and the words, they're everything [08]

Today we have a very special Thanksgiving-themed WWIS post.

I'm grateful for my thoughtful earbuds.

I'm grateful for my thoughtful sister.

I'm grateful for my favorite book. Also this sounds like a sci-fi or near-future gadget. "With new silver sleeve, you can post right from your clothing!"

I'm grateful for the library where I could pick up my favorite book if I didn't already own it. I pick up pretty much every other book there.

I'm grateful for my phone that only does T9 texting (and that I am good at it). I'm also grateful that I don't stare into my own room all that much, even though you can see it from the living room, because I keep the door closed. Because I can't keep it clean.

I'm grateful for happy people, my nephew, and babies. All of them.

Well, that was enough gratitude. I'm out.

followers of my faith [Mormon Monday 60]

The principle you're supposed to extract from D&C 57:7-13 is We should use our individual strengths to help build the Lord’s kingdom as He calls upon us to do so.

(Not the only principle, probably. But it's the one the manual suggests.)

Then we ponder: what are my strengths?

When discussing this with seminary students, it can be helpful to remind them: you are yet early in the process of fully realizing your strengths. In the next few years your full complement of strengths will become apparent to you.

(Although, since 'full complement' seems like it could be a little heavy for high schoolers, you might word it differently.)

But what about me? I'm a little bit past the "next few years" that I was supposed to discover my strengths. Am I stuck with what I've got?

I read a blog post by a friend (acquaintance? How much do you have to hang out with someone before they count as a friend?) about how she has realized that she has more to learn, but that where she is now is where she needs to be. She may have strengths she'll yet discover. But where she needs to be, she has the tools she needs.

I still remember a stake conference where one of the old men (can't remember his calling exactly) saying that in his patriarchal blessing he was blessed with an affinity for family history. Finally he was like 60 and realized that this strength hadn't come to him yet. So he started. And it was awesome.

So there's hope for all of us.

here it is the knock of your own heart that matters [Scripture Mastery Times: 1 Samuel 16:7]

 So. This scripture sometimes makes me uncomfortable.

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.(1 Samuel 16:7)

The thought is great! It doesn't matter what we look like, whether we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are famous or forgotten (x). In such an appearance-based world, that kind of reassurance can be really comforting...

...unless you are really not sure what the Lord sees in your heart. Is there even anything there beneath the pride? Are any of my motives for doing good the right ones, or are they still rooted in self-consciousness, arrogance, lack of humility?

At least I look good.

I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that the cure for all this (having a prideful heart as well as worrying about having a prideful heart) is to develop a relationship with the Savior and with Heavenly Father. Even if my motives for beginning it are not the purest (for example, if I want the blessings of increased faith and reliance on the Atonement...because I totally want that), God can change my heart if I let Him. And I'll let Him when I trust Him.

So that's my work in progress. I'll let you know how it went in the next life.

the words, they're everything [07]

I'm actually really glad that this won't be my last installment of this series, because it's my favorite. It's easy and funny (funny to me at least, which is the important thing).

Let's get this party started!

Speaking of, this is an awesome party idea.

I bet if I had a smartphone it would love one of these cases.

Always nice to have a bit of poetry.

;) 

I do, truly, love it.

 See you next time!

followers of my faith [Mormon Monday 59]

I am having a hard time working out my thoughts on various posts I'm working on, but I feel bad not having posted one of these in a while, so have one of these lovely graphics:

My roommate posted it on Facebook; can't find another source (maybe she made it! on her phone!), so let me know if you see one. I also just discovered the General Conference Pinterest so I should have some more graphics for you if my actual thoughts don't work out.

And don't forget that you're loved.

followers of my faith [Mormon Monday 58]

A couple weeks ago I ended up taking the train with a girl in my ward whom I have always admired (to the point of being scared to talk to her, you know how it goes). As we spoke, she looked up at the sky and said, "Look! There's a sundog!"

source

"A few years ago," she told me, "I decided that my 'thing' in nature that when I saw it meant that God loved me would be a sundog."

"That's great," I replied. "Mine is little birds, and I saw some today too!"

"Wow, look, another sundog!" she exclaimed.

I probably said something awkward.

What later struck me about the conversation is she chose something that required her to look up. It is better to look up.