distant, He is anxiously aware of each and every one of us. He wants us to grow up and become like Him, and through the covenants we make on this earth we are taking steps towards that all important day when we will be admitted into His presence and live with Him and our families for eternity. I cannot wait to tell the world—well, maybe just Louisiana, about what’s in store for us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

---

[1] Robinson, Stephen Edward. Believing Christ: the parable of the bicycle and other good news. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 1992. Print.

[2] 2 Nephi 25:23

[3] Malachi 3:2, 3 Nephi 24:2

[4] R. F. Tylecote, A history of metallurgy (Institute of materials, London 1992).

[5] Preach My Gospel. Salt Lake City, Utah: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2004. Print.

[6] Doctrine and Covenants 20:77-79

[7] Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe” General Conference April 2013

There Can Be Miracles If You Believe....

Once upon a time Katie and I sang that in like 3rd or 4th grade. It was supposed to be a duet and the choir was supposed to come in at the end, but before they could, the guy in charge of the music stopped it. It was a wee bit awkward.

But that's not the point!!
The point is that miracles do happen. And I don't just mean in the past. I don't even mean in the way the sun rises and spring (eventually) comes. I mean, real, true miracles occur. God hears our prayers, our pleas in the middle of the night. He knows our sorrows, and counts our tears. And sometimes, if it is His will, He sees fit to completely show His hand in our life.

I shall now illustrate this point.
1. 9th grade. 9th grade was both a really bad and a really good year. I had just moved up from Arizona, and started going to school in a state where I literally didn't know anyone outside of family. I was terrified. I wanted to go back to Basha, or even *shudder* Hamilton ;).  But as my parents were deciding on whether to let us stay in AZ until the house sold, or move up to Utah and move in with my grandparents, my mother felt prompted that we needed to move. Bless my amazing Dad, he didn't even question the prompting, and we moved. I was so mad at them for a while. Furious. We moved in with my grandparents and Katie and I were back to not only sharing a room, but sharing a bed.
We had a month with my grandparents before my amazing grandfather passed away. I got to spend a month living with him, laughing with him, and making memories. I still remember, we were sealing the deck after the annual pool-closing party, and as I was running up to the gazebo to put something away, Grandpa turned the hose on me and totally soaked me! As furious as I was with mom and Dad, I wouldn't trade that month for anything in the world.
Granted, 9th grade, as previously stated, was not a good year. I got bullied, ruthlessly, by a group of kids that ended up in one of them flat out punching me in the face. I cried a lot. I had to experience my first real winter. But I also had the chance to make several very good friends, which surprisingly enough, I have more of my friends from 9th grade up in Logan than I do friends from high school. The Lord knew what was best for me in the long run. It wasn't what I wanted, but it was an absolute miracle. It wasn't coincidence that I got to spend that last month with my Grandpa.

2. Mission call. The whole mission process was a miracle. In the summer after I graduated from high school, I felt like I should really study out of Preach My Gospel. My entire life, I had felt like I was going to go through the temple earlier than 21. Sure enough, October came around, and President Monson made an announcement that changed my life. Absolutely and completely. I know knew why my friends and I had been preparing as if to go on a mission. Because we were going on missions.
I was nervous about my call. Everyone thought I was going to Russia, to be honest. I knew I'd go stateside, simply because of some medical and emotional issues that I won't discuss here, but I was really worried I'd open my call and be disappointed in where I was going. I wasn't even sure this was the right decision. Plus, after I broke my wrist I was angry and upset and scared it would alter my report date. Every single one of those concerns was washed down the drain as I read my call. Louisiana. Practically a different country. July 24th. My wrist would be fine by then (actually, it's almost fine by now). Most importantly, I knew that this is where the Lord had ALWAYS planned for me to go. It was a miracle in timing, and a miracle in placement. This mission has changed my life already, and I'm not even on it yet!

3. I am not going to relate my entire LDV story, as it's been stated before. But Latter-Day Voices is a miracle. Absolutely. 100%. The people I've met, the things we've done have been perfectly and exactly what I needed in life. It didn't make the problems go away, but it certainly made them easier to bear.

There's another one still in progress right now, but it's one I have been praying for for almost a month now. He HEARS us! He knows us and only needs us to ask before He pours out blessings upon us! Every cry is heard. No matter if it's simply "I can't find my car keys" or "I really need to accompany this song well" or "I need to find a person's name to take to the temple today." Even if it's "I just need someone to smile and say hello" or "I just need to know there's someone listening." Ask, and ye shall receive. And He will answer in a way that is the best for OUR needs. This isn't just a generalized formula for output of blessings. This is an ISP--and individualized salvation plan. He's our Father. He knows EXACTLY how we need to receive blessings. Sometimes it's the 2x4 method, I can testify to that. But once you learn that, you will see that miracles are everywhere. Even big miracles are everywhere.

Guys! this is the GOOD NEWS!
AMEN till next time!
<3Cass

The Plan

Sometimes, all you can do is cry.

Has life ever gotten so overwhelming that you feel a literal burden that seems to be crushing you? A weight that can't be lifted, no matter what you do?

Welcome to the last seven days of my life.

It seemed like everything was out to get me this past little bit. I went home for Easter which was fantastic, but I was irritable with my sister and antisocial at best. I was (and I'll admit, still am) struggling with some of my roommates, trying my hardest not to bite their heads off. Allergy season started. I got sick. My voice wasn't working the way it needed to, and I have a recital on Saturday. Homework piled up.  One thing after another after another. Each a burden wearing me down a little more, slowly crushing the tender spirit that is slowly growing inside me. I have become a confidante of one of my very dear friends, which while I am glad to be, I struggle with the added difficulty of helping her bear her own, much more difficult burdens.

Tonight was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. I slipped up today, decided I wasn't going to go to the temple and do initiatories and stayed in bed for most of the day because I wasn't feeling my best. To be honest, I just couldn't deal with people and friends and society. I knew I had to go to my last two classes, Abnormal Psychology and Latter-Day Voices, of course. I always look forward to LDV but was struggling to feel the Spirit the whole day. Even yesterday, I put my own desires above that which I knew I should have been doing. As I was sitting in the back row with my amazing friends Dakota and Adrienne and Scott, I was also praying silently to Heavenly Father to forgive me for slacking off. I needed the Spirit, perhaps more than ever. I needed to be the missionary I'm preparing to be to help my friend, and I needed to somehow keep up the happy demeanor I had been putting up. I had been proud--I hadn't let anyone in on the fact I was really, really struggling to even get out of bed some days.

Heh. So much for the happy facade. We were singing this beautiful piece, "My Shepherd Shall Supply My Need" arranged by Mack Wilberg. We are working on our show, which is "In Defense of Families." Something about the song just absolutely shattered my outer shell. I couldn't sing, I couldn't pretend everything was all right anyomore. It was fortunate that we sang it towards the end of class, because I barely mangaged to make it back to my backpack before I just LOST it. And I mean like sobbing hysterically. I finally realized, at that point, that I couldn't bear this load by myself.

Of course, my incredible friends immediately asked if I needed a blessing. I've had more Priesthood blessings this school year than I have had in my entire life, if you exclude patriarchal and baby blessings. Which granted, isn't saying much.

I can't remember much of the blessing, aside from the peace that came from it. But the theme and the one thing I gleaned from it was this:

The Lord has a plan for each and every one of us. Not just the overarching plan of salvation, but an individual plan, personalized for the specific trials, strengths and weaknesses we all have. He knows what we are going to go through, for He has gone through all of it Himself. He knows how best to help us. If we wander, He will bring people into our lives and place them there so we can come back one day. The path of course, has less heartache of sin if we don't stray, but there is always a way back. He's not just going to leave us out there alone and helpless.

I guess this post is a story time.
Once upon a time there was this girl who was terrified of the thought of going to second semester without her best friend. She had just started to get back on the path, and was afraid that she was going to slip once again because no one was there to help her and keep her in check.
On the first Tuesday of the semester, this girl went to her very first institute class up in Logan--mission prep. She volunteered to play the piano and was playing prelude when she saw a friend from high school come and sit down right behind where her stuff was. After the opening song, the girl went back to her seat and caught up with her friend, who she didn't even know went to Utah State. The girl's friend, obviously listening to the Spirit, invited the girl to audition for Latter-Day Voices that afternoon, and the girl accepted. She made it in the choir and it changed her life.

If you hadn't guessed, I was that girl. The Lord had inspired the beautiful Sara Wilcox to sit behind me that day, and inspired her to invite me to audition. Brother Salmond and the Presidency were inspired to allow me to become a Latter-Day Voice. I don't think the choir needed me as much as I needed that choir. The Lord knew what I needed. He had a plan for me which was more perfect than I could have ever imagined. Never have I ever found a place where I fit in so perfectly. Never have I ever had that number of friends who keep the covenants they have made. Never have I ever been so blessed.

We're all struggling. I know that. Some have been tried and tempted more than I could possibly imagine. But the Lord knows you personally. He knows your desires, your hopes and dreams, your fears and falls. And He knows you. He has descended below all things that He might know how best to succor His people. I know is personally and through the stories of my friends. I know that one day, all will be made well. Every tear will be wiped away and we will be encircled about in the arms of His love. Standing in a circle of friends after that very inspired blessing, I caught a glimpse of how perfect that day is going to be.

I will leave this post with a quote from Stephen E. Robinson, from his book Believing Christ.

"In Gethsemane and on Calvary, in His horrible suffering and death, the Savior descended below all things, just as in his resurrection He ascended above all things. Between those two events, Jesus Christ compassed either personally or vicariously the whole range of possible human experiences and circumstances from the worst to the best.  He has been lower than the lowest of us, and higher than the highest, so "that he comprehended all things." Both spatially as the light of creation and experientially of the Atoning One, Christ fills all things and is in and through all things. He has been everywhere. Thus when we are tempted to think that our sins have put us beyond the understanding or reach of God, we are simply mistaken, and we grossly underestimate the scope of the Atonement. However low we may fall, our Redeemer has already been there, and He went there for the sole purpose of finding and bringing us lost sheep back. I have occasionally heard people say things like, "how can come back to Church, or pray, or approach God after what I've done. I've sunk too low; I've put myself beyond His reach. I'm to vile to save." To this the Savior responds essentially, I know where you are; I've been where you are-- and worse than that. I know what you're feeling, for I have felt it. I remember my own pain when I went through it, and my heart aches for you. But I want you back. I'll even carry you back if you'll let me."

I love you all. Stay firm and true until next time, and I say these things in the name of our Brother, Friend, and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

PS: I'm a music junkie, so here's the incredible song that caused this post..
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzARLyXJjec

Even if you Don't Like Lemonade

I always disliked the saying "when life throws you lemons, make lemonade." For one thing, if all you had in your lemonade was lemons, everyone would hate you, because who just squeezes a lemon and drinks it straight? That's right, NOBODY unless you're Chuck Norris or something.

Now, I'm not going to try and be all clever and deep and meaningful here, because you see, I am about due for another lovely little packet of happiness (read: hydrocodone). But even though I don't get many people reading this, it allows me to do something produvtive and is a bit of a cathatsis for sitting in bedrest all day.

I didn't expect this to be so hard. Once upon a time, I broke my wrist. The ER staff told me it looked fairly clean and that I shouldn't need surgery. Well, they must of misinterpreted the x-rays, because this has been a really lousy spring break. I had to get a plate and some screws put into my wrist on Tuesday.

Let me interject--yes, I'm interrupting myself. This was my third surgery. I have had two pretty intensive shoulder surgeries, one in May of 2009 and one in November of 2010. They were not fun, to put it lightly. But this? This has easily been the worst surgery I've been through, because my body has refused to let me sleep the pain off. Between 10:00 Tuesday evening and 11:00 Wednesday night, I slept 2 and a half hours. Today was better--my merciful surgeon prescribed me a low dosage sleeping medication that let me sleep about 6 hours. Hopefully I should be back to normal tonight.

But, as my loopy self was sitting in bed just praying for some sleep that never came, I realized why that  little lemonade adage was so popular. Yes, lemons are sour and no one wants to eat them outright. But you can't just look at an experience and see the bad to it. You have to bring your own good into it--sugar's not that expensive, and neither is a little optimism. I've just been stingy with my sugar in this experience because it happened at a really bad time. Well, I'm not going to make it too sweet, because nobody likes that either. But, the good and the bad do have to balance out. Yes. I broke my wrist pretty badly. But we have the medication and technology to fix it so that I can play piano again. Yes, it's made me pretty helpless, but it's also made me rely a lot more on the Lord. I've been able to spends a lot more time with my roommates and with my family. I've been forced to slow down and just take time to let myself heal. So no, I'm not a huge fan of lemonade, but sometimes you need the sour to balance out the sweet. And who knows? There might be someone down the road who needs that outlook to keep them walking.

Now, though, on to pain pills! Hurrah!

Also! I went through the Draper Temple on Saturday. I will echo what all of the General Authorities and leaders of the Church have said--do everything you can to obtain a Temple Recommend. If you have one, go often. The peace is beyond description. The blessings are without measure.

Questions? Feel free to email me at c.chey.steele@gmail.com or just drop 'em below!

Cass

I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!

-->

No. I'm not going to Panem, thank goodness.

I'm going to Baton Rouge, Louisiana! I know, everyone thought I was going to go international, but as I opened my call letter I knew but at that moment that the Lord has been the one who issued my call, and therefore that I was where I needed to be. As I read the words "Louisiana Baton Rouge  I knew it was right. The most powerful sense of peace I've ever felt in my life came over me and I knew that that confirmation was assuring me that the Lord approved of what I was doing, and that he said he would send me somewhere where I could touch the lives of others that maybe others couldn't touch. I already love the people, and haven't even met them yet! I report July 24th, 2013. Pioneer Day!

It hasn't been an easy route to this call. The week before I got my call was one of the worst weeks my life. It seems to the adversary was trying to throw everything he could at me to discourage me from accepting a call that the Lord had extended. Monday, my sister-in-law miscarried her baby. Is a huge blow to the entire family because we'd been praying so hard for her to keep it. I know that my pain was nothing compared to hers, but it was still hurts me as her sister-in-law. Tuesday, I found out one of my acquaintances up at Utah State has passed away after a series of illnesses. He was blind and had a wonderful seeing eye dog named Huck, and we had just really hit off our friendship before we broke at the semester. I wasn't really super good friends with him, but the blow took me by surprise and also really hurt.I felt like I was constantly in danger of losing my temper, and I could never really find any peace. Except for when I was at the Temple. I was always comfortable there. Finally, I was over hanging out with some friends at the Sports Academy and jumping on a trampoline when I jumped off and landed on my hand. I broke my wrist--snapped at the head of the radius. I spent 3 hours in the emergency room. They had to set the bone and now I'm stuck in a splint until tomorrow when I get it casted. This was the final hardship of a horrible week. 

All of this happened to the week my call was made. I understood something that week. The Lord does not permit the righteous to suffer adversity because He enjoys watching us in pain. He permits us to suffer because he knows we will grow. Rest assured, the pain does not come from Him.

Sometimes, the pain is because he needs someone else at home. Sometimes, it's that the timing isn't right. And sometimes, the pain comes from your own willfulness to do things you're not prepared to do. But I promise you: any pain you suffer, the Savior has already suffered. He will be with you every step of the way. He will not flee nor fail you.

Elder Bednar spoke tonight at a CES devotional about letting your will be swallowed up in the will of the Father. We have to have the faith to accept His will, regardless of our desires. I really encourage you to go watch it on lds.org. it really is a powerful talk given by an authorized servant of the Lord.

 I am so grateful to have the friends I do. Its hard at this age to be committed to the gospel, yet the people around me are incredible examples of just that. I feel like I could go on for hours of what I've learned from them, But I won't. But I love being around worthy Priesthood holders and righteous Daughters of God. I love that my friends are in tune with the Spirit or working to be. I just love my friends :)

 Well, that's all for tonight. It's taken me a while to type this, being one handed. God be with you 'till we meet again.