Moments.

Despite the challenges we have been facing as we try to start our family, we continue to experience moments of hope, along with moments of heartache. Some news we received this past week was not what we had hoped it would be. As a result, I have had an emotionally and spiritually draining week as I tried to deal with my emotions, connect with Heavenly Father, and figure out what is next for not only me, but our little family. My thoughts have kept turning to a few things Ricky and I are discussing for the future, and I am just so grateful for his love and support during this difficult trial.

This week, I looked for answers in the Gospel Library app. I found a talk by President Thomas S. Monson entitled "Tears, Trials, Trust, Testimony" that he gave in the priesthood session, but I really resonated with the message of his talk.

He starts off with an experience he had with President Paul C. Child of the General Church Welfare Committee at a conference. President Child read Doctrine and Covenants 18: 10, 15, which says, "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. ... And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father." 

President Child asks the crowd, "What is the worth of a human soul?" He called on someone in the crowd, who responded after a while, "Brother Child, the worth of a human soul is its capacity to become as God."

President Monson then goes on to talk about Jesus's instructions to His Apostles in The New Testament: 

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:19-20).

He also talks about the early missionaries following the restoration of the gospel. The early members of the church―especially the early missionaries―all experienced many trials and hardships, which we can all relate to in one way or another. 

Though our trials and challenges are significantly different than those of the early saints, they are no less difficult for us. Like the early saints, as we have faith, move forward, and serve those around us, our faith and trust in the Lord will grow stronger. Our trials might not change or go away (they rarely do, it seems), but the Lord will be with us and strengthen us as we traverse the paths of life. Moments of strength, moments of love, and moments of joy will all come as we continue on our way. 

I don't feel like I got an answer to my prayers exactly, but I feel like I did get a small prompting for something that God does want us to prepare for, so we are going to go with that right now and see what happens. For now, this is our moment of promise. We look forward to our moment of joy.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun week! Drink lots of water―it's hot out!

Xoxo

Mattie