Finding the Joy in the Journey

This semester is almost over, only a week and a half left then I go back home to Arkansas for the summer and possibly finish school their instead of coming back. BYU- Idaho is such an amazing school, I really feel like I have grown so much and my testimony of Christ is much stronger after these 8 months of living in Idaho in the little Mormon "bubble" that it is. This year I took New Testament as my religion class and we are supposed to keep a journal to go along with our studies of Christ's life. Well I didn't get around to writing in my journal every day and with it due tomorrow the last couple hours I have been making up pages. I came across this talk by President Thomas S. Monson called "Finding Joy in the Journey" http://lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/finding-joy-in-the-journey?lang=eng from the 2008 General Conference while trying to find topics to write about in the journal. This talk is amazing and really stood out to me especially about the last 4 minutes. I want to share it with yall.

"I pray that all of us will reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to life’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where does my spirit go when I die? He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to serve. He taught us how to live. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved. The time came when He stood alone. Some Apostles doubted; one betrayed Him. The Roman soldiers pierced His side. The angry mob took His life. There yet rings from Golgotha’s hill His compassionate words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Earlier, perhaps perceiving the culmination of His earthly mission, He spoke the lament, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” “No room in the inn” was not a singular expression of rejection—just the first. Yet He invites you and me to receive Him. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Who was this Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief? Who is the King of glory, this Lord of hosts? He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of our Salvation. He beckons, “Follow me.” He instructs, “Go, and do thou likewise.” He pleads, “Keep my commandments.” Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude. Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I swear that is one of the best talks I've ever read! The atonement of Christ is amazing. He Suffered so much for me, because he loves me! He is there standing at my door just waiting for me to open it and let him into my life. Your house may be filled with filth and clutter, but that is ok! I know it will take so much courage and faith just to open up the door. But it is important that we do let Christ in becuase all He wants to do is help us clean up the mess that we have made. Once we let Christ into our lives and into our hearts I know that we will be filled with peace and that weight that we walk around with on our shoulders will be lifted, gone. That is an amazing feeling to know that and I feel so lucky to know of Christ and that I decided to let him in.

I am a child of God and my worth is great! All that Heavenly Father and Christ wants us to do in this life is to endure to the end doing everything that we can to stay righteous enough so that we can return to live with them again. In the Garden of Gethsemane Christ suffered for all of our sins, bad choices, mistakes, and pains... but he also felt our joys and happiness, he knows the good times along with the bad. He knows everything about us and knows us by name!

I am so greatful that I know the answers to "Who am I?" "Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" I am a daughter of Heavenly parents and they love me.