Thoughts For the Week - 3/16/20

 Dear family,

What a crazy week.. I have had some cool studies and thoughts about the world we live in right now that I wanted to share. I'll reference a few different sources in them.

First, the emphasis we have been placing on this year is the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith. As I have studied that I realized that we are living in similar circumstances. 200 years ago the world was in complete commotion just as it is now. We have been confined to our homes and have had to result to our own individual study of the gospel. Well, Joseph Smith too had to reside to studying within his home. He prepared himself and individually had the sacred experience of the first vision. We, as we have studied and prepared individually in our homes can be ready to receive divine revelation and guidance given from God through a living prophet despite our circumstances. 

Second, in the Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, he states a few points I really enjoyed. "It is the business of those who profess to be engaged in His work to move on, to go forward,... without murmuring or having to be urged; so long as there remains a step forward to be taken, that step should be taken... It may appear through our ignorance in not understanding fully the ways of the Lord and His purposes, that in our onward march in carrying out the program before us, we sometimes come to a stopping place for the time being, but the fact is; there is no such thing in the program, and there cannot be, providing the people continue their labors putting their trust in the promises of God... This is the work of God, and He is directing its course and progress in the earth... The Lord very possibly may cause a heavy pressure to bear upon is, such as will require great sacrifice at the hands of his people. The question with us is, will we make that sacrifice? This is the work of the Almighty and the blessings we look for which have been promised, will come after we have proven ourselves and passed through the ordeal... I say to one and all, move on! Move on, and see the salvation of the Lord, and not stand still." 

Third, in Alma 32. Alma begins to teach the poor Zoramites and they ask a thought provoking question, in essence, how are we supposed to worship God if we can't go into our synagogues? Sounds familiar. Almas response is that of, do you think we can only worship God in our synagogues? Or only one day a week? He also references answers given by Zenos and Zenock in chapter 33. Home centered church supported was so inspired. We can worship God in our homes. We can praise Him and feel His spirit without being in our churches. 

Finally, I was reading in "Be Faithful, not Faithless" and Elder Owen mentions the tree of life. I LOVE this analogy. But I noticed something in a different perspective this time I read it. The people who tasted the fruit but then fell away are generally referenced to the ones who were embarrassed or ashamed. But think about it in this way. They abandoned what they knew because of the craziness of the world. They were distracted. Now look at all the people panicking and losing their mind over this virus. We know God is in charge. We know that if we keep our covenants that we will be saved and everything will work together for our good. So why are we 'abandoning' those beliefs and that knowledge because the world is in commotion? Why do we suddenly not rely on that knowledge and instead follow the ways of the world and panic? We have got to press forward. Keep focused on our Savior and have faith because it will all work out. It will all be ok. God is so good! He loves us and is so aware of what we are going through.

Love you all!! 

Sister Callister