"The Life You Save May Be Your Own"

When Sister McCall invited me to write a post about what I have learned in my 18 months of full-time missionary service one scripture came to mind...

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life for my sake,

the same shall save it." Luke 9:24

This scripture has become somewhat cliché in relation to missions and missionary work. I have always believed it to be true because the Savior said it and I know His words are true, but I could never say that I knew it for myself until now. I have done my best to "lose [my] life for [His] sake" over the past 18 months and I have felt that my life has been saved.

I have had so many experiences that have proved the truth of that for me. I remember one Sunday morning, early in my mission, I felt really low. I didn't want to do anything or talk to anyone. But rather than curl up in bed and not do anything, I went to church and did everything I could to help others around me have an uplifting time. Amazingly, by the end of church that day I felt great. The debilitating feeling I'd had that morning was just a distant memory. That is just one example but I have had dozens exactly like it where I stopped focusing on myself and felt happiness.

This principle is not just applicable to missionary work. I know it can be applied universally. Whenever we are focused on our self, our own desires, or our own needs we often become depressed that everything isn't working out perfectly, but when we lose ourselves in the service of others (or in the service of the Savior,) we can find great joy despite our own challenges.

My goal for the next 18 months of my life is to learn how to apply this scripture to "regular-non missionary" life. While I will have to do some focusing on myself as I go to school and work and take care of other necessary life things I hope to make much of my life focused on serving others. I know that as I do this I will be able to find great joy as I have the past 18 months. I invite all of you to do the same, put your life in His hands, lose it in His work and I know that you will find your life saved.

I am a Mormon Woman.

I love this video! it is ture. I know that God loves me and I can do anything He expects of me!

Check out this, and other great videos on my new Featured Videos page!

Some things I've learned so far...

I just finished watching the first session of the 182nd Semi-annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I heard several talks by some wonderful disciples of Christ, including some Special Witnesses of Christ, (the Prophet and some Apostles).

My General Conference notebook.
I love the cover because it reminds me of what I need to
do in order to learn the Lord's will for me.

Here are a few quick highlights of what I've learned...

A great way gain confidence in my identity as a daughter of God and follower of Christ is to immerse myself in the scriptures and strive to live the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ more fully.

Apathy can be fought with repentance and increased righteous living.

I need to follow the promptings of the Spirit that I receive because I may be the means that the Lord uses to answer someones prayer.

A desire to serve is a natural consequence of my own conversion.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 3 Nephi 13:19-21

How I spend my time is a reflection of my priorities. The way I can show the Lord that He is my priority is by doing the things that will strengthen my relationships with my loved ones, finding happiness in the blessings the Lord has given me now, and striving to develop Christlike attributes to become more like Him.

After typing that all up it is amazing to me to see all that I learned in that short 2 hours, (and what I put on here were only the highlights!) I know that as you approach conference looking for what the Lord wants you to learn you will be able to compile your own list of personal revelation. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for me next!

Fear Not

By Elder Tad R. Callister

Of the Seventy

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From Mary and Joseph we learn that we need not fear; for every problem, there is a solution.

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2010/12/fear-not?lang=eng

I've noticed several quotes from this article popping up on facebook today. I think it is definitely worth reading.

Elder Callister is an inspired man, several inspired men and women like him will be speaking in the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this weekend. You can stream it live online at gc.lds.org or go to your local Latter-day Saint meetinghouse at 11pm and 3pm (CDT) Saturday and Sunday (October 6th and 7th, 2012).

The Prophet and Apostles will be speaking as well. Come and see what they have to say, (John 1:46).

Don't hold back...

I saw a movie once that tells a story of two brothers. They would go to a lake near their home and swim a sort of race. The object of the race was not to finish first, but it was to not be the first to turn back.

Part of the story was that the younger brother was stronger because of a genetic advantage that he had. The older brother had asthma and several other things that held him back so he always lost when they raced.

Looking back on his experience the older brother explained that the crux of the game was saving enough energy to be able to make the swim back to shore, only going as far as you knew you could swim back.

Finally, there was one instance when the older brother won. Years later the younger brother asked the older brother how he was able to win in spite of all his challenges. In answer to his question the younger brother responded that he didn't save any energy for the swim back. He was so focused on his goal that he used all of his energy to achieve it.

I saw this movie several years ago and I've often pondered the wisdom of his decision. After all, it is kind of dangerous to use up all of your energy to swim to the middle of a lake with no way of getting back other than using your own -now depleted-energy. When he decided to not hold anything back he had enough trust that everything would work out to outweigh the risk of drowning in the lake.

The movie doesn't really specify what he was putting his trust in, but when I apply the story to myself I put my trust in the Lord. There are some things that the Lord asks me to do that seem too hard for me because of my weaknesses. I am often afraid to use up all of my energy in attempting to do the Lord's will for fear of "drowning" (failing). BUT, deep down I know that I won't ever really fail if I put my trust in the Lord.

There are some great scriptures that help me to remember that having trust in the Lord always works out.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1 Nephi 3:7

I know that the above is true. We can do anything the Lord expects of us if we just put our trust in Him and exert all of our energy in accomplishing it. I invite all of you to test the Lord, put your trust in Him and see if everything won't just work out for your good. I know it will.