Don't hold back...

I saw a movie once that tells a story of two brothers. They would go to a lake near their home and swim a sort of race. The object of the race was not to finish first, but it was to not be the first to turn back.

Part of the story was that the younger brother was stronger because of a genetic advantage that he had. The older brother had asthma and several other things that held him back so he always lost when they raced.

Looking back on his experience the older brother explained that the crux of the game was saving enough energy to be able to make the swim back to shore, only going as far as you knew you could swim back.

Finally, there was one instance when the older brother won. Years later the younger brother asked the older brother how he was able to win in spite of all his challenges. In answer to his question the younger brother responded that he didn't save any energy for the swim back. He was so focused on his goal that he used all of his energy to achieve it.

I saw this movie several years ago and I've often pondered the wisdom of his decision. After all, it is kind of dangerous to use up all of your energy to swim to the middle of a lake with no way of getting back other than using your own -now depleted-energy. When he decided to not hold anything back he had enough trust that everything would work out to outweigh the risk of drowning in the lake.

The movie doesn't really specify what he was putting his trust in, but when I apply the story to myself I put my trust in the Lord. There are some things that the Lord asks me to do that seem too hard for me because of my weaknesses. I am often afraid to use up all of my energy in attempting to do the Lord's will for fear of "drowning" (failing). BUT, deep down I know that I won't ever really fail if I put my trust in the Lord.

There are some great scriptures that help me to remember that having trust in the Lord always works out.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1 Nephi 3:7

I know that the above is true. We can do anything the Lord expects of us if we just put our trust in Him and exert all of our energy in accomplishing it. I invite all of you to test the Lord, put your trust in Him and see if everything won't just work out for your good. I know it will.

How Is Your Faith?

So some crazy things happened last week...

A week ago Monday we got a phone call from our Mission President, he informed us that Sister Franson has been called by the Lord to serve in Clarksville with a new missionary that would be arriving the upcoming Wednesday. After he talked to Sister Franson for a bit he said to me, "Sister Anderson, how is your faith?" He proceeded to tell me that I will be staying where I am and I will be getting a new companion.

Since that phone call, all of the things that President told us would happen has happened. Sister Franson is in Clarksville and Sister Barnes is here. It has been a long week. But it's been good. I just keep coming back to that question he asked right before he gave us the big news."Sister Anderson, how is your faith?" I've spent a lot of time pondering why he asked me that question and what my response would have been if I had had some time to seriously formulate my answer. (The response I managed to come up with at the time was, "it's good...")


One thing I've done is look up a bunch of scriptures on faith, these are some of my favorites.

Faith is so important, that is why it is the *first principle of the gospel because without it everything else would be meaningless. I know I wouldn't be out here declaring the word of the Lord to strangers without faith. Without faith I likely would have had some sort of panic attack when I found out that suddenly my companion was leaving me and a new person whom I didn't know would come in her place.

It is my faith that helps me to get up everyday at 6:30 to serve the Lord. It is my faith that leads me to work hard every day far outside of my comfort zone. It is my faith that helps me know that it is okay that I am away from my family right now, because I have faith that Heavenly Father will let us live together for eternity in Heaven if we do what He asks of us.

I know that my faith is more than just blind hope, because I have many times received a "witness after the trial of [my] faith." Sometimes I do have to take a step into the dark relying completely on my faith that things will work out. But I know it will, because I know that I can rely on Christ "who is mighty to save."

So I guess that's my partial answer to President's question. I know my faith will continually grow and change as I go through this mortal experience, but I know that as I keep my faith in Jesus Christ it will always be where it needs to be.