Monday, July 14, 2008

Today I woke up around 11:30 and I started cleaning my dad’s room.  I cleaned out one of his closets.  I also vacuumed and dusted.  I also vacuumed the living room, took out the trash, did some laundry, did the dishes and then took a shower.  I left for Walmart at 6 p.m.  I dropped some stuff off at the Goodwill on the way.  I got home around 8 p.m. 

  Last night I read an article in the May 1996 Ensign by Richard G Scott titled “Finding Joy In Life”.  It was such a good talk (it was in the general conference edition of the Ensign).  What stood out to me the most in the talk was; “Do you take time to discover each day how beautiful your life can be?” Also; “Sadness, disappointment, severe challenge are events in life, not life itself” Also; “Men are, that they might have joy.”  Also; “That is a conditional statement: they might have joy.” It is not conditional for the Lord.  His intent is that each of us find joy.”  “Your joy in life depends upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His holy Son, your conviction that their plan of happiness truly can bring you joy.” “You are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings God has for you.  The tempering effect of patience is required.  Some blessings will be delivered here in this life; others will come beyond the veil.  The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development.  That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not.” “When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience.  If you question everything you are asked to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder for the Lord to bless you.” “Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what you want.  This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father in Heaven wants for you.  That way he can lead you to become all that he intends you to be.  That path leads to glorious joy and happiness.  Also; “Children teach us how to find joy even under the most challenging circumstances.  Children haven’t yet learned to be depressed by concentrating on the things they don’t have.  They find joy in what is available to them.”  Also; “Being creative will help you enjoy your life.  It engenders a spirit of gratitude.  It develops latent talent, sharpens your capacity to reason, to act and to find purpose in life.  It dispels loneliness and heartache.  It gives a renewal, a spark of enthusiasm, and zest for life.”  “Be grateful for what you have.  Smile more.  No matter how difficult something you or a loved one faces, it should not take over your life and be the center of all your interest.  Challenges are growth experiences, temporary scenes to be played out on the background of a pleasant life.”  The Lord said, “Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.”

I am very blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and that I am a daughter of God.  I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he died and was resurrected for us.  He made it possible for us to become more like Him and for us to have eternal life.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.  I am so grateful that the church was restored to the earth today.  I am grateful for the priesthood and for all of the blessings that come with it.  I am grateful for temples and the work that is being done there.  I am grateful to have the knowledge that families can be together forever.  I am grateful for my family.  This is my testimony.