1.
2.
After the temple, we went to Chuys for dinner. Chris Thornton got us gift certificates for our birthdays so we had a yummy, Mexican supper.
Chris and the girls were babysitting while we had our fun evening out. And when we got home, we had another surprise: an impromptu game night with cake and ice-cream. We played my new game: Curses. I laughed so hard I nearly wet my pants. It was so funny! Chris, Hammond, Amy, Mark, Key Lime Pie, Kotten Kandy, Scott and I all laughed until our sides hurt. I love all of these dear friends. (And yes, I'm counting my daughters as FRIENDS! Because they are!)
3.
Star Child is a great show with great music. One of the songs, "Within Me," has really helped me throughout my life. It deals with understanding our divine nature. I have often come back to this song and used it as a crutch when I need to remember my divine worth. Here are the lyrics:
WITHIN ME
Okay I’m nothing great but still I’m me and that’s
substantial.
I may not be all wise but still I realize, I’ve got potential.
I may not be all wise but still I realize, I’ve got potential.
So what if I’m alone that doesn’t mean I can’t be happy.
Although I may conceal the pain deep down I feel, who says I’m lonely?
Although I may conceal the pain deep down I feel, who says I’m lonely?
I fret and I forget just who I am and what I’m after.
Much like a kewpie doll so easily I fall and break like plaster.
Much like a kewpie doll so easily I fall and break like plaster.
And so I ask again: Dear Father, do I really matter?
He bends to pick me up. I am His daughter.
He bends to pick me up. I am His daughter.
And with his spirit oh so near I see myself, the picture’s
clear:
As endless as the sands of time, I see my destiny, all I can become.
Just like the stars up in the sky, I am a multitude, a universe am I!
As endless as the sands of time, I see my destiny, all I can become.
Just like the stars up in the sky, I am a multitude, a universe am I!
Within me, worlds without end!
Within me, power to ascend!
To glory if I am worthy for within me there is life!
And within me, a multitude shall arise!
Within me, power to ascend!
To glory if I am worthy for within me there is life!
And within me, a multitude shall arise!
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Divergent is a dystopia story. And everyone seems to love dystopia stories lately. (ie. The Hunger Games, The Giver, 1984, etc.) I have read a few new dystopias recently and liked or disliked them to various degrees. There are dystopias for any taste. There are dystopias that are based on romance. There are dystopias that are based on politics. There are dystopias that are action novels. And this one is an action novel
In a few words, Divergent is one long initiation trial Beatrice is a member of a society that has been maintaining its peaceful existence by separating its citizens into 5 distinct factions. At the age of 16, all citizens choose which faction they will be a part of. Each faction is based on virtues such as honesty, selflessness, bravery, peacefulness and intelligence. Beatrice, although her testing is inconclusive, decides to join the Dauntless faction which values bravery. Her initiation trials are grueling, frightening and violent.
I liked the book OK. But I didn't like the book too. I'm not sure I can recommend it?! And I'm not sure why?! It was a book to read so I could talk about it with my daughters. And I kinda wish they hadn't read it first... because I really don't think it was well written and I'm not sure I like some of the virtues and values it extols. But on the other hand, it has some good virtues and values also. Do I sound confused about this book? I am.
7.
Here is a copy of the talk I gave today:
WHY ARE WE HERE?
Most of us
are pretty confident that we know why we’re here. I knew the basic answers because of the
church musical, “My Turn on Earth.” It taught
me that “Everybody ought to have a body!
A body is the only way to go!”
And the show also taught me that we are sent to earth to be tested and
find love. Both of those answers are
correct.
And even
though I knew the two generic answers to that question, I still found myself
wanting to sing:
What is my
mission in life?
All I have I’d give to know.
My place in the race, my spot on the map,
How far I can go!
All I have I’d give to know.
My place in the race, my spot on the map,
How far I can go!
As I’ve
grown, I have realized that if we stop at those two generic answers, we’ll fall
far short of our purpose and potential, which is to truly become as God is.
Elder Neal
A. Maxwell explained that there is more to life than we often think. He said, “a superficial view of this life…
will not do.” If we hold to a
surface-level of understanding, we may “mistakenly speak of this mortal
experience only as coming here to get a body, as if we were merely picking up a
suit at the cleaners.” Or we may “casually
recite how we have come here to be proved, as if a few brisk push-ups and deep
knee bends would do.”
There is
more to getting a body than just picking it up.
There is
more to being tested than just doing some routine exercises.
And there
are more purposes in life than just two.
We have many.
Some of these
essential purposes of life are:
- Learning to differentiate between Satan’s tests and God’s tests.
- Developing a connection with God.
- Learning to recognize the voice of the Spirit.
- Coming unto Christ and partaking of the blessings of His grace.
- Learning to love with all our hearts.
- Learning how to receive direction through revelation.
- Coming to a mighty change of heart.
- Learning how to work as families to fulfill our united missions in life.
- And discovering our personal mission in life.
Of course, this is a short list. There are other purposes we need to discover and fulfill.
One of our
great reasons for being on earth is to find Christ and develop a relationship
with Him, even though we cannot see Him.
I have pondered this purpose.
When asked “What
is the greatest need in the world? President
Faust wisely responded, “Is not the greatest need in all the world for every
person to have a personal, ongoing, daily, continuing relationship with the
Savior? Having such a relationship can
unchain the divinity within us, and nothing can make a greater difference in
our lives as we come to know and understand our divine relationship with God.”
It’s not
enough that we just know about Christ.
We need to strive to be one with Him.
According to President Faust, there are five essential ways which will
help us become one with the Savior and develop a relationship with Him.
#1 – Daily prayer. Sincere prayer and communication with our
Heavenly Father will be the most important measure that will helps us develop
the relationship we desire.
#2 – Daily selfless
service. In Matthew we read, “Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto the least of these…, ye have done it unto me.” A wise man observed, “The man who lives by
himself and for himself is apt to be corrupted by the company he keeps.”
#3 – Daily strive
for increased obedience and perfection in our lives. The Savior said, “What manner of men ought ye
to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I
am.”
#4 – Daily acknowledge
Christ’s divinity. To have a daily,
personal relationship with the Master, we must be His disciples. In Mosiah 5:13: “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has
not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and
intents of his heart?”
#5 – Daily study
the scriptures. President Kimball said, “I
find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems
that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far,
far away. If I immerse myself in the
scriptures, the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.”
The concept
of developing a relationship with our Savior is only one example of the depth
of understanding we can and should come to regard to our reasons for being on
the earth. The Lord would be pleased to
help us come to similar understandings about our other purposes of being
here.
And in
addition to the purposes we all share, each of us also has a unique and
personal mission to fulfill on the earth.
Our mission may be as small as a family, or as large as the world. But the Lord knew before He sent us here what
specific thing He would have us do for our brothers and sisters on earth, and
He prepared us to accomplish it.
Queen Esther
was placed in a position where she could save her people. Joseph Smith was prepared to ask God which
Church to join and then to restore the gospel of Christ on the earth. Jesus said of Himself, “I know whence I came
and whither I go.” We also can know
whence we came and whither we go. In
fact, it is one of our purposes in life to do so.
Joseph F.
Smith said, “God sent every man and woman in the world to accomplish a mission,
and that mission cannot be accomplished by neglect; nor by indifference, nor
can it be accomplished in ignorance. We
must learn our duty; learn the requirements that the Lord has made at our hands,
and understand the responsibilities that he has placed upon us.”
This is why
we are really here on earth. Our purpose
is far more than to get a body and be tested.
It encompasses all aspects of a godly life, a life designed to help us
literally become like our Heavenly Parents.
We can’t view our life’s purpose casually. Instead, by searching the scriptures,
listening to the prophets, and seeking the Lord in prayer, we can learn why we
are here – and begin to more fully accomplish God’s will in our lives.
