I put together a "top 10" list from this talk. When my husband asked me if there were any jokes in it, I told him no and he lost interest . . . . so if you're still interested, here they are.
10. Purpose of self reliance
"The purpose of both temporal and spiritual self-reliance is to get ourselves on higher ground so that we can lift others in need."
9. Provide opportunities for others, including youth and children.
"All of us have an “imperative duty”11 to assist our youth in preparing for lifelong service by helping them become self-reliant. In addition to the spiritual self-reliance we have been discussing, there is temporal self-reliance, which includes getting a post secondary education or vocational training, learning to work, and living within our means. By avoiding debt and saving money now, we are prepared for full-time Church service in the years to come. . . . Whether we are young or old, what we do today determines the service we will be able to render and enjoy tomorrow."
I especially liked that last sentence and the perspective that gives. Rather than thinking of each day as it's own separate entity, think of it as being connected to tomorrow. It gives more meaning and emphasis on the choices we make today.
"Parents and leaders, you can help youth experience the incomparable blessings of the sacrament by providing special opportunities for them to study, discuss, and discover the relevance of the Atonement in their lives. Let them search the scriptures for themselves and teach one another from their own experiences."
We had a good discussion about ways we can do this. I think it is best to do it in small conversations and moments. I really like how he says "discover", because it really is something each person needs to do for themselves.
8. Sacrifice
"I testify that the sacrifices we make to receive temple ordinances are worth every effort we can make."
Simple and powerful. There are always reasons to not go to the temple, but in the end we are missing out if we are not taking advantage of the temple.
I came across the following quote a couple of months ago and it has had a profound impact on the way I view things. President Hinckley said "You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make."
7. Coming to yourself
He begins and ends his message with the parable of the prodigal son.
"Away
from home, far from the place he wanted to be, and in his destitute
condition, something of eternal significance happened in the life of
this young man. In the Savior’s words, “he came to himself.”1
He remembered who he was, realized what he had been missing, and began
to desire the blessings freely available in his father’s house.
Throughout our lives, whether in times of darkness, challenge, sorrow, or sin, we may feel the Holy Ghost
reminding us that we are truly sons and daughters of a caring Heavenly
Father, who loves us, and we may hunger for the sacred blessings that
only He can provide. At these times we should strive to come to ourselves and come back into the light of our Savior’s love."
Each of us will have times in our lives when we are feeling down and causes us to come to ourselves. I think the choices we make at these times have very far reaching effects.
6. Prepare for the sacrament before sacrament meeting
"To worthily partake of the sacrament, we remember that we are renewing the covenant we made at baptism. For the sacrament to be a spiritually cleansing experience each week, we need to prepare ourselves before
coming to sacrament meeting. We do this by deliberately leaving behind
our daily work and recreation and letting go of worldly thoughts and
concerns. As we do, we make room in our minds and hearts for the Holy
Ghost.
Then
we are prepared to ponder on the Atonement. More than just thinking
about the facts of the Savior’s suffering and death, our pondering helps
us to recognize that through the Savior’s sacrifice, we have the hope,
opportunity, and strength to make real, heartfelt changes in our lives."
With small children, sacrament meetings are not always the most spiritual meetings one would wish them to be. I have found that the weeks I take time to prepare before, usually Saturday evening, I am able to have a much more meaningful experience.
5. Establishing patterns
" . . .we establish patterns of Christlike living. These include obedience,
making sacrifices to keep the commandments, loving one another, being
chaste in thought and action, and giving of ourselves to build the
kingdom of God."
4. Power from the temple
"Through the Savior’s Atonement and by following these basic patterns of faithfulness, we receive “power from on high”9
to face the challenges of life. We need this divine power today more
than ever. It is power we receive only through temple ordinances."
This was one of the most powerful lessons written on my heart. I truly felt a longing to go to the temple because I need that divine power so desperately.
3. Evaluate then work
"With His love and the love of His Son in my heart, I challenge each of us to follow our spiritual desires and come to ourselves.
Let’s have a talk with ourselves in the mirror and ask, “Where do I
stand on living my covenants?” We are on the right path when we can say,
“I worthily partake of the sacrament each week, I am worthy to hold a
temple recommend and go to the temple, and I sacrifice to serve and
bless others.” "
Take the time to ask those hard questions then be willing to do the work required. Help will be given.
2. Striving
He uses the words-hunger, strive, deliberate, steadily, steadfastly-words that imply great effort and desire.
In my temple recommend interview a few months ago, Pres. Morris and I talked about the word strive. It doesn't say we need to be perfect, but we need to be striving. Striving involves emotional, spiritual and physical work.
1. Father is waiting
Returning to the parable-
"Beloved brothers and sisters, the young man spoken about by the Savior, the one we refer to as the prodigal son, did come home.
His father had not forgotten him; his father was waiting. And “when
[the son] was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had
compassion, and ran, and … kissed him.”13 In honor of his son’s return, he called for a robe, a ring, and a celebration with a fatted calf14—reminders that no blessings will be withheld if we faithfully endure in walking the path back to our Heavenly Father. . . .
I share my special witness that God so loves each one of us “that he gave his only begotten Son”15
to atone for our sins. He knows us and waits for us, even when we are a
great way off. As we act on our desires and come to ourselves, we will
be “encircled about eternally in the arms of his love”16 and welcomed home."
What a beautiful image and message!
If you made it through all 10 thanks for sticking with it! I hope the spirit was able to teach you something that will help you this week.
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