Notes of Inspiration...

On our recent vacation to Utah, we were able to attend Stake Conference with my parents--and had a great fortune to listen to an apostle of God speak to us and uplift our spirits. I wanted to share some of the thoughts I managed to write down...again, these are only impressions, few are direct quotes! This is a random post, but I am still so encouraged by his words, that I wanted to share--

From a talk given by Elder Jeffery R Holland June 5th and 6th, 2010 on trials in life:

-We learn of the Savior as we travel through the sorrow and sin of this life. We are only asked to travel a short way, in similitude of his journey and efforts. We are asked to walk a little way with Christ on his road to Gethsemane, we carry a portion of His cross as we progress to the eternal life we want. Even those who have done everything right, and are doing all they need to will still be tried. Look at the prophets, their lives are filled with trial and sadness, and they are anointed ones of God.

-We are discovering the divinity in our soul as we endure in trials. Our personal sacrifices are a similitude of Christ’s sacrifice for us. To be a disciple, to be like Christ, we must endure as Christ did. Trials are sometimes the only way to be taught what we need to learn--to learn what we need to have the strength that Christ has. 

-Remember that the devil will try harder when you are about to try something good for you.

-Our personal times of trials remind us of the atonement, to teach us that He saves us from the trouble we are in without Him. In our trials, do not forget that the Lord knows all, and without the trials, we cannot grow into our divinity.

-Endure and save yourself for days of happiness ahead. -Virgil

-Individually we must choose to be faithful, and choose to follow Christ.

-In church we often get more than we expect, or even hope for. We are blessed more than we expect. Individually we much choose to be faithful and follow Christ.