While in the MTC we were required to write a 5 minute talk in preparation for Sacrament Meetings on Sunday. The topic was assigned by our branch president the previous Sunday, and members of the branch were chosen to share their talks during sacrament meeting.
***5/30/2004 Talk on Repentance written for (but not shared in) Branch Sacrament Meeting
The bible dictionary tells us that repentance is, "a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin. ...Without this there can be no progress in the things of Salvation. Repentance is not optional it is a commandment."
Because God loves us and wants us to be able to be more like him, He sent us to Earth to be tested. But He knew that we would not be able to return to Him on our own. It is through Jesus Christ that we are able to return to our Heavenly Father. Christ made it possible for us to repent of our sins - otherwise we would not be able to return to our Father in Heaven.
We are not forced to repent. In Ether 12:27 it reads, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." The Lord knew that we would have difficult times. This is the way we are able to learn and grow.
I know that if we will humble ourselves, the Lord will help us, not only in our times of weakness, but whenever we need him. And if we will humble ourselves before the Lord and seek repentance, make proper confessions, restitution and forsake our sins, I know the Lord will make our weaknesses into strengths.
There is no better time than the present. Isaiah tells us that we should repent now - to call upon the Lord while he is near. Amulek tells us, in the book of Alma that this life is the time for us to prepare to meet God and that we should repent now. The reason for this, is because we don't know how much longer we have before we will be called back home to our father in Heaven. We need to be prepared now so that when that day comes we can report to our Father, just as the apostle Paul did, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
***May 30, 2004 JOURNAL: Sunday
Kind of junkie. This is going to sound like a lot of complaining, which really shouldn't happen because I know I have so much to be grateful for.
I was really looking forward to today because Sundays are my most favorite day of the week. Plus we get a lot of personal study time. But it wasn't the uplift I was expecting. I was expecting to feel the way I do in the branch and that, of course, didn't happen.
I was already feeling homesick because I knew it was Sunday. District Meeting was good. Elder Duthrie and Elder Kuhle were assigned to be Assistants to the President. Elder Wright was assigned to be district leader and Elder Morris the assistant district leader.
Then I really started to miss home The spirit in the branch is special to me. I was expecting that here. I was really trying to get my mind off of home. So I get to work. Which worked until this evening - I really wasn't feeling it. So I set my sights on tomorrow - on the temple. But since it's Memorial Day, the temple is closed. After I found that out I really had to take some time to calm myself down. I really wanted to be in a place where I can feel at home, feel the love of my Heavenly Father. That opportunity will have to wait until next week. But, I miss it. The peace and understanding,t he opportunities to learn ...
GOOD: memorized scriptures
COMPANION: compassionate
GOAL: Smile
19 November 2012
Hopefully I'm finally getting over this cold! Kick it in the butt and out of my body. I think the clogging in my ears may have cleared up, but I still hear some ringing so it's probably not back to equilibrium yet.
Last night I went to orchestra rehearsal. Each year our stake produces a Christmas devotional. This will be my seventh devotional participating in the orchestra. Each year I reach a point where my stress level produced by whatever that year, lack of personal practice or players participating, or whatever, really starts to get me down. This year our violin section is particularly small. This I feel was Heavenly Father saying it's time to push me off a cliff (a President Pulsipher-ism and philosophy on receiving inspiration at transfer time). I hate being pushed off of cliffs because it leaves me feeling exposed and uncomfortable more times than not. No one likes that feeling. This year is leaves me being the lone first violinist in an orchestra of about 12 people which is much smaller than I've experienced in years past. Here's the reason this is a problem for me. I don't like the way I sound when I play by myself. I haven't yet needed to stand on my own to get comfortable with the way I sound. The other reason this is a problem is because I need to learn how to emote feeling into my playing. When you're playing with a large group of people this is not necessary. It is easy to lean on the emotions, swellings and recessions of others to add emotion to the song. Here are all the opportunities Heavenly Father is helping me to have this Christmas. Gifts yes. Uncomfortable, still yes. But I remember a training we received either in a zone conference or a district meeting. I'm sure I'll write about it later. But it was about having an I Can attitude. We developed an I Can and I Will mantra. I can and I will. I can and I will. I can and I will. Because what could I attempt to accomplish if I knew I could not fail? All things!
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