I, like everybody else, am tremendously blessed. 2010 was a most wonderful year, and 2011 holds so much promise.
Yesterday, 1/1/11, my husband was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was such a special event in our lives. The Spirit attended and touched every single person who came to witness Dan in this ordinance. I'm so proud of him, but humbled at the same time.
Today in sacrement meeting, it was announced that I am to be called as our ward's Primary President. My oh my! My heart is so very full right now that I don't even know where to begin. I'm excited, scared, thrilled, happy, nervous, and humbled by this calling...and I haven't even been set apart yet. My mom and step-dad came down for Dan's baptism. Ron actually gave the talk on baptism, and it was wonderful. Today, my mom shared her testimony with our ward and it was beautiful. I have a mother who loves me, the Lord, and her family...and I love that she can show it.
Life is good and I know it. I recognize that the blessings I enjoy come from our Father in Heaven and our brother Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost comforts me, teaches me, and helps guide me in my life. The picture is getting clearer. I can also see so much better now that this clarity, the love I feel, and the knowledge I have, is all related to my obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Alma 32:27 teaches that it's okay to test the gospel...to go ahead and put it to an experiment. This past year, I took it for face value and I did just that. When my life wasn't giving me the results I longed for, I examined my choices and came to the conclusion that clearly in order to get different results, I would have to do different behaviours. I put it to the test, and the results were astounding. When I committed to going to church every single Sunday, I found that my desire to be in church on Sundays increased dramatically. When I committed to reading my scriptures more, I found that the Savior became more of a person--not just a figure, a name, or someone I do not know. When I decided to live other commandments that I had thrown by the wayside long ago, I found that the Spirit was more readily available to me...or that it at least felt that way. When I discarded the spiritual junk/clutter/mess, I could hear and feel the Spirit more clearly. He was able to teach me better. He was able to dwell in my home more comfortably. When I decided to really trust in the Lord, and share more of the gospel with Dan and not fear sharing it, he was more ready to hear it and feel the Spirit too, and I think quite possibly that's the best result of all.
My experiment yielded amazing and beautiful results. I've always heard we should "Practice Random Acts of Kindness," but I daresay we should also practice random acts of faith. Yes, we should always walk in faith, but I think every now and then our daily walks in faith become routine, and we ought to shake it up a bit here and there by increasing our faith by following the Lord's plan in one way or another a little bit better. I know now that faith in the Lord leads to greater happiness. What an amazingly beautiful and simple concept!
My prayer for 2011 is that as I begin my new full-time job at Lee Halyard & Associates tomorrow, and begin my new adventure as Primary President, that I always work with faith. I pray that I have the Spirit to lead and guide me, that I'm worthy to hear and feel his guidance and comfort, that I learn more than I'm even able to teach, and that Dan and I continue to grow even closer than we are now. This year in all this busy-ness, we are preparing to go to the Temple to be sealed together and I know that if we both practice our faith, and continue to look for the Lord's hand in our daily lives, we'll do just fine.
I'm so in love with life!
