I really hope that nice little jingle is stuck in your head for the rest of the day. It is super catchy and teaches a great lesson! Marlin and Dory are swimming into the dark, eerie and unknown depths of the ocean following the path the goggles have floated off to so they can be led to Nemo. It was definitely scary for them not being able to see and all, but they kept swimming because they knew it was necessary in order to get to Nemo.
As we go throughout life trying to make our way back to our Father in Heaven, we often have to take steps into the dark unknown. We may not see how things are going to work out but just like Marlin and Dory, we MUST keep swimming! That requires faith. It can be scary to push through trials or to make certain decisions that he guides us to make because we can't see the outcome. It is like going from swimming in the light to taking a dive in dark waters. President Uchtdorf wisely said, "There are times when we have to step into the darkness in faith, confident that God will place solid ground beneath our feet once we do." We must have FAITH that God has a plan for us and that all of the things he places in our path are going to help us. But lets back up... what is faith??
In the Book of Mormon, there is a great definition of faith. "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." We can't see the way things are going to pan out but we can have hope that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is leading us in the right direction. When we have faith, it leads us to act. We take that step into the darkness trusting that the Lord is going to make is all work out! Once we take that step of faith, we have to keep moving forward with faith even if we don't see the results yet. KEEP SWIMMING!! In the Church, this is often referred to as "enduring to the end."
Enduring to the end isn't easy. So HOW do we do it??? Well, Elder Perry is awesome and gave a great conference talk in 2008 that tells us what we need to do!
1. Enduring to the end requires the Savior's redemptive power:
We aren't perfect and "no unclean thing can dwell with God" (1 Nephi 10:21) so we need to repent and rely on the Savior and His Atonement.
2. The Holy Ghost is required:
The Holy Ghost is a great gift from our Heavenly Father that guides us and sanctifies us.
3.We must be an integral part of the community of Saints:
We are all God's children and we need to work together and unify ourselves in Christ.
4.Share the Gospel with others:
Sharing the Gospel helps us to dig our roots deeper in the Gospel. We experience the most incredible joy as we share the things we know to be true! In Doctrine and Covenants 18:15 it says, "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" Open your mouths...great things will happen!
5.Always maintain faith and hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ:
We can increase our faith in Christ by reading the scriptures, praying, fasting and going to church. As President Uchtdorf said, "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."
The blessings that come from enduring to the end are more than we can even imagine! In 2 Nephi 31:20 it says, "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." This is eternal life that's on the line so we better keep swimming.
God will never turn his back on us. As we turn to him, we will be able to feel his loving arms around us, helping us endure to the end. We are not alone!
Something I love about Dory is that she is always happy. Their journey was not easy but she kept swimming and singing with a smile on her face, brightening everyone's day! We should all try to be more like that! Life is hard, but we should smile anyway because, "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." As we all strive to endure to the end by following the steps the Lord has given us, let us do it with a smile on our faces. When things don't go the way you planned, LAUGH!!! Find something to smile about. I know you can find something.
I know that Heavenly Father loves us all so much and He wants us home. The Lord is on your side pushing through it with you; He believes in you. No matter what happens in life, just keep swimming!
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