Reflections Then and Now: Real Life Application and Halloween Parade Photos

If you are looking for Halloween photos of the babies, scroll down to the bottom.

Today's journals are nicely related again. Learning to apply things that I learn. To incorporate the good into my life, instead of just reading about it.

***July 17, 2004 JOURNAL: A Reflection
Elder Dallin H. Oaks commented on why we read the Book of Mormon again and again when he said, "The Book of Mormon is the same, but the reader has changed. That's why we keep reading the Book of Mormon."
I think I'm beginning to understand this. In the MTC our branch president, President Chapman, said, if we read 2 Nephi 9 every day for 30 days we'd gain a deeper appreciation for the atonement. So, for the past month I've been studying 2 Nephi 9. While I feel I have gained a deeper appreciation for the atonement of Christ, it's no where near where it could have been now that I think about it, because I forgot the most important thing: self-application! I feel this exercise could have been more meaningful if I had, not only taken the time to pick apart 2 Nephi 9, but if I tried to actually apply it to myself. To apply it to my day, my life and used it to overcome issues from past choices, I think I would've gotten so much more out of it. Live and learn, then apply it :).

2 November 2014: It's In The Application

This week I felt like I wanted more and better direction in life.

I felt strongly when I decided to return to school and finish out a degree in Music Ed. But then life happens. I'm still working on the school thing, and will share more about that in another post. Suffice it for this post to say, that I'm having to overcome some minor barriers in how to re-approach school, meeting with advisers and being passed from adviser to adviser to adviser with different and often conflicting information.

Whenever I reach barriers I think to myself, if this is where I give up and look for something else or should I press forward. Having an answer to a prayer confirmed is all fine and good when that happens, but keeping up with knowing when I should keep pushing forward is something I struggle with.

In this last general conference, Elder Richard G. Scott said,

Despite all of the negative challenges we have in life, we must take time to actively exercise our faith... Our Father in Heaven has given us tools to help us come unto Christ and exercise faith in His Atonement. When these tools become fundamental habits, they provide the easiest way to find peace in the challenges of mortality.

He then shared four tools we can use to exercise our faith more fully: Prayer, Scripture Study, Family Home Evening and Temple Attendance.

I thought to myself, I do that (the best I can), so what am I missing?

More meaningful application.

Last Sunday Marcella Faust gave a talk in sacrament about how keeping the commandments helps us come unto Christ.

She shared about when she started paying tithing. One morning as she was leaving for work her car wouldn't start. She remembered that we are promised if we pay our tithing the widows of heaven would open and pour out blessings so great we'd have wouldn't be able to contain them. She prayed, (that bean bag frog prayer) Heavenly Father, I don't know what to do, but I know you do and I've been living my life the best I can and I need to get to work, please help. Her neighbor (she being new in the area she hadn't met him yet) was a mechanic was able to fix her car and she was able to get on with her day.

I decided I needed to re-evaluate my prayers. I know I say them. I tried to follow Elder Eyring's advise in writing down things I want to remember in my prayer. But, I also realized that I only allowed for about 30 seconds (yes an exaggeration) for morning prayer. I decided I needed to spend more time and thought on prayers.

Elder Scott said,

Choose to converse with your Father in Heaven often. Make time every day to share your thoughts and feelings with Him. Tell Him everything that concerns you. He is interested in the most important as well as the most mundane facets of your life. Share with Him your full range of feelings and experiences. . . . as you exercise that agency and include Him in every aspect of your daily life, your heart will begin to fill with peace, buoyant peace. That peace will focus an eternal light on your struggles. It will help you to manage those challenges from an eternal perspective.

It's been an interesting week working on this. I am beginning to understand that buoyant peace Elder Scott mentioned. That peace of heart and peace of mind that keeps you going when there are times of struggle.

At least for now, morning and evening prayers take a lot more thought, preparation and time. But, I also know I can keep a prayer in my heart all day long, and I tap into that too. Because, for me, I need that constant re-assurance that I'm on the right path and that I'm going the right way.

Now for photos:

I didn't take photos of trick-or-treating time because it was really dark when we got out. Enjoy: