Our path of duty...where are we headed?

This is a short one today, i am running a bit late and we are going to barcelona in an hour!

BUT i did want to share a few things that stuck out to me. well, more like slapped me in the face.

"FIRST our path of duty is to GOD."

God wants all of us. ALL of our heart. but how can we do that? it's not like we can just stay home all day reading our scriptures and never go out.

well. he likes us to love Him by loving others.

"all the power that we possess. we should seek to do good in the world."

how do we know we are on the right path??

for me, praying has always been hard. but i have just been slapped as i said.

"we pray! it is EVERYONE'S sure way to know. EVERYONES lifeline to heaven."

so today. i am going to pray. and see how i am doing. and let God know i put Him first. and try to love people the best i can.

invitation to all to join. :)

Will i pour out my spirit...will you be a vessel?

goals:

"the ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT skill that can be acquired in this life."

what's blocking us:

"there has NEVER been a GREATER need for increased faith and personal righteousness"

"there is MUST distraction and not enough peace and joy"

i really appreciate how she highlights some examples of charity and love and patience. sometimes i can feel myself getting down or frustrated and i am not sure why. but i think its excellent that she brings up a few things that we can be aware of and know how to combat:

--"being in the right places allows us to receive guidance"

--"it requires a CONSCIOUS effort to diminish distraction"

--"persist in faith through difficult days and essential routine tasks"

--"refine and cultivate ourselves in EVERYTHING that is good and ennobling"

whose standards do i rise/lower myself to? who is my personal judge? who am i trying to become?

sometimes, to be honest, i can't answer these the way i should. i think we all have to fight for the right ones sometimes. i felt really humbled as i thought of this quote:

"we want to be ladies[saints] in very deed, not according to the term of the word as the world judges, but fit companions of the Gods and Holy Ones"

i am sure that some of you get discouraged or misjudge yourselves at times. and maybe wonder how you are doing, if you are even moving forward in the way the lord wants, if efforts actually matter. and they do. we can know for certain. that's what i hope for you all and myself, that through our efforts we can feel hope.

"Peace, joy and hope are available to those who measure success properly."

The power of the priesthood...and the power of EACH of us

Absolutes. In math and in language there are absolutes. 'never say never or always'. i thought about this a ton as i read this article. Packer throws out so many absolutes. in a world of wishy-washy beliefs and life styles, i find this captivating:

THE LORD AND HIS SERVANTS ARE BOLD---THEY ARE NOT AFRAID OF TRUTHS.

"Today we are encamped against the GREATEST array of sin, vice and evil EVER assembled before our eyes."

"Through the keys of the priesthood, they [have] access to ALL of the powers of heaven. They were commanded to carry the gospel unto ALL nations."

"It has NEVER been easy to live the gospel of Jesus Christ."

"We can and in due time certainly WILL influence ALL of humanity. It will be known who we are and why we are.

"It seems clear to me that the Church has NO CHOICE--and NEVER HAS HAD-- but to do more to assist the family in carrying out its divine mission...that is the MOST practical contribution we can make..."

"We need EVERYONE."

"EVERY (said 7 times--symbol of perfection)...ALL these have as their ULTIMATE purpose the perfection of the individual and the family."

the priesthood and families are under attack. the individual is under attack. and yet, we can follow the lords battle plan. its never been easy, but we can do it and we will win.

"We have NO FEAR of the future. Fear is the opposite of faith. We move forward, CERTAIN that the lord will watch over us, particularly in the family."

what are your thoughts?? please feel free to write any thoughts or inspiration you have--we can help strengthen each other!

Welcome to Conference...and welcome to you all out there

"How good it is, my beloved brothers and sisters, to meet together once again".

and really each of you, i love you and i really feel like this. its not easy to be so far away from friends and people that you love. and i have been thinking a lot about 'home' lately and just exactly what that means.

it's been incredible to be in another country, and to visit new places. i think one of the things that has touched me the most is to see how the gospel is true no matter where you are. and that no matter where you are, i have felt right at home with the members and when i go to church. it's been such a testimony builder to me.

the gospel is the great unifier! christ's love is what brings us all together. <3

i know that "we have come here to be instructed and inspired". and that as we work to prepare, "we may be filled with His Spirit as we listen and learn". i hope each of us come can think of questions we have and will make more to bring to our next conference, that the spirit can guide those things we need to hear.

It all begins..

sunday, september 5th. i hope you all will love it.