Come Follow Me - Week of October 4th

This is our family's Come Follow Me message for this week:

We hear the words, "Be of good cheer," a lot in the scriptures.

We hear them most during times of great affliction.

I don't think that is a coincidence!

In the midst of the Saints trying desperately to follow the commandments they had been given, the afflictions and trials that they incurred were almost insurmountable.

I would have spent time questioning if I had heard the revelations and commandments correctly.

I would have considered that, perhaps, I didn't hear them or interpret them correctly!

They were being pushed out of every city they went to.

Their Prophet was jailed.

Their members were dying in high numbers while walking from city to city.

Yet, they were told repeatedly to "Be of good cheer."

Yesterday, Kaydon and I hiked Adam's Canyon.

And this time, I went all the way to the top.

We started up the switchbacks behind a family of 4 1/2.

Dad, Pregnant Mom, Ivan (around 6) and Hazel (around 3).

We passed them.

Then they passed us.

Then we passed them.

Then, we seemed to convene near the top.

It's a hard, uphill, full-of-rocks and slippery sand hike.

I marveled at Ivan and Hazel.

Ivan would ask if they were close.

His dad would tell him that they were closer than when they started.

Hazel would ask if she could just eat something.

Her mom would tell her that she could when they hit the top.

We ALL asked if this was worth it.

Kaydon assured us that it was.

He was right.

It was majestic.

As we rounded the corner, Ivan, Hazel, and I grinned and applauded.

It was beautiful and SO worth it.

Imagine if we had given up, I thought out loud.

"Yeah, that would have just been silly," Ivan responded.

"We would have never seen THAT!" Hazel yelled.

Affliction allows us joy.

It provides for us compassion and patience.

Struggle allows our faith to increase.

It gives us gratitude.