Look Up

I had this post almost all composed and then it just disappeared!  I know it sometimes automatically saves, but not this time.  Perhaps that meant that I shouldn't have posted what was written, and I have been given another change to make it better.  I hope that is what I am able to do.

We had a very touching lesson in Relief Society today.  Since it was the 4th week our lesson was taken from the most recent General Conference issue of the Ensign, which is November 2011.  The talk was given by Elder Carl B. Cook entitled "It Is Better to Look Up."  You can find it on page 33.  

I remember hearing this talk.  He started out with a personal experience.  Elder Cook was in the elevator in the Church Administration building and was looking down at the floor when the elevator stopped.  He knew someone stepped on to the elevator and heart the person say "What are you looking at down there?"  He recognized the voice as President Monson, so he quickly looked up.  President Monson gently reminded him that it is better to "Look Up."

How many times do we forget this simple act?  It is so easy to lose focus on what is truly important. We each have so many things going on in our lives, thing that weigh us down and cause us to loose focus.  But as Elder Cook reminds us, by looking up to God we can redirect our focus to be healed and strengthened through Christ.  In doing so, we will not "feel incapable of doing what we are called to do, or need to do.  We will be strengthened, and our lives will be filled with peace and joy....The Lord will help us.  But we must have the faith to look up and the courage to follow His direction."

In Alma we read: "O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting abut your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful...Then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, .."

He ends with his testimony that "We are Heavenly Father's children.  He wants to be a part of our lives, to bless us, and to help us.  He will heal our wounds, dry our tears, and help us along our path to return to His presence.  As we look to Him, He will lead us. ......Our burdens are lightened as we look to Christ, "Let us remember him...and not hang down our heads. (2 Nephi 10:20) for, as President Monson said, "It is better to look up."

With all the trials we are each asked to walk through, no matter how righteous our desires, how blessed we are, no matter what our wishes and hopes are, we have to remember that He knows each of us, not just us but everyone.  He knows what is best for everyone.  We just have to trust that we can learn for ourselves that He is in control.  We need to remember to look up to see what He would have us do.

We were never promised that it would be easy.  As simple as it sounds, it isn't easy.  It wasn't easy for the Children of Israel to raise up their eyes and look at the serpent on the rod that Moses raised, even though they had been told that if they looked they would be saved.  It wasn't easy, and many didn't do so.  Those who looked were saved, and those who didn't were destroyed.  We might not be 'destroyed' if we don't look up, but by going to church each week and partaking of the sacrament we are promised to 'have His spirit to be with us."  That is a form of looking up.  That will help us to focus on what is important.  And even through it isn't easy, we can do it a bit at a time.  Then, after we look to Him, He will be able to show us the blessings he has in store for us.  Sometimes He sees the heartbreak that our wishes would cause us, sometimes He sees the blessings others needs from our actions, or the blessings we can give by service to others. But no matter what, He knows what is best for each of us.  We just have to have the faith that He will do what is best.  One sure way to show that faith is to "Look Up".