This still rings in my ears to this day as I recall how we almost lost our daughter after we ignored a simple warning.

It was a sunny day after a week of thunderstorms and gloomy skies. We received the usual warning notification on our phones about the strong winds and big waves, and to avoid going into deep waters. However, contrary to that warning, the seas seemed very calm and inviting.

“Let’s go to the beach today!”, my children excitedly shouted. 

Upon arriving at the beach, we immediately rushed to the peaceful clear blue waters after realizing that there were no other people except the cottage owners. The sun was shining bright but the wind was blowing cold, probably because of the rainy days prior. 

We rented a unicorn floater for my daughter and played with her. There were four adults there with two kids, so we were confident that we could take care of them. We held on to the floaters as they glided through the small waves. We chased them in the shallow waters as they drifted to the side. It was so much fun. Everything was under control. 

Until it was not…

My daughter glided through the waters, just flowing with the waves, as we took turns holding on to her floater, when all of a sudden, the winds blew stronger in a different direction, drifting my little girl towards the deep. We were still calm and still confident that everything was under control. After all, it was my husband’s hometown, he knows the place. He knows the ocean. Swimming comes second nature to him. 

My husband swam towards her, but as he tried to grab her floater, the wind blew stronger and stronger, drifting her farther away. He swam faster and harder until he realized he could no longer breathe properly and was already in a panic. He had to stop chasing her, otherwise, both of them would drown. 

“Daddy! Please save me!” My poor little girl cried as she was looking back at my husband while holding tightly to the floater, drifting farther away. My husband knew he couldn’t save her anymore. He turned to me, now at least 15 meters away, and with his remaining strength, he shouted, “HELP!” 

After we shouted for help, a young man jumped into the water to try to swim towards the floater, but just like my husband, he ran out of air, had cramps, and had to stop. The floater drifted faster and farther away. We could barely hear my daughter’s cry anymore. The wind just took her away. We were almost losing hope. I was losing my precious little girl right before my eyes. I remember praying to God to please hold on to His dear daughter and to save her. 

She was finally saved by another young man who jumped into the water with a boat. He paddled like lightning! As my daughter drifted towards the big rocks, and while she was holding tightly for her life, even after being swayed back and forth by the strong wind, the little boat came to her rescue.

I know had we listened to the warnings and not relied on our own understanding, that accident could’ve been avoided.

The Lord has given us the wisdom to discern what is right and wrong, and also commandments to lead us to ultimate safety and happiness.

Have you also had any experiences when you confidently trusted your mind, wisdom, and experiences, and missed the warnings?

It could be a red flag in a relationship that you ignored, a symptom of a disease we downplayed, not prioritizing our health after several reminders from doctors, or breaking small rules and then bigger ones, until it was almost too late. 

In my case, it was a warning we ignored because of how seemingly beautiful the weather was. We depended on what we could see with our eyes, and because we simply wanted to have fun. 

Because we wanted to have fun, we ignored the warnings from people who could see the real situation of the weather, people who knew better about the waves and the seas. We relied on our own understanding, which led us to an almost tragic accident. 

Having fun is not wrong, but ignoring the warnings is. Not only will it bring harm to us, but it will also drift us away from the presence of the Holy Ghost, who is our constant companion to guide us to safety and eternal happiness.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.”

With so many voices around us, including ours, it is important to recognize the Lord’s voice. In our time, these warnings and guiding principles are everywhere we go. We have the scriptures to have constant communication with the Lord to direct our daily paths, spiritual leaders, our families, teachers, community leaders, laws set in our communities, and many more! 

There are promised blessings if we listen to these warnings, such as unity in our homes and community, safety, peace of mind, success in our daily endeavors, and a stronger connection with the Holy Ghost—these are all life-changing effects of listening and when we lean not on our own understanding.

The Atonement allows us to repent and redirect our paths back to Him.

In a General Conference talk, Elder Kim B. Clark said, “None of us are perfect. Sometimes we get stuck. We get distracted or discouraged. We stumble. But if we look to Jesus Christ with a repentant heart, He will lift us, cleanse us from sins, forgive us and heal our hearts.”

Although we are to constantly follow Him, the Lord understands that we make mistakes from time to time, that is why He has provided a way for us to redirect our paths back to safety when we have gone off course. 

Even when we sometimes are stubborn to heed the warnings, the Lord still sends us help at the right time, to save us. Just as my husband accepted the fact that the situation was no longer under his control, and cried for help, we too must learn to let God take control of our lives and situations. However, we need to be sensitive to the ways the Lord helps us, and then recognize them quickly because the water will rise quickly too. My dear daughter was saved just in time and was brought back to safety. God sent help just when we needed it most. 

As Dieter F. Uchtdorf lovingly reminded us, “God wants you to find your way back to Him, and the Savior is the way.” He atoned for our sins, bled in Gethsemane, and died on the cross, to make it possible for us to turn away from our sins and weaknesses, and be pure again to enter the kingdom of the Lord.

May we not lose hope when we make mistakes. After all, Jesus Christ, our Savior, and Redeemer died for the ones who sinned, not for the ones who are perfect. He will always accept us with arms wide open when we turn our hearts to Him in repentance. We may sometimes fall down, but He will always be there to catch us and guide us back to safety.

The post Why We Should Lean Not On Our Own Understanding: I Almost Lost My Child appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Healing requires time. If healing seems impossible and your brokenness feels beyond repair, please know that your feelings are valid. Acknowledge the pain. Cry it out. Shout it out if you must. Feel it. Your healing doesn’t have a deadline so don’t rush it. It may take a while and that’s okay. But taking your time to heal doesn’t mean sitting idly feeling sorry for yourself. Of course, there will be days when you just want to stay in bed and be alone but remember that healing requires so much more than the mere passing of time. Take time to feel your feelings but don’t expect time alone to heal your wounds.

Healing requires forgiveness. Forgiveness can mean many things when it comes to healing, it can mean forgiving others or forgiving yourself. In the scriptures, we are commanded to forgive all men, but it doesn’t say you must ‘forgive immediately.’ Sometimes, it is difficult to forgive at the height of your emotions and that’s okay. Often, finding the strength to let go of resentment and bitterness requires processing your emotions, calming yourself down, and looking at the situation through a different lens. All these steps require time. But know that when God commanded us to forgive all men, He knows very well that it is one of the key steps to healing, that forgiveness can bring us peace and widen our ability to feel hope.

It may feel impossible to forgive but through the Savior and His Atonement, it is possible. Cast your burden to the Lord with a humble recognition of your human limitations, that you need His grace as you try to find in yourself the same grace that will allow you to forgive yourself or others.

It won’t be easy. It may take a few tries and questioning if you’re ready to let all the pain go, but when you do you’ll feel lighter, with a limitless capacity to grow and develop into the person you want to become.

Healing requires the love and help of the Master Healer. No matter what you’re going through, healing can sometimes feel like a greater task than you are capable of. You might even feel like you can’t bear it and plead to Heavenly Father to remove the bitter cup from you as Jesus Christ did. The Father responded to His Begotten Son’s pleading by sending an angel to strengthen Him, and He will send help to you: the One who is the Master of Healing, the One who walked the streets of Jerusalem, healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind to see, causing the lame to walk, and the dead to rise, the One who not only carried the sins of the world but also mankind’s despair, discouragement, and all forms of brokenness, including yours.

Through Christ, your broken heart can be healed, the same way the people in the scriptures were healed. He may not take away your bitter cup, but He will help you to bear it because He knows perfectly how it feels to be broken. His love is sufficient to sustain you as you pick up your broken pieces and slowly build yourself up again. Through the Atonement, you can be assured that He understands the depths of your sadness and hopelessness. You can find comfort that if you come to Him, you can be made whole again.

And when your heart is healed, you will realize that you are stronger, not in spite of but because of having experienced what it is like to be broken. You will feel a deeper capacity to love, empathize, forgive, and comfort those going through their healing journey. You will recognize the many lessons that only brokenness can bring.

The post To My Friends Who Feel Broken: You Can Feel Whole Again appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Step 1. Take a Deep Breath

I know this one seems so simple that you might question its significance. However, when you hear such devastating news, you need to first stabilize your heartbeat, regain composure and remind yourself that this is reality. Breathing consciously gives you the pause you need to be able to digest what has just happened. Let yourself come to terms with what you have just learned and don’t forget to take those needed deep breaths.

Step 2. Talk to Someone You Trust

At this point, a wild storm of emotions rages inside of you. You want to shout, bawl, and shout again. That is normal. But it is not healthy to keep these feelings all to yourself. Those emotions brewing up inside of you need to be expressed. Find someone you can talk to. Someone you know you can pour all your thoughts and feelings out to and not be judged. Of course, prayer is such a great help but you  also need to talk to someone you can interact with in times of emotional distress. We all need someone we can open up to, someone who can help us deal with such a heart-wrenching trial. It may be a family member, a friend you trust, your Bishop, or a professional counselor.

Step 3. Talk to Your Spouse in Front of that Someone You Trust

Okay. This may sound weird. I know. Why not talk directly to your spouse, right? Just the two of you. Why involve someone else? Well, not everyone has the same level of maturity when it comes to things like this. We all differ in our reactions and in our acceptance. And confronting a cheating spouse is never easy. You may not be ready on your own to handle the information you just discovered, let alone open up about your shattered feelings with your spouse. If possible, call on someone who can help mediate the discussion. There is no script, unfortunately. But you can make one if you like. You just have to get through it, and deal with the specifics as they arise. At least you will have someone who can regulate the heat if needed.

Step 4. Decide with Your Spouse How to Move Forward

Remember, complete forgiveness is possible with time and effort, and marriage is important, but that doesn’t mean you are forced to stay in a toxic relationship. It is not an easy or quick process to forgive an offending spouse, but it is possible, if both spouses are willing to work together to mend what has been broken. And no matter how hard it is to talk to your spouse about life after adultery, you must do it. You have built a life together. It may be a few months or decades. Deciding what you will do from here, will require both of your thoughts and perspectives. He or she may not want to talk about it but it is crucial that you tell your spouse what you think and feel, and what you believe would be the best thing to do next.

Betrayal is very painful. When you were chosen by your spouse to be “the One”, you became their confidant and their partner. So when your spouse cheats on you, you begin to question yourself. “Am I still lovable? What is wrong with me?” This is why infidelity causes such deep pain. But healing is possible. You can rise above the sorrow and live life with hope. You will need to take more than just these 4 steps to put your life in order again but it will happen. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our small efforts will be enough. You will need not question whether you deserve love or not for He has given His life for you. That is reason enough that you do.

To those who have betrayed their spouses through their infidelity, you can take the path that leads to forgiveness and healing:

Things an Offending Spouse Needs to Keep in Mind In Order to Save their Marriage: A Look Into the Issue of Infidelity (Part 2 of 2)

The post 4 Steps You Need to Take If You Find Out Your Spouse is Cheating On You: A Look Into the Issue of Infidelity (Part 1 of 2) appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Unfortunately, there are moments in mortality when we forget the plan – when hard times strike, when sickness overcomes and when death finally takes its toll. In the trying events in life, may we remember what mortality is and why we need to experience it all – the good times and, especially, those that test us so we can stop and find our bearings.

Mortality is Essential for Us to Have a Physical Body

Can you imagine yourself without your body? You would exist but wouldn’t be able to feel pain, pleasure, sorrow, joy, or any other of the roller coaster of emotions. Try imagining not being able to control anything you saw because you couldn’t touch them. I tried putting myself in that exact situation and I was dumbfounded. I asked myself, is this why Heavenly Father wanted us to have physical bodies? So we can feel how he feels?

If we contemplate the gift of having a physical body, we should be grateful we came to mortality, because it is the only way we can gain one. There is so much good we can do in this world because we are capable of movement and action. We also have a whole new level of agency because what we can conceive mentally, we can do physically. We can become creators. We can do a lot of things with our hands, we can create songs with our voices and we make so many things! This includes being pro-creators with God in bringing His spirit sons and daughters into this world through birth, giving them physical bodies in the process. It is simply glorious!

Mortality is a Prerequisite Learning Program

This life is a time to gain experience we could never have in any other way. Everything that happens to us in this mortal existence teaches us principles and lessons that make us stronger and wiser. Exhilarating triumphs teach us that we are capable of joy and happiness, while problems and trials teach us patience, endurance and dependence on God Almighty. Were it not for this chance to be on Earth, we would never have the opportunities needed to empathize with others. We would miss the chance to “mourn with those that mourn” and learn to feel compassion as the Savior does. All the Christlike attributes needed for us to be worthy and near our Heavenly Father are learned and practiced while we are living in this state. We will never be able pass to the eternities and be exalted like our Father in Heaven if we fail to gain ample experience in this life.

Mortality is Temporary

No one lives forever. That is the definition of being mortal beings. This is because mortality is but a passing moment. It is said that time is the currency of life, that mortal beings are the only ones who measure time because in the eternities there is no need of it. But if you look at things with an eternal perspective, we are not mortal beings. We are eternal beings given a mortal experience. With that, we measure time because this mortal experience has a limit. So no matter what happens, it is how we spend that currency that matters most. This understanding creates a sense of importance and urgency within us. The feeling that our time is limited changes how we see things and ultimately how we do things. Because mortality is temporary, let us make the most of every second spent. Make our life story more meaningful and beautiful.

Mortality is Overcome by the Atonement of the Son of God

Living on Earth also means we will, sooner or later, succumb to death and leave this world behind. This life, after all, is a package deal. We came here with the knowledge that we will eventually leave. Picking up one end of the stick will always mean we get the other end also. But because of the Savior’s Great Atoning Sacrifice, death is only a bridge to eternity. Death is but a separation. Our physical bodies are left on the ground, while our eternal spirits go to a place where we will wait for the resurrection. The Savior of the world has overcome the sting of death and with that knowledge, we can have the hope of immortality. As we live with the faith that we will someday regain our physical bodies in their perfect form, let us continue to live our lives so that we may glorify our God.

The gift of mortality is something we should be grateful for. The dictionary defines mortality as the state of being subject to death – such a bleak and gloomy definition. There will be times in our lives when that is exactly how we feel – bleak and gloomy. The Atonement changes that definition. As we look to God and find our bearings, we will better understand why we are here and we will know what to do with the time we have been given. May this mortal existence give us the necessary experience we need to qualify for the Lord’s presence in the eternities to come and may we all find purpose in our day-to-day life so that when our time on Earth comes to an end, it will be a day of accomplishment and sweet parting.

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There are times in life when the tunnels seem long, so long that we doubt if there really is an end. But there have been a few people who have inspired me to hold on and never stop hoping. In their example I have found strength. Their light has served as a beacon for me during my low times.

The Tunnel of Physical Infirmities

In this mortal probation, our physical bodies are subject to pain and disease. From a common cold to debilitating cancer, there are numerous threats to health.

One woman in the prime of her life, a mother of two girls, found out that she had breast cancer. I could not imagine how the news affected the family. A surgery was required to remove the affected parts of her body and she had to go through a series of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. It would have been easy for her to just give up, just let the illness and the depression consume her whole being after enduring such a painful process for so long. But the hope of spending more time with her girls and watching them grow up helped her win the battle one day at a time.

The Tunnel of Betrayal and Infidelity

We do not have control over other people. But choices other people make can make or break us – especially the people that are very close to us.

A woman I know found out one day that her husband was having an affair. She was pregnant with her third child at the time. The dilemma of confronting her husband and the uncertainty of what would happen after almost took the best out of her. Those times were tough for her, a mother raising two daughters while also being heavy with child, all because her husband had chosen to be with another woman. She could have just given up. She would have been justified giving up on her marriage. It would have been easier to just let go and move on with her life. Instead, she chose to forgive. With the hope that forgiveness brings peace, she was able to get through the tough times.

The Tunnel of Poverty

Poverty can break a soul but it does not have to if you do not allow it. Not all people see poverty the same way. There are those that have little but still find themselves provided for. And there are times when people have to fight tooth and nail just to have food for their families.

A widow left to raise six children found herself struggling to put food on the table. Even the most basic of necessities were very hard to find. Add to that the cost of sending them to school. A quick escape could have been a release. Thoughts of leaving the children – hungry and uneducated – almost clouded her mind but she chose otherwise. With the meager salary of a teacher, she was able to send all her children to school. She had hope in her heart that if the children were educated, they would have a brighter future. This fueled her desire to endure, scrimping and saving what little she had to raise a family on her own and producing professionals after years of sacrifice.

We cannot keep ourselves immune from the ailments of mortality, no matter how healthy we live. The people around us can hurt us deeply. We are often put in predicaments that make us feel helpless. But whenever we are sick, betrayed, depressed or pushed into a corner – when it seems like there is no escape, let us look towards the healing power of the Atonement. For with it comes the hope of better days ahead. Let the Savior rescue us from the grasps of anger, pain and sorrow. The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ makes available to us the greatest source of hope – that someday all these struggles will be over, because the battle against pain – even death – has already been won. So no matter how long the tunnel is, we can always hope, and find light in the near distance. Never let go of hope! Healing, forgiveness, peace and joy are within our reach no matter how long it takes.

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We May Think We Are Never Enough

As we set goals and work on the things that we need to do to be perfect, there are times when we fail. In our effort to reach every goal and carry out every plan, we sometimes forget to give ourselves room to make mistakes. Instead of learning from mistakes and failures, there is a tendency to shrink and sulk. And because the fact of the matter is that we can never be completely perfect in this life, feelings of disappointment can overwhelm us if we let them. We may have difficulty forgiving ourselves. There is so much danger in cultivating this kind of thought. It will not only hurt us but it can derail us from the path of progression.

We Compete With Others

The adversary wants us to think that the road to perfection is a race instead of a journey. If we are not ahead or if we are not moving as fast as we would like to up the ladder, we harbor feelings of anger and jealousy. In our desire to be the best versions of ourselves, we sometimes forget to be good. Competition strains relationships and hinders charitable thoughts and feelings. There is nothing wrong with healthy competition. But if it is hurting people’s feelings, then it is not helping. And at times, the one hurt the most is our self.

We Boast in Our Own Strength

We may get enveloped in the process of perfecting ourselves too much when we achieve successes. This can make us feel the pull of pride and push the tender mercies of heaven away. Because we work so hard to reach where we want to be and be who we want to become, we may have a tendency to forget to acknowledge divine help. We all want the affirmation of the praise of men, but it is not what is most important. What the world thinks of us should never matter more than what the Lord thinks of us. Satan, in all his subtlety, encourages us to magnify ourselves and what we can do, instead of glorifying God who is the source of all things.

We Expect Perfection from Others

“If I have to work this hard, then they should too!” How often do we hear these words in our heads? Or, “Why would they make those mistakes when they already know the commandments?” Since we are focused on trying so hard to be perfect, we may expect other people to do what we do, and to think how we think. It can be so easy to develop a very judgmental attitude. Remember that every child of God is a unique being. Although we all have the same mandate to work towards perfection, Heavenly Father reminds us often that we do it line upon line, precept upon precept. We must remember that we all differ in our pace. Getting too absorbed with perfecting ourselves in this life will cloud our understanding of this eternal truth.

The Savior of the world, though he lived perfectly, did not attain perfection until the Atonement was completed and He was received by the Father as a glorified, resurrected being. May we keep this in mind and take it to heart. We can do so much good and we can touch the lives of others in this life, even if we are not yet perfect. Find joy in the journey and learn from every experience – in successes and failures alike. Heavenly Father wants us to rise above worldly thoughts and guard our intentions. This way, Satan will not be able to influence our words and our actions. Perfection is very much attainable, but we are not required to run faster than we are able. Instead, let us hold on to the enabling power of the Atonement and allow its redeeming power to make us whole.

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What is the atonement? It is the Lord’s sacrifice that changes everything for us. It started in the Garden of Gethsemane where the Savior bled from every pore, not only because of the weight of our sins, but also our burdens, sorrows, and all our infirmities. It ended upon the cross at Calvary where He died the most painful and cruel death at the hands of His own people. There has been no greater suffering than His. He paid the price for our souls so that, if we will, we can repent, be cleansed, and return to the Lord’s presence.

Jesus Christ was the only one who could perform such a sacrifice. Because He was sinless, He was not subject to spiritual death and because He is the Only Begotten Son of an immortal God, He had power over physical death. With His unique birthright, Jesus Christ’s Atonement brought to pass two gifts—the gift of immortality, which will be received by all, and the gift of eternal life, which can be accessed only through the condition of repentance.

Because He died, all of us will live again. Our bodies and spirits, which now can be separated by death, will one day be reunited again, to “die no more,” and we will become immortal beings. All who have ever lived on Earth will one day be resurrected—“both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous.” Every person you have ever loved and lost to death—grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, children, friends—all will be able to be resurrected, and you will see them again. The Savior’s atonement takes away the sting of death, because it is no longer permanent.

The Savior’s Atonement also enables all those who believe in Him to be saved from sin and receive eternal life. It is important to note that Jesus Christ’s death does not automatically free us from our sins. In order for us to receive the gift of eternal life, we need to believe in Him and the healing power of the Atonement, repent of our sins, be baptized in His name, receive the Holy Ghost, follow His commandments, perform essential ordinances, and make covenants with the Lord.

With the Atonement centered on saving us from sin, one might think that it is only about healing us from sin. But the power of the Atonement has no bounds. It can heal us from all the pains that we will ever experience, comfort us in our sorrows, succor us in every suffering, and give us hope and peace during troubled times. It also gives us the strength to forgive those who have wronged us and show compassion to those in need. Because the virtue behind the Atonement is charity, which is the pure love of Christ, the power of the Atonement also increases our capacity to love like Christ.

Because of the Atonement, we can be assured that we never have to walk this life alone, that the Savior knows the depths of our sorrows and will send help to lift burdens off our shoulders, and that He knows whatever we are going through—good and bad.

The power of the Atonement is available to all those who reach out for the hand of the Savior with faith. When we do so, we will find that His hands are already stretched, reaching out to us with love.

The post What Is The Atonement And What Does It Mean To Me? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

The scriptures are replete with Jesus Christ’s invitations to us. There are  many ways we can each better heed his call. So in addition to the other things in your life you would like to work on, try including these 5 new year resolutions on your list.

Resolve to Repent Quickly

The call to repentance has always been and still is the primary plea of the Savior of the world. Procrastination and justification make one numb to the remorse one feels after making mistakes. Deciding to repent quickly, apologize immediately and sincerely, and accept mistakes willingly is one good new year resolution that will make us more like the Savior.

Resolve to Follow Him

“Come follow me,” the Savior said. As we look to the life of Jesus Christ, we see a man who always did what Heavenly Father expected of Him. In His earthly life, He ministered to the people – teaching them, feeding them, and expressing His great love for them. He calls to us today to do as He did. May we increase our desire to be better disciples by serving better, being more friendly and less judgmental.

Resolve to “Come Unto Him”

The Savior of the world constantly asks us to draw close to Him. As we face challenges this year may we not forget that He is the source of all strength and comfort. Draw close to Him through studying the scriptures daily. Make prayers more personal and sincere. Attend church meetings, do Temple work, and have Family Home Evenings. New year resolutions like these will strengthen our relationship with the Savior.

Resolve to Feed His Sheep

Mindful of the welfare of men, Jesus Christ reminded His Apostles of old to administer to His flock. In our day, we can participate in the work by sharing the Gospel. Strengthen the testimonies of the people we meet. Our examples mirror our beliefs. They strongly show our conviction to let the Savior’s light shine through us. May we strive to refine our thoughts, words, and actions so those around us may be filled with the love of Christ.

Resolve to Use The Atonement in Your Life

We are humbled by how the Savior suffered so the world will not suffer the way He did. But are there times when we forget the very purpose of His Atonement? May we take part in that great act of sacrifice by turning to our Savior and allowing Him to take the burden of our sins away. Feel the healing and empowering strength of His love for us despite our imperfections. We can also help others turn to Christ and feel the power of the Atonement, by being more compassionate and more forgiving. Give selfless acts of service, and put others before ourselves.

This year will be happier and more fulfilling as we put more meaning into the things we do daily. Modeling our lives after the invitations of the Savior will help us become better versions of ourselves. A loving Father in Heaven is mindful of us. What better way to teach us than by sending someone perfect and pure to mark the path to genuine peace and joy.

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When Jesus was born, a star led 3 wise men through the darkness to the place where the Savior was. Lighting a Christmas lantern in the shape of a star, reminds us of that same star. It reminds us that in order for us to come unto Him, we must follow His light, just like the 3 Wise Men did. It also teaches that no matter how dark the night, His light will always illuminate our paths towards Him.

Christmas lights also remind us that He is the light of the world. His birth and life are the light that we follow so we can return to our Father in Heaven. He lived a perfect life and set the example for us. His gospel is a light that provides direction, guidance and hope as it “quickens our understanding” on the ways of the Lord. He is the light that can dispel darkness, fear, insecurities, and doubt from our lives. And although Christmas is a time when most people remember that He is the light of the world, His light will always be there in every season of our lives.

So how can we access the Lord’s light? His light is available to all because it is “given to every man, that he may know good from evil.” Every man, woman, and child in this world has the light of Christ in them and it is entirely up to us if we listen to it or we silence it. But it will always remain with us.

Jesus Christ shared His light with us and He wants us to “hold up [His] light that it may shine unto the world.” He wants us to reflect the light of Christ that we have in us, to remind others that the light of Christ can be found within everyone, if only we embrace it and let it shine within us. He does not want us to “put [our light] under a bushel, but on a candlestick,” and to “let [our] light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven.” This is an invitation that goes beyond the Christmas season. He wants us to become a light to the world every day.

May the lights that we see during Christmas remind us of the one who is the ultimate source of light, even Jesus Christ, and may we continue to draw inspiration from Him as we seek to foster goodness in our lives.

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How Will The Lord Ever Understand?

When I was 18 years old, I thought I had already met the guy of my dreams. We got along well, and he was one of the best guys I had ever met. Although it was a great relationship, it didn’t fare so well, and when we stopped communicating I felt betrayed and denied. It was hard to let go of the plans and the expectations. Hurting, I knelt down and started to pray. While saying the words, a part of my brain kept saying “This is a heartbreak. How on earth will the Lord ever understand me?” I knew the Atonement was true; but did it really cover heartbreak?

I got my answer through a sacrament hymn. While conducting the hymn “Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King,” a certain line caught my attention: “bruised, broken, torn for us on Calvary’s hill.” Bruised, broken, and torn. Those words perfectly described what I was feeling. Without me even noticing, tears were already streaming down my face. How could I ever question the power of the Lord’s atonement?

The Lord Truly Understands

Through that sacrament hymn, I began to ponder Jesus’ own heartbreaks when He was still on the earth. He constantly expressed love to His disciples, and there is no doubt that His love was pure and true perhaps more than we could ever understand. Judas Iscariot, one of His apostles, one He worked with, taught with, and prayed with, betrayed him for thirty pieces of silver. Peter, one of His most loyal disciples, denied him thrice. And for a moment, Jesus felt completely alone when he uttered the words “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?”

In that moment, I felt that I was “encircled in the arms of His love.” My pain was nothing compared to the heartbreaks the Lord went through when He was still on Earth. It was a message that I was not alone, even though I felt that I was. It encouraged me to pour my heart out more in my prayers because I finally understood that He understands. And because He understands, His love for me increases. Like Elder Dallin H. Oaks said “He knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, our suffering, for He has willingly experienced them all.”

The Atonement Brings Peace, Let Us Trust It

I am grateful that a heartbreak at 18 taught me a lesson I will hold onto, and carry with me forever. During the April 2011 General Conference, Elder C. Scott Grow made a true and powerful statement: “There is no sin and transgression, pain and sorrow, which is outside of the healing power of HIs atonement.” The atonement brings peace! Nothing can be more true! If you ever feel like I did,  doubting that the Lord could ever understand you, think of what He went through. Think of what He went through for me and you. He gave the indescribable sacrifice so that when one day, when we’re down on our knees, crying, and holding onto that last hope for comfort, we can hear Him say “I understand.”

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