Gospel Principles - Lesson 34 - Developing Our Talents

Before I even read this chapter, I am pleased to have brought to mind several ways I am developing my talents - even at my age.  I am taking piano lessons.  Finding time to practice is a huge issue, but I am progressing and that makes me feel awesome!  I went back to school and got a Master's degree and teaching credentials.  I am only working as a substitute teacher, but am sure that Heavenly Father directed me to go back to school for this purpose.  I think my willingness to follow through on this goal gave my children an example to follow.

There are other ways that I want to develop my talents.  However, making time and following through on the goals, hasn't been easy to do.  I discovered as a pre-teen that I loved making speeches.  Winning several contests confirmed that I had a talent in this area.  We enjoyed Toastmasters when we lived in Guam and Germany, but haven't followed up on joining a group here.  In church, the members are asked to give talks in our services.  We do not have paid clergy and the members are expected to share the teaching/preaching responsibilities on Sundays.  I've only been asked to give a talk three times in 20 years.  Some would wonder how to get the same privilege.  I don't want to seek to speak, either, but I do learn so much and enjoying speaking.  Over the years, I've made it a goal to just plan talks for my enjoyment....  I've yet to do this even one time...

In reading this chapter, another principle comes to mind...  By small things, great things shall be brought to pass.  I don't have time to do everything that I'd like every day. Consistently endeavoring to develop my talents, though has paid off through the years.  :-)  I love this motto from President Heber J. Grant in the middle of the lesson:  "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased."  (in Teachings of Presidents of the Church:  Heber J. Grant [200], 35)

As I read the following paragraph, I found reason to repent and promptly did.  I am very grateful for the Atonement and God's patience with us.  My mistake wasn't rebellious or prideful, but merely misguided.  Misguided or not, it did take me out of His Will.  I am a tender-hearted person and Heavenly Father knows that about me because he made me.  :-)  Even in His correction, He was gentle and loving.  For me to always be that way with everyone would be such a blessing.  Here's the paragraph:

The Lord Will Bless Us If We Use Our Talents Wisely

President Joseph F. Smith said, “Every son and every daughter of God hasreceived some talent, and each will be held to strict account for the use or misuse to which it is put” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 370). A talent is one kind of stewardship (responsibility in the kingdom of God). The parable of the talents tells us that when we serve well in our stewardship, we will be given greater responsibilities. If we do not serve well, our stewardship will eventually be taken from us. (See Matthew 25:14–30.)

I can't put into words all the understanding that I am gaining from this lesson.  It is so personal that I doubt it would make sense to anyone else.  Suffice to say that I am grateful and the lesson is written on my heart never to be forgotten.  If I can find the words, I'll record my thoughts and understanding in my journal.  I have a hardback journal in which I write (actually two for when I can't find one or want to take the smaller one with me).  I also have discovered an online free service that emails me every day to ask about my day and give me a glimpse at what I've written in the past.  If you'd like to find out more, go to https://ohlife.com/today

My Study Time Impressions

I have been feeling like I need to use this blog in a better way....  I was kind of unclear what I wanted to accomplish with it when I began writing...  I am still not sure, but have been feeling it is a tool that will serve me well, if I use it....  I am not sure if anyone will read it or find it helpful, but I do pray that God will use my writing to help me learn and to teach and uplift others.

In seeking understanding with another's overwhelming challenges, I was repeatedly drawn to my patriarchal blessing.  (Note:  Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can request a patriarchal blessing from the stake patriarch - a man called and set apart to serve in this capacity.  The blessing is recorded and the person is given a copy to keep.  The blessing is considered personal scripture for the person.)  Eventually, one sentence stood out for the very first time....  I was promised understanding as I listened to the prophets and studied the basic principles of the gospel.  My first thought was that I was already teaching 5-year olds the basics and you couldn't get more basic than that....  I immediately remembered when I joined the Church, I had been given the Gospel Principles manual and did not realize it was a Sunday School manual...  I read it from cover to cover in a couple of weeks and was like a sponge.  :-)  I determined that I would do this again.  From the very first day's study, the revelation has flowed on so many subjects that I've sought Heaven's help to understand and to know what I was to do.

Rather than go back and re-cap what I've learned thus far, I want to start today as a way to increase my understanding of these principles and open my heart to greater revelation and understanding.  It is interesting that today's chapter is Chapter 33, Missionary Work... (https://lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-33-missionary-work?lang=eng )  I was just talking yesterday about wishing a Mormon friend had not taken my less than enthusiastic response as a "No."  I wasn't turning them down, only qualifiying that we might not believe as they do....  In sharing the gospel, each of us will have different insights and understanding.  We can meet on our common ground and enrich and uplift one another.  I wondered yesterday if I was doing all I could do to share the gospel light that I have.  I never want to be guilty of hiding my light.  Matthew 5:14-16  I don't want to do a disservice to my friends and family or even anyone who shall cross my path.  I want them to have every opportunity to accept the fullness of the gospel and come unto our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This scripture stood out for me from the lesson manual:  Doctrine and Convenants 38 (https://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/38.41?lang=eng#40)

40And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment,that every man, both elder, priest, teacher, and also member, go towith his might, with the ^alabor of his ^bhands, to prepare andaccomplish the things which I have commanded. 41And let your ^apreaching be the ^bwarning voice, every man tohis neighbor, in mildness and in ^cmeekness.

I know that there have been times when I have tried sharing and the response was so confrontational that I wondered if I had achieved the meek or the mild...  I am not sure I am responsible for the reaction to my attempt at sharing.  I am responsible for my own efforts and interactions.

https://lds.org/youth/video/kyiv-ukraine-temple-cultural-celebration?lang=eng

Reflections

I read through some of my journals today.  I've been posting online, too, which has me wondering if I should put them all in the same place...  However, I've often written in two journals at the same time, so maybe it doesn't matter.  lol

I have consistently written nearly the same basic goals with similar long-term goals....  A friend said that prayers over time can become scripture.  I read that today in my journal and has me reflecting.  I signed up to take piano lessons and began this week... Practicing is so not in my routine, yet, but I loved the progress I made as I reviewed what I had taught myself.  I really want to be able to play the hymns in my own home.  I need to keep reminding myself of this goal and not let myself push out learning to play.

I started a "To Do List" Journal today.  :-)  It is sometimes hard to see what I've gotten done when there's still so much that is undone.  I am marking through the things that I get done and moving the things that I don't to the next day (and marking through the item and notating that I moved it to the next day).  Someone said that their mother did this in her planner.  There is something satisfying about crossing it out, even if it is moving to the next day.  One thing I started today was adding things that got done that wasn't on my original list.  For example, I went to watch Julia on the spur of the moment today to allow Ingrid to take my daughter and her oldest daughter to a school dance competition.

In this "To Do List" Journal, I also added some basic every day kind of goals and some long-term goals....  I used a list from my journal that I did about a year ago.  The basics were still the basics, but one thing that surprised me was that I had added learning to play the piano on the basics!  I know I never did turn on the piano keyboard until this week....  Yes, I do need to work practicing into my routine and keep at it!  As I read my long-term goals from last year, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had made progress on those goals and would keep them to allow continued progress.  :-)  Here's what I had:

Just the Basics

1. 1.       Pray always.  J
   2.       Read the Book of Mormon; study primary lesson (as well as SS and RS lessons).
   3.       Exercise Chewy twice a day and do Wii Fit or go to Y 5-6 times a week.
   4.       Eat well; lose weight.
   5.       Ed (I just want to keep him in mind and make sure he knows he is a priority with me.)
   6.       Piano

Some Long-term Goals

1.  Reorganize and declutter entire house
2.  Family history work (DAR?)
3. Indexing
4.  Plan a vegetable and flower garden and then do it.
5.  Be proficient at playing the hymns.

I have other goals, too, but thought I'd share these.  I often seem to set goals that are more like reaching for the stars....  For some, that might be depressing because you never reach those goals.  For me, though, I keep the goals in mind and celebrate any progress and even that I still want to reach the goal.  

Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

Eggplant Parmesan Recipe