Conference=My favorite holiday!

Conference has always been my favorite holiday...I await the weekend of relaxing and being spiritually fed with eagerness! Tonight at Family Home Evening it got me even more excited! We watched two videos in which the spirit was so strong...one is below.

I enjoy the words from our prophet and apostles, but I now think they are necessary in these perilous times. In order to combat the world today we have to put on the whole armor of God and that includes praying, reading our scriptures and following the words we hear in Conference!!!

Favorites

I have been thinking of some of my favorite quotes this week and thought I would share some. Who doesn't love a great quote?

-When life doesn't give you roses, remember who wore the thorns.
-Part of the fragrance still clings to the hand from the person who gives the flower.
-Happiness is not a destination, it is a decision.
-Clinging to "old self" is not a mark of independence, but indulgence.
-Don't let your problems get you down, unless they get you down to your knees.
-Prayers are one thing that never come back return to sender.
-Your going as far in this world as your attitude will let you.
-If your further away from God today than you were yesterday, guess who moved?
-Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap character. Sow character and you reap destiny.
-If you can overcome your thoughts, you can overcome your habits.
-God does notice us. And he watches us, but it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.
-7 prayerless days make one weak.
-The more you know HIM the more you know humility.

Right before I left on a mission my Dad made me a quote book which I am able to add quotes to and it is organized by subject, I LOVE IT! Its the best gift you could give someone...and even more impressive is the fact that he made one for all my siblings and cousins.

If you want to know the source of any of the above quotes or want one for a specific subject just let me know:)

Daily

A few years ago when I lived in Alaska I was always amazed by the moose. I know it sounds a little foolish, but I would watch them with fascination because they were constantly eating! I remember thinking that they needed daily nourishment to survive the harsh winter or they would quickly die.

Today I still think about this in regards to my spiritual nourishment. In the scriptures we are constantly reminded of things we need to be doing daily for example...

Live in thanksgiving daily(Alma 34:38)
Calling on the name of the Lord daily (Mosiah 4:11)

And quoted even more in the scriptures "always remember."

So, being human, I am not so great at doing things daily and want to be better. When I fail to read my scriptures, pray, or have gratitude on a daily basis it helps me to repeat to myself, "remember the moose, lol!"

Thanks Dad!

The visiting teaching message this month is called Under the Priesthood and after the Pattern of the Priesthood. I truly am grateful for and know that this church could not operate without the Priesthood, but I think I tend to take that for granted sometimes.

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, explained: “We operate in the manner of the priesthood—which means that we seek, receive, and act on revelation; make decisions in councils; and concern ourselves with caring for individuals one by one. Ours is the priesthood purpose to prepare ourselves for the blessings of eternal life by making and keeping covenants. Therefore, like our brethren who hold the priesthood, ours is a work of salvation, service, and becoming a holy people.”

I love this statement!!! Many times when I am not feeling great I want to serve or care for others around me because it is the only thing that makes me feel good. When it comes to the Priesthood I think that men can use this power in serving in the same way we women serve and nurture others. I am so grateful for blessings right now and the words of counsel I am able to receive from priesthood holders. I think as we follow the words of counsel in a blessing we, as Relief Society Sisters, show that we sustain, support, and cherish this power in our life.

Enduring

I have been thinking a lot about enduring to the end or enduring through hard things. I am reminded of this a few times a week when I go and exercise. There is a track at the fitness center were I run/walk a few times a week and I regularly see the same older gentleman. You might ask what is so special or different about him? Well, I would estimate that he is probably between 85-90 years old, walks with a walker, and is ALWAYS smiling! Every single person that passes him is met with a different greeting EVERY TIME THEY LAP HIM. His character and optimism AMAZE me!!!

The ultimate example of enduring well of course is Christ. In 2 Nephi 31:15 it says, "Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." This is the Father speaking of the Son.

I read this amazing talk by Elder Maxwell (I miss him so much), called Endure it Well. I am even having a heard time knowing what to share with you...please go read the whole text!!! So let me just end with this quote...

"By taking Jesus’ yoke upon us and enduring, we learn most deeply of Him and especially how to be like Him. (See Matt. 11:29.) Even though our experiences are micro compared to His, the process is the same."

Precious Gift

Yesterday in Relief Society we had a great lesson on conversion. For me the key point that the teacher made was sometimes conversion is remembering. When she said that I was instantly reminded that I felt the Holy Ghost strongly just the day before.

The day before I was privileged to go to a baptism of a twin boy and girl. Like any other baptism a talk was given about the Holy Ghost and that got me thinking that is what is different about our church from others. Before the keys and ordinances were put into place in the 1830's why were people joining the church? A lot of them joined before the Book of Mormon was published and just as the priesthood was being set up. The Holy Ghost testified of the truthfulness of this gospel! I love that we can know the truthfulness of all things, but especially gospel principles because of the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Paul asked the Ephesians unto what they were baptized and they answered after the manner of John's baptism. We know that it is unto repentance and so that we can receive the Holy Ghost. Have you ever stopped to think what life would be like without the gift of the Holy Ghost? I sincerely think it is the best gift I have ever received so I better cherish it, live worthy of it, and hold it precious.

Looking Forward

It is always fun to have things to look forward to! I am looking forward to several things right now which include Spring, Summertime (I know I shouldn't be jumping ahead, but I want heat), a vacation to Southern California, General Conference (it is my favorite holiday, yes it's a holiday) Easter, and just the future in general. While I was thinking about the future or things to look forward to I realized that there is one thing we should all look forward to...

The Second Coming! What an exciting, peaceful, hopeful, merciful, and happy thing. Sometimes I feel like I miss my Savior so much I can't handle it. I am not saying I am perfect, but I have faith that through my Savior I can be a better person.

The key is preparation. When I prepare for anything in life and I mean really prepare I feel confident and not fearful about the end result. It does take a lifetime of preparation to prepare for such an event, but it is so worth it!!!

I love the words of a familiar primary song, "I wonder when He comes again..." specifically, "Each day I'll try to do His will and let my light so shine that others seeing me may seek for greater light divine. Then when that blessed day is here, He'll love me and He'll say, "You've served me well my little child; come unto my arms to stay."