There hath no temptation taken you

     Yesterday, we had a really cool experience, the kind of experience you pray for as a missionary.  We were on our way to visit someone, when we got a phone call from a man who formerly investigated the church.  His family is all members and he is not.  He told us it was urgent and that we needed to come over as quick as we could.  I didn't know what to expect or what was going to happen.  When we got there we sat down and the first thing he said was "I had an Epiphany and I know that I must be baptized.  What do I need to do?"  I knew from talking with past missionaries that he had a serious drinking problem, and that was one of the reasons that he never wanted to join the church.  We started talking about him giving it up, and in full humility he told us "I really want to, and I know I need to, it is just too hard for me I believe."  We tried our best to talk with him and encourage him.  A scripture came to my mind, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."(1 cor. 10:13)  

    I told him that with God's help, he would be able to quit. He was comforted by this scripture knowing that he isn't the only one that has gone through this. We set goals with him to be able to quit and work towards a day in which he could be baptized.  I could see the hope in his eyes and the desire he had to truly change.  In my personal study today I was thinking of scriptures that I might read with him to continue to give him hope.  I read these comforting words from Alma chapter 34 in the Book of Mormon "And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.   And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety..."(Alma 34:15-16)  

                                                   

    I know that whatever we go through in this life, whatever trial and temptation we have, we are not alone and god will not throw at us more than we can handle.  I know that through the mercy of Christ, we can be encircled in the safety of the arms of our Savior.