Prompt: I would like you to select a problem, uncertainty or concern that currently challenges your peace of mind. With your problem (challenge) in mind now I want you to place Alma's faith outline over it. You will need to superimpose his 5 steps or levels over your problem and demonstrate by mentioning them as you discuss your challenge.
This past week, I have been struggling with the
death of a close friend. She passed away ten months ago, but something happened
earlier this week that resulted in me questioning Heavenly Father and His plan
for my friend, Heidi. So I took my concern to the Lord in prayer.
I took the first step
of Alma’s faith outline, belief, and said a prayer. In this prayer, I expressed
my hope that Heavenly Father had a bigger and better plan for Heidi, that she
was special and was needed in heaven more than her family and friends needed
her here on Earth. I expressed my hope that she would be reunited with her
family someday. Lastly, I earnestly expressed my desire for Him to comfort me
in this time of weakness, and more importantly, to comfort her family who was
surely suffering more than I was. All these desires and hopes were deep, and I
had faith they were true.
Next,
I exercised Alma’s second step, experiment, and my hopes compelled me to
“exercise a particle of faith” and experiment on His words. I told Heavenly
Father that I believed that families can be together forever and that He has
special plans for all of us. I told Him that even though I didn’t understand
everything, I believed that He knew what He was doing. I told Him that I
believed it will all be okay in the end and that it was better this way.
My
pain was never completely taken away as I uttered this prayer. I was still
engulfed in sadness for the next couple days, but I slowly felt the Lord
comfort me as I continued to study faith and hope. That weekend, I went to the
temple and that’s where I felt the most peace about my concerns. I felt the
effects of Alma’s third step in his faith process. I felt the Spirit begin to
“enlarge my soul” and “enlighten my understanding.” I felt calm and peaceful
and I knew all the things that I had prayed for and expressed my hope for, were
true. Heavenly Father listened to my prayer and addressed my concern.
Since
receiving this feedback from the Lord, I am currently in the process of step
four and five: nourishing and knowledge. I know I don’t know everything about
why Heavenly Father does what He does and I’ve made peace with the fact that I
may never know the reasons for some things. But I will continue to learn more about
faith and exercise it whenever I can. I feel ready to be able to share my
testimony of what I have learned from this experience with my family, friends,
and the people I will teach on my mission. I miss Heidi and I will always feel
compassion for her family, but I know with all of my heart that Heavenly Father
is taking care of her. I know that because of the Lord’s great Plan of
Salvation and that He was willing to give His only Son to atone for our sins,
Heidi and her family will be reunited someday. I am eternally grateful for this
knowledge.
References: Alma 32 (Book of Mormon)
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