Month: September 2021

Hear Him

It was really great thinking and writing last week about what I would do if I had more faith in Christ! It caused me to reflect on my patriarchal blessing in a new way and about what I could do to make those promised blessings happen–with the Lord’s help! It brought more clarity to my goals and focus. I hope you had the opportunity to do some writing about this too. If you didn’t, I highly recommend it!

To prepare for General Conference in a couple of weeks (which I am SO looking forward to!), I have been studying President Russell M. Nelson’s messages from the past few conferences. I have been thinking a lot about “prophetic priorities”–the things that he has invited us to do. Today I read his message, “Hear Him,” and here are the parts that really stood out to me:

I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation.

Doing so will help you know how to move ahead with your life, what to do during times of crisis, and how to discern and avoid the temptations and the deceptions of the adversary.

…What will happen as you more intentionally hear, hearken, and heed what the Savior has said and what He is saying now through His prophets? I promise that you will be blessed with additional power to deal with temptation, struggles, and weakness. I promise miracles in your marriage, family relationships, and daily work. And I promise that your capacity to feel joy will increase even if turbulence increases in your life.

Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him,” April 2020 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/45nelson?lang=eng

Through life’s challenges, I am reminded again and again how much I need guidance and revelation from God. This talk and these promises mean so much to me, and I want to do whatever it takes to receive these blessings!

I am so grateful for this guidance from a living prophet, and I am so grateful to know that we can be guided by a loving Heavenly Father and receive the help we need and the miracles we long for in our lives!

And that we can have true JOY!

What Would You Do?

“What would you do if you had more faith?” I love that question from President Nelson’s most recent talk (see previous post)! Lately, I have come to realize that I have lived a good share of my life in fear, worry, and stress…and sometimes thinking or fearing the worst. What would I do if I had more faith? When my perspective is changed, I feel more hope and faith that everything will be okay and will work out. I see circumstances and people in a more positive light. I SEE people more often. I remember that all the challenges and difficulties are for my learning and growth. I feel peace and strength, and even empowerment. I am SO. MUCH. HAPPIER! What if I could feel this way a lot more often? I think that would be life-changing! I believe our faith in Christ actually gives us the power to change our lives! Maybe it won’t change our circumstances, but I believe it will change the way we SEE our lives, and then give us the power to change so many things in our lives, perhaps in ways we can’t even imagine right now. Just being that happier, more optimistic, hopeful, loving person with a zest for life more of the time sounds pretty amazing to me!

Here are two of my goals: (1) To write down specific, personal things I would do if I had more faith, and (2) To continue to learn more about Christ and His mission, ministry, and doctrine and its power in my life. In the process, I hope to learn to trust Him even more.

I would love to hear from you! What would you like to do to increase your faith in Christ?