Talk about a General Conference eh?
Dang. We got see Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning and half of
Priesthood session....I´m hoping we´ll get the chance to see the rest because
the talks we heard were way freakin´ good. We watched some of the
priesthood session with our beloved ward mission leader, ate some delicious
fruit bowl dinges that his wife made and drank Jamaican Gingerbeer.
Fantastic. Afterwards we drove on over to a good friend’s who treated us
to a wonderful Easter themed General Conference where we watched the Saturday
afternoon and Sunday Morning session. We ate amazing bunnies-in-blankets...I forgot how
wonderful they were...with cheese and sesame seeds on top. I hope they
will be my future wife´s specialty...along-side lasagna and rice pudding.
There were some good talks. ´´T´was I but T´is not I``. One of the
talks just reminded me of Mom and Dad. It was the one where the member of
the Seventy told the story of his sister who fell away and how he and his
family loved her and always let her know they genuinely loved her. He expressed
his grief and sorrow but also did not give up. I wrote in my notes that
all I could think about was Mom and Dad. I was reminded about the
long-suffering, endurance, patience and faith that they had. It was
interesting to hear that the words of the prophets helped his sister feel the
Spirit again and helped her gain the desire and faith to come back. The
testimonies of others help one feel God’s love he has for them. The words
from a testimony are more than words that are heard, they are words that are
felt. They are the words that hit the soul-searching child of God deep
inside that help them feel the goodness of our Heavenly Father and his Only
Begotten Son.
We had another MLC. It was good! This coming week we´ll be
going to Keukenhoff and the temple and shoot. I don´t really know.
haha Elder Ballard’s talk was funny. I´m glad I still get time to
be on my mission and don´t have to worry about dating....boy he said what was
up eh?! I´m excited to start dating but I feel like I was missing a big
part of the picture when it comes to eternal relationships.
Numero Uno. Nummer een. Number 1. Be like Pahoran. Alma 61 is where
Pahoran replies to Moroni who just sent him a juicy letter letting him know how
mad he was at Pahoran for not sending back up to help Moroni and his
army. I admired Pahoran’s patience and humility. Many of us would
be mad if we read a letter or heard words that came the way they did to Pahoran
but Pahoran’s response was a big key in how an eternal relationship needs to
work. The very first part of Pahoran’s response, after he introduced
himself was not....´´dude, chillout...you’re off fighting and I´m doing the
same thing here with these people who are trying to throw away all the things
you are fighting for...´´. No. He says in verse 2, ´´..I say unto
you, Moroni, that I do not joy in you great afflictions, yea, it grieves my
soul. But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions...´´ Pahoran let his friend know right away that
he is sad for him and that he did not enjoy seeing Moroni and his other friends
going through the things they were. He did all he could to not
defend himself but to comfort. Now they´re not a
married couple but the same principle I feel is essential. To put your
feelings in the second place and to comfort with humility and to put away any
words that may lead you to defending yourself. 1 Nephi 5 is a good example of a
married couple. 1 Nephi 5:6 ´´And after this manner of language did my
father, Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah,..´´.
Comforting vs Self-Defending. Don´t be selfish but think how
you can comfort your spouse than trying to show or prove that it is not your
fault.
Numero dos. Nummer twee. Number 2. Be the
person you want those around you to be. How can we expect are
loved ones or those around us to be something that we are not. I´m a big
believer in the phrase, ´´monkey see, monkey do.´´ Even if those around us
don´t follow, what they see you do, makes an impact. Don´t worry about the
person you were or are but focus on who you are striving to be. The Saviour
loves so much he paid the ultimate price for you so that he can understand how
to help you and so that you could live with His Father who is your Father once
again. He walks with you so that you will not be alone. Focus on the path
He laid before you in 2nd Nephi 31 and don´t sweat about the trips that come
along with learning how to walk in His ways. It happens but he will
always help you up if you let Him so please let him.
Numero tres. Nummer drie. Number 3. Christ Centered
Unity. The more we invite the influence of Christ in our life the more
understanding and strength we will receive which is needed to acquire the
guidance, knowledge and wisdom needed to have, ´´Christ Centered Unity.´´
There is a cool thing that I was shown a few months ago. Draw a
triangle. At the point of the triangle, write, Jesus Christ. At the
left bottom point, write the name of your spouse and on the right bottom point,
write your name. Now follow lines going from the corner with the name of
your spouse and your name to the point entitled, Christ. What happens
with the relations of the lines? They become closer together. As we
make Christ the center point of our lives...meaning his teachings and
example....we as a couple will become closer like the lines. Reading the
scriptures not only individually but together, sharing what you felt or
learned, praying for your family ,individually or together, for your children
or your spouse or those you serve, reaching out to those who are in need of
help and the list can go on....will help us all build up Christ Centered Unity.
Like what was mentioned, do you think Christ will ask you what title or
positions you held? The success of your business or do you feel he will
ask you how you cared for those around you? Let´s all remember to care
for those around us and push our self-defending feelings aside. Be like
Pahoran. Be the person you want those around you to be. Build up
Christ Centered Unity.
I kind of saw all of the good things concerning marriage but forgot that
in order to become stronger, tension will be needed and to become who he knows
we can be, we will needed to be molded. It’s comforting to have the
instructions needed in order to get through the times of tension and
molding. That doesn´t mean it’s going to be easy but He will always be
with us. The question is will you allow your eyes and heart to open up to
guidance? You know it will be worth it if you do. Every day we can do
something to help us overcome our selfishness. Maybe it´s losing at cards
on purpose. Saying sorry even if you feel you are not at fault.
Basically I learned that it´s not easy working with someone all the
time. It has a lot of ups but what goes up must come down. I learned a little more how easy it is to be
selfish. I also kind of forgot that as parents you have to deal with kids who
are potty training. Ohmygoodness. That seems so stinkin hard. No
pun intended and that if we share the goal of our Heavenly Father as our
goal....and that as we build together to become closer to Christ...that we will
come closer as well.
Love you all and take care!
Elder Holt
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