Spiritual Guidance

I have seriously neglected this little blog. I mean for it to be a place where I can write down my personal thoughts and spiritual experiences.  One would think that, because I don't post often, I must not have many spiritual experiences.  That couldn't be more wrong. 

One problem is that it is not often convenient to post as spiritual experience as it happens.  And, because of life, I then forget. Another reason I may not post my experiences is that I often feel like I am not eloquent enough.  My words might not convey the true emotion that I feel.  And, more often than not, I may not recognize an experience with the spirit, until some time as passed and I can look back and see my Heavenly Father's hand in my life. These are all excuses, and although they may be valid, they are excuses just the same.

I am reminded of a talk given by Elder Richard G. Scott in the October 2009 General Conference.  It is titled "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance."  The part of the talk that affected me most is when he talks about writing spiritual impressions down and then pondering them.  He then describes receiving even more spiritual promptings as he has followed this process. Elder Scott spoke about the personal nature of these impressions, and that they come with practice. He said,"I believe that you can leave the most precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because you do not respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you."

 I don't want to miss direction from the spirit.  I want to establish a pattern of seeking, receiving, and recognizing personal guidance from the spirit. I will do this as I return to daily scripture study. I will pray to recognize promptings from the Spirit and then act on them. Then I will write them down and give myself time to ponder (probably the hardest step for me). I am eager about what I may find in this process.

Along the Way

A few days ago, my mission president died.  He had such a profound influence on me and a huge impact on the person I am today.  He saw potential in me that I didn't see in myself.  He taught me about hard work, listening to the spirit, and the power of prayer. He was a great man, and his death hit me harder than I expected.

In the last few days I also ran into a couple of my favorite teachers from school.  These teachers, along with a few others, taught with passion.  They showed me that being smart is not only cool, but also important.  They taught me to think critically and that the quest for knowledge is an exciting journey.

As I have been looking back on my life these last few days and thinking about these individuals, I see that my Heavenly Father has placed key people into my life at key moments.  Each of these individuals changed the course of my life for the better.  I see these individuals in every aspect of my life, not just the spiritual moments. 

One thing about these people is that, by the world's standards, they weren't important. They weren't flashy. They didn't seek praise. In fact, most would be considered simple.  But their quiet dedication is what made the difference for me.  They not only did what was required of them,  they were dedicated to their task, and they performed their duties with love and passion.  Whether or not they know it, their loves touched my and changed it for the better.

Heavenly Father knows me.  He loves me. He knows my strengths. He knows my weaknesses.  And because he knows me, he placed the individuals I would need into my life at the precise moment I would need them.  The more I think about it the more I can see god's hand in my life, and that gives me great comfort.

Recapturing Beauty; Day One

At our Mother-Daughter Night I challenged the Young Women and their mothers to do this challenge aimed at helping women discover their real beauty.  Today the challenge is to express gratitude for the things my body allows me to do.  It's 10-minutes, so no eloquent writing here.

I am grateful for a body that is healthy.  With my body I am able to pick up my children, give them hugs, wipe their tears, look at their beautiful faces.   I was able to have children of my own, and while things certainly didn't go according to plan in that department, I have four girls.

I am able to enjoy beauty all around me.  I love autumn, and I'm grateful I can see it's dramatic changes.  My body made it possible for me to enjoy our trip to southern Utah last week with all it's splendor.

My ears allow me to listen.  I can enjoy beautiful music, the sound of my girls' laughter, Mark's soothing voice.  I am able to listen to the words of prophets.

I can walk and run.  My body has performed for me in races and allowed me to do things I never thought I could do.  I can play the piano.

My mind is also part of my body and I'm so grateful to be able to gather knowledge, read, remember, think through and feel the spirit, because that is often how I receive my inspiration.

 As I try to imagine each day without the use of certain parts of my body, I realize that this body of mine makes my life possible.  This body is wonderful and not to be taken for granted.

Shhh... Be Still

I realize I have not yet posted about my experience at Girls' Camp. I wish I had taken the time back when I returned. It was an unexpectedly overwhelming spiritual experience for me.  I was expecting to have a fun time and feel the spirit a little.  I hadn't expected the almost constant companionship of the spirit for 5 days straight.  It was a beautiful place, where I can honestly say I felt closer to the Lord.  I was fascinated to learn that the missionaries at the camp are not under the mission department of the church, they are part of the temple department.  Not surprisingly, the camp is called the temple on the mountain.  That perfectly describes how I felt for five days-like I was in the temple.

I came back wanting to be a better person and feeling better person than I have felt in too long.  I realized how noisy my life had become, and I had a strong desire to eliminate the noise.  I need to focus on my family and my church calling.  I don't have to do anything that will take me from those things.

But then life happened and things got crazy all over again.

Right now, while on vacation, I have slowed down again, and realized what needs to go.  I can't do it all, and I don't have to do everything the same as everyone else.  I have realized that right now is not the time for me to tackle some big PTA job.  I guess it takes me getting away to get some perspective and adjust my priorities.

I need to quiet my life and decide what is really important to me.  Right now the things that are most important to me are: my family, my home, my own well-being, and my church calling.  Everything else is going to have to take a back seat for awhile.

I am reminded of the scripture: Be still and know that I am God. That's going to be my motto for the next while.

The Right Way

Our Relief Society is reading the Book of Mormon in 100 days.  I admit I got a little behind and have been scrambling to catch up. 

Something I read a few days ago has really stuck with me.  I have been thinking about it a lot. 

In 2 Nephi 25:28-29 "...And the words which I have spoken...are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not...wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul"

For whatever reason these verses have really struck me this time around.  It seems so simplistic, but there really is a right way, and it really is a s simple as believing in Christ and deny him not.  That is what it all boils down to.  Either I believe in Christ or I don't.  If I really believe in Christ, then the rest will follow.

I've been trying to think of ways that I maybe deny Christ.  How am I spending my time?  What shows am I watching?  What music am I listening to? 

I know I have not been worshipping him with my whole soul.  I really like the idea of finding ways to do this.  This week I am really working on scripture study and making my prayers meaningful.  I am also working on my time and how I spend it.  It seems that the times I get down are the times I have slipped in my worship of Christ. 

We Women

My friend, Cheryl, posted this quote, and I have been thinking about it ever since.

 "We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are." — Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I think too often I have too many "important" things I want to do; so many that I never get any of it done. Someone recently told me that no one could accomplish my to-do list-EVER. I need to decide what is important right now and what important things can be done later.

I really need to remember to move along at a comfortable pace for me.  My comfortable pace does not have to match the pace of anyone else.  As long as I am moving in the right direction, my perfectionist-self needs to allow that to be enough.

I love when she says,"We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something."  While sometimes I find myself trying to prove something to someone, usually I am trying to prove something to myself.  I seem to have this perception of how I "should" be or what I "should" do.  Someone once told me to beware of the "shoulds."  It's so true! The "shoulds" can be my downfall.  Often when I am feeling depressed it is because I can't measure up to all of the expectations I place upon myself. 

I have really been trying to be more content this year.  I have mostly been focusing on being content with what I have. I'm so happy about the reminder to be content with who I am. When I have been content with myself is when I have been the happiest.  I want to recognize my own strengths, instead of comparing my weaknesses to the strengths of others.  I want to improve my weaknesses instead of using them to be hard on myself.  

 What I love most about this quote is the idea that simplifying my life needs to begin within my own head and heart. Thanks Sister Hinckley.

9-year-olds and the Old Testament

I teach the 9-year-old class in Primary.  First of all, I love Primary.  I especially love this group because they are all very unique, and they are really getting into the Old Testament.  And so am I.

From a kid's perspective, what's not to love about the Old Testament?  There's death, destruction, trickery, and much more.  I loved their reactions to Lot's wife.  They were imagining what it would have looked like in a movie to be turned into a pillar of salt.  Would she just become a pile of salt that blew away on the wind, or was it more like a statue made of salt?  And why would she look back when an angel told her not to? Duh!

I would dare say that their favorite so far has been the story of Jacob and Esau.  You have to love a story about a smooth brother and a hairy brother.  That week it was all girls, and as we read the account in the scriptures, one by one they all started to giggle.  Then they tried to imagine what Esau looked like.  One girl is sure he looked like the grumpy old troll in Dora the Explorer.  Plus, dressing up in goat skins so your blind father will think you are the hairy brother?  This is spicy stuff!

I have been amazed at how much I have learned about the Old Testament.  Not just the stories, but how they relate to me.  Every week it seems like the message is very personal- something I haven't felt about this book before. I'm disappointed the weeks I've had to get a substitute, because I know I'm missing something good.  I love knowing my calling was indeed inspired.

Right now we are working our way through the story of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt.  Another juicy story.  Then the kids made the most amazing request.  Could we have a party and watch the movie about Joseph?  Well, what do you say to a request like that other than-YES!  Not a Wii party.  Not a water party, but a party to watch a movie about an Old Testament prophet.  What great kids!