Attempting the Impossible

This is the talk I picked for our next discussion. I don't have any prompts for it yet; feel free to post one if it strikes you. I really like having this blog; it's a positive influence for me between Sundays. Mom, I want to hear your voice on these, too. Do you have a google account?

Peaceful Uprooting

I remember when our family was considering moving to Nevada. I prayed about it, a lot! I had prayed many times and felt the spirit, I had prayed for comfort and received it, but I had never really prayed for a specific answer. On my own, for the first time, I received an answer that our family should move, that there was much waiting for us in Nevada, much to learn and many blessing. I remember feeling such peace! Then I talked to mom and dad and they had decided not to move. As dad went to refuse the offer he had a "stupor of thought" and we moved (obviously). I think that the Lord gave me the answer because I needed it to be okay with the move. When people would ask if I was mad at my parents for moving me, I would say that I couldn't be, I knew that the Lord wanted us to go. We all know me to sometimes be a pill when I don't want to do something, but in this situation I didn't want to be because I knew that we were told to by the Lord. Also, because the Lord said go, I wanted to go! I was excited! After moving life wasn't easy, but whenever I was frustrated I knew that the Lord wanted us there and the Spirit continuously comforted me, that knowledge didn't take away the struggles, but it helped me through. I look at all the blessings and learning that came from moving, so many!

I know this isn't a new story to you, but it was my first life-changing spiritual experience.
During a Spanish class in my sophomore year at BYU I found out about the Disney College Program. A girl next to me had a flyer about it, telling when they were coming to recruit. You cannot imagine (okay, you probably can) how excited I was. It would be a perfect internship for my major, and I would get to work and live at Disney World?!?! And then, of course, I would apply for and get accepted to their next level of internship, the Advanced Management internship (which you can only do after having done the first one), and then I would stay on and work my way up to manage one of their resorts there (or at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, or move over to their cruise line). And at some point in there I would meet a good ol' Southern boy and that's that. Perfect plan. Except that it was my plan.

Well, I kept trying to make it work, but something kept coming up or I needed another class, and kept saying that maybe I can do it next semester. Then finally, in the fall of 2004, I actually applied and auditioned! I was so excited and stopped at Elizabeth's apartment on the way home to tell her all about it. She was so excited with me, which was really fun, except her brother was sitting there on the couch, too, listening to me ramble on and on about this, and for some reason I felt odd. But I could hardly wait for my letter to come in two weeks, that would for sure tell me I was accepted.

It was only a few days later that I was reading my scriptures when I read Helaman 10:4. "And thou hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments." I realized I hadn't prayed about going to Disney World, but I thought, "There is nothing wrong in going to Disney World; I don't need to pray about it." And I knew immediately that when I finally humbled myself to pray about it, the answer would be no. I ignored that for several days, because I wasn't ready for that. Then I finally prayed about it, and felt a very definite no. And then my letter came, telling me that I was accepted. And then I turned it down, which was hard, but my answer had been so clear that there was nothing else to do. And now I am sealed through the holy Priesthood to the best man in the entire world, with three beautiful, horribly obnoxious boys, and I love it!

That experience, above all, taught me that the Lord loves me and that He is very much aware of me, and has a plan for me, and that as long as I am striving to do as He would have me do, He will not let me unknowingly do something contrary to His plan for me. I very well could have chosen to go anyway, and I don't think that something horrible would have necessarily happened, but I do know what would not have happened, and that makes me extremely grateful that the Lord told me where He would have me be.

Clear Thought

While in the MTC I was trying to be perfect...not too unusual for me. I was human. I was trying to learn the Korean language. I was trying to be a perfect missionary with pure, perfect thoughts. I expected myself to have a perfect testimony. I wanted to remember every scripture, quote, concept that we were taught. etc. etc. Well...I kept failing. That was tough.

At some point, I don't remember which week, I was saying my personal evening prayers in Korean. I said, "I know thou doest love me." Immediately a very clear thought came to me, "Do you? Do you know I love you, daughter?" And then there was a feeling of 'because I do,' though there were no words. I started crying, of course...sort of like I am right now. I didn't know. I had been taught it my whole life, yet I did not know. I was trying to be perfect and was missing the main part of the gospel. God loves us. Me. Sometimes I still forget. When this happens I remember that night on the top bunk in an MTC dorm when Heavenly Father made sure I personally knew that He loved me. How grateful I am for the Holy Ghost and how He can teach and comfort us.

feeling promptings

so, I am new at this....blogging that is,
and this is the dad speaking.

Feeling a prompting should come frequently....I believe the Lord is constantly sending messages to us, but since we tend to be a fallen race (fallen men) we do not, as a general rule, do a very good job of receiving. President Monson is a fantastic living example of a son of God who follows promptings.

That being said, I do not compare very well to his example. But I have actually paid attention to a few promptings sent my way. One, I remember very well....

We were having stake temple day in Oregon...I had done several sessions that day...and it was one of the last sessions....
I was involved in the prayer thingy (not sure if you should talk to much about the ceremony lest you become casual about the temple...so I opt for "thingy")
Sister Martin was also there...and the guy giving the prayer said "bless those who came with a need for a blessing"....suddenly, as clear as a slap in the head, I had the thought "sister Martin really doesn't want to be blind" Now, that was a real shot...and I pondered how we often take our position in life for granted...not the ungrateful "for granted", but the "we can't change it" type of for granted. So I approached her, and had a great experience in giving her a blessing later that evening at her home (with Bro. Marshall) The Lord really blessed her, I am thankful I listen that one time to the Lord....."She really doesn't want to be blind" I hope we never want to be blind

Love Dad

New Talk: Prayer and Promptings

Hi-ya family.

It is time to change the conference talk. We are now reading Prayer and Promptings by President Boyd K. Packer. This talk is beautiful. Part way through the talk President Packer shares how the Spirit speaks to us. He starts by saying, "That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration..." Later he shares an experience of the Lord answering a prayer and says, "this process is not reserved for the prophets alone."

Family, we have each been baptized and confirmed into the Lord's church. This means that we have the gift of the Holy Ghost, what a marvelous blessing this is. We are not prophets, but we can still have our prayers answered and feel the Holy Ghost guide/teach/comfort us. Here is the prompt for you:

Based off of President Packer's quote teaching us what the Spirit feels like, tell an experience where you felt the Spirit. How did you feel it? What did He prompt you to do or what did He comfort you in?

You need not share experiences that are too sacred and reserved for only times when the Lord prompts you to share it with another person. I am sure there are plenty of other times you have felt the Spirit that you can share with us.

I love you family!

Share one thought

For this talk, just post one thought you had while reading the talk. I was going to share many of my thoughts as you can see by my numbering them, but took too long on one. You don't have to read it all though.
We'll do prompt questions as we become more familiar with the process and consistent in checking our blog spot.