Connecting the dots

Fun fact: LaFaye in Spanish pretty much means "The Faith". So i walked around Paraguay for two years introducing myself as Elder Faith. It was awesome! Once i learned this, Moroni 7:33 quickly became my favorite scripture:

Si tenéis la fe en mi, tendréis poder para hacer cualquier cosa que me sea conveniente 

If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me

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I heard an analogy today about connecting the dots. . . .

Imagine everything you do is like a dot on the canvas of your life. When zoomed up really close on those dots, you don't really know what the picture is about. Steve jobs said 

"you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever."

I'm going to replace the end of that statement with "You have to trust in God". Have a little faith. God will connect the dots. He will make more of you than you, than you can ever make of yourself. I know we all have a lot of questions... But trust me - God's answers are WORTH THE WAIT.

"Is there any future for me? What does a new year or a new semester, a new major or a new romance, a new job or a new home hold for me? Will I be safe? Will life be sound? Can I trust in the Lord and in the future? Or would it be better to look back, to go back, to stay in the past? Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us."

- Elder Holland

So let's put this faith to work! Do the small simple things PERFECTLY. Do them even when you don’t want to. Big things will follow. These small sacrifices are the dots that will connect and make up the masterpiece. You do your best in the moment, God will take care of the big picture.
Again, Faith builds on the past but doesn't stay there. 

• Learn about your gifts and talents, then find ways to develop them. 
• Learn who you are and what you want to accomplish in this life, then make choices based on your findings and make it happen!

The best place to find the answers to these questions is the temple. It has symbolism for dayyyyssss. It is a place where you can look backwards and forwards, helping you to see more clearly who you are today and what you can become. It is a place where you can be sure, that you will learn absolute truth. The cool thing about truth is that it exists even if nobody believes it. So no matter where you find yourself or the opinions around you, you can be sure that there is truth out there. 

Many say that knowledge is power. It is no different for spiritual knowledge. As we find truth and prove it to be true for ourselves, it's as if that knowledge is being poured in us which illuminates the world to see things as they really are. With that clear perspective, we can better evaluate our choices and their consequences.

Make the best decision based on the information available to you, rooted on the values of the gospel. Strive to succeed. Be faithful. Do this, and the dots will connect.

You may not be able to see the whole picture just yet, but with the right understanding and an eternal perspective, you can trust that there is a grand design. Someday, all these random dots will make sense. Until then, enjoy the adventure of figuring out life!

"This is your world. The Future is in your hands. The outcome is up to you." 

- President Thomas S. Monson