Gratitude

I listened to this conference talk on Gratitude by President Monson today. I vaguely remembered this talk, but I'm so glad I watched it again. It was full of things that I needed to hear, and that I've been wanting to hear, and praying to hear. I love when that happens.

During his talk, he mentioned being grateful in all things. Every time I hear that phrase my mind immediately goes to the book The Hiding Place by Corri Ten-Boom to the part where she and her sister are in the concentration camp, and her sister reads that verse decides to be thankful for all things, including the fleas. Corri thinks her sister has gone a bit far, but as it turns out, because there were so many fleas, the Nazi guards would not come into the bunk with the prisoners, and because there were no guards Corri and her sister were able to read the Bible out loud to the other prisoners, which brought comfort and hope to everyone. After finding that out, they truly were grateful for the fleas, and Corri was reminded that God has a purpose in all things, and that we truly do need to be grateful in ALL things. I'm still working on that, but it was a great reminder.

Last time my visiting teachers were here they challenged me to pick any principle that has been restored in the latter-days and work on gaining a stronger testimony of it. I decided to pick the living prophets. I have always had a testimony of the living prophets on the earth today, and I do believe that they relate God's will to us. But I haven't been very on top of rereading the messages they share with us in conference and keeping those things fresh in my mind. So my new goal has been to listen to/read/or watch one conference talk during nap time every day. Lincoln usually sits and watches with me, and it's only 10-15 minutes out of the day. But it's made a HUGE difference. I'm grateful for the words of our prophets and apostles. I am amazed how every day the talk I listen to seems to have something specifically that I needed to hear. I feel like I am now more aware of what God wants for His people (me) to hear. And I know that he truly does speak to us through our prophets and church leaders.