BYU Devotional Address: Flashes of Light

[Kenngo1969]

On 2/15/2023 at 8:49 PM, Chum said:

I married the first person who didn't say no. Like most everyone, I suppose.

Good thing you didn't marry Ado Annie!   

 

 

Edited February 17, 2023 by Kenngo1969

[Okrahomer]

On 2/14/2023 at 9:26 AM, Rain said:

I don't know why this talk brought this experience to mind. I don't know why I shared it except that maybe I felt safe here? Those moments of light definitely exist.  I have seen it though Elder Scott's talk as well. 

This article might be helpful, if for no other reason than to know you aren't the only one who has had to puzzle over such things.  It's about an experience Matthew Holland had with his father.  It's a New Era article, so probably a bit simplistic with everything tied up in a nice bow at the end; nevertheless, it deals with one potential aspect of spiritual paradox, which made me think of you and this thread.

[Rain]

On 2/21/2023 at 7:01 AM, Okrahomer said:

This article might be helpful, if for no other reason than to know you aren't the only one who has had to puzzle over such things.  It's about an experience Matthew Holland had with his father.  It's a New Era article, so probably a bit simplistic with everything tied up in a nice bow at the end; nevertheless, it deals with one potential aspect of spiritual paradox, which made me think of you and this thread.

When you posted I thanked you because I know you are trying to help and I appreciate that.  When I saw the story I just appreciated that help, but I did not read it.  When it was told in conference it really bothered me.  Like REALLY bothered me.  But today I thought "maybe I should read it, but this time pray to find out if there was anything I should know from it,  Not to find out what I should know, but if there was anything.  So I did and I read it.

This time I noticed how he talked about the conditions of the road and their light.  And I thought, "yes, as a personal answer to prayer and knowing their hearts God might do something for them like that." Was it an actual answer?  I don't know.  Would it apply to everyone?  Probably not.  But I am very aware of how much Heavenly Father loves each of his children and I can see this being one of those times he might help.

So after thinking through all of that I remembered another experience with my son.  I had prayed to help him and felt I had directions to do something.  I did it for a long time and it just didn't seem to go well.  So I prayed again and was directed to do the exact opposite.  And the outcome was that it gave my son a little light.  So I was thinking about it and wondering why God would give me 2 exactly opposite directions with my son.  Wasn't praying.  Was just trying to work it all out.  Then I heard "You don't know my whole plan for him." And that changed everything for me in my understanding of the situation.  

I realized that the road story was a lot like this one.  That we don't know the whole plan.  

So was it the direction to send my son to camp?  I don't know.  I still can't get behind the idea that God would direct me to where it would be harmful to him.  I always hear things about God making things hard for us so we learn and I am not good with that idea, but I am ok with the idea that things are hard and God helps us learn from them.  But maybe there was a part of the plan for him that he needed to learn there despite the choices of others.  Then I start think of the idea that the Holy Ghost warns us and he didn't warn me then so it's all kind of mixed up inside of me, but I can get behind that I don't know his whole plan.

Thank you

 

 

[Okrahomer]

36 minutes ago, Rain said:

, but I can get behind that I don't know his whole plan.

You and me both.

(I wanted to “love” your whole comment, but it seems I’m out of those for today.)

Edited February 22, 2023 by Okrahomer