Written for Me

We had the wonderful opportunity to have Elder Russell M. Ballard come and speak to us during all our Stake Conference Sessions this weekend. What a wonderful experience. I felt the spirit and loved his messages. But it wasn't his talk that touched me the most. It was President Server's talk during the Adult Session that I feel was written just for me.

Before Conference we were delivered a formal letter from the Stake Presidency that invited us to conference. In that letter the Stake Presidency pleads with us to pray before attending the meetings and to come ready to have our questions or concerns answered. So I did pray but I didn't think I had any questions or concerns until President Server started to speak.

See, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about moving. Feeling like I needed a fresh and new start. I've let myself get so worked up and frustrated inside that I've felt that the only way I will "fit in" or feel like I was apart of something is if I moved. I won't go into details of why I felt this way because I know now that it doesn't matter.

President Server's words were like a light bulb turning on in my head. He said "One of the greatest virtues one can have is to be willing to change." What a wonderful truth. Moving is not the answer, changing is. I have to be willing to change. I have to not judge those around me or those situations that frustrate me. I can not change others. I must change myself. Thank You President Server for that wonderful message.

I am so grateful for my membership in the Church. How blessed we are to have such wonderful servants of the Lord come and speak and teach us. We are so blessed to have the knowledge of the atonement. And to have a knowledge of what we need to do to return to our Heavenly Father and have eternal life. I feel joy and peace.

Of Things That Matter Most

Tonight for Family Home Evening we watched the conference talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Things That Matter Most". If you'd like to watch, listen or read the talk you can find it here.

Even though I have watched and read this talk a couple of times since conference something stood out to me today.

He says "As we evaluate our own lives with a willing mind, we will see where we have drifted from the more excellent way. The eyes of our understanding will be opened, and we will recognize what needs to be done to purify our heart and refocus our life."

He then shares four key relationships that are essential for us to have. The one that stood out to me most was the Fourth Key.

He says "The fourth key relationship is with ourselves. It may seem odd to think of having a relationship with ourselves, but we do. Some people can’t get along with themselves. They criticize and belittle themselves all day long until they begin to hate themselves. May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better. Walk in nature, watch a sunrise, enjoy God’s creations, ponder the truths of the restored gospel, and find out what they mean for you personally. Learn to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you—as His precious daughter or son with divine potential."

I think we often find fault in ourselves, I know I do. I find fault and criticize myself daily but my goal is to now have a relationship with myself.

I sure do love President Uchtdorf. I love the messages he shares.

3-6-2011

I've been struggling with a few alot of things lately. While trying to work through, and deal with these things I have spent a lot of time praying for help.

I would spend night after night laying in bed for hours crying myself to sleep wondering why I hadn't been given an answer or at least some kind of direction on how to handle my situation. But this all changed today.

We try to read scriptures every morning as a family and have for a very long time, but I personally have not done any personal scripture study in months. As I sat on the couch in the living room I looked over and saw my scriptures sitting there. I stared at them for a good five minutes and then reached over to pick them up. The moment I did, I was filled with the spirit and got an overwhelming feeling that my help was in the scriptures. I needed to read them more and apply them into my daily life and my struggles will feel less of a burden.

I'm truly grateful for my membership in the church and for the scriptures and all that I can learn from them.