31 May Church

Today I went to my old roommate's farewell. First of all, can I just say that she is a huge example to me? I learned so much from her this last semester. She is constantly trying to improve. For example, she and her sister would choose one goal and work on it for a month. She has felt a little attacked by the adversary in preparation for her mission, and instead of just letting it happen, she made up a plan of things she would do every day to strengthen herself.

So, here are some highlights from church:

-Missionary work is a lifestyle.

-“It is one thing to know about God and another to know him. We know about him when we learn that he is a personal being in whose image man is created; when we learn that the Son is in the express image of his Father’s person; when we learn that both the Father and the Son possess certain [specific] attributes and powers. But we know them, in the sense of gaining eternal life, when we enjoy and experience the same things they do. To know God is to think what he thinks, to feel what he feels, to have the power he possesses, to comprehend the truths he understands, and to do what he does. Those who know God become like him, and have his kind of life, which is eternal life.” -Elder Wirthlin, quoting Elder McConkie

-An idea was posed that when we ignore the Spirit, He doesn't automatically return just through the passage of time, but once we repent of what we've done.

-Our covenants are like marriage--we make the promises out of a natural result of love. We need to not only make covenants, but to be faithful to them throughout our lives, just as we would be faithful to our spouses throughout life. I really love that insight--it helps me to understand the different dimensions of covenants.

-Find good examples of valiant men and women whose specific actions you can emulate. Read President Monson's biography.

-"If you don't raise the bar, how will you ever know your potential?" (Elder Perry) I love Elder Perry. He passed away yesterday. He was, and still is, an incredible man. He was 92 years old, but still full of life and optimism! One of my favorite talks from him was when he came to BYU-Idaho. He talked about the power of traditions in our families. He likened them to the beams in a home. I have always remembered that!

-If you are struggling to love someone, imagine him or her as if he or she was the Savior.

-A home teacher's or visiting teacher's responsibilities include praying together as a companionship and discussing the individual's needs. Home teachers and visiting teachers are the "bishop's arm"--with congregations sometimes as large as 300+ people, there is no way the bishop could check up on each family each month. We are undershepherds for the Lord.

-"We could have 100 percent home teaching and not be effective in what we're trying to accomplish." Always keep your purpose in mind--what is the purpose of home teaching?

-Pray for those you visit teach every day.

-We need to rely on the Spirit in our callings, especially home teaching and visiting teaching.

-We watched this video at the very end of church and it was so powerful! It brings tears to my eyes to see these burly men tenderly caring for a sister in need. Like Sister Burton said, "A husband is never more attractive to his wife than when he is serving … as a worthy priesthood holder."

Ahh! I watched it again and now I'm crying again! Mormon Messages, how do you do it every time! haha. I loved the last quote in there, and it's so true: "the more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. … We become more substantive as we serve others—indeed, it is easier to ‘find’ ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!” -Elder Christofferson, quoting President Kimball

"The Savior’s Atonement cannot become commonplace in our teaching, in our conversation, or in our hearts." -President Uchtdorf

24 May Church

Today I'm in Rexburg, so I got to go to church here! It was SO good. I love insights from the young single adults--so powerful. The topics during the different hours were the sacrament, the prodigal son, and the Sabbath day.

-In order to gain more from the sacrament, memorize the sacramental prayers.

-There is powerful in repetition. Every time we hear something and think about it, we gain a deeper understanding.

-Sometimes all it takes to gain more insight is a little bit more effort.

-One practical way to get more out of the sacrament is to read over the hymns you'll be singing at sacrament meeting before it starts.

-I had the thought that I could make the sacrament more meaningful by kind of practicing keeping my mind focused only on the Savior for five or ten minutes. I can do this anytime, and I think it would help me to stay focused during those short moments that the Savior has asked us to spiritually "watch with Him."

-remember Him always--remember Him in all ways

-A really powerful thought/affirmation I tried to tell myself today is that the Savior is present during the sacrament. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had partaking of the sacrament--I felt His presence more. It was a tender mercy as well, that the speaker today mentioned that He does the same thing when we partakes of the sacrament.

-One brother shared a powerful story--he was in the bishopric and was inviting a sister to fulfill a calling. As he did so, he had this image of her going through the challenges of her life, but the Lord removing her trials and strengthening her because she was fulfilling her calling. She gave him several reasons why she couldn't, but he invited her again and she said yes. As she magnified her calling, she overcame each of those trials and reasons that she had given him! A powerful reminder that Heavenly Father will bless us as we do what He has asked.

-Try to focus on every hymn and scripture as you read or sing them in church--you will gain greater insight.

-It takes time to remember Him--for example, powerful prayers and scripture study take time. We've got to voluntarily give Him that time--He will never demand it from us.

-"One of the most important invitations ever issued to us and to all mankind is to 'come unto Christ and be perfected in him.' (Moro. 10:32.) How do we do that? One of the most beautiful and important ways is through the ordinance of the sacrament." -Elder Groberg, The Beauty and Importance of the Sacrament

-"What does it mean to partake of the sacrament worthily? Or how do we know if we are unworthy? If we desire to improve (which is to repent) and are not under priesthood restriction, then, in my opinion, we are worthy. If, however, we have no desire to improve, if we have no intention of following the guidance of the Spirit, we must ask: Are we worthy to partake, or are we making a mockery of the very purpose of the sacrament, which is to act as a catalyst for personal repentance and improvement? If we remember the Savior and all he has done and will do for us, we will improve our actions and thus come closer to him, which keeps us on the road to eternal life. If, however, we refuse to repent and improve, if we do not remember him and keep his commandments, then we have stopped our growth, and that is damnation to our souls. The sacrament is an intensely personal experience, and we are the ones who knowingly are worthy or otherwise." -Elder Groberg

-One brother mentioned that each morning, he and his wife pray to know the Lord's will and how to serve Him. I want to do that!

-This same brother shared that he is sometimes on church disciplinary councils in his calling. For people who want to return, he asks them why they want to, and in every instance, they say that it's because they miss the Spirit. The bonds we have to the Spirit are strong and they can draw us back.

-Make sure the things you are doing aren't just going through the motions--decide what your purpose is and then plan your actions around it, not the other way around.

-The more we recognize the blessings the Lord gives us, the more we want to serve Him. It's all about showing your gratitude through your actions!

-One sister mentioned that (apparently) in ancient times on the Sabbath, people gave a double sacrifice. I can liken that to my life, for sure!

Help Wanted

"Imagine with me some of the possible spiritual 'help wanted' signs related to the work of salvation:

• Help wanted: parents to bring up their children in light and truth
• Help wanted: daughters and sons, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, and true friends to serve as mentors and offer helping hands along the covenant path
• Help wanted: those who listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and act on impressions received
• Help wanted: those who live the gospel daily in small and simple ways
• Help wanted: family history and temple workers to link families eternally
• Help wanted: missionaries and members to spread the “good news”—the gospel of Jesus Christ
• Help wanted: rescuers to find those who have lost their way
• Help wanted: covenant keepers to stand firm for truth and right
• Help wanted: true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ

Years ago, Elder M. Russell Ballard issued a clarion call to the sisters of the Church when he said: 'Between now and the day the Lord comes again, He needs women in every family, in every ward, in every community, in every nation who will step forward in righteousness and say by their words and their actions,‘Here am I, send me.’ My question is, ‘Will you be one of those women?'" -Sister Linda Burton, Wanted: Hands and Hearts to Hasten the Work

"Truly Good and Without Guile"

Great talk by Elder Michael T. Ringwood about seeking service over glory!

-“Great women and men are always more anxious to serve than to have dominion.” (President Spencer W. Kimball)

-"“Heavenly Father knows this young man is a successful missionary, and so do I.” He added, “And now you know too, so who else really matters?”"

-"the service that counts most is usually recognized by God alone."

-"Some may say, 'But I have so far to go to become like those you describe.' The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that the desires of our hearts can be transformed and our motives can be educated and refined. "

-"Each time we renew the covenant of baptism by partaking of the sacrament,we are one step closer to that ultimate goal."

-"In that covenant, we find the grace that enables us to serve God and keep His commandments, including loving God with all our hearts and loving our neighbors as ourselves. In that covenant, God and Christ succor us so we can succor those who stand in need of our succor."

"He has all power to save every man" -Alma 12:15

And by every man, He means every man.

The adversary can be very good at making us feel like we are outside the reach of the Atonement. We're not. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14)

Heavenly Father has the power He needs to help all of us and to forgive all of us.

Alma 38:4--”For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word's sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee.”--This is super important for me to remember. I often wonder how the early disciples did it. Peter and Paul faced such hardships. How did they do it? What allowed them to give up their natural man inclinations for comfort, for relief? I think a part of it was that their hardest trials weren't the first time that they had sacrificed for the Lord. They had done so in all the small moments, and that strengthened them for the harder trials. But also, it was because of the same reason that Shiblon did--the Lord was with them. The Lord is always with us in suffering. In fact, He was there first. I hope that in my trials, I will be immovable in my loyalty to the Savior.