He will.

I came home this weekend because Friday was my Spring Day (I go to BYU and we don't normally have a Spring Break but this year they gave us one day...I'll take it!) and I had some things I wanted to do at home. In addition to that, this weekend was SO needed!! ❤

A week or so ago I was reading about the hymn "I Stand All Amazed" and I remembered that, at the time the hymn was written, 'confused' meant 'in awe', or something like that. I can't find what I read, but I know that I read it! Anyway, as we were singing that hymn before the sacrament, I thought that its line "Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me" holds well with either definition. Or both together. I am indeed awed and confused at the grace that He offers. Awed that He loves me enough, even when I've sinned, and made mistakes, to offer it; and confused as to why He offers it again and again. Some days I think that I'm nothing special–that I'm not worth it. But "I tremble to know that for me he was crucified, That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died." For me. He was crucified for ME. He suffered for ME. I'm worth it. At least, to Him. I've made plenty of mistakes. I've sinned. But still, I am worth it to Him. He hasn't given up on me. So I shouldn't either. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

A couple of things that were said throughout sacrament meeting and Sunday School today stood out to me, so I just wanted to shared them:
Learning doesn't help until we gain some experience(s).
Our life here on earth is like an apprenticeship.
We don't know the good we do when we share the gospel.

Relief Society was PERFECT! The lesson was one my singles ward did a couple weeks ago, but I really needed it this week. It's the one called, "Daughters of God" and I needed it. Here are some of the things that we talked about/were mentioned:

• Heavenly Father knows you and hears you.
• One woman said that she's always had a hard time with the phrase/word 'meek and submissive' in the scriptures, but that she had recently learned of the meaning of 'meek' in Greek. I'm going to share what I got from what she said and then from what I got doing a simple Google search. She said meekness is a war horse before battle–ready, determined, strong, powerful. In the Google search, I found this, which is essentially the same thing but better: "In the Greek New Testament, 'meek' is from the Greek term praus. It does not suggest weakness; rather, it denotes strength brought under control. The ancient Greeks employed the term to describe a wild horse tamed to the bridle. In the biblical sense, therefore, being meek describes one who has channeled his strengths into the service of God."

I LOVED that! I had never thought before that being meek could have negative connotations, but I am grateful for the sister who brought this new definition of meekness to me.

Another thing we talked about was tender mercies, and how grateful we are for women who listen to the Spirit's promptings and are answers to our prayers. I had such an experience only yesterday. My friend called me out the blue and I was so happy and grateful! It was good to talk to her, seeing as how I don't get to see or talk with her all that often anymore, and I miss her. It was good to know that she was thinking of me. I've been struggling a little lately and the phone call from her was exactly what I needed. ❤

God knows us. He hears us. He knows what we need and who we need it from. He knows your struggles, and your insecurities, and your doubts, and your wants, wishes, needs. He knows it all. He knows YOU and He loves you so, so much. And He will help you become better. He will give you the strength and determination to do what you want/need to. He will give you peace. He will give you the time that you need. He will make it all work out. He will. 

Xoxo

Mattie

He will always help you in His own time.

Today was Stake Conference. It was so good!! They mostly had students address us, but they did have one of the stake councilors, a stake Relief Society advisor, and our stake president speak.

President Bahme talked about The Book of Mormon, and he addressed several scriptures from it:
1st Nephi 3:7–He said to never, ever quit. The Lord will help you succeed. Heavenly Father doesn't give us commandments that we can't keep without His help or the help of others.
Mosiah 3:19–The natural man is an enemy to God. Don't be deceived by those who follow the natural man.
Ether 12:27–If we humble ourselves, God will show us our weaknesses and make them strengths.

Brother Maximo Acevedo:

He talked about a couple of different things that we can do to help hasten the work of salvation:
1. Principle of understanding. President Boyd K. Packer said, "True doctrine understood changes attitudes and behavior." If they don't understand how it applies to them, it has no meaning for them. Maximo said that we have to be simple and clear. We have to help others see how the gospel can help and apply to them.
2. Reaching out to family. The Lord uses families to share the gospel. Through our families He can help us live and share the gospel. Maximo said that we have to reach out to our family. "Never can I repay thee Lord. But I can love thee." (My words here –>) We show our love for Him by sharing His gospel and loving our family and friends. 

Sister Cienna Herlihy:
She talked about her conversion story, and she said that Heavenly Father will always answer your prayers. Maybe not in the way that you expected or wanted, but it will always be in the way that you needed.

Brother Sam Clough:
He talked about his conversion story, too. He had a friend who was a really good example to him. He said that they (meaning the Mormons) had happiness. Not like watching Netflix happiness, but they had joy. He said when he was taking the discussions and going to church, they treated him like a friend. They made the decision up to him and didn't push it. What makes us happy is living with Christlike attributes. "You've got all of the gear, but none of the game." We have what we need; what are you going to do with it?

Sister Emma Rose Phipps:
She talked about the Sabbath Day. She said that the Sabbath isn't about limiting what you do; it's more about doing right. 

Elder Russell M. Nelson, in the April 2015 conference, said, "I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts." He asked the question, "What sign do I want to give to God?"

She said that the Sabbath Day is so important to help us draw nearer to God.

Sister T.K. Plant:
She is the Relief Society advisor for one of the other wards. She talked about the Sacrament. The sacrament helps us mend, renew, and restore our baptismal covenants. Without His Atonement, there would be no power in the Sacrament. She said we need to understand three things:
1. History. The passover is the sacrifice of a spotless lamb. The week of the passover, Christ (who was perfect and spotless of sin) was sacrificed and crucified.
2. Covenant. The sacrament prayers remind us of our covenants. We are witnessing to God that we are taking on His name. Since we take on His name, our actions reflect on Him.
3. Promise. "Bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it that they may always have His spirit to be with them." It is this that changes us little by little.
Covenants allow us to transcend the natural man. As we progress in our diligence, we will be prepared for eternal life. Christ had nothing to gain in His sacrifice. (My words –>) He just loved us so much that He would do anything for us–even die.

President James Rasband:
He is the stake president. I absolutely LOVED his talk!!!!

If things haven't gone right, it's okay. Everything we do is harder at first. It's always harder the first time. If you stay at it, things will come–you'll improve. No matter how much you grow, though, there is always room to improve. "Trust the Savior and His love." No matter how many times you've fallen, Christ's hand remains outstretched. He used an example of parallel parking. It's always embarrassing when you fail the first time, and there are people all around you, watching you not do so hot in parallel parking. You're embarrassed and you drive away to find an easier parking spot. This is like our life. Our perspective is very different from the Lord's. He only cares that we're trying. He knows as long as we keep trying, we'll get the car parked. You'll get there–just keep at it. No one else is there on that whole street–it's just you. Just keep trying. The Lord will be there. It's okay if things take a little bit of time. It takes time to develop ourselves into who the Lord wants us to be. [I especially loved that he mentioned Physical Science 100 and American Heritage because I am taking both of those classes and they're sometimes a struggle. But that's okay. I just have to keep trying. :)]

I know that Heavenly Father will always help us. I know that life is sometimes really hard, but I know that He will not leave you alone; He will help you, and He will send you angels from beyond the veil and on this earth to help you in your times of need. I know that He answers your prayers in His own time. I know that by making the Sabbath a delight, you are showing Him that you love Him and respect Him and want to draw nearer to Him. I know that the sacrament is the most important part of sacrament meeting, and that it is a reminder to us of our covenants to the Lord, and of His promise to us as we keep our covenants. I know that it's okay if things don't work out. I know that the Lord will be there to help, and I know that if you keep trying, it'll get better. You'll get better and it will work out. :)