Live after the Manner of Happiness

We had a nice Stake Conference the last couple of days. My main take-away was what Elder Claudio Zivic taught from 2 Nephi 5 about how the Nephites learned to "live after the manner of happiness." Some of the main things they did included:

• keeping God's commandments
• studying the scriptures
• having families and children
• working hard
• developing their abilities and talents
• receiving direction from the Lord
• building and working in the temple

It's a simple formula really....love the Lord and follow Him! That doesn't mean there won't be wars and trials, but we can be content in knowing we're doing what He would have us do. As we care more about the things of God than of men we will be happy. I was inspired this morning reading the first several chapters of Acts as the apostles are beginning their ministry after Jesus' resurrection. They are steadfast in their witness of Him, even when several people threaten and do put them in prison they are committed to the Lord, saying "We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29)."

Maintain what Matters Most

I just spent a wonderful weekend in Boston! It was awesome to see the leaves, explore the city, take a break.....

.....and attend a fantastic conference with about 500 other single members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The theme of the conference was "Stand Together: Maintaining Perspective on what Matters Most." There were some fantastic speakers and opportunities to think together about how to strengthen ourselves and others in the gospel. Here were some of the highlights:

Elder Matthew Eyring:

* maintain a life-long commitment to Jesus Christ

* remember the power of understanding true doctrine

* treasure up the words of life

* understand that your struggles really aren't relevant because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ

* tie yourself to the feelings you have when you read your scriptures

* gain power when acting in faith even through uncertainty

* we are agents to act, not objects to be acted upon

* we need revelation!

* ACT so the Lord will guide you to receive more light (1 Nephi 16:29)

* are we prepared to listen, feel, act? :)

* the shelf-life of a prompting is very short! act quickly.

* serve, sacrifice, go to your knees and DEPEND ON THE LORD! :)

* boldly declare who you are and what you're about

* don't be afraid to sacrifice and ask for sacrifice from others

* act and invite others; never shrink as members of His Church

* "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ!" (Romans 1:16)

* be unafraid to be who you are!

* sacrifice and consecrate all that we have to the Lord and His kingdom!

Elder Clayton Christensen:

* There are less standard sacrifices asked of us now, but "it is not meet that [we're] commanded or compelled in all things"... but we should "be anxiously engaged in a good cause...and bring to pass much righteousness." (D&C 58:26-28)

* What have you been doing on your watch?

* The standard of sacrifice is ALL things!

* Sacrifice everything for the kingdom -- there is so much to do! Create a plan of action!

* The Church needs you!

* Find out what questions people have.

* Sacrifice time to serve in the temple.

* Remember what matters most -- what matters most to God needs to be what matters most to us!

* Sacrifice for the Lord and you'll be happy.

* Be innovative and creative in your attempts to build the kingdom of God!

* See a problem and solve it. Take the initiative!

* Seek for inspiration and revelation.

* When we hit a roadblock follow the ways of God (Isaiah 55:8-9) and build the kingdom in His way -- by the simple and weak, be humble and open, we're not perfect, create a need, get to know people, go after the one like the Good Shepherd

* Lose yourself in the gospel! (Mark 8:35)

* Come sacrifice all that you have for the kingdom of God.

* Build kingdom in Lord's way....we'll be successful and you'll grow!

Sister Kristen Oaks:

* We are a covenant people to "stand as witnesses at all times" (Mosiah 18:8-10)

* Heavenly Father loves us personally -- you're a child of God!

* Be the best you can be -- be a disciple of Christ!

* Honor your emotions -- you are a celestial being here on a visit!

* Be anxiously engaged! "Real princesses save themselves." :)

* Know and understand who you are.

* Understand the priesthood.

* Sanctify yourselves -- your faith will demand the best of you.

* Prepare to live after the manner of happiness

* "Taste" the principles of eternal life.

* We are in enemy territory, so get up and read the Book of Mormon.

* Recognize the voice of the Lord.

* Be kind to each other.

* Look for service.

* Comfort those in need.

* Stand by each other.

A few other thoughts by some other fantastic speakers:

* Define what spiritual success is for you.

* Live the gospel with ambition!

* Pray for inspiration.

* Come drop my burden at His feet....to do and be what He wants today!

* Choose spiritual success and make a purposeful plan to achieve it.

* God is with us!

* We can't turn back -- it's not consistent with who we are--children of God.

* Know His voice; don't get lost.

* Nothing can separate us from the love of God (see Romans 8:35-39).

* Jesus Christ offers the abundant life.

* Come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy (Hebrews 4:16).

* What if the Lord called you to do something important? What would your response be?

* Do you feel closeness to the Lord in prayer? If not, why not?

* We need to be loved and cherished by others

* People come here to become world experts, but you're the best....the light of the gospel shines in your faces!

* Have courage to live the gospel!

* Leave what you're doing and reach out to others.

We also sang some wonderful hymns that helped me learn some important things:

• More Holiness Give Me (more gratitude, more trust in the Lord, more hope in His work, more fit for the kingdom, more used would I be)
• Onward, Christian Soldiers
• Hope of Israel
• In Humility, Our Savior
• True to the Faith

It was a great weekend! :)

Off to Massachusetts..... :)

Decisions and Revelation

I've learned a lot about decisions and revelation lately. Often you have to make a decision and move forward before an answer will come..... :)

Wonderful Weekend! :)

Life is good...."oh-cud" for four "good mornings" I got to spend time here with some of my very favorite people! :)

Proactive Disciples

I have been thinking a lot about the importance of being proactive over the course of the last year (it's kind of the culture of DC), but especially in the last few weeks.

We are agents for ourselves. We can choose and we must choose to act or be acted upon, as Elder Bednar often likes to talk about. He gave some very neat counsel at General Conference a couple of weeks ago when he said that we need to "be learners who act and thereby receive additional light and knowledge by the power of the Holy Ghost--not merely passive students who primarily are acted upon."

As we learn in D&C 58:26-28, "It is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."

In her most recent talk on personal revelation and testimony, Sister Thompson referred to a great moment in the scriptures in 1 Nephi 15 where Laman and Lemuel told Nephi that they couldn't understand the words their father, Lehi, taught them. Nephi asks simply, "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" And they said, "We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us." Here is a perfect example of the importance of asking, working and finding out for yourself what's right and doing it...being an active disciple of Christ and not a passive follower!

I'm grateful for these examples and reminders. I love General Conference! I feel like we are at a very important and crucial time in history. We need to choose who we are and what we stand for. We need to not be shy about sharing our beliefs and values. There is urgency being proactive about learning and doing what's right. Here's a link to some of the highlights and another fun reminder to Seize the Day! :)