ThrivingTalk

January is a common time to make new year’s resolutions.  Some popular ones are losing weight, to advance in our careers, or saving money for a special vacation.  These goals are definitely good and beneficial to us, however, today, I’d like to focus on goals that will help strengthen our spiritual foundation.

Now, I absolutely realize that we have more expectations of us than we can often accomplish, whether it’s work, parental responsibilities, church callings, community, or extra curricular activities.  Often many good things are calling for our attention.   President Dallin H. Oaks admitted that “There is no easy formula for that contest of priorities. However,” he said, “I have never known of a man who looked back on his working life and said, “I just didn’t spend enough time with my job.”

He also encouraged us to organize our priorities using the Good, Better, Best strategy.  He said, “We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives.”

A few months ago I had an opportunity to take a year-long course that would help me excel at some of my skills.  I was really excited and determined to proceed with this as it would help me in my personal hobbies and in my church calling.  I felt like this was a path I was meant to take, however, it would take several hours a week that I didn’t have to give without sacrificing considerable time from my family.  It would cost a fair bit of money which might not be wise to spend during a pandemic.  This course was a good thing and I really wanted to take it because I could see how this could help me blossom into a person I wanted to become.  However, after a lot of soul searching and prayer I realized that it was not the right time.  That this course was a good thing but it was not the best thing for me right now.  The best thing was to have the time for my family and trust that the Lord would inspire me where needed in my hobbies and callings.  I could then refocus and see that what I wanted even more out of life was being there for my family.  It’s not always easy to see the difference between the good, better, or best choices and it’s not always going to be easy to choose the best thing but it will be worth it.

Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, taught his disciples that our priorities determine what we seek in this life.  In the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 6:38 the Saviour said, ‘Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness’.  And in the D&C 6:7 we learn that as we prioritize the things of God first we will be blessed.  It says, ‘Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.’” (Pure in Heart, 6).

President Russell M. Nelson, pleaded with us to push away the worldly distractions and prioritize making time for the Lord in our lives – each and every day.  As we do this our spiritual foundation will strengthen and we will be able to stand firm even when the winds toss to and fro around us.  He reminded us that by doing this we allow the Holy Ghost to always be with us.  This is so important in a polarizing world with so many different people telling us what to do, how to act, and what to believe.

This really resonated with me because everyone I know, including myself, are looking for truth and guidance in a chaotic world.  Having the Holy Ghost bearing witness to these things is a blessing we can all have access to if we have the right priorities in our lives.

He acknowledged that there will be times where we fall short and make mistakes but that through our persistent efforts to listen to God and follow His inspiration, he will help us “wax strong in the spirit”. (Mosiah 18:26)

The following is an experience were when my family’s spiritual priorities were set right we flourished and when we let the distractions of the world lower our spiritual priorities for our family suffered.

Shortly before the pandemic halted in-person church services, we were being guided to know how to continue the spiritual learning from home with our families through the Come Follow Me program. This program has been a blessing for my family as I’m sure it has been for everyone who has taught from this lesson manual in their homes.  I have felt spiritual strength in my home and family unity as we made these family lessons a priority.  Throughout the week I noticed less quarrelling and everyone seemed happier.

However, in contrast, this program only benefits us if we choose to use it and to do so regularly.  In my family, when we have let ourselves become distracted and get out of our routine of regular family lessons, I have also felt a spiritual withdrawal from our home.  Family members become more agitated or indifferent to each other and no one feels happy.  This is why it is so important that we keep spiritual things a top priority in our lives.  Happiness and success in this life and in the eternities depends on it.  In fact, President Gordon B. Hinckley has pleaded that we “work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it, because in fact everything in life does count on it.”

In this past general conference he also said, “It is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures – perhaps measures we have never taken before – to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations.  Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.”

President Oaks’, Good, Better, Best strategy can help us choose each goal and choose how to specifically carry them out.  Don’t feel overwhelmed.  Making the Lord the first priority is the biggest step.  From there it’s all about progression, step by step throughout our lives.  Struggling in some areas and excelling at others.

Here are some of my suggestions for putting the Lord first, which compliments some of President Nelson’s suggestions.  Keep in mind that this list might look a little different for everyone based on our different circumstances.  

• Pray often.  Pray to our Father in Heaven in the name of Jesus Christ.  Open up that line of communication and listen for His answers. Pray privately, and with your family.

• Study your scriptures.  You can discover the lessons and gospel principles from the stories in the scriptures, you can research different scripture topics to gain deeper understandings and insights, you can listen to the audio version to familiarize yourself and surround yourself with the spirit of God. Study personally and as a family.

• Attend your church meetings – in person or on zoom. 

• Hold regular Family Home Evenings and Come Follow Me lessons, including spiritual learning and fun experiences.

• Work on your family history and attend the temple often.

• Minister to your assigned ward members and to any others you feel inspired to reach out to.

• Repent of our mistakes by applying the Atonement in our lives by making real changes to become better. Talk to our bishop for help with this.

Now these are just a few of the basic ways of putting God first in our lives.  Add to this list and apply the Good, Better, Best strategy as you choose what to prioritize in your life as well as how to carry out these goals.  “If we do not choose the kingdom of God first, it will make little difference in the long run what we have chosen instead of it.”