A few months ago, my mother-in-law entrusted my
husband and I with her most prized possession—a necklace made from her mother’s
wedding ring. She had left it at the cabin, and asked that we deliver it to
her. Knowing how important this item was to my mother-in-law, my husband and I
discussed ways in keeping it safe, and then followed through with a plan.
However, when it came time to deliver the necklace to my mother-in-law, the
necklace was no longer where it had been placed for safe keeping. This
realization ensued several weeks of searching and praying for the lost
heirloom. Throughout this time of prayer and contemplation, my soul longed for
a “redo”. My mind was relentless with the “if only’s”, and the “should of’s”. I
couldn’t help but think of the several different ways in which I could have
done, or what I should have done. As I longed for a “redo”, I was taught a
lesson. I’m not sure if it was a dream, or exactly how this experience
occurred, but in my mind I saw myself standing in front of my Savior after I
had completed my time here on Earth. As I stood, my mind wondered—will I want a
“redo”, or will I have done all that I could? This was the first lesson. I
spent a week reflecting on my life—evaluating whether or not I was doing all
that I could or should be doing. Not to the point of beating myself up—I didn’t
think that was the lesson. I simply searched and evaluated who I was, and what
I was doing. When President Hinckley was alive, he often said, “Try a little
harder to be a little better” (We Have Work to Do, Gordon B. Hinckley, April
1995). He promised us that “We can do it, if we will be prayerful and faithful.
We can do better than we have ever done before” (We Have Work to Do, Gordon B.
Hinckley, April 1995). This was the lesson I was learning. The lesson of
perseverance and determination to do all that my Father has asked. The second
lesson came when I was talking to a friend about my desire for a “redo”. As I
was describing this experience, she reminded me that we do get a “redo”—every
day we can have a “redo”—if we choose to use the Savior’s atonement. In 2 Nephi 10:23 it reads, “Therefore, cheer
up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose
the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.” I love this
scripture. Through our agency, we can choose the way of eternal life. We will
absolutely have struggles, trials, and once in a while we will also sin. But,
through our agency we can choose to start again; we can choose to put into
action the most blessed gift of the atonement; we can choose a “redo”. So, let
us begin today. Let us “try a little harder to be a little better”, and as we
use the atonement, we will be prepared to meet our Savior already having
accomplished that much desired “redo”, and we will be welcomed into his loving
arms.
