Sunday Thoughts

We had Stake Conference this morning and though I got something from all the talks, I took the most notes from our Stake President's talk.

• We all need the Atonement.
• Alma 5:14-16
• Quit looking to the past all the time, look forward.
• Pray to know how our weaknesses can become our strengths.
• The Sacrament is fundamental to the building of man's character.
• The deep spiritual significance of the Sacrament is knowing we can be forgiven of our sins.
• We should come to church peacefully and prepared to receive the Sacrament (as opposed to arriving in a frantic, grumptastic frenzy from rushing to get kids ready).
• We should leave the things of the world outside the church and focus on the Sacrament.
• We should sing the hymns and prepare ourselves to receive the Sacrmaent.
• The most important word in the Sacrament prayer is REMEMBER.
• We can be filled spiritually when we take the Sacrmanet. The wounds of our Spirit are healed.
• The chapel is a sacred place, we should be reverent and quiet. Socializing should take place in the foyer and halls.

I love these thoughts and have noticed a difference in the peacefulness of Sacrament meeting for us since we have been arriving so early for it this year in an effort to get a soft seat. I spend that time reading over Conference talks or my scriptures and listening to the prelude music. I often notice the loud socializing that goes on around me but I do my best not to participate in it (i.e., I don't go looking for people to talk to). Hopefully after his message today the chapel will be more reverent.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: We're finally decorating for Christmas!

Sunday Thoughts

Once again, I was surprised by the great talk our high council speaker gave today (I really need to stop discriminating against them) and liked it enough to share my notes for today's post.

He spoke about the importance of taking the Sacrament each week and gave us 4 P's to remember (I have no idea how anyone not taking notes retains anything) to help make it more meaningful.


Prepare
--The Lord wants us to be clean, so we need to repent of the week's wrong doings before coming to church.
--Come hungry for righteousness.
--We can feel the wounds of our spirit being healed and the low being lifted when we take the Sacrament.
--If we are clean, we can be blameless before God.
--The Lord forgives us as we repent. We give Him our sins and He gives us mercy.

Ponder
--Ponder Christ and His life, how his blessings have influenced us.
--Ask yourself, "What has the Savior done for me?" Then feel humbled by the answers.
--Reflect daily on our blessings.
--The Savior's love for us cannot end not matter what we do.
--We can have the Spirit pour out upon us.
--Ask yourself, "How can I become more like Him?"

Pursue Impressions
--Do your best to find ways to remember Him throughout the week. As you see a picture of Him in your house or in your scriptures, take a moment to thank Him for His sacrifice for you.
--Follow through with any impressions you receive.

Power
--His power is upon us when we do these things.


I think I can do much better to prepare myself to partake of the Sacrament each week. I'm realizing more and more that becoming more in tune with the Spirit takes effort. It's not a matter of just showing up hoping to have a spiritual experience. It's living worthily to have the Spirit with me so that I am prepared and open to those experiences as they arise.

**Thoughts**

Comment Window Tidbit: I taught for 15 minutes at an early-morning teacher development meeting and then taught Sharing Time twice today as well...I'm totally spent!