Reality Check

Gosh...I'm sorry for writing down sad thoughts.....sometimes this journey with Melissa "wears me down." No excuse....she needs me to "guts up" and be my normal determined self. Tabb knew I had been struggling the last few days and left a talk for me to read by David Bednar, an apostle from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The talk is titled, "In the Strength of the Lord."

Regarding the persecution of Alma's people by Amulon: "And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." (Mosiah 24).

Elder Bednar continues by stating, "It was not the burden that changed, the challenges and difficulties of persecution were not immediately removed from the people. But Alma and his followers were strengthened, and their increased capacity and strength made the burdens they bore lighter. These good people were empowered through the Atonement to act as agents and impact their circumstances---"in the strength of the Lord."

Finally, he writes, "The enabling power of the Atonement of Christ strengthens us to do things we could never do on our own."