This is a painting done by artist Liz Lemon Swindle entitled "Joseph in Liberty Jail".
"I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerated force...all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty."
- Joseph Smith, Jr.
This past weekend I had the chance to attend a retreat that caused some havoc on my emotions. Lately I have been pretty much in control of how I have been feeling. I have not let self-doubt and confusion to take over the thoughts that are going on inside of me.
It is hard for me to put into words just what was going on inside of me Saturday morning as I sat on a couch and pondered the direction my life has gone the past two weeks. I was facing an internal struggle where who I was as a person was being attacked. Am I too judgmental or self-righteous as I had been told? Maybe I am "the bad-guy." And then talk of the Atonement really hit me, maybe I wasn't deserving of such a gift? Maybe that applied to everyone but me. As I asked these questions I was overwhelmed by feelings that I was loved by someone out there, my Savior. That His love is unconditional and that no matter what I do He will always be there for me. Luckily I was reminded that I am a good person and that those who feel otherwise do not truly know me or my heart. No matter how alone I feel through the situation that I am currently facing there is one person who will always be there for me and for Him I am eternally grateful.
Go Ahead, Share Your Thoughts! .
