Forget Me Not

image: public domain from wikipedia, phrases added - quoted from talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf at General Relief Society Meeting 9.24.2011

By far, my favorite talk of the evening (and that's saying something) was Elder Uchtdorf's inspiring talk. (To read a transcript, watch a video or listen to the talk, please visit lds.org) He spoke about the special connection he has had throughout his life with the forget-me-not flower. His message was one doctrine for each petal of the flower.

First: "Forget not to be patient with yourself". This was a boon to me. I have a tendency to beat myself up. Don't get me wrong, I probably deserve the flagellation, but I am beginning to realize that it is not a productive self-help methodology! He said the we as sisters are beating ourselves up for not meeting expectations that are impossible to meet. If we stay on the path of discipleship, he said, we will become perfect.

photo: churchnews.lds.org

It's OK that you're not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself...Please remember to be compassionate and patient with yourself. In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your church participation and personal improvements. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you, and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him...Our journey toward perfection is long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tiniest steps in that journey.

The second petal is: "Forget Not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice." He asked us to ask ourselves - am I committing my time and energy to what matters most? The sacrifice God asks for is the sacrifice of "something good for something far greater in an eternal perspective."

The next petal is "Forget Not to be happy NOW." This one was FABULOUS!

photo: sucasa-furniture.com

He said that some think they will not be happy without a GOLDEN TICKET - the ticket they believe holds the key to the happiness they have always dreamed about

• a perfect marriage
• a magazine cover home
• freedom from stress/worry

My question to myself - What is my golden ticket (what is yours?) What is stopping you from enjoying your chocolate bar?

He said:

In all her yearning for her golden ticket, she failed to notice the blessings she DID have. If we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us...The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket. They are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who -- thread by daily thread-- weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they that are truly happy.

I believe I am doing that despite my lack of a golden ticket. Who needs an everlasting gobstopper?

Next petal was: "Forget Not the WHY of the gospel"

I thought this was particularly poignant along with the incredible first petal. If we understand the WHY we don't get as hung up on perfection, but we look for results. The gospel brings results. I testify of that. In the Doctrine & Covenants, section 130 it states: "And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." When it comes right down to it, that means if you are blessed - and come on, you know you are - it is because you have been obedient to God's laws. That is greatly relieving to me! I have been obedient. Something I've done has worked! I believe that the Savior is very merciful in his definition of obedience, but His grace is sufficient.

When viewed as a lifestyle that can bring us great peace and happiness, the gospel no longer resembles a long, demanding to-do list. As President Uchtdorf puts it:

The gospel is not an obligation, it is a pathway marked by our loving Father in Heaven leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come...while understanding the WHAT and the HOW of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the WHY...when we understand WHY our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember WHY we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to be a burden and instead becomes a joy and a delight. It becomes precious and sweet....The WHY of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming the mundane into the MAJESTIC. It magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration

Let me repeat a beautifully expressed line:
The WHY of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming mundane into the MAJESTIC. It magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration.

What a blessing it is to have such inspired leadership. I believe that is what I am beginning to understand. The atonment of Jesus Christ allows me to committ holy acts of consecration. 

The last petal: "Forget Not that the Lord loves you."

All from President Uchtdorf:

You are not forgotten!
No matter how dark your days may seem
No matter how insignificant you may feel
No matter how over-shadowed you think you may be

Your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you.

photo: lds.institute.org

I testify that is the case. I know He loves me, He knows my name. He knows my sorrows, He knows my happiness. He is actively involved in my life. I know that I am not special - we are all spirit daughters and sons of a loving Heavenly Father. Of all the professions he could do perfectly, He chose to address Himself as Father. Compared to God we are nothing...To God we are everything. That is the truth. If you don't know it's the truth, ask Him to confirm it to you. He did to me through the Holy Ghost. I felt in my heart AND in my mind the truth of it. I testify of Christ and His atonement that makes so much of happiness possible. I testify that He lives and is at the head of this church. I testify that President Thomas S. Monson is His prophet and that Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf are also prophets, seers and revelators. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!

Cleaving to your covenants

photo: lds.org

First I was inspired by Sister Thompson's talk - I REALLY need to write my personal history and family history! She was speaking about how covenants can keep you safe and happy. A good friend of mine the other day was expressing her wish that the church would teach more about how to be happy while you're waiting for the desired blessings we're taught to desire. I think the church does teach that, but tonight they were DIRECT about it. She said, speaking about the temple endowment, that it will "bring you out of darkness and into glorious light."

photo: lds.org

Going on she talked about righteous examples of peace through covenant keeping that are contained in the new book for Relief Society sisters, Daughters in my Kingdom. (see above or go to lds.org)

She quoted a woman who lived through the pioneer era of the church, Sarah Rich:

Many were the blessings we had received in the house of the Lord which has caused us joy and comfort in the midst of all our sorrows and enabled us to have faith in God knowing he would guide us and sustain us in the unknown journey that lay before us.

photo: lds.org

 Anyone else want to go to the temple more often? Wow! She then quoted President Monson:

As you and I go to the Holy Houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary, we will find peace, we will be renewed and fortified

She then said, "keeping covenants is TRUE joy and happiness." Isn't that the truth? I haven't once regretted KEEPING a covenant.

I am grateful for my covenants, baptismal and temple. What a joy and protection they are to me. I loved Sister Thompson's faithful demonstration of how to be happy--as Sarah Rich said, "in the midst of our sorrows"

Relief Society and Charity

The General Relief Society Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Photo: lds.org

The General Relief Society Meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held this evening in Salt Lake City, UT. It was broadcast to millions of meeting houses and homes - one of them mine. For the first time, I watched it at home. I also recorded it at the same time with my TIVO. It was a choice experience for me because I was able to pause and rewind to hear things I missed. I have never experienced it so deeply. Wonderful! In part one, I will cover the talks of Sister Julie Beck and Sister Silvia Allred (left and center in the photo above.

I plan to quote the talks below. I want to let you know that all of them are exact quotes (barring human error) from the broadcast tonight. I will list the author after each quote. To view the broadcast or read the text of these talks, please visit www.lds.org (usually it takes a few days for the text versions to appear online).


First I would like to give a tremendous shout out to the amazing women's choir that performed (or 'favored us' in the vernacular! :) ) tonight. Absolutely beautiful. I can honestly say that I was pleased with every arrangement as well. I especially loved "The Morning Breaks" which I believe was arranged by Mack Wilberg. A gorgeous arrangement usually sung by SATB choirs. On the third verse the women covered all the parts. It was SO beautiful. I recommend listening to it immediately! That's ok, we'll wait. Go ahead!


The first talk was by Julie B. Beck, the General Relief Society President (i.e. the president of the organization for the world-wide church. Others serve as presidents of their wards, branches, stakes and districts). She spoke about what she hoped her granddaughters understand about the Relief Society. It was a great talk that really raised the bar for me in my thinking about this great organization. 


My first pull quote came after a discussion of how the Lord organized the women in his ancient church - they were very much a part of the "pattern of discipleship" that was lost with the apostasy. With the restoration of the church and priesthood, the women were organized after the pattern of the priesthood, and "authorized to receive direction from the Lord for a specific work."

That work is the purpose of Relief Society:

• Increase faith and personal righteousness
• Strengthen families and homes
• Seek out and help those in need

It was to be, as Joseph Smith said, "a select society separate from all the evils of the world." Additionally, one of the Lord's purposes in organizing the sisters in a discipleship was to, "Provide relief that would lift them above all that hinders the joy and progress of woman." The sisterhood of Relief Society can provide a place of safety and refuge.

The next great doctrine taught by Sister Beck was concerning visiting teaching--something I don't believe I have ever done well. She said:

Visiting Teaching is an expression of [our] discipleship and a significant way to honor [our] covenants. This element of [our] discipleship should closely resemble the ministry of the Savior...

I wonder what does that look like? When can I know if my Visiting Teaching reaches the level of the Savior's ministry? Heady question, indeed.

She then quoted the prophet, Thomas S. Monson:

When we strive with faith, nothing wavering, to fulfill the duties appointed to us. When we seek the inspiration of the Almighty in the performance of our responsibilities, we can achieve the miraculous!"

 WE CAN ACHIEVE THE MIRACULOUS!!!!!


I was so moved thinking about that! Honestly, there are some sisters that to reach them would be a miracle of epic proportions. I say that, referring to my ability to love them and communicate with them in the right manner - not that THEY are the problem. 

She then said that she hoped her granddaughters would, "participate in miracles as they help Visiting Teaching become a pattern of discipleship that the Lord will recognize when He comes again." 

I hope that my Visiting Teaching can become something recognizable to the Lord as a form of discipleship. She closed with a quote from Joseph F. Smith (I think that's who said it): "It is for you to lead the world, especially the women of the world. You are the head - not the tail!"

The next talk was by Sister Silvia Allred - a counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency. She spoke about charity. Something I definitely need help with. The first quote that really got me was from Joseph Smith:

Don't be limited in your views with regard to your neighbor's virtues. You must enlarge your souls toward others if you would do like Jesus. As you increase in innocence and virtue, as you increase in goodness, let your hearts expand. Let them be enlarged toward others. You must be long-suffering and bear with the faults and errors of mankind. How precious are the souls of men.

I was struck by two things in this passage.

1. As you increase in
1. innocence
2. virtue
3. goodness

I love what that implies - we can INCREASE in those. We aren't stuck on stupid! We can practice and get better at those attributes. Isn't that a liberating thought?

2. Let your hearts expand.

It brought to my mind the imagery used in "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" cartoon where it breaks the frame of the xray.

from "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" by Chuck Jones

I love that. She went on to say, "Charity is a state of being or a state of the heart." It is something we can cultivate and BECOME, and as we have a measure of it, "Charity purifies those who have it."

She some direction on how to cultivate it - desire it, pray for it, read the scriptures daily to bring your heart and perspectives in line with the Savior's. To, "minister to those around you and pay special attention to those around you."

I have a co-worker much like that. She is aware of what is going on with others. She does what she can to make them feel loved and appreciated and understood. She is an example to me of Charity. I know that Savior pays special attention to each of us. He loves us as we are and knows whom we can become - AND He's willing to help us become it. He already paid for it, we just have to try.

The last quote I wrote in my journal from her talk really, REALLY got me. I felt that I was to receive this as instruction and a beckoning upward. She quotes President Monson:

Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and short comings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.

source: mormon.org

 It is simply, the Pure Love of Christ. If the Lord looketh on the heart, then we need to strive to do the same with those we have the privilege of mingling with in this life. I pray to work towards that end.

Bucket List

Washington DC Temple. Photo from http://lds.org/church/temples/washington-dc?lang=eng

One of the many incredible things I have learned from my friend Sarah Anderson is to casually testify of gospel things at work - slip it into conversation, don't avoid the subject...that kind of thing.

It is never contrived. She just mentions something she did at church, or that she went to the temple, or that she went visiting teaching...just as she would if she were speaking to a member of the church.

I am the kind of person who, to avoid getting too personal will not speak of gospel things. I naturally want to talk about them because the church is a large portion of my experience, but I just have avoided it. Things changed when I worked at UNM and got to have lunch with Sarah everyday. I witnessed her subtle missionary work. She never pushed it on anyone, but everyone knows who she is. They know she is LDS, they know she really loves the church and that she serves regularly. Many people asked questions. One of the doctors who had been inactive since her youth, approached her about the church and has now returned to full activity including going through the temple. Sarah is a Celestial girl.

In emulation of her wonderful example, I have incorporated gospel stuff into everyday conversations ever since. I'm not as cool as her, but it is an effective practice. I have been able to testify of truth, answer questions, etc.

So, I was chatting with a co-worker of mine whom I don't know well but had the opportunity to work with for the first time. She is really nice. We were talking about the meeting we had at work and discussing previous work experiences. She said she had worked at the children's hospital in D.C. She talked about the different patient groups she worked with there and cost of living and all that.

Then, I said these exact words, "That's a beautiful city. We have a temple there." That's it, nothing else.

She got kind of excited and asked if I had been there. I said, "No, but it's on my bucket list." She said the greatest thing: "It should be on everybody's bucket list. I will never forget the feeling I had when I first saw it." HOW COOL IS THAT?

We then discussed how it rises from the road when you go around a bend and how they had to change the facade because people were getting in wrecks because it was so distractingly beautiful. We talked about it for a full 10 minutes.

ANYWAY! Small, but choice experience. Try it today. Don't hide who you are. Just slip it in, I really have never had a negative experience doing it. The great thing is, if the person is unitiated or uninterested, they just keep talking about whatever they're talking about. BUT, sometimes, it clicks and they start asking questions or mentioning great LDS people they know. It is a wonderful thing.

For more info, see this fabulous website:

http://mormon.org/faq/church-and-temple/

Conference was Generally awesome!

General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was last weekend. It was a resplendent experience. If you want to watch it, read it or listen to it, the link is here:

http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions?lang=eng

I can't go into great detail yet because I need more time for that, but I wanted to give what I viewed as highlights of each talk. I hope you will take this next 6 months to ponder each talk individually and ask yourself a few questions:

1. What was the main message of the talk

2. What were the impressions I received about my life while reading/listening to/watching this talk?

3. What actions/committments do I need to take/make to answer the call of this message from my Father in Heaven.

I am by no means perfect at this yet, but as I stated in my last entry, I attempted to really change how I dealt with October's conference. Embarrassingly enough, I would often get to the next conference and barely remember anything from the previous one. That is certainly not the case this time. My life has been richly blessed by my study of these talks and I know yours can be, too.

Disclaimer: I'm taking these bits of each talk from my notes, so they may not be perfect quotes. In future entries, I intend to write in more detail about individual talks using the source material as my guide!

Saturday Morning Session

President Thomas S. Monson:

He spoke about the re-dedication of the Laie, HI temple. He said "extensive renovations" had taken place. I felt strongly that I had been going through extensive renovations recently and that I was approaching the time when I felt I could be "rededicated" to the work of the Lord.

He also said that "Missionary work is the lifeblood of the kingdom". I can testify of that. When you're at church, look around you. How many were born in the church? I would wager less than half. And many that were, have parents who were converted through missionary efforts (and the Spirit, of course!). I will be forever grateful to my Father in Heaven for the family that introduced me to the gospel and taught me (by example) how a faithful Latter-day Saint conducts their life. Thank You to the Cox's (who are on a full-time mission) and to their daughter, Laurianne who invited me to church and was shocked when I said, "yes"! They're my eternal friends. I hope that I can become a better member missionary. I'd be selfish not to share what I have been given!

Elder L. Tom Perry:

He said to "Be thou an example of the believers...in the observance of the Sabbath Day" and said that it "must include worship" I looked up the word worship. Wikipedia and Princeton web say:

Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed to one or more deities. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship -- to give, at its simplest, worth to something. Show devotion to a deity or have a feeling of profound love and admiration for.

Though we do not bestow worth on our Savior or Father in Heaven, we can give them worth in our lives. We can show how our love and admiration for them demands our devotion.

He said that we should do three things on the sabbath:

1. Keep yourself unspotted from the world
2. Go to the house of the Lord and offer up your sacraments
3. Rest from your labors

The sacrament, he said, give us the opportunity of self investigation or self-inspection. It helps us "rectify our course" on a weekly basis.

One of the last things he said that really packed a punch for me:

The adversary succeeds when we relax our commitment to the Savior. Observing the Sabbath is part of that commitment.

Jean A Stevens

She spoke about a ward that was having trouble getting their members to pay tithing. They went to the Primary and asked them to pay it. After a few months they went to the adults and told them that the Primary children had been paying their tithing and would they follow that example?

Except ye be converted and become as a little child:

Full of faith
Receptive to the Spirit
First to love, first to forgive
humble
reverent

BEHOLD YOUR LITTLE ONES. Follow the example of children - this is a key to spiritual growth.


Walter F Gonzales

One line in his talk that really grabbed me -

Lovest thou me? Come, follow me.....Making covenants is an expression of love.

Kent F. Richards

He spoke about his work as a surgeon. In order to heal people, he had to surgically inflict pain on them. He made a paralell to this and our lives when Heavenly Father allows trials to come into our lives. We must "allow suffering to bring [us] closer to God....it ministers to our education"

He testified then, that the Savior knows how to succor our pains. He descended below them all. His "ongoing labor" is with each of us, "His greatest work".

I add my testimony to his. I know that the Savior experienced all of our pains, trials, sins. He knows how to make us whole again. He is the "great physician". We must go to him always, but especially when we are in need of healing. There IS a balm in Gilead.

Quentin L. Cook

"Our LDS women are incredible".

[AMEN, BROTHER! :)]

One thing he said that I had never thought of: the Savior is

Husband to the widow and father to the fatherless.

This is a beautiful statement. The errand of angels is given to women. We better take that errand and complete it with everything that we are!

Speaking of the errand of angels. I saw a movie with that title. It is about sister missionaries in Austria. It was a beautiful movie. A character in the movie said something wonderful: Remember, you have more than one name on your name tag. Though we don't usually get a name tag, everything we do in the church we do in the name of our Savior. Not only does that make us highly aware of our responsibility, but it makes us aware of the HELP we have in doing this work. He will not leave us comfortless! From Doctrine & Covenants 84:

83 For your ^aFather, who is in heaven, ^bknoweth that you have need of all these things.

84Therefore, let the morrow take ^athought for the things of itself.

85Neither take ye thought beforehand ^awhat ye shall say; but ^btreasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be ^cgiven you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.

88And whoso ^areceiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go ^bbefore your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my ^cSpirit shall be in your hearts, and mine ^dangels round about you, to bear you up.

Henry B Eyring

His talk was about the Church Welfare Program, which is celebrating it's 75th anniversary. I am really excited about the day of service he mentioned. I think it will be a great opportunity to give "kindly service for the Lord". He encouraged us to include children in participating in giving...to "spread joy over generations"

A great quote:

Everyone is happier when they can take care of themselves, then helping others in need.

He said we could do this through living and teaching others provident living. "You cannot give yourself poor - If you give a crust, you will get a loaf"



As this has been a long entry, I will post one session at a time. I am grateful for the opportunity to put these thoughts down (even if no one else reads them).

Thanks! I hope you will enjoy conference again and again!

Start at the very beginning - a very good place to start

Have you ever thought of that scripture...really thought about it?

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Most of my time in the church, I have responded to this scripture with my feelings about how ready I am to face the Lord and account for my life...in other words, dread.

As I have begun on a journey in the past few months to really develop my faith and become more like what my Father in Heaven knows I can be, this scripture has taken on new meaning for me.

Generally, what I have put my mind to has happened on the instant side. Doors have flown open before I had to knock on them. Now, there has been some calculation in which doors I would attempt to knock at...but generally I haven't had to wait for much in my life.

"Go out and make it happen." That's my motto.

Now that I am the ripe old age of 36, I have started running into doors....with my face. (this door analogy I give credit to my friend Melissa for introducing me to) They are not flying open as I supposed they would always do. No amount of my style of knocking has opened them fully to my view.

What doors are these?

• Professional success
• Marriage
• Parenting success
• Faith
• Becoming naturally Obedient
• Personal Development

These are things I want bad enough to look stupid trying to get them done.

I look really stupid pretty much all the time now.

Now, of course I would be remiss if I did not count my blessings, which are many. I have been truly blessed in many ways (maybe I'll have a blessings counting post soon). I think that my experience of always being successful at things I try has really spoiled me.

"I want the world. I want the whole world. I want to lock it all up in my pocket. It's my bar of chocolate. Give it me now. I want today, I want tomorrow. I don't want to share it!

And if I don't get the things I'm after, I am going to screeeeeeaaaaaaam!!!!!

Don't care how, I want it NOW. Don't care how, I want it NOOOOOOOOOW! (She was a bad egg.)" (Veruca Salt, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)

Now I am learning that this mortal experience really is a fight. I am trying to fight it. I want to finish my course. I want to keep the faith.

I believe that someone who has been blessed with the tenacity, intelligence and knowledge that I have, must be on a higher plane than I am on. So, it is my goal to get to that higher plane. It will be a fight, but it is a "good" fight. A fight worth fighting.

2 Timothy 4:6-9 (emphasis added)

6 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

Tomorrow and Sunday are wonderful opportunities to see the path to that higher plane (and to check out life up there!). General Conference is one of my favorite times of year. I have never paid enough attention to it, though I have improved of late.

For the October 2010 conference, I have:

• studied the talks
  
• listened to them repeatedly at work (a great way of getting through the day, IMHO)
• discussed them with friends
• tried to implement their teaching

This regimen has been a great blessing in my life. One particular way I have implemented it is from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk, "Of Things That Matter Most"

"The wise understand and apply the lessons of tree rings and air turbulence. They resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life. They follow the advice “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” In short, they focus on the things that matter most.

Elder Dallin H.Oaks, in a recent general conference, taught, “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”

The search for the best things inevitably leads to the foundational principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ—the simple and beautiful truths revealed to us by a caring, eternal, and all-knowing Father in Heaven. These core doctrines and principles, though simple enough for a child to understand, provide the answers to the most complex questions of life.

There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions."

http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-matter-most?lang=eng

I decided that my family was heading through some major turbulence, and I needed to "reduce my speed and focus on the essentials" as he said. So, I eliminated everything except: church, work, family. It, period, the end. It was hard - achingly so in some instances, but it has been absolutely wonderful to reap the rewards. I testify of the power that is inherent in obeying the words of living prophets.

I intend to gather more gems in the coming conference. One strategy my friend and I have developed is to go into conference with 3 questions.

My questions are:

1. "Behold, the Lord ^arequireth the ^bheart and a ^cwilling mind; and the willing and ^dobedient shall ^eeat the good of the land of Zion in these last days." (D&C 64:34)

So, I have a willing mind, how do I give Him (more fully) my heart. In other words, how do I engage my heart in the process?

2. "...the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty ^achange in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do ^bevil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2)

I want the disposition to do good continually. How do I focus my efforts on attaining that mighty change?

3. What is His plan for me (in the short term), is there work that needs to be done that isn't, what is my next step?

I pray that the Spirit will allow me to discern the answers to these questions and any other counsel that the Lord has for me.

I testify that Jesus Christ lives, that He is my Savior, that He loves me. I testify that He has mercy on us, that He allows us to develop and grow. I testify that He makes up where we lack.
I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet, that he is the Lord's mouthpiece. I know that I will succeed if I listen to, understand and implement his teachings. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.