artwork by anna wright found here
first, i would just like to say CONGRATULATIONS to our graduates. you GRADUATED! YOU DID IT!! HOORAY FOR YOU!!! this is big. this was four years (well, more if you count middle school and elementary school and heck, why not? Shout out to the preschool years!) of hard work. dedication. making plans. following through. studying. tests. papers. cramming. football. volleyball. bowling.
guys, i loved being your teacher. and i am going to MISS you. and i am so excited to watch what you do next and hear about the things you learn. life is funny like that: you never stop learning. so keep us updated! and don't hesitate to come back and visit us in class.
in the book of mormon, alma the younger is on to his next adventure, too. he's giving up his seat as a judge for the people and is instead traveling among the people to bear his testimony. so, he's serving another mission, and he's doing it "according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy" (alma 4:20).
we're just going to focus today on the first part of chapter 5 because it is SO GOOD. alma begins by reminding the people of zarahemla of how they came to be there: because god is good and delivered his people. how many times do the prophets remind the people that they have been delivered? he reminds them of the bondage of their fathers (and mothers) and their grandfathers (and grandmothers), of their time in the wilderness. he reminds them of their wicked leaders and how they survived and were able to travel to the land of zarahemla and be together as a church. they grew, they planted, they built, they had babies! then he reminds them of how god saved them in another way, too.
alma 5:7, "behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God."
god saves. he does. like the people of king limhi he leads them out of the wilderness, like the people of the first alma, he makes their burdens light, and for all of us--EVERY. SINGLE. ONE OF US he CHANGES our hearts and WAKES US UP TO HIM. alma the younger is reminding us that their fathers and grandfathers were "in the midst of darkness" (verse 7) and that "their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word" (again, verse 7).
in verse 9, alma says, "...their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love."
life is hard. it is overwhelming. the older you get, the bigger life seems to become. there are more choices, there is more freedom, there are more ways to talk yourself into and out of things. do you go to church now that your mom and dad aren't making you? do you read your scriptures even though you are so tired? do you pray even though you really need to rush out the door or you'll be late? decide now that you will wake up to god. let your soul be illuminated--let your life be lit up by your love for God and His love for you. it is so good to let god save. it is redeeming love. it will fill you and expand your soul.
IF you let Him. god will always show up for you, but if you want to really feel that power in your life you have to show up for god. pray. read your scriptures. be grateful. look for god's hand and be prepared to act. in mosiah 4:9 it says, "believe in god. believe that he is, and that he created all things..." believing in god and being prepared to act is how it all begins. it won't always be easy, or clear, but it will be something you can carry with you always and it can be something that will lead to a lot of goodness.
i'd like to add my testimony to alma's, even though i am no prophet, i will repeat what he said because i feel like it is SO TRUE. god will SAVE us. he will lighten our burdens so we can keep going. he will guide us to a safe place. he will change our hearts. i think of you, graduates, and this is what i wish for you the most out of all the accomplishments or adventures in life. having god with you is more important than any job, or degree, or travel.
i miss you guys,
sister h
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