Challenges from President Monson

Today I went to my brother's ward and they were talking about what our Prophet President Monson has asked us to do since he has become our prophet. Below is the list they gave us of those challenges!

Service

• Each of us can do something to help someone
• Recall with me the familiar words of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon; "When ye are in the service of the your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."
• We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.
• My brothers and sisters, may we ask ourselves the questions which greeted Dr. Jack McConnell and his brothers and sisters each evening at dinner time; "What have I done for someone today?"
• May the words of a familiar hymn penetrate our very souls and find lodgment in our hearts; "Have I done any good in the world today. . ."

Prayer

• I would ask that your faith and prayers continue to be offered in behalf of those areas where our influence is limited and where we are not allowed to share the gospel freely at this time.
• I would ask once again that you would remember me and all of the General Authorities in your prayers.

Refrain from Anger

• We must choose to refrain from becoming angry.
• May we make a conscious decision, each time such a decision must be made, to refrain from anger and to leave unsaid the harsh and hurtful things we may be tempted to say.
• May we ever be exemplary in our homes and faithful in keeping all of the commandments that we may harbor no animosity toward any man but rather be peacemakers, ever remembering the Savior's admonition, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Other

• May we continue to be faithful in performing [temple] ordinances for those who are unable to do so for themselves.
• We call upon all members to befriend the new convert, to reach out to them, to surround them with love, and to help them feel at home.
• To those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, [the oath and covenant of the priesthood] is a declaration of our requirement to be faithful and obedient to the laws of God and to magnify the callings which come to us...May we be worthy sons of our Heavenly Father.
• May we incorporate into our daily lives the truths found [in the General Conference issue of the Ensign].
• May every man and woman, boy and girl leave this conference a better person than he or she was when it began two days ago.

No Regrets in 2010!

Several things will be different this year. Like my good friend's theme for this year, NO REGRETS! I don't want to have any regrets. I am going to do the things that I need to, I'll do them better and I'll strive for happiness more than just passing in thought. Here are some of my goals for this year :

1. Read my scriptures diligently first thing in the morning before I turn on the computer. I need to think of questions before I read them and try to find the answers as I am reading. I can come up with questions from reading the summary of each chapter.
2. Go the gym or workout at least 3x's a week to stay in shape.
3. Learn to control my temper better. I want to be able to not shout at my kids or my husband.
4. Think of 5 things that I am grateful for everyday.
5. Dig into my school classes more. I need to get my degree!

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Grateful List

1. Son slept through the night from 2330 -- 0600 instead of waking up every hour.
2. I was able to snuggle with Randy this morning before he got up for PT.
3. Supportive family who are willing to help us out in our transition to moving out East.
4. I was able to finish 2 chapters in my class yesterday and write a paper for it!
5. I have a dr's appointment for Connor today so I can find out how to help him be happier and healthier.

Attributes to work on

1. Be more Optomistic!!!
2. Faithful and obedient

Faith Without Works Is Dead

"Increased faith is as vital and necessary today as it was when Jesus walked the earth. Our modern world struggles with insufficient faith. President Gordon B. Hinckley said in a conference talk: “This is my prayer for all of us. … Increase our faith to bridge the chasms of uncertainty and doubt. … Grant us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment to the miracles of the future. … Give us faith to do what is right and let the consequences follow."

--James O. Mason, "Faith in Jesus Christ", April 2001 Ensign pg 22

When I think about this statement, I'm called to remember the word ACTION. It is not enough to have faith w/o any action. That is insufficient faith. Faith without works is dead. I have faith that our family can be prepared for the reintegration of Daddy back into our daily lives, but I must do more than just hope for it. I must pray for it. I must read my scriptures in order to remain close to the Spirit. Inviting the Spirit into our lives and home will help guide us as we try to be a family again.

"Remember that ofttimes the wisdom of God appears as foolishness to men, but the greatest single lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and a man obeys, that man will always be right."

--Thomas S. Monson, "Constant Truths for Changing Times", Ensign, May 2005, 19

"Our Heavenly Father loves each one of us and understands that this process of climbing higher takes preparation, time, and commitment. He understands that we will make mistakes at times, that we will stumble, that we will become discouraged and perhaps even wish to give up and say to ourselves it is not worth the struggle. We know it is worth the effort, for the prize, which is eternal life, is “the greatest of all the gifts of God.” And to qualify, we must take one step after another and keep going to gain the spiritual heights we aspire to reach."

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>--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "One Step after Another", Ensign, Nov. 2001, 25

Advice from Elder Busche

Blessings that come through Temple Attendance

I had the chance to go to the Baton Rouge temple this weekend bc of a kind sister in our ward. She drove down with me and watched my kids while I went in to do a couple sessions. And she was there in between the sessions so I could nurse Connor. KJ had so much fun bc they went to this sister's son's house who had a son KJ's age. They played and got along so well that I was invited to use them any time I wanted to come down to go to the temple and needed a babysitter. :-) I've been thinking a lot of this visit to the temple and I found this quote that seems to sum up what I took from this visit.

The temple is a house of prayer. We may receive answers to our heart-felt questions if we go to the temple with a sincere desire to obtain them. There, the Holy Ghost may grant us added light and knowledge and the privilege of receiving the answers to the problems and trials the world presents.

Harold Glen Clark, “Four Blessings of the Temple,” Ensign, Oct 1983, 68

The Road to Carmel & Abigail's Gift

I'm reading this book called The Peacegiver: How Christ Offers to Heal Our Hearts and Homes by James L. Ferrell. My friend, Ann, let me borrow it to read. In this book, the story of these two characters talk about how Abigail (in 1 Samuel Chapter 25) is a Type of Christ. I quote from the book the conversation between Abigail and David (future king of Israel):

"Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be."
"Upon you be what iniquity, woman?"
"Please my lord, I saw not the young men you sent to Nabal, my husband. But see, I have provided. Please accept of my offering, that this hsall be no grief unto thee."

A few things to point out that the characters pointed out.
Abigail --> Type of Christ
Nabal --> 1st Sinner
David & his men --> victims who were sinned against, 2nd sinner by failing to forgive.

When we feel we have been wronged it is important to remember that Christ is at our door wanting to take upon the sins and burdens placed against or on us. He wants to make up for the "burdens those sins are placing upon [us], or at the very least would include the blessing of having those burdens made light."

Jesus took upon him all the sins of the world. When we feel wronged by someone, Jesus is pleading for us to place the sin upon Him instead of the actual sinner and then also asking us to forgive the sin.

Upon me let this iniquity be. Let me deal with it if there is any dealing to be done. But you, my dear son or dear daughter, let it go. Let me take it, as I already have done. Forgive.

So the real question is how does one let go of any hard feelings or enmity and truly forgive?