This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 2013 General Conference.
We have lived in our new location for five months now, although it seems like a whole lot longer. My husband was called to the Elders Quorum presidency in January. The President travels for his job most of the time and needed counselors who would be here and available to serve. The new first counselor immediately had to leave for a job assignment in Arizona and my husband promptly had a massive heart attack and was in the hospital for a month and recovering at home for a few more weeks, and still not able to contribute much to his calling. We wondered at the ways of the Lord to call men to service whose circumstances turned out to be not so conducive to serving.
Now for my sour grapes whine. I haven't been called to serve. I don't understand why and my feelings are tender all the time as I wonder why I'm not acceptable to the Lord for use in His service. I have knowledge, experience, and time to offer. But no calling. I drove home from church Sunday in tears because I feel such longing for acceptance and a calling to use my talents (or build new ones!).
Elder Erich W. Kopischke, who will end his time as a general authority on August 1, gave a talk that must have resonated with me at the time he gave it because my copy of the Ensign is all marked up! It speaks to me again this time around. Does that mean I haven't changed? Or what?
I will share a simple pattern which, if applied, can help everyone of us find ultimate acceptance. . . . This pattern consists of three simple steps. 1. Know that our hearts are honest and broken. 2. Know that our spirits are contrite. 3. Be willing to observe our covenants by sacrifice, as commanded by the Lord.
As we sincerely and prayerfully ponder the extent to which our hearts are honest and broken, we will be taught by the Holy Ghost. We will receive a sweet confirmation or gentle conviction, inviting us to act.
A contrite spirit is manifest by our willingness and determination to act. We are willing to humble ourselves before God, willing to repent, willing to learn, and willing to change. We are willing to pray, "Not my will, but thine, be done."
Too often we think that the word sacrifice refers to something big or hard for us to do. . . but mostly it refers to living day-to-day as a true disciple of Christ. . . . Sometimes observing our covenants means nothing more than standing firmly and faithfully when the storms of life are raging all around us.
Elder Kopischke's advice is good. His invitation and promised blessings are what touched my heart the most.
With all my heart I invite you to seek the Lord's acceptance and enjoy His promised blessings. As we follow the simple pattern the lord has laid out, we will come to know that we are accepted of Him, regardless of our position, status, or mortal limitations. His loving acceptance will motivate us, increase our faith, and help us deal with everything we face in life. Despite our challenges, we will be successful, prosper, and feel at peace.
It looks like there is some more refining work to be done in my life.
