Thurs, Jan 15th

Explanation of this blog: Another iron in the fire
Thurs, Jan 15th: Our Heritage,pages 1–4

I don't know how many times I've heard the story of Joseph Smith's leg surgery. I never connected the importance that it played in developing the necessary character he needed to receive the first vision. I imagine that such an experience was completely humbling. His mother, in the reading, mentioned that Joseph was given to much reflection concerning his immortal soul. I wonder if the surgery experience influenced this reflection. In my life, with diabetes, I think about my mortality and immortality every day. I imagine anyone who has any sort of disability or takes medicine for anything would also think of their immortality/mortality often.

It really is amazing how things that happen to you physically and spiritually prepare you for whatever happens with the rest of your life. I'm not saying the Heavenly Father caused the severe infection, any more than he caused me to have diabetes. I believe that if it wasn't an infection though, something else would have happened to cause him to learn much the same lesson. We are, afterall, human, subject to the consequences of our own choices, other's choices and whatever our bodies are subject to.

I'm so glad Joseph found an answer to his question, which answered many other question.