Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Did You Think To Pray?

Tonight I was studying about prayer. Jesus commanded us to pray always. I really liked this quote from President Henry B. Eyring:
"I am not wise enough to know all of His purposes in giving us a covenant to always remember Him and in His warning us to pray always lest we be overcome. But I know one. It is because He knows perfectly the powerful forces that influence us and also what it means to be human. ...
"...He knows what it is like to have the cares of life press in upon us. ...And He knows how our human powers to cope are not constant. ...
"...As the forces around us increase in intensity, whatever spiritual strength was once sufficient will not be enough. And whatever growth in spiritual strength we once thought was possible, greater growth will be made available to us. Both the need for spiritual strength and the opportunity to acquire it will increase at rates which we underestimate at our peril. ...
"Start with remembering Him. you will remember what you know and what you love. ...
"The Lord hears the prayers of your heart. The feelings of your heart, of love for our Heavenly Father and for His Beloved Son, can be so constant that your prayers will ascend always" ("Always" [CES fireside for young adults, Jan.3,1999])

Click here to see a 2 minute video entitled "I Pray When..." I didn't think to take a picture (and forgive me, I'm not really in the mood at this moment), but I pray when I feel alone. I pray when I feel troubled and confused. I pray when I feel happy and loved. I pray when I need help. When do you pray?

Monday, August 18, 2014

Be Where You Are


I have been doing a lot of thinking the last several months. A lot of that thinking was an attempt to move myself somewhere else, or to make a change to have more of a social life. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I don’t always think it matters where we live as long as we’re doing the best to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ. But every once in a while it actually does matter. Each time I would seriously think about a change I’d be redirected. For some reason at this time in my life, I’m EXACTLY where I need to be.

I’ve been giving this some thought and trying to determine what greater purpose I have to be here now. This weekend it hit me, and it hit me hard! The Young Single Adult program here is basically non-existent. As I thought about it, I realized that at best, if nothing were to change, I have 2 years left in the YSA program and then I’m done. I realized that I have an opportunity in this small window of time to make a difference. There are a LOT of people in this group and the majority of them aren’t coming to anything! This group is slipping away. This isn’t about me. This is about Heavenly Father and the fact that He works in the details of our lives. I needed a way to connect with people, to have a purpose. I’ve spoken with others who have been in need of some help to get things going. I hope to be able to help those who are struggling.

I’ve been thinking about my life and my situation all wrong. I’ve been worried about me, about my situation, what I want and need. What I’ve needed to focus my energy on are the people around me, and those especially that I don’t know yet. That’s who I’ve always wanted to be but haven’t put forth the effort. Well, that changes now. From now on, instead of just living here, I’m really going to BE here. I’ve been brought to this place for a reason and I’m just now catching a glimpse of what that is. I know as I make a valiant effort to keep the commandments the Lord will bless me to be an instrument in His hands.