Have you ever eaten humble pie? I have. It can taste a little bitter at first. Do you know what humble pie is? It is actually not food at all. Merriam-Webster.com says that it is a phrase that is a figurative serving of humiliation usually in the form of a forced submission, apology, or retraction. I’ll give some examples from my life.

When I was in elementary school, I got in trouble for something. I honestly cannot remember what for. But I do remember that instead of giving the referral slip to my parents to sign, I signed their names instead. Oh yeah, I got to eat some humble pie that day. The teacher knew immediately what I had done. I got to learn what forgery was. I had to apologize, tell my parents, and receive a punishment. It was a hard experience to learn. An experience that I will never forget.

Before I learned to meet my kids where they are at, I would become frustrated at them for something that I didn’t understand they were having a struggle with. Don’t worry, God humbled me. Sometime soon after, I would experience the same situation, but instead of being the parent I was the child. He would show me how uncomfortable it was to be on that side of the conversation. I got to eat some humble pie and learn a lesson. Eventually I learned to meet them where they are at.

Yesterday, we had a really great family discussion. It was awesome. My husband and I were talking with them about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I felt strongly impressed to tell them something. I want to share it with you too.

Get your own connection to Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. Admire those that are “spiritual giants”, but don’t depend on them for your own testimony. You will be disappointed when that “spiritual giant” messes up or decides to just leave the church and do something different. Having a close relationship with God will help you to continue forward.

What is a spiritual giant? My understanding of a spiritual giant is a person who has great knowledge of the gospel. A great desire to continually learn the gospel. A strong determination to live righteously; to follow God and do his will. Courage to look at themselves and their actions to see where they need to grow and become better.

I have met so many “spiritual giants” in my life. They teach a lesson, and the spirit confirms the truth to me. It is so cool to witness their ability to teach with the spirit. I have served in the church with several men and women that I look up to in this manner. I also understand that I need to remember that they are each imperfect people, and I should choose to give them grace when they make mistakes.

Some of these people have taught me amazing things. I have had answers to prayers come from them. Some of those people have also turned away from the truth and are on a different path in life. While this makes me sad, it does not change my own testimony, not even a little bit. I am firmly rooted in place. They will come back. I do not doubt at all. They are where they need to be right now. It is ok. God has them.

However, I understand that is not the case for other people. When someone they have ‘put up on a pedestal’ does something wrong, it can shake them to their core. Putting someone on a pedestal is explained in the Oxford dictionary as giving someone uncritical respect or admiration; treat someone as an ideal rather than a real person. This second part stands out to me. How many times have we admired someone so much that we forget that they are just human too. It skews our view of them into an unrealistic truth. It sets us up for disappointment.

Divorce of a seemingly perfect couple, unkind words about someone else from a person you respect, there are many other examples I can list. These can all shake your testimony. If they don’t believe, then what am I doing here? They have it all together, what am I missing?

That is the question, isn’t it? Why do you stay? Why do you believe? Sometimes it is because you feel a certain way when you are at church, sometimes it is because you need the social interaction, sometimes it is because you just know. You know the truth, even when something is shared with you that you don’t like.

Who is the best person to ask about it? God. He will tell you. He will show you. Are you listening? It is hard to quiet your mind when you are shaken. How are you hearing the answers? Do they make you feel confused, unsettled, angry, or outraged? That is Satan talking. He likes to talk very loudly when he knows you are struggling spiritually.

Remember God speaks only truth. He can help you feel calm. He won’t give you the answers unless you are actively looking for them. But he will give you peace, love, patience, and the understanding will come. Don’t forget to look for them in places where truth is. The scriptures are full of truths.

One day we were reading the scriptures as a family and my spirited little one was all over the place. She was distracted and her scriptures were sliding on her lap and about to fall on the floor. I told her to focus on the scriptures, that is what matters.

As soon as I said that I knew how true it was. Everything we need to know right now is in the scriptures. Have you read them? Do you tend to look things up on the internet instead of reading from them? Guess what? They now have a gospel library app. You download it to your phone. You can search any topic and it will be at your fingertips in seconds. Literally. With the technology that we have today, it is the best time to learn the gospel. His truth. It is so easy. God made it that way. For you.

We live in a world today where there is something called cancel culture. Wikipedia says that cancel culture is a phrase that refers to a cultural phenomenon in which an individual deemed to have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner is ostracized, boycotted, shunned, fired or assaulted, often aided by social media.

I know that cancel culture serves a purpose. It is forcing someone to eat humble pie. It is a very severe and public way to do that. I don’t like it for the main fact that it doesn’t give an opportunity for giving grace to that person when they repent and change. They have been canceled. It is over for them.

I’m so grateful for loving Heavenly Father that knew that we need repentance in this life. I’m so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ who sacrificed his life for us to be able to be forgiven of our sins. You will not be canceled by them. They are calling to you in sincere love to see that you don’t have to live in shame, regret, or loneliness because of things that you have done or didn’t do. Turn to them. They are there.

If you are reading this blog, and this post is speaking to you, it is from them. They sent you to this post. They are telling you that they love you. They want you to know that. You are not canceled; they don’t work that way.