Sacrifice and Blessings

With Memorial Day, I was thinking a lot about the sacrifices that so many people make everyday to ensure the safety of the land I live in and the freedom i enjoy.  My cousin recently joined the ranks of those who sacrifice so much for what i am able to enjoy.  While he is in the Marine Corp, he will learn many things and gain a lot of good experiences, while giving up other things such as time with family and friends.  It reminds me of missionary life; how we sacrifice what may be comfortable and dear to us to come out and do some good.  It is interesting that these sacrifices bring about great blessings.
That is the way God works.
He asks to do some things, like pay tithing, go to church on Sunday for 3 hours, give up some habits that he knows will hurt us, etc. but always compromises us with many more blessings.
One of these sacrifices He asks of us is fasting. 
There have been many cases lately where my testimony of fasting has been built.
For example, lately there was a young man who wanted to receive the Priesthood.  He was ready and worthy to receive it, but some of his family were holding him back.  My companion and I fasted with him for a day to open the hearts of those holding him back from receiving the Priesthood.  About three weeks later, this young man was given permission to receive the Priesthood!  It was great to see that young man's face after he heard this good news!  He was glowing with excitement.
That is just one example of how fasting has helped build my faith.
We are told that obedience to God's commandments will always bring blessings.  He cannot bless us unless we are obedient (see Doctrine and Covenants 130: 20-21). 
It is the same way as with our country's freedom.  We will not have it if we do not work for it.
That is what our country was born on.  Had the early Americans not fought for freedom from England's oppression, we would not be the people we are today.  We may not even have the religion we have today.  it was necessary that the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullest happen on free soil.
I am so grateful for the sacrifices that have been made by the American soldier.  I am so grateful to those early Americans who had the courage to fight for what they knew was right. 
I hold a lot of respect to my cousins and family who fight for the freedom I enjoy and i know that God will bless them and watch over them. 
I am very grateful also to the early saints who went through the hardship to bring Jesus Christ's true church back to the earth.
I know that sacrifices bring blessings.  They may not be fun, but they are worth it.


Try it out!  Don't take my word for it.