Never, Never, Never Give Up!

My thoughts on Sister Cook's talk "Never, Never, Never Give Up!".

A plan! A simple plan to make it through this rough and tumble life.

"First, gain a strong testimony, step by step. Second, seek the help of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, your family, and others who will support you in your decision to follow the plan. And finally, live to be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost."

1. Gaining a strong testimony. How very important this has been for me as I have faced the challenges that have been thrown at me. First infertility, then a broken body, then the passing of three great member of my family and now cancer. I know for sure I would have succumb to depression and been a very angry person had I not had a testimony of the the Plan!

Sister Cook says, "Your testimony is strengthened “gradually through your experiences. No one receives a complete testimony all at once” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 179). You’ll recall that in order to climb the steepest part of the mountain, we approached it one step at a time. To gain a testimony, you must nourish it step by step. “[Your testimony] will increase as you make decisions to keep the commandments. As you lift and strengthen others, you will see your testimony continue to develop.” As you establish personal habits of prayer, scripture study, obedience to the commandments, and service to others, “you will be blessed with moments of inspiration that will [strengthen] your testimony”.

As I prepared to run my marathon, I didn't go out the first week and run two hours. NO! I ran 30 minutes a day for weeks and slowly built up to running 120 minutes and then eventually I ran my race. My testimony is always being worked on and strengthened through the experiences I am having--but only if I allow the Spirit to touch my heart and mind and testify.

2. "Second, seek the help of others to give you added strength and support. Look first to your Heavenly Father through prayer. You are His daughter. He knows you and loves you. He hears and answers your prayers. We are taught countless times in the scriptures to “pray always” (see, for example, D&C 90:24). As you pray, the Lord will be with you just as the Lord was with Joshua."

I know this and I just need to be reminded of it when I don't feel it.

We also need to seek help from our family and friends. We are put into family units and need to go to them first. I know how hard it is to tell your family your problems. You always want to look good in their eyes. You want to be a success. It hurts when you have to go to them for help. It is much easier to go to a stranger. I think the same idea holds true when we turn to the Lord. Yet, the Lord doesn't want well people to come to him, he wants those that are sick and need him. I know as a parent I want my children to come to me when they have problems so we can work them out together. Guess I need to take my own advice.