A Spiritual Spa With Mercy River

I had the opportunity to go with my Mom to a Relief Society and Young Women activity for the Stake. The Stake had a wonderful trio come called Mercy River. They gave us a "Spiritual Spa"! It was amazing!!! I want to give you a taste of what they did for us tonight.

We begin our spa day with a massage. Did you know they didn't have massages in Book of Mormon times? She shared a scripture in Jacob 4:14 that says:
"But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble."
In our own lives we can have "stiff necks". We don't see things around us, it's kind of like wearing blinders. When we have stiff necks we are only able to see what's right in front of us; we can't see the good that is still around us always.
Hello Sunshine

Next is a trim. This is something that really jived with me. I love having a busy life, but I learned a lot listening to them. Something I learned about myself is that I have been defining myself by how busy I am. That isn't how God defines me, so why should I? I don't have to do everything. I need to learn to trim out the unnecessary things in my life. I don't have to be perfect, and neither do you! God loves us for who we are, which brings me to the next spa treatment.

After we get a trim we need to get a manicure. The sister who was speaking started off by saying: "When I was a little girl, I was fantastic!" She went on to talk about how when she was in Jr. High she saw that she wasn't dressed like everybody else and immediately felt out of place. She started adjusting herself so that she would fit in with the other girls. After a little while, she realized that she had lost that little girl she once was. I thought about it and I was exactly the same way! When I was a little girl I thought I was the cutest and coolest girl ever! As I started growing up and realizing that I was different from the other girls I began to try and change myself. Well, I began to realize that I couldn't change some thing immediately about myself, primarily my weight. I started feeling like I wasn't fantastic anymore and that I was less than everybody else.
Guess what, it simply isn't true! One of the things my Mom and I were talking about earlier is how I've really come to myself this last year. It took a lot of work to reclaim that lost little girl, but I've found her. I, once again, have confidence in myself. Not only that, but once I learned more about who I am I also learned more about who everybody else is! We are all beautiful and wonderful children of God. It doesn't matter your weight, height, race, hair color, eye color, or religious views you are a child of God! It is a universal truth! They then sang Beautiful For Me. I love the message that we weren't made to be beautiful for the world. God thinks we are beautiful, what else matters? I know it's hard to see that now, but in the end it doesn't matter what the world thinks. God is our creator and Heavenly Father. He thinks you are beautiful or handsome just how you are!

Next it's time for a facial. Apparently when you get a facial: "Sometimes the face gets worse before it gets better. It's so rude!" I've never had a facial, but this comment made me laugh! This one was all about trusting God. Have the faith that God can help you, because He can. But if He doesn't, it isn't because He can't. There is something to learn from our trials and tribulations. If we didn't have trials we wouldn't grow and progress. Life is going to get hard sometimes, and that's okay! With the "But if Not" they shared the story of Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego had faith in God. They knew God would take care of them; but if not they knew things would work out for the better. Trust in the Lord and He will guide you. We go through difficult times, but we never do it alone!
Christ suffered for our sins, but He also suffered for our pains and afflictions. "The atonement is not insurance against pain; it is insurance in events of pain."
It Might Be Hope

Finally we'll get a wax.
Helaman 3:35: "Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."
Now, "wax" in this scripture obviously isn't talking about spa waxing. But, to "wax" means to grow and increase gradually. To become the people that God knows we are capable of becoming will take time! They related it to making a candle. You have to dip the string in the wax, let it dry, dip it in, let it dry, etc. It could take several days. Be patient with yourself, it will come. But remember that it takes time. They shared a song and music video with us: With Him We Can

My favorite song they shared with us was called Blessings. These are the lyrics:

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?
And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It’s not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

This was one of the most inspiring Firesides I've ever been to. I know the thoughts are jumbled on here, but there was such a powerful blend in their program! Not only did their voices blend together beautifully, but their testimonies did as well. They were so powerful and strong and it was amazing!