Saturday sessions of General Conference

Not for sure on the total wording but Dallin H. Oaks said A religion that does not require sacrifice in all things will not have strength.

President Eyring said that through adversity all of these things shall be for your experience and your good. (From D&C when Joseph Smith was in Carthage Jail.) The Lord has promised he will not forsake us. Faith takes time to build. Ground must be solid for a foundation that will guard against the storms of life. We will be forgiven if we forgive others.

Elder Holland He starts of talking about the parable of the workers in the field and regardless of how many hours they worked they all got the same reward. Don’t be envious when good fortune comes to someone else. We are in a race against sin not other people. Bringing others down does not elevate your standing. Be kind and be glad God is kind. Don’t dwell on old grievances or issues. Even if grievances didn’t begin with you it can end with you. Parable is about God’s goodness and patience.

Elder Hales. We make room in our mind and heart when we leave worldly thoughts behind. With God’s help you need not fear for the future. A single mother was struggling and just did not have it in her to go home and take care of everything. She looked up and said, can I just come stay with you tonight. And she received the answer, you cannot come to me now but I can come to you.

You cannot be right by doing wrong. You cannot be wrong by doing right.

Fear departs when faith endures.

Elder Scott. Trust in the Lord and know that he will guide you. Don’t let emotions affect decisions. Our Heavenly Father did not put us on this earth to fail. Disposition to right brings peace and happiness. Trust in His divine plan of happiness.

Just some of what I wrote down.

Challenges that tax our faith are usually opportunities to stretch and strengthen our faith by finding out we really believe the Lord will help us.

The only way to be happy is to live the gospel. It is not possible to sin enough to be happy. It isn't possible to buy enough to be happy, or to entertain or indulge or pamper ourselves enough to be happy. Happiness and joy come only when we are living up to who we are.

It is simple not for us to judge each other. The Lord has reserved that right for Himself, because only He knows our hearts and understands the varying circumstances and complexities of our lives.

Joy is carried into the hearts of men and women by the Holy Ghost, who is unimpressed by bank accounts, titles, or products that roll off the assembly line. It is quite possible to be happy without owning much of this world's goods. It is not possible, however, to be truly happy without the abiding, sustaining presence of the Holy Ghost.

-The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.

-People too weak to follow their own dreams will always find a way to discourage yours.

-In life we do things. Some we wish we had never done. Some we wish we could replay a million times in our heads. But they all make us who we are. And in the end they shape every detail about us. If we were to reverse any of them we wouldn't be the person we are. So jus live, make mistakes, have wonderful memories but never second guess who you are, where you have been and most importantly where it is you're going.

-I use sarcasm because beating the crap out of people is in fact frowned upon in most societies. (haha had to add that one :)

-Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective.

-Don't base your decisions on advice from people who don't have to deal with the results.

-Believe in your dreams. Believe in today. Believe that you are loved. Believe that you can make a different. Believe we can build a better world. Believe when others might not. Believe there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Believe that you might be that light for someone else. Believe that the best is yet to be. Believe in each other. Believe in yourself. Believe in you. BELIEVE

-Be silly, Be honest, Be kind.

-There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can't. What you've got to do is turn around and say, "watch me."

-Next time you're stressed: take a sep back, inhale and laugh. Remember who you are and why you're here. You're never given anything in this world that you can't handle. Be strong, be flexible, love yourself, and love others. Always remember, just keep moving forward.

-Don't like me? Cool, I don't wake up every day to impress you. :)

-The armor of God. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

-Sometimes the person who tried to keep everyone happy, is always the most lonely person so never leave them alone, because they will never say that they need you.

-Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.

-Only god can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into a triumph, a victim into a victory.

-Forgiveness. Anyone can hold a grudge, but it takes a person with character to forgive. When you forgive, you real ease yourself from a painful burden. Forgiveness doesn't mean what happened was okay, and it doesn't mean that person should still be welcome in your life. It just means you have made peace with the pain and are ready to let it go.

-Choose being kind over being right, and you'll be right every time.

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and fills it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “YES”.

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things, that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.” he said.

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are
important to you...” he told them.

“So... pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Worship with your family. Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Spend time with good friends. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled and said, “I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

(You could leave the coffee part out but it is good nonetheless)

It has been forever since I've posted. Which I say every time.. Classes this semester have kept me pretty busy though. I'm taking:

The Middle East

Fundamental Number Theory

Family Foundations

Natural Disasters

World Foundations

Motivation and Management

I wish I liked my classes as much as I did last spring but I have to deal with them. They are interesting for the most part but that' not everything. Obsessing over grades doesn't help that much either.. But it's frustrating to spend a lot of time on something to not do well on it or to do well on things and that doesn't change your grade but once you get a low grade on something it drops. Anyway enough complaining from me :)

I want to use my blog more for inspiring things I come across. Today was devotional and he talked about forgiving others and ourselves. Leave the past behind and move forward. Quietly forgiving and moving on is a gift to yourself. If you tell yourself daily your bad at something you will become that but if you say, I'm beautiful, I can do this etc you can. It is about your self image that can always be changed. Without forgiveness life is an endless cycle of resentment.

What is the lesson from Lot and his wife? One answered the Lord will destroy those who are wicked. Not so. The lesson is don't look back. We need not look back and dwell on happier times or sadder times. It does not change the here and now and will not help us while looking into the future. I have been looking at old pictures lately thinking, I miss that. I am always content with something other than what is happening now. I know that I need to enjoy the present and not dwell on the past or the future. I need to work on now so that the future will be good instead of trying to get there too soon.

Other random stuff:

"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."

Thomas S. Monson: My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.

If we all did the things we are capable of doing we would literally astound ourselves.

It's not hard to make decisions once you know what your values are.

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have

Life is to be enjoyed not just endured

Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light

When life knocks you down... You are in the perfect position to pray.

The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was and the present worse than it is.

No matter how far wrong you've done you can always turn around.

What are you doing to make things better?

Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He can deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, com for their souls, and pour out peace. Ezra Taft Benson

Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid. Albert Einstein

Have you prayed about it as much as you've talked about it?

If you change nothing, nothing will change.

Don't give up. Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead.. You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust god and believe in good things to come. Elder Holland

Faith in God includes faith in His timing.

We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day. Richard G. Scott

Today you are you that is truer than true. there is no one alive who is youer than you. Dr Suess

I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect. If you will do this, your lives will be without regret. Your marriages and family relationships will be preserved. You will be much happier. You will do greater good. You will feel a sense of peace that will be wonderful.

Yes, I definitely need to work on this more!! Everyone that knows me well knows that I am easily frustrated.. My life would be so much more peaceful if I just got over things. It is SO hard though... I did pretty good last semester because my goal was to be more patient and positive. So, when anything happened I just tried to get over it but once I started working when I got home it was all gone.. I do need to work on it more and think that it is only temporary and not to sweat the little things..
I'm good for now because I have the whole weekend and my birthday is tomorrow :) Then going to WV for the weekend. A much needed mini vacation. I definitely miss school and not so much that as the environment that I had when I was there. Being home has been wearing on me fast but I just need to stay above it. I know what I stand for and no one is going to change that so it'll be okay in the end, I guess :)

Some things I wrote down during Stake Conference last Sunday:
1. *Organize yourselves
-House of prayer, fasting, faith, learning, glory, order, a house of God
--pray always to be a conqueror to Satan
-Isaiah 58:6-7 summarized: let the oppressed go free and break every yoke
-Isaiah 58:8-9 " " : then shall thy light break forth and the Lord shall say here I am.
1 Nephi 3:7 I will go and do the things the Lord has commanded-He always prepares a way.
--Teach ye another- seek ye out the best books and learning from one another.
--Square with God, honest with ourselves and fair with others
-Keep slothfulness and uncleanness far from you
-Clean thoughts, noble purpose, willing heart.
-House of God takes constant vigilance.

2. When performance is measured, performance is improved.
-Confidence in ourselves and in God-don't be so easily distracted by the world.
--Unity will be fostered-accomplish same desires
-Meaningful goals and planning will help with what the Lord expects of us.
-To be able to make a great difference with the goals we attain.
-Mortality is filled with thorns that we have to go through to get back to the road we know we need to be on.
Hymn 319 If we united, all things we can do with an eye single to God
"If ye are not one, ye are not mine."

3. D&C 35 1-4 Prepare for the return of Jesus Christ. Love needs to be the motivation.
-Being charitable at all times- pray for the gift.
-When we are willing and trying to be Christ-like - if there is a will there is a way.
-Be willing to show others the way to come unto Him.
Isaiah 58:6-12
When we use, share and multiply what we've been given
-Virtue, uprightness, holiness, keeping all of the commandments.
-Comply with and keep those we've received- know the commandments first.
-Personal commandments to go and to do.
-Liken the scriptures to ourselves-listen for promptings.
-Person commandments- seek to be obedient and happiness will follow.

Another thing I have been thinking is one of the last things my Stake President said. Which was seek to be obedient and happiness will follow. Happiness is always there and we just need to work for it. Of course we will always have trials but we need to let trials strengthen us and not consume us or we will never progress.

RS Fireside :)

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous, outgoing, brave. (But I say), who are you NOT to be? YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD! Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you, (or because you feel you are not worthy). We are all meant to shine.. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in (all of us). -- Marianne Williamson