These are the best of times, these are the worse of times

I was checking the news on the Internet. I don't remember where I went online but as I scanned the headlines I saw that a man had killed his family and himself because of financial problems. I felt sad for the family and wondered why this man thought he could take their lives. I had a scripture pop into my head as I read about his possible financial ruin. "Men's hearts shall fail them...." I grew to a greater understanding of this scripture and how increasing this problem is becoming. Men's hearts are failing them. I have taught this scripture many times and I have thought about the great depression how Men's hearts failed them but I am now living to see it really happen.

I think about Madoff who stole billions from investors and how some people who were once wealthy now have nothing. For months after we read how men killed themselves because of financial ruin. Finally I think I am understanding these 2 things and how they are connected together. Then of course my mind is left to ponder over this and I end up asking myself, how do you insure that your heart does not fail you?

This past week I have had another scripture running through my head for some reason. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding..." I have pondered upon it as well. Then this morning as I was laying in bed pondering on different things these two thoughts came together. Men's hearts shall fail them.... lean not unto thine own understanding but to Trust God.

My thoughts then went back to those who have taken their lives because they trusted in Man and not God. These two thoughts intrigued me and how they fit so well together. I got out of bed and went to the computer and to the internet. LDS.org is our home page. There was the sweet face of Pres. Monson. I pulled up his current Ensign talk. What did the first sentence read??? “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Now while this is all very cool to me and now I have come to understand the theme that was building in my head better, I have no idea why these thoughts have come to me? Is something coming on the horizon and I need to have this knowledge and testimony in place? I sure hope not! Is it a wink from God saying I'm just checking to see if your still thinking about me? Perhaps I use it to make sure that I always trust in the Lord and not in man's arm or knowledge.

Which is very interesting to me since I work with people who achieve what the world acknowledges as the highest degree of education that of being a Ph.D. I often listen to them talk and while they know their stuff they are relying on the arm of flesh and how long will that carry you or will it carry you? I think I can say no that when we rely on ourselves solely we fail.

So I might not have a Ph.D but I have a sure knowledge and I am grateful that I don't have to fear the future because I can trust Heavenly Father. That is worth more than any amount of school knowledge, life knowledge and all the money in the world. Thanks for the wink!