75- 7/15/24 REcognizing God's hand

 This week in Come Follow Me there was a scripture question that stood out to me. It is found in Alma 26:2 “And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?”

What a great question. Can ye tell? In other words, Can you recognize God’s hand in the detail of your life? Can we see His hand in the good and the bad, the mundane day to day, and the hard times in our lives. I know that is hand is there. And though the world tries to convince us otherwise, His blessings are not only promised, but purposeful. 

I loved this little story from this past Conference told by Elder Gong.

A Chinese story begins as a man’s son finds a beautiful horse.

“How fortunate,” the neighbors say.

“We’ll see,” says the man.

Then the son falls off the horse and is permanently injured.

“How unfortunate,” the neighbors say.

“We’ll see,” says the man.

A conscripting army comes but doesn’t take the injured son.

“How fortunate,” the neighbors say.

“We’ll see,” says the man.

I was talking with one of you kids a few weeks ago about the difference of “seeing” things occurring in our lives as blessings vs “it would have happened either way” type of attitude. 

We can sometimes chalk up the timing and sequence of events that happen to us as mere coincidences. We may rationalize away the thought of divine intervention or actual blessings from heaven as just meaningless cause and effect events. To one it may seem an answer to prayer, and to another just a normal result of a previous action, a cause and effect. 

The Doctrine and Covenants teaches us that to every commandment is tied a specific blessing.

“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated. And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” (D&C 130:20-21)

So here is Ammon’s question again, asking each one of us, Can ye tell? Can ye tell how the Lord has blessed you, and how He continues to bless you from day to day?

I appreciated so much the teachings of Elder Gong on this subject. Even though he was speaking of afflictions that work for our good, the same is true for all the “small” day to day blessings or things “coming together” in our favor. ALL things work for our good, all orchestrated by a loving Heavenly Father and Savior.

Similarly, we’ve all asked ourselves: Is this the Holy Ghost speaking to me, or is this my own thought? Elder Bednar cleared this line of thinking up when he taught that all thoughts that are right or good, that bring lightness instead of darkness, are from God, for all that is good is from God.

This same truth is taught to us by Elder Gong: “All things for our good! A remarkable promise! Comforting assurance from God Himself! In a miraculous way, the purpose of Creation and the nature of God are to know beginning and end, to bring about all that is for our good, and to help us become sanctified and holy through Jesus Christ’s grace and Atonement.” 

No doubt that we all believe in a loving, omnipotent (all powerful), and omniscient (all knowing) Heavenly Father. Why do we then sometimes doubt that He guides, directs, and blesses even the smallest details of His work, our exaltation?

Elder Gong bears this powerful testimony - “We increase faith and trust in the Lord that all things can work together for our good as we gain eternal perspective….” In time and eternity, the purpose of Creation and the nature of God Himself are to bring all things together for our good…This is the Lord’s eternal purpose. It is His eternal perspective. It is His eternal promise…Trust They live, love you, and want all things for your good. I testify They do, infinitely and eternally, in the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

So an invitation for each of us is to See Our Many Blessings. See them for what they are, promises from Heavenly Father to His obedient children. Look for them in your life, and take time to thank Him for His love, mercy, and kindness.

I love each one of you so much, and see each one of you as a HUGE blessing in my life.

Love, 

Dad