what's your mantra?

Everything changes when I know who I really am. When I doubt my abilities, I often repeat to myself in my mind or out loud, “I am a daughter of God, I am a daughter of God,” as many times as I need until I again feel confident to keep going.

Faithful to the End  

By Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus

April 2024

I loved this simple way to deal with doubt. I think my mantra might be "do your best & trust the rest." It reminds me that i can only do so much. Everything else falls under Luke 12:22–31 and Matthew 6:25–33

cake batter

"The gospel may be said to have destroyed the Mosaic law only as the seed is destroyed in the growth of the new plant, only as the bud is destroyed by the bursting forth of the rich, full, and fragrant flowers, only as infancy and youth pass forever as the maturity of years develops."

James E. Talmage

Chapter 17 of Jesus the Christ 

I liked this view of change. It's given a negative connotation most of the time. Change is part of daily life. I like the change heat has on cake batter. I like the change that happens when combining ingredients. Change isn’t good or bad. It just is. We direct what's happening and the results might be better or worse sometimes. We may miss the old way but that doesn’t mean the new is bad. There's no progress without it. Maybe our view of change has to change.

aunt wu was right

"In tennis, there is something called unforced errors. Unforced errors are considered the result of a player’s blunder rather than being caused by the opponent’s skill. Too often our problems or challenges are self-inflicted, the result of poor choices, or, we could say, the result of “unforced errors.” When we are diligently pursuing the covenant path, we quite naturally avoid many “unforced errors.”

Why the Covenant Path  

By Elder D. Todd Christofferson

April 2021

As Aunt Wu says to Sokka, "Your future is full of struggle and anguish. Most of it self-inflicted." We're our own worst enemies sometimes. Fortunately, Jesus Christ paid for our sins and heals our wounds, even self inflicted ones.

just how I am

I'm teaching again so I'm probably going to focus on the lesson for may 5th for the next couple weeks.

Mosiah 5:1-5

Elder Hallstrom told a story from his days as a bishop. See What Manner of Men? By Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, April 2014

"During one intense discussion about the challenges in his life, he leaned toward me—as his conclusion to our numerous talks—and said, “Bishop, I have a bad temper, and that’s just the way I am!” That statement stunned me that night and has haunted me ever since. Once this man decided — once any of us conclude — “That’s just the way I am,” we give up our ability to change. We might as well raise the white flag, put down our weapons, concede the battle, and just surrender — any prospect of winning is lost. While some of us may think that does not describe us, perhaps every one of us demonstrates by at least one or two bad habits, “That’s just the way I am.”

End quote

That story has stuck with me. Not long after this conference, a sister I on my visiting teaching list said almost exactly the same thing. "I'm a negative person. It's just the way I am." It shocked me as it did elder Hallstrom, especially since it was within a couple months after his talk. It made me aware of that thinking in my own life. It changed my thinking. It's an excuse I don’t allow myself anymore.  

lift where you stand

"Although it may seem simple, lifting where we stand is a principle of power. Most of the priesthood bearers I know understand and live by this principle. They are eager to roll up their sleeves and go to work, whatever that work might be. They faithfully perform their priesthood duties. They magnify their callings. They serve the Lord by serving others. They stand close together and lift where they stand."

Lift Where You Stand  

By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Moroni 8:17

Psalm 33:13-15

2 Nephi 26:33

I love this analogy. I've had to lift as a group. The strong and the weak work together. Everyone contributes. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing.  

"When President David O. McKay was a young missionary in Scotland, he was homesick, discouraged, and low in spirit. As he walked down the street with his companion, he noticed an inscription chiseled in a stone lintel of an unfinished building which read, “Whate’er Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part.” From that moment, he began to act the part of a good missionary and became a great one. This was a learning experience that helped him in numerous important callings he received later in life. (See Cherished Experiences from the Writings of President David O. McKay, comp. Clare Middlemiss, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1955, p. 174.)"

Valiance in the Drama of Life  

By Elder Royden G. Derrick

earn eternity

Alma 14:8-14

This may be the most tragic thing that happens in the Book of Mormon.   

Alma recorded the Lord's words to him in the moment. People are allowed to make their choices. People are allowed to earn their eternity. 

I love this plan

Follow the prompting

Elder ballard tells a story of delaying following a prompting and he misses out on giving a suster a last blessing before she passed away.

Remember What Matters Most  

By President M. Russell Ballard

April 2023

"I share with you today three cherished examples of what President David O. McKay identified as “heart petals”—the language of the Spirit, the promptings from a heavenly source. First, the inspiration which attends a call to serve. Second, the gratitude of God for a life well lived. Third, the knowledge that we do not walk alone."

See talk for those 3 stories.

The Spirit Giveth Life 

Elder Thomas S. Monson

May 1985

As Joseph Smith taught:

"A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the Spirit of Revelation. For instance when you feel pure Intelligence flowing unto you it may give you sudden strokes of ideas that by noticing it you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon."

I love the term "pure intelligence". I have felt that so many times. I know the words coming out if my mouth are way more clever than anything I was thinking. I know I've opened my mouth (I do that a lot) and the Lord has filled it. More impressive are the times the Lord has shut my mouth. That's a real achievement. I've been in conversations where someone asked a question and an answer came to mind but my mouth was shut. That answer was for me. The Lord knew the hearts of the others present and closed my mouth.  

Lastly, a quote that has stuck with me and changed me.

"We must be confident in our first promptings. Sometimes we rationalize; we wonder if we are feeling a spiritual impression or if it is just our own thoughts. When we begin to second-guess, even third-guess, our feelings—and we all have—we are dismissing the Spirit; we are questioning divine counsel. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if you will listen to the first promptings, you will get it right nine times out of ten."

Let the Holy Spirit Guide  

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

April 2017

When I start questioning and debating, I have to repeat, "trust the first prompting" over and over to myself. I push all of the clamor and debate away to find that first "ah-ha", the first glimmer of pure intelligence. Sometimes, I mentally look at the Lord and shake my head chuckling. He prompts me to do some crazy things. I feel like Venkman when Egon and Ray say to cross the streams. Disbelief followed by, "I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it! Let's do it!" The results are always surprising. I may end up covered in exploded marshmallow man but I've always felt the Lord’s approval afterward.