I felt a little overwhelmed in preparing this talk. We were given the topic of the Plan of Salvation and told we only needed to speak 7 minutes. I wondered how I was supposed to teach about something so huge and important in just 7 minutes. And honestly, I can’t. I can’t really convey how important it is in the time given. So, I’m going to assume that most of us have a basic knowledge and understanding of The Plan of Salvation. If you don’t, then I would encourage you to do a few things. First, read the scriptures, pray, and read Preach My Gospel. In our last ward I was called as a ward missionary. It made me realize that there was a lot I didn’t understand about this religion that I profess to be part of. So I began to study from Preach My Gospel, which I never had before. And I learned a lot, and my testimony grew a lot. I'm so grateful for that calling and how much it helped strengthen my testimony. If there is something you don’t quite understand, or want to improve your ability to teach others, add studying from Preach My Gospel to your routine.
There is a reason The Plan of Salvation, or the Plan of Happiness, is usually the second lesson missionaries teach. Most of us, spend our lives looking for something to hold on to, something that will last. Trying to understand where we came from, who we are, and where we are going. The Plan of Happiness, provides us with the answers so many of us desperately search for.
Understanding the plan clarifies our spiritual vision and allows us to see things as they really are. God has had a plan for our lives a divine path the Lord wishes to lead us down—a plan that, if we can understand, will provide comfort and guidance now, as well as salvation and eternal happiness in our postmortal life.
Robert D Hales once said;
"By understanding and obediently following God’s plan, we keep ourselves from wandering off the path that leads back to our Heavenly Father. Then, and only then, can we live the kind of life He leads, which is “eternal life, … the greatest of all the gifts of God."
How empowering it is to know the plan! The plan of salvation is one of the greatest treasures of knowledge ever given to mankind because it explains the eternal purpose of life. Without it, we are truly wandering in the dark. This is why God’s pattern is to give commandments to His children “after having made known unto them the plan of redemption.”
Alma 24:14
And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.
It really is such a TREASURE of knowledge. How lucky are we to know of this plan of happiness. I can personally attest to the stark difference in life with, and without Gods guidance. While no matter what, he always loves us and is ready and willing to help us, he can only guide us if we are worthy of that guidance. Even if we are worthy of his guidance, we need to ask for it, search out his help and be willing to listen. You will feel so much more peace and happiness with his guidance. We certainly won't know everything, no one knows what the future holds, but he is the only one able to provide us the peace to help us carry on.
I never pictured ourselves living in Texas, but we felt directed to come here. We considered lots of other places, Arizona, Florida, Norfolk, Virginia, we really wanted to be close to family in Utah, but we felt pulled to Texas. It's been amazing the peace I have felt in knowing this is where we are supposed to be at this moment. I have seen his hand in so many instances, helping us along the way, the move here going so smoothly. We didn't have time to come and pick a place out prior, so we packed our little car full, had a list of places we wanted to look at and booked a hotel for a couple days, hoping and praying we would be able to find a place quick. And we did. The morning after we had arrived, we found a great place and were able to move in the very next day. We are so grateful to be here and to have felt so welcomed by everyone here.
One of my favorite quotes of all time is by Matthew S. Holland from a devotional address, “The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon,” delivered at the Provo MTC;
You have a Brother who watches over you, ready to rescue you and advance your service with arms far stronger than your arms--far stronger, in fact, than all other arms of the flesh combined. Those arms are there to sustain and bless you, “in every time of trouble” (D&C 3:8), no matter how alone and discouraged you may feel. Therefore, as you move forward with your life, trust in those arms and “be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid … for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
The Plan of Salvation provides us with one thing that we can find nowhere else; Peace. In lots of ways, the world we live in is scary. The news is scary. The upcoming election is scary. Crime, illness, disease, it’s all scary. And while the Plan of Salvation doesn’t promise that we won’t go through hardships, it promises us that despite those, we can feel peace, and know that we are not alone and that we are being watched over. And even death doesn’t need to be scary.
Alma 12:25
Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken.
This may be odd for me to say, but death is not usually a sad thing for me. Certainly when someone is lost before their time, accident, or illness, that really is heartbreaking, and we certainly miss those who pass on, but I have a great comfort in knowing that they are at peace, we certainly will see them again, and that they are with us in spirit.
My last remaining grandparents, on my moms side, both passed away within the last year. My grandma was struggling with dementia and Alzheimer's, and seeing her in such a state was so painful for the family, but particularly grandpa. My heart broke for him, and my aunts who frequently had to come to the rescue. Her health had been deteriorating for quite some time, but the last couple years were particularly hard. It brings me such peace to know that she doesn't have to struggle with that illness anymore. And I know how much grandpa dearly missed her. And know he can be with her again, without the terrible hardship of her illness, often times preventing her from even remembering who he was. I can only imagine how sweet their reunion together was. My heart aches for those who do not know what comes after death. How scary that would be. That aspect of the Plan of Salvation alone, to know that there is life after this, is something we should want to shout from the rooftops, and share with every single person we meet.
If you feel hungry, like something is missing and you're not sure what it is, if you feel lost, if you feel alone, if you feel overwhelmed by fear and anxiety, I hope you take a chance on the Lord. Do what we have always been told to do. Read the scriptures and pray. But feast on those scriptures, and kneel when you pray, and give your whole heart in sincere prayer. I know the Lord has so many blessings for us. I know He has a designed path for each of us that He wants so badly to lead us down. But we have to be as sincere to Him as He is sincere to us.
Shoefly pie for Grandpa Schmidt. His fave.
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