Malaking sacrifice sa kanya ang magtrabaho ng malayo sa piling ng kanyang pamilya. Nagdecide siyang magtrabaho sa Hong Kong para makapag-aral ang kanyang mga anak.

Nabaptize siya sa simbahan noong September 18, 2011. Lubos ang pasasalamat niya sa mga biyayang kanyang natanggap nang malaman niya ang tungkol sa simbahan at sa ebanghelyo ni Jesus Christ. Pagkalipas ng isang taon ay nabinyagan din ang kanyang mga anak noong October 2012.

Nakilala niya ang church sa pamamagitan ng kanyang sister- in law. Parati siya nitong iniimbitahan tuwing first Sunday of the month para magsimba. Nagkakaroon siya ng chance na mapakinggan ang testimony ng mga miyembro ng simbahan. Hanga siya sa lakas at katatagan nila sa pagharap sa kani-kanilang mga pagsubok sa buhay.

Alam niya ang hirap at pakiramdam na mawalay sa pamilya para lamang magtrabaho at maitaguyod ang kinabukasan ng mga anak. Sa sunod na pagkakataon na pag-attend niya ng church service ay tinanggap na niya ang invitation ng mga missionary na makapag-share sa kanya.

Sa paglipas ng mga araw unti-unti niyang nalaman sa kanyang sarili na totoo ang simbahan at ang Aklat ni Mormon. Nakita niya ang mga naging pagbabago sa kanyang buhay. Naging magaan sa kanya ang pang-araw araw na trabaho at mas naramdaman niya ang kasiyahan sa kanyang buhay. Nangarap din siyang maging misyonero ang kaniyang mga anak at makatulong sa iba katulad ng kung paano binago ng ebanghelyo ni Jesucristo ang buhay niya at ng kanyang pamilya.

Hindi nagtagal ang kanyang pangarap ay nagkaroon ng katuparan. Ang isa sa kanyang mga anak ay isang misyonero na ngayon at nagseserve sa Philippines San Pablo Mission.

Isang malaking miracle para sa kanya ang matagpuan ang simbahan at tanggapin ang ebanghelyo ni Jesucristo. Alam niyang hindi madali ang mga bagay-bagay ng kanyang pagdaraanan sa buhay na ito ngunit malakas ang kanyang pananampalataya at paniniwala na hindi siya pababayaan ng Diyos. Para sa kanya hindi lamang pera ang naibigay niya sa kanyang mga anak para sa isang magandang kinabukasan ngunit pati narin ang pangespiritwal.

Maligaya siya na active ang kanyang mga anak sa simbahan at panatag ang kanyang kalooban na kahit malayo siya ay may gabay parin ang kanyang mga anak sa araw-araw.

Naniniwala siya na ang pamilya ay maaaring magkasama ng pangwalang hanggan. Patuloy din siyang umaasa ng balang araw ay malalaman din ng kanyang asawa ang katotohanan ng ebanghelyo at makakasama nila ito sa simbahan.

Masaya ako para sa naging desisyon ni Vilma at alam kong marami pang darating na biyaya sa kanyang buhay dahil sa pagsunod niya sa mga kautusan ng Diyos. Alam ko na ang ebanghelyo ni Jesucristo ang sagot sa lahat ng ating mga katanungan sa buhay at ang pagsunod natin sa kautusan ng Diyos ang magiging sagot sa lahat ng kahirapan at pagsubok sa buhay.

The post MY CONVERSION STORY: An Overseas Filipino Worker appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Maraming pagkakataon na natutukso tayong itanong o magkomplain sa Diyos kung bakit tayo nakakaranas ng paghihirap sa kabila ng ating mabuting hangarin.

Sa isang aklat na aking nabasa sinabi ni President Thomas S. Monson na, “Life is a school of experience, a time of probation …” Hindi tayo perfect at ganun din ang lahat ng nasa paligid natin. Lahat ng mga bagay sa buhay na ito ay temporary lamang. Ang mundo ay ibinigay sa atin upang tayo ay matuto at lumago.

Ngunit minsan kapag dumarating ang mga kahirapan sa buhay ay nagkakaroon tayo ng tendency to feel detached or even isolated sa ating mapagmahal na Ama sa Langit. Parati tayong nag-aalala na baka wala ng katapusan ang ating mga paghihirap.

Pero bakit nga talaga nakakaexperience pa ng adversity kahit ang mabubuting tao? Sa aking pag-aaral at pagtatanong sa iba ng kanilang mga karanasan ay mayroon akong ilang mga bagay na mas naunawaan.

First, nakakaexperience parin ang mga mabubuting tao ng paghihirap dahil sa choices ng mga tao sa kanilang paligid. Ito ay mga bagay na hindi natin basta makontrol dahil ang bawat isa sa atin ay may kalayaang pumili para sa ating mga sarili. Halimbawa na lamang ng isang mabuting ina na walang ibang hangad kundi ang mapalaki ng maayos ang kanyang mga anak ngunit mas pinili ng kanyang anak ang opposite sa lahat ng mga bagay na kanyang itinuro. Masakit para sa isang magulang ang talikuran siya ng kanyang anak.

Second, madalas ang mga adversity sa buhay natin ay natutulungan tayong mastrengthen or madeepen ang foundation ng ating faith and testimony. Sa pamamagitan ng mga pagsubok nagiging mas matatag tayo. Nagkakaroon tayo ng chance na makita natin ang ating mga potensyal at makilala ang ating sarili.

Third, sa oras ng ating mga pagsubok nagagawa nating maexercise ang dalawa sa mga pinakamahalagang attributes ni Jesus Christ which is patience and obedience. Sinabi nga ni President Thomas S. Monson, “Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.”

Fourth, we learn to have a perfect love and compassion unto others.  Dahil alam natin ang pakiramdam nagkakaroon tayo ng desire to offer our service sa iba ng hindi nanghuhusga at walang hinihingi anything in return. Just like our Savior, He suffered in a way that gave Him a perfect understanding of all our pains and afflictions that He might have mercy and know how to help us in our infirmities.

Fifth, sometimes ito ang way ng Diyos to prepare us for something bigger na darating in the future or maaaring responsibilities na ibibigay Niya para sa atin. Katulad ni Prophet Joseph Smith naexperience niya ang maraming paghihirap para maihanda siya ng Diyos sa kanyang magiging tungkulin bilang propeta.

Narealize ko na anuman ang katayuan natin sa buhay na ito ay entitled tayong lahat maexperience ang adversity. Ang pagmamahal sa atin ng Diyos ay higit pa sa inaakala natin. Nais Niyang maging malakas ang ating mga tuhod na tumayo muli kahit maraming pagkakataon tayong nadarapa, maging buo at matatag ang ating mga puso kahit ilang beses na itong nawasak at nasaktan.

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I told myself that I would be very careful in choosing someone when I got married. I was so afraid I would make a mistake in choosing someone to trust and later on have my marriage fail. My mother always told me that choosing the right person to marry is the most important and critical decision you will ever make in your life.

Most people believe in a soulmate. They believe that there is someone who is really destined for you.  I thought it was true too, but as I’ve grown up, I have come to understand that it is I who will decide. It is I who will make that certain man the right one and perfect for me.

Dondi and I were really good friends before we fell in love with each other and got married. I have come to know some of his strength and weaknesses. I got to know what he likes and what he doesn’t. We both knew that we were not perfect individuals before we got married.

Marrying him is the most beautiful thing and the right decision I ever made in my life. But just like older people say, marriage is not like a bed of roses. Along your journey as husband and wife, there are trials and challenges that will come. Your love and loyalty to each other will be put to the test and your commitment to each other will be measured. There will be times when you might ask yourself if you married the right person.

I am grateful for the restored gospel. It guides us in our everyday lives. It brings us hope that families are forever. It reminds me of who I am and helps me understand my role in the Lord’s great plan. Every time I felt like I am already pushing my limit, my Father in Heaven helps me remember that I have a husband who will always help me with my weakness and imperfections.

I remember asking the Lord many times if he was the one for me, and I know Heavenly Father has helped me know that he was the right man to marry. My husband shared with me once his great secret to remaining strong. He said, “You know what, Mama? Since we got married whenever I am having a hard time at work or problem, I always go back to the feeling that I had inside the temple on our wedding day. That feeling comforts me that the Lord gave us His blessing in our marriage. I know that He is guiding us.”

After hearing that from my husband I know for sure that it is true. There may be times when our trials will make us weak, will show our differences from one another, but I hope that you never forget the reason why you chose that person to be your husband or your wife.

None of us are perfect, but if you can accept your spouse’s weaknesses, if you are willing to help that person be at his/her best every day, while they help you in turn, then you absolutely married the right person.

The post Did I Marry the Right Person? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Have you ever wondered if there’s still someone out there willing to love and listen to you despite sa weakness na mayroon ka?

At some point in our lives, we experience these things and I too know for myself that I am weak and not even close to perfect yet. There are a lot of times na nagkakamali ako o minsan hindi wise ang decisions na nagagawa ko sa buhay and sometimes because I know I am not perfect I struggle with doubts about myself.

There are instances in my life when I feel discouraged, especially when I am trying so hard to be good, and it seems like it’s not enough and I am still failing. I have often asked myself, “what’s wrong with me,” “why life is so hard on me,” and even, “if I am not good enough for others, then who am I?”

Until one day, I was reading the scripture and pondering sa mga nabasa ko I started to realize and understand something. It was an inspiration and a reminder kung sino ba talaga ako sa mata ng Diyos.

Reading the scriptures and obeying simple commandments of God have helped me realize more that He never gets tired of helping me to become a good disciple of Jesus Christ. I think na mas iniisip ko ang sasabihin at iniisip ng mga tao sa paligid ko than thinking of how Heavenly Father thinks and feels about me.  At minsan dahil we are affected sa judgment ng mundo sa atin nakakalimutan natin kung sino talaga tayo.

I am grateful for that reminder that was the inspiration for me, that I am a child of God and how blessed I am to have a loving Father in Heaven whose love is infinite. I am grateful to know na sa oras na pakiramdam mo there’s nobody who can understand and truly accept you, Heavenly Father is there.

I am happy to know that I have God in my life. Whenever you feel down He will cheer you up and encourage you to do your best. When you feel alone. He will comfort you. When you fall He will give you His hand and pull you up. He will never criticize, judge or blame you because you are not yet good enough. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect yet, instead, He wants us to be at our best always.

A trial we had in our family lately has helped bring us closer to our Heavenly Father. It helps us to love each other more. It encourages us to know our Father in Heaven better and to trust in Him every day. As we have evaluated our lives we have come to see na nakakalimutan na namin ang Diyos at tanging nagrerely na lang kami sa aming sariling kakayahan.

I need Thee, Lord. You are my strength and without Thee, I am nothing. I know my Father lives and He loves me. My trials and challenges will always be a reminder to me that Heavenly Father wants me back.

Who am I if I am not good enough? I am a daughter of my loving Father in Heaven. I believe in Him and I know that He Knows me for He is the Father of my spirit.

The post Who am I if I am Not Good Enough? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

It is indeed true that behind a man’s success is usually a woman. But I also believe that behind a wonderful woman is a good man, whether that be a loving father, husband, or a supportive brother, friend, or son. When a woman gets married and has her own children her whole life changes. She has more responsibilities, she often has less time for herself, and her priorities change. And because people know how hard it is to be a wife and a mother, often times people wonder how others remain so inwardly beautiful and happy.

Most of the wives and mothers that I know have told me that if a woman is always happy, no matter how hard the challenges she may be facing, the beautiful countenance on her face will stay because the joy that she has is from the inside and not just from outward beauty secrets. One reason for a woman’s lasting happiness is when she knows her worth as a woman. But at some points when a woman feels so overwhelmed by the world’s expectations, she may forget who she is and sometimes even get lost.

A very close friend of mine who is a husband also said, “A wife must know every single day how precious she is. Over time I learned how to make my wife happy and beautiful every single day of her life. I believe that I am a living mirror of my wife.”

This very good friend of mine even shared some reminders for his fellow men on how to make their wives feel inwardly beautiful.

1. Appreciate her. Always be sensitive to this. Don’t forget to say thank you. Showing your genuine gratitude will make her feel that she is valued. Women are very sensitive that’s why they are called to be mothers. Make her always feel that she’s everything to you.
2. Tell her every day how beautiful she is. Tell her these lines especially after a long day doing tasks and duties for your children. When she feels that she’s beautiful to you, her self-esteem will increase.
3. Do not overload her. You are partners, that’s why you should equally work things out. It does not mean that if you work all day, you are excused from doing household chores.
4. Court her every day. Give her your hugs and kisses. Always remember the important events like your anniversary, her birthday, and others. Write her letters, make some cute art for her, sometimes I buy my wife a dress or make her favorite dessert.
5. Listen to her. When she’s trying to tell you something, stop and listen. Especially if your wife stays alone the whole day at home.
6. Respect her. Your faithfulness to your wife increases her self-respect. Never yell at her. Do not embarrass her especially in front of others. Give her words of love and encouragement.
7. Be a blessing and not a burden. Your wife will be your best friend and companion. Never treat her like your maid or your house help. I know most of us men are not as expressive or as sensitive as women, but I assure you that if you’ll help yourself to learn at least some of this, you’ll realize that she’s even more beautiful than the first time you met her.

I am so proud of this man. I am a witness of his great love for his wife. I even understand now why his wife looks so lovely and is always wearing her sweet smile. Her bright countenance inspires other women to remember their great worth. And I am also grateful for a good husband who is always there to encourage, to inspire and to make me feel beautiful always.

The post Behind a Beautiful Woman is a Great Man appeared first on morefaith.ph.

All of us have at one time or another experienced wrong choices, the loss of a loved one, rejection or even betrayal.  As part of our mortal state we are subject to pain, sickness, happiness, anger and sadness, but even through the darkest times of our lives there’s still hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Whatever circumstances we have had in our lives they serve as learning experiences, chances for improvement and even inspiration to help us believe that there’s more to life. Sometimes we hold back or can’t get over our past, and as a result, live in fear and discouragement. If we stay on this path we lose chances to be happy, to trust again, to work hard, to dream and even to change.

This is when the adversary attempts to take advantage of our weakness. We must be careful for he will make us believe that we are hopeless, alone and have no way out.

There is a story of a young man who, together with his fiancé, had a tragic accident just a week before their wedding. The accident caused the death of the love of his life. The day that he learned of her death, he felt he had died too. Dreams were shattered and hope turned into emptiness.  There was no time that he didn’t blame himself to what happened. He never had a day that he wasn’t sorry and felt like weeping.

After a year, he received a call from the parents of his fiancé. They encouraged him to go on with his life. They told him to give himself a chance to be happy, open a new chapter, and start over again. They gave him words of hope, and courage to overcome the fear and anger that he felt. His family had prayed for him to have the strength to overcome his feelings of loneliness and to have faith in God again.

As humans we are often afraid of change that might be difficult or heart breaking. But the Lord has His own purposes. It is not easy and would be even harder without our understanding and faith in the Savior’s Atonement. Our testimony and understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ will bring us light and direction even during the darkest hours of our life.

Let’s keep holding on to His great promises. It is for our own good and it is just for a short moment. I pray that this young man would be able to find his way back to our Father in Heaven as he learns to submit to the will of the Lord even as a little child.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell has shared, “In the geometry of restored theology, hope has a greater circumference than faith. If faith increases, the perimeter of hope stretches correspondingly… Hope is realistic anticipation taking the form of determination-a determination not merely to survive but to ‘endure well’ to the end.” Hope keeps us anxiously engaged. He continued, “A genuine hope is urgently needed in order to be more loving… more merciful even when misunderstood or misinterpreted, more holy… more courteous and patient… and more full of heartfelt hope, even when other men’s hearts fail them. Whatever our particular furrow, we are to “plow in hope” without looking back or letting yesterday hold tomorrow hostage.”

May we pray fervently each day to make a decision to press forward with faith having a perfect brightness of hope.  May we take the challenge of our living prophet Thomas S. Monson to look to the lighthouse of the Lord. For “the lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing.”

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Life is becoming so extremely competitive. The world is changing, and it is very important we equip ourselves to move with that change. For young men and women, it is important to get all of the education you can. Education is the key which will open the door of opportunity for you. It is worth sacrificing for. It is worth working at, and if you educate yourselves, you’ll be able to make great contributions to society.

Perhaps some are struggling to pay for their education, but as we have been counseled, we must take advantage of every opportunity that we can possibly afford. I know sometimes there are free classes offered, especially in vocational courses. Let us take every chance we can to learn new skills.

In the Book of Mormon it says, “But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.” (2 Nephi 29:29) Through secular learning we can gain knowledge for a specific field of profession, but spiritual learning is even more necessary. We are not just learning for this mortal existence but for eternal life as well.

Life is more than science and mathematics, more than history and literature. Secular knowledge alone is not enough. There is a need for another education- a spiritual education. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught that there must be “an education of the heart, of the conscience, of the character, of the spirit—these indefinable aspects of our personalities which determine so certainly what we are and what we do in our relationships one with another.”

In the church we have seminary and institute programs which help us to be more educated spiritually. It teaches us to know our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ better. It will deepen our understanding of our great purpose and on how we should live our life here on earth.

For Students

I have seen students who excel in their classes and overcome difficulties in their secular education through the help of seminary and institute. I have experienced early morning institute that was fun and refreshing. You still have all your focus and concentration in the morning. I always felt excited to wake up so early to prepare myself and go to church for institute.  After class I felt like I was ready for any challenge that came up that day. I had the peace of mind and the energy to go to school and learn new things. The Spirit guided me and I felt great joy in my heart just like it says in the scripture, “Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:22)

For Workers, Parents

As we get our spiritual education through institute and other kinds of spiritual learning, it helps us to be better in our professions. We go out each day having a perfect brightness of hope in our hearts. It will increase our desire to do good and not to do evil. It will guide us to make good and right choices every time.

I believe that our greatest success each day is not just what we have obtained or achieved, but who we are inside- our character. In Doctrine and Covenants 50:24, “That which is of God is light and he that receiveth light and continueth in God, receiveth more light, and that light growth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

Our spiritual education can be our great protection against the temptations and deceptions of the world. It can provide us with the strength to remain steadfast and immovable. It can also help us to be a source of light unto others who are struggling on their way to eternal life.

The world needs people who are intelligent, talented, and competent, but most of all, people who have good and loving hearts and personal relationships with the Savior.

Let us make it a priority to elevate our spiritual learning and deny ourselves of all ungodliness.

The post How Spiritual and Secular Education Complement Each Other appeared first on morefaith.ph.

There are a lot of opportunities around us for those who have the potential: whether they are work related, romance related, or anything else. Sometimes we doubt our own potential, “I don’t think I can get this job. I’m not good enough,” or maybe, “This girl is so perfect. I don’t think she’ll like me”. If this is happening around us today I think we have a problem.

But what are the things that stop or limit us in reaching our potential? I asked others this question, and these were the answers they came up with:

• When a person doesn’t see who they can become.
• If someone is already satisfied with who they are right now.
• When someone doesn’t believe of himself.
• When a person fails to see how the Lord sees him.
• If someone doesn’t have the right motivation.
• When someone doesn’t know who he really is.
• Fear, distractions of the world, and pride.

From all the answers I got, I’ve come to realize that the word “attitude” has a vital role in one’s life progress and improvement. We must have the right attitude that will drive us to see more of ourselves and to discover more our potential.

Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and He sent us here to Earth to learn and develop more of ourselves, so someday we can be like Him. In the scriptures it says, “Verily, I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness. For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.” (Doctrine & Covenants 58:27-28)

We need to believe within ourselves that it can happen, for God never stops believing in us. I believe the Lord rejoices every time we take a step forward. To Him, our direction is ever more important than our speed.

Here are some ideas to learn and discover our potential

• Set Goals. Setting meaningful goals can help us achieve great things in life. Goals reflect the desires of our heart and our vision of what we can achieve. Goals must be specific, realistic and can also stretch us. Elder M. Russell Ballard said, “I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting goals, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.” (p. 146-147, Chapter 8 “How do I use time wisely”, Preach My Gospel)

• Make plans. We must decide on how we will achieve our goals. From the time frame that we set you may consider asking these questions, “Who can help me? When do I need this? Where will I go? What are the things I need? And don’t forget also the question, “How can I be a blessing to others?” Reaching out for others can help you understand your strengths, and weaknesses too.

• Be committed. Our daily conduct and choices must be consistent with our goals. Be watchful and measure your progress each day. At the end of the day evaluate your efforts and seek for ways to accomplish your goal. Along our journey there will be ups and downs but never get dismayed. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings and seek for strength to stand in the midst of the great storms of life.

President Thomas S. Monson taught, “Wishing will not make it so. The Lord expects our thinking, He expects our action. He expects our labors. He expects our testimonies. He expects our devotion.” When we work hard and we include God in achieving our goals, the Lord magnifies our efforts and helps us reach our potential. As we set goals and we make plans it helps us gain self-mastery.

Let us not settle for less for we are the sons and daughters of God. Let us have faith over fear. Never give up nor give in. May we always remember who we really are as we make our decisions and choose our path. I know that if we will work hard to reach our full potential it is worth fighting for, it’s worth living, and it will bring us everlasting happiness and joy. So let us be patient with ourselves as we make our journey through life to learn and to discover our potential.

The post Believe, Learn and Discover Your Potential appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Can this be love I am feeling right now?

We all want to be loved, feel loved and to love. We are searching for love which is true and can last forever.  But how do you know when you are in love and if it is true? I remember my parents always saying during my teenage years, “if you meet a man in whose presence you feel a desire to achieve, who inspires you to do your best, and to make yourself better, such a man is worthy of your love and is awakening love in your heart. In his presence you should feel that you would like to be everything that a perfect woman should be, for he will inspire you to that ideal.”

My husband and I met John (not his real name) waiting for his bride on their special day. Dondi asked him about their love story, and he gladly shared it with us. He said that they met when they were still in college and he knew that she was a Latter-day Saint. He said that she was very attractive and a very special girl. She loved to read the Book of Mormon with him and share her testimony of the church. He doesn’t remember ever feeling pressured or pushed to be a member of the church, but her patience, honesty, and sincerity helped him to open his heart and to listen to the missionaries. After that, he was baptized and he knew for himself that everything was true– not because he loved her, but because that’s what he felt. He told us that he wanted to be better each day that he was with her. Then they both fasted and prayed about getting married.

Dondi and I admired him so much. He loved her so much, but he also respected her and never took advantage of her. We were pleased to witness their special day.

How do you define true love?

President Spencer W. Kimball said, “If one really loves another, one would rather die for that person than to injure him.”

Many of us think of love as a physical attraction, and casually speak of “falling in love” and “love at first sight.” You cannot say it’s true love the first time you meet each other, although some might say it is. Love can only be true if when you see that person you desire to be better, you are willing to sacrifice your own happiness for that person, and you are committed to do everything in good times and in bad.

President Kimball added that love is a process, love is not a declaration, and love is not an announcement. Love is not a passing fancy. Love is not an expediency. Love is not a convenience. Love requires personal action.

True love is faith, confidence, understanding and partnership. There must be great devotion and companionship. It requires cleanliness, progress, sacrifice and selflessness. This kind of love never gets tired but stands through sickness and sorrow, accomplishment and disappointment, through time and eternity.

How to strengthen your love and be not afraid

I think most of us experience heart aches or break ups, in not only romantic relationships but even with friends and family. When it is too painful we sometimes give up on loving someone and choose not to love again. We become afraid to fail and get hurt. I believe there are a lot of reasons why it happens to us, but there are ways to strengthen your love and overcome your fears of loving again.

Be more prayerful in times of trial. We must have the desire to come closer to the Lord during our trials. We must continually be hopeful in our prayers for a bright tomorrow. Always express gratitude in our prayers for another learning experience, and take it positively.

Give more service. During trying times, our natural tendency is to think more of our feelings or condition than to think about others. Let us be more outward than inward. When we serve others, we learn that we are not alone and we come to realize that we are still blessed by the Lord.

Learn more about the Savior’s love. Studying the scriptures and listening to the counsel of the prophet will help us understand and internalize more of the Lord’s unconditional love for us. Our Heavenly Father never gives up on us, no matter how many times we have failed Him by our unwise choices.

I had a friend who is very dear to me. There was a time that she experienced a painful break up from the love of her life. Her love for this man was unquestionable, and she was deeply wounded by the choice of her boyfriend to let her go. But she was brave enough to face this test. I saw her the next day wearing a big a smile and I could sense the hope that she had in her heart that everything would be alright. Every time she remembered those feelings of being broken, she would just stop to meditate and talk to the Lord. She also made more time to reach out to others and she actively tried to learn more about the Savior and the great plan of the Lord. With that faith that she showed, miracles happened in her life. She and her previous boyfriend were able to get back together and this time their love became sweeter and stronger. I remember her saying, “I would never demand that he change for me. Instead, I will love him more each day and accept him for who he is.” Her unconditional love for this man was able to change him for the better and I am a witness of that. They overcame this great test, were married in the temple, and were blessed with a son that has made their lives complete.

Can this be love? Yes, definitely.

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My imperfection is undeniable and my knowledge is limited. I feel afraid whenever I face trials and challenges in life. And during my struggles I always tend to ask if what is next or what is coming? Because I do not know everything, or what to expect, I am always anxious about what I should do and what will happen to me. Most of the time we are too concerned with tomorrow and we question why God is allowing these bad things to happen.

Somehow I’ve been through a lot of difficulties in life already, but there was one instance that helped me to better understand the purposes of heaven. After giving birth to my second child I thought all was well. But after a few days the doctor told us that my son’s blood and my blood were incompatible and it could cause either retardation for my son or we would lose him if it was not corrected. My son was just a week old, and as a mother it was too painful for me to see my son suffering. Every time I looked at him all I could see was innocence above anything else in this world.  I was troubled and even terrified to lose my son. I always carried a prayer in my heart to give my son the strength he needed to survive. I remember begging the Lord for my son’s life, even though I felt unworthy to ask Him. Days passed by and my son was able to survive and did not have any complications. Later, when contemplating what had happened, I came to realized that even in the midst of our trials the Lord will always give us comfort that everything will be alright through His plan. This experience helped me recognize even more the great love of the Lord for us, and especially for me. I believe what President George Cannon said, that, “No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, God will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character to do so. He will always stand by us.”

I recall a talk from our stake president. He reminded us of two things to remember so that we will remain steadfast in the great storms of life. First, we must accept that we do not know everything, and second, we must know that the Lord loves us. Because our knowledge isn’t perfect it will lead us to rely more on the Lord and have faith in Jesus Christ. It will help us embrace and appreciate the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

After so many things that my husband and I experienced in raising our own family, I now strongly believe that if we will study and know for ourselves that God loves us, it would make us more positive, and we will be able to face what is ahead of us no matter what it is, with the knowledge that He will never forsake us. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “The first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind and strength. That love is the foundation stone of eternity, and it should be the foundation stone of our daily life.” He inspires us to keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Remember that heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow and forever, and that the Lord will stand beside you, ever ready to do wonders in your behalf.

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