Living the Gospel Joyful

Living the Gospel Joyful by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I have set a goal to read and reflect on the 39 addresses given at the general conference sessions of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints between now and Christmas.  So, here goes #1.

Elder Uchtdorf talks about the women who have influenced him most in his life.  His wife, he says, "...has been the strength in [their] home during both good times and bad.  She brings sunshine into the lives of all who know her."

I don't know if David could say any of those things about me.  I feel like I have really turned into more of a burden than a blessing to him.  I constantly feel anxious and am frequently in pain.  I have a strong desire to figure out how to cope better with my physical and mental turmoil.  I was to be a ray of sunshine, not a gloomy cloud.

I love the idea that "God knows something we don't."  I've always thought that, especially when it comes to obeying commandments that I am not fond of...like fasting.  I get hungry.  And angry.  Hangry.

"...And yet for some of us, obedience to God's commandments doesn't always feel very joyful.  Let's face it: there may be some that seem harder or less appealing--commandments that we approach with the enthusiasm of a child sitting before a plate of healthy but hated vegetables.  We grit our teeth and force ourselves to comply so that we can move on to more desirable activities.

Perhaps during times such as these, we might find ourselves asking, 'Do we really need to obey all of God's commandments?'

My response to this question is simple:

I think God knows something we don't--things that are beyond our capacity to comprehend.  Our Father in Heaven is an eternal being whose experience, wisdom, and intelligence are infinitely greater than ours.  Not only that, but He is also eternally loving, compassionate, and focused on one blessed goal: to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life."

His example of meaningful visiting teaching is a good one.  I am probably the worst visiting teacher.  Ever.  It's something that I find terribly pointless and time-wasting when it is done with the check-mark mentality.  I hate make and receiving visits like that.  Yet, I have had some truly great visiting teaching experiences.  When I was pregnant with Hyram, my visiting teacher was a true friend.  She checked up on me often, brought me treats, gave me recipes and advice about motherhood when I asked.  It was nice to feel like I had a friend when I was so confined to my apartment in those first couple months.

Another visiting teacher, Megan, was a life-saver.  She became a really good friend as my parents went through a divorce and I tried to figure out how that affected me.  She was able to give me insight into what she had done in the same situation years before, and we were able to talk about preparing for missions together.  She felt that she had a really important mission to fulfill, but didn't feel like it would be in the mission field like I did.  She suddenly died a few months later in a car accident, and I felt that she was right.  I think we served missions together, just not exactly as either of us had imagined.  I still think about the encouragement and friendship she always offered.

I think his words about the love that God has for us are the hardest to remember when I feel like I fall so short, but the most important to always come back to:

"He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to Him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer. He knows of the times you have held onto the fading light and believed—even in the midst of growing darkness. He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you have fallen short or failed. And still He loves you.

And God knows of your successes; though they may seem small to you, He acknowledges and cherishes each one of them. He loves you for extending yourself to others. He loves you for reaching out and helping others bear their heavy burdens—even when you are struggling with your own.

He knows everything about you. He sees you clearly—He knows you as you really are. And He loves you—today and always!"

If we take the time to learn and live the gospel and commandments of God joyfully, we will be able to discover our best and real selves.  I like that thought.