"Increase in Learning"

I've been reading this book, I'm not finished yet, and it's taken me some time.  I've just put reading off. I can't tell you how long it's been since I started it, but for a while I was praying for understanding of some things, and I decided I'd start reading this again.  So, opening the book to where my bookmark was, it said, "Understanding is the keystone that is erected upon the cornerstone of knowledge and precedes intelligence. Interestingly, the word understanding commonly is described in the scriptures in relation to the heart...." and then there was a big section on understanding.  Interesting, huh?! 

Then last night as I was reading, I really liked this part it said about prayer.  "We should be simultaneously persistent in and patient with this active process of asking, seeking, and knocking."  I like the word "persistent".  It's an action word.  There have been things in my life that I've prayed and prayed and prayed for, and then after a long time of not feeling like it's even being heard, I stop praying for that.  What's the point?  Well, in the above quote, and then the section following it in the book, he talks about being persistent, while being patient.

He says, "Simply saying the words 'Thy will be done' is not enough.  Each of us needs God's help in surrendering our will to Him.

'Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other' (Bible Dictionary, "Prayer," 752-53).  Humble, earnest, and persistent prayer enables us to recognize and align ourselves with the will of our Heavenly Father.  And in this the Savior provided the perfect exaple as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane:

       "Saying, Father if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will,

        but thine, be done...   And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly"

Submitting our will to God's will is a theme often emphasized in the scriptures."  ("Increase in Learning, Bednar, 114)

I love that part in the Bible Dictionary.  My attention was first drawn to it reading this blog.  I can't find the exact post on there, it's been quite sometime, but reading any of the posts would touch your spirit. 

I'm grateful for the power of prayer, and that we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows us and loves us!  I'm grateful for answered prayers, and I'm grateful that I know that those seemingly unanswered prayers are still going to be answered, not in my time frame, but in His.

Last night I had a meeting with the committee heads of the midsingles program.  We were talking about our spring conference.  I was talking about how I want a workshop that is based on identifying yourself.  Last time, I had Matt Townsend come and speak.  He talked about it doesn't matter WHAT you are, it's WHO you are.  I thought it was a great message.  It wasn't anything new, it was something that people needed, though.  A great reminder!

My reason behind this is that I've been sad with the way some people identify themselves.  One older guy at an activity introduced himself as (names will be changed, not that anyone knows him, I don't think I'd know him if I saw him, again.)  "Hi, I'm Rob, I'm unemployed and live at his parents house, too," pointing towards the guy next to him.  Others are like, "Hi, I'm Vanessa, I'm divorced."  Yes, these are things that are a part of you, but they AREN'T you!  You are a Daughter or a Son of God!  That's your divine identity!  Believe it!  Live it! 

However, all that being said, I identify myself as "Hi, I'm Pyper.  I have severe trust issues."  I can't wait for the day, that someone comes along that helps me overcome that!  Well, I've had someone like that before, but, well...  yep, I need to work on that.  I know that people can't make you one way or the other, you LET yourself be affected.  It's just hard!  I deal well with lots of different kinds of people, and I LOVE people, but when disappointments come along, it just pushes me farther into that hole of not trusting.  Then, it takes a lot to get me back to trusting that person, and being able to really trust what seems to be happening, or trusting myself that I can really discern what is happening. 

I've been praying that I'll be able to discern things better, and I'm grateful for the answers to those prayers.  Hopefully, I can continue to better myself in that way!  Anyways, those are my thoughts for the day! 

My conference is over and now my young women leadership meeting is over, so now I can think again.  I have to say that my brain struggled changing from being MidSingles oriented to being Young Women oriented.  I actually was wondering what in the world was wrong with me, and kept praying for direction on what I should do for the leadership meeting, and it didn't come until yesterday.  I guess that's the way it works.  I procrastinate, but eventually it works out.

I don't remember what I posted prior to the conference, about the conference, so I hope I don't bore you with stuff I've already said.

There were moments in the planning of the conference that I questioned what I was doing and why; whether I was being directed in the right direction or if it was just me.  You all know those doubts that creep up.  It was so inspiring and amazing to see how everything pulled together, and be able to see that we really were being guided in what we had planned. 

The friday night activity was going to be night games, but the weather didn't cooperate, it was way too cold.  We ended up doing games inside, though, and it was way fun!  Not all people participated, but it was fun for the ones that did. 

Saturday was full of workshops, service projects, games, a keynote speaker in the morning, food, a Greg Simpson Band concert and a dance with karaoke, video games and a photobooth.  It was awesome!  Elder Fluhman of the Seventy was our keynote speaker.  When I had told Cyd about him, she said that I needed to have his wife speak, as well, because she is a great lady.  I didn't know about doing that, since I hadn't had any contact with him, but I thought it was a great idea.  Well, that morning he walked in, was introduced to me, and said, "Now, Pyper, my wife is here, and I think you need to have her share something."  It was so cool!  She said she'd be fine just listening, but ended up sharing some stuff.  It was great!

The workshops that I got to attend were amazing, and exactly what I felt they should be, when I asked these people to do it.  My stake is great!  I may have mentioned this before, and maybe I'm biased, but we had Louise Sill and Pres. Downs come and present, and I heard comments all day about how their messages had inspired people.  My favorite quote from Louise was that the scriptures always say, "And it came to pass..." they don't say, "And it came to stay..."  It's so true!  All of our trials and struggles come, but they pass, unless we dwell on them.  Then, they won't pass as quickly as they may have.  Our lunch was provided by a guy in our stake, and then the deejay was from our stake.  I sure hope that the stake isn't tired of helping me out, because I already have people in mind for the next time :)

On Sunday night, S. Michael Wilcox did our fireside.  It was amazing!  I have always loved the story of Jesus walking on the water, and coming to save the apostles in the fourth watch of the night.  (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/mark/6?lang=eng).  That's how He is, He could save us at the beginning of our trials, but he doesn't.  He comes in when we feel we can no longer handle it.  Bro. Wilcox said we have a fourth watch God, and we're a first watch kind of people.  It's so true!  At the beginning of the fireside, we had the choir sing Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer, arranged to the melody of Homeward Bound.  I have always loved Homeward Bound, however, I have not loved the hymn book arrangement of Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer.  Oh, my word, it was beautiful!  The choir number was a stress for us for quite sometime, but then it just worked out, and I'm so thankful for those that were able to pull it together.  Bro. Wilcox said that there are many songs that remind him of his wife, but there are three specific songs that make him feel her, everytime he hears one of them; and it just so happened that that was one of the songs.  People were close to the spirit when they picked that out.

On friday night, I was so tired, I was laughing uncontrollably.  It was so funny!  I don't think many of the midsingles, if any, have ever seen me like that.  Then, on Sunday during the closing song at the fireside, I just started bawling.  It was so funny, too!  I felt this huge weight lift off of my shoulders, that I hadn't even realized I was feeling. 

There were so many great experiences, even down to having lost my keys, and had many people looking for them.  Then, someone suggested we pray, and within 8 seconds (and I'm not even exaggerating) my keys were found, right where we'd already looked for them.  The turn out wasn't as huge as I was hoping for, hopefully, it will be better next time.  I do know without any doubt that all of those things were meant for someone, if not more than one, and that makes it all worth it!  I'm so grateful for all of the people that helped with everything.  I can't even put into words how grateful I am.  It was such a neat experience, and very educational.

In just over a week, the midsingles' conference I've been working on for the past four months will finally be here!  I'm so excited!  I keep worrying that I'm forgetting something, because I'm not too concerned about it, as long as people come.  As previously mentioned here, I've taken on a new calling, in addition to my calling in the stake young women presidency.

It's an awesome thing to be a part of.  I've had some great helpers in this huge endeavor.  I was so nervous terrified to announce to the committee heads that I had this really strong impression, along with the scripture that was to be the theme, that we needed to do a conference in the spring.  I hadn't had much to do with the planning of the one in the fall; I just came in towards the end of the planning and helped out with the finishing touches.  I was scared of their reaction, whether they would support me or not.  If I was more confident in myself, I'd probably be able to announce it in a way that they would just jump on board.  However I announced it, apparently pretty timid, they said they would do it; not that they were jumping for joy over it.  Some seemed way excited, and some I couldn't read.  Seeing that everyone has a full-time job, some have kids, some have school, some are just crazy busy, and we all have our own callings in our own wards and stakes, I've wanted to make this as easy for them as possible.  Apparently to the effect of making someone feel bad, even with my intents being to help out, it didn't.  (Have I mentioned that midsingles range from 31-45?  I am 31, so I'm a baby in the group, and haven't had all of the experience that some of these people have, so I'm learning as I go.)  I, also, have a fantastic high councillor that is so supportive and amazing!  I'm lucky getting to work with two amazing men, in my two positions, that have such strong testimonies in the gospel, that they will do all that is possible for any activity.  I email Bro. Grant twenty times a day, sometimes, depending on what's going on.  He's like an uncle to me; I have way more contact with him, than my real uncles.  I just have to say that I have an awesome stake!  So many people from our stake are helping out in Centerville with my conference, it's fantastic!  I'm so grateful for the individual phone calls, texts and chats that have taken place, to help give me direction and understanding of what I've needed to be doing.

In the process of planning this, I've discovered things about myself.  Some I'm glad I've found, some I hope I can change.  Prior to this, I never asked anyone to do anything.  If I had to ask something, like getting a reservation somewhere, I'd have Collin do it for me.  I've contacted so many people about doing workshops, firesides, concerts, cooking, etc.  Granted a lot of it has been via email, but that has still been a big step for me.  I've been in awe speaking with some of the people I've talked to, i.e. S. Michael Wilcox, even though he was my institute teacher once; and Virginia H. Pearce, daughter of Pres. Hinckley.  Just thinking that I was talking on the phone to a daughter of a prophet was so amazing to me. 

I wish I didn't come across as being a strong woman, not that there's anything wrong with being strong; I'd really like someone to take care of me, though.  The more strength I show, the more I wish I didn't.  I don't like being so independent, and I really don't like doing so much on my own.  If it comes to the point that I need to ask someone to help with something, my first concern is he (she) will think I'm ridiculous, because I can't handle something, or that what I need isn't nearly as important as whatever they're doing.  I worry that I come across as not caring about people or stand-offish, because I don't let myself get close to people.  It takes me a long time to get close, but once I am, I am forever.

I've found kind of a coping mechanism for me.  I'm all business, a lot of the time.  I just want to let go, and socialize; well, that's what I tell myself, but then when I'm in the situation that I can just socialize, I'm hoping for some task to come up, so I'll have a purpose, or I get out my phone.  It's not happening as much as it used to, but every once in a while it sneaks up.  I just have to say that sometimes it's lonely when you're in charge of something.

The other night we went to Get Air in Kaysville, and jumped on trampolines, and it was so much fun!  I had no concerns of needing to get to a task, I was comfortable and having a great time. 

Well, I think that's all of my ramblings, for now.  I wish I could always keep the perspective of everything's going to work out, and not to worry about things.  I'm really good at worrying, though.  I get it from Grandma Mamie!

Whatever the case, I know that the Lord has had His hand in the planning of this conference, and I hope that those that attend will feel that, and know that He knows each of them individually, and loves them.  He has great faith in them, because He knows what they can do, and He wants to see them reach their potential!

I love General Conference!  It's such a great blessing to be able to listen to the words of the prophet.  I know that preparing for conference with a question or questions in mind, that you will receive answers.  I enjoyed every moment of this weekend, feeling the spirit so strongly!

Loved this!  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2012/04?lang=eng&vid=1540737895001&cid=5

I really loved this, too! It fits so well with my upcoming midsingles conference.   http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2012/04?lang=eng&vid=1540737917001&cid=12

I'm grateful for the gospel in my life!  I'm grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the Plan of Happiness!