Trials

I was reading the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees (Jacob 5, The Book of Mormon) the other day, which sometimes is a stumbling block for many of us. But I learned something that is pretty amazing to me, although it may not be the main message of this allegory but a good message nonetheless. In verses 20 – 22 it shows the Master/Lord of the vineyard (God) showing his servant a branch which he had hid in the “poorest spot in all the land of [the Lord’s] vineyard”. The servant wondered why this spot was chosen, and the Lord says “Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit.”

On the other hand look at verse 25 where the Lord of the vineyard shows a branch placed in a good spot of ground (later in the chapter he describes it as "a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my vineyard" v. 43). This tree was nourished just like the rest but only part of it brought forth good fruit. It had some things handed to it, had it easy.

What I was thinking of today as I read this scripture is that though sometimes we feel that God has handed us a "poor spot of ground" (trials, or a "hard" life), and it’s just too much to deal with. Sometimes we seek to "counsel" God and tell him we don't deserve our situation. We observe others with not so poor ground, and think that we have been unjustly dealt with. We do not know what God knows, great things are in store for those that follow His counsel. He nourishes all of his children just sometimes we don’t recognize all the blessings he gave us. Some of us don’t accept blessings either so therefore we let ourselves start to whither away. What we need to focus on is what we can do to bring forth good fruit. Strive to do what the Lord our God asks and requires of us. Lay up treasures in heaven! Trials are always for our good and will help us to become better. God knows our potential and he lets us struggle so that we may grow.

Conversion? Yes!

                My name is Elder Kofoed (right now, some day it will be Brother or John Kofoed). I was born in the church and was baptized and confirmed a member at the age of eight. I did it then mostly because that is what we did. It was more the culture of my family and most of my hometown, for that matter, than anything else. As I got a little older something happened that would change my life forever, I came to the realization that not everybody in the world was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That rocked my world! I can’t really remember a time that I didn’t believe the church was true, there were times of slight uncertainty but that would quickly leave as I would continue to live the commandments. I am sure that I started out leaning on the testimony of my parents but I was gradually weaned off and building my own just as slowly. In August of 2005 President Gordon B. Hinckley challenged everyone to read The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ Before the end of the year.

My family was a little slow to act and was a little hit or miss but we did our best, and I am not sure if we beat the end of the year but I know that we did finish. During this time of reading together we had frustrations and sometimes low desire from me and my little brother. I also had some very moving experiences as I read about the following stories:  the people with Alma-the-older in bondage and leaning on faith for relief, people being burned and stoned after being converted by Alma-the-younger and his companion Amulek, the converted Lamanites burying their weapons of war and suffering themselves to be killed rather than slay their brethren for their own protection, Samuel the Laminate standing on a wall teaching the, now wicked, Nephites and not being touched by all the things thrown, slung, or shot at him, the resurrected Lord healing teaching and blessing the ancient people of the Americas, the sad destruction of the people after they forgot the Lord. By the end of this challenge I had a testimony (however small it may have been) but didn’t realize it. It grew slowly and even began to slip especially as I hit high school and chose to do some things that I knew I shouldn’t have done. But as I repented and changed back to the person that I wanted to be it grew more.

Today it stands as the one thing I can count as a constant, as long as I nourish it. I know that the church is true, I know that Joseph Smith was a man called by God to Restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness, I know that the priesthood was restored and gives us opportunity to do the Lords work, I know that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, I know that through Him the pains and trials of this life can be overcome so that we can bear them, I know that He lives today and that He loves us, I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father, I know that he wants every opportunity for us to grow and become the best we can be, I know that He has a plan for us to be happy in this life and in the Eternities to come, I know that the power of prayer is real, I know that we are led today by a prophet whose name is Thomas S. Monson, I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I love it with all my heart. And you can too, by reading the Book of Mormon, praying about it, and applying it your life. Just be sincere and intend to act on the answer you receive and have faith, and you will know through the Holy Ghost that this is all true (see Moroni 10:4-5, Book of Mormon). It works, I know because I did it.