As I review my notes and feelings from this General Conference I found a few things I want to share I know every person who listened or will listen/read the conference messages will get their own inspirations. I hope my insights may add to yours. Please feel free to comment about your thoughts and determinations too. I always love to learn from others.
Don't you just love it when someone gives you a "checklist" type commandment? One that you can say, "Hey, I totally did that one!" Well, Devin G. Durrant did just that with his two invitations made during conference. For me and my sweet penny pinching husband the savings invitation was not something new but we sure can testify of the power of consistently saving, even just a little. The invitation to ponderize however was something we are excited to try. We have one as a family on the fridge and then I have selected a personal one as well. I thought that combining this challenge with the invitation from Elder Larry Lawrence to pray and ask, "What is keeping me from progressing?" would really help me. I have been praying to know what areas I need to be working on for a while and so I started with the item at the top of my list. I need to quit raising my voice at home. I have been working on it for months. The boys have recently found the "magic buttons" to set each other off and seem to take a sick pleasure in making each other scream and cry. I tried several things to get their attention and stop the meltdowns, but in the end yelling was about the only thing that snapped them out of it. I didn't like it. I didn't like how it made me feel or how it made them feel. I knew it wasn't the answer but hadn't found anything to replace it. I felt inspired to start ponderizing with the topic of patience and turned to the topical guide. There I found D&C 101:38 and the phrase "And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may posses your souls" struck me. I am still pondering on its full meaning but I believe that if I can try to see the Lord's face I will respond with much more mildness, gentleness and patience. So far the last few days have gone better. I have tried to do what the Savior does: draw near to them. I come closer and touch them to get their attention. So far it is working. I am less unnerved and they calm more quickly. I trust that I will continue to get such answers as I pick scriptures to ponderize.
The other messages that really struck me were from Elder Holland, Elder Nelson, Elder Stevenson and Brother Schwitzer. I would imagine just about every mother was struck by Elder Holland's talk but when taken along with the messages from these other brethren something remarkable occurred to me. Combining a few key phrases from these talks gave me this: "You are doing better than you think you are. Focus on what you CAN do. Do you realize the breadth and depth of the influence you can make? Stand up and TESTIFY." Now add the counsel from Elder Lawrence to not only pray to know where we can improve but to also pray to know our strengths and where we are succeeding and you have something rather profound before you. So, what will I do now? I will approach the Lord to find out what I am doing right. I will study my patriarchal blessing to identify my personal mission and strengths outlined there. I will stop being afraid of offending my non-member family and friends and post more spiritual messages on my Facebook page. I will keep giving my best to my primary and Webelos callings. I will also keep seeking inspiration and try to understand it when it comes.
I have been noticing an interesting pattern in my life the last few conferences. I will pray about and work on things that I feel I need to improve on then in conference someone will say the VERY things I have received through personal revelation. It has been a real boost to my testimony and encouragement that I am doing better understanding the voice of the Spirit. I am FAR from perfect but as Brother Clark taught us in conference we won't be perfect but we can "be good and getting better".
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