this is a rather long post (with no photos)...i typed a lot of notes during this conference. and i couldn't leave any them out! i also included scripture references...something i have never done before. i feel kind of strange doing it but they are necessary for me to remember.
at the week mark of the new year i had the opportunity to attend a woman's conference with the keynote speaker being Sherri Dew. i have read a few of her books and love the inspiration i get from each one. she asked each of us to review our past year and ask ourselves "what did i learn last year?" i answered to myself "the Lord trusts me so i should trust him." she then asked "what is turning out to be harder than you ever thought it would be?" again i answered to myself "making the decision to start our family...and actually starting it." she went into discuss how our spirits are preprogrammed to progress. our spirits want to keep learning & progressing. built into all experiences is opportunity to learn & keep progressing. you can tell when you've done something that makes you not feel as close to the lord. real progression comes with those baby steps. constant progression has set backs & that's okay. but remember progression is upward. she encouraged us to do a 2011 recap: see what the Lord has blessed me with. what ways do i know that the Lord was with me in life lessons last year? she suggested that to help do this think about it this way "The lord did this for me and I learned this, he protected me from this, etc. all of our answers are a reflection of how we much we love the lord...that why we serve & do the things we do.
her main discussion was about the need for us to learn how to receive. it is crucial to learn how to receive. she referenced 2 Nephi 28:30: unto him who receive with I will give more and 3 Nephi 9:14: arm of mercy to everyone & I will receive all who come to me...which means he will not leave anyone out! He is saying that if you come unto me I will receive you as my daughters that you are. in D&C 88:32 it says we will enjoy what we are willing to receive. Celestial Kingdom!! I want to receive that!!
What is out there to receive? in D&C 76:7 (side note: the first ten verses are amazing!) it says that all mysteries will be revealed to those who serve in righteousness and truth unto the end - mysteries teach us how god works & are tutored by the spirit, how broad & dramatic this scope D&C 121:26 no knowledge will be withheld from us...we live in the time of fullness dispensation (verse 28). Everything the lord has will and can be given to us...(wow, what is my problem!!) All of this will be given to those who have learned to receive.
the Atonement of Christ: entire salvation hangs on this! We're in a position to learn & receive. our temple covenants: gift of knowledge & power!! Priesthood: gift through the access & benefits (how do I draw the power of the priesthood in my life?) try not to focus on the here & now...focus on the bigger picture.
we need to know for ourselves why we're here so we don't get side tracked. where are our roots? are they deep? she told a story about her planting some flowers in her yard and woke up the next day with each one gone. she thought maybe the deer came and ate them all, but could quickly tell that wasn't the case. she called the police because she could see footprints and thought she had been vandalized. after a quick look around the policeman told her that all of her plants were in her neighbors backyard. they knocked on her new neighbor's house - very early in the morning...welcome to the neighborhood - only to be told that their little girl loves flowers and pulled out each of them. she related this back to our spirituality and if our roots are not deep we will be easily moved. she said that he part you can't see (roots) is more important of the plant than what you can see (the pretty parts). it's what's on the inside that makes us grow - fed, nurtured, receive testimony & knowledge, gifts etc. again she asked us to look at ourselves...what does the part you can't see look like? what does my courage, testimony, knowledge, & faith look like? do i believe? the lord has built you up and protect you before...is he not going to do it again?! we believe he atoned & is full of power. yes the roots are most important but the outside is important too: be stewards of what we have been given. but what's on the inside is what's more important...& it's usually what we don't give as much attention to.
The influence of a righteous women is hard to beat (satan hasn't an ounce of the power a righteous woman has). The bond between mother & child are beautiful.
she again asked us questions: what are we here for & are we rooted? Be strong, be true, teach instead of being taught, don't resist the dark & dreary world...the world needs you. Adam & Eve didn't resist it. The potential influence we have!! we have the power of the priesthood to protect & the power of the savior to heal us. in Ether 12:27 it says: come unto me and I will make weakness strengths. he can heal us from our anxieties, our wear & tear, & our fear. the healing power of the atonement is what this is.
if you want to see the view you have to make the climb. we're here in this life to make an ascent. with every step you take the more you will receive. the more sincere my prayer...the more scripture study. the more we make an ascent the more we will receive. if we want to learn what heavenly father wants for us we have to make a sacrifice. somethings matter more than others. what's on the inside is more important...the roots enable the flower.
you are not alone in the climb and it can be fun! sometimes we are critical of ourselves & others...don't be! be a team! in every single sermon Joesph Smith taught he said be nice to each other! it's not a surprise that the adversary wants to go against us...women are the healing balm of society. she challenged us to watch our thoughts for the next 3 days.. it may surprise you. what you think may not be delightful.
on the climb be tethered to the bridge. are we tethered to Jesus or the world?
the lord had said i will give. he will teach you everything...make our roots deep. to learn to receive is the only way to tether ourselves to the lord. set specific goals! if the goals are set in mind to help us receive, our roots will become deeper and deeper. we will be more beautiful because that's what will show through.
she ended with the question: what do you want to be able to say a year from now? the father can make a lot more out of our lives than we can...we can look back & see this.
and my one of my most favorite things she said...the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints is the church of happy endings! i know this is true!
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