Like a Child

your faith in Jesus can be a delight!

Hello friends! How are all of you? 🫶🏼

My last day working in my local temple was bittersweet.

Last days are strange to me. In fact, they make it harder to leave a place that have become a weekly routine. I hugged (a lot) and shared important moments with good angel-friends.

Before I left my last shift, I expressed my appreciation to a wonderful sister who helped me participate in something new that day. She was getting ready to leave too.

Today is my last day. I just wanted to thank you for helping me.

Oh! It is?

We hugged and exchanged friendly words,
and with the most endearing smile, she says—

That really hit me.
What’s even more interesting is that I have been feeling, hearing and seeing the word season almost everyday.

One night, my husband and I were talking about dinosaurs and how learning about them as a kid was so exciting.

I dare say magical. Going to the library and borrowing encyclopedias about the solar system, the ocean, aquatic animals—oh, those books always felt gigantic to me! Don’t get me started on fairytale books, magical worlds and beings, and brave young heroines in the countryside that bring adventure in the daily ordinary.

My nephew and one of his best friends 🥹

I remember catching butterflies and putting them in a jar

I’ve done that too, except my favorite were dragonflies in the meadow

Dragonflies? Impossible

Very possible! I’ve done it countless times. My favorite were the blue ones

This conversation with my husband felt like we were two elementary school children who met their first day during recess, LOL. Sharing secrets like kindred spirits about our favorite things, from different seasons of childhood—playing in nature, and diving in to a portal that took us to a spectacular flight along God’s creations.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as [a] little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)

As a child I remember trusting and giving my full attention to the unknown. Of course I would feel scared at times, (hello normal kid). But almost every detail of my life felt like an adventure. Everything was bigger, brighter, and magnificent! Even dressing like a main character was important for me! And it’s even better with friends that carry that same spark of imagination—like sharing candlelight in a secret garden with loyal camaraderie.

This very conversation with my husband sparked something curious in me.

What if I approached faith like this? Like a child? Full of wonder and delight for the great perhaps? What if I practiced this kind of anticipation rather than replaying worries in my mind? Would I have a holier experience? Would I enjoy new things in my life more? Would I receive more joy in daily repentance? Would I be more present with Jesus?

Of course, the answer was

Yes, life would feel more wonderful—as God has told us about His plan, to Hear His Son

His Son who fits perfectly in every unique time and season

His word that teaches us that a life dedicated to Him

is a life believing in the beautiful wonder of it all

The wonder of delighted conviction and certainty

that God’s hands work in the present and the future

the greatest adventure of faith!

So let me ask you.

What if you approached faith like this? Like a child? Full of wonder and delight for the great perhaps? What if you practiced this kind of anticipation rather than replaying worries in your mind? Would you have a more holy experience? Would you enjoy new things in your life more? Would you experience more joy in daily repentance? Would you be more present with Jesus?

Here’s another scripture that can help us with these questions:

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. (Mosiah 3: 19)

and this—

My dear friends, you pass through the adventure of mortality only once. Wouldn’t an individually tailored walk-through complete with spoilers and answers to all of life’s great questions take away your great feeling of accomplishment and your increase of confidence in the Lord and in yourself?

Because God has given you your agency, you can choose many directions to go and still lead a fulfilling life. Mortality is an open-ended, choose-your-own-adventure story. You have commandments, you have covenants, you have inspired prophetic counsel, and you have the gift of the Holy Ghost. That is more than enough to lead you to mortal happiness and eternal joy. Beyond that, don’t despair if you make some decisions that are less than perfect. That is how you learn. That’s part of the adventure!

No, adventures never go smoothly from start to finish, but if you are faithful, you can be assured of a happy ending. Consider the example of Joseph of Egypt. In many ways, his life was disastrous. He was sold into slavery by his brothers. He was cast into prison for a crime he did not commit. Despite all the terrible circumstances forced upon him, he maintained his faith. He trusted God. He made the best of it. Year after year—even when it appeared that he had been overlooked and abandoned—he believed. Joseph always inclined his heart to God. And God showed that He is able to turn negatives into positives.

Today, 4,000 years later, we still find inspiration in Joseph’s story.

Your adventure may not be quite as dramatic, but it will have its ups and downs. So, remember Joseph’s example. Remain faithful. Believe. Be honest. Don’t become bitter. Don’t be a bully. Love God. Love your fellowmen. Trust the Lord, even when things appear bleak.

You may not see it until much later, but you will look back and know that the Lord did indeed direct and guide your path.

And the dots did connect.

Your Adventure through Mortality by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Instead of replaying anxieties in our mind, may we practice replaying songs of hope and holiness to the Lord. (yes, I’m going to practice this too!! lol😆)

Because faith in Jesus goes beyond thinking of a great perhaps—it is relying on the Eternal Truths that teaches us that we are safe to delight in wonder, in His grace, along the way.

We are safe in His hands,
Yes! There is a time and season for everything,
Yes, yes! And still, our Father and His Son lives and remains!
Kind forevermore! Everlasting! Unchanging! Eternal!
My Delight, sailing in all my shores!