About four weeks ago, the Bishops and Stake Presidents in California received a notice from the First Presidency of the Church asking the members of the state of California to hold a special fast on the first Sunday of February for rain.
This was in December!
We have had a huge drought here in California. I am not one of those statistics girls, so I don't know how long it has been happening. Some people have said 'Years!' Others have said, 'Drought? What drought?' But regardless of how long it has been happening, the weather pattern where we live has been just nuts. It usually starts raining sometime in October and doesn't stop until the end of May. Seriously. We usually have one beautiful, sunny, warm day after Christmas and right before January. Then July is cold and foggy and wet. But this year, our Indian Summer has been extended through January. We have had the most beautiful weather with sun!
and this!
Drew's co-worker watches the weather. He is not a member of our faith and I do not know if he believes in God or not. But he came to work one day and said, 'There is this strange high pressure zone over California and it is just keeping all that rain we normally get out over the ocean.'
Then we, all the members in California, fasted for rain the first Sunday in February. Drew's co-worker came back to work on Monday and said, 'It's gone. The high pressure zone just disappeared! Gone.' And then it started raining, and raining, and raining. After an entire week of rain, today is the first time it has been dry enough to go for a walk outside. Coincidence? I think not.
Ya....this is usually what it looks like.....
After following the advice and counsel and request of the prophets, we have rain. We still need a lot more rain, probably months and months worth. But it is just another testament to me of the blessings of obedience.
Have you ever just wondered how you motivate your children to understand that they are unique and they have a special purpose in life, that they are amazing and have been given great and marvelous gifts and yet still understand that they are a part of a larger picture where they need to be humble with the talents the Lord has blessed them with and be willing to lift others and help them see their individual and unique gifts? I mean, where is the line? You want your children to know they are special, that they have a unique place to fill in the world, but not be so puffed up with their own conceit that they are unwilling to help others and lift them. Am I making any sense?
All of us have unique gifts. It says so in the scriptures.
whimsyatheart.com
D and C 46: 11-12
11 For all have not every agift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. (bold added)
12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.
We know we have been put here with our understanding of the doctrines of the kingdom and the covenants associated with eternity to help lead and guide the rest of our Father's children to light, happiness, and peace. The Savior said so in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5
13 ¶Ye are the asalt
of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it
be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and
to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the alight of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a acandle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your alight so shine before men, that they may see your good bworks, and cglorify your Father which is in heaven.
saultnaturopath.com
And he repeated himself when he came to visit the Nephites after his crucifixion:
3rd Nephi 12
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the asalt
of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the
earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to
be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Behold, do men light a acandle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;
16 Therefore let your alight so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and bglorify your Father who is in heaven.
We are meant to be leaders. We are meant to show others the way. We are suppose to be living so as to set the example, the standard for those around us. Leaders are unique. They do not look the same, sound the same, or behave the same as other people. They are the leader because they are different. They have vision. They show others the way to obtain their vision and they bring them along with them.
Leaders can be leaders for good or ill. Our job as leaders is to help lift others and show them how to live after the manner of happiness. The Savior compares us to salt and light. Salt is a savoring influence that enhances flavor. It makes things better. Think about light. It warms us, provides vision in darkness and a measure of heat. It also enhances life.
A few years ago, one of my conference questions revolved around this scripture:
3rd Nephi 18
18 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for aSatan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
Unfortunately,
some Latter-day Saints seem to forego unselfish service to others,
choosing instead to fix their priorities on the standards and values of
the world. Jesus cautioned that Satan desires to sift us like wheat (see
Luke 22:31; 3 Nephi 18:18),
which means to make us common like all those around us. But Jesus
taught that we who follow Him should be precious and unique, “the salt
of the earth” (Matthew 5:13) and “the light of the world,” to shine forth to all men (Matthew 5:14, 16; see also 3 Nephi 18:24).
We
do not serve our Savior well if we fear man more than God. He rebuked
some leaders in His restored Church for seeking the praise of the world
and for having their minds on the things of the earth more than on the
things of the Lord (see D&C 30:2; 58:39).
Those chastisements remind us that we are called to establish the
Lord’s standards, not to follow the world’s. Elder John A. Widtsoe
declared, “We cannot walk as other men, or talk as other men, or do as
other men, for we have a different destiny, obligation, and
responsibility placed upon us, and we must fit ourselves [to it].”6 That reality has current application to every trendy action,
including immodest dress. As a wise friend observed, “You can’t be a
life saver if you look like all the other swimmers on the beach.”7
Those
who are caught up in trying to save their lives by seeking the praise
of the world are actually rejecting the Savior’s teaching that the only
way to save our eternal life is to love one another and lose our lives
in service.
C.
S. Lewis explained this teaching of the Savior: “The moment you have a
self at all, there is a possibility of putting yourself first—wanting to
be the centre—wanting to be God, in fact. That was the sin of Satan:
and that was the sin he taught the human race. Some people think the
fall of man had something to do with sex, but that is a mistake. … What
Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they
could ‘be like gods’—could set up on their own as if they had created
themselves—be their own masters—invent some sort of happiness for
themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless
attempt has come … the long terrible story of man trying to find
something other than God which will make him happy.”8
A
selfish person is more interested in pleasing man—especially
himself—than in pleasing God. He looks only to his own needs and
desires. He walks “in his own way, and after the image of his own god,
whose image is in the likeness of the world” (D&C 1:16). Such a person becomes disconnected from the covenant promises of God (see D&C 1:15)
and from the mortal friendship and assistance we all need in these
tumultuous times. In contrast, if we love and serve one another as the
Savior taught, we remain connected to our covenants and to our
associates.
rqbstock.com
Recently, as I have understood a little more of my role in mortality, I have not been as afraid to stand out in life. I do not need to be or wish to be the center of attention. But I have also stopped hiding my light under a bushel, if you will. I am out in our community, in our schools, in my neighborhood. I do not apologize for my large and loud family. We do not usually take all of us everywhere we go, but people know we have nine children. They can tell in their interactions with me that there is something different in my life. I am happy! (Even with nine children.)
Once in a while, I even catch them watching me. I can tell they are thinking and pondering about me. They can't quite put their finger on what I already know. I am different than most of those they know because of the Light of Christ that shines in my life. It is my understanding of who I am, where I have been and where I am going. I know who to follow and I know what choices to make. I teach those things to my children and they are beginning to understand who they are, especially in relation to those around them.
They know for instance, that even though their role is to be the salt and to be the light, ALL of the people of the earth are children of God, are their brothers and sisters, are people who have talents and gifts within them. They recognize they have a responsibility to encourage those people, those friends and acquaintances in the paths that will bring them the most joy and the most happiness. Those paths are always the ones in line with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the scriptures and by the prophets. Even if their friends will not listen to the missionaries, or read the Book of Mormon, they can encourage them in righteous choices that will bring them closer to a place where one day they will accept the message. Each step forward is the right way, and sometimes, just being their friend and giving them encouragement will influence them to make a better choice.
Our salt and light isn't intended to be the center. It is intended to improve and influence, to enhance the lives of our brothers and sisters who do not necessarily know the laws of eternity, to give guidance and direction, which implies allowing them to use their agency. Allowing agency means sometimes, maybe a lot of times depending upon the people we are working with, we will be rejected. Rejection is not a measure indicating the message or advice or counsel is bad. It is simply agency, and a reflection of the heart receiving the message. If you are rejected, simply move on. Don't push, just move on. Look for those who are watching you and pondering. You can see it in their eyes. Reach out to those who are wondering why you are different, and then explain it to them.
As you pray about those around you, the Lord will help you to know who are the prepared of heart. He knows their thoughts and their intents. He has heard their quiet questions wondering why you are different. He will lead you to those who want to know. Then be willing to open your mouth and share who you are and be the salt and the light you were intended to be.
Have you ever had one of those looks from a kid that says, "You do not know what you are talking about," even when you did know exactly what you were talking about? I have experienced it regularly, but received it yet again at practice the other night.
5th grade boys basketball practice. It is far enough away from our home, that it doesn't warrant dropping our son off and then driving back to pick him up later. I just stay and observe practice for the hour and a half. I usually keep my mouth shut so as not to interfere with the coaches and their objectives. Periodically, I will say something to my son about his play or techniques.
sascs.org
Shorty listens to me. He learned from his older brother, 'Mom does know what she is talking about when it comes to basketball.' Our current 9th grader would never listen to me when I gave him basketball advice. He didn't think I knew what I was talking about either. He shared with his brother that he 'learned that the hard way'. My boys didn't ever see me play, and now that I am older and have so many responsibilities, I really do not play, ever, so how are they suppose to know? Anyway, Speedy told Shorty that after a few years, he decided to try some of the things I was telling him. Then he realized, 'Hey, I'm making almost all of the points for our team!' Duh!
Back to practice. I decided to go out of my way to help a young man at practice who was obviously struggling. They were running a play, over and over and over to kind of get it in the boys' heads. The defense knew the play so instead of playing true defense, they were overplaying to cause difficulties during the play. This particular boy's defender was actually playing defense between his player and the side-line, instead of his player and the basket. The path to the middle of the key was wide open! But the young man kept pushing against his defender to get out into the wing position to catch the ball and run the play. He was kind of missing the point.......that the ball needs to go into the hoop. (Yes, I understand that they are practicing the play, but when your defender is going to cheat like that, you sometimes, several times, have to burn them to keep them honest on the court. You have to use your head in practice too.)
photos.nj.com
During a break, I mentioned those thoughts to this young man. He completely blew me off. I could read in his face and his body language that he had no intention of following my counsel. And he didn't. He continued to fight and push against his defender the rest of the practice.
ya....he looked like that.
or like this.
Then this morning, I began to wonder. Do we do that to our Heavenly Father, or the prophet, or our bishop or a well meaning friend? Do we receive proper counsel, righteous counsel, counsel that will eternally help us and our family and then just blow it off because we do not think it will work or we discount the source it is coming from? Probably more likely, we have received inspiration, or revelation and thought that it would not work or be beneficial so we have blown it off. Certainly that has happened to me.
Here is a classic example: School had just ended a week earlier. I had the thought that we should change the kids' elementary school. We had been attending the current elementary school since we had moved into the area. I liked our teachers. I do not like change, especially where children are concerned. We were in a routine. 'That's a stupid idea,' I thought.
Next week: 'You should change the kids' elementary school.'
'That is just nuts! What a dumb idea!'
Next week: 'You should change the kids' elementary school.'
'That is so crazy! I had this thought last week and I thought it was stupid then.......Hey! Wait a minute! I have had this thought three times and each time I have thought it was stupid. This isn't my thought....' Then I began entertaining the idea (not in a pleasant way, much more with an attitude...) 'Where would they go anyway?!!' Then another school popped into my head, the one, of course, where I complained that people who attended that school must be out of their minds to drive so far away.
But I began to do my research. I called the school, met the principal, toured the school, and we made the change, which happened to be a huge blessing and benefit to our family.
The point is, we need to be able to recognize valid sources of information and then listen to them and apply their counsel. Our Father in Heaven does not intend us to navigate this life blindly or without assistance. In our day and age where so many voices have opinions and platforms from which they spew them, we must find the truth and the information that will bring us peace and happiness. That information comes from a loving Heavenly Father who has set up a system whereby we can know truth, recognize it and train ourselves to act upon it. Look to the scriptures. Look to the prophets. Learn how the Holy Ghost works within you. Measure those thoughts you have against the scriptures and the prophets and the feelings you have inside about them. Remember that all that is good comes of God....all that is wicked comes from Satan (Moroni 7:12).
Just because our basketball advice is coming from some old, fat mom, doesn't mean that it is wrong! Check your sources kid!
Yesterday was another crazy day in our primary. The kids were a little wound up, but not too bad. We finally have most of our teachers in place, which is more than half of the battle. I found out when we were getting ready to begin opening exercises that I would be winging singing time again, and it was my month for sharing time.
Singing time wasn't too bad because last week we had a stake leadership training where I prepared a singing time presentation and then didn't end up using it, so I just used that because I happened to have it in my church bag! Thanks for that! I was prepared for my sharing time so that went fairly well also.
pinterest.com
There are a few things I have noticed that have made our sharing times function better. The first is to not really have any down time. If you are taking time with a child, to help them look up a scripture or to get them to think about something, during that time, you will almost always lose the other children in the room. They just don't have the patience to sit there quietly while someone else is figuring things out.
Our sharing time yesterday had several scriptures that needed to be read and then together, the group decides whether that scripture was talking about the premortal life (before birth), mortality (Earth life), or life after death. I wrote each scripture down on a 5x7 piece of paper, and then a quick synopsis of what the scripture said to help the children understand the point of the scripture. Then I handed out the papers while we were doing something else and asked those with papers to look up their scripture and be prepared to read it.
I had also prepared picture representations of each of the stages in the Plan of Salvation. I basically used this outline, but I made it large enough to be seen across the room, and used colored construction paper.
preparingtomeetourcreator.blogspot.com
We had a quick discussion as to what each of the options looked like, for instance, in the premortal life we were spirit bodies but did not have a temporal body. Then to get from the premortal life to Earth life, we participated in the process called birth. We then talked about Earth life and the transition from Earth life to life after death and what happens to our bodies, spiritual and temporal. And we discussed that our bodies and spirits will be reunited during the resurrection, never to be separated again. (If you want a more in depth look at these doctrines and the scriptures that back them up, click here.)
As we presented these materials and discussed those ideas, a few of the children had questions. We took the time to answer their questions. This is where learning is really happening!!! When the children feel comfortable enough with you to ask questions, sincere, heart-felt questions, that's what we want to encourage and respond to their questions appropriately. One question was 'After we are resurrected, can we go back to Earth?'. I wasn't quite sure of exactly what he was asking, so as I answered that I wasn't sure, someone behind me (the pianist) said, 'Yes we do 13th Article of Faith.' (I think she meant the 10th Article of Faith) OK....let's run with that. Then I taught them that the Earth has a spirit. The Earth has been baptized.We are taught that the Earth will receive a Celestial glory and become the sphere whereon those who also inherit a Celestial glory will live. So the answer to his question is yes....if he lives to become worthy to inherit the Celestial kingdom, he not only will return to the Earth, but he will live here for eternity. But I think what he was really asking was 'After we are resurrected, can we come back to Earth to visit people.....' I made the mistake of not clarifying his question or asking if I adequately answered it. I should have done both of those things.
Another question was how are our physical bodies created. To which I answered, "Well, mothers and fathers together create those physical bodies for our spirits to inherit.....and if you need more explanation than that, you'll need to talk to you parents."
netanimation.net
I also took the opportunity to teach those children that our Father in Heaven wants us to ask questions. He has given us prophets and those prophets have written down their interactions with Deity, they are recorded as scriptures. So if we will read the words of the prophets and the scriptures, we can know the answers to some of our questions. Our Father in Heaven wants us to want to know how and why things happen the way they do. He has provided answers and He will provide each of us with our own answers if we are willing to pay the price. That price is faith, study, and obedience. When we are prepared to receive the answers, those answers will come, even if they don't come to us in this life time.
Our sharing time was significantly longer than it should have been, but we didn't assign a talk for this week so we had some extra time to fill. It all worked out well.
When those we teach feel comfortable asking questions, we are having a successful class period. It isn't so much about the topic we are teaching as it is about helping others learn to question and then show them how to find the right answers to their questions. Pointing them in the direction of the scriptures and the prophets is key. And especially if their age warrants, encouraging them to ask their parents is also significant.
So even though we were a little loud and unruly, people questioned, learning happened, discussion ensued, and that my friends, is success, especially in Primary!
My goal this year has been to write every Friday regardless of how often I have posted during the week. I missed yesterday, so I am making up for it today. By the end of the year, I might actually have 52 Friday posts--that's the goal anyway.
Do you ever feel like you are trying really hard to live the gospel and do the things you know are right, but there is just this one place where you are fighting yourself? The conversation goes something like this:
"I really need to [insert you issue here]."
"I know I need to, but I just don't want to do that. It is going to take a lot of [your sacrifice here]"
"But I know it is something Heavenly Father wants me to do. Here are some of the blessings for doing it: ...."
"But I don't want to make those sacrifices. Look at what I have already done. Why is more required? I just don't want to do that."
I have this internal conversation all the time, and I am sure I am not alone. I think sometimes some of us just say, "I am not doing that. Period." (Inferred exclamation mark.) This is part of our heart work---the place where we make the effort to bring our hearts in line with what we know is right----it's called an attitude adjustment. (I was going to stick the words of the song 'Attitude Adjustment' right here, but I just read them and decided that maybe that wasn't quite the message I wanted to send or talk about. Read at your own risk.)
However, I have been known to say in my early days, that for me, the Lord apparently had to throw a brick before I would pay attention sometimes. Man, those things hurt. Of course, it wasn't literally a brick, but it felt like a spiritual brick.
Even though it is painful, the attitude adjustment usually follows, unless we need more than one brick. But sometimes it has actually taken a brick before I have been willing or able to listen. I have been trying and trying to think of an example but am struggling to come up with one. It must be because they are painful experiences and I do not like to remember them.....
But I digress.
My children are oozing with attitude. The truth be told, I know where they got it. It comes directly from me. I have an obedient brain, but I usually need an attitude adjustment (sometimes brick size) before my heart is willing to comply.
I am currently in the middle of a major attitude adjustment. I didn't need a brick, but it is taking a crane to get my heart in line with what my brain knows I need to do. I have been fighting it for more than a year now. I wish I was humble enough to just submit my will. But apparently I have a lot of will power, but I haven't learned yet how to make it do what I know I should because my heart is not quite willing to cooperate.
So down to the nitty gritty of the gospel. How do we do that heart work?? How do we learn to bend our will and comply? Here is where Alma steps in to take over our lesson (Alma 32 here, start in v. 21.)
First, we have to decide it is what we are going to do. We need to understand that our behavior needs to change. We need to know what we need to do. It is important to understand that we do not need to know why we need to change. It is enough to know that we need to change. The 'why' we need to behave a certain way, usually does not follow until after the change has been made. We can sit around asking why all we want, but it is not a very effective tool for making change. Understanding does not always bring desire. But almost always, making the change will bring understanding, because the blessing of knowledge comes after the trial of our faith.
Step 1: Want to change. Knowledge does not equal desire or willingness. Alma teaches that "...faith is not a perfect knowledge of things," but is a "hope for things which are not seen, which are true." Then he teaches us to exercise our faith, even if it is just a particle. What is that particle?
Desire. "Yea, even if ye can do no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."
Desire is a part of the process. So if you recognize that you need to change, but you don't want to, the first thing you can do is to pray for the desire to change. Ask the Lord to help you, to soften your heart so there is a greater willingness to make the change. Now, you may get a spiritual brick. You'll certainly get an attitude adjustment. But my experience has been that the Lord knows exactly the right thing to say or the right information to give that will soften our heart and adjust our attitude, and if we are praying for desire, the answer isn't usually too painful. (It's when I am not praying for desire and He still needs to get the information in there that I get a brick.)
Step 2: Actually plant the seed of your faith, whether that be a temporal seed or a spiritual seed. Again, our brother Alma, "Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves---It must needs be that this is a good see, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me."
desktopwallpaperhd.com
I think it is important to note that we recognize that seeds can be good or bad. Sometimes the change we desire isn't good. We need to make sure that the change desired is good, that the new direction we want to go will strengthen us and our families. Also, we can cast it out by our unbelief. In other words, we can dismiss important and heart changing seeds because we do not believe change is possible or that our behavior can change results. (I fight this one all the time with weight loss. I make an effort for a little while, or I stop doing something I know I should because I feel like it won't make a difference anyway. That is so untrue! (See Elder Condie's talk below.) We can make a difference and we can change, even lifetime habits. That is why we are on earth, to learn how to make changes and then to make those positive changes stick!) Did you know when we do that (cast the seed out), we are resisting the Spirit of the Lord? I definitely need an attitude adjustment so as not to resist the Spirit of the Lord (I think this is where I am fighting the current battle.)
Step 3: Recognize the seed as good. (Alma 32: 28-35 specifically, read for greater clarification.) How do you know if the seed is good? Basically, it increases your faith. You can see and feel the positive results of having planted the seed. What does this look like? Well let's just take something simple for example. Let's say the desired change is to pay your tithing. You know you should do it. You have prayed for the desire and now you want to do it, but actually writing the check and letting the money go is still a struggle. If you never pay it, have you ever planted the seed? No. You have to actually go through with the behavior. You have to write the check and turn it in to the bishop or one of his counselors. AFTER you have done this, the blessings come. For instance, your budget wasn't working out on paper, but you paid your tithing first, and sometime during the month a friend called and asked to buy that old thing you have sitting in the garage and it just happened to be enough money to cover the expenses (plus tithing) of what you were short for the month. Coincidence? I think not. Then Alma says, "Doesn't that increase your faith?" Did you see the result? Was it good? This step helps us to recognize the behaviors that bring positive change.
A lot of us stop at this stage of the process. Alma cautions us, "O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
"Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith; for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the see was good."
antalyafide.com
We cannot 'lay aside our faith' by not continuing the behavior. We get tired and lazy and we think, 'Hey, ya...I did that. Things were good. That's enough.' Well, it isn't. That is step 4. If we stop gardening here, all of our plants will die. They are just tiny little things. Sure they have sprouted, but without care, they just wither away. The same thing happens with our faith.
Step 4: Nourish the plant. Alma says, "And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit."
That whole nourishing thing......it doesn't say every once in a while. You can't pay your tithing, attend church, read your scriptures, say your prayers, have family home evening (for myself I'll add eat salad and watch my sugar and avoid milk) every once in a while and have the desired results. Those behaviors have to be done 'with great care'. (Verse 38 tells you what happens if you neglect your faith plant.)
Step 5: Faith, Diligence, and Patience. I really, really struggle through this phase. Here is where I really have to kick myself into working. "But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith, with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
"And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof....."
getsimplifized.com
Obviously, this step takes time, which in our current society, we aren't exactly thrilled with. We have a society bent on immediate gratification. We have fast food, fast internet, immediate money (even if it comes with high interest rates). We are spoiled in that when we want something, it doesn't usually take us too long to get it. We do not readily practice long-suffering, diligence, or exercise patience over many things. Those of us who have acquired the self-discipline to put off immediate gratification have to choose to do so with the mocking of the world in the background.
But it isn't until after all of this time and effort that Alma promises us the desired results of our faith. Verse 43: "Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you."
Step 6: Reap the fruit. Here is where your rewards come. But it wasn't without a lot of work, time, and effort.
harvesttotable.com
Changing our attitude is just a part of the process. Sometimes I think it has to happen several times over the course of our experiment. We may have to pray for the desire. Then we may have to pray for space to plant the seed and furrow the ground to make it ready for planting. That can be a painful process in and of itself. We may have to pray for help in recognizing the good that is coming from having planted the seed. I definitely have to pray to keep nourishing it, to remember not to forget what I am trying to accomplish and not slip back into my bad habits. And I have to pray for patience and endurance in the change process, every time.
If you need an attitude adjustment, just ask for one. Because He wants us all to return to Him and He knows what will bring us happiness and peace, our Father in Heaven will be happy to provide the incentives to motivate you for change. And if you ask, you may not have to be hit with a brick.
Here is a beautiful story of a change of heart, and it only takes four minutes of your time:
And here are a few other thoughts from General Conference:
