Achieving Your Life Mission

" To fill your divine destiny, you cannot have a negative attitude. You must have a "go and do" positive attitude to make it happen. President Ezra Taft Benson said of your generation, "You are to be the royal army of the Lord in the last days. You are youth of the noble birthright." Many to whom that talk was given are no longer youth. But the fact remains that they are the only army the Lord has, and they do have a noble birthright. Don't squander it with a murmuring, negative attitude as Laman did.

President Kimball said, " I remind you...that regardless of your present age, you are building your life; it will be cheap and shoddy or it will be valuable and beautiful; it will be full of constructive activities or it can be destructive; it can be full of joy and happiness, or it can be full of misery. It all depends upon you and your attitudes, for your altitude, or the height you climb, is dependent upon your attitude or your response to situations.""

This is from the book Achieving Your Life Mission by Randal A. Wright

Beach Time

I love going to the beach because I always find such solace and peace. Yesterday morning Mike texted me and said... it is a pretty and perfect day for the beach. I told him lets both get sick and go home and go to the beach. He said he could get off early but I told him that it wasn't possible for me since I am in the middle of getting ready to send testers back out into the schools.

I was very sad. We try to get in as much time together as possible and just as our luck would have it when he could sneak away I am stuck at work. He texted me back and asked what time I could get off and I said 4:00. I suggested that we could still go and catch the sunset. He said he could get off early and get things ready and we could meet at 4:00ish at the Stake Center and take off from there since we would be closer to the south of town.

PERFECT IDEA. It was something great to look forward too. What more could I want? To spend time with Mike, be at the beach, perfect weather, and a great seafood dinner. Ummmm I think heaven was calling my name yesterday.

So we did it and we were not disappointed in our adventure. Here are pictures and a short clip for those who long to go to the beach.



Walking hand in hand along the beach is really a peek into eternity. So glad I have my best friend along on this journey.



Mike truly is my everything. I asked him if he ever dreamed that two kids from the west would end up in Florida? I am pretty sure life is better then I ever dreamed it could be!


How can anyone not recognize that this world was made by divine hands? Such beauty all around.



A short video for those who long for the beach as much as I do.

Commuting through life

So as I have mentioned many times on here one of the things I don't like about working is the commuting. I try to not be one of those angry drives who yell at others. It's working listening to the Conference Talks though. I am much calmer when I drive now.

So I was driving to work today and I of course notice all of the other cars. Some people seem to be kind and let others merge in front of them. Some people speed through the traffic and you can see them weaving all the way down the road. Some people are content to just stay behind whoever is in front of them. Some people honk just as the light turns green and they are unhappy that the person isn't already through the intersection. There are people who use their signals and those who don't and you get to guess where they are going next. There are people who manage to drive like they are the only people on this planet driving.

So I was on my way to work the other day and I had a thought come to me that life is much like commuting. We come to this life to learn each day. We get in our life cars and drive up and down life learning streets. We see other people in their life cars trying to learn the lessons of life. We have some that go at break neck speeds and dash from side to side. There are other's who are just content to lets life move them along. I have friends who would drop anything they are doing and let you into their life so they can help you.

It was an interesting thought that came to me as I was headed to work. Maybe if I change my commute habits I will also change my life habits? It's a thought?

Peeling Potatoes!

I received this from a friend and thought I would share it.

Thanks to my dear sister Kathy....

Oh how I love my sister Kathy. She has taught me so much lately about faith. This is one of the thought she shared with me. I have looked for it for a while and finally found something very close to what she shared. It has become a key reminder for me on so many occasions.

“Why did the Lord ask such things of Abraham? Because, knowing what his future would be and that he would be the father of an innumerable posterity, he was determined to test him. God did not do this for His own sake; for He knew by His foreknowledge what Abraham would do; but the purpose was to impress upon Abraham a lesson, and to enable him to attain unto knowledge that he could not obtain in any other way. That is why God tries all of us. It is not for His own knowledge; for He knows all things beforehand. He knows all your lives and everything you will do. But He tries us for our own good, that we may know ourselves. ... He required Abraham to submit to this trial because He intended to give him glory, exaltation and honor; He intended to make him a king and a priest, to share with Himself the glory, power and dominion which He exercised” (GeorgeQ. Cannon, in Conference Report, Apr. 1899, 66).

Elder NealA. Maxwell applied these truths to us when he said our lives “cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free....

“Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1991, 117; or Ensign, May 1991, 88 ).

The Prophet Joseph Smith suggested that sacrifice is one of the ways we obtain greater faith. For example, how do you think your faith in God would have grown if you had experienced what Abraham had? He would not have grown in faith if he had refused to offer the sacrifice God commanded. Joseph Smith said, “A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation” ( Lectures on Faith [1985], 69).

Today's adventure is tomorrows assurance

So I have officially bridge the gap from being an adult to being an old adult. Ha I know people are saying you bridge that long ago. But today I experienced something that pretty much only 50+ year old experience. I had a colonoscopy and a endoscopy. I have only heard it was horrible. Then I hear that the cleaning day is the worst part.

Yesterday was my cleanings day. It was okay, I did have to make a mental note to not eat anything and by the evening I was done with citrus type of flavors. It was better then when I had giardia in Jan. I had these same symptoms but they lasted for 5 days instead of 1. My biggest problem, my legs falling asleep while sitting. I told Mike that on our way home he should plan on stopping so I could get something to eat. He said he would. I went to bed and woke up at 2:30 and was wake off and on until 3:30 and before I knew it... Mike was getting up at 5:30. I wasn't getting up before I had to. I just needed to get dressed and brush my teeth.

I wasn't so concerned with the colonoscopy but more so the endoscopy. My gag reflex is horrible. When I go the dentist it has taken them an hour to do the x-rays. They spray my mouth and it does help a small amount. But not enough in my opinion. I have been gagging since Monday when I realized this was the week my appointment would happen. I was a bit stressed about this fact. But trying to not focus on it. But it just seemed like the big elephant in the room and I was trying to avoid it.

I received a call yesterday asking if we could come in an hour earlier 7:00 to have the procedure at 8:00. I said of course. Lets get this over with. We arrived at 6:50 and went in. The woman at the desk was so nice and very happy. I was the first patient for my Dr. They called my name and I walked to the back I let everyone know about my gag reflex who asked me any question. They were all very nice and reassured me that everything would be fine. I kept thinking- "Right I will be fine! Fat chance of that happening."

So I find myself in the procedure room with my nurse Cassandra and I keep bringing up my gagging problem. She goes over it all again. "The tech will come in and spray your throat and you wont feel anything." Then she says to me a key phrase "Dr. Somerset does the colonoscopy first then the endoscopy." YES YES YES! I knew I would be out of it and it really would be fine. I then was able to relax.

She has me turn on my side pull my legs up and I don't remember anything after that. I had signed a waver that allowed a med student to observe. I did ask earlier that if he was going to be in there he couldn't say anything about my big fat white butt. The Dr. just laughed. But I never did see the med student.

The next thing I knew Mike was standing next to me. I don't remember much the Dr. said with his findings. Everything looked good is what I was told. A little bit later I was allowed to get up and start to get dressed. I don't really remember doing that. Mike said he helped me although I felt pretty alert and active. I was coherent and ready to walk out on my own. I now know why they tell you that you must have someone take you home. And if you tell them you are going to drive they will call the police on you. When Mike had his endoscopy he was pretty loopy and funny. I could see I wasn't like that. I was normal again. I got into a wheelchair and off we went. I was asked if I wanted something to drink and opted for a diet coke. I discovered on the way home my body wasn't ready for anything. That was not a pretty sight or feeling. Mike quickly pulled back out of McDonald's and took me right home. I slept for hours. Mike made me toast and I ate that off and on. I woke up about 1:30ish and Mike ran to get me a burger. It tasted great. I felt great. But I was still a little dazed. I realized then I had little or no memory of this experience.

So for all of you who have these procedures to look forward to don't fear... they aren't as bad as they sound or people make them out to be. Take heart and know, they put you out and you really don't care about anything.

Pres. Uchtdorf's Priesthood session 2009

I have been listening to the last session of General Conference and have now ventured into the Priesthood session. I loved Pres. Uchtdorf's talk so much that I wanted to share it but also to remember it myself.

Two Principles for Any Economy

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency

It is often in the trial of adversity that we learn those most critical lessons that form our character and shape our destiny.

President Dieter F. UchtdorfIn our travels visiting Church members throughout the world and by means of established priesthood channels, we receive firsthand feedback on the conditions and challenges of our members. For years many of our members have been affected by worldwide disasters, both natural and man-made. We also understand that families have had to tighten their belts and are concerned about enduring these challenging times.

Brethren, we do feel very close to you. We love you, and we pray always for you. I have seen enough ups and downs throughout my life to know that winter will surely give way to the warmth and hope of a new spring. I am optimistic about the future. Brethren, for our part, we must remain steadfast in hope, work with all our strength, and trust in God.

Lately I have been thinking of a time in my life when the weight of worry and concern over an uncertain future seemed ever present. I was 11 years old and living with my family in the attic of a farmhouse near Frankfurt, Germany. We were refugees for the second time in a period of only a few years, and we were struggling to establish ourselves in a new place far away from our previous home. I could say that we were poor, but that would be an understatement. We all slept in one room that was so tiny there was scarcely space to walk around the beds. In the other small room, we had a few pieces of modest furniture and a stove that Mother used to cook meals on. To get from one room to the other, we had to pass through a storage area where the farmer kept his equipment and tools, along with assorted meats and sausages hanging from the rafters. The aroma always made me very hungry. We had no bathroom, but we did have an outhouse—down the stairs and some 50 feet (15 m) away, though it seemed much farther during wintertime.

Because I was a refugee and because of my East German accent, other children often made fun of me and called me names that deeply hurt. Of all the times of my youth, I believe this may have been the most discouraging.

Now, decades later, I can look back on those days through the softening filter of experience. Even though I still remember the hurt and despair, I can see now what I was unable to see then: this was a period of great personal growth. During this time, our family bonded together. I watched and learned from my parents. I admired their determination and optimism. From them I learned that adversity, when confronted with faith, courage, and tenacity, could be overcome.

Knowing that some of you are experiencing your own periods of anxiety and despair, I wanted to speak today about two important principles that sustained me through this formative period of my life.


The First Principle: Work

To this day, I am deeply impressed by the way my family worked after having lost everything following World War II! I remember my father—a civil servant by education and experience—taking on several difficult jobs, among which were coal miner, uranium miner, mechanic, and truck driver. He left early in the morning and often returned late at night in order to support our family. My mother started a laundry and worked countless hours doing menial labor. She enlisted my sister and me in her business. With my bike I became the pickup and delivery service. It felt good to be able to help the family in a small way, and though I did not know it at the time, the physical labor turned out to be a blessing to my health as well.

It wasn’t easy, but the work kept us from dwelling too much on the difficulties of our circumstances. Although our situation didn’t change overnight, it did change. That’s the thing about work. If we simply keep at it—steady and constant—things certainly will improve.

How I admire men, women, and children who know how to work! How the Lord loves the laborer! He said, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,”1 and “The laborer is worthy of his hire.”2 He also gave a promise: “Thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you.”3 Those who are unafraid to roll up their sleeves and lose themselves in the pursuit of worthwhile goals are a blessing to their families, communities, nations, and to the Church.

The Lord doesn’t expect us to work harder than we are able. He doesn’t (nor should we) compare our efforts to those of others. Our Heavenly Father asks only that we do the best we can—that we work according to our full capacity, however great or small that may be.

Work is an antidote for anxiety, an ointment for sorrow, and a doorway to possibility. Whatever our circumstances in life, my dear brethren, let us do the best we can and cultivate a reputation for excellence in all that we do. Let us set our minds and bodies to the glorious opportunity for work that each new day presents.

When our wagon gets stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to push than the man who merely raises his voice in prayer—no matter how eloquent the oration. President Thomas S. Monson put it this way: “It is not enough to want to make the effort and to say we’ll make the effort. . . . It’s in the doing, not just the thinking, that we accomplish our goals. If we constantly put our goals off, we will never see them fulfilled.”4

Work can be ennobling and fulfilling, but remember Jacob’s warning not to “spend . . . your labor for that which cannot satisfy.”5 If we devote ourselves to the pursuit of worldly wealth and the glitter of public recognition at the expense of our families and our spiritual growth, we will discover soon enough that we have made a fool’s bargain. The righteous work we do within the walls of our homes is most sacred; its benefits are eternal in nature. It cannot be delegated. It is the foundation of our work as priesthood holders.

Remember, we are only temporary travelers in this world. Let us not devote our God-given talents and energies solely to setting earthly anchors, but rather let us spend our days growing spiritual wings. For, as sons of the Most High God, we were created to soar unto new horizons.

Now, a word to us seasoned brethren: retirement is not part of the Lord’s plan of happiness. There is no sabbatical or retirement program from priesthood responsibilities—regardless of age or physical capacity. While the phrase “been there, done that” may work as an excuse to avoid skateboarding, decline the invitation for a motorbike ride, or bypass the spicy curry at the buffet, it is not an acceptable excuse for avoiding covenant responsibilities to consecrate our time, talents, and resources in the work of the kingdom of God.

There may be those who, after many years of Church service, believe they are entitled to a period of rest while others pull the weight. To put it bluntly, brethren, this sort of thinking is unworthy of a disciple of Christ. A great part of our work on this earth is to endure joyfully to the end—every day of our life.

Now, a word also to our younger brethren of the Melchizedek Priesthood, who are pursuing the righteous goals of obtaining an education and finding an eternal spouse. These are the correct goals, my brethren, but remember: working diligently in the Lord’s vineyard will greatly upgrade your résumé and increase the probability for success in both of these worthy endeavors.

Whether you are the youngest deacon or the oldest high priest, there is work to do!


The Second Principle: Learn

During the difficult economic conditions of postwar Germany, opportunities for education were not as abundant as they are today. But in spite of limited options, I always felt an eagerness to learn. I remember one day, while I was out on my bike delivering laundry, I entered the home of a classmate of mine. In one of the rooms, two small desks were nestled against the wall. What a wonderful sight that was! How fortunate those children were to have desks of their own! I could imagine them sitting with open books studying their lessons and doing their homework. It seemed to me that having a desk of my own would be the most wonderful thing in the world.

I had to wait a long time before that wish was fulfilled. Years later, I got a job at a research institution that had a large library. I remember spending much of my free time in that library. There I could finally sit at a desk—by myself—and drink in the information and knowledge that books provide. How I loved to read and learn! In those days I understood firsthand the words of an old saying: Education is not so much the filling of a bucket as the lighting of a fire.

For members of the Church, education is not merely a good idea—it’s a commandment. We are to learn “of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad.”6

Joseph Smith loved learning even though he had few opportunities for formal education. In his journals, he spoke happily of days spent in study and often expressed his love of learning.7

Joseph taught the Saints that knowledge was a necessary part of our mortal journey, for “a man is saved no faster than he [gains] knowledge,”8 and that “whatever principle of intelligence we attain . . . in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.”9 During challenging times, it is even more important to learn. The Prophet Joseph taught, “Knowledge does away with darkness, [anxiety], and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is.”10

Brethren, you have a duty to learn as much as you can. Please encourage your families, your quorum members, everyone to learn and become better educated. If formal education is not available, do not allow that to prevent you from acquiring all the knowledge you can. Under such circumstances, the best books, in a sense, can become your “university”—a classroom that is always open and admits all who apply. Strive to increase your knowledge of all that is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.”11 Seek knowledge “by study and also by faith.”12 Seek with a humble spirit and contrite heart.13 As you apply the spiritual dimension of faith to your study—even of temporal things—you can amplify your intellectual capacity, for “if your eye be single to [God’s] glory, your whole [body] shall be filled with light, . . . and [comprehend] all things.”14

In our learning, let us not neglect the fountain of revelation. The scriptures and the words of modern-day apostles and prophets are the sources of wisdom, divine knowledge, and personal revelation to help us find answers to all the challenges in life. Let us learn of Christ; let us seek out that knowledge which leads to peace, truth, and the sublime mysteries of eternity.15


Conclusion

Brethren, I think back on that 11-year-old boy in Frankfurt, Germany, who worried about his future and felt the lasting sting of unkind remarks. I remember this time with a sort of sad fondness. While I would not be eager to relive those days of trial and trouble, I have little doubt that the lessons I learned were a necessary preparation for future opportunity. Now, many years later, I know this for a certainty: it is often in the trial of adversity that we learn those most critical lessons that form our character and shape our destiny.

I pray that during the coming months and years we can fill our hours and days with righteous work. I pray that we will seek to learn and improve our minds and hearts by drinking deeply from the pure fountains of truth. I leave you my love and blessings in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.