Sister Bradie Johnson and Elder Lynn (They are both from the same ward)
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
4/27/2015
A return to form!
This week Elder Schilling and I constructed a sticker board to use when English flyering. It lets people choose from several options, answering the question, "What is the reason you want to learn English?" We took it out to two different places and received a lot of participation. I think it'll turn out to be a big help for our English class, which can always use more members.
I just realized, that six teenagers teach hundreds of people across the nation English. How funny is that! I never imagined myself becoming an English teacher so soon.
Regardless, it was really fun to be sticker-boarding again. We used to do it all the time when I lived in Gimpo, but then I came here and that idea quietly slipped out the back door. It's back though, and ready to party!
This week was really slow in terms of investigator appointments -- all three of our investigators canceled, our new investigator had to drop our appointment at the last minute, and our most recent investigator, Kim Han Soo (김한수) dropped us. That was a rough phone call. He said that he has his own religion, and that he just wants to learn English. I listened, then just re-explained one last time that our purpose in meeting isn't to convert him, but to practice Korean, so that we can become better teachers. He was very cordial, but stated that he'd rather not continue meeting one and one, and would just like to attend our English class.
To be honest, this isn't an isolated experience; things like this happen all the time. I'm sure he'll be prepared in the future though; and in the mean time, he's taken one small step, even though he's chosen to stop walking.
In other news, this week we were reminded of our importance by the Bishopric, during a meeting. They emphasized how small things we do can leave large impressions, especially on the youth. In harmony with that, we got treats for a couple of youth who celebrated birthdays recently. It was interesting to see their reactions, and the reactions of nearby members. You could tell that it meant a lot to them, and some of the members were so far impressed as to make comments like, "Ah, Elder, you don't have money to do things like that... that's too kind." That's something I intend to continue doing -- which is funny, because later the bishop's wife told me that she wants me to stay until her birthday -- In October!!
Another highlight this week was dinner with the ward mission leader, Brother Ahn (안) and his wife, Sister Bak (박). One neat thing was the opportunity to eat American food -- both lived in America, and Sister Bak is an excellent cook. That was probably the first time I've had any kind of chicken bake/casserole since I've left home. They had all the missionaries share what inspires them to share the gospel. My brief 30 second bit centered on how I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to resolve all social and personal problems, and that is what inspires me to share the gospel -- the desire to make a better future, for my family and friends.
This week we were also able to take a trip to Costco (surprise, surprise, bet nobody saw that coming!), after our time at the temple, which, as always, was splendid. We were able to get some affordable, American ingredients in bulk, which is virtually impossible elsewhere.
Another highlight was district meeting. Elder Campbell asked me to prepare a thought on how Jesus found people to teach, since we're all trying to be a little more like Him, and we all agreed that He's the greatest missionary who ever walked the face of this Earth.
As I skimmed through the gospels, I was repeatedly impressed by how Jesus Christ taught all the time, and taught those who came to Him. He didn't have to interrupt or attack or be aggressive; He taught those who came to Him with interest, and that interest was kindled by life problems and by the Spirit testifying to the truthfulness of what He taught.
That study helped me to be more at peace with the sometimes seemingly fruitless hours of proselyting. The main key, to me, was to always be teaching, and not to worry about those who turn away from you. It's their loss, not yours.
All in all, it was another blessed week in Korea. I find myself evermore grateful for the opportunity to be heard and to speak in the Lord's name. The personal blessings I've received are numerous and beyond description; the testimony I've received has grown in ways that are both imperceptible and unmistakable.
Most importantly, my love for everybody has increased, again and again. I can honestly state that I love each and every one of my brothers and sisters -- and our Heavenly Father, who saved each of us through the sacrifice of His Only Begotten, His perfect Eldest Son, Jesus Christ.
Your Faithful Brother,
Elder Austin Lynn
4/20/2015
The most important component of missionary work is happiness.
This week was a blast! Summer's right around the corner, and everything's heated up, but it's still raining! We're in the midst of rainy season, so we're facing up to a month more of rain. Wow! Luckily, I enjoy the rainy weather, even though it can be difficult to talk to people on the street. I can't believe it's taken me so long to remember, but I finally re-learned my most important lesson as a missionary: a happy missionary never fails, and an unhappy missionary will never succeed! My personal belief is that when one is unhappy, it acts like a filter -- the Spirit has a hard time breaking through to you, and charity just seeps out of your person. Abraham Lincoln said that a house divided cannot stand -- he also said, "When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad." I think that making the decision to be happy is the first step in attaining charity, and a vital move in maintaining the companionship of the Spirit that all members of the church are entitled to. I know that, for me, it's the most important tool I have when I'm proselyting -- nobody wants to speak to an unhappy person, no matter how good they are at Korean. On the other hand, they're more likely to be intrigued by a person who is truly good, and without guile.
I also had the opportunity to give a talk last Sunday. It was a shortie, clocking in at around five minutes (I think. That was the goal, at least). President and Sister Morrise visited, so our sacrament meeting program was all white people! Elder Campbell spoke after me, then Sister and President Morrise spoke. It was interesting to hear a Korean translating what I was saying in Korean so that Sister Morrise could understand. Anyways, I took most of my talk from Elder Clayton's talk from last conference, "Choose to Believe," and Joseph Smith -- History. It went something like this:
Choose to Believe -- Like Joseph Smith
A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to hear from the Lord's appointed servants. Amongst many wonderful talks, I was particularly impressed by Elder L. Whitney Clayton's talk, "Choose to Believe." In it, he shared the following story:
"Last January, seven-year-old Sailor Gutzler and her family were flying from Florida to Illinois in a private airplane. Sailor's father was at the controls. Just after nightfall, the aircraft developed mechanical problems, and crashed in the pitch-dark hills of Kentucky, upside down in very rough terrain. Everyone but Sailor died in the accident. Her wrist was broken in the crash. She suffered cuts and scrapes and had lost her shoes. The temperature was 38 degrees Fahrenheit (or 3 degrees Celsius)-- it was a cold, rainy Kentucky winter's night -- and Sailor was wearing only shorts, a T-shirt, and one sock.
"She cried out for her mother and father, but noone answered. Summoning every ounce of courage, she set off barefoot across the countryside in search of help, wading through creeks, crossing ditches, and braving blackberry briars. From the top of one small hill, Sailor spotted a light in the distance, about a mile away. Stumbling through the darkness and brush toward that light, she eventually arrived at the home of a kind man she had never met before who sprang to her care. Sailor was safe. She would soon be taken to a hospital and helped on her way to recovery.
"Sailor survived because she saw a light in the distance and fought her way to it -- notwithstanding the wild countryside, the depth of the tragedy she faced, and the injuries she had sustained. It is hard to imagine how Sailor managed to do what she did that night. But what we do know is that she recognized in the light of that distant house a chance for rescue. There was hope. She took courage in the fact that no matter how bad things were, her rescue would be found in that light."
Sailor saved her light by following the light. As I thought about this story, I realized that Joseph Smith's experience was very similar. If you remember, Joseph was confronted by the decision of which church was Christ's true church. After reading a scripture that taught God would answer prayers, Joseph decided to go and prayer. He described his experience like this:
"After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself along, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
"But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliever me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction ... just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
"It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held my bound. When the light rested upon my I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other -- This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"
(Joseph Smith History 1:15-17) Even after this experience, Joseph would continue to face various challenges, but he would go on to become a might prophet.
Today I'd like to briefly explain the success formula that both Sailor and Joseph Smith employed. That formula is: endure darkness, by remembering light.
There were times when Sailor could not see the light. Elder Clayton shared, "Gradually, as she made her way through the night toward the light, it grew brighter. Still, there must have been times when she could not see it. Perhaps it went out of view when she was in a ravine or behind trees or bushes, but she pressed on. Whenever she could see the light, Sailor had evidence that she was on the right path. She did not yet know precisely what that light was, but she kept walking toward it based on what she knew, trusting and hoping that she would see it again if she kept moving in the right direction. By so doing, she may have saved her life."
Joseph Smith also had periods where he could not see the light. Even though he faced great persecution after his First Vision, he trusted what he'd seen. He didn't doubt it, or question it. He was true to the light he'd seen.
Sometimes, we also have times were the only way to endure the dark is by remembering past light. We can keep the light we've seen -- our spiritual experiences -- by recording and expressing gratitude for them. The most important thing we can do is choose to continue believing. Elder Clayton taught how we do this:
"We likewise must give place for the hope that we will find spiritual light by embracing belief rather than choosing to doubt. Our actions are the evidence of our belief and become the substance of our faith. We are choosing to believe when we pray and when we read the scriptures. We are choosing to believe when we fast, when we keep the Sabbath day holy, and when we worship in the temple. We are choosing to believe when we are baptized and when we partake of the sacrament. We are choosing to believe when we repent and seek divine forgiveness and healing love."
The promise we have from God is that light shines after moments of darkness. As we are tested, our faith becomes stronger, and our hope becomes firm. Moroni, a prophet from the Book of Mormon, taught this principle: "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Ether 12:6)
Simply put, this patter of light and dark is necessary for us to develop faith. During tests, we show our faith. After the trial passes, our faith grows stronger, preparing us for the next test.
If you feel like the darkness will never pass, please, remember this: Never give up. Light follows the dark. If you need confirmation, just look at nature: after every night comes the dawn. God has given us reassurance in such a simple thing as nature.
Jesus Christ is the light and life of the world. When we choose to believe in Him, all things will eventually be well. As a representative of the Lord, I promise that to you. If you choose to believe in Jesus Christ, things will work out. He bled in a garden, died on a cross, and rose from an empty tomb. Through His atoning sacrifice, we can receive forgiveness, and return to God's presence. I say these things, in the name of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.
(For the rest of Elder Clayton's talk, see https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/choose-to-believe?lang=eng )
The talk went really well. Lots of the members approached me afterwards and expressed how well I spoke, and how the talk touched them. I think the reason why is because I focused on the things that caused me to feel the Spirit while I was preparing -- the highly emotional story about a little girl lost in the dark, and the poignant struggle with darkness that preceded the First Vision. Preparing this was really difficult because I prepared a talk that was probably about five times as long. At least, it had four other principles in it, and then this one. But, in the end this turned out really well because it packed a spiritual punch. It was lean, and fit -- no fluff, no filler.
After church, we attended a performance put on by the Liahona Chamber Orchestra, with our investigator, Gabriel. As we walked, he talked a bit about how he's wondered what his purpose in life is, and what the point of it all is. Considering we're planning on talking about the Plan of Salvation, I consider that a thumbs up from God, urging us forward.
On the way home, I had a neat experience that re-emphasized the fact that this work is done by teams of 2, not alone. We were standing in a subway car, and I was surveying the people around me, trying to decide who to start talking to, when Elder Schilling asked if I wanted to change cars, or stay here. I hadn't even thought about changing cars! I asked him what he thought, but he didn't have any feelings regarding the matter. As I turned it over in my head, I felt a light (we're talking downy light) impression to go to the other car. I prayed about it, felt a gentle impulse to move, and so we moved to the next car. I stood next to a young man and started talking to him. It turns out that not only were we the same age (a huge thing in Korean culture, since it's the only time you're actually a "friend" with somebody), but he's Christian! He'd actually done missionary work a year ago. We talked a lot about Christ, and how he came to believe in him. He was born into a Christian family, and so he always went to church, but he really started to believe when he was a senior, and things were really tough. Learning about Christ brought peace to him.
We also met Lee Gi Won (이기원). We shared a video about Christ's resurrection, and sang, "Be Still, My Soul." I played it on the piano for him, because he said it'd been twenty years since he'd heard the song, and wanted to hear the melody again. We talked a lot about church and the sacrament, but he wouldn't commit to come... he's just too bogged down by his physical problems, and feels too much anxiety. He really doesn't like meeting Koreans, so that's going to be difficult to work around. He talked a lot about our freedom of choice, so we're excited to begin talking about agency and the Plan of Salvation with him soon.
We also met our new investigator, Kim Han Soo (김한수), and begin teaching the first lesson. He's definitely an English interest investigator, but he has Christian beliefs. Hopefully we'll be able to touch his heart with the doctrines of the Restoration, and help him understand the message we're sharing with the world.
What is our message? Depends on what you need -- Jesus Christ's restored gospel is a multi-faceted diamond, covering concerns from family life, to deceased ancestors' salvation, to having authority from God to perform sacred ordinances, to the beautiful, sacred truth that families can live together for all eternity.
Best Wishes,
Elder Austin Lynn
Elder Austin Lynn
4/13/2015
4/13/2015
Imagine it, the entire human race in free fall!"
Imagine it, the entire human race in free fall!"
I'll be straight with all of you, virtually two days of this week were General Conference.
And it was terrific! Listed below the main text are some of my favorite insights and thoughts from this last conference.
This week was a whole lot of proselyting, but we've been so pumped that we don't mind. On Tuesday we ate with a few grandmas from our ward, who wanted to get us a meal. It turns out that this was very much in accordance with the divine plan... one of the people who served us was familiar with our churches missionaries! It turns out that missionaries taught her daughter English years ago, and now her husband wants to study English! We got the necessary contact information, and she promised to talk to her husband about us. On Sunday, we called him and got an appointment for Friday. Then, hours later, he called us and asked if we could visit him in an hour! Of course we said yes, so we rushed over, and he drove us to his office in his car. We sat down and talked a bit, and we had a really good talk. We were able to hit all of the points from How to Begin Teaching, as found in Preach My Gospel, including the expectation that if he finds our message to be true, we believe he'll want to be baptized. You always hold your breath when you say that, but he accepted it as a matter of fact. We made a schedule to continue meeting, and he was just so excited the whole time that I can't wait. And, for the first time in my mission, we're going to be meeting an investigator in his home! That is so rare here, you wouldn't believe it.
That was this week's miracle. I'll defer everything else to conference:
And it was terrific! Listed below the main text are some of my favorite insights and thoughts from this last conference.
This week was a whole lot of proselyting, but we've been so pumped that we don't mind. On Tuesday we ate with a few grandmas from our ward, who wanted to get us a meal. It turns out that this was very much in accordance with the divine plan... one of the people who served us was familiar with our churches missionaries! It turns out that missionaries taught her daughter English years ago, and now her husband wants to study English! We got the necessary contact information, and she promised to talk to her husband about us. On Sunday, we called him and got an appointment for Friday. Then, hours later, he called us and asked if we could visit him in an hour! Of course we said yes, so we rushed over, and he drove us to his office in his car. We sat down and talked a bit, and we had a really good talk. We were able to hit all of the points from How to Begin Teaching, as found in Preach My Gospel, including the expectation that if he finds our message to be true, we believe he'll want to be baptized. You always hold your breath when you say that, but he accepted it as a matter of fact. We made a schedule to continue meeting, and he was just so excited the whole time that I can't wait. And, for the first time in my mission, we're going to be meeting an investigator in his home! That is so rare here, you wouldn't believe it.
That was this week's miracle. I'll defer everything else to conference:
Excerpts from Elder Lynn's Conference Notes
- President Eyring started Conference on an amazing note. His talk on fasting will be my reference point for teaching the Law of the Fast in the future. Additionally, his paying a fast offering outside of Fast Sunday answered a question I forgot I had: should I pay a fast offering when fasting outside of the monthly fast? I realized this morning, as I read the law of the fast as contained in the Book of Isaiah, that in the verses listing the conditions required for us to receive the blessing, he talks only of helping the hungry and afflicted. If we fast only for ourselves, what right do we have to a special blessing, when we're withholding one from those in need?
- I loved President Packer's comparison between our physical and spiritual bodies. Our spiritual bodies don't fix themselves; spiritual wounds just fester and rot, like leprosy. On the other hand, it's wonderful that the atonement leaves no scars.
- Shout out to Sister Burton for talking about men in a complimentary way! I agree with her -- there's a huge effort to degrade men, and, even in the church, sometimes we don't do very much about it! I also liked her list of things to remember to do, especially the fifth item: "When was the last time I was happy, and not demanding?"
- Elder Oaks helped me crystallize some of my thoughts on selfishness, and the heart when he talked about how a heart can grow stony through disuse. Is it not true that selflessness can break our heart, can soften it, and allow it to grow, much like a muscle, which tears itself and comes back stronger? Is not a stony -- or selfish -- heart one that results from a series of decisions not to give of oneself to others?
- Elder Clayton's talk was incredible, absolutely one of my favorites. Once you have seen the light, cling to it, fight for it!
- Elder Perry's talk about family was much appreciated. The state of family in modern society is something that weighs heavily on my mind, so I was glad to hear that we're still in the majority! Hearing that reminded me that the reason things are spiraling is because all it takes for evil to win, is for good people to do (or say) nothing. Don't be a silent voice in the most important struggle being waged. If Lucifer can replace family with one's self as the center of society, he will have succeeded in transforming us into a race of devils -- self-centered, selfish, and unloving.
- Elder Bednar destroyed fear! At least, he taught really well on both mortal fear, and Godly fear. I'd never realized that Godly fear includes an awe for God, and reaches beyond mere reverence towards Him. I feel that one of the hidden themes this conference was judgement day -- it seemed to keep popping up in unexpected places. Most of all, I liked how he said that in the end, what happens at judgement day is we come face to face with the truth about ourselves: who we really are. There won't be any excuses, no rationalizations, no degrees or labels. Just who we really are, the results of our choices and attitudes in life.
- Elder Anderson gave an extremely creative talk about music and dancing! We really do appear peculiar to those who can't hear the music. I thought a lot about helping investigators become converted as we listened to this one.
- Elder Renlund also gave a fantastic talk: "Twas I, but tis not I." I love that as embodying the concept of repentance and improvement. We don't have to be the same mistake fraught person, we can move on, upwards and forwards. I also liked his side note for those who suffer from misdeeds: Christ knows what it's like to suffer innocently for somebody else's actions.
- Shout out to President Ringwood! He's directly above President Morrise in the structure of my mission! I liked his advice regarding humility.
- President Uchtdorf gave a great talk about humility that hit on the same point as Elder Bednar, specifically that Jesus Christ will care most about "the condition" of our heart. As I thought about that, I wondered: do I ever hide behind a facade? Do I ever wear masks, or pretend to be somebody else? Am I ever untrue to myself, in word or deed?
- President Eyring's talk about prayer and priesthood power was another home-run talk to me. To represent Jesus Christ, I need revelation to know what He would do and say!
- Sister Wixom's talk is a great reference for anybody struggling with questions. Let it be heard one more time that our Church does not forbid questions! Rather, we encourage faith in what we do know, as we wait to understand that we do not know.
- Elder Teixeira's words prompted me to think of how our life's purpose is to have joy, and there are two principle ways to go about it: one is selfish fulfillment of immediate wants and desires, which brings temporary pleasure, but ultimately little growth, and decreasing returns, or there's the honorable family life, which has it's own sets of struggles, but present everlasting increases.
- Elder Neilson's talk about Prodigals was also a favorite of mine. I also typically identified with the older son, but it's true -- we are all prodigal children of God. We all fall short, and we all need to "come to ourselves" and return home.
- Elder Holland's talk was incredible in too many ways to list here. Suffice it to say that our Eldest Brother, the Savior Jesus Christ, will never leave us alone. In a life where our own weight -- our spiritual burdens and sins -- drags us closer and closer to the abyss, He is always reaching towards us, offering salvation with scarred wrists and marked palms. He will never let us fall.
- President Uchtdorf's talk about grace resonated well with me. When he initially spoke of the doors and windows of heaven, I thought of the windows as blessings -- see Malachi 4 -- and the door as salvation -- 2 Nephi 31. Christ makes it possible for us to receive blessings in this life, and to ultimately return to God. We obey out of love, and because it lifts us higher, improves us, lets us take mistakes, and learn from them, instead of being trapped by them forever.
- Elder Pino gave a great talk about perspective. I liked when he talked about forests and trees -- it reminded me of one of my favorite songs, that mentions "I never see the forest for the trees." It helped me rememeber to focus more on the big picture, and to be hopeful!
- President Eyring started Conference on an amazing note. His talk on fasting will be my reference point for teaching the Law of the Fast in the future. Additionally, his paying a fast offering outside of Fast Sunday answered a question I forgot I had: should I pay a fast offering when fasting outside of the monthly fast? I realized this morning, as I read the law of the fast as contained in the Book of Isaiah, that in the verses listing the conditions required for us to receive the blessing, he talks only of helping the hungry and afflicted. If we fast only for ourselves, what right do we have to a special blessing, when we're withholding one from those in need?
- I loved President Packer's comparison between our physical and spiritual bodies. Our spiritual bodies don't fix themselves; spiritual wounds just fester and rot, like leprosy. On the other hand, it's wonderful that the atonement leaves no scars.
- Shout out to Sister Burton for talking about men in a complimentary way! I agree with her -- there's a huge effort to degrade men, and, even in the church, sometimes we don't do very much about it! I also liked her list of things to remember to do, especially the fifth item: "When was the last time I was happy, and not demanding?"
- Elder Oaks helped me crystallize some of my thoughts on selfishness, and the heart when he talked about how a heart can grow stony through disuse. Is it not true that selflessness can break our heart, can soften it, and allow it to grow, much like a muscle, which tears itself and comes back stronger? Is not a stony -- or selfish -- heart one that results from a series of decisions not to give of oneself to others?
- Elder Clayton's talk was incredible, absolutely one of my favorites. Once you have seen the light, cling to it, fight for it!
- Elder Perry's talk about family was much appreciated. The state of family in modern society is something that weighs heavily on my mind, so I was glad to hear that we're still in the majority! Hearing that reminded me that the reason things are spiraling is because all it takes for evil to win, is for good people to do (or say) nothing. Don't be a silent voice in the most important struggle being waged. If Lucifer can replace family with one's self as the center of society, he will have succeeded in transforming us into a race of devils -- self-centered, selfish, and unloving.
- Elder Bednar destroyed fear! At least, he taught really well on both mortal fear, and Godly fear. I'd never realized that Godly fear includes an awe for God, and reaches beyond mere reverence towards Him. I feel that one of the hidden themes this conference was judgement day -- it seemed to keep popping up in unexpected places. Most of all, I liked how he said that in the end, what happens at judgement day is we come face to face with the truth about ourselves: who we really are. There won't be any excuses, no rationalizations, no degrees or labels. Just who we really are, the results of our choices and attitudes in life.
- Elder Anderson gave an extremely creative talk about music and dancing! We really do appear peculiar to those who can't hear the music. I thought a lot about helping investigators become converted as we listened to this one.
- Elder Renlund also gave a fantastic talk: "Twas I, but tis not I." I love that as embodying the concept of repentance and improvement. We don't have to be the same mistake fraught person, we can move on, upwards and forwards. I also liked his side note for those who suffer from misdeeds: Christ knows what it's like to suffer innocently for somebody else's actions.
- Shout out to President Ringwood! He's directly above President Morrise in the structure of my mission! I liked his advice regarding humility.
- President Uchtdorf gave a great talk about humility that hit on the same point as Elder Bednar, specifically that Jesus Christ will care most about "the condition" of our heart. As I thought about that, I wondered: do I ever hide behind a facade? Do I ever wear masks, or pretend to be somebody else? Am I ever untrue to myself, in word or deed?
- President Eyring's talk about prayer and priesthood power was another home-run talk to me. To represent Jesus Christ, I need revelation to know what He would do and say!
- Sister Wixom's talk is a great reference for anybody struggling with questions. Let it be heard one more time that our Church does not forbid questions! Rather, we encourage faith in what we do know, as we wait to understand that we do not know.
- Elder Teixeira's words prompted me to think of how our life's purpose is to have joy, and there are two principle ways to go about it: one is selfish fulfillment of immediate wants and desires, which brings temporary pleasure, but ultimately little growth, and decreasing returns, or there's the honorable family life, which has it's own sets of struggles, but present everlasting increases.
- Elder Neilson's talk about Prodigals was also a favorite of mine. I also typically identified with the older son, but it's true -- we are all prodigal children of God. We all fall short, and we all need to "come to ourselves" and return home.
- Elder Holland's talk was incredible in too many ways to list here. Suffice it to say that our Eldest Brother, the Savior Jesus Christ, will never leave us alone. In a life where our own weight -- our spiritual burdens and sins -- drags us closer and closer to the abyss, He is always reaching towards us, offering salvation with scarred wrists and marked palms. He will never let us fall.
- President Uchtdorf's talk about grace resonated well with me. When he initially spoke of the doors and windows of heaven, I thought of the windows as blessings -- see Malachi 4 -- and the door as salvation -- 2 Nephi 31. Christ makes it possible for us to receive blessings in this life, and to ultimately return to God. We obey out of love, and because it lifts us higher, improves us, lets us take mistakes, and learn from them, instead of being trapped by them forever.
- Elder Pino gave a great talk about perspective. I liked when he talked about forests and trees -- it reminded me of one of my favorite songs, that mentions "I never see the forest for the trees." It helped me rememeber to focus more on the big picture, and to be hopeful!
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