Tools in our lives

A couple of weeks ago Elder Owen and I had a BLAST helping build a deck for an old lady!  Here's a look at the beginnings of the initial framework of the deck.   

It took a lot of planning and a variety of different tools to work on this thing.  You can see Ron up there with the measuring tape.

Here we are with a circular saw and saw horses cutting 2x6's.  These are going to eventually be the deck floor.

Elder Owen using the sledge hammer to break apart the old stairs so we can build the deck around it.

Ron and I are using a pencil and a level to make a straight line across the base of the door.

HAMMERS!!!!

SLEDGE HAMMER-ED!!!!!!

Power tools are used to keep the floor down solid.  And here:

We have the finished product!  Well, the floor at least with stairs and a handrail leading up to it!  We're still getting the roof up and a wheelchair ramp installed, but it is now usable!

It took a variety of tools for us to complete this goal, and similarly, God gives us SO many tools in our lives to help us come closer to him.  In Alma 34:32, we learn the purpose (or end goal) of this life we live and what it is that we need to do:

"For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."

We are on this Earth to be prepared to return to live with our Heavenly Father again.  We need to "perform our labors" while living this life, meaning we need to do our part in keeping the commandments, following Christ while "work[ing] out [our] own salvation" (Philippians 2:12).  Thankfully, God has given us SO many different tools to help us return to him.  I'll mention just a few, but go ahead and make a personal list of other tools which He has given to you personally.

                                                                           Prophets

 

 Mom

Temples

Friends                                                                                                                                       Prayer                                                                                                                              My Dad

 My brother Jordan                                           Scriptures

There are countless more ways that I've seen my Father in Heaven express His love to us by giving us tools that will help us return to Him.  The most important tool to remember though, is the only way we can even hope to return to His presence: Christ.

"I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness." (Alma 38:9)