Answers to prayer

This last week was rough for me. I had a ton of homework, my husband had been out of town for two weeks, I had to plan and carry out a birthday a party for my daughter (a slumber party with 9 9-10 year olds!), keep the house clean, get the kids to church activities, Halloween activities, and soccer, participate in a wedding and just be expected to smile through it all and keep a happy demeanor. I failed. I lost patience with my kids. I found faults in my husband. I just wanted to quit on everything.  In my weakest moment when everyone was off to school and work, I let the tears out. I decided what I needed was God. I knelt down and cried and cried in front of my Heavenly Father and pleaded with him to grant me the peace and strength I needed to do it all and meet His expectations as a mother, wife and disciple. After my prayer, I began to feel immediately better. I knew that my prayer was heard and that my loving Father was wrapping His arms around me. After breakfast and a shower I sat down at the computer to plug away at homework with  renewed sense of purpose. As I began reading, I came across another answer to my prayer from one of the past apostles of my church, Bruce R. McConkie. His words were just what I needed. They were this:

"We do not need to tremble and fear; we do not need to have anxiety or worry if we are laboring and working and strug­gling to the best of our abilities. Though we do not become perfect, though we do not overcome all things, if our hearts are right and we are charting a course to eternal life...our marriages will continue in the realms that are ahead."

Aha! This is something I forget all too often...I dont have to do it all...I dont have to be perfect in everything. Even though I do have struggles, all I have to do is my best. If my heart is in the right place and I keep an eternal perspective, the rest will take care of itself. As I read on further, I came across another 'aha' moment. Another Apostle, Bruce C. Hafen said this:

"When troubles come, the parties to a contractual marriage seek happiness by walking away. They marry to obtain benefits and will stay only as long as they’re receiving what they bargained for. But when troubles come to a covenant marriage, the husband and wife work them through. They marry to give and to grow, bound by covenants to each other, to the community, and to God. Contract companions each give 50 percent; covenant companions each give 100 percent....

Covenant marriage requires a total leap of faith: they must keep their covenants without knowing what risks that may require of them. They must surrender unconditionally, obeying God and sacrificing for each other. Then they will discover what Alma called 'incomprehensible joy.'"

In the LDS church, we believe that if we marry in the temple we are able to be spouses and families for eternity, not just until death. In the temple, we make sacred covenants with our companion and with God, in a 3 way partnership. We are taught that with God at the top of the triangle, as the married couple moves closer to God up the triangle, they naturally move closer together as well. Elder Hafen's words reminded me that this kind of covenant marriage requires 100% of our efforts. We have to work, grow and give together. I am grateful that I was able to be married in the temple and that I have a husband who honors his covenant and who is there for me. I know I can rely on him if I just ask him for help. Just like my Heavenly Father is there, waiting to bless me and answer my prayers, help and comfort me. All I need to do is ask.