Recognizing Answers Increases Faith

Merry Christmas friends and family from 

the not yet white Lincoln, Nebraska.  

(Chandler taking a nap in his hammock)

I hope you are all enjoying this Christmas season and finding many ways to serve the people around you.  Christmas is such a great time of the year where we have many opportunities to learn how to lift each others' burdens and show our appreciation for the many wonderful blessings we receive from our Father in Heaven, especially the great gift of His Son and our Savior.  Things this past week were really great.  The Lord blessed us with the opportunity to teach many of our investigators before they left for the break.  Simone is doing really great.  Although she is back up in Omaha where her family lives for the next couple of weeks, she has committed to read and pray everyday, as well as attend the singles ward up there.  She has had to make some hard decisions while learning about the Gospel, and I am very impressed with how much she's been able to rely on the Lord for strength to keep the commandments, even when it is hard.  She has taught me that even if nobody will support us in doing what is right, Christ will always be there to lift us higher and to be our friend.  We also were able to meet many people on campus who told us they would love to meet with us after the break is over.  I am very excited for all the wonderful miracles that will happen as the Lord continues to prepare people to learn about the Gospel, and as we have the opportunity to help them understand and live Gospel principles.          So my Spiritual thought this week is about  how recognizing answers to prayers increases our faith in God and Christ.  Lately, I've seen the Lord answer my prayers in ways I never expected.  One thing that has been amazing is that the Holy Ghost has manifest to me when these times have occurred.  For instance, my companion has a hard time doing personal study and focusing on the scriptures.  I've been praying really hard for him to be able to focus and enjoy the words in the scriptures.  Last week we gave a training to our zone, and he gave his on personal study.  While not fully realizing it at first, I realized as I listened that this was an answer to my prayers.  It was one of the best trainings I've ever heard, and since then he has been telling me everyday of all the great things that he is learning in his personal study.  When I recognized this, it increased my faith that the Lord does answer prayers, and in His own time, and in His own way.  I now recognize many things that are answers to prayers in my life.  I know that as we pray for the Spirit to reveal to us answers in our lives, our eyes will be opened to see that God is intricately involved in the events that happen day to day.  I'm grateful for all the prayers He has answered in my life, and I know He will answer yours as well.  Have a great week, and a very Merry Christmas. Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall