Speaker Palooza

This past Sunday I was able to go to a fireside by President Lynn Scoresby speaking on "The Spiritual Roots of Love." He shared a lot of amazing stuff, that I have really never thought about. This is turn made me very excited for the upcoming speaker palooza we all can participate in, that is Conference! I am so excited, it's only a week away!!!!!

In speaking about love he shared that Elder Holland said, "Character, Covenants, and Family are what we take with us when we leave this life." Love is a conscience choice not a condition. It is a covenant we keep with our soul and mind. I loved hearing this because a lot of guys I have been on dates with whom were divorced said that they simply "fell out of love." I don't believe that at all.

He also said Morality is a simple behavior that involves not hurting others or yourself. Anything that robs someone of their agency limits our ability to love. I liked these four things that he said were involved in love...

1-Make yourself venerable to the other person
2-Be more expressive in more forms of love
3-Sacrifice for the other person (and this should be pleasant)
4-Am I finding as much joy in making my significant other happy as I do in getting what I want?

I won't share every note I wrote down, but I loved having him as a teacher at BYU and he works as a Psychologist. If you are interested in finding out more about him here is his website.

We need Women

The world has enough women who are tough;
we need women who are tender.
There are enough women who are coarse;
we need women who are kind.
There are enough women who are rude;
we need women who are refined.
We have enough women of fame and fortune;
we need more women of faith.
We have enough greed;
we need more goodness.
We have enough vanity;
we need more virtue.
We have enough popularity;
we need more purity.

-Margaret D. Nadauld (Young Women General President)

Recently reminded of this in church, this is definitely something that we need to encourage others to help us be! I wish I could be this perfectly and get rid of my "worldly" traits.

14 million friends

On my personal blog I have talked about the worth of a soul a few times. I was reminded of this again today when I read the article in the Ensign called "Have I done any good in the world today?" Heidi Swinton, the author of President Monson's Biography wrote this article to relate her experience of writing the book. There is a line that says "If you ask him how many he counts on that list of friends, he will say, at least 14 million." I am so privileged to be thought of as his friend. I also liked when she said that "he exhibits great reverence for the lives of those he describes as "unnoticed and unrecognized.""

I also thought of a quote that someone very special to me shared recently. "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no 'ordinary' people. You have never talked to a mere mortal."

Really the worth of a soul is great! No one is forgotten, at least in the Lord's eye's. As I think about walking in others shoes I am more prone to love them and serve them. I hope to one say have the view of President Monson in saying that I have 14 million friends.

No One Can Take Your Place

I have learned some great principles in listening to Sherri Dew's book. I mentioned it in my last post. In fact I am listening to it for my second time. I have to share some of the things I think are the most poignant!

1-God wants a powerful people.
2-He gives his power to those who are faithful.
3-We, therefore, have a sacred obligation to seek after the power of God and use that power as he directs.
4-When we have the power of God with us, nothing is impossible.

How do we gain that power?
1-Through reading and studying the word of God (mostly the scriptures)
2-Having the Holy Ghost and/or Revelation
3-Accessing the Priesthood or being worthy to hold it
4-Attending the temple
5-Through the Atonement

Another powerful thought...
"When we choose to sin we choose to live on our own!"

I also liked how she talked about having more integrity or becoming more honest...
1-Decide today you will be worthy of trust.
2-Do what you say you will do.
3-Make covenants and keep them.
4-Stand up for what you believe.
5-Expect your integrity to be challenged.
6-Don't give up.
7-Covenant (do what you came here to do).

We sow the seeds to reap a bountiful national harvest by:
-Having Integrity
-Be selfless
-Having a devotion to God

Thanks for these insights Sherri!

Random

I have been thinking about so many things lately I have not known what I want to post. So this is going to be a mixture of a few of my religious thoughts lately.

FHE should be easier when you are single, right? It just seems like the FHE leaders in my ward really struggle with coming up with ideas. I feel like I should go so that I get into the habit when I have my own family, but I like variety and I don't want to have to drive far to get there every time! So I found a great site on pinterest with fun ideas.


I have also been listening to a CD called "No One Can Take Your Place" by Sherri Dew. A friend of mine loaned it to me and said it was amazing. I concur!!! I am only in chapter 3, but am L.O.V.I.N.G it:)

Lastly I made a New Year's Resolution, among others, which seems to be really hard for me. No Gossiping! It is a lot harder because others gossip to me. Personally I don't want people talking about me behind my back, at least saying things they would not say to my face. I got an email from a friend that I think sums up what I have been feeling.


Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.
One day an acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about Diogenes?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied, "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."
"Triple filter?" asked the acquaintance.
"That's right," Socrates continued, "Before you talk to me about Diogenes let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "Actually I just heard about it."
"All right," said Socrates, "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about Diogenes something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something about Diogenes that may be bad, even though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued, "You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter, the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about Diogenes going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "If what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me or anyone at all?"