Drepression:
Old Testiment:
New Testiment:
Book of Mormon:
Alma 26: 27
Yesterday (December 20, 2017), I woke up in pain from head to foot. It was like my muscles and tendons were sinching enough to cause me pain throughout my entire body. I went downstairs, thinking about a young man I know who has not only stopped going to church but has started hanging out with a crowd that drinks, smokes marajuana, pops acid and listens to music that states all through the lyrics how bad life is, and to give up. The words kill, detroy, destruction and death are repeated throughout nearly every song in 90% of their releases. Sitting down, I looked at my own work, which has been ongoing for over 30 years, and wondered at how much time I've wasted within a world I continually forge. Never, in any sentence have I placed any immoral or negative conentation. Never will I pervert the gift my Father in Heaven has given me. Never.
I began to be sorrowful, and wept as I prayed for help and guideance. In sincere prayer, I told Father all I wanted to do was to make enough living off my work to pay my bills, and I would be happy. All I wanted was to create security for my family, and that, as I promised on March 5th, 1987, all I earned would go to the aiding of others in need. I have never, ever, in my heart and mind, gone back on that promise.
After my prayer, I opened my scriptures to no certain place and beheld the following scripture (which I had marked so many years ago):
Alma 26:27:
Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, hehold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst they brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.
Taken back, I read this scripture again and again. As I read it, the Spirit touched and softened my heart. In but a moment's time, I was reasurred that He is ever aware of me. He loves me, and yearns for my success. I knew then, Father desires to grant my desire. At that point in time, I also knew I was not ready, because I had been distracted by other things in life.
Like other scriptures, I memorized this passage on my mission back in 1985 during the time I taught people who were gracious enough to allow me into their homes.
Until this morning, as I sat down to study this same passage of text, did the realization come to me that Ammon, Omner and Himni were beginning to be weighed down by their committement to go into hostile Lamanite territory and preach the words of Christ. In the lands they traveled into, they were the enemy. Not only did the Lamanites distrust and hate the Nephites, but more times than not, went out of their way to kill them. The Lamanites had been taught by their forefathers of the terrible wrongs they committed against them from the very beginning. These were lies from the beginning, but this did not matter. Many of the Lamanites had been slain in war for more than 500 years.
When I first read this scripture on my mission, I often thought, [I'm discouraged. No one wants to talk religion]. Remembering this scripture always brought strength and energy to press on to find that one person who would lend an
ear. It gave me drive and hope, and never in vain.
This morning, as I read it one last time, I could not help but be distracted by four words in this passage of scripture: "our hearts were depressed". These were emmisaries, desciples of Christ, men of sound integrity and wisdom beyond my own. I thought to myself, ‟I feel the same way at times”. Now, when I feel down and discouraged, I can remember that deciples of the living God also feel the same way at times. This gives me conviction and courage to pray for strength and guideance and press on.
Doctrine & Covenants:
Pearl of Great Price: