"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the thing which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" (1 Nephi 3:7)

I had the opportunity to restart the Book of Mormon this week. And what a wonderful opportunity that truly is. As I read the verses that told of the story of Nephi retrieving the brass plates, I read several verses that could be applied to my life. This one in particular relates to all of the trials that we have in our lives. No matter how difficult the demands of life are, God doesn't give us any trials that we cannot handle. It's comforting to know that truth when hard times hit and it feels like we cannot overcome our hardships. God will not give us anything we cannot overcome with His help. That is just simply not part of His plan. He sent us here to have the agency to chose, yet at the same time is willing, able, and ready to assist us in our times of need.

I have noticed the Lord's hand in my life as I strive for excellence in all that I do. I know that the Lord is always looking out for me and is guiding my steps to help me return home. The best way to receive the strength to carry on is through daily scripture study and prayer. When we pray to God, we thank him for our many blessings and ask Him for things that we need. In return we receive answers through the scriptures. The motto I live by is "Pray like everything depends on God and work like everything depends on you".

This week I have been studying the doctrine of the Plan of Salvation, which was perfect for our discussion on Jesus Christ and the Creation yesterday in class. About a week and a half ago, one of my close family friends passed away from a 3 year battle with cancer. Following his passing, I found myself studying the Plan of Salvation and life after death as to better be able to help his children cope with the loss. I turned to 2 Nephi 9, a passage of scripture that I focused on a lot on my mission. I also referred back to a scripture that came to mind. 

This scripture is found in the Doctrine and Covenants chapter 42 verses 45-46. It reads " Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection. And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them" (D&C42:45-46).

These verses opened up the horizon for me pertaining to doctrine of death. Though we all pass on, we are able to be resurrected. That is a gift that is given to all mankind thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. A "glorious resurrection" as described in the verse above is something we all yearn for. This type of resurrection is for those who have lived the commandments faithfully to the end. They have fought the fight and their work has finished here on earth. It is a simple part of God's plan for us to pass through this life and into the next. Progression is the fundamental principle that governs the universe.

Though we get caught up in the various distractions found in everyday life, it is extremely important to keep an eternal perspective as we move forward in life. The sooner we realize that our life here on earth is limited yet important for our eternal progression the better. This week I will make a special effort to strive to keep an eternal perspective when the harder trials of life hit.