Peaceful

I have to say the most peaceful place in all of the valley (Utah Valley for those of you outsiders ;)) is just up behind the Provo temple. Everyone says that it is the most busy temple in all of Utah, and it is pretty busy, I am there atleast once a week, and there are always alot of people there, but if you walk behind the temple it is so amazing. The spirit that surrounds that place is so wonderful. There are these stone benches that are surrounded by grass and there are huge pine trees all around and all sorts of flowers and plants and birds and little squrriels, I just love it. And what amazes me the most is that there aren't that many people who take them time to walk back there. It is so peaceful, and it is not just the landscaping :) It never ceases to amaze me how the lord works in such mysterious ways, and just as soon as we think we have it all figured out, he quietly shows us that we don't know quite as much as we think and offers to teach us something more. Elder Holland said "I am convinced that life is not easy, because salvation is not cheap. We must each go through our own gethsemany. Mind you it will be nothing in comparisson, but for you it will be a learning and growing experience" I like that. So many times we think "This is just too hard, and it has been going on for just too long, just makt it stop and make my life easier already" but he can't. Not if he intends to give us the blessings. God tries us because he intends to give us amazing and wonderful things. There is purpose behind every thing. Every bad day is not without meaning. I love how often our leaders remind us of that fact. My bishop gave me a paper the other day called "Why the lord gives us trials" And it explains all about why, and how and everything. And it said that trials are delt just the same as blessings, but the trial must preceed the blessing. And that God will not teach you through something that is foreign, he will build upon the experiences you already have. I thought that was cool. Because often times in life we feel like we are constantly being tried in the same area, but maybe that is because that is the best way for us to learn. Perhaps that is so hard for us because through that is the easiest way for us to learn what we have to. Because there are somethings you have to learn one way or another, and God is a just God, so maybe this is the least painful way for you to learn. I try to think that when things get hard, that it could always be worse.
I am so truly blessed in my life, and the Lord has always provided for me. I have never been through something I couldn't over come, and I have never found a trial that was too hard. They seem insurmountable at times, but then I make it through and I always come out on top. There have been a few I felt as though I came out even, but even then, what more can you really ask for? Life is amazing, and a huge blessing, and it is important for us to remember that. Just spending time with your family on a lazy sunday afternoon is much more of a blessing than we often realize.