"[God] maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45)

We had a power outage this past weekend that lasted for about 6-7 hours. It had started to bring back memories of the year we had no power for 3 days. You need to know something about me. I get a little edgy when I am cold. A little edgy when I am tired. A touch off when I am hungry. A touch out of sorts when I have an infection. If you throw all of those together...well, let me just say, in the nicest way possible, that all heck breaks loose and it is better to not be around me when they all come together. My family knows that they need to stay out of my way. So, this past weekend, when it was getting closer to the 5 hour mark with no power and it was getting dark outside and the temperatures were dropping, I was really trying to hold it together...I hope the Lord sees fit to take me when "The Big One" comes, I am not much of a "pioneer" without my modern conveniences, such as food, heat, light, medicine, a warm bed, did I mention food?

Sometimes, things just go wrong and for no apparent reason. The power goes out on the best of us, and we are cold, hungry, tired, and we have an infection all at the same time. Things could definitely be worse (I have experienced way worse and I try to accept what I am given and be grateful...note the try, it doesn't mean that I am happy about it, or that it is easy). One of the conclusions that I have come to when bad things happen to good people (which happens all the time), is that "[God] maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45). Power outages, unfortunately, don't skip homes that are paying tithing, or even paying their electrical bills. They happen to whomever happens to be on that grid. Power outages happen to the best of us. They make life inconvenient, change our routine, test our patience, make us slow down, sometimes they make us questions why things have to happen to us, sometimes they may even make us question our faith. These are not necessarily bad things.

Another conclusion I have come to about bad things happening to good people is that unbeknownst  to us, these trials, or power outages, can actually be strength building opportunities for us. The Lord has said, "I will try the faith of my people" (3 Nephi 26:11) and taught through His prophets "...ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith" (Ether 12:6). Sometimes, as I am riding my bike up a long, steep hill I have to look down rather than up. This is the proper placement for my head. The hill looks flatter, I am able to focus on each stroke as I pedal, and I slowly, oh so slowly, make my way to the top. It is with my head down, humbled in prayer that is in the proper position that makes all the difference, when I need help in my deepest, and darkest hours of my "power outages". Elder Henry B. Eyring said, "Trouble itself can be your way to strengthen and finally gain unshakable faith" (Mountains to Climb).



Life isn't always filled with lights and without its storms. I sometimes wish it were. But then I look back at all the growth that has come form all that hard work, diligence, and perseverance of pedaling up those long, steep hills and you know what? I wouldn't change a thing. I to add my voice with the prophet Nephi and say, "I know that [Christ] loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). Things work out, if not in this life, then in the next. We are loved beyond measure and we are not left alone in the dark. This I testify.

The day after the storm...and after the power outage. The sun always comes out after the  storm.

Note how the branch is hanging down from the weight of the snow, this is several hours after the storm has ended.

The mountains from our home. I am standing in our driveway. We received at least a foot or more of snow, and the mountains received 48" or more!

"...Always Remember Him..." D&C 20:77,79

I think the month of December should be called the month of Remember. Why? Because it is so filled with good memories. It is filled with good smells, good songs, gift giving and receiving which all bring different types of remembering. But most importantly, it is the month in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, which brings about a whole set a remembering in and of itself. "The celebration of Christmas helps us keep our promise to always remember Him and His gifts to us. And that remembrance creates a desire in us to give gifts to Him" (Elder Henry B. Eyring).

My husband will say, "Don't forget" and I always say back, "Remember" because we must "Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men" (D&C 3:3). Christ said to His disciples at the last supper, "This do in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). What are we to remember? "Always remember Him", Jesus Christ (D&C 20:77,79).

If Christmas could only last all year long perhaps we would remember Christ a little more easily all the time. The other day one of my sons said, "I wish it was Christmas all year long". I said that we could make it Christmas all year long by giving everyday. Later on I realized that this is exactly what Christ is wanting us to remember. "[He] gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14).  He is "the perfect example" (Bible Dictionary) of what we are to remember in everything: behavior, worship, praying, humility, love, meekness, giving, everything.

Heavenly Father also expresses His love for us by having given us His "Beloved Son, in whom [He] is well pleased" (3 Nephi 11:7). There is a children's Primary song that says it perfectly about Heavenly Father giving the perfect Gift to us, and how we can give back to Him and also remember Him:

"How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent His Son, a new born babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?

He sent His Son on earth to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?

He sent His Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like His Son, help others on their way.

What does He ask? Live like His Son."

(He Sent His Son; view Mormon Tabernacle Choir Performance here)

As we celebrate this month of "Remember" we can give the gift of ourselves to Christ by living as He did. We don't have to buy expensive gifts or focus on parties or fancy clothes. We can focus on the greatest gift ever given, even Jesus Christ, and in so doing we can have a year of "remembering" and a whole year of Christmas. We can give of ourselves and we not only have Christmas all year long, but we will "always remember [Christ]" (D&C 20:77,79). This I testify.