I was recently called into the Primary Presidency. This is new for me, and I am not very good at anything yet, but I am learning. One thing I did this week was go through the Sharing Time manual for 2018 and look at the monthly themes, which all have an affiliated scripture.
It occurred to me that God seems to send me a theme each week, if I keep my eyes and ears open to look for it. This week definitely has a theme to it. I thought I'd share the gist of God's message to me this week with my five readers. (Yes, I am up from three!!)
I was reading in Alma 57... one of the dreaded war chapters. In those long chapters, the Lamanites keep attacking and the Nephites sort of succeed or get pushed around, depending largely on their righteousness. In Chapter 57, the Nephites are in bad shape. The Lamanites have them dramatically outnumbered (as usual) and the Nephite army is about to lose.
But, a small force of converted Lamanite boys hold the line. Literally. Those young, relatively inexperienced soldiers will not give up. Verse 20 says: And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted. 21. Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.
Wow, what a spiritual punch is buried there in a war chapter! The whole army of experienced men were ready to give up, but these young men buoyed up the entire force.
I thought about that, and a long ago event occurred to me. In 1995, I was a sophomore in high school. I had an acquaintance from school participating in a "Battle of the Bands" at some venue. After begging and begging and begging my mom agreed to let me go with a new friend, Jennifer. We were in Biology together. I didn't know her very well, but she seemed quite nice. I am quite sure I never shared this with my mom, who did not really want to let me go anyway. About 2/3 of the way through this event, we walked outside to chat with some people out there. Some kids were standing in a circle, and one of them held his hand out. He offered us some pot.
I didn't hesitate. I didn't hem or haw. My mom had taught me. Drugs were wrong. I shook my head and said, "I don't do drugs because they're bad for you. But also, God has told us not to. You shouldn't be smoking that crap at all." (If I sounded preachy, well, I am sure I did. I was nearly insufferable as a kid.) Jennifer and I turned and walked away.
After we reached the school again, Jennifer turned back. Two other kids had walked away from the circle, too. She said to me, "Wow, I believe in God and I believe drugs are bad, but I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there to tell them no. "
Three other kids passed on trying drugs that night because I had the bravery to say no, loudly, and clearly.
Satan's favorite lie is to convince people that they aren't good enough, and that they can't make a difference. He wants you to believe you are worthless. Useless. Because then you act like someone with no value. I don't know what you have going on in your lives right now. I don't know what struggles exist for you. I don't know what difficulty is pulling at you, threatening to drag you down into captivity, just like those brave sons, but I promise each and every one of you reading this that Satan's favorite lie is not true.
You are a son or a daughter of a God. He loves you. He created you. He wants you to be the one who makes the difference. You are strong enough and brave enough to change things, to improve the lives of those around you. Stand up. Hold the line. You are enough. And one little person can make a tremendous impact on the lives of those around them.
Bonus for you moms out there. You can make a difference, yes, but when you're discouraged about the dishes, the laundry and the general whining in your home, think about the profound difference your children will make... because their mothers taught them. You are doing God's work with every wiped nose, every scattered and frustrating scripture study and family prayer. You are teaching tiny people who will go out and save those around them. People who will light the world.
My message this week to all of you is that You Are Enough. You can do it. I know it, God knows it, and now you know it, too. I would LOVE to hear in the comments any examples you can think of when YOU made a difference (or someone in your family!). Please share!
