No Better Days Than These......

Yesterday I was getting ready to read over the 

visiting teaching message for the month 

when I remembered I had recently let my Ensign 

subscription lapse.

Next months is on its way now, 

but I was in a hurry and needed to scrounge up an

old issue fast.

I grabbed the first one I stumbled upon....

January 2011.

I stuffed it in my bag and the kids and I headed to church for scouts.

Once everyone was settled, I sat down to flip through

the articles to find one I thought might be applicable 

to our sisters this month.

I quickly chose 

MAKE YOURS A GREAT LIFE

This was such a sweet find.

I guess I skipped it the first go round through the magazine.

Paul V. Johnson is the speaker,

"Your future is not determined by the 

conditions around you.

It is determined by your faith, your choices, and your efforts."

He spoke a lot about the strong examples of

different people and times that have come before us.

He mentions many historical accounts of challenging 

times and circumstances when others lived, and went on 

to fulfill their destinies.

None of these people allowed the challenges they faced

or the conditions of their world to determine the trajectory

of their lives.  They went forward with faith, 

and through the blessings of the Lord, they all

became what they were meant to become.

 Your individual future is either bright or cloudy,

depending on YOU.

I guarantee that you will face challenges.

That is part of mortality.

It is expected.

It is OK.

In fact, it is necessary.

 From Howard W. Hunter - 

"I am here tonight to tell you that despair, doom, 

and discouragement are not an acceptable view

of life for a Latter-day Saint.

Knowing what we know, and living as we are supposed to live,

we really have no place, no excuse, for pessimism and despair.

(love this next part)

I have worked my way through the depression and managed

to go to law school while starting a young family

at the same time. 

I have seen stock markets and world economics go crazy......

So I am frank to say tonight that I hope you won't

believe all the world's difficulties have  been 

wedged into your decade, or that things 

have never been worse than they are for you personally, 

or that they will never get better.

There are no better days than these days,

because "these are your days" (Helaman 7:9)

You are on the earth at this time for a reason.

You have what it takes.

I think I love this so much because -

 A. I know it is true, that thought is comforting, and exciting.

B. It feels like tough love, and I am all for that. 
He is like wake up folks.

Come on....dig in and go for it!!

C. It reminds me of the baby blessing Kevin

gave to McCauley.  The only words I remember of 

any of our four kids blessings he gave are these -

McCauley, this is your time,  this is your turn on Earth.

It's our time.

I hope you go enjoy the full article.

It is definitely worth a second glance and 8 minutes of your time.

Have a wonderful day!