Patience

My Father in Heaven is so merciful to me. I prayed for guidance and help tonight with some struggles I have been having, my Heavenly Father gave me the answer. To start off here is a definition:

"Perfectionism, in psychology, is a personality trait characterized by a person's striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others' evaluations. It is best conceptualized as a multidimensional characteristic, as psychologists agree that there are many positive and negative aspects. In its maladaptive form, perfectionism drives people to attempt to achieve an unattainable ideal, and their adaptive perfectionism can sometimes motivate them to reach their goals. In the end, they derive pleasure from doing so. When perfectionists do not reach their goals, they often fall into depression.... Perfectionists desire perfection and fear imperfection and feel that other people will like them only if they are perfect. Perfectionism itself is thus never seen as healthy or adaptive. Perfectionism is not the same thing as striving for excellence. The difference is in the meaning given to mistakes. Those who strive for excellence can take mistakes (imperfections) as incentive to work harder. Unhealthy perfectionists consider their mistakes a sign of personal defects. For those people, anxiety about potential failure is the reason perfectionism is felt as a burden."-wikipedia.com

This defines someone I know very well....me... what I came to realize is that after years and years of being this way (I have been this way since I was in kindergarten) I finally just gave up on myself. I worked so hard at being perfect and it still didn't bring me happiness, nor happened, so I became discouraged with myself and even began to loath who I am. No matter the compliments, the encouraging words and confusion from others of my self perception I couldn't grasp who I was and my importance. I had failed at perfection and lost all faith in myself. When I was told to work on things I would get offended inside or hurt because that was just another thing to add to the list of things I wasn't doing. I no longer felt excitement about goals, I stopped making them. I lost interest in lots of things and loss complete confidence in myself with school. I felt lost, useless, purposeless. I have been through many things and I have come to realize this is why I haven't been able to move forward. I expected perfection in every thing that I did and therefor lost the joy of doing it unless it was perfect. I stopped wanting to try new things because I was afraid to do something I wasn't already fantastic at..... Let me just say, this is not the way to live... so the good part, tonight I was guided to the answer. PATIENCE. Patience is the ability to put our desires on hold for a time. We live in a world where everything is instant. Farmers are lucky that they have the opportunity to have such an attribute in the planting of crops. We all want what we want and we want it now. This is not God's way. We must know that all things we want that are worth it take time and effort. I want perfection and that will not come without the Lord and until the next life. With that Patience we must have another attribute and that is Hope. We must be seeking Eternal Life, the greatest of all the gifts of God. We know we cannot have that yet for we must finish this earth life first, but that must be the ultimate focus of our patience and all else will fall into place. I am so grateful to have come to realize the importance of patience and how much I need it that I might gain true happiness in this life. I feel there is hope shining brightly before me. Thank you Father for guiding my way.

Talks on Patience and Hope

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-infinite-power-of-hope?lang=eng

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/continue-in-patience?lang=eng

I feel my Saviors Love, in all the World around me

I read a fantastic talk for my scriptures and was filled with such conviction and desire inside that I had to share it! It is from the 2006 April General Conference in the Priesthood Session of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is by President Uchtdorf (but then it was Elder Uchtdorf) As I read this I wanted to know the words of the Prophets better, to study them, to live them excitedly with my fellow members of the church. I feel sometimes we are too complacent and desire to let slide all that we can as long as we are being "good people." We need to be better! Being good is exciting! Everyone wants to be their own person! Being good and righteous is standing out! Let's be that light on the hill! Let Christ's light shine through us. We need to rise to the occasion and stand out as members of Christ's Church. We need to stand for Truth and righteousness at all times and in all things and in all places. We need to stand with Christ. We need to do it together. I am so excited to go back to BYUI and join in the councils that run the great school. I want to help keep that spirit at BYUI that helps us become true followers and disciples of Jesus Christ. Sometimes it feels hard to do the right thing because you feel like you are doing it alone and being alone is hard. Please know you are not alone! There are many others that feel the same way. We MUST band together. Satan wants us to feel alone. There is power in numbers. Come Join the Ranks! Be excited to live right!

"When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God endows us with power." -President Ezra Taft Benson

My dear brethren, it is wonderful and humbling to be with you in this worldwide assembly of priesthood holders. I love and admire you. I feel honored to be counted as one of you. I salute you who have the authority to act in the name of God and to perform ordinances which are a vital source of eternal strength and energy for the well-being of mankind.

I will speak today to you wonderful young men who are preparing to make a difference in the world—you who have entered the ranks of the Aaronic Priesthood and you who have already received the sacred oath and covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood. The priesthood you bear is a wonderful force for good. You live in a time of great challenges and opportunities. As spirit sons of heavenly parents, you are free to make the right choices. This requires hard work, self-discipline, and an optimistic outlook, which will bring joy and freedom into your life now and in the future.

The Lord said to Abraham, “My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore my hand shall be over thee” (Abr. 2:8). My young friends, today I say to you that if you trust the Lord and obey Him, His hand shall be over you, He will help you achieve the great potential He sees in you, and He will help you to see the end from the beginning.

Allow me to share with you an experience from my own boyhood. When I was 11 years old, my family had to leave East Germany and begin a new life in West Germany overnight. Until my father could get back into his original profession as a government employee, my parents operated a small laundry business in our little town. I became the laundry delivery boy. To be able to do that effectively, I needed a bicycle to pull the heavy laundry cart. I had always dreamed of owning a nice, sleek, shiny, sporty red bicycle. But there had never been enough money to fulfill this dream. What I got instead was a heavy, ugly, black, sturdy workhorse of a bicycle. I delivered laundry on that bike before and after school for quite a few years. Most of the time, I was not overly excited about the bike, the cart, or my job. Sometimes the cart seemed so heavy and the work so tiring that I thought my lungs would burst, and I often had to stop to catch my breath. Nevertheless, I did my part because I knew we desperately needed the income as a family, and it was my way to contribute.

If I had only known back then what I learned many years later—if I had only been able to see the end from the beginning—I would have had a better appreciation of these experiences, and it would have made my job so much easier.

Many years later, when I was about to be drafted into the military, I decided to volunteer instead and join the Air Force to become a pilot. I loved flying and thought being a pilot would be my thing.

To be accepted for the program I had to pass a number of tests, including a strict physical exam. The doctors were slightly concerned by the results and did some additional medical tests. Then they announced, “You have scars on your lung which are an indication of a lung disease in your early teenage years, but obviously you are fine now.” The doctors wondered what kind of treatment I had gone through to heal the disease. Until the day of that examination I had never known that I had any kind of lung disease. Then it became clear to me that my regular exercise in fresh air as a laundry boy had been a key factor in my healing from this illness. Without the extra effort of pedaling that heavy bicycle day in and day out, pulling the laundry cart up and down the streets of our town, I might never have become a jet fighter pilot and later a 747 airline captain.

We don’t always know the details of our future. We do not know what lies ahead. We live in a time of uncertainty. We are surrounded by challenges on all sides. Occasionally discouragement may sneak into our day; frustration may invite itself into our thinking; doubt might enter about the value of our work. In these dark moments Satan whispers in our ears that we will never be able to succeed, that the price isn’t worth the effort, and that our small part will never make a difference. He, the father of all lies, will try to prevent us from seeing the end from the beginning.

Fortunately, you young priesthood holders of The Church of Jesus Christof Latter-day Saints are taught by prophets, seers, and revelators of our day. The First Presidency said: “We have great confidence in you. You are choice spirits. … You are at the beginning of your journey through this mortal life. Your Heavenly Father wants your life to be joyful and to lead you back into His presence. The decisions you make now will determine much of what will follow during your life and throughout eternity” (For the Strength of Youth [2001], 2). “You have a responsibility to learn what Heavenly Father wants you to do and then to do your best to follow His will” (Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God [2001], 4).

How deeply grateful I am for the inspired leadership of our dear President Gordon B. Hinckley, the prophet of God in our time, and his noble counselors. Their prophetic view helps you to see the end from the beginning.

The Lord loves you; that is why He has given you commandments and the words of prophets to guide you on your journey through life. Some of the most important guidelines for your life are found in the pamphlet For the Strength of Youth. The physical appearance of this little paper booklet would qualify it for the scriptural description “Out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). The pamphlet itself has little material value, perhaps just a few cents. But the doctrine and principles it presents are an invaluable treasure. You young men who are already 18 or older, if you don’t have this booklet anymore, make sure to get one, keep it, and use it. This little booklet is a gem for any age group. It contains standards which are sacred symbols representing our membership in the Church.

I call your attention to the fact that For the Strength of Youth, the accompanying Guidebook for Parents and Leaders of Youth, and the temple recommend of the Church all have a picture of the Salt Lake Temple imprinted on the front. The temple is the binding link between generations, in this life and for eternity. All the temples have been dedicated for the same purpose: to assist in accomplishing the divine work and glory of God, our Eternal Father, “to bring to pass theimmortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). These temples are sacred structures in which eternal questions are answered, truths are taught, and ordinances performed so that we can live with an understanding of our divine inheritance as children of God and with an awareness of our potential as eternal beings. The house of the Lord helps you to see the end from the beginning.

Just as the temples of God are sacred, so are your temporal bodies. The Apostle Paul said:

“Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:19–20).

My dear fellow priesthood holders of all ages and in all places around this world, let us use our thoughts, our minds and hearts, and our bodies with the respect and dignity worthy of a sacred temple given to us by our Heavenly Father.

The prophets of our day have promised you, my friends, that as you keep the standards given in For the Strength of Youth and “live by the truths in the scriptures, you will be able to do your life’s work with greater wisdom and skill and bear trials with greater courage. You will have the help of the Holy Ghost. … You will be worthy to go to the temple to receive holy ordinances. These blessings and many more can be yours” (For the Strength of Youth, 2–3).

We know that God keeps His promises. We need to fulfill our part to receive His blessings. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:21).

Every member who wants to go to the temple, regardless of age, needs to prepare for this sacred experience. Certain questions will be asked by your bishop and stake president, who hold keys of priesthood authority and are common judges in the Church. These vital questions will include: Are you honest? Are you morally clean? Do you keep the Word of Wisdom? Do you obey the law of tithing? And do you sustain the authorities of the Church? The answers to these key questions reflect your attitudes and actions.

You younger men might not be aware that the standards set by the Lord in the temple recommend questions are very similar to the standards found in For the Strength of Youth. In times of calmness but also in times of greatest temptation, these standards and the guidance of the Holy Ghost will help you make the right choices about your education, friends, dress and appearance, entertainment, media and the Internet, your language, proper dating, sexual purity, honesty, Sabbath-day observance, and service to others. How you apply these standards will say much about who you are and what you seek to become.

The Lord wants you, my young friends, to desire with all your heart to keep these standards and live by the gospel truths found in the scriptures. As you do this, you will see beyond the moment, and you will see your bright and wonderful future with great opportunities and responsibilities. You will be willing to work hard and endure long, and you will have an optimistic outlook on life. You will see that your life’s road will lead you to the house of the Lord first and then to serve a full-time mission, representing the Savior wherever He will send you. After your mission you will organize and plan your life based on the same standards. Therefore, in your mind’s eye you will see yourself entering the house of the Lord for an eternal marriage and family. Your priorities in life will change to match the priorities given to us by the Savior. And God will bless you and open the eyes of your understanding so you can see the end from the beginning.

Living the standards set in For the Strength of Youth will make you feel good about yourself. Write those standards into your heart and mind, and live accordingly. Compare each of those standards with where you are today. Listen to the Spirit, who will teach you what you need to do to become more like Jesus. If you recognize a need for change, make the change; don’t procrastinate. Use true repentance and the gift and power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to clear up those things that are keeping you from reaching your true potential. If this process appears tough, hang in there; it is worth it. The Lord has a promise for you as He had for the Prophet Joseph: “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (D&C 122:7).

Now, my dear grandfathers, fathers, uncles, brothers, and friends of our young people, we can be of great help in this process. King Benjamin taught that when parents are truly converted, they “will teach [their children] to walk in the ways of truth and soberness [and] will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another” (Mosiah 4:15). It has been said, “Teaching by example is one way to teach.” I would say, “Teaching by example is the best way to teach.”

Please teach our young people by your example of being a temple-worthy priesthood holder. Your good life, your love for God and fellow men, your applied testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ will be a convincing power to our youth, and it will help them to see the end from the beginning.

My dear young friends, please perfect your lives in living these standards given by the prophets of our day. As you do this, step-by-step, day after day, you will honor the priesthood and you will be prepared to make a difference in the world. You will also be on the right track to return with honor to our Heavenly Father.

My dear fellow servants of the priesthood, I promise you today that when you follow this pattern, the Lord will help you to make more out of your life than you ever can by yourself. He will help you always to see the end from the beginning!

Of this I testify as an Apostle of the Lord, our Savior, and in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Things don't always turn out how you plan, but make the best of it!

Made Cookies today with Allie......



Some turned out fantastic!......

Some didn't turn out so well!.... lol

In the past I would have been pretty frustrated that not every cookie turned out perfect, but it's not a big deal. They are cookies and it happens. Life is short, it's like a second compared to eternity and I need to make the most of it and not waste time stressing over things I can't control and or don't matter. The gospel of Jesus Christ gives this perspective. I also learned a few lessons today:

1. We are here to be proven, to learn  and grow. We cannot run from those things which will help us grow. We must not shrink, but instead stand boldly and courageously, facing all that stands in our path and know that with God nothing shall be impossible.

 "At times it may seem that our trials are focused on areas of our lies and parts of our souls with which we seem least able to cope. Since personal growth is an intended outcome of these challenges, it should come to no surprise that the trials can be very personal-almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses" -Paul V. Johnson 

2. Agency is a gift, we need to see it as a gift and use it appropriately. Make choices. A friend  of mine emailed me the following today and i feel it fits with this topic-"Satan uses stress so that we are halted in our path. Move Forward! As long as you press forward in faith and make the decision things will work out. If it is not what the Lord wants he will prevent it, but you need to trust him that he will prevent it, but you need to trust him that he will do that i his own time! So yes, do it!" 

"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with a doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned." -D&C 58:26-29

Keep the Commandments, stay close to the Lord and follow these scriptures.

Fear

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -Marianne Williamson 

I just got off the phone with my cousin and she completely inspired me that I had to get on and share.... mostly so I won't forget. First off, some quotes from Thomas Edison:

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” 
― Thomas A. Edison

“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” 
― Thomas A. Edison

“We often miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work” 
― Thomas A. Edison

“Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” 
― Thomas A. Edison

“If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.” 
― Thomas A. Edison

“The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.” 
― Thomas A. Edison

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time.” 
― Thomas A. Edison

“Vision without execution is hallucination.” 
― Thomas A. Edison

“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this - you haven't.” 
― Thomas A. Edison

“Negative results are just what I want. They’re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don’t.” 
― Thomas A. Edison

I could go on.... But the point is, we have to believe in ourselves and not be afraid of failure. Failures teach us things. The true sign of failure is when you have given up completely. Every situation we are put in is an opportunity for us to learn, take notes, make the necessary corrections and keep moving forward. What if Thomas Edison had been too afraid of failure to keep trying? What if Christ was too afraid that He couldn't be perfect? What if Joesph Smith was too afraid to pray in a garden, not expecting any answer? We must have faith, hope and be optimistic. Every experience in life can teach us something we are doing right or need to improve on. Trust in God, in goodness and keep trying. Satan wants us to be afraid because it can stop us from doing all we were sent here and meant to do. Put your faith in Christ, He is the Author and finisher of it and He is the one who died for us. Let go of fear and get out there and like Nike says, Just Do it! thanks cuz! you totally inspired me tonight, gave me something to think on and work on. Lets go out there and make a difference because we can.

Rough Week but looking up!

So I was sick and having a lousy week so I just couldn't think of anything to write.... What I have come to realize is that we need to be careful with our time. The Lord has allotted us time on this earth and there are certain things that he will emphasize for us to do at different times. It is our duty to use our time wisely so that He can come to trust us and increase our capacity and ability in what we can do. It goes with the story of the talents in Matt. 25..... that's what made me think about it. Time is a gift and if we use it wisely (not just fill it to be busy but do good meaningful things that please the Lord He can use us as his instruments in furthering his work on the earth and that my friends, is the best use of anyone's time.... in the work of the Lord. So the challenge of the week is to evaluate how you are using your time... What is one way you can improve it? what can you cut down on or cut out of your schedule that isn't really helping you progress? What can you add? Just think that through and let's work on our use of time this week and report next week how it went!