Who is Greater?

Ammon vrs. Aaron

Everyone knows about Ammon and heralds him as one of the greatest men called to serve in the Book of Mormon. What about Ammon's brother, Aaron? He served a mission too, he worked just as hard as Ammon. But he didn't seem to have the same success as his brother. Aaron faced harsh challenges that Ammon did not.  The scriptures tell us, "As it happened, it was their [Aaron and his companions] lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiff-necked people". - Alma 20:30

When Aaron was imprisoned, I wonder if he had thoughts of failure? Or, did he trust that God was working behind the scenes through others? Because we know, in the end, Aaron had a great deal of success.

Do we trust in the bigger picture in our own lives?

Parenthood

It's easy to think about missionary service when we read these stories about Aaron and Ammon because, that's what they're about. But this last time I read these chapters in our family scripture study, I thought about parenting, about raising children, comparing one family situation to another.

You can have two families side-by-side, both sets of parents striving with all their might to raise their children up to be strong and valiant in the Gospel. Both sets love and care for their children, both provide all the necessities of life, both pray with them, testify to them, teach them the scriptures, take them to Church to be nurtured, and both try to give their children every opportunity to blossom and grow in faith and testimony.  And yet, they all turn out different.  Even some of our children may be described as "more hardened" than others.

Every family situation is completely different: circumstances, habits from upbringing, cultural traditions, individual personalities, challenges, opportunities, etc.  But one thing is the same all across the board.  None of us are perfect and all of us will struggle.

So, to you parents who have done all you could to raise your children right and you feel like you have lost the battle (like Aaron must have felt when he was in prison). Keep on keeping on! Don't give up. Don't quit. Stay faithful. Stay true. Stay on the path. Stay strong. Stay pure. Stay Gold!!

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Do Your Best and Don't Punish Yourself

"God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.
Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not.
And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
It’s wonderful that you have strengths.
And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses.
God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths,1 but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect, and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s OK that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.

....many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.
In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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Keep On Pushing Back the Dark

Some of the greatest people I have learned about throughout history and have known personally in my own life, have had some of the most difficult challenges, far more than I could ever comprehend... and yet, they continue to shine through it all.

There is no one greater than our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is what matters most in the final analysis- in what other's think of us, in who sees us, in final judgment, in our calling as parents, or in our service in the Church. No one is greater than God. If our hearts are aligned with Him and His words, if we are trying our best, nothing else really matters!

"The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
Therefore,hold on thy way,  and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever." D&C 121:8,9

-Alicia