Like the back of His hand

First off, shout out to my 10 or 11 fans out there who for some reason decide to read this blog. You're the real MVP. 

Do you ever wonder how God knows you so well?

I mean.. Ya He knows the end from the beginning. Omniscient. Omnipotent. The whole 9 yards. He knew you’d be where you’re at in life right now, and where you’ll be a year from now. Where you’re at a year from now is completely in your hands because we have all the control of our choices. But He knows us so well… our idiosyncrasies, our nature, our habits, will power, thoughts, dreams, passions and desires… that He knows how we'll respond to this trial, or what we'll decide given these options. So its comforting to think, we are where we are in life, and that's part of His plan. You’re not on some plan b because you missed that opportunity.

So little is known about our lives before we came here, but something must have happened up there in order for God to know us so well right? Many christians would agree without question that we will be judged in the next life according to what we did in this life. So would it be too far fetched to believe that what we have received here in this mortal life was given based on our conduct during our pre-earth life? I'm not talking about social status or how financially wealthy we are. But our talents, inclinations, and intelligence. Our access to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! If you're reading this, you're either a member of that church, or you know a member of that church (probably me, ayyyye ;)  ). 7 billion people live on the earth today, and billions and billions and billions (end donald trump voice) more have lived previously.. So I'd say if you and I are lucky enough to at least have access to hear about the restored gospel and decide for ourselves if it's true... That must mean we were str8 BALLERS in the pre-earth life. #blessed #stayhumble #spiritualsavage

"The spirits of men were not equal. They may have had an equal start, and we know they were all innocent in the beginning; but the right of free agency which was given to them enabled some to outstrip others, and thus, through the eons of immortal existence, to become more intelligent, more faithful, for they were free to act for themselves, to think for themselves, to receive the truth or rebel against it."
“During the ages in which we dwelt in the pre-mortal state we not only developed our various characteristics and showed our worthiness and ability, or the lack of it, but we were also where such progress could be observed... He knew not only what each of us could do, but also what each of us would do when put to the test and when responsibility was given us." - Joseph Fielding Smith

Bingo! I always thought about the pre-earth life as this: "We were created, (however that works), we witnessed the council in Heaven where Christ told us about the plan of salvation, came down to earth, and the rest was history." BUT there was so much more! There could have been a church organization up there. We could have lived in a perfectly organized society where we were given opportunities to grow, be tested, be observed. Maybe you had a calling. Maybe you were the ward greeter! #itsarealcalling #respectthegreeter.

Along with these opportunities for Him to observe us, I'm sure God found time to just be with us and get to know us. And because He knows us and who we are, He knows who we can become. The more that we learn about who we are, where we came from, where we're going... the more we learn about who we can become. With increased vision, comes increased motivation.

Good news is -- You are not set in stone. You can change the very desires of your heart if you wanted to. I wanted to come home from my mission so bad when i first got there.. it was hot, food was absolutely flavorless, I walked right through my shoes, constantly tripping on roads made of rock, spent my days wishing i paid attention during spanish class, and was rejected by the masses. i was just hoping i would drink some funky water and catch a bug so that i could come home on medical leave.. But I prayed that God would help change my desires to love serving others. In no time at all I was lost in the work. People were like where’s elder lafaye? idk off baptizing the village. (no lie i did try that, we found a village and taught their chief so that his people would join the church. T'was Epic.) 

I know that i’m not done growing, for better or for worse. in the end, it won’t be a list of things i’ve done or said that puts me on the Lord’s side, but who those things helped me to become. You are here to become someone. Picture that someone in your mind, and just go for it. SEND ITTT.

if you are not proactive in educating your desires, just know the world will do it for you. So read! Pray! Go to church! These are the basics for a reason. You wouldn't go to war without going to basic training right?? Don't try to face the craziness out there without the basics. If you've been doing that, and just not getting the feels... mix it up a bit.
- More important than the number of prayers you say, is the number of prayers you answer.. When's the last time you prayed for an opportunity to answer someone's prayer?
- Go read "Connections, Patterns, and Themes" by Elder Bednar to get a new perspective on reading the scriptures.
- Go study the parable of The Good Samaritan while trying to answer the question "Why do we need a church?" (that one is crazy deep... check back on a blog post for that one laterrrr).

Alright I'm out, if you made it this far, tell me i owe you a soda or something next time i see you. Hope you enjoyed it!