Flip of the Coin

I have had a little bit on my mind this week.  I was assigned the spiritual thought for ward council this morning, I needed to choose a lesson topic or theme for priesthood "Teachings of Our Times" lesson next week, and then the normal day in and day out experiences and associations with others that sometime just hang with you as you try to figure out how you can help.

As was pondering upon the above mentioned life experiences, I came across the title of a conference talk from this most recent session, "Which Way Do You Face?" by Elder Robbins.  Elder Holland's talk, "Are We All Not Beggars?" came to mind as well as a couple articles in this months issue of the New Era and the Ensign. 

The thought that has brought all of these together is summarized into one word, "Trust".

It really started coming together on Monday when Puddin and I visited the temple downtown.  Each week we seem to pass the same lady standing on the corner asking for change.  I never carry change, but the week previous, right after hearing from Elder Holland, I found myself across the street from this lady, knowing that she was going to ask for change, knowing that I was going to give the same response.  "Sorry, I don't have any change."  Then just as the light turned green, I looked down and saw a couple of dimes in the street. I took a moment to pick them up and hand them off as I walked past.  This week, I cleaned all the change off my night stand and made sure it was in my pocket when I passed.  

Handing off that change has been on my mind all week long.  Every time I look at the pennies balanced on my office desk, I think about it.  Then I read the title of Elder Robbin's talk and started thinking about the face of those coins I handed off.  Each side is different, but only one has a face.  If you were to flip it, you would have the options of only two outcomes, looking at the face or away from the face.

Then a couple nights ago, after reading the New Era and the Ensign, I was startled from a deep sleep with just one word on my mind, "Trust".

On the face of side of every coin minted in the United States, you can find the words "In God We Trust".  I started wondering why I don't carry one of those coins with me at all times. It would be another physical reminder of whom I should be trusting.  Yet being a trusting individual is a hard thing to do.  

I have spent long moments night and day pondering this thought.  Our Heavenly Father has asked us to Trust him.  In order to do so, we must exercise a level of Faith.  When we do, our Hope is brightened.  The very foundation of all we due comes back to that Trust.

I started wondering about Adam and Eve.  They were left a lone in the Garden of Eden with strict commandments, but also with the promise the He would return, they just had to Trust in Him.  Was it their lack of Trust that caused them to fall?

I was reminded of the Brother of Jared and all that were with him this week.  At one point in their journeys they were asked to enter large enclosed barges and Trust that all would be right with them as they were blown, tossed, submerged, and thrown across the great body of water for days, weeks, and months on end.  

I think of the Mosiah and his sons.  Each of them were asked to put forth a level of Trust in Him.  Mosiah had to Trust that his sons would be watched over and protected.  The sons had to Trust that the internal promptings to serve were true whisperings from Spirit and that even though their day to day lives were not easy, it was where the Lord wanted them to be and that they needed to continue Trust in Him no matter what hardships they were asked to endure.

How are we any different today?  

When the challenges of life seem to be taking us to such great depths that we cannot imagine returning to the surface, taking in another breath, or seeing daylight again, we must Trust.

As we are called to serve in various capacities, parents, children, leaders, missionaries or such, we must Trust that all will be well.  While serving, our families and loves ones will be OK.  While learning, stretching, and reaching beyond our own levels of comfort, the Lord will make up for where we lack.  If we teach and live true principles of the Gospel to our children, they will have the opportunity to teach and live them as well.  We must Trust that they will use their agency to do so.

As I do my best to Trust in God.  My faith has been increased.  As I exercise my faith in living as I have been instructed I have hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I pray that each of you may do the same.

Are you flipping the coin?  Or are you choosing to face/Trust Him who has asked us to follow?