Just Another Day On The Farm

"[A] group of youth adopted the motto 'I Can Do Hard Things.' They understand their identity, their mission, their source of guidance, and they receive strength through keeping their covenants. They also understand that when they make a mistake, they can change! Satan wants all of us to think that repentance is not possible. This is absolutely not true. The Savior has promised forgiveness (See For the Strength of Youth [2001], 30). Each week, worthily partaking of the sacrament makes it possible for each of us to become clean and pure as we covenant to 'always remember [the Savior], and keep his commandments' (Moroni 4:3). The gospel of Jesus Christ is one of simplicity, and we are given the tools that make the pathway straight and narrow. The way is clear: 'For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light' (Matthew 11:30).

-Elaine S. Dalton

One of the many pleasures of being a full time missionary is the opportunity that we get to help people and to provide service. Lately I have noticed that as I have been providing service, I have really thought about Mosiah 2:17, “When Ye are in the service of your fellow beings Ye are only in the service of your God.” King Benjamin really hit the nail on the head. By helping out the people around us we are able to grow to know God.

            In the midst of service, I have learned a valuable lesson as well as ways that I can improve my own life. Not too long ago I had the opportunity of helping Sister Shirley prune her trees. The reason that we had to prune her trees was because they were overgrown and had a lot of dead wood. The pruning of her trees was not easy and took many hours to complete. It was hard work; it took sweat, patience, and a lot of determination to get rid of those stubborn branches who just did not want to go. There were different challenges along the way, such as the chainsaw breaking. The pruning itself was not over once all the branches hit the ground, we had to exert much more force in dragging, carrying, and kicking the fallen branches to the burn pile.

            This experienced caused me to ponder about my own life and how I can maybe prune some of my own personal trees. Just like with Sister Shirley’s trees, some of mine may be overgrown. Some may have traces of “dead wood.” I know that the path to making those necessary changes (cutting off branches) won’t be easy. It will definitely take time. Cutting off bad habits will take a lot of patience and possibly some tears. Determination is the key in breaking stopping unwanted habits and in bringing my life back in harmony with God’s teachings. I know that there will be challenges; I know that every now and then my chainsaw is going to break. There will be times where I am weak and I need the help of an experienced pruner to fix my mistakes and keep encouraging me. Jesus Christ knows what we are going through. He knows our habits and He wants to help us. I know that when I fall short, He will be there to pick me up, dust me off, and set me along my way. Just like the trees, my pruning isn’t over when I cut them off (stop doing them). My pruning truly is finished when I carry them to the burn pile. My pruning is truly finished when I utilize the Atonement and repent of my sins.

            Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to look at your trees. I ask you to look at your overgrown branches and your personal “dead wood” and get pruning. Rely on the Lord. He is there to help us when we have nowhere to go. He cares for us and for the choices we make in life. God loves you and the gift of the Atonement will always be there for us to use.