Have you ever thought of how it must feel to be a little seed trying to sprout, pushing up through the ground, trying with all it’s might to fulfill it’s purpose? I am sure that it is HARD! That it is painful. That it is exhausting.
I feel like that sometimes as I am trying to grow and become a better person.
I feel the weight of my failings pushing against me like the dirt does to the plant. The wind whispers of “not good enough” surround me. The beating of the sun when I’m tender and taking those first steps to change.
How does that seed make it?
It works on it’s roots.
Sending roots deep and wide provide the strength for the plant above. So what can I do, and what can you do to send roots deeper and wider?
Let me suggest three things that I learned from a talk by Elder Richard G. Scott, How to Live Well Amid Increasing Evil . I always loved watching Elder Scott speak. He just had this amazing way of looking right through the camera into your heart. I miss watching and hearing him speak.
- Study the Plan of Happiness
- Combine Faith with Consistent Obedience
- Seek and be Attentive to the Holy Ghost
Elder Scott speaks a lot about the evils that surround us in this world. My sins/failings/struggles may not be those he specifically mentioned, but I struggle none the less in other ways. Struggles are struggles. And they are necessary for growth. And there is one who does NOT want us to succeed and grow…and that being is Satan. He wants us to not even make it even to the surface, let alone grow into a beautiful strong plant. But we must prevail. And we must share our knowledge and light wherever our journey takes us.
Elder Scott said that when Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove, “They began to place on earth again that plan of happiness and all required to sustain it.” That last phrase really struck me. Heavenly Father has provided all that is required for us to achieve happiness in this life and in the life to come. As we study that plan more in depth, I believe the strength to press forward will come.
Here are a few good sources of info about The Plan of Happiness:
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/04/the-plan-of-happiness?lang=eng
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/come-follow-me-for-individuals-and-families-book-of-mormon-2020/30?lang=eng
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2018/02/children/the-plan-of-happiness?lang=eng {this is a great one for kids to learn and color}
Elder Scott said, “Your struggles are defining character, discipline, and confidence in the promises of your Father in Heaven and the Savior as you consistently obey Their commandments.” We are meant to struggle. I wish that wasn’t so sometimes. I just want to be better right now! I want my ability to conquer my faults to happen much faster. But it’s in the struggle that we achieve the growth necessary. It’s in the struggle of the plant that make it able to stand up to the wind, rain, sun, and storms. And one of the blessings of the struggle is confidence that God’s promises will be fulfilled.
Another thought is that we also need to pair gratitude and grace with our consistent obedience. Keep trying and be grateful for the journey, but also giving yourself grace when you slip up. For me, that is what I want to focus on. Not being frustrated at my lack of “faster progress”, but happy with my “slow and steady progress”. And then to give grace not only to myself, but those around me, especially my family. I admit, that is one of my failings. For example, I often find myself expecting my husband to be perfect, even when I am not. And that is 100% not fair. And it causes strife. And that means I am acting like the awful plant– morning glory. It’s tentacles reach out to nearby plants and hurt them. Why do we often hurt those closest to us?
I know that change starts with me. And I know that as I seek to better myself, I learn even more from my Father in Heaven about loving others, and about making relationships strong. { Mark, I hope that you’ll stick with me — little did you know you married a turtle.}
And last, Elder Scott said, “Seek and be attentive to the personal guidance given to you through the Holy Spirit. Continue to be worthy to receive it. Reach out to others who stumble and are perplexed, not certain of what path to follow.” I think that when we learn the lessons we need to by seeking and following the Holy Ghost, the next important thing is to share what we learn.
Sometimes sharing is hard. I know for me, that’s when those wind whispers of “not good enough” start to blow stronger. “Who am I to share?” “What good would it do anyway?” “Everyone already knows all that stuff.” “You are so imperfect-like you can give advice!”
But I feel a great pull to add my one small voice to the millions of other small voices that are all sharing truth. The truth that God lives. His Son, Jesus Christ, lived and died for me, then lived again. They have a plan, The Plan of Happiness. And when we follow it, we will be given strength. The strength we need to send our roots down deep and wide. So that when the wind, sun, rain and storms come, we will be found standing tall in full blossom when Jesus returns.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. May you be filled with hope to keep trying. Don’t give up. Those roots will strengthen as we keep pressing forward. Join me in 58 years when I’m 100, because that is how long I’m going to need.
Today there is a reason to Hope.
A Jubilant Hope 
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