"Roads? Where we're going, we won't need roads."

So I just noticed that my last post was the eighty-eighth published on my blog. Immediately the quote, "Doc, I don't think we'll have enough roads to get up to eighty-eight," popped into my head.

It's funny how we have so many ideas/memories in our heads and the simplest little thing will trigger them. The number 88 triggered a flood of memories of a movie from my childhood. We all encounter these types of situations every day. You may drive past a bakery and remember your grandmother's house or see someone that looks like your best friend from kindergarten. Sometimes we are reminded of good things, and sometimes we are reminded of not-so-good things.

A very wise King and disciple of Jesus Christ once said,

"But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not," Mosiah 4:30 (emphasis added).

So that's the challenge, we need to watch our thoughts. But how do we do that? How am I supposed to concentrate on what I am doing when something as simple as a number causes my brain to bring a bunch of memories to the forefront? Even more important, how am I supposed to keep those not-so-good memories and ideas out? We know that controlling our thoughts is important because as the above scripture teaches,  thoughts lead to words and words lead to actions. So how do we stop it at the source?

There is a simple remedy that I know works, it just takes persistence. Preach My Gospel gives this advice on how to control our thoughts,

 "Your mind is like a stage in a theater; in the theater of your mind, however, only one actor can be on stage at a time. If the stage is left bare, thoughts of darkness and sin often enter the stage to tempt. But these thoughts have no power if the stage of your mind is occupied by wholesome thoughts, such as a memorized hymn or verse of scripture that you can call upon in a moment of temptation. By controlling the stage of your mind, you can successfully resist persistent urges to yield to temptation and indulge in sin."

It is simple, whenever a thought enters your mind that you don't want there, just invite something else into your mind, sing a hymn or recite a memorized scripture. Any good thought can help us avoid any negative and/or distracting thought.

I know this works because I have done it. When I have negative thoughts or ideas, I just start singing some of my favorite hymns and the Spirit of the Lord comes to help me banish that thought.

Now for invitation time! Will you try this out in your life? Will you pick a favorite hymn or scripture and use it whenever those unwanted thoughts arrive in your mind? I know that as you do you will enjoy the peace of mind that comes from following the Savior's example.

The Challenge to Become Part 3: Prayer

As I was studying in the missionary guidebook the other day I came across these quotes...

"Sincere prayer implies that when we ask for any virtue or blessing we should work for the blessing and cultivate the virtue." -David O. McKay, Secrets of a Happy Life, pages. 114–115.

"Our deeds, in large measure, are children of our prayers. Having prayed, we act; our proper petitions have the effect of charting a righteous course of conduct for us." -Bruce R. McConkie, "Why the Lord Ordained Prayer."

Ever since I read them I've been pondering the connection between prayer and becoming. I've come to a couple of conclusions on the subject and I'd love to have your input.

First,  I'd like to submit the idea that the statement, "you are what you eat" could be modified to say, "you become what you pray." I know that Heavenly Father always answers our prayers, so as we pray with the intent to do His will, we will become who He wants us to become.

Second, as we pray, our relationship with our Heavenly Father will grow stronger and we will have a greater desire to become like Him. As that desire grows we will be so much more motivated to pray for His attributes like humility or patience.

So, I just shared with you a small fraction of my thoughts on the subject. What do you think?

• How are prayer and becoming related? 
• Are they related at all? 
• What instances do you know of prayer changing a person?

I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say!