4 November 2012

I'm thankful for. . . .

Stake Conference

I find that I absolutely LOVE Stake Conference; I was able to attend Stake Conference with Jacey, Nic, Sidney, and Dan today. It was so awesome, even though it was in a Married ward, many of the things were/are still applicable in my life as well as many of yours. Enjoy the notes!

Talk #1

Take an inventory of your life and look at all the blessings that we have been given. 

     Read Henry B. Eyrings talk "Oh remember, remember!"

     Pray; thank the Lord for all that He has bestowed upon you. 

     Attend the temple regularly; it will bless your life in so many ways.

     Listen to the prophets words; do all that He asks of us.

Talk #2

Temple attendance can bring about so many blessings/ It will improve your relationships with others and God, help you become more spiritually powerful, and life will feel more manageable. Make temple attendance a priority. 

Talk #3

Every person makes mistakes; especially parenting mistakes. If you hold regular Family Home Evenings not one of your children will 100% go astray from the Gospel. Start now by gathering things for Family Home Evening, be it lessons, games, or treat ideas; make the commitment now to hold Family Home Evening regularly. They do not need to be long or elaborate. It will bring you many blessings; angels will visit your home. 

Talk #4

There are some moral absolutes, one being change! The Lord does not want us to be the same as we were one year ago. We should constantly be growing spiritually. 

By renewing our baptismal covenants by partaking of the Sacrament, we are not taking Christ's name upon us, but rather that we are willing to take His name upon us. We can only take Christ's name upon us in the temple; by participating in temple ordinances. You will find that you are converted to the church by attending the temple. You will change so much by attending the temple regularly. 

Talk #5

There is no such thing as individual exaltation; family is the basics of the church. You will not be exalted without your spouse. The husband is to preside over the family; lovingly guide their families. They will not dictate or have their vote be more than his wife. He will bring the family together for Family Home Evenings, family prayer, or family/spouse scripture study. You can have a celestial marriage by doing the following:

1. "I will make it work" attitude. The couples who divorce, usually have the same problems as those who stay together because they are committed to one another. They are willing to work out their differences and not run from one another. 
2. "Is it I?" principle--are some of the problems in your relationship your spouses fault or your fault? Are you willing to make the changes necessary for your marriage to work? 
3. Morning and evening prayers with your spouse are important. Many couples will not have problems participating in evening prayers with their spouse, it is usually the prayer in the morning. If you make the commitment to prayer every morning and evening with your spouse, you will find that your days will improve. 
4. Make your spouse happy. In a recently taken survey, it was found that they number one thing that made a wife happy was when her husband helped out with the household chores. Do not stop holding hands after you are married, and never be afraid to tell your spouse how much you love them! Do not love "things" more than your spouse. We make a commitment to be loyal to our spouses; pornography is not only toxic waste to our spirituality but it is also being unfaithful to your spouse. Do not participate in this activity. 
5. There must be NO secrets between spouses. If there are, you will find that they will come to bite you when you least expect them to!
6. Do not put off having children because of money or education. You will find that the Lord will bless you with the ability to finish school or have enough money to support a family when you do begin to have children. 
7. Live without debt--stay away from it. You will find that debt will cause many problems in a marriage.
8. Study the scriptures individually and  collectively with your spouse. Study the scriptures on the days that you want to eat (so everyday naturally). Stick to the scriptures; feast upon them and they will tell you all that you need to do.
9. Speak kind works and in kind tones to one another; tell your wife she is beautiful--tell your husband he is handsome. 
10. Be sealed in the temple to one another. It is impossible to have a celestial marriage upon this Earth if you have not been sealed together in the temple for time and all eternity. 

That last talk was obviously geared towards married people, however they are applicable to our dating lives. Keep these in mind and work on the things you know you are having a hard time with--this will help you be one step closer when you do find your eternal companion.