Be Articulate...

Photo Credit: Greg Olsen
I recently started re-listening to the talks given in the October 2017 General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of my favorite talks from all of the sessions came from the Women's session. A talk titled Turn On Your Light by Sharon Eubank. 

In her talk, Sister Eubank describes how we can turn on our lights. One way is to be articulate.
 "Being articulate means to clearly express how you feel about something and why." 
As I thought about this I realized that I don't often get up to share my testimony. For other members of the LDS church, I'm sure you're familiar with the heart pounding sensation that fills your entire being when the Spirit works on you to stand up and walk to the front of the congregation to share your feelings and to testify of the gospel. For those who aren't members, just know my fear of that long walk is quite strong. I often only bear my testimony when I've been asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting or when I teach a lesson.

But I want to take Sister Eubank's challenge and articulate how I feel about my Savior.

I think about Christ's life on earth and the sacrifices He made to minster to the people. He sacrificed His time. He sacrificed His comfort. And in the end, He sacrificed His life. And I feel very sorry that He needed to do that for me. But I am overwhelmed with gratitude that He did.

I feel very grateful for the past trials that I've had, although difficult, that have given me a bedrock testimony and trust in Him. Trust to help me overcome any physical trial. Any emotional trial. Any spiritual trial. No matter how difficult life gets, no matter how overwhelmed I sometimes feel, when I turn to my Savior and Father in Heaven and rely on that trust, the trial stops being a roadblock and instead becomes a bridge to a better me.

I feel so lucky to have the knowledge I do about my Father's Plan of Salvation. And I am amazed at the trust He's placed in me to raise a family of my own.

Words cannot describe how much I want to live for Him, to raise my family unto Him, and to be like Him. I will forever be grateful for the time I have to learn - and make mistakes - in this life until I can do just that.

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