After typing up all of the thoughts on the talks, I decided to take this one and make it the post for today! So, here is part two of my thoughts on the General Young Womens meeting on 28 Mar 2009:
May You Have Courage BY President Thomas S. Monson: "You communicate through cell phones, text messaging, instant messaging, e-mailing, blogging, Facebook, and other such means. You listen to music on your iPods and MP3 players. This list, of course, represents but a few of the technologies which are available to you....Although this is a remarkable period when opportunities abound, you also face challenges which are unique to this time. For instance, the very technological tools I have mentioned provide opportunities for the adversary to tempt you and to ensnare you in his web of deceit, thereby hoping to take possession of your destiny." I use every one of the technologies he specified. In Jan 1996, I was able hear Pres. Hinckley speak at the tabernacle on Temple Square. He warned of the dangers of the internet. In Feb 1996, my dad died and in Mar 1996, we got the internet in our house...my sister wanted email. I quickly learned what Pres Hinckley was talking about. It was a bit scary and intimidating. I began to pray about to find the good things because I believed that we would not have been given such a wonderful tool if it couldn't be used for good. I quickly found the Mormon Chat room (this isn't always the best thing for everyone, but it was for me at this time) and a giant load of genealogical opportunities. From these finds alone, I am now able to get more training to stay on my skills as a genealogist and prepare to open my business. Most importantly, finding the Mormon Chat room led to me finding my eternal companion, Steve! As well as some eternal friends that we still communicate with regularly! I always add here that Steve and I met before meeting your spouse on the internet was the cool thing to do, what trendsetters we are! hee hee "First, the courage to refrain from judging others; Second, the courage to be chaste and virtuous; and Third, the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness." Yes, these things do indeed take courage. It isn't easy to not tell the world when you feel wronged by someone. I am guilty of this. Some of you know the experiences we have had in the last year alone and I tell you that it has been hard to teach myself to not just tell anyone and everyone my thoughts and feelings on the subject! One friend inquired and noted that I had not blogged about these events and such. I told her that there were too many people that read my blog that would be offended and I did not want to go there. Not everyone in my household shares this same view and feel it necessary to tell most everyone about these experiences and the pressure to support them is high and hard to resist! As for the third one, well, that was a huge part of what lead to us having these experiences last year. A short time after that journey began and long before it was over, I had to go in and renew my Temple recommend. I was grateful, almost to the point of tears, that I was worthy to renew this because even though I was beginning a very dark journey of struggles, I had kept my integrity in tact and was very grateful for the strength that came with those choices! "Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”" I think Mother Teresa was a very smart and humble woman and gave us ALL a great example to follow to become better Christians! "My sweet young sisters, maintain an eternal perspective. Be alert to anything that would rob you of the blessings of eternity." Again, wonderful advice and a great challenge to us ALL! "My sweet young sisters, maintain an eternal perspective. Be alert to anything that would rob you of the blessings of eternity. Help in maintaining the proper perspective in these permissive times can come to you from many sources. One valuable resource is your patriarchal blessing. Read it frequently. Study it carefully. Be guided by its cautions. Live to merit its promises. If you have not yet received your patriarchal blessing, plan for the time when you will receive it, and then cherish it." A lot of our lives and the choices we make are based on our perspective at that moment! I continue to read my patriarchal blessing regularly, especially when making major decisions in my life. It is a great help and blessing to me! "Esther, through fasting, faith, and courage, had saved a nation" I am grateful for the reminder of the story of Esther. "You will probably not be called upon to put your life on the line, as did Esther, for that which you believe. You will, however, most likely find yourself in situations where great courage will be required as you stand firm for truth and righteousness." If only we all would strive for this same courage and FAITH! Even in the closing of this talk, he tells us that although dark times lie ahead we have the gospel as our beacon of light and with that we can and will have the courage necessary to be "an example of the believers" to many others to come!
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