Ask Seek Knock by Elder Russell M Nelson

This week we'll be studying Ask Seek Knock by Elder Russell M Nelson, from the Sunday morning session.

Missionary Work

I get discouraged when I read member-missionary talks. I don't know how to do missionary work in Rexburg, since I only know one person here who isn't a member of the church. I try to be a good example in every situation, because I believe we all need to be reconverted to a new level several times throughout our lives.

This is the one quote that seemed like direct council that I could apply,

"Use the inspired missionary manual Preach My Gospel to study and prepare yourself to play that supporting role to the full-time missionaries as they teach these basic gospel discussions."

I don't even have a copy, but I guess I will get one.

I really liked the last story of the little girl and the sparrow trap. I guess I'm always impressed by simple faith and simple actions that have very effective results. Yet I seem to complicate things a lot of the time.
I liked Elder Woodruff's immediate, non-questioning, action to the promptings he had.
I still need lots of practice following promptings...or rather discerning what is a prompting.
One of my favorite ideas along that line is the thought on "'Stupor of thoughts' and 'stupid thoughts'" We know that when a decision is wrong we will have a stupor of thought, but when a prompting is of God we will often have a 'stupid thought" For example: The thought comes into my head "I need to give Sally a call" Stupid thought: "No, she is probably busy, she wouldn't want me bothering her right now"
I love that advice, but I guess I struggle to remember that in the moment. I guess I should keep praying for chances to listen to promptings of the spirit and hopefully get better with time.

The Past Way of Facing the Future by Elder L. Tom Perry

This week we'll read The Past Way of Facing the Future by Elder L. Tom Perry

Anger, fear & prayer

I've had a horrible week this week. I've given in to anger & fear. It's consumed me, leaving almost no room for spiritual things, but this line from this talk keeps rattling around in my head, "One of the adversary’s sharpest tools is to convince us that we are no longer worthy to pray. No matter who you are or what you may have done, you can always pray." Not that I feel unworthy to pray, but I haven't wanted to. This quote keeps reminding me to pray anyway.

These other quotes just caught my spiritual eye:

"When temptation comes, you can invent a delete key in your mind—perhaps the words from a favorite hymn. Your mind is in charge; your body is the instrument of your mind. When some unworthy thought pushes into your mind, replace it with your delete key. Worthy music is powerful and can help you control your thoughts."

That would work with anger & fear, right?

"We were given our agency. We must use it wisely and remain close to the Spirit; otherwise, we foolishly find ourselves yielding to the enticements of the adversary. We know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ our mistakes can be washed clean, and our mortal body will be restored to its perfect frame."

Sometimes the natural man in me really just wants to yeild to my ugly feelings; as if I'd find some solace there.

I do like the way Pres. Packer incorporates real stories from average people and children. I think one of the most important things we teach our children is to really pray and then how to listen for answers.

Boyd K Packer's "Prayer & Promptings"

Thanks to all of you for reading & posting. I, for one am finding it difficult to put meaningful thoughts about conference talks into words. I'm glad you're joining me. I know we'll all see small but great changes in our lives as we try to take the prophets' council to heart. If you miss posting one week, no big deal. Just join us the next week. Posting late is okay too.

This week we'll be reading Elder Boyd K Packer's talk "Prayer & Promptings" from the Saturday Afternoon session.

Love of God

I wish I were eloquent and could appropriately say what is really in my head, but I feel like I usually end up rambling, so I forsee my thoughts being short and sweet :)
I agree on just wanting to quote the whole thing-since that won't accomplish much here are the main points that really stood out to me:

• I'm not sure I can get this thought out like I want it, but I'll attempt :) I couldn't stop thinking about how little we really know about it all. I know I can't truly comprehend how much we are truly loved. I catch glimpses of it fairly often. Okay, I really can't put it all into words...but it has a lot to do with how great His love is and how simple it really can be for us to truly love.
• I think one of my favorite quotes was: "Since 'God is love,' the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love." I followed the cross reference (1 John 4:7), continued on and found in verse 10: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins."
• I thought those two were going to be all but this one keeps popping into my head: "No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!" How spoiled are we? He has given us SO much as well as the possibility to be so much. The hardest part is overcoming the natural man (ourselves), but, oh, how sweet the reward.

The true altitude of our discipleship

I feel like all I want to do after I read these wonderful talks is just quote the whole thing because there are so many gems, and they say things with such eloquence (which is why I didn't end up posting anything last week because I had a complete writer's block and couldn't think of anything more to add to the discussion). I do have a couple of things I want to say this time around though.

First, I loved all the quotes Kerri already cited. They all stood out to me. Another thing that stood out to me was the tagline on the talk: "Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship." I especially like the idea of love being the altitude of our discipleship. Love is infinite and I believe our capacity to love is infinite. As people come into our lives, we don't have to push out someone else we loved to make room for a new person, or spread our love thinner just because there are more people to love. Love continues to grow if we allow it to and by so doing our discipleship continues to grow and we become more like Christ. The possibilities for discipleship are infinite, just as love is. It goes along with this quote within the talk: " Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you."

This quote also really touched me: "Heavenly Father’s love for His children is the core message of the plan of happiness, which plan is made active through the Atonement of Jesus Christ—the greatest expression of love the world has ever known." Love really is the core of our existence, progression, everything in the plan of salvation. Although many in this world question whether there is a loving God, especially in light of the suffering of humanity, Our Father in Heaven sent us to this earth as part of a plan of progression and happiness because, although mortality is difficult and we must suffer hardship, He loved us so much He wanted us all to progress and reach our full celestial potential. Then, of course, Christ's atonement is the ultimate example of love, suffering all so we could fully progress and overcome death and sin. Christ wouldn't have done it unless He loved us infinitely and wanted us to progress just as He and the Father did.

It is so refreshing to have messages of love from our leaders when so much in this world is negative, selfish and seeming to move further and further from love for God or one another.

The Love of God

I've enjoyed studying the first presidency's messages in order. It's been insightful to see the common thread through all of them--LOVE.

"—if we truly learn to love our Heavenly Father and our fellowman with all our heart, soul, and mind—all else will fall into place."

Ah, there's the key to simplifying gospel living! It's not about our energy level as much as it's about our love level. I think we often get that backwards.

President Uchdoft says, . . ."there are so many “shoulds” and “should nots” that merely keeping track of them can be a challenge. Sometimes, well-meaning amplifications of divine principles—many coming from uninspired sources—complicate matters further, diluting the purity of divine truth with man-made addenda. One person’s good idea—something that may work for him or her—takes root and becomes an expectation. And gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labyrinth of “good ideas.”

So often we try with all our energy to do all of the right things for all of the right reasons, and yet can't figure out why we're feeling so wrong about it. We have to do those things for the right reason. . .LOVE. Our heart has to be right. Sometimes in all of our righteous doings we forget to listen for the voice of the Lord.

This passage makes the commandment to love God so clear.

"No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!
For what we love determines what we seek.
What we seek determines what we think and do.
What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become."

All of the do's and the do not's in the Gospel are not some sort of spiritual checklist we can check off to qualify for eternal life. We have to allow those acts to work through us, to change us into celestial beings.

"Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely." I felt great comfort reading that even through I am incomplete & imperfect, God's love for me is complete & perfect. I'm still trying to comprehend this principle as it applies to how I love others; in theory, I can love perfectly the imperfect & unfinished people in my life. It's contrary to my current pattern of love. Thus far in my life, other peoples' behavior causes my love to vacillate. But now I'm learning that my love can be higher than that. I love the theory. But I confess, on a practical level I can't quite grasp how to get there.

Love it.

I got a lot of the same things out of this talk as Kerri. But here is the rest that was for me.

"Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be, [because] we can BECOME like the Savior, who is perfect." I struggle with getting discouraged. I would often turn that around in my mind to read "be like the Savior, who is perfect." I like that he discussed this as a process of becoming.

Also to start out a talk about love with "however difficult the present..." I feel that is quite sensible.

I liked how the children had "to be like Him was their fixed goal...They expected to succeed." I often feel like that second part is my hurdle. I know how utterly imperfect I am therefore I will fail. I need to look at it more from the perspective of the atonement and realize that I will succeed as long as I continually turn to my Savior and repent.

Wouldn't it be interesting if the Websters definition of LOVE was: finding joy in putting the welfare of another above one's self.

"My hope today is to suggest some choices which may seem difficult, but that would assure you that you have qualified for there to be no empty chairs in your family in the world to come."

How this translated to me...you want Eternal life with your family? Here's the road map. Then he discusses prayer for your love in your marriage, leading your children to Heavenly Father, honoring your parents, care for others genuinely, and being pure and obedient like a child.

And for those of us who get discouraged he left us with "I leave you my blessing that you may feel the assurance and the approval you felt as a child." = HOPE!

The Love of God by Dieter F. Uchdorf

Our reading for this week will be The Love of God by Dieter F. Uchdorf, from the Saturday morning session. You can read it out of your Ensign now.

I figure we'll go back and catch the 1st presidency's other talks later.

Feel free to invite your friends to join us.

Email anyone?

My sister requested to have new entries from this blog emailed to her. Would any of the rest of you like me to enable this feature for you too?

We can and must expect to become better as long as we live

My new mantra: "Try to show kindness in all that you do." I'm getting this feeling that life is all about service, love, & kindness.

"The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. And the sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love." That's pretty concise.

Self-centered=sorrow
Others-centered=joy

This passage left me thinking & re-thinking. "Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small. Pray for the love to make your companion's joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of your companion."

Somehow, our culture has fed us this idea that love is a magical thing that just happens and endures. I think for some lucky people it is that way, but I imagine for the larger majority, love requires prayer, patience, and work. And that's okay. Often in the scriptures we're commanded to love. It's a decision we make, and effort we put forth.

One of my previous bishops taught me about the enabling power of the atonement. Not only can the atonement take away our sins, redeem us, it can help us become better. The atonement of Jesus Christ can enable me to love my husband better, stronger, deeper. This council to pray for love for our companions has motivated me. I'm going to do it & I'm going to do it repeatedly. I've done it before and I know it works. The reminder was a good one for me. I like that his council is not merely, "pray for a greater love for your spouse," but was more specific than that.

I also enjoyed this tidbit on peace. "You have felt the peace of a pure little child at times when you have tried to be like Jesus. . .These moments will come more often as you try to do the things you know Jesus would do. . .And this gift can come not only to you alone but also to the loving members of your family."

This is neat! We try to do what the Savior would--> we feel peace --> AND our family get to experience greater peace too!!!

Tardy...as usual!

I have a problem with reading assignment on time, I always have, but my goal is to actually make it through all the talks...so don't mind me stepping in here a little late sometimes.

I liked so much of this talk, and being slow so many on the juicy morsels have been touched on. A few of the parts I liked that haven't been discussed so far are:

"Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives." When I read this line I thought of so many people in the world (and yes I in my own life sometimes) who claim that with the life they are living now, being known as the mom or the wife, they feel as though they have lost "themselves". I guess in the Lord's eyes this is a great position to be in. What a blessing in the Eternal Family it will be to be known as the wife and mother who helped her family to the kingdom of our Father.

I also really liked the part where he touched on the difference between "intentions" and action. I feel like a lot of latter day saints hide behind the principle that we will be judged on the feelings of our heart so if they "intended" to serve then they are covered. This really comes into play in my life with regards to the temple. I need to quit intending to serve and just do it.

After he recites the kindness poem he talks about "those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness." I find it interesting that he points out those ways of serving. When I think of service projects I think of cleaning up the cemetery, or volunteering at the school. While those are noble things I think often the most productive service, especially within our own homes comes down to those 5 things. Imagine how strong our children would be if our efforts were spent on showing them kindness and encouragement, rather than grumping about the chores left undone...oh wait maybe that is just me.

I loved when he brought up the scripture of taking up the yoke of Christ. However it was the middle part that struck me this time "learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." When we learn how to follow Christ's example we should be learning how to be simple and humble, even when the world around us screams that that is wrong. I think that applies not only to our priorities, but to how we choose to live our life. For example, if we have a 4000 square foot house when a 2000 square foot house would be sufficient, that eats up time and resources in maintain having more than we need. I think that this applies to all aspects of life. On the remake of Sabrina Julia Ormond says "More isn't always better Linus, sometimes it's just more." I love being reminded that it is not only ok but preferable to stop looking at the Joneses and just do my best with my little surroundings.

Sorry this got a little long. Simplify KayLynn, simplify! :)

weekly service list

After President Monson's talk I had a lightbulb go on, I personally think it was the answer for myself as to how I can fit more service into my life. Each week I write a list of "His sheep that I know who are lost or in need" 6-10 names, along with something, no matter how small that I can do to help them and the needs I see that they have. I pray about the list I've made and try to allow the Lord to tell me what he needs from me for these individuals. A lot of the needs I've noticed as I've done this are things like loneliness or the need to have someone to talk to about their struggles. How much easier it's been for me to plan these things into my week (a call, a card to send off, a stop over to visit someone) with a list that I've prayed over and felt like this is the errand the Lord would give to ME this week.

A little late

I am sorry I am a little late on posting this. I may have been a little too engaged in the thick of thin things this week. Actually, it was a good week of family time, so I have few regrets. I really appreciate all of your thoughts so far. I just had a couple of things I wanted to add if you don't mind my tardiness (I'll be on time this week).

First, the thing I was most contemplating and had been praying about prior to this conference was what my personal ministry should be at this point in my life, with young children taking a good bulk of my time. My answer came in many talks, but really culminated with this one. I really felt like right now I just need to be listening closely to the Spirit to receive inspiration on what little things I can do to help those within my immediate sphere of influence. Maybe I can be a more engaged and helpful visiting teacher, get to know my neighbors better and find out what I can do to help them, volunteer for Relief Society projects. I do want to save the world, but the little things I do each day are one step in that direction.

Second, while reading this talk and all your thoughts on this talk, I was reminded, once again, how much I am often a Martha, when I am striving to be a Mary and choose the better part. It also made me think about Elder Oaks' talk from a few conferences ago, when he spoke of good, better, best. I have many, many goals, and hopefully all of them are worthwhile. However, I need to not be cumbered about by the good, when the best things are being left by the wayside. Inspired service is what Christ's whole life was, and it's what I want my life to be full of. That service can even be within my family, and most days, that's probably what it will be. However, I can always carve out a little more of my personal time to help someone else when the Spirit whispers something to me.

Finally, I felt this talk was so inspiring coming from President Monson himself. I have no doubt all the general authorities, past and present, have spent their lives in service. However, I feel President Monson is especially known for his service to widows, hospitalized people, etc. His talk was directly from his heart. He's worn out his life in the service of others. What a wonderful example for all of us!

a few more thoughts on doing good.

A lot of times I feel guilty when reading talks like this one. I feel like I need to be doing more-volunteering, service projects, visiting, etc. With my husband in his first semester of graduate school (gone from 9am to 11pm 5 days/week), a 4-year-old and 9 month old twins I'm not at that point. I don't have that extra time. But it is so easy to forget that as far as service, small things matter so much.
The thought from Sister Camilla Kimball, "Never suppress a generous thought" kept running through my head while reading this talk. Looking back on the acts of service that have meant so much to me, the small things really stand out.
For example:
-I will never ever forget my first sunday in my last ward, I was sitting towards the back in Relief Society as everyone was just coming in. One of the sisters turned around from several rows up and wanted me to sit by her. Small-to her.
-After bringing my twins home from the hospital, the RS scheduled to bring dinners every other day for a couple of weeks (every other day because sisters always bring enough for more than one meal... :) Any way, for at least the first week sisters who weren't assigned were showing up..."I made too much..." "I was just at the store and picked up an extra pizza for you..." Small. To them.
-A note slipped to me that said "I was just thinking of you" Small-to whoever it was.
There are so many little things that we can do that matter so much.

My other train of thought with this talk was along the lines of serving my children. This quote really stood out to me as far as that is concerned:
"We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the “thick of thin things.” In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes."
I'm there. A lot of the time I feel like I am so busy just trying to make it through the day. I really appreciated eea saying:
"It is hard to learn to live 'in the moment' but it is beautiful there. One of my favorite parenting memories is laying on the floor of our space in Springville staring at the ceiling fan, because that is what my baby wanted to do and she wanted me to do it with her. School, dishes, laundry... it just had to wait. I don't regret those few minutes, not ever."
Right after bringing the babies home from the hospital I would give my husband the option of having the house clean or having a good meal. I think we will be going back to that :)

This week's reading

This week we'll be studying President Henry B. Eyring's talk, Our Perfect Example, from the Sunday morning session. Please have your comments posted by next Sunday night. Please let me know if you have any problems posting.