Happiness through the Lord.

Warning: this is a pretty straight forward and blunt post... :) haha. I don't know why I'm sharing this, just felt like I needed to. 

These past few months have been...different. 

Maybe it's because I'm growing up and I don't want to. Maybe it's because I'm faced with so many decisions that I need to make. Maybe it's because I've been so caught up with things that I haven't been studying my scriptures, Ensign and Preach my Gospel as in depth as I know I should. Whatever it was, I didn't like it. This might sound weird, but I could truly feel Satan working on me, so hard. It was scary. I've never 'really' felt him trying to drag me down, but in this instance I did.

I didn't go to the temple for a whole month; not because I just decided I didn't want to, I was super busy. I know I probably could have made time for it but for one reason or another things came up. Yes, I read my scriptures, but it was more like dipping my big toe in the water and calling it good. My prayers weren't as meaningful and I wasn't noticing the Lord's tender mercies. I wasn't as happy as I usually was. I felt so frustrated with myself, I felt like I was trying but I didn't feel like I was making any progress. I felt like I kept on making the same stupid mistakes, and then I'd just get mad at myself.

I finally decided I needed had to change. Change what? Change myself. Change the bad habits that I knew were not bringing me closer to my Savior and Father in Heaven. Bad habits that I knew Satan knew of, after all he does know my weaknesses! I needed to get my life back in order. I wasn't happy with where I was and I knew that I could be a lot better. 

I'm changing, I'm working at it. I'm not perfect, nor am I close to it! But I know that even with my many imperfections, Christ loves me, as does Heavenly Father. I went to the temple this past Thursday for the first time in a month. Peace. I love that place, so much. I've started really reading my scriptures. Comfort. I love the scriptures and know, without a doubt, they are true! I've started reading lots of conference talks, not just this past session's, but old ones. Guidance. The prophets and apostles and other church leaders guide us in the right direction, as we follow their counsel and guidance we'll never go astray.

I recently read a marvelous talk on faith...plus it was talking to women so that made it even better! :) I loved this quote: 

"She is less than perfect, of course, not because she doesn’t have perfect principles or the perfect example in Christ, but because she is human."                        - Sister Margaret D. Nadauld 

Why do I love it so much? Because it reminded me that I'm human. I make mistakes. That's okay, I've got to keep trying. I can make it! We can all make it, with the help of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

"...I am encircled about eternally in the arms of His love..." 
- 2 Nephi 1:15

I think that's all...I'll get off my soap box now. :) Tata.