Journey: Not the Band or The Destination

Today's study focuses on growth. Progress. Change. Whatever you want to call it, have it your way.
And It's about the journey. Seriously dudes.
Each of us has a starting point here on planet earth, the starting point of our journey- and we all have a destination: making it back into God's presence. And it's what we do, but more importantly, who we become on this journey that determines where we are going to end up.

There are so many examples of families and nations being led out of a dangerous situation by God to a far better "land of promise"
- Moses and chillins of Isreal
-Abraham and family (Lot and crew)
-Lehi's family
-Jaredites
-Ammonites led away from Lamanite captors
Just to name a few. All wonderfully brave groups of people as a whole, but something struck me with each story. In every situation, every person in each group is essentially experiencing the same conditions, the same trials, and the same setbacks. Some are completely dedicated to God and willingly learning progressing along the way, while others become more cold, hardened and stubborn.
What makes the difference? Why are some of them progressing and some of them remaining the same?

Those who are actively learning and progressing on their journey have some basic similarities:

Nephi and Brother of Jared
-Seek personal revelation through prayer
-Nephi: involves his family in gathering food, actively makes own weapon,
-Bro. of Jdawg: Goes up mountain, molds lava rocks into shiny, transparent stones
-Both expect a miracle AFTER all they can do (no sitting around for lightening to strike- get it done!)

Lehi and Nephi study God's word, expand their understanding of the WHAT and WHY

All: Live and Love their covenants with the Lord

Those who don't progress weren't doing the seemingly simple things on their end. They weren't openly communicating with God on their own. They were looking for answers from the scriptures, and they weren't willing to change to align with God.
-Isrealites in wilderness (do I need to count how many times they were bums?)
-Laman and Lemuel: expect answers to appear without any work on their parts

As humans, a lot of the time, we are content to go as far as our comfort zone will permit. We tend to limit our own capacities by convincing ourselves, or allowing others to convince us we have done enough and there is no need for overexertion. Other times, we just may not see because of how exhausted we are, just that final step that will get us where we need to go. But God can always see in all directions. He has a perfect plan tailored to each and every one of us. And in order to take part in His plan and be able to glean all we can from Him, we need to be willing to lay aside what we have planned for what He's got in store. Because, honey child, I can tell you what, His plans will be 100 x better, Every single time.
Just like in the story of the Jaredites, they had traveled so long and so far, that when they finally hit the seashore, they celebrated and made camp for quite sometime, convinced that they were finished and their journey was over with.

"And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people."  Ether 12:7

A choice land preserved for a righteous people. The land isn't the only thing that he wants to be special for us- He wants to give this amazing land to a righteous people- a people that can be honest. A people that values the lives and feelings of those around the. A covenant keeping people, those who will put Him above all else.
Our Heavenly Father absolutely desires the very best of places for us to end up in-both in this life and the life to come, but He ultimately desires us to arrive at "our best self" along the way there.
If we follow the example of those who went before us on their journeys, by applying the same principles they lived by: faith, reading the scriptures, repentance, following the spirit, and seeking and acting on personal revelation, our hearts and minds will be prepared to inherit the land/opportunities God has in store for each one of us.

So don't be upset or frustrated when things don't go the way you planned. There's a bigger reason for it all to happening the way it is. Sometimes you don't find that out until way later on- but the important thing for now is to ask, What can I learn from this experience? How can I help? And to just keep moving forward, one baby step at a time.

I love you so dearly,
Emily