How to Unleash Our Inner Awesome

We are so awesome! When I say we I mean everyone in the whole world. Every single one of God's children. The thing is, whether we recognize it at first or not, we sometimes act or think in certain ways that cause us to forget or lose sight of our amazing potential. A couple of weeks ago I reread an amazing talk that was given at a 1996 BYU devotional by F. Enzio Busche called "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit." In this talk he listed the following bullet points as ways to help us be a better disciple of Christ. I like to see it as a guide on, "How to unleash our inner awesome." I hope they change your life as they did mine. :)

-"Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.

-When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away fromyourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.

 -In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and there- fore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.

-First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don’t permit any- thing to detract you from this awareness.

-You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.

-Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grum- blings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.

-Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appre- ciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.

-God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.

-God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us—everything will fall into its place.

-Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.

-When you cannot love someone, look into that person’s eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.

-Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.

-If someone hurts you so much that your feel- ings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.

-Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.

-Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.

-Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.

-You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.

-The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.

-And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better."

Here is the link to the full talk! :)

http://kevinhinckley.com/UserFiles/files/Busche_Fenzio_1996_05.pdf

I bare my testimony that God lives and He loves us so much. He wants us to be perfectly happy like He is. That's why He sent His Son. To learn more about how to find true happiness and healing through the gospel of Jesus Christ visit 

http://www.mormon.org/

Let Your Light So Shine

Its a new semester and we have a lot of new faces joining us in the Provo YSA 2nd stake! We will be having trainings in everyone ward soon once all the callings are issued to fill the spots in the digital mission committee. Right now we want to give an overview of what the digital mission is and how everyone can get involved with our efforts to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the whole world! Let your light so shine :)

❖First off, if you have any questions or suggestions you can go through your ward’s district leader or post it/message on the stake Facebook page. The contact info for your ward's district coordinator is in the "about" section of the Facebook page.
❖Get the word out! Share with the world. Especially your friends.
❖You can participate in every aspect of the digital mission! You don’t need a calling to do any of the things that the stake digital committee is assigned to do.
❖We need the expertise of the whole stake. Message in your ideas and suggestions.

❖Facebook page: headquarters of the stake digital mission.

Provo YSA 2nd Stake Digital Mission
➢Like it!
➢Share it with other members from all over and share with them how they could get involved with the digital effort
➢refer regularly to the stake page to find new blog posts, announcements, tips and other updates to the stake social media accounts

Every day there will be a new post on the page. Each day of the week has a certain theme. The daily post themes are the following:
Sunday - Missionary Moments & Stake Digital Mission Leader Blog Post
Monday - Weekly Challenge
Tuesday - Zone 1 & 2 Blog Posts
Wednesday - Digital Missionary Work How-To
Thursday - Zone 3 & 4 Blog Posts
Friday - Funny Friday!
Saturday - Updates & a Mormon Message

❖Blogs:
➢Subcribe!
➢Promote the blog by sharing it with everyone
➢Share ideas of good blog topics to write about
➢Volunteer or be invited to be a guest blogger
➢Invite others (preferably non-members) to be guest bloggers. 
➢Comment on the blog with questions or your personal testimony
➢Share the blog sites with friends/family currently serving missions so they can share it with their investigators when appropriate.

                                                      Blogs:
Digital Mission Leader Blog: http://adecadeofdecisions.blogspot.com/
Zone 1: 
http://greatthingscometopass.blogspot.com/
Zone 2:
http://letstouchamillionlives.blogspot.com/
Zone 3:
http://mormonshavefuntoo.blogspot.com/
Zone 4:
http://everydayconversion.blogspot.com/

❖YouTube: Let's Touch A Million Lives
➢Subscribe!
➢Share the videos with everyone
➢Create a video sharing our testimony, a talent or something else creative with your ward, FHE group or by yourself. Give these videos to the YouTube Zone Leader. Contact info in about section of this page.

❖Twitter: @mission1000000
➢Follow!
➢Retweet
➢Favorite
➢Introduce others to the stake twitter account
➢Suggest your favorite quotes to be tweeted by texting in to this number: (765) 387-9722 aka (765) 387-YSA2

❖Instagram: letstouchamillionlives 
➢Follow!
➢Like and comment on the pictures and quotes
➢Introduce others to the stake Instagram account
➢suggest/create pictures and quotes to be posted on the account

Text in tweets, questions, and suggestions here: (765) 387-9722 aka (765) 387-YSA2

Email here: provoysa2ndstakedigitalmission@gmail.com

Click here to sign up for the opportunity to write a post for one of the stake digital mission blogs:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AoCixeJNLsIfdFF6MnFWSVVVa2RFVk1QbzZWaTNCa2c&usp=sharing

We testify that this is The Lord's work and sharing His love with our brothers and sisters around us brings great joy and many blessings into our lives. Welcome to the stake and we are happy to have you! Together we can touch millions of lives!

Deep Beauty

This week's blog post is written by guest blogger Kristina Murri! Thanks Kristina!

She writes:

One of my favorite Mormon Messages is called "Deep Beauty" which describes the unique opportunity that Sister Elaine S. Dalton had to meet President David O. McKay and his wife.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jk4tpPGu_M

I love this video because it describes the kind of person I would like to become.

I love how it describes what it truly means to be beautiful in God's sight.

There are many people in the world who are confused about what it means to have beauty. They try to cover up who they are, find the latest new fashions, or try a bazillion other things so that others will see them as attractive or popular.

However, when we come to know who we really are, those things do not matter nearly as much. While those things can help us look nice and respectable, they are not what define us. Elder Maxwell has said, "We are not mortal beings on a spiritual journey, but we are heavenly beings with an earthly passport."

I believe that each one of us has this quality of potential as Sister Dalton speaks about. As we live righteously, we will be prepared to inherit our divine nature as children of our Heavenly Father.

Kristina Murri

Because of Him

Happy Easter!!

How has the Savior changed your life? Comment on this blog by finishing the sentence:  

Because of Him....

Learn more about the true meaning of Easter and the Atonement of Jesus Christ here: http://easter.mormon.org/      

Oh, My Joy is FULL!

This week's wonderful post is written by guest blogger Kristen Kennedy:

My heart is full with the joy and excitement of the first General Women's Meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

All women, ages 8 and up all over the world were invited to attend the meeting, or a broadcast of the meeting. Leaders from the General Auxiliaries of the Church, including the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society, hosted the meeting. 

As a woman in the Church, I was curious to see how the meeting would be able to address needs of women from the young age of 8 to the more mature years. I was excited to learn, to grow, to feel, to hear, to know the truths that were taught. I was filled with the Holy Ghost, as the meeting progressed with music, talks, and presentations. 

I have always felt a connection with music. Although I am not the most musically inclined person, I appreciate music and feel so much more with music than I do with other mediums. The choir was made up of girls, young women, and women from many stakes in Utah. The songs they sang were filled with strength and the Spirit, with truth and testimony, with beauty and bravery. Along with the actual singing, I absolutely LOVED how many moms and daughters were singing together, and holding hands or touching in some way while they were performing. I have to admit, I missed my mom a bit more during those parts. I was overwhelmed by the messages of love, hope, and determination in the music.

The talks that were given were beautifully basic. We were taught simply to be covenant keeping women. We were instructed on how to use our hands and lives for good. We were shown the example of others, and our Savior, on how to become more, to become who we are meant to be, to become that perfect (complete) person our Heavenly Father knows we are, even if we don't see it yet. I loved how all 4 speakers were able to beautifully intertwine concepts and truths throughout the meeting, while still presenting ideas in new ways that provided me with 'aha moments'. 

The presentations reminded me of the beautiful fact that we are a worldwide sisterhood. I thought of my beloved sisters in Bulgaria, my cherished sisters from my younger years, and my treasured sisters with whom I get to interact on a regular basis these days. We may speak different languages, we may find beauty in different things, we may have assorted goals in life, but as President Henry B. Eyring said, "We are more alike as Daughters of God than we are different." There is greatness in our diversity, and strength that comes as we find connections, and as we remember the wise words of Marjorie Pay Hinckley, "Oh, how we need each other!", we will find unity and strength, no matter where we are geographically, spiritually, or emotionally. 

One of the blessings from this meeting were the thoughts and inspirations that came to my mind. Yes, the words that were sung, spoken, and presented were well thought out, lovely, and true, but the thoughts and inspirations that came TO me are precious invitations to act, do, and become. I look forward to the processes in my life that will help me become the woman I am on my way to becoming as I fulfill my potential more and more each day. 

Oh, My Joy is FULL!

The Parable of the Chemistry Test

The Parable of the Chemistry Test

A couple days ago I had a General College Chemistey test. In the weeks leading up to this test I studied for hours upon hours so I could be ready. When the time came to take it, with my trail mix  and water bottle in hand, I marched into the testing center. Four hours later I finished the test and as I looked at my grade I realized I had achieved a new personal record... for the lowest test score I had ever gotten! 

But the feeling I had as I left the testing center surprised me. Instead of depression and wallowing, I felt two completely opposite feelings:

1. Peace

2. Determination to do better

I was grateful for these feelings and the spirit helped me learn a lesson about life. I believe that our earthly achievements are not as highly regarded in the eyes of God as are our efforts to become better people. Of course He wants us to succeed and be happy, but the blessings of His gospel to do not hinge on the results of a chemistry test, a promotion at work, the amount of money we have, or any other worldly advancement. We are blessed when we are striving to follow the Savior.

I believe I was accorded peace after that test not because Heavenly Father wanted me to fail, but because He was happy with my hard work to prepare. Instead of me then being weighed down by the heaviness of failure, I was lifted up by the hope of improvement. 

I know that because of the victory of Jesus Christ we all have a hope of improvement. The Lord is waiting to reward every effort we make and give us strength beyond our own. All we must do is turn to Him. :)

https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/for-god-so-loved-the-world?lang=eng

Don't Be Road Kill

This week's wonderful blog post is from an anonymous guest blogger. Enjoy!

Last week I got a phone call from a very stressed sister of mine. In the middle of a move to a new apartment with a new roommate, she had been feeling keenly some anxiety of the unknown. She was already committed to the arrangement and short of quitting her job and moving into our parent's garage her options were fairly limited. All the same, the fear had made her start to doubt the decision she had been so excited for just a few days previous. I asked her if she liked the new apartment. She said yes. I asked her if she preferred living with her new roommate to her old one. Again, she affirmed. I asked her if she'd prayed about her decision. Her answer was yes, but she hadn't been told exactly what to do.

Life is complicated. Full of forks in the road, twists, turns, and even some off-reading at times. But one thing in life is consistent: if you want something to happen, you have to start moving. Sometimes I think that when we have important decisions to make, we want someone to tell us what to do. The stakes are too high. We don't have experience. Someone, clearly, must know better. But God does not always work that way. If you always wait to be told what to do before you act, you effectively paralyze yourself. If you are too afraid to go right because of missing what is to the left, you will never reach the beach or the mountains. And as you stand there, frozen in indecision, when life does come around and happen to you, you're far more likely to be run over than taken anywhere you wanted to go.

Sometimes God doesn't make our choices for us, but this is a blessing. It is a chance for growth and a sign of His trust. Sometimes He needs us to learn to become initiators instead of followers. And in these situations I have learned that it can be much more beneficial to pray to know if ours is a good choice, not if it is the right one.

The next day I received another phone call from my sister. As soon as she understood where her anxiety was coming from, her feelings toward the new living arrangement improved. It wasn't till after she moved forward that the peace about her decision came. If we can just trust that God is not abandoning when we get to choose, wonderful opportunities unfold and we can gain an increase in love for Him and confidence in ourselves.