Forget-Me-Not

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a very powerful and moving address last night to the sisters of the Relief Society. The Relief Society is the women's organization in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It has the motto of "charity never faileth". It's major purpose is to help those in need and to succor the weak, whether they belong to the Church or not. President Uchtdorf's talk was directed at every women on earth, all of the daughters of God and I truly hope that his message is able to penetrate every female heart. I also hope that any man who hears his talk is able to have the truth of his message resonate within him.

President Uchtdorf used the metaphor of the little blue forget-me-not flower. Sometime we may feel small and overshadowed, but sometimes the smallest flower can have the purest beauty. He used the five petals to discuss 5 important truths that we should never forget.

1. Don't forget to be patient with yourself. Don't punish yourself for not being perfect. You can have high expectations for yourself, but don't have impossible expectations. Be compassionate with yourself. This is a hard one for me because I expect a lot of myself and I fall short and I get upset and discouraged. It is so important not to let that discouragement rule my life. I need to celebrate the small and simple victories of every day life. I can keep high expectations, but not beat myself up when I fall short. I can learn from them without despairing.

2. Remember the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice. It is wise to sacrifice something that is good for something better, but it is foolish to sacrifice something good for something less important. One of the examples he gave was it is a good sacrifice to miss a night of sleep to care for a sick child, but foolish to miss a night of sleep making trinkets for every member of your Sunday School class.

3. Be happy now. We should not be wasting time waiting for a "golden ticket" or a magical moment in life when all will be right and we will be happy. We need to learn to be happy now. (The golden ticket referenced Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Everyone was so focused on getting a golden ticket that they forgot to enjoy the simple pleasure of a chocolate candy bar. Enjoy the chocolate ;) At least that's what I go from that)

4. Remember the "why" of the Gospel. It is easy to get overwhelmed with the "what" and "how" of the  Gospel, but the "why" is important. The Gospel is not an obligation, it is a pathway. Keeping the commandments of the Lord and living the standards of the Church is not a burden, but a light. It is the guidance from our Father in Heaven to find true joy.

5. The Lord LOVES you. You are not forgotten. This is the sincerest and most penetrating truth. The Lord knows who you are, He knows your name, He knows your strengths and weaknesses. He loves you and you are not forgotten.

"Never stop striving for the best that is within you." - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Music of the Heart

I believe that music is one of the purest ways that the Spirit can communicate with our souls. I think next to that would be poetry. When these two combine to become hymns than something truly spiritual can happen. I say can because my heat and mind to be open to receiving the Spirit in order to feel the message. When a hymn is shared it can be the most powerful way for one human to communicate what they are feeling, with feeling, to another human. I think musicals are so successful because music is a powerful vehicle of communication that can be used in many different ways for good or for evil. I have seen how music being played in a room can affect the mood of everyone in that room and how changing the music can change the mood. This power is best used when music is meant to carry a spiritual message. I mean any message that can not be fully or honestly expressed in any other way. Joy, pain, sorrow, happiness, gratitude, love, etc. all of these feelings are best expressed in song.

"How Can I Be"

 D&C 25:12 "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads." The Lord hears our songs and they can be as powerful as prayer unto him when sung in righteousness. I'm glad he doesn't take all our songs as prayers...but there are times when I can only express what I feel to my Father in Heaven and my Savior through song. I have included some links to some songs that I find powerful and moving. Some are hymns from Church hymnbooks and others are just from individual people hoping to express their true spiritual feelings. Sometimes even watching the video can be distracting, try closing your eyes and just listening with your heart.

"His Hands"

For more uplifting music you can visit http://lds.org/churchmusic or 

view the Mormon messages page on YouTube

"I Know That My Redeemer Lives"

"I Am a Child of God"

Keep singing and keep listening for the song of God to enter your heart.

Remember

As the anniversary of 9/11 has been approaching I have been thinking a lot about the last ten years. I have been thinking about the horrible events of that day and of all the aftermath. I think that there were some positive reactions from the nation as a whole because of that day. The country became more unified and I feel like the nation as a whole sought for spiritual comfort and strength. I read an article by Prophet Thomas S. Monson in The Washington Post. (Follow the link, if you wish to read.) I was struck by the truth of his words. This man is truly a prophet of God, but what he says we can all know of its truth. This follows the same thread of thought as my last post about an unsteady heart, but this is on a broader scale as a community and as a nation.

 

I love the United States of American and I feel truly blessed to live here. However, I think that we could all trade in our apple pie for some humble pie. We are not perfect and we are not better than anyone else. Others before us sacrificed to create this country in which we live. We should all continue to work and sacrifice to keep it great. We should also remember that it is "In God We Trust" and that without him we are lost. "One nation, under God indivisible". Those words were written not as separate ideas of "under God" and "indivisible", but as one thought "under God indivisible" because without His guiding hand we will fall apart. 

Now this doesn't mean that anyone who doesn't believe in God can't be a "true American". I believe they can be as long as they continue to respect the freedom of religion as we respect their freedom of non-religion. However, I do think that if we as a nation do not recognize from whose hand all blessings flow that we will continue to falter. 9/11 was a hard slap in the face, a much needed wake up call. It was a terrible tragedy and a day of sorrow and heartbreak. But with sorrow and heartbreak comes joy and healing if we turn to Our Savior and Our Father in Heaven. Their arms are outstretched towards us. They are there for us in good times and in bad, so let us remember God this day and always.

Never Forget

The Source of All Light

I love this painting by Greg Olsen. The title of it is "Light of the World".

Mosiah 16:9 "He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."

He is the source of all light. He is the source of all good. All the light and all the good in the World come from the Creator. He is light. He is good. He is inside all of us. Every child is born with the light of Christ. We all have light and goodness within each person. We all have the potential for greatness. Any instinct for good comes from God because all light comes from Him, whether it is the light within me or a light shared from another it is all from him. The light and goodness draws me to Him. I sing His praises.

His light never ends. His light can conquer any darkness. I have had dark moments in my life. I have experienced the pain of feeling trapped in the darkness and fearful that I could never escape. The feeling that there is a heavy burden crushing my chest, breaking my heart, and closing my mind. Every time I have put aside my fear and prayed with faith, His light breaks through the darkness. His light chases away all fears. His goodness conquers all evil. I am eternally grateful for the Light in my life.

Unsteady Heart

I find that it is too easy to forget the Savior. I want to keep him at the center of my life at all times. But what does that really entail? Constant devotion, daily prayer and scripture reading... I think these are the basics. I think it is an attitude that one must maintain. An attitude of gratitude and love.

Helamen 12:1-3 

"And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; we can see that the Lord i his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him. Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their hers, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One-yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity. And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pertinence, they will not remember Him."

As unflattering as this description is, I believe it to be true because I see the proof of it in history, in current events, and in myself. When I am having an easy time in my life I tend to forget to say my prayers every night and I become lax in reading my scriptures. However, if I am experiencing a difficult trial then I remember to turn to my Lord in need. I do my best to turn to him in joy and gratitude as well, but I am not perfect. 

I am so blessed. The Lord has given me all that I have and blesses me with love and joy. I am filled with overwhelming gratitude and love for Him that gives all and gave all. He is Our Savior and Redeemer. Heavenly Father wants to bless us but we have to let Him into our lives and keep Him in our hearts. Always.

"Let Him In" Greg Olsen