Let's Get Edified!

4 May 2020

Edified: Insights for LDS Women
Episode #3: "Through the Fire," Trusting God in Times of Trial

In this episode, I look at some ways we can strengthen our connection to the Savior by learning to trust him in our times of trial. 

On December 17, 2010, I saw the Provo Tabernacle engulfed in flames. That beautiful, historic building held within its walls such beautiful memories and such a rich pioneer heritage! I could not bear to watch. At the same time, I could not look away. A few moments later, the roof caved in, and everyone watching knew that the tabernacle was gone.  Why? For what purpose would the Lord allow such a huge part of our heritage to burn to the ground?

So it is with us. Something devastating happens and we wonder why the Lord would allow us to experience so much loss and sorrow. I share insights from two of my daughters-in-law who had struggled with doubting their faith. Each share how she came to trust the Lord during her trials.

Key Points

• The adversary wants you to stop trusting the Lord. Feelings of fear, doubt, and frustration do not come from the Holy Ghost. 
• Eliminate the things in your life that are not serving you. Replace them with thoughts and actions that will strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ.
• Visualize yourself with the Savior in Gethsemane--in the far outer borders.
• Lean-in. We can’t feel the Savior’s comforting embrace if we are pulling away from him. 
• Ask the Lord to help align your will with His.

Elder Boyd K. Packer compared the Plan of Redemption to a three-act play.  The line, “And they lived happily ever after,” is never written into the second act. “That line belongs in the third act when the mysteries are solved and everything is put right.”

When the Provo City Center Temple was built in place of the tabernacle, all the tears of sorrow and loss turned to tears of joy. It’s the same for each of us. God has no intention of making us “as we once were.” His plan is to make us like Him. 

Resources:

• “Provo Tabernacle to Rise from the Ashes as a Temple” --Deseret News
• “Life’s a Play: The Plan of Salvation in 3 Acts” -- Margaret Willden
• “The Great Plan of Happiness” -- Teacher Manual, Church Website 
• "Trust in the Lord" -- Richard G. Scott
• "For Times of Trial" -- Jeffrey R. Holland
• "Through the Fire" -- Lyrics by Gerald Crabb, performed by Jason Crabb
  (YOU HAVE GOT TO LISTEN TO THIS!)

DOT Invitation: Approach prayer with a sincere desire to align our will to the will of our Father in Heaven. 

Visit: www.melindarmorgan.com
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Share this podcast with women of faith who are looking for ways to draw closer to the spirit and deepen their connection to Christ.

March 26, 2020
Edified: Insights for LDS Women
Episode #2:  “Hear, Hearken, Heed,” Getting Real

This episode looks at three distinct levels of how we “Hear Him” -- Hear, Hearken, and Heed. I get real with you by sharing three spiritually defining memories.

I am often asked how I went from divorced, defeated, and dependent on food stamps, to where I am today. It's a long story, but it's a really great story! It's a story about how I came to better understand the Lord's love for me through hearing, hearkening, and heeding the voice of the spirit. It's a story of how the Lord healed me of the spiritual disease of believing I could never "be good enough" or "special enough" or "forgiven enough" to be welcomed into the Father's kingdom.

One of God's deepest sorrows must be knowing many of His children will go through mortality never knowing Him. They won't remember Him or comprehend the great depths of His love for them. 

God wants all His children to know Him and to remember Him.

Key points

• The key to HEARING:  Learn to recognize the language of the Spirit
• The key to “hearkening” is listening, pondering, and sincerely seeking understanding.
• The key to “heeding” is acting; taking intentional steps to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. 

The more we heed the voice of the Spirit by acting on promptings, the greater the number of promptings we’ll receive, because the Lord knows he can trust us to act.

Getting Real

In this section, I share three spiritually defining memories of how I came to “Hear Him” in distinct ways and on three different levels. 

• “Shake My Fist at Heaven” -- A snapshot into one of my darkest moments as a divorced, single mom struggling with a crisis of faith. 
• “Oh, Divine Redeemer” turning point -- Beginning the road to repentance.
• “Easter Miracle” -- The night Jesus raised me from spiritual death and encircled me in the arms of his love

One of the biggest mistakes I had been making for decades was putting limits on Christ’s Atonement. I had convinced myself that Christ’s Atonement wasn’t infinite enough or eternal enough to cover MY sins. I had been believing in a limited God!

I believed in Jesus Christ, but I didn’t really believe Him. I knew the doctrine, but I was not converted to the principles. When the gospel of Jesus Christ finally made it from my head into my heart, I realized a very important truth:  I am a daughter of God, and I am glorious! Because He made me to become like Him.

 Resources for this Episode

• “Spiritually Defining Memories”  Neil L. Anderson, April 2020
• “Converted Unto the Lord” David A. Bednar, October, 2012
• “If Ye Had Known Me” David A. Bednar, October, 2016
• “An Evening With Elder David A. Bednar,” February 2020

 Visit: www.melindarmorgan.com

Follow on Instagram: @melinda.r.morgan

Follow on Facebook: Giving.Virtue.A.Voice

Please share the Edified podcast on your social media feeds and tag busy women of faith who are looking to draw closer to the Spirit and deepen their connection to Christ.

April 28, 2020

Edified: Insights for LDS Women

Episode #1: “Small and Simple Things”

This podcast is for busy LDS women who are looking for ways to draw closer to the Spirit and deepen their connection to Christ. It’s about making meaningful and lasting connections with each other and with God.

In this episode, I share a little about my background and talk briefly about surviving divorce, single-parenthood, and a major crisis of faith that caused me to distance myself from the church for a few years.

You can expect to hear uplifting messages that include gospel insights, inspirational stories of faith and hope, and motivating words of encouragement that are designed to fill your spiritual bucket. You can also expect a “Do One Thing" (DOT) invitation in many of the episodes.

DOT invitations are low key and are not meant to add more to your plate. They follow the K.I.S.S. model: KEEP IT SMALL AND SIMPLE! And they are meant to help us draw closer to the spirit and deepen our connection to the Savior.

I invite you to join with me and help me build this boat as she sails. Together, we will find joy in the journey.

Two key takeaways from this first episode:

• Awareness = Opportunity
• The Lord uses small and simple means to bring about great things.

Resources mentioned or alluded to in this episode:

• “Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart” -- Dieter F. Uchtdorf
• “The Four Temperaments” Kiersey website
• The Enneagram Personality Test, Truity
• The Color Code Personality Science
• Giving Virtue A Voice Blog

Visit: www.melindarmorgan.com
Follow on Instagram: @melinda.r.morgan
Follow on Facebook:  Giving.Virtue.a.Voice

Share this podcast on your social media feeds and tag busy women of faith who are looking for ways to stay spiritually fed and uplifted.

Thanks for listening :-)
Until next time . . .

Music used in this podcast, "Keys of Moon," free-stock-music.com