WOW!

Okay, so I know I'm a little late and we're moving on to the Priesthood Session talks (hooray!), but Elder Scott's and Elder Nelson's talks NEED to have a post! WOW! I remember being so touched during Conference when I heard Elder Scott share his experience of losing his children and wife and expressing his gratitude for the temple ordinances that help families be together beyond the grave. Reading it again only made it better.

First of all, Lesson For Misty: Get to the Temple! Adam and I aren't able to go as often as we did before we had children, but we need to get in gear and make it a priority again. We find the time to have date night, to visit with friends, to go to a movie, but our temple attendance has been pretty sad as of late. I needed to hear Him remind me to get my act together and take advantage of the blessings offered by going to the temple.

Whew. Now on to some other things that stuck out to me: I noticed that 14 years ago, Elder Scott made the goal to attend the temple at least once a week, and that 14 years ago is also when he lost his wife. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing those two things are closely related. It reminded me that temple attendance can be an amazing source of strength and power and can give us the ability to get through any tough situation we may find ourselves in. There were also a few things he said while he was talking about losing his wife and his son that really touched me.

• "I have never asked why but rather what is it that He wants me to learn from this experience. I believe that is a good way to face the unpleasant things in our lives, not complaining but thanking the Lord for the trust He places in us when He gives us the opportunity to overcome difficulties."
• "We do not need to worry, because our children were born in the covenant. We have the assurance that we will have them with us in the future. Now we have a reason to live extremely well. We have a son and a daughter who have qualified to go to the celestial kingdom because they died before the age of eight."
• "What I am trying to teach is that when we keep the temple covenants we have made and when we live righteously in order to maintain the blessings promised by those ordinances, then come what may, we have no reason to worry or to feel despondent."

Again, WOW! If I could shape my attitude to match those statements during times of trial, I'm sure it would be much easier to get through that trial and I would have my faith strengthened in the process.

Elder Nelson's talk about prayer was also so good to read. I love how he used different examples of the Savior's prayers to teach us how to have more meaningful prayers ourselves. The main points I gathered were:

1. Pray for unity. We know Zion = purity, unity, & equality, so if we want to establish Zion in our families, neighborhoods, wards, and stakes, we have to pray for it.
2. Pray for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. "If companionship of the Holy Ghost is that important, we should pray for it too. We should likewise help all converts and our children cultivate the gift of the Holy Ghost. As we so pray, the Holy Ghost can become a vital force for good in our lives."
3. Enhance our prayers by using song, fasting, the proper language, and praying frequently.
4. Keep the length of our public prayers short. (I especially appreciated this suggestion...trying to keep two 2-year-olds still for a prayer at church can get a little tough depending on the length of the prayer!)
5. Kneel in family prayer each morning and evening. We don't kneel as a family to pray - we pray after the boys are tucked in bed. But I think we should start. The boys are old enough to try it, and it always seems more special or even sacred when we're kneeling together as a family rather than spread out all over the room, in various positions.

So there are the additions to my "List of Things to Work On" -- temple attendance, attitude during trials, more meaningful prayer - individually and as a family. Does the list ever end? I guess not. And I guess that's probably how it's supposed to be. Did anything stick out to you?

Week 7 (July 26-August 1)

This Week's Reading:

Pg. 49 "Counsel To Young Men" ~ Boyd K. Packer

Pg. 53 "This Is Your Phone Call" ~ Richard C. Edgley

Week 6 (July 19-25)

This Week's Reading
Pg. 43 "Temple Worship - The Source of Strength & Power in Times of Need" ~ Richard G. Scott
Pg. 46 "Lessons From the Lord's Prayers" ~ Russell M. Nelson

Any thoughts?

All three talks this week are SO good! I loved reading them. But I'm having my baby tomorrow, so if there's anything you want to talk about, it's up to you. :)

So what stuck out to you? Now's your chance to take charge. Discuss, discuss!

Week 5 (July 12-18)

This Week's Reading

Pg. 34 "Our Father's Plan - Big Enough for All His Children" ~ Quentin L. Cook

Pg. 38 "Faith In The Lord Jesus Christ"

~ Kevin W. Pearson

Pg. 41 "Faith In Adversity" ~ Rafael E. Pino

"Learning the Lessons of the Past"

Could anyone else totally hear Elder Ballard's voice in your head while you were reading this talk? I loved how he tied being SLC's first (and last) Edsel dealer into the importance of listening to those who have gone before you, and particularly how he mentions the prophets and scriptures.

Sometimes when I'm reading about the Nephites or Lamanites and see that famous Pride Cycle creeping back up, I get so frustrated! "Can't you see what's happening?" I want to scream at my scriptures. Or I think "How could they do this again?" And yet, here we are, right in the middle of one of those Pride Cycles in our society today. And oftentimes, I've been right in the middle of the pride cycle in my own life...for example, coasting along while all was going right, getting lazy with my prayers and scripture study because things were going smoothly, then being compelled to be humble by "tougher" times. Hmmm, kind of makes you think, doesn't it?

I loved ~ LOVED ~ the part where he says this:

"The voice of the Lord is clear and unmistakable. He knows you. He loves you. He wants you to be eternally happy. But according to your God-given agency, the choice is yours. Each one of you has to decide for yourself if you are going to ignore the past and suffer the painful mistakes and tragic pitfalls that have befallen previous generations, experiencing for yourself the devastating consequences of bad choices. How much better your life will be if you will follow the noble example of the faithful followers of Christ such as the sons of Helaman, Moroni, Joseph Smith, and the stalwart pioneers -- and choose, as they did, to remain faithful to your Heavenly Father's commandments."

Hopefully we'll find joy, happiness and peace in the future by learning the lessons of the past, just as Elder Ballard suggests we do. What a great, motivating, "just do it!" kind of talk.

Great Thought...

Hey, everyone! Sister Vi made a VERY interesting point about our young men and the "Revealed Quorum Principles" address. Click here and then read the comment she made. I had never thought about it in that way before, but she makes some very thought-provoking observations. Thanks, Vietta!

Week 4 (July 5 - 11)

This Week's Reading:
Pg. 27 The Sustaining of Church Leaders

Pg. 29 Church Auditing Department Report, 2008

Pg. 30 Statistical Report, 2008

Pg. 31 "Learning the Lessons of the Past"

~ M. Russell Ballard

"Adversity"

"I bear you my testimony that God the Father lives. He set a course for each of us that can polish and perfect us to be with Him. I testify that the Savior lives. His Atonement makes possible our being purified as we keep His commandments and our sacred covenants. And I know from my own experience that He can and will give us strength to rise through every trial."

{Wow!}

"The Power of Covenants"

The lessons on Sunday in Relief Society and Priesthood were amazing! (Thanks, Sister Vi & Brother Paul!) As Adam and I were discussing the lesson after church, he made a very interesting observation. He said that the more he learns about people who have very strong testimonies, the more he realizes that those people have strong testimonies BECAUSE of their trials. I guess I had never really thought of it that way before, but I completely agree.

As I began to read Elder Christofferson's conference address Sunday afternoon, I quickly realized that it goes right along with the lessons we had just had, and backs up Adam's observation. Elder Christofferson talks about "the power of covenants" and how the covenants we make -- particularly those we make in the temple -- give us strength to face whatever lies ahead of us. He mentions how our covenants give us "the continual flow of blessings promised by God", "the faith necessary to persevere...in times of trial", and "the bestowal of divine power" or power of godliness. I love how he says "Our covenant commitment to Him permits our Heavenly Father to let His divine influence flow into our lives. He can do that because by our participation in priesthood ordinances we exercise our agency and elect to receive it." Isn't that amazing? Just by our participating in those ordinances, we are showing our willingness to honor our covenants and showing that we are prepared to accept more responsibility that comes along with added light and spiritual power. Wow!

As I said, this talk goes right along with the lessons on the temple we had on Sunday, and how temple worship is our source for strength and power (as Elder Scott said), as well as showing that through our trials we are strengthened when we stay focused on those covenants and keep an eternal perspective. It all fit together so perfectly; at least for me.

The part of Elder Christofferson's talk that I want to print and stick to my fridge (I have a feeling that my fridge is going to be pretty full by the time this challenge is over...) is the second to last paragraph of his address. He says:

"Divine covenants make strong Christians. I urge each one to qualify for and receive all the priesthood ordinances you can and then faithfully keep the promises you have made by covenant. In times of distress, let your covenants be paramount and let your obedience be exact. Then you can ask in faith, nothing wavering, according to your need, and God will answer. He will sustain you as you work and watch. In His own time and way He will stretch forth his hand to you, saying "Here am I."

And finally, he says "I testify that God will keep His promises to you as you honor your covenants with Him." Now that's an Apostle's promise that sounds pretty good to me. Isn't it great? Oh, how I love the temple! :)