New Year's Spiritual Thoughts

What are your New Years resolutions and/or goals?  

Today I will  share some of my own thoughts on goals/resolutions in a spiritual context and some highlights from church that I hope will help keep you centered as you approach the new year and beyond! All my thought probing questions for you to consider as you start the new year are in PINK!

First I want to preface the comments about goals and resolutions by saying that goal setting and the subsequent striving to attain those goals is not inherently of a spiritual nature. I think that improving one's self in meaningful aspects of life is most constructive, and when it exercises and increases our faith it is of the highest spiritual nature. The attainment of goals can fill our hearts with gratitude for the grace and blessings we were given by God that made it possible, or which enabled us beyond our natural capacity. Reaching for goals and resolutions that seem beyond the reach of our personal capacity provide us with an opportunity to put our faith on the line and reach out to Jesus. If we stick with it until

Too often we give up without putting in any substantial spiritual work. I speak from experience here. We work and put in so much of our own effort, which is good, but fail to pray meaningfully about these goals and ask for grace to be able to reach these goals.

As we say our 'daily prayers' are we telling God what our goals are and specifically asking for His help and approval? After the goals are set, are we checking in with God in our prayers daily and thanking Him for the progress we've made and asking for help to overcome the obstacles that have arisen? I wonder how much more progress we would make if we truly partnered with God daily in our efforts.

Christ is our anchor who can keep us moving toward the ideals we are striving for if we center on Him. His atonement carries us beyond our weaknesses and can change our human nature, which is often the source of our struggles in obtaining goals. 

Now, on to some comments that were made in our church service :)


1. Resolution and goal setting is most productive and valuable when it is a  focus year round, rather than just the immediately time before and after New Year's Day.

I think that if we were thinking about setting and evaluating goals all year long, it would be so much easier to continue working towards our goals! Atleast we wouldn't forget about them, which I feel like is half the battle for most of us.
What can you do to make setting/striving for goals a habit? 

The other half of the battle for most of us is maintaining the progress we've made while pursuing our goal.

How could you benefit from setting goals of maintenance, to continue the good habits that you've worked hard to obtain? 

2. Failure to meet your exact goal by the deadline is not failure.  Goals without a time frame is little more than a wish, but not having fully attained the whole goal by your deadline is not the end/failure of the goal.

Let me explain; our own sister Bethany Madsen pointed out that if you set a goal to lose 20 pounds by March 30th and it turns out that you have only lost 17 lbs by the 30th, that is not a failure! You have accomplished so much - 17 lbs to be precise, and there's no reason you can't continue on to lose the last 3 pounds and meet your goal. Dates and time lines are an important part of attaining specific goals, but remember they are not what is truly important, your progress is.

My two cents to add is that we may set resolutions or intentions that are not so easily  quantifiable, such as to be more patient, forgiving, or learn to be and know yourself. I think these types of resolutions are ones that require us to contemplate on the way we are living our lives daily, and adjust the way we think or do things as we notice that we are not quite in harmony with our resolution/intention. For example, if I set a resolution to be more forgiving this next year, I will not only have to think now about who I may need to forgive, but I will need to check in frequently (daily would be best) to think about if I have formed a grudge that day that I need to let go. Sometimes its hard to remember to do this daily checking in. We need a plan of how to remind ourselves or how and when to follow through on what we've resolved to do.

What are you going to do to remind yourself of your resolutions/goals so that you carry on well after the beginning of the New Year?

What will you do to track and be accountable for your progress?

May your goals and resolutions bring you closer to Christ as you rely on Him as the source of lasting change and hope - Happy New Year!!!

Loving God More Than We Love the World

Tara is always great at bringing hand outs and physical objects that help beautify and enhance the lesson. She is the best substitute!!! She printed quotes from the manual lesson on colored cardstock and made them into airplanes before the lesson and flew them out to us to read at the right moments in the lesson. Luckily no one lost an eye; it definitely brought a smile to my face! She passed out copies of President Lorenzo Snow's quote that she based the lesson on:  

"We have got to reach... a higher plane: we have got to love God more than we love the world."

We got some Air Head candy to help remind us to reach high :)

She also brought her black tap shoes. She told a story about when she was in dance as a little girl and wanted so badly to join the dance company and get the tan tap shoes that the pretty dance company girls had. She said "I wanted them so bad,” so she went with her parents to find out about the company, and found out that she'd be required to dance on Sunday. “My heart sank… My parents told me I could make my own decision; that I had been baptized and was old enough." As bad as she wanted those shoes, she chose not to try out for a company because keeping the Sabbath day holy was more important to her. Even though she couldn't have the tan shoes that she desired for so long, she was grateful for her black shoes and knew she could be happy with and love her black shoes- she could dance just as good in the black ones as she could in the tan ones.

Tara was such a good example of not loving beauty, prestige and popularity more than she loves God. I love that she said she could be happy with what she had, and knowing that she has chosen God (I think this is the perfect scripture to go along with the story).

Even when we don't have what we want, we can still be happy. Tara had a quote written on the board, "Love what you have and you'll have more to love."

Talking about how to reach high and love God, one sister shared how she and her husband weren't doing bad things, but that they weren't doing the little things, the right things to invite the spirit into their lives. Finally they got around to going to the temple and she felt such a spirit there that she never wants to do anything that could compromise having that spirit, the blessings of the temple, in her life. She said she is better able to help others when she has the spirit herself in her life.

Sister Ellie Jensen helped me take notes on the lesson and write this post. She wrote:

My story is similar to sister Bond's (the previous comment) in the fact that my husband and I recently sat down to reexamine our lives and what we need to do better at in order to be happier. We had noticed a decrease in the spirit throughout our days and didn't know what we were doing wrong. We came to the conclusion that we weren't really doing anything wrong, we just weren't doing very many "good" things. We discussed the power spiritually inviting media/literature has on us and decided together to watch/read at least one spiritual thing in efforts to feel the spirit throughout the day. Some of the things we have found influential have been- watching BYU devotionals on the BYU channel, listening to church music, reading/watching inspirational stories on the internet, & watching Mormon messages on LDS.org. We haven't been perfect at doing this, but on the days we have watched/read/listened to one of these things, we have felt an immense difference in our day. We are happier with each other, we feel more desire to serve others, we remember our importance as children of God, and we have clearer perspectives on where we should spend our time. I  I have a testimony that our lives will be filled with happiness, inspiration, and love when we fill our lives with spiritually inviting media/literature. It's such an easy way to feel the spirit, and IT WORKS! I challenge you sisters to start doing this. I know you will be blessed! -Elli Jensen

A few good questions to ask yourself are: When was the last time you went to the temple? What did you feel there? What is keeping you from going more often? Goal: plan your next visit or make the changes you need to in your life to be prepared and ready for visiting the temple.

Throughout her lesson, Tara emphasized that God loves us SO much! More than we will ever comprehend in this life! He knows our potential as His children, He believes in us, and has promised us eternal life if we obey him. 

Tara pointed out that we are GOOD people! Following, she asked, "How do we preserve ourselves as "good" people? (answers from sisters below)

-Do the little things, like going to the temple. Jeanette Bond shared her testimony about the salient   influence   this can have on our lives. Going to the temple brings you back to what truly matters most. 

- Keep our covenants

- Feed His sheep

-Love ourselves & others as much as God loves us!

-Invite the spirit into our lives every day!

-Continually reexamine our priorities. Communicate with God about them.

-Be grateful for what you have  

I am inspired every week that I come to our Relief Society Sunday meeting. Thank you to all the sisters who come. Thank you for your comments, for your presence. I love you! -Katie Sadovskis

Stake Conference Part 2 - Brother and Sister White

The theme of October 27th conference was Moroni 10:32:

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."

The first two speakers were stake members brother and sister White.
Brother White talked about how a command from the Lord to deny ourselves of ungodliness and be perfected can be intimidating. He sees this as becoming a little better every day.

He also reminded us of the New Testament story of the rich man, who when Christ told him that to gain eternal life he should sell all he had and give it to the poor, left Christ sorrowing. Let's remember that this man claimed to be keeping the basic commandments, but when it came time to give up something he loved, he was not willing to let go of his riches in order to follow Christ's will for him. Brother White asked us what we might be holding on to and/or let get in the way of following the Lord's will for us. If we were in the rich man's position, what would be holding us back?

Brother White then told us about how he had planned to go to medical school and was really set upon this plan. Things worked out such, that he began to question if medical school was really the path he ought to pursue. He was taking a statistics course and an opportunity to do research with a professor came up. After working some time with the professor, he invited brother White to join the masters program, which started in a month, even though he had not taken the general prerequisites. Brother White said that it was very difficult to change his career path  as he was afraid to reject his plans for medical school, and he had really set his heart upon this career path,  but he felt that statistics might be the Lord's plan for him. In time he did change his path from medical school to the statistics master's program. He says he is not sure how it will turn out, or what his career will be, but that it feels good knowing that he is following the Lord's will for him. He is glad that he did not let his own plans get in the way of following the Saviour.

Sister White brought another perspective to the meeting when it was her turn to address us. She is pregnant and has been working on using the power of words to have a positive outlook on the birthing process. She decided to do the same with our theme verse of scripture, and re-worded it to put a positive spin on denying ourselves of ungodliness. She thinks of denying ourselves of all ungodliness in the words embracing all godliness, which means to embrace who we truly are - children of God. As children of God in the beginning we were pure and innocent. How do we return to this innocence and embrace all godliness? She likened this unto learning to play an instrument, for example, the trumpet. To master a new instrument like this you must practice, learn from one who has mastered the skill, and follow the established music theory of notes and rhythms. It will take effort and time to master the playing of the instrument, just as it does to improve ourselves and embrace godliness after the pattern that our master teacher, Christ displayed during His mortal life.

She pointed out one example Christ showed us - that serving is embracing godliness. What easier way to serve than to visit those we are assigned to at least once a month? Serving shows that we love God and Christ and want to be like them.

I thought that this couple did a great job and were very sincere in all that they said. I enjoyed listening to them. Hopefully after reading this post you have something to think over for the week. What can you do to embrace all godliness and give up that which keeps you from the Lord?

My next post will feature some of the comments and ideas of the next two speakers in conference, who proceeded our stake presidency's talks.

President Niger's Message to the Provo Utah Married Student 2nd Stake

President Niger's Message to the Provo Utah Married Student 2nd Stake

I've done my best to capture as much of President Neiger's talk as possible, because I truly believe it is so important for us to listen (or read) and hearken to his words. I believe that it's as important for us to hearken to this counsel as it is to our apostles' and prophet's. Holding the priesthood keys of Stake President,  President Neiger does receive  inspiration from heaven about what we all in this stake need to hear and do .

As always, he's given us some counsel on goals to achieve in our lives. I've bolded and numbered the over arching goals he feels inspired for us to achieve, and put the more specific challenges he gave us to get there in purple.

First, President Neiger challenged us to:

1. Read Moroni 10:32-34 together as a couple and discuss the purpose of sanctification in our lives. What do you believe sanctification to be?

The purpose of life is to become Holy, or sanctified.

Sometimes we feel there's a chasm, like the grand canyon, that separates us from God. COme unto Christ - he helps us overcome and return.

2. Study the parable of the 10 Virgins in Mathew 25 together as a couple. Remember the President Kimball taught that the 10 virgins represent members of the church.

It is not that the 5 virgins did not share out of spite, but because they knew oil was something they could not give. The fire, or light of the lamp, is the spirit/light of an obedient life. Every good dead and act of obedience is a drop of oil added to our personal lamp. It makes sense to me know why the 5 could not share - we can not live another person's life in obedience, only they can do this for themselves. 

It is President Neiger's opinion that our judgment will be based upon how much light we attained in this life. 

Next, President Neiger read two questions that he received when he asked a group of Men in the stake to write down on a note card the one question they would like to ask him. He chose to answer 2: what is the goal or vision you have for us as members of your stake and what is your biggest concern for us? 

His answers: 

1. Work with all our souls to have a strong, covenant marriage.

Not surprisingly, President Neiger's biggest concern for us is tied to his first goal he wishes us all to strive for. He said the one of the most heart wrenching things he hears from stake members is that they are getting divorced. He said he was surprised about how many divorces happen within our stake. He did not expect to hear this dreaded news so often from stake members at the time he was called to serve as Stake President. 

I believe that President Neiger was very inspired about what practices we should include in our marriage to keep it healthy and strong. Everyone in the stake fell in love only a short time ago, up to a few years, as we are all students. What could drive us apart to early into our marriage? I'm sure the ways are endless, so instead we focus on what we should do today, to maintain or revitalize the most important relationship we have, the only thing that we will carry with us out of this life. 

          1. Pray daily as a couple (morning and night is ideal, once as a minimum), and talk about what you               are thinking and feeling about the things you've prayed concerning so that you can recognize                           revelation together.

          2. Hold FHE weekly. This can be as simple as reading a conference talk to together and talking                      about it or visiting temple square. 

          3. Attend the temple regularly together. A good idea is to replace a recreational activity or date                  with a date to the temple together. President Niger talked about how he went with his wife last                      week to the temple and they ate in the cafeteria afterwards. He said they were surrounded by '90                  year olds' but that it was lovely and they enjoyed the food and their  time together. 

          4. Don't raise your voice to one another.

          5. Serve one another (one small act a day is all it takes). 

          6. Treat your spouse with the utmost kindness and sensitivity. Do not make a dig at your                        spouse in private or in public to get attention. All we need is a little pivot to change our trajectory.                  Kindness can be that pivot. 

I found some Mormon Message videos that emphasize some of the points about nourishing marriages, as President Neiger talked about:

Saving Your Marriage

Expressions of Love

2. Hold Tight to the Iron Rod

• Read and Discuss 1 Nephi 8 & 11 with your spouse.

The tree is the Saviour, the fruit is His grace. All it takes is a small crack for Satan to get in and drive us apart, it is surprisingly easy for an lds couple to want a divorce if they don't hold to the rod. Hold to the rod. Do not be as the children of Israel, many of whom died because they would not look at the brass serpent Moses commanded them to look at. They died because they would not accept the simpleness of the way. Our marriage relationships, like a living thing, can easily die if we reject the simpleness of the way.

3. Be Engaged in Missionary Work

The prophet's highest priority right now is missionary work.

4. Create Unity in the Ward
Think about what you can do each week.


5. Serve One Another (ward members)
President Neiger brought up a couple of examples in our stake. One sister changed her schedule so that she could go on walks with a sister she found out was having a difficult time. Another sister created a group for sisters struggling with infertility; they strengthened each other and brought some happiness into tough days. President Neiger said he could go on and on about all the good reports he's heard from bishops (yay - go sisters! I know you are a part of that, or will be soon).

"Treat everyone with extra kindness. Everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

President Neiger then talked briefly about how a friend took him to play some baseball and after 15 minutes he was feeling like he was in high school again and rejuvenated. He was having a tough week and his friend's kindness was the little pivot that changed the way his week was going.

President Neiger then quoted C.S. Lewis:
"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. Nations, cultures, arts, civilisations -- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whome we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit -- immortal horrors or everlasting splendours."

And Ralph Waldo Emerson:
"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

He finished with his short and powerful testimony:
"The gospel is true. I know it with every fiber of my being."

Contributing to the Lord's Work - Our Class Discussion

I feel like in our Relief Society, the class participation is really what makes it great. I remember when I was a teacher how great it was to have the participation of everyone. Our teachers do a great job of inspiring us to share comments which really bring out a lot of good stories and perspectives.

The main 2 points that I took away from the comments today was that the little things we do can add up to make something great and that the way we live our lives is the best way to share the gospel.

Cassidy reminded us again that a single bee only produces 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in it's life - that does not seem like very much to us humans! If a little honey bee thought and felt the way we humans do, it would be easy for the bee to feel sad that it only makes so little of a contribution to the hive, but this is not the way nature intended it to work! Bees are designed to be successful when they work together as a team - they can make pounds and pounds of honey together! The collective effort of all the bees is what adds up to many pounds of honey. It's quite incredible if you think about it. We as members of the church are no different than the honey bees in this regard- together, each doing our own little part (how ever difficult or easy it may seem) adds up to be a great amount of good done in the world, which really makes a difference in people's lives!

Lisa had us read stats about the welfare of the church in the lesson, and it's important to remember that the church wouldn't be growing without our individual and collective efforts.

What might be holding you back from contributing more, or something that you're holding back?

The little things like a kind word or a prayer in their behalf aren't just what makes a difference in others' lives, but in our own as well. I really liked what Rachael Ann said - "The small things are what make you strong."

As I said, it was noted a few times that who we are often goes much farther than what we say in sharing the gospel. We had a visitor today who told a story about how this inactive lady never let her visiting teachers in, but they always left something with a message every month for her. Some time later the woman became active, in large part do to the faithful, loving examples of service her visiting teachers showed her. Our sister said how she heard the woman herself tell the story, and she pointed out that her visiting teachers never found out that she became active again, because it was some time after the sisters no longer lived in her area. She said, "For all they know I am still inactive. They will not know that because of their examples I am active now." Just think how easy it would have been to think that their seemingly small effort to leave something with a thought once a month wouldn't be enough to change the sister's heart.

To add to this point, Mary shared a wonderful story about her dad. I messaged her to get the story straight. She said, "he was totally inactive for 10 years while he was living in Alaska. The rest of his family lived in Oregon and Idaho, so they just prayed a lot for him and kept living the gospel. He saw the way their lives were going and realized that's what he wanted for himself and started coming back to church and has been fully active ever since. His family NEVER thought he would come back, so basically don't ever give up on anyone, there are no lost causes :)"

 Lisa, our teacher, then shared her testimony that praying for people, when they don't want to hear the gospel now, really does make a difference.

I feel like I'm hearing so much about sharing the gospel lately. I really need to think about with whom and how I can share the gospel, by living an example worth emulating and reaching out to others.

Are you thinking about how to share the gospel? Now is the time to do it. The change of the colors of the leaves brings about a lovely season - I love fall because it is so beautiful. The change of the seasons reminds us that we too are meant to change with time and that none of us were meant to go through life without adjusting our patterns, thoughts or state of being. We are children of light - find the true source of light this week by turning to the Saviour through thought, word and prayer.

Remember about the little honey bees who work so hard to produce what seems like so little this week. Believe that your actions amount to something. You are wonderful! I believe in you and I know our presidency does too.

Upcoming Events

There is lots of awesome goodness coming up!


Stake Conference:
                    General Sessions:
                    Sat. 10/26 @  6 pm
                    Sun 10/27 @  10 am
                    Priesthood Session:
                    Sun 10/27 @ 7 am

                    All meetings @ Multi-stake building 350 N 900 E Provo, UT

Parties!:
                 Fall Party - Relief Society and friends
                 10/16  @ 7 pm
                 Bring your favorite pumpkin recipe with the recipe and samples
                 We will make fall wreaths!
                 Ward Halloween Party
                 10/29 @ the church,7 pm

Other Activities:
                 Free Bikini Bootcamp
                 M & W @ 6 pm

                 Text Maria Haynes for more info 707-301-6434

                 Return to Music Day - $5 Piano Lesson Charity Event
                 Lessons by Kristen Pothoof
                 Register for a time slot - call Kristen 813-469-5347, or  online at  PothoofPianoStudio.com
                 Returntomusicday.com




     

 “Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up.”
-3 Nephi 18:24

Church Leadership and Selfless Service - Don't Blow It!

Today the one and only beautiful Kate Livingstone took us all through a lovely spiritual journey together as we discussed topics stemming from chaper 18: Church Leadership and Selfless Service.

Kate brought a lovely green bowl full of Blow Pops for us to remind her of her high school tennis coach's phrase, "don't blow it!" The phrase was meant to remind them not to let their head get in the way of their performance when they had well prepared. 

The story in the manual that we talked about described President Snow's (before he was ordained a prophet) observations of a presiding Elder in a branch in London (similar to a branch president today). The leader externally appeared to be very righteous externally. He worked hard to achieve all that a leader should. None the less things were going wrong in the branch. President Snow prayed for the gift of discernment. President Snow said about this:

"My prayer was answered; I found the brother possessed of a kind of half-hidden, concealed spirit of self-exaltation which was directing him in many of his movements. He would send out a brother to fill an appointment but had a suppressed wish to have the honor of it himself; if the appointment was not attended to, he would chasten the delinquent, not because the work of the Lord was in any degree frustrated or that the brother lost a blessing, but because [he] himself was so despised in being disobeyed. In [a] case where a number were baptized by a brother, his heart rejoiced not so much because the persons were brought into the covenant but because it was done under his superintendency, secretly wishing no person under his charge to obtain much honor unless his own name were brought into connection.”

President Snow actually wrote a letter to branches throughout the region describing this leader's secret motives and feelings. 

The manual states:
Elder Snow did not write this letter to condemn the local leader. His purpose in writing was to help other leaders—that the prideful spirit he described “may be seen, known, and avoided” among them. He warned that many people “who sincerely believe themselves entirely devoid of this spirit of exaltation, would on close examination of their motives which inspire them in their conduct, discover to their surprise that this spirit was urging them forward to perform many of their movements.”

President Snow pointed out that this spirit of "self exaltation" is an evil influence and will harm ourselves and others if we do not rid ourselves of it. 

I think that if we are to find this spirit in ourselves it will require great humility. Do not be discouraged if you have prideful thoughts and self motivated desires. We all have weaknesses that we are designed to over come!

See Overcomer music video below  ->  

Here is a summary of some of our sisters' comments throughout the lesson:

• Don't blow it! Aka trust yourself and don't get in the way of what you can do. 
• The spirit of self exaltation ruins the self. 
• There is always a reason why you are called to your calling even if you feel under qualified. 
• The Lord will help you to see why your calling was given to you to help you and others.
• Don't get in the way of magnifying your calling by being arrogant or doubtful. 
• One of the best ways to magnify ourselves is to magnify Christ and his attributes. 
• Lorenzo snow invites us to be humble in our callings.