Introduction

This blog has come out of the many hours I have spent pondering the events and experiences that I have had in my life, and their effects on me. As I have thought back to the things that have happened to me, both happy and sad, joyous and difficult, I have realized that these events have shaped me, and have made me who I am today. I truly believe that we have been sent here to earth by a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to become so much more than we believe ourselves capable of being. He sees the “diamond in the rough” and has a plan to mold and shape us into men and women that are destined for great things. This plan is called “experience”. In the Doctrine and Covenants we can read about the Prophet Joseph Smith's experience as he sat imprisoned in the Liberty Jail, accused falsely, while enduring trials and horrific conditions usually saved for the worst of criminals. As he prayed one lonely, difficult day, wondering whether Heavenly Father knew of the trials he and the other members of the church were going through at this time, he asked in anguish, “Oh God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?” In this desperate hour, an answer came: one of comfort, peace, and love. After listing the many things which Joseph had happen to him such as being “cast into the pit” or into “the hands of murderers”, the Lord very directly told Joseph, “know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:7) What an amazing promise, that even though we may suffer and endure many hardships which sometimes seem impossible to bear, the Lord Jesus Christ knows us individually, and will allow us to go through certain things in order to give us “experience” which will be “for our good”.

I definitely know that the things that I have gone through in my life have been for MY good, because I have seen how they have strengthened me, helped me, and caused me to be able to stand through other trials which have come my way. It has also given me the ability to reach out to others in understanding, because I know for myself what it is to be lonely, hurt, confused, or fearful. As I thought of all these things, I felt a great need to write down some of my own experiences for the benefit of my own family, as well as others. I want to share the love I have felt from my Heavenly Father as I have gone through these things, and help others to know that they, too, can endure hard things, and can one day look back and actually be grateful for those things. I wanted to write it in a format that would take certain values or traits and show how the experiences I have had have helped me to learn these things.  I also wanted it to spark the personal reflection of those who might read it to think about their own life and how their experiences have helped mold them and strengthen them.  If you would like to, you can add a blog comment which can then help you to share what you have learned with others, journal your own stories, and explain how you have learned what you have learned through your own life experiences.

I truly believe that as we take the time to think and write down these experiences, that we will more clearly see the hand of the Lord at work in our lives, and will gain a greater love and appreciation for Him, who is the source of all love and happiness.  I hope that these stories will give you strength and hope on your own personal journey, and will help you to understand that you are truly never alone.