Forever Constant

I have three main thoughts I want to hit on tonight, so I'll try to hurry before sleep brain overtakes me. :) Last night, I went to the new Hobbit movie, and there was a certain scene where Gandalf was fighting off this huge demon. He had a ball of light around him, like a shield, and that got me thinking. First, of Joseph Smith and how he was attacked by evil. And second ... about how light always wins. Now in this case (spoiler alert), Gandalf didn't exactly win the battle. But he will ... because, well, that's how it works. But that's not my point.

Think of it this way. When your bedroom is dark and it's sunny outside, and you open the curtains, light floods in. It always does. But if your room is light and it's dark outside, when you open the curtains, the dark does not flood in. Light can take over darkness. Darkness can't take over light. How beautiful and comforting is that? If we're standing by the light, we'll be okay.

One of my favorite quotes by Jeffrey R. Holland:

“The future of this world has long been declared; the final outcome between good and evil is already known. There is absolutely no question as to who wins because the victory has already been posted on the scoreboard. The only really strange thing is all of this is that we are still down here on the field trying to decide which team's jersey we want to wear!”

Second thought. As I stood in the bathroom of the beautiful temple today, pulling on a white jumpsuit, a simple (but profound) thought came to mind: This is who I am. And it was followed with this: I'm a Mormon. This is my home. This is what I know best, and I always want to be worthy and able to do exactly what I'm doing right now. It is my goal ... to always be worthy of the temple. It is the place where I gain the most peace, and find the most comfort and the greatest of answers. It is so precious. And I am so grateful for it.

Third thought. As I sat down on a bench in the baptistery, I picked up a Book of Mormon. It was in Spanish. Glancing at it, I knew I couldn't understand it, but I knew the truth was within the pages - for someone else with a different tongue. I reached for another book, this one in my own language, and found the chapter I'd started reading this morning. Awe washed over me. This is how amazing the gospel is. No matter where we are, if we pick up that book, it is the same. If we feel the Spirit, it is the same. The gospel and God's love are the same - always. Forever constant.

We are so blessed. I know I am, and I am so grateful. I can't imagine what my life would be like without the gospel. As water dripped from my hair and soaked my shirt, as I walked around the temple grounds, I felt a peace I'll never quite explain. But I don't have to explain it. I only hope that you'll all find it yourselves. It's hard to take it home when chaos returns. It's hard to find it when all you feel is pain or anger. But if we can do that ... if we can embrace peace and keep it with us ... we can do anything. We can endure anything.

I bear my testimony of this, and of His love. It is real. It is true. He is always with us, and knows our every need and hope and fear and dream. He is forever.

And in the name of Him: Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Bonnie Gwyn