Insight Paper

For this post, I'm going to put up an insight paper I wrote for my Book of Mormon class. It has to deal with something that's been on my mind quite heavily for the past while and it felt good to finally figure something out.

This week for me has been filled with a lot of personal reflection about my personal goals and perspective. General conference had a huge impact on me and I absolutely loved the messages that were given. I especially appreciated all of President Uchtdorf’s messages, Elder Bednar’s message and President Eyring’s message in the Saturday afternoon session of conference. All of these messages consistently made me think of who I am, where I am, and where do I want to be going with my life. Somehow, my reflections were all centered on finding an eternal companion. Although I have been home for only a short time, these thoughts seem to be a priority along with succeeding with my education and work. For a while, as I dated, I looked at the young women as potential eternal companions, but not considering the stages in between of developing a relationship.
In the book of Moroni, it really stood out to me how he focused on the basics of the doctrines and taught from there. I guess it helped me to realize that everything needs to be done in order. Moroni taught about the basics of church administration, about nourishing members in the church, about repentance, faith, hope, and charity. In all of this he weaved in the doctrine of Christ. It helped me realize that things happen in stages, not just a jump from point “a” to point “b.” I looked at serving a mission in the same way before I left. In my mind, I was concerned with what I did before my mission and what happened after my mission, but I never once took a chance to think about what the mission might consist of. Not once. I wasn’t thinking about events in stages. Just “event 1” to “event 2” and so on. Now, as I read through Moroni and listened to General Conference, there’s more to life than just events. There is a progression. I really like Moroni’s counsel to lay hold upon every good gift. He didn’t say just “the” good gifts, which I might have interpreted as earning “Duty to God,” go to college, serve a mission, get married, get a job, have children, and events like that in my life. I need to learn to progress, take advantage of all of the opportunities I have in my life to become like Christ. I shouldn’t just move towards “landmark” events in my life, but I should focus on making the most of what the Lord is giving to me in my life. As such, in relation to finding an eternal companion, I need to work my way to that point in my life. I need to make friends, enjoy myself, get to know people, and to develop relationships so that I could reach the potential of considering a young lady to be an eternal companion. It doesn’t mean that I should ignore and not focus on moving forward towards such landmarks in my life, but I need to focus on the small and simple things. I believe that if I can focus on the small and simple things in my life, events such as marriage and success in school, or whatever it may be, will come and I will be ready to handle the situation.

With that said, I think the phrase "poco a poco" suffices. I have it as the banner on my phone to help me remember that everything has its place and there's no need to rush or jump steps. Take it easy, take it easy. Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy! Lyrics from the Eagles. Quite random, but quite appropriate.

From General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson said this: "[W]e have been provided divine attributes to guide our journey. We enter mortality not to float with the moving currents of life but with the power to think, to reason, and to achieve."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf from October of 2010. "Therefore, it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions." Or even when there aren't adverse conditions.

"The wise understand and apply the lessons of tree rings and air turbulence. They resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life. They follow the advice 'There is more to life than increasing its speed.' In short, they focus on the things that matter most."

"As we turn to our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most, we learn over and over again the importance of four key relationships: with our God, with our families, with our fellowman, and with ourselves. As we evaluate our own lives with a willing mind, we will see where we have drifted from the more excellent way. The eyes of our understanding will be opened, and we will recognize what needs to be done to purify our heart and refocus our life."

(These are all from the same discourse.)

And I think he's right. It's time to slow down, look to the basics, the fundamentals. It's a wonderful opportunity to do this! Today is Easter Sunday, the day where we celebrate the Lord's resurrection. What a special day! The Savior broke the bands of death, and He gives us the gift of resurrection also. If not for this, life would be in vain. Jacob, the brother of Nephi, put it like this.

"O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more.

And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness."

I am forever grateful to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. He not only paid the price for my sins, but he extends mercy and grace unto me so that I can repent and come unto Him. Through Him, I can be perfected in all things, and one day live with Him and my Heavenly Father. Take the chance to think and remember the tender mercies of the Lord in your life.

"He is risen, He is risen, tell it out with joyful noise!"

Todo Con Una Sonrisa

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