This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 2011 conference.
One of President Nelson's admonitions was to "Hear Him" especially as we made Jesus the focus of our lives, and let God prevail. Elder Uchtdorf's talk has some important reminders about how we can do exactly that.
To better hear His voice, it would be wise to turn down the volume control of the worldly noise in our lives.
My husband frequently asks me if I've heard about this or that in the news currently. Often I have only seen a headline but not followed through reading the whole article or listening to a podcast or YouTube video. I just don't have the "bandwidth" to keep up with all the bad news in the world. It gets to be so depressing and discouraging. (I wish there was a channel devoted to just reporting the good things that are happening!)
I love listening to the new hymns while I'm working around my home, currently packing up to move, or while I'm driving (it's forty-five minutes to the towns where I shop and attend church). The hymns are soothing, inspiring, and conducive to hearing the Spirit.
My dear brothers and sisters, let us strive to be among those whom the Lord can rely on to hear His whisperings and respond, as Saul did on his road to Damascus, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"
Not only can we receive promptings for service, but answers to questions, solutions to challenges, and ways to move forward.
I remember what it's like to be home surrounded by clamoring children and in the throes of intense motherhood. Generally at the end of the day I could be heard saying, "Please, Mother needs peace!" Putting on some classical music to soothe the savage beasts helped relieve the clamor and brought a better spirit into our home, enough so that I could feel calm and be able to hear and perceive the Spirit. I remember a few times of receiving promptings of what I could do for the sisters I visited taught (the olden days). But also answers to what I could do for solving challenges we were facing in our family. Never discount the work we do in our homes with our families as somehow less than serving others outside. The people most important to us, now and in eternity, are our own family, spouse and children!
If we live according to our beliefs, people will notice. If the countenance of Jesus Christ shines in our lives, if we are joyful and at peace with the world, people will want to know why.
Once I asked my children if they could tell what was most important to me. "Yes, Mom, the gospel," they answered in an almost exasperated tone, as if that was a duh question. It made me feel good to know that I was doing something right and that they knew what and who my life was focused on, besides them.
Brothers and sisters, dear friends, let us not wait too long on our road to Damascus. Instead, let us courageously move forward in faith, hope and charity, and we will be blessed with the light was are all seeking upon the path of true discipleship.
