Time to get Busy

Yesterday, Elder Lund and I traveled to Nibley, UT, to a conference with Elder Ballard of the quorum of the 12. It was a special meeting for the missionaries serving in the Cache Valley area. It was most interesting to hear Elder Ballard talk about the important things of being a missionary. He basically said that you need to know the doctrines of the church so well that through the Holy Ghost you teach other people your knowledge and work to become a master teacher. The important thing is to KNOW the doctrine first.

Then last night, we attended stake conference for the Riverdale Stake (our Jefferson 1st ward is a part of Riverdale Stake). Elder Don Clarke and Elder Lynn Summerhays, both from the 70, were visiting authorities. They both talked about how important it is, in order to save our families, to truly be converted to the gospel, to constantly move forward with our knowledge of the gospel, to attend the temple, to live as we know we should. In other words, from the three General Authorities we heard today, we need to be doers of the word, not just hearers of it. Hmmmmm, this was the same message we heard from Elder Holland, and President Uchtdorf two weeks ago. I think Heavenly Father is sending that same powerful message to me time and time again for a reason. I need to wake up and make sure that I am progressing in the gospel. Yeterday, Elder Summerhays said that someone recently asked him and others what good books they had recently read. He noted that not one of the individuals mentioned "The Book of Mormon" and yet, that is the book we should be reading over and over again as it is the fullness of the Gospel. and is written for our times. I recently finished reading the Book of Mormon again, and I was amazed at what verses were telling me I should do. It was the first time that I just read the book through like a novel. I finally gained the "big picture" of what it is all about. It was as though Heavenly Father was providing me with personal direction of how to life today and what I should do. It was like Heavenly Father was speaking to me personally. I felt so bad for the Nephites in the end, that they had been given blessings from the Lord, but just couldn't recognize those blessings and stay righteous. I wondered if I am the same way? Do I take all my blessings for granted? I am starting to understand that of all people in the world, we are the most fortunate, because what we do, who we are, what we hope to become, the most important thing of any is that we are members of the Kingdom of God! That kingdom has been restored again in our day and age and that we should be moving FORWARD, not just sitting around, playing games, wasting time. In many cases, I am guilty of wasting time, not moving forward. I must now, STEP UP (sound familiar?), and be a doer of the word. I need to read the scriptures more, go to the temple more, be a better person,  and accept the atonement in my life. To really accept the atonement means that there is a way to return to Heavenly Father's presence by truly repenting of my sins each and every Sunday by partaking of the Sacrament and asking for forgiveness. I need to truly accept Jesus as my Savior, DO SOMETHING, and move my forward in the gospel. It is not OK to be happy with being complacent. It is not OK to accept status quo. If I do nothing each day to move forward, I am actually going backward. Each of us truly needs to be converted and move our life forward in the gospel.

I have thought about the three parables the Savior gave. The first about the lost coin, where the woman swept and swept her house until she found the lost coin. The next parable was about the prodigal son who's father rejoiced at the return of his son from "riotous" living. The third parable was about the Shepherd leaving the 90 and 9 to find the 1. All three parables was telling us how much Heavenly Father loves each of us and how much he values the worth of one soul. I have felt at many times that I was the lost lamb and I was so grateful that the Shepherd had come after me time and time again. The Lord truly loves the one, the individual soul is worth so much to him. I am challenging myself to step up, move forward, to be a doer of the word, and to do all that I can to  help to rescue the lost soul. As I come to the end of this mission, it is time for me to get busy and help move the work forward. I must recognize that I need to move myself forward, to deepen my scripture study, to serve others, to go to the temple, to love my family and others more, and to pray deeply each day, to forgive others. It is time for me to again, get busy!