Saturday, August 20, 2011

Time...

I feel like I need to take a minute to write down some thoughts I have been having over the last few days and I am trying to follow promptings I receive, so I better get writing.

A couple weeks ago my mom had me listening to a collection of talks by Pres. Henry B. Eyring and there was one talk specifically that has really come to mean a lot to me in the last week or so. I will not be able to convey his message near as eloquently or accurately as he does but I hope the feelings I am having will come across as I mean them. The talk was about how the real gift that our Heavenly Father has given us is the gift of time and the ability to use that time the way we want to. We don't know how much time we will be given but we do know that the use of that time will have eternal consequences and we know that our Heavenly Father's mercy is so great that he will give us as many opportunities as he possibly can to turn to him and redirect our paths. I know now why one of the mottos the Church has is "It's about time..." because that is what it is all about. We only have a small amount of time on this earth to learn to love deeply, serve unselfishly, comfort unceasingly and judge righteously. We only have a small amount of time to learn to bear one anothers burdens, repent of our sins, forgive others their mistakes and weaknesses and to become more like our Savior.

I have recognized the teachings of the spirit more in the last 12 days than I have in my entire life combined and more than anything I have been taught of the unconditional, undying love that our Savior has for each one of us. It truly is his work and his glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. He loves us, he wants us to return to him, and he is willing to do everything in his power, aside from take away our agency, to help us to return to him. I know these things are true. I know He hears and answers our prayers. I know He will send peace and comfort even in the most hopeless of times if we will but ask, and the peace and reassurance He will send is unlike anything the world has to offer. As we turn our lives over to Jesus Christ he will make more of us than we could ever hope to make of ourselves. There are so many people that are lost and have forgotten who they are and what they can become, and it is our responsibility to seek them out and help them to feel the love of our Savior through our service and example.

I know Jesus Christ lives and I love him with all of my heart. I know he atoned for our sins and I know that families can be forever. I know that the time we have been given here is so precious and that we need to use that time each and every day to grow closer to Him and to bring others with us. Let us use this time to judge less, forgive freely, serve with all our hearts, and love others as He loves us. Let us repent of our sins and turn away from those things that will draw us away from His light and His love.

Let's try to remember each moment we live that it is about time. Don't wait to tell the people you love that you love them. Don't wait to forgive someone who has wronged you. Don't wait for tomorrow to listen to the promptings of the spirit. Now is the time and my prayer is for the strength to act on and remember this each day for the rest of my life.