And they would not depart from it

3 Nephi 6

I've been thinking a LOT about this little precious person in my life...

 Wang Pei Yu.
Here she is at her baptism. She invited all her non-member friends.

Love, love, love her. Yep, yep, yep I do....to PIECES.

She is an amazing person that I met and taught while serving a mission in Taiwan. She was hesitant to join the church. Until she really knew of its truthfulness. Then there was no turning back. I won't forget the day she said "Yes" to baptism. It was the most spiritual experience I've ever had. The most powerful direct answer to prayer that I've ever witnessed.

I keep in touch with Pei Yu (she also goes by Catherine). She is now married and is expecting her first child. Married in the temple, that is. To an amazing man.

And I wonder what life would have been like for her without this gospel.
And I realize how poignant her joining the church was.
And I feel ever grateful to have been a witness to her conversion miracle.

This verse sums up how Pei Yu is...and continues to be.

"...and (she was) converted unto the true faith; and (she) would not depart from it, for (she was) firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord".
-3 Nephi 6: 14

She makes me ever grateful for the simple phrase..."not departing from it".
Does she even know how much SHE is teaching me now as I struggle to remain faithful and strive to keep my covenants? Does she even realize how much she has blessed my life?

Love her.

Steadfast

This past Sunday my friend Keri gave the Relief Society lesson on Faith, and how faith is intimately connected to character.

I can't stop thinking about what that means to me.

Throughout her whole lesson I kept thinking about that phrase that goes something like, "Character is what shows through when no one else is watching".

Like...what happens to my goals when I'm not trying to do them for other people...do I still work just as hard...do I still give 100%? And when coupled with my faith...do I live righteous and believe when I'm not trying to prepare a talk, or lesson, or prepare or share something else? Am I showing true character of faith just in my daily living...on my own?

This chapter had a verse that totally related to this. Vs. 8.

"But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain".

I've been thinking about that word. Steadfastly. And what that means to me and how it relates to faith and character.

Steadfast: Constant; true; resolute; loyal; faithful; staunch; firmly fixed in place; not subject to change; firm in belief, adherence, & determination.

I want to be 'firmly fixed in place, firm in belief, adherence, & determination' in my faith. I want to make changes in my life so that I live more day to day with true character that is 'not subject to change'.

I'm so grateful for this tidbit that I learned today by reading the scriptures and likening them to myself.

Change

President James E. Faust
The Power to Change
(President Faust prepared this article in the months before his passing on August 10, 2007)


I couldn't get enough of this article.
Lately I've been addicted to President Faust.
He is my most favorite apostle of all time.

I loved his tenderness.
His shaky emotional voice.
His sweet words that always comforted me so.

I miss him so much.

This talk meant a lot to me because I am going through a true refiner's fire right now.
Trying to be better.
Trying to live better.
Trying to feel better.

It's totally what I needed.

Here are some highlights of his talk...parts that caught my heart's attention the most:

"We can decide to do better and to be better".

"We are in this life for the spirit to gain control over the body rather than the other way around".

"We begin by making a decision to change".

"We must desire with all our hearts, minds, and strength to overcome (these) harmful addictions".

"Each new day that dawns can be a new day for us to begin to change. We can change our environment. We can change our lives by substituting new habits for old. We can mold our character and future by purer thoughts and nobler actions. As someone once put it, “The possibility of change is always there, with its hidden promise of peace, happiness, and a better way of life".