A List and a Resolution!

This week I’ve been thinking about the small stuff! Have you ever noticed how much of what we need to accomplish to be happy in this life is really just a bunch of little things? Yet when we don’t do them they become big things? That's why I love it when our leaders give us lists. It makes it easier to keep track of the “little things”

Let me give you an example:

I was reading in Mosiah 25 this week, now I’ve read it numerous times before but verses 21-22 jumped out at me this time. In chapter 25 Alma received permission from King Mosiah to organize the church. Basically, he’s setting up wards and stakes. But the thing that jumped out at me was the end of verse 22.

They say:
21 Therefore they did assemble themselves together in different bodies, being called churches; every church having their priests and their teachers, and every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma.

22 And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one church, yea, even the church of God; for there was nothing preached in all the churches except it were repentance and faith in God.

How simple! There was nothing preached except Repentance and faith in God! A list! I can do lists!
Pesident Monson is a list giver too! It gives me hope when he says start doing these things and you’ll be on the right path to happiness.

At the General Relief Society Meeting this fall, he gave a list of Three Goals for Relief Society Sisters everywhere. Since it's January and I'm working on a few Resolutions for the New Year I thought it was a good idea to re-read this talk in the Conference Ensign (November)

Study diligently.
Pray earnestly.
Serve willingly.

Let me share one thought from President Monson’s talk about each goal:

First, Study diligently:

“Your talents will expand as you study and learn. You will be able to better assist your families in their learning, and you will have peace of mind in knowing that you have prepared yourself for the eventualities that you may encounter in life”

Second, Pray earnestly:

“Perhaps there has never been a time when we had greater need to pray and to teach our family members to pray. Prayer is a defense against temptation. It is through earnest and heartfelt prayer that we can receive the needed blessings and the support required to make our way in this sometimes difficult and challenging journey we call mortality”

Lastly, Serve willingly:

“Often small acts of service are all that is required to lift and bless another: a question concerning a person’s family, quick words of encouragement, a sincere compliment, a small note of thanks, a brief telephone call. If we are observant and aware, and if we act on the promptings which come to us, we can accomplish much good.”


And just like that I have my New Year's Resolutions!