Change

There is a word that has been plaguing my mind lately....CHANGE!! That word is scary to me, and I know that I'm not alone on that one. New things bring new challenges and that can be scary. It always seems to be that the moment we feel comfortable, change takes place. At Sacrament Meeting in the Palmyra Ward, a member said something that has completely changed (there is that word again) me. He said, "God cares more about your growth than your comfort." Throughout the past two weeks, that has been on repeat in my head. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that he allows change to come into our live so we can grow. He sees us for what we can become, but we aren't there yet...so change needs to happen. 



In Mulan, she wants to fight, but she isn't at the level she needs to be. My favorite part of that movie is when they are singing "Need a man.. He must be swift as the coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire; mysterious as the dark side of the moon!" That song lists the qualities of a good fighter and much to her dismay, Mulan isn't there yet; but she wants to be. Throughout that song it shows Mulan changing into a better fighter. Her transformation into a warrior did not happen overnight, it took time for that change to occur; but when it did, she came out stronger and better than she had been before. Change requires work but it makes us better.

Many times in the scriptures we are told to follow Jesus Christ. Christ is perfect and if we, who are imperfect, are going to follow a perfect being, change is inevitable. Everyday when I wake up I am determined to be better than I was the day before; but sometimes when Heavenly Father answers my prayers by putting changes in my life so I can be better, I panic inside. As a missionary there is a lot of change! Saying goodbye to my family for 18 months..that was a HUGE change. Flying off to a place I had never been to and being surrounded by completely new faces was another huge change. That change was hard and scary, but looking back after having served in the New York Rochester Mission for the past 9 months has made me realize that those changes in my life were absolutely needed in order for me to someday reach my full potential.

We all have a goal to return to live with our Heavenly Father. The scriptures teach us that "no unclean thing can dwell with God" (1 Nephi 10:21). None of us are perfect. We "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Because of our imperfections, we need to change if we want to return to live with our Father in Heaven. We need to "try a little harder to be a little better" everyday (President Hinkley). Through Christ and His Atonement, those changes everyday are possible. We can turn to Him and He will help us to become all that we can be. Our Savior not only provided the perfect example for us, but He is right by our side helping us to follow in His footsteps. 

Change is hard; but without change we will never become who our Heavenly Father knows we can be. Let the change that comes into your life allow you to grow and become more like the Savior. Enjoy the changes that come your way! Recognize that you are becoming more like Christ! We only live everyday once and so we might as well enjoy it. 

I am so grateful that our Heavenly Father loves us enough to put changes into our lives and that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, so we don't have to go through it alone.