Lesson 8

I appreciated the opportunity to read the talks this week by Pres. Monson and Elder Holland. The theme "Good Things to Come" has meant a lot to me over the past several years as I, along with my husband, have raised our daughter with special needs. A couple of quotes that Pres. Monson shared in his talk, Looking Back and Moving Forward, reminded me of what this life is about.

"It was said of the Savior that He “went about doing good … for God was with him.” May we follow that perfect example. In this sometimes precarious journey through mortality, may we also follow that advice from the Apostle Paul which will help to keep us safe and on course: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”"

"Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order to be tested, we must sometimes face challenges and difficulties. At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end—no dawn to break the night’s darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea “Is there no balm in Gilead?” We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. If you find yourself in such a situation, I plead with you to turn to our Heavenly Father in faith. He will lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you, but He will comfort and lead you with love through whatever storm you face."

The message Elder Holland shares  in the video, "Good Things to Come," reminds us that our prayers are answered, whether now, in a week, in a year, or in the next life, but they will be answered. This video, and the talk that it came from (An High Priest of Good Things to Come) has brought a lot of peace, encouragement and hope to me.

I know that if I go about "doing good," keep my covenants, have faith in "good things to come" I will be comforted and lead by the Holy Ghost and will become who my Heavenly Father knows I can become.

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