Why is That Bad News

       "There is this man who was the most well known man in the village because of his stud horse. The village people would always compliment him on his horse. One day the horse ran away,  the people gave the old man their apologies. The man then said 'why is this bad news?'

      "A week later the horse came back fallowed by 15 mares he found in the canyon. The people congratulated the man for his possessions. The man says 'why is this good news?' The people now think this man is crazy. Why would he not be happy about these mares?

       "The fallowing day the man's son decides that these mares are still wild. So he jumps on one of them and gets thrown off. He brakes his back and is paralyzed. The people come to give their condolences to the man, 'Why is this bad news?' The people just leave because they think the man has gone mad.

       "The fallowing month the Governor comes to town and calls all the able young men to war. All but the old man's son goes. After the war the town receives news that all have died. The only young man left is the old man's crippled son." (unknown author)
   
 



 I was born and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My family was blessed more than I even knew. Many of my friends would mention to me how great my family is. When I was in high school my little brother was paralyzed in a football game. Many of his and my friends told me they were sorry to hear that. But... "Why is that bad news?".

      An hour after the accident he was given a priesthood blessing from my Bishop. Three days later he walked out of the hospital. That is when I gained my testimony of this Gospel (even though I was raised in it). My church member friends would tell me how great it was that I now have faith and understand what Heavenly Father has done for me.... "Why is that good news?"

       A year after that I turned 19. The eligible age for serving a mission. I had to leave my family, schooling, friends, and a great job. My buddies tried to get me to stay because of all that I would be missing.... "Why is that bad news?"

       Being on my mission I have gained new friends and new family members (they cant replace my original ones) more learning than I would've at any school, and a job that I love. My family tells me how proud of me they are and how much help I have been to the people out here.... "Why is that good news?"

      Now I'm coming to the end, I have to finish up what I have started in not enough time at all. I have to get things in order to move on, say my goodbyes and get ready for the trials I will face when I get home. I pray and ask for more time, to help out with what my family and friends are going through. I plead for help and encouragement.... Then I heard Him say "Why is that bad news?"

       Don't judge the situation, but acknowledge the blessings!

     

Why Do I Not Get The Blessings That I Ask For

       Does God love them more than me? Does He bless others more than me because I'm not as good as them? Why do I not get the blessings that I ask for?

       So many of us ask ourselves these questions hoping that our Father in Heaven will  listen in and help us out more. When in reality He is there waiting for us to allow him to enter in.

       Just as a furnished house or temple has the electricity hooked up already to go, we too have the love of God  all hooked up and ready to be turned on. The light switch is like a dial where we can turn the brightness of the light up or dim it down according to our pleasure. We can make our temple within as bright as we want or as dark as we want.

      Christ is the light of the world. Light casts out darkness. His and His father's love for us is infinite. As we follow Their counsel we are turning up the light. As we do so the peace, joy, patience, and love that they have for us enters in, and casts out all the stress, fear, anger, and doubt that darkness fills us with.

       Does God love 'them' more than me?...Not a chance. Does He bless 'others' more than me because I'm not like 'them'?...Only if we let Him. Why do I not get the blessings that I ask for?... I don't know, why don't you?

How can I relate The Atonement to myself better than just "He Died and Suffered for Me"

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When asked about the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, so many of us just say:

"Well he died for me and he suffered for me..." 

     Which, yes, He did die for us and He did suffer for us. But do we really understand what ALL He went through? Just like when you tell a sad story about a loved one, we get emotional and tend to feel what they felt at that time. So, if we really do understand what all Christ went through, then we would feel as He did when asked that question.

     Imagine that you are standing outside your house and you see a large crowd down the street. your trying to stand on your toes so that you can see what is going on. But there are so many people around that you can't. So you kinda feel left out. 
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     As the crowd gets closer to you, you notice a man in the middle of the crowd. You look at him and see blood dripping off his body. You see him panting for air. He is so thirsty that his mouth is bone dry. On top of that he is holding on his back a huge board like a railroad tie. Your trying to see if there is anyone helping him but no one is even trying to. So you try to get out there but the crowd is so packed that you cant get to him. You think that he doesn't even know that you want to help.
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     As you are struggling with trying to understand what is going on, he finally makes it by you. He falls to his face because of the weight of the baord on his shoulders and the beatings that he has taken. He then gets wipped to stand back up and keeps going. He see's you watching, lifts his head, looks you in the eye and says, "This is for you!" Then stands back up and puts that board on his shoulders again and takes another step. He keeps looking at you as he continues down that road.
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    He finally makes it to the hill where the crowd has him place the board on the ground and then nails his hands and feet to it. He is then lifted in the air for all to see. As the blood from off his wounded body falls to the earth he thinks of those that he is doing this for. Your name is first.

     Christ remembers each one of us. He knows what we are going through. As we read the scriptures we get to learn of the things that he has done for us. Now it is our turn to not let all of that pain that he went through to go to waste. He died for us, we need to live for Him. Now share with someone else what The Atonement of Jesus Christ has done for you. I can promise you that you will gain a much stronger relationship with Him as you do so. I know that He suffered for me. I know that He called out my name when he was on that cross. I know that He thought of me when He fell to the earth and had to stand back up. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.