Prospering in the Land

Prospering and being wealthy are not necessarily synonymous. A much better gospel definition of prospering in the land is having sufficient for our needs while having the abundant blessing of the Spirit in our lives. When we provide for our families and love and serve the Savior, we will enjoy the reward of having the Spirit and prospering in the land.

-Elder Quentin L. Cook, "Reaping the Rewards of Righteousness," Ensign, July 2015.

A plea to read, pray, and listen

Nothing like a post from President Eyring to make me turn off Facebook and jump into my scripture study!

I don't just invite you to read the scriptures, to pray, to listen for the word of God. I plead with you. Put yourself where you can hear the words of testimony. Listen with the simplicity of a child.

Expect that spirit of testimony and revelation to impel you to action, to keep the commandments. And never think that you have been taught enough, that you have listened long enough, that now is your time and turn to rest.

President Henry B. Eyring, Facebook, June 19, 2015

Hallmarks of a Happy Home

As we are settling into our new home and decided what to do and how much to spend on improvements and changes and whatnot, I got to thinking about which things are most important. Of course President Monson put things in perspective for me.

Happiness does not consist of a glut of luxury, the world’s idea of a “good time.” Nor must we search for it in faraway places with strange-sounding names. Happiness is found at home.

All of us remember the home of our childhood. Interestingly, our thoughts do not dwell on whether the house was large or small, the neighborhood fashionable or downtrodden. Rather, we delight in the experiences we shared as a family. The home is the laboratory of our lives, and what we learn there largely determines what we do when we leave there.

-Thomas S. Monson, "Hallmarks of a Happy Home," April 1988.

How They Served

President Eyring on those to whom the Lord will say "well done":

It will not be the offices held or the time served that will be weighed in the balance with the Lord. We know this from the Lord’s parable of the laborers in the vineyard, where the pay was the same regardless of how long they served or where. They will be rewarded for how they served.

Full talk here.

Prayer and Creation

I came across a little clip with this quote today (unfortunately I couldn't embed it here):

"Meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day—and precedes the temporal creation or the actual execution of the day."

Here is the whole talk: Pray Always, by Elder David A. Bednar

I remember hearing this talk, but didn't notice the part emphasized here. I love that idea of the spiritual creation of each day; it makes me approach prayer in a more purposeful way.

Live Now Right.

I was praying last night about some things that have been weighing on me lately, and I had the thought that I need to focus more on enjoying my blessings and living right now. But, I thought, not in the way the world would say to live for the present or in the now. Then a phrase jumped into my mind and stuck: Live now right.

What does that mean? Not just sweeping away the past or disregarding the future. As I pondered the phrase, I thought that living now right means focusing on the right things for my current season. That will generally include  evaluating the past and making necessary changes, and letting go of things that I cannot change. It means preparing prayerfully for the future but not falling prey to worry. It means choosing the better part in my daily decisions. It especially means having a habit of prayerful gratitude, of paying attention and seeing the Lord's hand in my life and following His guidance.

In short it means exercising faith daily so that I can have peace in the present and hope for the future through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Journals

I love this Newsroom article from LDS.org on the importance of keeping a journal.

I am grateful that my mom got me a journal for my eighth birthday. I am grateful that I have felt to keep a journal since then, even if plenty of the the things I wrote as I grew up are surely embarrassing. Writing has helped me grow closer to my Savior and to record the things He has taught me. Reading my own thoughts has helped me to see in retrospect how the Lord's hand has guided my life. And now that I am old enough to want to know more details of my parents' and grandparents' lives, I can see why the things I write may be valuable, even if it doesn't feel like it at the time.