Opposition = Growth

Hello All! 

Mother’s Day Skyping was so amazing! My stomach was in knots leading up to the event, it was fine during the Skype, and then after I just felt numb. I think I'm still in shock that next time I will see my family face to face will be in 7 months, and then only 3 until I'm home! LIFE IS CRAZY! 

I am honestly feeling very uninspired/unmotivated to write a group email this week... 

This week was just "Eh" I mean it wasn't bad, I could never complain about missionary work but it is well... work. I honestly don't know what to write about so I'm just rambling as I type... 

Jolie, the investigator who is on date to be baptized, has been sick all week! We have been unable to meet with her at all, and we are most likely going to have to push back her baptism date. 

It's crazy how when someone is ready and prepared the adversary will do everything in its power to stop them! When the adversary knows that their testimony is strong and they aren't going to get any ground there so they go after other things that are out of their personal control such as health, time, and resources. 

Despite the set backs we are still determined. All this push back does in my mind is strengthen my testimony that baptism is key and worth fighting for! All this opposition does is increases my desire to help her to get to baptism and make this sacred covenant with her Heavenly Father! 

The Book of Mormon is full of the theme of opposition in all things. What I have come to understand and accept is that opposition is key to our growth. Often times people wonder why bad things happen to good people, and that is a genuine question and concern. We are promised throughout the Bible and Book of Mormon that as we keep the commandments of God we will be blessed. It seems pretty cut and dry right? So then why would bad things happen to those who are keeping the commandments of God? 

I could go into many different answers and subtopics with this question, such as moral agency or what it means to be blessed but for today I want to focus my answer on this, we are on earth to grow and in order for that growth to happen God allows bad things to happen to us. 

Recently I was reading in Mosiah 23. This is about Alma, the prophet, and his people. All are righteously striving to follow God. They love and serve each other. They work hard and labor with each other. They teach one another about God, and he is in their hearts always. 

In the middle of this peaceful righteous living verses 21-22 say; 

"Nevertheles the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless - whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day." 

The chapter that follows tells how they were then put into bondage and heavy burdens were placed upon their backs, and if they prayed aloud they would be put to death. Throughout this terrible experience the people of Alma consistently turn to God. 

chapter 24 verse 15 says; 

"...And it came to pass that the burdens that were placed upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." 

I have come to learn that God doesn't give us trials willy nilly (that was fun to type). He always has a plan, whether we can see it or not, for our benefit and growth. Every trial we experience is to teach us something, and give us the opportunity to turn to God, as we do we are promised that he will strengthen us. 

I could go on and on about this topic but I'll stop here before I ramble on too long! Here is a short video that we recently got special access to in our mission (so it's pretty exciting) I think it goes along with the topic quite well. 

(Editor’s Note: sorry I couldn’t get the mp4 video to attach here, so I’m just adding a screen shot.)

I love you all and hope you have a great week! 

-Sister Peterson :)