New Year, New Beginnings

This is always an interesting time of year, with the holiday rush still winding down, and the new year looming before us.  It's somewhat intimidating to realize how quickly each year passes by, bringing new adventures and challenges to life.  Many people use this time of year to reflect on the past twelve months, and set goals and resolutions for the upcoming year.  Whether or not those resolutions last beyond the first week or two is often an entirely different story.

So what is it this year that I will focus on?  For me, I look back over the last year, and I'm simply amazed at what has happened.  For the last calendar year, and a little bit more time before, I have been serving as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It has been an incredible year of growth and learning for me, and I've come to more fully realize who I am as an individual, and who the Lord wants and needs me to be. 

Has this last year been perfect?  Of course not.  I've had many shortcomings and hard times, and I haven't always responded the way I should have to them.  So one of my resolutions for the upcoming year is to rely more fully on the Lord, and trust that He knows what is best for me, regardless of whether or not I can see it all at the time things are happening.

Another resolution of mine is to continue my daily scripture study and personal prayer.  I never fully understood the importance of those simple actions until I began serving as a missionary.  Before then, I didn't really study my scriptures as often as I should have, and I realize now how much I was holding myself back.  There have been many mornings that I have received answers to my questions as I have prayerfully studied the revealed word of God.  And even when I haven't received as direct of answers, showing Heavenly Father that I'm willing to put Him first in my day has helped me to invite the Spirit into all that I do.

As we face this new year, filled with hope, anticipation, perhaps a little anxiety at times, it is my prayer that we do all we can to be obedient to the Lord and turn our lives over to Him.  In closing, I'd just like to share a statement made by President Henry B. Eyering, First Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, when he said,

“We cannot see the future with precision, but we can know what the Lord intends and what it will take [for] each of us to qualify personally to participate.”

Seeking Spirituality

Last week, we were invited to do somewhat of a presentation at a local college for one of their religious groups, called "Seeking Spirituality".  I guess the group gets together a couple of times a month, and talks amongst themselves, or invites people from congregations in the community to give their thoughts and opinions.  They asked us how we, as member of our church and as individuals, sought spirituality.

Preparing for this opportunity, I thought a lot about what spirituality even meant.  I came to the conclusion, that for me, "spirituality" was having the Holy Ghost with me at all times.  As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, when we are baptized and confirmed members, we are blessed with the gift of the Holy Ghost, which means that we have the opportunity to have the presence of the Holy Ghost with us at all times, as we live worthily.

This gift is truly immeasurable.  Before we are baptized, we can feel the influence and power of the Holy Ghost.  He helps us to come to the knowledge that Jesus Christ truly is the Savior of the world, that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and wants the best of us, and the Holy Ghost testifies of truth to us.  But to have a member of the Godhead with us, always, is an amazing promise.  We cannot become converted without His influence.  Conversion is a lifelong process, one at which we must always be working.

Elder David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught in the last General Conference,

"We more readily receive and recognize the Spirit of the Lord as we appropriately invite Him into our lives. We cannot compel, coerce, or command the Holy Ghost. Rather, we should invite Him into our lives with the same gentleness and tenderness by which He entreats us (see D&C 42:14).     UAdd a Note 

"Our invitations for the companionship of the Holy Ghost occur in many ways: through the making and keeping of covenants; by praying sincerely as individuals and families; by searching the scriptures diligently; through strengthening appropriate relationships with family members and friends; by seeking after virtuous thoughts, actions, and language; and by worshipping in our homes, in the holy temple, and at church. Conversely, casualness about or the breaking of covenants and commitments, failing to pray and study the scriptures, and inappropriate thoughts, actions, and language cause the Spirit to withdraw from or to avoid us altogether."

As we do things things, and invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, we can be blessed with His guidance and comfort.  I know this is true, because I've seen it in my own life.  During times when I have felt lost and confused, as I turn to God in prayer and scripture study, I have felt His love and the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

How has the Holy Ghost helped you in your conversion?

General Conference Individually

General Conference!  Every six months, the prophet, apostles, and other leaders of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints gather to speak.  Their words are broadcast by radio, internet, and satellite all around the world.  In preparation for these talks, the assigned speakers prayerfully consider the message that God would have them present to the masses.  And yet, somehow, in the midst of all of the grandeur, they reach out to the one.

I've noticed, especially over the last few years, that every time I listen to General Conference, something is said that is meant just for me.  Sometimes I don't even realize that I am in need of whatever is said until it leaves their mouths and hits me like a ton of bricks.  My questions are answered, and I have a renewed desire to follow the commandments of God and the counsel of His servants.

This last Saturday and Sunday were the General Conference broadcasts, and they couldn't have come at a better time for me.  I received a call from my mission president Saturday morning, letting me know that my grandpa had lost his battle with cancer early that morning.  It wasn't unexpected, he'd been suffering from it for a long time, but it still wasn't easy to hear.  I called home right before the broadcasts began, and I was able to talk to my mom.  She said that it definitely wasn't an easy thing for them either, but that they were doing alright.  One of the joys of the gospel is knowing that this life is not the end, that there is more after we pass on.  But I was still kinda having a hard time accepting the fact that my grandpa was gone, and I was in definite need of some peace and comfort in my life.  I wasn't really sure how to move on, what would be the best course of action.

Enter General Conference.  The very first broadcast, on Saturday morning, I think was specifically for me.  Elder Jeffery R. Holland, one of the apostles, talked about the worth of individuals, how everyone was so important to God.  That really helped me to realize again that even though I was struggling, I was not alone.  Then President Uchtdorf, a member of the First Presidency, spoke.  His talk was exactly what I needed to hear.  He spoke about struggles in life, how they will come, but how we can weather the storm.   As I listened to his message, I just felt this wonderful feeling of comfort come over me.  I knew that things would be alright.

When hardships come up in life, my natural tendency is to forge full-speed ahead and see if I can just cruise over whatever roadblock is in front of me.  That was my basic game plan for this situation as well.  If I could keep myself busy enough that I wouldn't have to think about my grandpa's death, then I wouldn't have to deal with it, right?  Well, not quite.  I realized that I needed to take time and come to grips with the loss, and then I would be able to more effective go about life.  I've seen since that had I not taken that time to fully comprehend the situation, that later on, it could have caused some pretty big problems.

It's so amazing to me that God knows exactly how to meet each one of our needs perfectly.  I'm not saying that it surprises me, but it never ceases to amaze me.  He knew that I would need to hear that message long before I did, and prepared a way for me to hear it. "[F]or your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matt. 6:8)  Even though the broadcast was watched by several million viewers, it spoke directly to little old me.  I was in dire need of those words of counsel and strength.

What lessons spoke directly to you?