church was awesome today. we had testimony meeting in sacrament and then i went to teacher development class for sunday school. i'm not called as a teacher, but if i want to go on a mission, i have to start learning how to teach, right? better to be safe than sorry. After sunday school, we had relief society. it was so wonderful today. instead of a formal lesson, we bore our testimonies and sang our favorite hymns. lots of christmas songs and lots of the spirit.
one girl said her favorite hymn was #214 "i heard the bells on christmas day". i haven't ever really looked at the words to the song because we don't sing it very often. i liked the words of the 3rd verse, which the girl pointed out, where it says, "And in despair I bowed my head: 'There is no peace on earth,' I said, 'for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.'" this just reminded me of the condition the world is in now where is so much war and hate. how can i as an international relations major think globally without getting depressed and disheartened? it is so hard. how can i make a difference when things are going so wrong and satan has control over so many people?
the first question came up in my international relations class. i love byu and how we can have gospel discussions right in the middle of class. anyway, my teacher essentially said that we need to have faith that things are in the lord's hands. we have no right to be depressed because the atonement happened and that knowledge should bring us so much joy! the next verse of the song brings hope to the despair that we feel when we become discouraged: "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 'God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.'" Awesome! Heavenly Father will always be with us when we need help. For this, i am grateful.
Merry Christmas everyone.
