FAITH IN EVERY FOOTSTEP

In January 2010 I decided to send out a monthly message to all the relief society sisters in the stake.  I wrote the first message.  It was the beginning of a new year and these were my thoughts:

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Season and that your new year is beginning great.  I know I enjoyed every minute with my four daughters and three son-in-laws.  We played games, ate and had great conversations.  My three granddaughters kept us all hopping.  And to top it all off, my daughter gave birth to her second daughter, 3 days after Christmas and 12 days earlier than expected.  Then my oldest daughter announced that she is pregnant and expecting her third child.  And my oldest granddaughter was baptized on January 2^nd.    You can’t ask for a better week!   I love my family and love to spend time with them.  I hope your time was just as rewarding and wonderful.

As I begin a new year, you have all been on my mind.  I think of you often and pray for you continually.  As I was showering the other day, the song, Faith in Every Footstep, was playing through my mind.  As I thought of the words, I couldn’t help but think this is a great message to follow as we begin a new year.  Let me review the lyrics with you:

A marvelous work has begun to come forth among all the children of men.

O ye that embark in the service of God, give heart, mind, and strength unto him;

For prophets have spoken and angels have come to lift the world from sin,

That Christ may reign over all the earth and bless his gathered kin.

Those marvelous Saints who embraced this great work and shared it in lands far and near;

Who gave all their heart, mind, and strength to the Lord with wisdom and vision so clear;

Now stand as examples of virtue and faith, of souls prepared to hear,

Of knowledge sure, born of humble heart, and love that banished fear.

If we now desire to assist in this work and thrust in our sickles with might,

If we will embark in the service of God to harvest in fields that are white;

Our souls may receive the salvation of God—the fullness of his light,

That we may stand, free of sin and blame, God’s glory in our sight.

With faith in every footstep, we follow Christ, the Lord;

And filled with hope through his pure love, we sing with one accord.

I challenge all of you to do all that you can to serve God.  Serve Him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength.  You can serve Him in many simple ways!!  It doesn’t have to be big or complicated!  Have Faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him.  As you strive to do this, your heart will be filled with the Holy Ghost.  You will feel God’s love and you will love others more fully.  You will still have hard times in your life, but it will be easier to handle those challenges and to move forward. We are only handicapped if we sit and worry about and ponder our problems.   As Pres. Hinckley was admonished, “forget yourself and go to work”.  We are a part of a marvelous work.  We are so blessed to know and understand God’s plan for us!  Read your scriptures and pray daily asking God how you can serve today.  My love for you grows daily!  I love the gospel.  I love the Savior and my Heavenly Father.  Stay strong and move forward with FAITH in EVERY FOOTSTEP and you will accomplish great things this year.