The Details

Sister Barden in Taiwan - August 31, 2014 Miracles!

 We had the most special lesson with the Huang Family. We met with Sister Huang while her three children colored in the corner. Our lesson was the plan of salvation, focusing on the redemptive power of the Atonement and the reality of eternal families. Beautiful hardly sums up the way the lesson felt. The spirit was so active! We set a baptismal date with her and discussed her feelings about the message we were sharing. Sister Huang told us that, when she attended sacrament meeting last week, every congregation hymn gave her goosebumps. "I've never felt that way before." She said quietly. "I don't know what it was, but every time we started singing it came back to me." What an incredible witness!

   We are also continuing to see many miracles from talking to everyone! As we waited for a train, we began talking to a young student heading back to her college. While sharing our message about baptism and our relationship with Heavenly Father, she started asking us deep questions.... her eyes began to light up with curiosity. When we asked to meet with her again she asked "Yes. Can some of my friends come too?!" This is amazing as her college is a near half hour train ride from where we wanted to set up a meeting with her!
   This  week, I've been really thinking about something Elder Wong of the Seventy shared with us in the Memorial Meeting for Elders Xiong and Thredgold. "God is in the details, of the details, of the details of our lives". I loved his reminder. I love that he repeated the phrase three times. I love that, in the context of current events and in our everyday lives, this statement invited us to reflect upon "the details" and acknowledge God in them. It takes spiritual sensitivity and a grateful heart to see the Lord's preparation and blessings in our life. I want to better understand and acknowledge the influence of God in the details of my life. I know doing so will increase my faith and comprehension of the "higher ways" by which the Lord accomplishes His purposes. I love the example of Nephi when he enters the city of Jerusalem to get the plates from Laban. I picture him standing by the dark gate, looking into the city and thinking... "Ok, now what? Heavenly Father... where do you want me to go?" The story that follows is incredibly orchestrated as Nephi not only comes across Laban, alone and completely unconscious, but is then led to cross paths with Laban's servant Zoram. The sequence of events is incredible because the details were planned by the Lord. I know from experience that when we stop on dark roads in our lives, look at heaven and say "Ok, now what? Heavenly Father... where do you want me to go?" The path is lit before us. Those we need to find are on the street... alone and unconscious of the purpose of their present sufferings. Zorams are waiting to help us achieve our goals. Doors are opened, scriptures are shared, and hearts are changed. I know God is in the "details, of the details, of the details" and I want to be quicker to acknowledge, thank, and seek for Him there.
   Ask to "see Him in the details" more often. Ask to see things in the way that He sees them. Don't forget to look at heaven and say "Ok, now what? Heavenly Father... where do you want me to go?" I promise you will always find yourself in the places you need to be.