Relating to Sariah

In the Book of Mormon, it talks about a woman named Sariah. Sariah was a righteous woman, and married to a prophet. However, at one point, the Lord commands Lehi, her husband, to send their sons Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi back to Jerusalem to get the plates of brass, which contain the scriptures and a historical record of their family.

Time passes and Sariah begins to doubt. She calls her husband a "visionary man" and was sure that her sons had died.

In 2 Nephi 5 it states,

2 For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.

 3 And after this manner of language had my mother complained against my father.

 4 And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her, saying: I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things of God in a vision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren.

 5 But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.

 6 And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi,comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.

I have always had a hard time relating to Sariah. I had always thought, why did she doubt, didn't she know her husband was a prophet? What was she so worried about?

Her sons returned from their mission successful, and Sariah said the following:

 8 And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.

After her sons returned, that's when Sariah gained her testimony that her husband was a prophet, and from then on, we don't hear of her doubting again.

Saturday, while Grig and I were at the temple, he received revelation concerning our family. My husband is not a prophet, but the Lord does give him (and me) revelation about our lives and how we should guide our family.

I had a hard time, because I hadn't felt the same thing. However, as I prayed to receive my own confirmation of what my husband felt, I overheard some men next to me talking about Nephi's journey back to Jerusalem and how when the Lord gives us a commandment, He will provide a way for us to accomplish the things that he tells us to do (1 Nephi 3:7).

Grig and I have a very equal relationship. Usually when we pray for guidance, we both receive confirmation of what the Lord wants us to do. However, sometimes, only one of us will feel something. Grig has trusted in my impressions in the past, and I am learning to trust in his, even when I don't feel the same. He's a very good man, and trying hard to do what is right.

Sometimes it's easy to doubt someone we love, just as Sariah did. However, I felt the Spirit testify to me that I need to trust in my husband and honor his role as husband and father. That was a good enough answer for me. That doesn't mean that I still don't have to push down doubts occasionally, but it means that I know that I am doing what the Lord wants me to, and He will provide a way for me to have faith in my husband's words.

If I can have sufficient faith and believe, in due time I will see that my husband was correct, and then, like Sariah, I can say, "Now I know of a surety." Until then, I am learning to trust in the Lord, and in my husband.

Link to this picture's source

Our Third Annivesary

Today is the third anniversary since we've been married.

For our anniversary, even though it's Book Review Wednesday, I'm going to have a flashback to how my husband and I first met.

Engagement photo

It was the year 2011. I had returned home from my mission a year or so before, and I was getting settled into college. In fact, I was only a few semesters away from finishing. I was working at a gas station/farm store, and I was really enjoying working there. I enjoyed my co-workers, and the customers were almost always very nice. It could be slow sometimes, but there were always things to do, if you were willing to work.

I tried my best to be a good employee and made some good friends there.

One of my coworkers and I were talking one day, and I was telling her how, when I worked for a veterinarian, my boss had called me the "Cat Whisperer." My coworker laughed. She told me how she knew this kid whose nickname was "Catman." He was actually the roommate of the guy she was dating. She told me she was going to set us up on a date.

Weeks passed. After a while, I finally met this "Catman." My coworker's boyfriend, "Catman," and a couple of others came to invite me to go with them to the drive-through to watch a movie. Unfortunately, I couldn't go that night because I had to study for a bunch of tests, so I had to decline.

My first impression of him was that he was shorter than I was expecting, but not bad-looking. I wasn't sure how interested I was, but I was willing to give him a shot.

More weeks passed. Finally, "Catman" decided to take matters into his own hands. So, like a white knight on a noble steed, "Catman" mounted his bike and traveled over two miles to come and ask me out on a date.

Link

I was busy organizing some shelves when he walked in, so I didn't see him at first. the people I was working with showed him where I was.

He invited me over to his place for dinner and I accepted. I found out that he actually lived at the apartments that my aunt and uncle owned.

That night, when I showed up, he had pulled the kitchen table and chairs outside and placed them underneath strung up lights that lit up the area nicely. He told me the lights were already there, but it looked awfully nice.

Then we proceeded to eat and talk. He made stir-fry, and it was delicious. For the next three hours, we just talked. I may not have been initially super attracted to him, but I'd never been able to talk to someone before who was so much like I was. We talked about everything, even things that most people would have found disgusting. Our conversation ranged from sheep, to the church, to our families, and everything in between. It turned out that he liked animals as much as I did, and he also was a writer.

Link

Half-way through the meal, my aunt and a bunch of my cousins showed up. That was kind of funny (and somewhat awkward), and Grig realized that he was dating the niece of his landlady.

There was no 'love at first sight' for either of us, but there was mutual interest, and a great conversation. We were both super awkward, and it kind of worked for us. We ended the evening with a super-awkward hug, but because we were both so awkward, it just made us laugh.

For the first time in my life, a guy I had gone on a date with asked me out for a second date. There were no red flags with Grig, and though I didn't know for sure about him, there was no reason for me to say no to another date.

Things progressed well from there. We never were any less awkward, but our conversations always flowed smoothly. The more I got to know Grig, the more I grew to like him. Then, one day, I realized that I kind of loved him.

Wedding photo

Since we've gotten married, I've never been happier. Grig is my best friend, and I love him more than I've ever loved anyone. He always treats me with respect and he is always concerned with my needs and wants. I try my best to make him happy as well.

Our family has only improved since this little fellow was added to the family

Our relationship isn't perfect, but we're both trying our best and we're determined to make it work. We have pretty good communication, and we have since the beginning. Sometimes we still have misunderstandings, but we work through them, and doing so brings us closer.
I'm so grateful for the last three years and the love of my life.

Our family just keeps growing!

Happy anniversary, Grig! You're the best guy I know.

Isn't he handsome?