Broken Bows and Kept Promises: A Plan For Us

Broken Bows and Kept Promises: A Plan for us.
By Jacob Sok

I once heard an old adage that insinuated something to the effect of  "once you think you have life figured out; tell God your plans and prepare to change them". I suppose some innocent satire can be found in this statement (and I will even admit to being guilty of thinking similarly) but if we are not careful with this statement we could cultivate a serious misconception of not just a random deity but our very own Father, in Heaven.

Thinking about this my mind goes back to recent years in my youth and even now as a young adult to interactions I have had with my parents. As I grew into adolescence my mind often facilitated the idea
 of "what I wanted to be when I grew up?". I have thought of everything from pilot to doctor, police officer, even President of the United States; or to something more realistic such as a space pirate..the phases of this conceptual future seemed to have changed more and more frequently as the years passed. Once in my heart I had meditated a future in any stated career I would often go to my father and explain my interest and "planned" profession. My father having passed through much experience and knowing my heart would always have council and insight, whilst still listing to my reasoning behind this possible direction I was thinking of taking. I have always felt I could get genuine insight from him and in no way feel my proposition would be considered irrational in his eyes. His given council would not determine my decision but allow me to harness a much more refined vision of what it would take to get to there, thus helping me make a wiser choice. A rather celestial trait of his I have now come to admire more in recent years.

How often do we devote our time to ideas and goals and share them with others yet forget to include the one who loves us perfectly? I am not sure what causes this disconnect or missing link in the chain of achievement, and I know it is something in my own life that I do struggle with. Be it fear or forgetfulness, choosing not to voice our hopes to the Lord I feel, would be similar to a child not expressing to Santa what he would want for Christmas. Not to say that every request is granted how and when we would want them to be...had this been the case I would be the first Dr. President Space Pirate: Pilot-Officer of Law. But rather I testify that our hopes being they good are always valid and of worth to our Heavenly Father's ears and heart. As depicted here in the painting, I have come to feel our father looks at at us as any loving parent looks upon a growing child. In this painting the Lord is not just listening intently but seeing to the heart of the child and preparing custom made council for it's happiness. The child's gaze, seeds the the idea that there is no second guessing in is mind that the Lord is there in love to help him and listen.

Many times in life we seem to get caught up in the "catch-22's" of mortality's "what if statements" Are supposed to do one thing or another? Take one path or certain carer so far. Is God's plan really this, for me? I testify and I can only do so after many real experiences that have taught me the reality of this truth; that God's plan involves a care much more about who we can become rather then where we are or what we have done. Of course consideration for the latter is part of our journey to become. But much more than that we can in this live harness a harmonious balance of obedience to the Lord and His will and the joy of self discovery. One does not take the place of the other. Its the very essence of the Lord's grace to permits the learning curve of humanity; while not condoning the mistakes us the learners. In the Book of Mormon Nephi eludes to the fact that he while prepare the holy record of the Lord that he is prone to mistakes; and if there be and error he wont excuse it but knows that that error is part of his weakness not a lapse in the Lord's wisdom or plan.

Our Father in Heaven in His love and wisdom listens to our desires and prayers; and designs a plan that will allow us as free agents to learn and grow. As we hearken to His council our ideas grow and mature with us and we become more a ware of the good fruits of these choices while avoiding the potentially harmful.

I love the story of Nephi and in particular his reaction to the unknowns of his mortal experience. In chapter 16 (versus 14-39) of the First Book of Nephi. We continue the account of Nephi and his family traveling in the wilderness. Lehi, his father, who I imagined had always prayed that the Lord would watch over his family, previously revived the Lord's instruction to flee Jerusalem. Lehi's desire for a safe and prosperous life for his family thus embarked them on a journey towards a promised land. In the middle of this pilgrimage the Lord had not only prepared the promised land but even more so in His wisdom prepared a specific way for them to arrive there. Now I do not just refer to the physical terrain that would be crossed but I also have to learn the Lord wanted much more than for them to just arrive but arrive in the promised land as better people. Thus many challenges that would teach and refine this family were prepared on the path. Now the Lord was not making this journey purposefully harder but  again in life He cares so much more about who we are becoming than our current position, status or achievements.

One refining moment in Nephi's character was brought by way when he and his family were in need of food. Nephi and his brothers left the camp of their family to go out and hunt for foot. On a particular excursion Nephi goes to slay an animal with his bow, when is suddenly breaks. His brothers angrily accuse him of there inevitable starvation, for their bows had lost their springs. Of course taken back Nephi and his brother return, to their family's dismay, heavy hearten and empty handed. Thus commences a trying time of murmuring and anger by all except one. Nephi in this time of confusing "change of plans" so to speak, responds not by complaint but by drawing closer to the Lord. He prays for guidance and takes it upon himself to make a new bow out of wood. Ever more humble he beseeches the council of his earthly father, the prophet, to ask for direction of where to go hunt for food. His father had even murmured in this trying time and took Nephi's request as a chance to once more humble his own heart. Guidance was received and Nephi was able to obtain food and the family once more did repent and praise the Lord.

With several more refining moments and tests to come, Nephi goes on to note this about the opposition faced in the wildness on his path to the promised land.
 Chapter 17 verse 3:
"And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness."

Nephi's humble reaction and optimism and spirit showed him that this journey was about much more that his father's hopes of having a good life, but following a personally crafted plan of God to become better people along the way to this desired promised land and wished for good life.

In this life we will have plans and hopes. many time we will find ourselves with broken bows and unexpected opposition. But we too can respond as Nephi with a resolute assurance that God is the author of the plan of happiness; thus the result of this plan will bring about that which will make us happy. He being the first and the last has knowledge from the end to the beginning; walks side by side with us as we let him and as we grow through His designed opportunities can use our agency to reap the joyous blessing of the our efforts matched by His grace. Including Him in our hopes and dreams allots Him the chance to sustain the good in any humble desire and sharpen our vision to provide us with sound understanding for good decision making.

Whether you need to decide on a change of work, or where to go to school. Plan a relocation or set new hopes for you and your family. Whatever the decision maybe, I know that these ideas and desires are the seeds and gateway for us to journey through mortality and become like our Savior. As favorite hymn states "Lead kindly light; I do not ask to see, the distant scene-- one step enough for me" Step by step, and grace by grace we can through him achieve, find and renew our happiness by following His eternal plan.

To further your study I invite you tor prayerfully consider the following sources:
- 1 Nephi 16: 14-39, I Nephi 17 (The Book of Mormon)
- Lead Kindly Light (LDS Hymnal)
- "You're not messing up God's Plan for you." By: Ariel Szuch,
(As published by the LDS Blog found at www.lds.org)

{All pictures provided by Google Imaging, All Paintings are property of LDS Gospel Library}

Power to Change

Power to Change

By Jacob Sok

As a youth I have many memories of going of Boy Scout adventures and outdoor excursions. Prior to departing on any particular trip my father would always meet with me to help go over what we would expect on the coming trip and most important go over what I would be packing into my backpack for the hike. Now as any instinctive youth, my natural tendency was to consider my packing done upon putting a pillow and few candy bars in my bag. When my father would then recommend that I should try again and think about things I might need. To which my response was a usual "oh ya, duh, thanks Dad. That was a close one, almost forgot the beef jerky."Eventually through council and practice I began to understand the art of packing but more importantly I have been able to outline a humble example of a great truth. My father's patience in the packing of my bag was his way of helping prepare me for the trip, or rather he was helping me avoid any potential stumbling blocks of a rather self-inflicted rough trip.

When thinking about this fact that simply coming to my father, I was able to prepare for what was ahead and be taught to remove potential obstacles for my coming trail, I reached for the Book of Mormon. As I read this week a special doctrine stood out to me in scriptural phrasing for the first time. In the book of first Nephi, we have an account of a vision Nephi has of our day. He sees the contentions and confusions and the works of the Lord. I found in chapter 14 the first verse stood out to me "And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word and power in deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks" 

What an amazing promise; that the Lord as we hearken unto Him, or learn of Him will manifest himself unto us. He will do it through His words and His power, be it His teachings and grace, that we will have the power to remove the stumbling blocks we face in everyday life. 

Have you ever noticed how a lot of trials and mishaps in life are self inflicted. When we get confused or sometimes sin, the effects of those actions came through habits or lack of experience. That is part of mortality. But I promise the Lord's statement is true. 

My angelic mother is one of the most beautiful reminders of this truth to me. Many times when learning to accomplish some task (most frequently the importance of separating laundry into colors and whites) she would be very attentive to certain tendencies of mine and when appropriate give me council, however I have learned that council has been most effective when I have made the choice to ask her opinion. 

Some times it is to hard to see past those obstacles. Often when I feel my vision is clouded, I usually have forgotten to clean my glasses. I feel it is easy to get lost when looking in the mirror. We are limited in our view, only being presented one things. I would say as we hearken to the lord we begin looking through windows, cultivating perspective and sight. I find it interesting that I have applied more principles the less I pay attention to the man in mirror and more the portrait of Savior next to it. 

Simple weakness, slip ups and mishaps, bad habits all things that become stumbling blocks can be removed. Many believe that this hope of them being removed is impossible. But I would say the removing is not of a one time effort rather, it is a pattern by which to live the remainder of our lives. This is the path to becoming even as He is. 

I share with you a personal example from my life.--

 For many years I have had a struggle (or stumbling block) with what people thought of me. I recall an particular time when after a rough nights rest I had awoken late the next morning and noticing on my phone several missed calls from my work. My shift had already started as I had missed my alarm. My stomach had sunk to the bottom of my feet which I believe gave me the momentum to get dressed and ready faster than any quick change artist in a Russian circus. I informed my work via phone that I would be there in 10min. As I made the drive to work, I was drowning in fear and frankly irrational ideas. I was worried what my boss would say, what they would think of me and what was to come of this irresponsible infraction. My mind immediately thought how pathetic my reason to being late was..  sleeping in?? I instantly starting thinking of some elaborate tale of how my car was stuck in a ditch or their was some quote on quote "family problem". In my desperation to find some validity in the extremes of my imagination I vocally said "I wish I was at least in a wreck or something dramatic" as I said that my mind cleared for a second and for the first time in that whole drive I thought how ridiculous I was being, I mean wishing that I was in some danger to avoid admitting to my boss that I accidentally slept in. It was then when I thought about how I have promised to the Lord to be a man of integrity. Thoughts came to mind of my parents who have always taught that we should own up to our choices and learn and grow despite the outcome.
While in debate it became more clear in my mind that I did not want to through away that promise all for a 40min tardy to my part-time employment. When I really felt at peace was when I apologized in prayer before going in, about the tendency I had of being way more worried about what my boss would think versus the Lord. To which I asked for the courage to be sincere and true and loyal to the promise I had made. Doing this allowed me to admit to my supervisor what happened and everything worked out fine. But even more miraculous to me that day was realizing how the Lord did manifest himself unto me, by bringing to my mind a remembrance of promises I had made and things I had been taught...rather his word. His power came by asking in prayer to help me remove a 21-year stumbling block. If I had to sleep in that day just to learn the truthfulness of that promise than I say thanks be to Heaven.

Now I am not perfect at it yet and there are plenty examples of when I did not show such faith. I don't share this story flex spiritual prowess or show the one good example from my life rather on the contrary it's my hope that I can be open and frank with you that most of my life's hike has been me tripping over stumbling blocks; doubt, fear, bad habits, poor judgment. But much more than that hear to let you know that He does come to us.  

The Lord overcame every stumbling block of ours in the garden of Gethsemane many years ago, so that our access to this power, hope and life pattern would be ours.

Chapter 14 goes on to share a statement from the Lord " I will work a great and marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting. Convincing them unto peace and life eternal or unto deliverance". I testify that the marvelous work among the children of men goes beyond the spreading of church buildings and congregation sizes, rather the work and wonder of this marvelous mortal experience is in fact that God in his mercy and love grants us power to heal and change. Truly erase and eliminate over the course of a life time the common stumbling blocks of life. As we hearken unto him and pray for that power and strength we will come to a peace..a living hope that the possibility of being one day with the Lord is real, even better being like him is possible too.

I promise that this is true and it really is the reason for my hope and the root of my discipleship. I never chose Christianity because I was good at if from the start, but rather the good of Christianity come by drawing closer to Him  knowing that God measures progress far more that results, yet both come, line upon line and little by little 

The weak and simple a refined of the Lord. After all fisherman became apostles, a plow boy became a prophet, and this blonde kid is becoming hopeful. He Lives...He Guides..He Helps..is my promise to you. 

To further your study on this topic prayerfully consider the following sources:

- More Holiness Give Me (LDS Hymnal) 

-Lord I would Follow Thee (LDS Hymnal)

- Book of Mormon: Ether Chapter 12

{All pictures found through Google Imaging, Paintings are property of LDS Artwork}

That We May Always Remember

That We May Always Remember.
By: Jacob Sok

In my life I have heard many people over the years share what principles or words they live by. Many wise and interesting things have been stated, and left me thinking what it is by which I live my life by. Well after some thought, really there are two main indisputable facts that have guided me through my life being; God answers prayers, and Star Wars is the best movie ever made.....

*** Now taking some liberty here, I just wish to draw one gospel parallel from this film and then I promise to quote scripture.. and rest assured my devotion is to Christianity not Science-Fiction :)
I find it interesting how the Lord can teach us in many ways, individually and unique to our understanding. I recognize at first glance a space odyssey from the early 1970's such as this, may not be inherently doctrinal, but I have come to learn that the Lord uses many means to communicate truths to us, for me I am often drawn to parallels between the gospel I love and things I love as well. So in that same spirit I hope I can use this modern analogy to illustrate a truth very near and dear to my heart, and encourage us to develop spiritual eyes to see the gospel around us in everyday life.***

The Star Wars film entitled A New Hope for me has been a film I have treasured since my childhood. With iconic characters of the young Luke Skywalker and rugged Han Solo or the wise Obi-Wan and of course the frighting Darth Vader. The story, and for those who have not seen it (to which in that case I would recommend you make time for two things this coming weekend, church and time to enjoy the film), tells the tale of young innocent farm boy of a remote planet in a galaxy far far away. Luke is led on a journey by a wise mentor and warrior named Obi-wan who embark with others to  rescue a princess and the galaxy from the evil Darth Vader. Luke in his journey discovers his connection with a binding power called the force that gives him the capacity to face insurmountable odds.  At the center of the evil Empire's military power is a Galactic Battle station called the Death Star that has the capability to destroy planets and threatens the very nature of the universe. It is up to Luke and his band of follower who decide to attack this immense fortification. 

This truly cinematic and iconic scene displays the adventurous battle for peace as the star ships engage in a riveting encounter with the forces of evil.  As the climax of the battle draws to a peak, Luke realizes that their efforts have been rather futile to this point. Just when all is lost he hears in his mind the voice of his since gone mentor Obi-wan remind him "Luke remember the force will be with you always...."to which Luke's hope and abilities are consecrated through this power, in a final victory against the enemy. 

The key part from this film that has always made me think was the pivotal moment when Luke in his hour of need is reminded by his mentor to "remember the force" and that it would be him always.
Interesting, that out of all the things he could have told Luke, Obi-wan tells him to remember something he all ready knew.

Recently it has been brought to my attention again, the importance of remembering.
It my prayer that we may be enlightened as we study this topic.

Whilst traversing through life it is so easy for us to become preoccupied, distracted and misled. The "noise" of the world, is a myriad of competing voices hoping to entangle us into vain and shallow pursuits. Often life's irony is, the more we try and find what we want, we end up forgetting what we are worth.

The Savior constantly is inviting us to remember Him and his plan for us. Prophets of both ancient and modern time have called us to remember the most important things and what our real potential is.

I have often thought what tools does Satan use the most and I have found that in the root of all our covenants is the plea from the Lord to have us remember Him. It stands to suggest that the adversary will do his best to impede every attempt of ours to remember the Lord, as he distracts us, that will one day evolve from distracting to disorientation and deceiving, which leaves us lost.

Really thinking about this truly conniving tactic, shows that Satan really doesn't have to do more that place custom made distractions that can distort our vision of true importance. Even with good things such as academic and professional achievements, hobbies and recreation, and technology, all contribute to his goal and if not bridled can have serious effect on us.

Luckily we do not have be victims of  this pathetic ploy, rather we can remember the Lord. To remember, is often forgotten as what it truly is, a verb. It requires discipline and choice to retain in ones cognition truth, ideas and feelings.
Using an electronic application I found that there are about 784 times in which the the word remember shows up in scripture. It is commandment that often goes over looked. When we enter into covenants especially baptism, we promise to always remember Him, and we in return receive His guidance and spirit.

There is so much that this can do for us. As we remember the Lord we are reminded of what truly matters and all that we are being prepared for. I know that true strength in resisting the adversary comes by way of taking time to remember the Lord and His teachings and more importantly what he has done for you in your personal life.

A Book of Mormon account illustrates this very clearly. In the first book of the Book of Mormon, is an account of the family of a prophet named Lehi. Lehi and his family lived in a moderately abundant life style, being blessed by the Lord, in Jerusalem around 600 BC.  The Lord in His mercy comes to Lehi in a dream and warns him that Jerusalem will be destroyed and that he should take his family into the wilderness and they will be led to a land of promise. Lehi in turn takes his family and departs for the wilderness being guided by the Lord. Lehi had many sons, of whom he tried to teach and raise up unto Lord. It went forth that during their journey Lehi receives many instructions from the Lord, which include the commandment to have his sons make a series of trips back to Jerusalem. First they are commanded to go back and retrieve from a wicked man an ancient record of commandments and genealogy written by the prophets of the old testament. On another occasion they are instructed to go back and bring with them another family the Lord had prepared for the promise land as well. In these trips the boys experience trials and growth and many tests of faith. The brothers named Laman and Lemuel often hardened their hearts and murmured not having enough faith to see the blessings the Lord was preparing for them. On the contrary the younger brothers Sam and especially Nephi were often humble and received with grace the challenges set before them.

In a time of particular hardship as told in chapter 7 of First Nephi, we find Laman and Lemuel who begin to murmur and become angry with Nephi. Nephi returns the complaints with a simple question, "how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us?" this question is varied and repeated many times. Before understanding the power of this question Laman and Lemuel attempt to leave Nephi to die in the wilderness, bound by strong cords. In this Nephi remembers the Lord and in faith pleads for the strength to free himself from the bands. The Lord blesses him and helps him escape. Later the brothers nervously ask for forgiveness and Nephi forgives them and invites them to call upon or remember their God.

This question has provided much insight for me in my life several times. We can grow cold and lonely in the upsets of life, or forget the great love that can be ours as we dedicate ourselves to the enticements of distractions. When I have felt tempted to think I have been forget or the Lord has been silent, I have several time reflected on Nephi's question. By remembering the Lord and those times in our lives where we felt connected, we invite Him back into our lives.

Simply stated we can ask our selves "When we feel forgotten, does the Lord feel remembered?". I know life in all its up and down can be as random and unexpected as anything. I feel my life has been rather "off-script" and left of center field. But in those moments it would serves to try an remember the Lord. I promise as we do we can feel His spirit and learn how to feel that again. Recognize answers we didn't know we had received already. I promise He surely members us.

A beautiful passage as written by Isaiah and quoted by Nephi reads "Can a woman forget her suckling child...yea ye may forget, yet I will not forget thee...I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (1 Nephi 21: 15-16)

The Savior in all his glory, remained with the scars of His mortal experience to always remember us. The marks in hands represent all of our hopes, our failures and His absolute loyalty to you and to me.  Might we do the same with our trials and blessings, use them to remember Him.

We can remember Him in so many ways. We can pray to Him often. Read His words in the scriptures. Attend church to partake of the sacrament and hearken to council of prophetic voices today.

This simple principle of remembering that provides a healing power, is more than mere wishful thinking, this is a reality and I testify it works. The act of remembering Him is one of the great commandments. Surely when He is on our minds He can make His way to our hearts. I testify healing, understanding, growth and answers come as we make daily and genuine efforts to remember Him.

It is my humble prayer and invitation that we prayerfully ponder even if it be just one way that we can personally remember the Lord and make that the goal of each and everyday. I promise ideas will come and little by little we can remember Him more and more. As we do so we all will feel closer to Him and recognize how He chooses to speak to us individually. May we find ourselves, as He sees us.... that is, worth remembering.




To further your study on this topic please consider the following sources-

- Lest thou forget. By Ronald A Rasband October of 2016 (LDS.org)
-1 Nephi 3-21
- Hymn: Where Can I turn for Peace (LDS Hymnal)

***Note: This article was complied from a talk I presented to a group of Young Single Adults in July of 2016.
{All pictures and paintings found through google imaging provided by LDS Gospel Art collection, and Star Wars images are propety of  Lucasfilm inc.}

That They Might Have Joy

That They Might Have Joy

By; Jacob Sok

            The clock read 4:33 am on December 25th, with the same level of discretion and strategic maneuvering as any nuclear engineer working around the ticking timer of an atomic reactor, I slid out of bed and ascended to the upper floor of my childhood home as still and silent as possible. The reason to my tactical care during the route to upstairs was due to my most earnest desire not to give away my position to lurking parental units or worse Father Christmas himself. As I arose to the top of stairs the darkness of the weary night was dispelled gradually in a single illumination of a brilliant Christmas tree adorned with lights and tenderly placed gifts below its glow. 

           

         Christmas in all its splendor holds an ever special place in heart because it is one of the few time in mortality that the distinction between earth in heaven is dispersed by a tangible hope and love. As any other kid, I loved the anticipation of receiving gifts, but from an early age my heart's truest pleasure of Christmas was seeing the faces of people fill with the light of wonder, reverence and selflessness that naturally comes to the active participants of the season. I still hold fast in my mind's eye to an image of my once then 40 year old father expressing the demeanor of a six year old boy completely spellbound in the joy of the holiday while unwrapping a gift. 

Joy is an interesting experience  and I mean experience because it is more that collateral or spontaneous pleasure of a random series of events. Rather joy is defined to me as a level of refined happiness so pure that it compels and teaches us in clarity the most important truths of time and eternity. To think about joy I believe, we find a level of this enabling emotion during the holiday season. A time when the needs of others are placed above others, we believe again, we unite again, we center our hearts on light again- is that not the divine influence of joy. 

We read a very special piece of doctrine in the Book of Mormon in the Book of Second Nephi Chapter 2, where a father's parting advice to his prosperity is recorded. Lehi declares unto his children simplicity why he believes God is our chance at everlasting happiness, why we experience opposition and fall short, and what is to be the root of our existence. 

Simply stated by the Lord himself through his inspired servant are the words of verse 25 "..men are, that they might have joy." 

We are, to have joy. How can we not look up in awe at the stars and gratefully contemplate that truth accompanied by a heartfelt "My God how great Thou art".

Now looking at the verse I think it could be easy to overlook an important word, might. Might have joy, now at first glace we can read this as as to insinuate that there are cases where this does not apply or it could be conditional. May I offer my heartfelt testimony ans pray the spirit directs all in our pondering of this verse. 

We also read in this chapter that there must be opposition in all things. Justice needs mercy, righteousness is confronted by wickedness, desires of the spirit verses passions of the natural man within us. I know as well as any that life is full of trying times, when we could easily dismiss the truth of being a part of existence to have joy, taking it as wishful thinking. I stand today to testify that it is not an ideal of man that we are, so we can have joy....no, it is a direct expression of the God of the universe that we His children may find joy. 

Lehi declares that we are left to choose this joy, or rather choose the one make joy a living force rather than as an idea of the "frenzied mind". "Men are free to choose", choose the Savior and his gifts. When burdened by sin, regret, fear and doubt to any extend the gifts of Savior have been placed before us, like a present under a Christmas-tree but this time rather they are under the Tree of Life. 

A latter-day Apostle Boyd K Packer taught the way to receive the gifts of the Savior are found in the first seven word spoken to man in this dispensation. The Lord when presenting his Son to the boy prophet Joseph Smith said "This is my Beloved Son, hear Him.".

What are we to hear, the Lord's loving invitations to come unto him. Now the road to Him is usually clouded by unknowns and things we must strive to overcome but that road also has another name, salvation or joy! We are not alone on this road because of the atoning sacrifice of the Savior he know exactly how we have chosen to walk this path as we would. He is not only the destination but our companion. 

I have often found myself overwhelmed by this but have come to find hope in the truth that Lord takes us as we are, and measures our effort much more than our actual progress. I know the movements of joy in my life are when I have actively chosen to keep trying. This joy has compelled me, motivated me, taught me, centered me. I am by no means done with this road, but I know its the one I want to be on. 

A certain poem (The Master's hand) shares the story that at an auction a tattered violin was presented before a congregation. Offers only reaching the range of a dollar or two were bid. Then a elderly gentlemen took the violin in his trained hands playing the most stirring melody. At the conclusion of his performance the bid for the violin soared with offers of the thousands of dollars were now in debate for the once thought worthless instrument.

I pray the we can find joy knowing that in the hands of our Master we will always have worth and will be able to do that which the world would want us to believe we can't. 

May we pursue this joy is my humble prayer. 

To further your study of this topic please review the following sources:

- 2 Nephi 2 (Book of Mormon)

- The Touch of the Master's Hand By Boyd K Packer (www.lds.org)

- I Stand all Amazed (LDS Hymn Book #193)

{Pictures Provided by respective artists of the LDS Gospel Library and Google Images}