Conversion and Change

Had several insights from my reading in the Book of Mormon this week. First I found it interesting that King Lamoni’s father was willing to give up ½ his kingdom for his life (Alma 20:21-23) but all his kingdom for salvation (Alma 22:15). I love the humility of Lamoni’s father when he says “If there is a God, and If thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me.”  And here is the real sacrifice. Giving up his kingdom would be hard but I think more doable then the next thing he says “ I will give away all my sins to know thee.”

I love the harvest that Ammon and Aaron and the sons of Mosiah are able to have reap after much tribulation. Alma 23:6 says “the power of God working miracles in them” Conversion is the true miracle. I was listening to  “Whatsoever he saith of thee, do it” from conference. I loved the image of the Savior changing water to wine at the feast and my former idea of the truest miracles are really changing us into something other than the natural man- Making us holy like Him. That is the real miracle. Alma 23:7 says “For they became a righteous people”

I have been thinking about the people I have the opportunity to help them also have this miracle. Bringing the spirit into my life each day and letting him create in me and those around me a mighty change. I love the idea of another name for the Holy Ghost is “The converter”. I know we always think of him as “The comforter”. But truly he is “The Converter” as well. We are changed forever by the still small voice whispering to our souls. And really in no other way.

In sacrament meeting the Sunday before the new year the speaker spoke of New years resolutions and the tendency to make outlandish goals that are unreasonable. He suggested instead to come up with 3 MIT"s "Most important things" that if you do in a day you have had a successful day. I loved this a lot because I have a tendency to make outrageous long lists that are impossible to accomplish. So no matter how much I do accomplish I never feel like I succeeded because there is still so much to do. 

As I was prayerfully considering the 3 MIT's for the year I wanted three things that would have the most impact on my life and spill over into accomplishing other things. My three things are 15 minutes of strength training exercise and I was able to find out that this didn't have to cost any money-- I have access to hundreds of "free" exercise videos on Amazon Prime.  What?? That was really exciting. My favorite is HIIT with Maggie so far.

2nd was taking time each day in my sacred place and studying the Book of Mormon. The last several months I have been unable to do my full hour of study as I had done previously so I didn't do it at all. I decided this was a fail on my part and could be easily remedied by making it 15 minutes before work each day. So far I haven't missed a day that I have worked!! WHAHOO!  Very exciting

The 3rd MIT is kneeling prayers morning and night. I am pretty good at falling out of bed onto my knees. Not so good at bedtime-- Need to work on that.

Anyway, I also choose 3 MIT's for each week and each month. Still working on those so we will see how that goes. 

Week 

Temple, 

Mentor meetings with each family member, 

Date with my husband. 

And Month 

Prepare and teach my RS lesson 

Visiting teaching and 

Have a planning and measuring meeting with my self to see how it is going.

I have tried to create reasonable goals of change that will be doable. I have tried to look for small goals that will make a big impact in many areas. One scripture my mission president loved to quote was Alma 37:6 “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass”. I had someone say it another way “Large doors are moved by small hinges. “ Anyway, I am trying to find the most impactful goals—the small things that will make the most difference. Bringing "the Converter" into my life each day will be a huge blessing