"Life is a Game"

(The first part of this is at the end of Wednesday's post.  Erica did not have time to finish it but she requested that I post the rest of it!)

An Elder in my district got a letter from his dad and I love what his Dad wrote to him. As much as this is specific to me this applies to everyone! He says, "I've recently become convinced that life is a game, and that (the players) have a divine purpose or objective in playing. In the great instruction manuals that accompany this game (the prophets and scriptures) the primary objective is given in this brief line, "men are that they might have joy." Keep your focus on this target! Satan tries to deceive the players into thinking that the objectives something else he will try to deceive you, and he is trying to deceive the good people of Sweden. He will say that the object of the game is to accumulate stuff, to be accepted by others, to have a comfortable and easy existence, or to never experience pain and adversity. The creator of the game wisely built into the game experiences that can be drawn like cards, all of which have the same intent to help us learn principles, gain experience, and enhance relationships:Combining for one eternal purpose that we might have joy. etc

There will be times, when you draw cards that will challenge you.  Some might read, "Your apartment is freezing, or your companion has no real idea why he is here, or you receive bad news from home, or for this next turn you can only communicate in rudimentary Swedish (and what they're speaking doesn't sound like what they taught you in the MTC!)  Others will say,  "You baptize your top investigator", or your mission president gives you the assignment of your dreams, or you are on top of the world. Each of these cards represents an important turn in your game.  Receive each with gratitude and humility.  Regardless of how painful, difficult, exciting, or gratifying that particular card may be.

Even the prophet, Joseph Smith was challenged by the card he drew when in Liberty Jail. (Where he couldn't even stand erect for several months!)  The Lord assured Joseph,  'know thou my son, that ll these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.  (D&C 122:7)  Every day of this mission is another turn - on some days you will take many turns.  Relish the game, & let people in on the objective so they can win more easily.  Every turn you take is the middle part of a very inspiring story.  When adversity comes your way keep it in perspective.  The most common phrase in the Book of Mormon is   "And it came to pass..."  It never says,  "And it shall come to stay"  Have joy in the journey, force for good, bless a life today!

Syster Sprague