Inspired Words: Backs Shaped for Burdens

"Some of you may be shy by nature or consider yourselves inadequate to respond affirmatively to the call to serve.

"Remember that this is the Lord's work, and when we are on the Lord's errand we entitled to the Lord's help.

"The Lord will shape the back to the burden that is placed upon it."

This month's message from the President Thomas S. Monson has continually inspired me.  I am amazed at how the Lord supports us in every job we do--truly our backs are shaped for the tasks we are to perform.  Sometimes they are strengthened ahead of time so that we can support new weight and sometimes we get a whole new load to learn to shoulder all at once, but always they are strengthened through work.


It has been ten years since I returned from my eighteen months of missionary service in northern Portugal.  (Ten!  I can hardly believe it.)  What a gift that time and those days and those tasks were to me--I see how my work there helped "shape my back" for the Lord's errand (mothering!) I am doing now.

For the complete text of January's message click here.