Easier Done Than Said

For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. ~Alma 34:32 

Time is really all we have. And every individual has an equal portion of it. The trick is to get more out of what is available to us. ~President Gordon B. Hinckley "Stand A Little Taller"

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So where he says every individual has an equal portion I think he means every day we each have 24 hours to work with, not that we all have the same lifespan. 

I have a duty on this earth to do all that I can in every place I am to be Christlike, giving and faithful. To love and serve others. Preparing myself to meet God. Helping to prepare others to meet God. Preparing myself so that I can be ready to bring precious souls into this world and help prepare them to return to our Father in Heaven. There's really a lot of preparing going on! 

I can remember to be Christlike at all times and in all places by seeking His guidance through prayer and scripture study. I can read and listen to words of the prophets and apostles. I can recognize His hand in all things. I can be filled with gratitude. I can savor every moment of each beautiful day! 

There are so many little undaunting things I can do that have become easier to recognize as I've started looking. Every moment is an opportunity to do something good. Every single moment. I can learn something new. If I see something I like I shouldn't hesitate to say so - you never know who really needs to hear a compliment that day. Exercise and eat right. Just smile at someone! Whistle or hum a happy tune. Give my boyfriend a big kiss! Tell my loved ones I love them. Don't let anger or unkind words get me down or hurt my feelings. Don't let others dictate my self worth - sometimes this one is difficult for me because I try to prove myself to others. Stand up for what I believe in. Be firm and steadfast in my convictions.

Every moment counts. I can't waste them. 

Individual Progress

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ~Romans 12:2

Hopefully, we're making some progress in our own individual lives. I hope that every person can feel he or she is a little better today than they were yesterday, a little kinder, a little more gracious, a little more generous, a little more honest in purpose and word and deed, a little stronger for the right, a little stronger to resist the wrong. ~President Gordon B. Hinckley "Stand A Little Taller"

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The purpose of this life is to progress and become more like our Savior. I think every one of us is progressing in one way or another every day, despite the mistakes we make. Overcoming those obstacles, weaknesses and blunders gives us experience. I have been through my share of trials, horrible choices, failings, flaws, deficiencies, fears and even phobias. I have been bruised and battered and scarred and hardened by vile things that have happened to me and the mental and emotional illnesses I've been given to deal with in this life. For a long time I looked at these things as nothing but negative. I thought I would never gain control over my bipolar disorder. I thought I would never be able to leave my house again without feeling panic. I thought I would never feel comfortable giving a friend a hug. 

But I'm here to tell you that those "scars" weren't scars after all. I don't believe anyone is truly scarred. I am still working through some things, but a lot of the hard things I thought I would be haunted with for the rest of my life have melted away. The Savior bled at Gethsemane and died on the cross so that I wouldn't have to suffer these things. As long as I look to Him in faith and try to live my life the best I can, I can overcome any obstacle. 

I became emotionally unstable and bipolar when I hit puberty. I was in constant fear of myself. Every moment of every day was laced with panic. I felt completely out of control. I scared away all my loved ones and friends and alienated my family by treating them horribly. Now, as I look back on those years, even though they were awful emotionally I was growing stronger every day because I kept fighting to improve. I was diagnosed five years ago after spending eight years battling this mental illness with no outside help. I progressed as far as I could with the tools I was given. I was put on some medication that helps keep my moods from shooting to extremes and I started seeing a therapist. I'm not afraid of myself anymore. My relationships with loved ones are full and complete. Because of that trial I grew stronger emotionally than I ever thought possible. Now I'm finding being bipolar is a blessing. Because I feel strongly I'm able to empathize with others. I'm able to love powerfully. I'm able to feel the Spirit strongly. Because my emotions are strong I recognize the negative ones immediately and am able to face them and analyze them to try and find a healthier way to deal with things. 

As long as I try, even if I have long moments of mistake after mistake, I will progress. Because each time I get back up and address an issue I am becoming stronger. I am gaining experience, and I can use that experience to help others in need. When I overcome things it makes me more aware of other peoples struggles. It makes me want to help others see that light at the end of the tunnel. It makes me a little better every day. It makes me kinder, more gracious, generous, honest and a little stronger. A lot stronger. All I have to do is keep trying. 

Guest Post: The Hero's Journey - Poem

~The Hero's Journey~

I’m told of a hero long ago.
Who fights a truly fearsome foe
But not of wings and fang and fire
This foe for glory did aspire

The hero’s sword bore royal proof
For twas his words, the royal truth 
Two edged, sharp and quick to dart
With no wound yet struck the heart

Some have said and others sing
That he is prince to a king of kings
Mansions and wealth beyond compare
All was his for he was heir

But with permission he did seek
To leave his home and save the meek

His covenant made
A price he’d pay
He knew the way
And would not stray

Without an army or noble steed
He came to fight for all in need
Yet few did heed, to take his lead
Still he decreed, for all he’d bleed

His final battle, he did beset
With righteous cries and crimson sweat
It was a battle to the death
The hero pierced, with fading breath
His life he lost but victory won
The king awaits his faithful son

No earthly grave left in his stead
tis hard to mourn if ones not dead

~Brandt Hurley

Guest Post: Scripture Study Thoughts

1 My son Orson, hearken and hear and behold what I, the Lord God, shall say unto you, even Jesus Christ your Redeemer;
2 The light and the life of the world, a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not;
3 Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God. Wherefore you are my son;
4 And blessed are you because you have believed;
5 And more blessed are you because you are called of me to preach my gospel--~D&C 34:1-5

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He gave his life so that we may become sons and daughters of God. We're blessed if we believe in Christ and even more blessed if we preach about him.

What also blows me away here is that Orson Pratt here is only 19 and Joseph only 25. What a young church laying the ground work for such a great and marvelous work that will come to bless millions now and one day billions! Infinite repercussions from even small things.
~Doug Rigby

Children of God

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ~1 John 3:2

You and I are sons and daughters of God, with something of divinity within us. Let us stand tall, my brothers and sisters. Let us live the gospel. Let us be busy in the church. Let us learn of its doctrine. Let us feed upon its teachings. Let us grow in faith and faithfulness before the world. ~President Gordon B. Hinckley "Stand A Little Taller"

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To rephrase a little: we don't know what we're going to be, but we know when the times comes we'll be like Him. I don't think we have any clue how far there is to go or what it will be like when we arrive. All I know is that it will be glorious and that we will belong. President Hinckley maps out very clearly what we need to do to get there.  

City On A Hill

I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. ~3 Nephi 12:14

We are all in this together. Every man, woman, and child who belongs to this Church is part of this movement. Let us work and accomplish and become as a city set upon a hill whose light cannot be hidden from the world. ~President Gordon B. Hinckley "Stand A Little Taller"

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I love this scripture. If we continue with the light of Christ we cannot be hid. Going about our daily business, sharing some kind words or just doing the right thing when it's so easy and harmless to do is light to a darkened world. When it seems no one is watching, keeping that genuine smile on our faces and showing God's love with every action we perform is putting ourselves on a hill. Let's not keep ourselves or the Holy Spirit that dwells within us hidden. 

It's easy to say those things, but to do so takes quite a lot of dedication and work. We have to keep up the spiritual things in the rest of our lives in order to keep sharing ourselves with others. We have to keep reading our scriptures, expounding, exhorting and edifying (my three favorite 'e' words)! We have to keep praying, going to church, fulfilling our callings and paying our tithing and fast offerings. If we don't do those things then the other things mentioned can become very difficult. 

Respectfully Sharing

Let brotherly love continue. 

~Hebrews 13:1

Work with respect for your associates, for their opinions, for their beliefs, with appreciation for their problems, and with a desire to help them should they stumble.

~President Gordon B. Hinckley "Stand A Little Taller"

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People are inherently intelligent beings. We've been given these brains capable of learning so much. Whatever someone's belief system is will be rational to them based on the knowledge and experience they've gained in their life. We need to have the utmost respect for that. We need to continue with faith, hope, charity and love for our fellow man. That means not only respecting them as intelligent children of God, but helping them wherever we can. We can help them by respectfully sharing our beliefs and opinions, or we can help them by strengthening and lifting them up in times of need.