"...her borders must be enlarged..." D&C 82:14

Continuing the scripture study of  "expanding the soul".

Here's another scripture to ponder as a visual of "expanding the soul" (see Alma 5:2).

"For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments" (D&C 82:14). 

Let's imagine that we are Zion, even the "pure in heart" (Zion). In order for Zion to increase in beauty we must not focus on what the world thinks is beautiful. Our focus must be on the "beauty of the Lord" (Psalms 27:4), which is the "beauty of holiness" (Psalms 29:2, see also 1 Chronicles 16:29).

As Zion, our borders must be enlarged. Our desire to follow God and keep His commandments increases as we seek to know and love Him more through obedience. He blesses us, in that we "have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2). From my own experience I can say that our "stakes", those elements which hold us steady and strong when the winds come, are strengthened when I have turned my heart to God. He helps me "arise" and put on the beautiful garments of Zion. The "beautiful garments" are symbols of  covenants. When we make and keep sacred covenants He expands our abilities to do good, to be diligent, to do all that the Father asks us to do (see 1 Nephi 3:7).

I have to share this thought from Elder Richard G. Scott. I love his honesty about being enlarged. It is not easy, yet it will be worth all the pain and effort that comes from such soul expanding experiences:

"To exercise faith is to trust that the Lord knows what He is doing with you and that He can accomplish it for your eternal good even though you cannot understand how He can possibly do it. We are like infants in our understanding of eternal matters and their impact on us here in mortality. Yet at times we act as if we knew it all. When you pass through trials for His purposes, as you trust Him, exercise faith in Him, He will help you. That support will generally come step by step, a portion at a time. While you are passing through each phase, the pain and difficulty that comes from being enlarged will continue. If all matters were immediately resolved at your petition, you could not grow. Your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love" (Trust in the Lord italics added). 

I know that trusting in the Lord is another way that God expands our souls, and enlarges the borders of Zion, even our borders. True beauty comes as we "worship the Lord in the beauty of  holiness" (1 Chronicles 16:29 see also Exodus 28:36). This I testify.

I love going to the temple. For me, it is a soul expanding experience

Trusting in the Lord and growth come when we enter in and keep sacred covenants

Let the beauty of holiness increase and expand your soul

"...he trieth their patience and their faith." (Mosiah 23:21)

I need to just share a quick thought about this one verse- (please forgive me for my mistakes and/or misspellings, it is very late but needs to be done). "Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith" (Mosiah 23:21). The fact that the Lord deems it appropriate to try our faith and our patience at the same time says a lot about us and our development. When we exercise faith in Jesus Christ we are not only saying that we believe He knows what we need to learn and develop, but also the when. 

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "...patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because or our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can- working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude (courage in pain or adversity), even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!" (Continue in Patience).

I know we all have challenges that keep us from getting what we want in the timing we want. It's not easy being patient. So, I have had to ask myself what keeps me from being patient? When I take a step back I often find it is simply pride and selfishness. Pride because I think I know exactly what I "need" and that I believe it is good for me. And selfishness because I can't wait calmly and with dignity. Rather, I want to make everyone either aware of how miserable I am or make everyone as miserable as I am. That's pretty dang selfish.

Gratefully, God is aware of this "natural man" part of us (see Mosiah 3:19) and He helps us even when we are weak. He makes our burdens lighter, He makes them bearable. He says, "I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage". Why does He do this? He continues: "and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions" (Mosiah 24:14). When we are patient, He eases our burdens, which in turn increases our faith in Him. And then makes us able to "bear up [our] burdens with ease" (Mosiah 24:15), giving us more patience, and leading us again to increase our faith. In all of this cycle, He visits us and helps us carry our burdens (see Matt. 11:30)

I know that God has His reasons for trying our faith and our patience. I also know He gives us the strength to endure well- submitting "cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord" (Mosiah 24:15; see also Mosiah 3:19). You can do this! This is I testify.

I get to "hangout" with my mom a couple of times a week as she is on hospice.

I am so grateful for her example of faith and patience.