Sacrifice and an answer to my prayer.

 I've consecrated things to the Lord. I've covenanted with the Lord at His request and had so many miracles I can't begin to count. But this morning I wept again, as I have so many nights recently. I prayed for the Ukrainians who our country has taken away support in a war. I prayed for the immigrants who were deported to a foreign prison, and accused of being gang members...without any due process of law to prove their innocence. I prayed for the people who have lost their jobs for no reason. I prayed for the poorer countries that had the aid from our richest country taken away from them. I prayed for those honest people who did their jobs as lawyers, judges, and congressional committee members, which included investigating the January 6th uprising, making legal decisions that allowed Trump to be prosecuted for his crimes. They are now targets and the president has vowed to have them removed from their positions and put in jail. I prayed for Congress and judges who have voted against his measures, and had Trump threaten them with jail and/or removal for opposing him. I prayed for our country, as usual. 

Only this morning, I told Heavenly Father, I would sacrifice something that meant much to me. I am giving it up so I can get something better. The better I asked for was to see his hand in my life and in the world. The better I prayed for was to draw nearer to Him so that I could be his hands and voice in Gathering Israel and doing His will. At the close of my prayer, I felt the Spirit say that I needed to write down the results of my sacrifice when I saw and felt the Lord close to me.

It wasn't long before I saw the first thing I needed to write about. I was reading the article in the Liahona about the ministry of the apostles. I was interested in their qualifications. I already knew they were special witnesses of the Savior, so I skimmed that. But, then I saw Ambassadors to the World. I read time after time where the apostles met with leaders of other countries and offered monetary aid to build shelters for the Ukrainian refugees, to cloth and feed the hungry nations, to fund a hospital to heal the sick. I was overcome with emotion. I felt the Lord say to my spirit, "Your nation may have abandoned them, but I have not." What an answer to my prayer! What I testimony that the prophet and apostles knew ahead to save money to take up the slack in ministering to the needy throughout the world. I am so happy to belong to Christ's Church. I am so happy to be able to testify of His goodness.