I Want A Day Off!!

Have you ever just wanted sometime to yourself? Life seems to be running you around in circles just to get on with a new days events. It seems like that has been my attitude of late. I just want to have some time off. Time when deadlines or responsiblity can wait. I just want to be left alone!

At these times I have found great comfort in relying on strong examples. I think of President Eyring who spoke about immersing ones self in work. Just plough through and find joy in hard work. The fact of the matter is that this life is for us to work. We had better recognize that we are always going to be doing something. Even if we are wanting that cherished time alone, our minds are still working our bodies are working. So even when we mean not to we are doing something.

The greatest blessings come from serving others. The service rendered to others allows us to forget our own craziness and work out our problems while helping someone else. Often when we solve issues around us it really was not as hard as we originally thought.

So really what are we wanting to get rid of when we want to be alone? It is all the drama that comes with life. Life can  really throw some curve balls. It isn't so much what happens to you it matters most how you choosed to deal with it. You have to make choices! So now you have to choose to run away and be alone or hit the problem head on.

You don't really need time off. You need to remove all the drama, the extras and  find a balance between the quiet and the loud. Then choose to take everything as it comes never looking ahead until what is infront of you is complete.

Waiting for the Christ

Sunday's lesson was on Elder Robert Hales talk from last conference. I have thought a lot about the lesson over the last few hours. I have thought how much I have come to know and love my Savior even Jesus Christ. I am grateful for his sacrifice for the opportunity that he gives me. He gave his agency that I might exercise my agency. What a blessing that is that we have to choose.
Christ chose to see the atonement through. It was the fathers will that Christ suffer that agony in the garden of Eden. Christ's example to us shows how we are to endure our trials. As we choose to follow his example to make it through our dark hours and seek the will of the father we gain rich blessings. We are able to see great growth and able to help lead and guide our brothers and sisters along the path of righteousness.
Service allows us to find peace in our lives. We forget ourselves and go to work. One of my favorite stories from President Hinckley comes from his father. President was complaining that his mission was hard. He was telling of his misfortunes. His father wrote back and told him to forget himself and go to work. I have often found comfort in those words. When I am having a really hard time it is when I am worried more for myself and not about helping others.
Through, these things called trials we come to rely on the Lord. I love the hymn that says"Come cast your burdens on the Lord and trust his constant care." He is the true Shepard. He will bring us safely home. He is the only way. We must trust what he has said to be truth. He helps carry our burdens. He helps us when we are low. Through it all we can find lasting happiness and peace as we follow the Savior.
As we follow Christ we have the spirit and are able to have his constant companionship. We are blessed to develop Christ like attributes. What a great time to be alive. We are witnessing the unfolding of the last days. Along with that great blessing we are also tempted and tried more than any other people in history. Satan knows that his time is short. He knows what is happening and is desires all to fail. The great thing is we have the     knowledge and ability to combat Lucifer. Trials brings us closer to Christ and farther away from him who is the father of lies.
In times of great trial the best thing that we can do is pray. We must share our concerns with our Heavenly Father and give him opportunity to answer. Wait for him to answer our prayers listen for his answers. Expect him to answer your prayers. All to often we are ready to vomit out our concerns without waiting for our answers. Some answers will come quickly others won't. These are the times when we must sit back and wait. Answers will come but they not come in the way you might think. They may come in the form of service given or received. They might come  through a talk or article read. You can always be assured that answers will come!
As always there is this idea that we have to endure to the end. This to shall pass! We will come to know and feel our saviors love as we push forward even through the mundane of life. Recognize that there is always something to be learned through every trial, every minute of everyday. We just have to seek out that nugget of knowledge. What a blessing it would be in our lives if we could learn to endure our lives well.
I enjoyed Elder Hales concluding remarks "in my Gethsemane, and yours, we are not alone. He that watches over us shall neither slumber nor sleep, His angels here and beyond the veil are round about us."
I add my testimony that Christ does know each of us and cares what we are going through and longs to help us as we cast our burden upon him.  He is my light. He is my rock. I love him and am grateful for his loving atonemnet that will bring you and I if faithful back to the presence of the Father!

Stand up

Take notice of the things all around you. There is much in our world vying for our attention. It was made clear to me at conference that there is a great need for as many people as possible to stand up. Stand tall even when it is not the most popular thing to do.

Satan is fighting hard...why aren't we! Everything he does is spent in malicious, venomous attacks that will harm  you and I. Meanwhile for the most part we are waking up Monday morning wondering how our favorite sports teams did. We are focused in on the mundane and the things that matter most are getting left behind. They are claimed as "old fashioned."

No, is the time to choose. What side are you on? How do you want to be remembered? When it comes right down to it the things that matter most...are right under your own roof. We must consecrate and consider holy the time spent with our family. We need to teach lessons that can only be taught in the home. These lessons are NOT the responsibility of the world. But left unchecked the world will teach them.

Sand up and do not be ashamed of the testimony that is in you! The spirit has borne witness to your heart. Share it! Shout it upon the rooftops. Let the world know how much you care.

October Conference

Wasn't conference awesome!!! My batteries were recharged and I feel prodded to be better. For me this conference taught me the basics. Have faith, repent, read my scriptures and just open your mouth. I loved Elder Holland's message to the priesthood. In a word AMAZING!

It was my son's first time to go with me to the priesthood session. I kept telling him that they were speaking to him. I could not help but think it is time to stand up, stand out and be happy.

We are at war. That was made very clear to me. We have casualties of that war all around us. It is our job to be savior's on mount Zion. We are to be ever vigilant and help where we can. Serve our fellow man to the best of our ability and then strive to be and do a little more. Lengthen our stride.

I needed this time to feel the spirit and to put things into perspective. That is what conference did for me. Some specific thoughts that were directed to me:  time management and never neglecting my family. The greatest treasure in my life is my sweet wife. She makes me push forward. she is my rock. I am sooooo grateful for her and the effort she gives day in and day out! My children also need me to be a blaring example of what is right and good. In a crazy, spun out of control world, it is ever important to be there to be the first line of defense. There is only one thing that will stand out louder than words and that is action.

Meekness

To be meek is to show great strength, while still being humble, teachable. It is showing a willingness that you will do what is right no matter the cost. It is standing up when others are sitting down. It is seeking truth amidst the mud and the muck of the modern world. It is defending righteousness even though it might not be the most popular. The meek are obedient!

When Moses was called to be a prophet the Leviticus 26:41 tells us that he was more meek than anyone else on the earth. Moses did not think himself to be special. He knew what was expected and he went and did what was needed. He was bold. When he needed help or had a concern he had a conversation with the Lord. Through his faith the Lord was able to answer those prayers. 

Servants of Christ represent him and teach with humility and love. Paul, taught the people of Corinth that he represented the Savior and the Father as a missionary. He taught them it was as if the God the Father or Jesus Christ were there. He was not boasting. He was helping them understand. It is teaching with Love and humility that we come to learn and understand the principles of the gospel. Have you ever noticed how our church leaders help us learn with compassion and love. I have sat in many interviews when I have been loving taught a better way to accomplish my responsibilities. I was shown what need to happen not by force, but by love. That in turn has helped me to try it in my home as I preside there. 

Those who are teachable and humble will understand the things of God and rejoice in Christ. As we are meek we come to another level of understanding. We put into action the lessons taught. We seek to be better.In this pursuit we find peace. We seek in fact to be as Christ, perfect in all things.

Part of this things called meekness is learning. President Uchdorf in a recent Friend article taught that for Latter Day Saints learning is a commandment. Everyday, every minute our minds need not be idle. this life is a time to learn all we can. Gain as much education as you can. Learn from all you do. Ask yourself what can I learn from this (whatever this is).

As we walk with that attitude of learning we will develop talents that will give us experience to make it through the next challenge. The things that we develop help us on our journey here on earth. Not only do they bless our lives but the lives of others. We are able to be instruments in the lives of others.

The Atonement to me....

I was in caught in traffic going over the mountain pass today. The workers had traffic down to a one way road  causing a 45 minute wait. As I sat there I went to my phone to find something to read. I read Elder C Scott Grow's talk form April Conference. I felt the spirit so strong I started to weep and sat the phone down. I thought about the Atonement and what in means to me. I thought about how far reaching the Atonement is. Then I thought about how it is apart of everything that we do. It was a small moment that I had, but I came home and recommitted myself to share my thoughts more here. 

To me the Atonement is the vehicle that the Savior has given us to return home to live with him. It seems to me as though the Savior has said to me "I know you, and I know you need help. I give it freely!" Many times I have thought how is that possible. Or why would he do that for me. When I ask myself those questions the only answer I can come up with is that he loves me! That means that he knows me! He wants me to succeed. And wants to insure that I have the help when I need it. It is not a matter of if I need it. It is when I need his help. I know that when I need help he is there to carry my load. The Atonement gives me hope to keep going amongst the craziness of  life. The Atonement provides light during the darkness of trial. 

He saw to it that not one soul would be lost as long as we turn to him. The Lord does not turn his back on us. Everyone of us is important to our father, so also to the Son. With that in mind everything that we do has something to do with the Atonement. The Atonement of Jesus Christ reaches everything temporal and spiritual. It is up to us to find the lessons that can be learned and take them into our lives.

He paid the price for my short comings. 

He marked a path and all he asks is that we follow him. 

Integrity

There once was a man who owned a shipping company. He recieved daily shipments from all over the world. He had a man who was retiring who had been an incredible asset to him. Knowing that it would be very hard to vfind someone just like him he went in search of two to accomplish the task.

One day his oldest son, Alan came to the owner and asked his father for some work. The owner told him that he did have an opening and put the young man to work on the docks doing inventory. The days turned to weeks and the son was working out so well that he asked another of his sons to help out to even out thre work load. The other son Steve agreed and he came to work. At first all was well both brothers worked side by side. They talked of little but liked working together. Both brothers were being paid the same rate and were doing great. Six months past and Alan came back from lunch one day with a grin so wide and a spring to his step. Steve asked what he was so excited about. Then Alan replied that he had just recieved a large wage increase. That he was able to get his needs met just that much more quickly.  Steve just smiled and went about his work. At the end of the work day he went to his father and asked about why Alan had recieved a raise and he had not. The father replied that Alan had been doing a really good job. Feeling the rage Steve responded; "what does he do that I do not." "Well..."  The father started. "Let me answer your question with a question. What do you see, in these invoices."  He handed the invoices to Steve. Steve rifled through the stack. He told his father that the invoices had all the information and the amout of product in each box. The father looked at him and said "now go verify the order." That was his job look at the invoice and make sure that what was there was really there. So Steve walked out to the dock. Muttering all the while and fretting about the days events. About 20 minutes later Steve was back in his fathers office. He handed the manifest to his father. He looked at it and complimented the work that his son had performed. After looking at the work and evaluating the effort put forth by his son he gave him another manifest. This one was completed. The father asked what do you notice about this invoice? Other than the fact that it was completed by your Brother. Steve scanned the documents and started to recognize a pattern. Each item had been accounted for. Each box opened and attention to detail was made with each box on the manifest. He had actually made the effort to make sure that what the manifest said was there, was there. His goal was not to loose the company any profit because of a misaccounting. He had been perfect in all he did for his father. Steve looked at the papers, then back at his father and whispered I understand. He hung his head low and retreated from the office knowing what he had to do to be worthy of a raise.