Today in church we talked about some really profound ideas that really have me pondering...

One man returning from serving a two year LDS mission talked about sitting on a bus and seeing a mother struggling to get her children and stroller onto the bus and having the urge to help. He said that that urge, that desire to help when we see someone struggling is not natural human behavior, but a manifestation of the light of Christ working in and influencing our lives. It does this with every human being whether we know it or not. I love that. I believe that is true. My understanding is that we all accepted Christ by choosing to come to earth, to be tried and tested and in order to prove our faith and our willingness to follow Him. 

Another man also spoke of the light of Christ quoting Boyd K. Packer, "The light of Christ existed in you before you were born...." This idea, that we came to earth with a light that could warn and guide us throughout our lives and give us strength in our trials gives me a great deal of hope and peace. 

In Relief Society (a meeting the third hour that consists of women only) we talked about goals. A goal is a destination we are trying to reach. Plans are how we get there. When setting goals, one woman said, we need to first seek the kingdom of God. As a woman of faith this makes total sense. If my ultimate goal is to make it back to my Father in Heaven, to the Celestial Kingdom, every single action I take and goal I set needs to connect back to that. Satan uses loud voices, conflict, and hate to drown out the still small voice of the Holy Ghost, the spirit, that inner voice that follows the light of Christ. My friend Rhonda described the danger of his influence thus: "he gets a finger into our hearts, then a knuckle, then a fist until he can rip us open if we aren't vigilant." I love that description. Because isn't that how we feel when we are choosing to be angry and/or unforgiving? It feels like something is inside of us, threatening to tear us apart. At least that is how I've felt at times. 

She left us with some questions to think on:

- Have I spiritually been born of God?

- Have I received His image on my countenance?

- Have I experienced a mighty change of heart?

- Do I exercise faith in the redemption of Him who created me?

- Do I share the attributes of Christ?

- Can I accept and love all of mankind?

- Do I forgive quickly and not bring up past pain?

- Do I cultivate a relationship with my Savior daily?

- Can I picture my reunion with my Savior? What will it like to be in His presence? How will I feel?

I have been spiritually filled and I am feeling abundantly grateful today.

I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and that it teaches me to think, act and choose for myself, to never stop learning. I love the peace it brings to my life.