Bondage: Addictions

Mosiah 24:14
   And 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; 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.

God loves all of his children, and only desires our true lasting happiness. I have felt at times as if I were in bondage, burdened by the weight of sin and guilt... also by my own human desires and lack of will. I still do at times, but I have also felt the joy and freedom that only comes when applying the blood of Christ in my life, and by striving day by day, sometimes minute by minute to always remember him and not give up hope. I pray that I can be strengthened in my weaknesses and temptations; be a witness of him, and know Him and know with that surety that He is always with me.

http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/24.14?lang=eng

Hope for all the blessings of exaltation.

"A lady came into our office the other day and asked to see me on a private matter. She informed me that she felt very badly, because her opportunities for getting a husband had not been favorable. … She wanted to know what her condition would be in the other life, if she did not succeed getting a husband in this life. I suppose this question arises in the hearts of our young people. … I desire to give a little explanation for the comfort and consolation of parties in this condition. There is no Latter-day Saint who dies after having lived a faithful life who will lose anything because of having failed to do certain things when opportunities were not furnished him or her. In other words, if a young man or a young woman has no opportunity of getting married, and they live faithful lives up to the time of their death, they will have all the blessings, exaltation and glory that any man or woman will have who had this opportunity and improved it. That is sure and positive. … People who have no opportunity of marrying in this life, if they die in the Lord, will have means furnished them by which they can secure all the blessings necessary for persons in the married condition. The Lord is merciful and kind, and He is not unjust. There is no injustice in Him; yet we could scarcely look upon it as being just when a woman or a man dies without having had the opportunity of marrying if it could not be remedied in the other life. There would be injustice in that, and we know that the Lord is not an unjust being. My sister Eliza R. Snow, I believe, was just as good a woman as any Latter-day Saint woman that ever lived, and she lived in an unmarried state until she was beyond the condition of raising a family. … I cannot for one moment imagine that she will lose a single thing on that account. It will be made up to her in the other life, and she will have just as great a kingdom as she would have had if she had had the opportunity in this life of raising a family." http://lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-lorenzo-snow/chapter-9-sacred-family-relationships.p14,p15?lang=eng

Excerpt from Lorenzo Snow church manuel

Don't get me wrong. In posting this it is in no way showing that I don't think I will marry in this life. Quite the opposite. I believe I will get married sometime in this life. I have a brightness of hope. Even still I find it marvelous that ALL opportunities to receive All blessings will be given to ALL the children of God. All that is required of us is to live worthy and do all we can to come close to the father. He is a just merciful and fantastic God. I take comfort in that knowledge of his goodness.

Primary

I'm so happy to be a primary teacher. I am so much in love with my ward and my callings.
I had an experience with a couple of the three year olds as I was teaching. I was talking about the resurrection and trying to help them understand that if somebody we loves dies we will be able to see the again, and be with them again because of the resurrection. I shared with them in some simple terms about my dad dying, and that I knew I would see him again and be able to hug him again because of the resurrection. A couple of them (the ones paying attention) got quiet, and came over to me and wrapped their little arms around me. It was one of the sweetest tenderest moments I have experienced. I am so very grateful for my knowledge of the gospel, and for a loving heavenly father who puts me exactly where I need to be so I can gain the experiences and tender mercies necessary to make it back to him. I'm so grateful for all that I am learning. And I seem to be in need of learning...cuz it just keeps coming.