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Silver Linings of Grace

@silverliningsofgrace

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His grace is sufficient
Daughter of God🕊️
Member of @churchofjesuschrist
Personal | @sam.taylorrrr

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My patriarchal blessing has served a different purpose for me in each season of my life. Sometimes I need it to remind me of my identity as a daughter of God; sometimes I need it to remind me of my strengths.
Right now, naturally, my heart is drawn towards the major events it specifies. My education, career accomplishments, marriage, and family. As I return to it and reread it often, I find myself burdened by the lack of obvious progress. How have I not found myself reaching some of these milestones yet? Change is constantly taking place around me, and within me, so how do I still feel so far away?

But how could I be so naive as to look past the sacred details in the fine print? The smaller victories. The days I chose to turn to my Heavenly Father in prayer instead of wallowing in fear. The days I put in the hard work that will ultimately lead me to where I want to be post-graduation. The tiny choices I make that lead me down the avenues he wants me on.

So as for now, I’m learning to pay attention to the adjectives, stepping stones, and the fine print he blessed me with that make up the greater plan he has in store. I know as long as I include him in everything, all that I pray for will come in due time. 🤍

#silverliningsofgrace #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #lds #eternalperspective by @silverliningsofgrace

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a month ago

He was in the sunsets & hugs from friends & temple nights & summer sun & hidden reminders & even the heavy grief. He’s never not involved in the littlest of details. I’m thankful for a summer of reminders that even in the hardest seasons, my Savior is aware of me❤️

#silverliningsofgrace #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #summerrecap #mytestimony by @silverliningsofgrace

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2 months ago

Some of my favorite parts of my testimony come from the testimonies that have been born to me.

An experience I return to often comes from a comment made by a religion professor my sophomore year at BYU. I was taking a course called Christ and His Everlasting Gospel. We covered numerous aspects of the gospel and the life of our Savior. As you can imagine, it is a pretty broad range of material to cover. But on the first day of class, my professor set the intention very clearly. He testified to the large auditorium of students that “the 3 of the most important things to know in this life are who you are, who Jesus Christ is, and who Satan is. When we know our identity, the identity and mission of our Savior, and the adversary we are up against, everything becomes far clearer.”

Aside from my temple endowment, my patriarchal blessing has played a great part in building my faith and understanding of my identity, as I know it has for others, too. Not always is it achievements we search for arrival dates for, but it is characteristics we desire to develop. Versions of ourselves in the future that we fear won’t ever come to life. Yet with the blessings of endowment, or a patriarchal blessing, the course we find ourselves on, while remaining indefinite overall, has an added enhancement of light, safety, and stillness. It is hard to verbalize the impact these two milestones can have on an individual. In each season of life, certain insights and promises remind us of our divine potential. It reminds us to have patience in the valleys we find ourselves stuck in. It anchors us to a personal Liahona and beautiful counsel received through the gift of the priesthood. It assures us of the love, ability, and faith our Savior sees directly in each of us.

If we saw what he sees, we’d be overcome with far less insecurity.

And when we search to know what He knows, then you can find how truly taken care of everything is. ♥️

#silverliningsofgrace #personalidentity #patriarchalblessing #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaintsquotes by @silverliningsofgrace

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5 months ago

Anytime life gets just slightly overwhelming, I end up here. It may sound odd, but I try to make it less formal. It doesn’t have to be perfectly timed, or always be through appointment. If I feel like I need it, I go. I’ll throw in a dress and just go for a bit. Whether it’s to sit in the grounds, do a couple initiatorys, or just take 30 minutes to pray and sit in the celestial room. I consider it another one of my homes. Without fail, I walk out more grounded, peaceful, and in tune with what I know my Heavenly Father needs me to be🩵

#silverliningsofgrace #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #templeworship #lds #mormon by @silverliningsofgrace

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5 months ago

The more I confidently and closely grow to know my Savior, the more real and vivid Holy Week has become. I study the events of each day, noticing lessons and attributes of Christ that help me better know his character. He is loyal, steadfast, and full of incomprehensible love.

This Holy Week, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the events that took place Thursday through Saturday.

Thursday, as he spent hours & hours in the garden with every part of his soul and physical body, He experienced our deepest heartaches.

Saturday, as he was prepared and placed in the tomb, his disciples and so many of his followers were still unsure of what had taken place, and what His life had just given them. He had already brought incredible comfort and knowledge into their lives, if only they knew what immense blessings his teachings and guidance would continue to bring them. Yet, this period in between his crucifixion and resurrection felt confusing and lonely.

We’ve each lived through periods such as this. Days, weeks, months, maybe even years, including trials of faith, feelings of isolation, or being stalled. Blessings, perspective, and joy seem to be withheld. Often it’s hard to quite express or make sense of what you’re going through. Not everyone will understand exactly how heavy and real your “Fridays” are.

But it feels real to him. It was real to him as he faced the agony of Gethsemane. It was real to him as he hung on the cross. He knows exactly how discouraged you feel and how unsure you are of what is to come.

Sunday will come around, perspective and blessings come in their time. And soon we may experience more Fridays and Saturdays. Each time will bring it’s unique challenges. But we’ll never have to explain it to our Savior. It will always make sense to him. It will always be real to Him.

#churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaintsquotes #silverliningsofgrace #holyweek #goodfriday by @silverliningsofgrace

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6 months ago

Elder Jeffery R Holland described it as the desire to “stay—but stay forever.”

The beautiful concept and phrase we hear so often, “Abide in me”.

To continue, to remain, to live with.

It’s an action I’ve been trying to better commit to. And it’s hard to define exactly, as it evolves alongside the circumstances of our lives.

I think in a lot of ways it means aligning with His will and His timeline.

Two separate entities of our identity. His will allows us to see and know all that we are capable of. His timeline allows us to reach these milestones at a pace that encourages us to remain yoked to Him.

At times, placing faith in both comes so gracefully. And other times, we may understand His will, even embrace it, but have the hardest time following the timeline.

But as I often have to remind myself, if it’s not good yet, God’s not done yet.

Elder Holland also taught that “for the fruit of the gospel to blossom and bless our lives, we must be firmly attached to Him, the Savior of us all”.

There is not a single one of us that he does not intimately know. That will never change. But as we come to know Him, everything changes.

So sit with him. Walk with him. Stick with him.

When the timeline seems out of reach, or when His will seems incomprehensible, ensure that his companionship, his love, and his patience abide with you forever.

#silverliningsofgrace #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #lds #testimony #abideinme by @silverliningsofgrace

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7 months ago

Today marks one year since I received my endowment!! In the last year, I’ve faced growing pains, developed a greater knowledge of the blessings of covenants, and come to know my Savior and Heavenly Father more intimately. The covenants I made a year ago ground me in strength, perspective, and love, through which I can navigate life more clearly. Because I chose to make these covenants, I’ve gained a refined perspective of my identity. My experience that day, and every day I have spent inside since, has accentuated my life in ways that words can’t express. I know that within the walls of the temple, the veil is thin, our souls can be at ease, and we are truly at home. ❤️

#silverliningsofgrace #templeworship #endowment #blessings #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints by @silverliningsofgrace

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9 months ago

A month full of evaluating, planning and rebranding. Naturally, we each have spent the last several weeks establishing, or falling short of, our New Year’s resolutions. Habits and routines rooted in the people we hope to become. Surrounded by expectation and pressure, these fresh goals often become filled with more stress than fulfillment. Maybe it’s because it’s more than one can juggle, and maybe it’s because of who we look to to help us reach these goals.

What would it look like to create resolutions and routines alongside your Savior? The one who knows your heart & sees every effort. What would he have you work on? The desire for growth is beautiful, even holy. It’s what we’re meant to experience here on Earth. But I wonder, if we strayed away from the trends of the world, and aligned our goals and routines with His will, what more could we achieve? With Him, our talents are amplified, and lives are made abundant. He sees us and loves us at our lowest, and the best part is, He loves us too much to leave us there.
#silverliningsofgrace #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #newyearsresolution #hiswill #lds by @silverliningsofgrace

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9 months ago

Today and everyday, I am thankful for the life I have, grounded in my testimony of our Savior and His divine plan. I know I am His. Jesus Christ was born, lived, and died for each and every one of us. Our souls, our hearts, are His sole devotion. The greatest gift I have ever been given is His companionship and the knowledge of the gospel. The joy I have, the peace I am able to experience in heartache, is completely attributed to my relationship with Him. Because of Him, the opportunity to serve others provides a small glimpse into the incredible love he has for each of us. Because of Him, our growth is boundless, abandonment is fictional, and families are eternal. He is the light of my life, and the Light of the World.

#lighttheworld #christmas #silverliningsofgrace #testimony #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints by @silverliningsofgrace

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10 months ago

January 1st of 2000, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve published an official declaration and testimony titled, The Living Christ. Within this document, our Savior’s identity, mission, and ministry are beautifully encapsulated, giving readers a vivid description of his divinity.

As we enter into the week leading up to our Savior’s birth, my mind has continuously returned to a certain phrase from this proclamation.

“We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary.”

His life, existence, presence, and impact are eternal. We’ve never existed without his love and influence, nor will we ever know a time without it. Each trial and triumph is not without his companionship. It is completely permanent and all-encompassing. He lives yesterday, today, and forever. Throughout the next week, and the holiday season leading up to now, I hope you’ve felt the infinite love of our Savior and Redeemer, and that you will always be aware of his eternal presence.

“None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.”🤍

#thelivingchrist #silverliningsofgrace #christmasseason #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaintsquotes by @silverliningsofgrace

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10 months ago

This phase of life can be exhausting at times, but so, so rewarding. One moment everything feels out of place—almost blurry. Then a year passes, and suddenly everything seems to fall right into place, often better than you could’ve imagined.

Words will never adequately describe how grateful I am for the phase of life I’m in right now. Not a day goes by that I’m not absolutely overwhelmed by how blessed I am—by the way I’ve been led through my education, by how my testimony has grown, and by the sweetest people I’m surrounded by. I know His timing and plan will forever be greater than mine! by @silverliningsofgrace

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a year ago

I love when you hear a line in a lesson or podcast that expands your perspective entirely.

Last week, my Dad shared a podcast on the power of ordinances. The guest, author Jonathan Stapley, was expanding on the idea that we constitute the structure of Heaven. He shared, “For me, one of the most important things you can do on the sabbath isn’t necessarily take the sacrament of the bread and water, but it’s handing the tray to somebody else so that they can.”

Heaven is relational. Not only is it found within our families and our safe spaces, but it’s in the simple ways we build each other’s faith and aid in the ordinances and work of Zion. Perhaps, the frequency and manner in which we share our testimonies can help others feel Heaven authentically.
During my sophomore year, I had the privilege of taking a New Testament study class. At the end of the semester, our professor gave us the task of choosing a medium of our choice to share what we have learned throughout our studies. I spent the next several weeks compiling artwork, scripture verses, and stories from the New Testament that I loved. Altogether, I created a scrapbook, walking through the 4 gospels, highlighting each of the disciples’ perspectives and testimonies. There I had it, my testimony, my personal study of my favorite sections of scripture, in physical form. It was near and dear to my heart. And then I had the opportunity to share it with the rest of my class, as they shared their work as well. Each of us gathered together, our testimonies in physical expression laid out in front of us. It was awe-inspiring.
Not only had the assignment challenged me to express my knowledge in a unique way, but it also allowed me to witness the sacred testimonies of the students around me. Absolutely strengthening and softening.

Your testimony, however you choose to share it, holds profound impact. It’s an anchor, influence, motivator, and a gift. The sacredness of it is not only found in the testimony itself, but in the opportunity to share it with others.

#silverliningsofgrace #testimony #heaven #lds by @silverliningsofgrace

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a year ago