47- (1-3-2024)

 47- (1-3-2024) GOALS & Resolutions

Hello Family,

2024 is here! That seems pretty crazy to actually write out. It was so good to be able to gather everyone together. We miss our missionary, but we will be with him THIS year, and can’t wait!

This past week there have been a couple of thoughts and messages that have stood out and gone along with my new year goal planning and past year evaluating and have been helpful for me.  I thought I would share those with you this week. One is from Elder Gong’s most recent conference address, and the other one we read as a family last night durning family scriptures from a talk given by Elder Kevin Pearson’s conference address last October.

As I think about the allotted time we are given in any day, week, or month, there just doesn’t seem to be enough of it. We try to prioritize what it is we want to accomplish, or what is pressing in the moment, and sometimes lose site of things that matter most. In his message Elder Gong talked about the gospel language of covenant belonging. What he said is so true: “We live in a self-centered world. So much is “I choose me.” It is as if we believe we know best our own self-interest and how to pursue it.

But ultimately it is not true. Jesus Christ personifies this powerful, ageless truth:

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

“For what is a man [or woman] profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

Jesus Christ offers a better way—relationships founded on divine covenant, stronger than the cords of death. Covenant belonging with God and each other can heal and sanctify our most cherished relationships. In truth, He knows us better and loves us more than we know or love ourselves. In truth, when we covenant all we are, we can become more than we are.”

I love this message. Sometimes we get in our own way as we set goals to improve or achieve. When we place Him first, by honoring and making our covenants central in our lives, we slowly become what it is we ultimately have are hearts and minds set on becoming. 

Elder Gong asks these two questions:

So, where and how does Jesus Christ speak to you …?

Where and how do you hear His love spoken…?

As we answer these questions let us prioritize the time in our days, weeks, and months to be in these places and mind set more often. This message flows perfectly into what Elder Pearson taught us:

“The Church is a gathering place for imperfect individuals who love God and who are willing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. That willingness is rooted in the reality that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This divine truth can be known only by the power of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, our willingness is directly proportionate to the amount of time we commit to be in holy places where the influence of the Holy Ghost is present.

Are we willing to put forth more than a superficial effort into strengthening our faith in Christ?

The Book of Mormon is our most powerful resource for growing and restoring our faith. Willingness is the catalyst of faith.

The purpose of mortality is to prove our willingness. “The great task of life [and the cost of discipleship] is to learn the will of the Lord and then to do it.” True discipleship leads to a fulness of joy. Are we willing to pay the price of discipleship?”

As we contemplate our New Year’s goals, I invite each of us to put Jesus Christ first in our planning. Follow the prophet in his plea for us to “Give God a fair share of our time.” Increase our willingness to let Him make us into the very best versions of ourselves. 

I hope you all have a great week. I love you each so much. 

Love, 

Dad