A prayer for Sister Conley

Well said! 

Sister Conley, 

I hope that I am not the only person who writes you. Alas, if I am I am honored. My dear cousin, I have been studying the garden of Eden. I have learned that sometimes we leave the comfort of our Father's garden to face a lot and dreary world but always reflect upon the comfort of our home to learn to call upon the name of the Lord in our trials of faith. While you are in a foreign land, call upon the name of the Lord often and seek His council. I have had to learn on my mission that He will guide your path, a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. 

I know it's not an easy task the Lord has asked of you, but always remember He prepared you from the beginning. You were called. Not one scratch or lost tear is not counted. Each day you endure it will be well with you because the Lord is before your face. He protects you in ways you see not. His angels are all around you and you see them not, but they are there. Continue to grow your faith and you will see so many miracles that they can not be counted.

Have faith hope and charity of all men. You were baptized once but redeemed and forgiven daily. Always repent. To repent means to broaden your spirit to accept council. If the Lord chastises you, take it with a willing heart and it will be well with you. Endure all of your trials well, they were made to temper you and make you strong like fire to steel. Do not let trials harden your spirit but strengthen your vigor to serve all the more. When we pass through the trials and vail of tears we come to the other side triumphant. Pray always and find ways to serve others and you will be blessed is my prayer for you in the name of Him who redeems it all daily, even Jesus Christ, 

Amen.

Comments

  1. JaysonJanuary 25, 2022 at 1:40 PM

    In studying the lessons found in the Garden of Eden, I found something surprising. While in the Garden, we know that the Lord provided our first parents with four basic commandments: 1) Multiple and replenish the Earth, 2) Have and tend the garden as their dominion, 3) Eat of all the fruits, but not from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil, and 4) Stay together. In looking closely at these laws, some might note that 2 of them seem to contradict or cannot be kept while keeping the other. Principally, it is the law to multiply and the law to not partake of the fruit (which led to them becoming mortal and being cast out). This is because of more light that was revealed in the Book of Mormon, which adds the knowledge that before the fruit was taken our first parents COULD NOT produce children. This is further reinforced by several accounts in modern revelation. So, one might think that this seemed impossible for them to keep all of God's commandments.

    Nevertheless, deep down inside the Spirit says this cannot be true. We KNOW God's laws are provide that "even the weakest of saints" can uphold them. And we KNOW that no law would ever contradict another one. Some laws might fulfill or complete another law, but never contradict while both are instated. So, how is it that God asked these two laws?

    Here is the information that I found surprising: could God have meant for Adam and Eve to partake of this fruit at a LATER time, a time when they were ready and PREPARED to partake? God even suggests that. "But it is given to thee to choose". When looking at God's patterns of law giving we find these same sorts of laws. He at times gives us prohibitions and restrictions during times of instruction and growth that are later released and given freely. Are ALL commanded to go to the House of the Lord? Yet, who are the only permitted to enter? There is a time of preparation, instruction and probation that proceeds partaking of a higher law. It is what is said as giving the milk before the meat, "for you were not able to bear it". Was the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil like this meat? Did it first require further instructions to be ready for it? Did God want them to wait, and then in his time, He would make it an option that was sanctified in His eyes?

    Satan used the positive power of the fruit to tempt them, and tried to minimize the consequence. Did God simple which to teach them what it would TRULY mean to become mortal so that when they CHOSE they would be choosing with a full knowledge of both blessings AND consequences. I think yes.

    In many things in life, we feel that we deserve certain blessings and the powers available from God, and we want to jump feet first to try and get them. But, God's way is that we go prepared. Prepared with knowledge. Prepared with instruction. Prepared with the small and simple things. When we find that the powers of heaven seem out of reach, take a step back. See what must be revealed before you are to receive. Is there a lesson to be learned. Is there a hurt than needs to be healed. Is there something more that needs to be prepared with singleness in heart. Do these first and God will give you power on high.

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