Never Forgotten

When I was young my family went on a trip to the zoo. I was so excited to see all the animals. I was especially excited when we came to the small habitat for the polar bears. I pressed myself up against the chain link fence and stretched my neck to get a better view of the bears.

The bears weren't doing anything too exciting, just wandering around their small surroundings, and we were all soon ready to pass on to the next exhibit of animals. Everyone began to walk away, and as I turned to follow I realized my jacket zipper was stuck on the fence! I tugged and pulled, but that jacket was determined to stay right where it was.

My family soon disappeared around the corner and I stood there, attached to the fence, and cried. My family had left me and I would never see them again, I just knew it! I continued to tug at my jacket, but the zipper wouldn't yield.

After about 5 minutes, my family came back by the polar bear exhibit, only too see me sobbing uncontrollably, still yanking at my stubborn jacket. My mother came and helped me unlatch myself, and wiped away my tears, assuring me I was not forgotten.

The Lord once asked a penetrating question: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?" Then teaches us profoundly that "yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."(Isaiah 49:15-16)

Although mothers have busy moments where they may lose sight of a child, the Lord is always there with us. He was with me as I cried, stuck on the fence at the zoo, and that unyielding wall was "before [Him]" too. I know that He is with us. He can not forget us, nor will He ever. Our challenges are engraved on His hands.

...With Tablets

The other day I was doing a study of 2 Nephi 14 (Isaiah 3). I read about how as the world approaches the time that Christ will return to the earth the "daughters of Zion," or the woman of God, will be "haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go..." (Isaiah 3:16)

Then, as I continued to read, Isaiah talks of all the accessories and riches that woman will flaunt which the Lord will take away from them. I tried to imagine what each one was and reflect on my own use of jewelry and accessories. Then I came to one particular object that surprised me: "the tablets" (Isaiah 3:20)

The tablets. I could only think of one thing: the actual tablets we see so many people using today. I thought of how great of a tool it is, but yet, how excessive use could ruin our relationships, our opportunities, our very lives. Are we "mincing" as we go? Walking with "wanton eyes," tablet always in hand?

There are so many good things in life! Think of all the goodness of the reality of life we miss as we spend countless hours facebooking, twittering, or cutting ropes! Or as some of the other verses mention, obsessing over our "crisping pins" or our many "suits of apparel." (Isaiah 3:22) I hope we can each reflect on what we value and remember to be keeping the greatest commandment of putting God first.