You will periodically receive texts from me. Most of the time I will link to this blog where you can find any information I have sent or provided. I'm excited to move forward into the year and see what we can learn from each other. Feel free to comment or just keep up to date.
This Sunday we spoke about the importance of keeping a journal, and I wanted to share what I wrote in one of my journals from back in 2004 when I was living in New Zealand. But first I wanted to remind you that President Spencer W. Kimball told us that our story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available. He also said, "Experiences of work, relations with people, and an awareness of the rightness and wrongness of actions will always be relevant." (See Source in English.) I'm so glad that I took the time to write down the following experience and hope you will all start to write down your thoughts and experiences. (This entry was written while I was on a week long hike in New Zealand. While I lived there I began to truly have a love for the Book of Mormon.)
January 28, 2004
I finished the Book of Mormon today. I read Ether and Moroni down by the river. it was such a neat experience to be there all by myself. I really needed the time alone. I sat, read, soaked up the sun and listened to the river. I don't have my own Book of Mormon out here and I just crave reading it. First I was reading about the Brother of Jared. The first thing that hit me was a verse that says the people went to work. The Brother of Jared was chastised for not calling on the Lord for four years. So I learned that I need to call on the Lord constantly asking him what more I need to do. It's our job to ask not just wait. Once we ask he will give us instructions to build our ships or will point us in the right direction. Once the people had instructions they "went to work", that's the exact words for it, and I love it because we are expected to work. This really made me think about going to work on a lot of things like school, weight, and just doing things I want to do. The other new perspective I had was on the 16 stones. It's the example that I needed. We're always told ask and ye shall receive. I've always had trouble with it because I wonder if some of the things that I ask for are valid or if I really deserve them. When you read it you can see that the Brother of Jared literally put those verses to work. The other thing that struck me was that he prepared the stones. He didn't ask "If i make these stones will you light them?" He made the stones and brought them before the Lord. So I guess I learned that I don't want to miss out on 4 years because I was "waiting". Second I want to go to work and third I want to have initiative and faith that I can ask the Lord for things or gifts. the other thing is that I really feel like I would love talking with Moroni. He was all alone and I admire his strength in that.I've found that even though this was written years ago it is still very relevant to my life. When things get tough I need to remember to "go to work". When I feel lonely, I remember that Moroni can relate. I hope you are all having a wonderful week.
