1st post!

The other night I was with my companion and a member friend visiting a lady who is less active in the church. She is absolutely amazing! She has this beautiful spirit and strong faith. I just really love her. She has had her share of trials and lately life for her has been a struggle.

When we were visiting her the other night, I sensed that she was feeling a little hopeless. She talked to us about how she has this friend who doesn't believe there is a God. It surprised her, because her friend is this wonderful person. She said that her family seems to be so content like they don't have any major problems. Then she said, "I can't help but wonder..."

Our friend who was with us gave the most inspired answer. She simply told her, "Well, I guess you could live life without the Gospel, and you could go through your trials alone...but WHY??"

So for my first blog post, I would like to talk about the WHY of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it blesses us, especially in our trials. Big or small!

This topic has been an answer to prayer in my own life as of late. Something that I have discovered is that my trials are already a lot harder than I ever expected! I have thought to myself, "I did NOT sign up for this!". But really I am starting to realize that is normal. As children of God, we are all here to be stretched, tested, and tried to prove our faith and our love to our Heavenly Father. The question is, how are we reacting to our adversities?

My mission President is a huge example to me of true faith. His wife is recovering from 2 strokes and a heart attack right now. Even though it isn't easy for him or his family, he understands the WHY. Here are some words from his blog:
"I have read the scripture in Matthew over and over where the Savior was pleading to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane as He was coming to the realization of a portion of what He would be going through “And he went a little further and... fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt .” (Matt. 26:39) This has given me peace to know that the Savior of the World prayed to His Father asking Him to remove this cup but always “if it be thy will”. The Lord has His own timing and I am learning that I get to adjust to that timing as well. The natural man in me wants to have it my way again. For each of us the Path of Salvation will at some time go through the Garden of Gethsemane. In order to follow Him we all must experience that Gethsemane Path.
I noticed that the Father allowed His very special Son to experience that path even though I am sure that He wanted to take that suffering away from Him. Each one of us will become “more like Him” as we experience that path. Every experience will mold us to be more like our Heavenly Father, if we let it."

I know that our trials will STRENGTHEN us if we are true and faithful. Our purpose in life is to be like the Savior. He showed us the perfect example. We can do hard things. I know Heavenly Father is there and is always ready to sustain and lift us. We just have to be humble and let Him guide.

I know this Gospel is the only and TRUE way to have lasting happiness. The adversary doesn't want you to be happy! He will do everything to take you away from the blessings that the Gospel brings. Please don't lose hope, your Savior is there. I know as we have faith and endure our trials big or small, the Lord will show unto us His ways, and we will change and mold into the person He wants us to be.