I delight in being prepared for general conference.

general conference april 2013

salt lake city, ut

2013

Loving general conference has been a process for me in life and for the past 12 years or so, its been a process I've been actively trying to improve. Over these years, I've learned a lot of things that for me, make a difference and some years, it has made all the difference. For me, life seems to collide around general conference. There are a lot of times when things have come together and I have just said,..."thank heavens it's almost conference." My heart fills with gratitude as I think about general conference.  I'm so grateful to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and now I add, I know it, I live it, I love it, thanks to Sister Dibb's talk this time last year!

While preparing for this general conference, I have made a list that I call, "10 Principles of Learning at General Conference." These are a few things that for me have made all the difference in my conference experience. It is by no means intended to be a comprehensive list and over time I anticipate it will still change.  But if you're seeking for ways or ideas to help conference mean more to you, maybe you can take some principle away from my list, apply it and see how conference blesses your life a little bit more.

1. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.
This preparation happens in a lot of different ways...I'm going to throw a bunch of things out that have helped me prepare

• Writing down questions and taking them to the Lord through prayer and keeping them visible throughout conference. This is critical. If nothing else, do this. I have been working on my questions for a while now and I've been taking them to the Lord in prayer and pondering them in my heart. This has made all the difference for my conference experience.
• Frequently listen to general conference talks. Listen to previous conferences to prepare for future conference. Let the Lord tutor you in how he talks to you. You're also showing the Lord how much you treasure His word.
• In the week prior to conference, do 4 things: 1. Fast, 2. Attend the temple, 3. Serve, 4. Right a wrong. One of my former bishop's wives was in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She shared that this is what they are asked to do the week prior to general conference. I still remember the distinct impression I had as she shared this that this was a critical formula.
• Get adequate rest. Enough said.
• Watch as much of conference live as you can. Be where you can be taking notes. I find that the first time I listen to a talk is when I get the most out of it and if I can listen live I tend to get more out of it as well.
• Be in a clean, spirit conducive environment. I need to listen in "peace and quiet" as my sister would say.  While not always possible, it is a good thing to strive for.
• Get "other stuff" done before so you can focus on conference. I like to multitask which at times has made this one hard; however, its so so worth it. Plus your mind is at rest when as much of that "other stuff" is done and can be out of your mind. 
• Pray about how to get the most out of conference. The Lord will help you know how best to help yourself prepare.
• Decide how you're going to take notes at conference. For me, this is exciting because I am a lover of all things "school supplies!" Notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters, whatever it is, I just love it. If I am starting a new study journal, one that I'm likely going to carry around the next 6 months, I usually take notes in there, if I'm at the end of a study journal and its not going to last till the next conference, I usually take notes in a small journal I can carry with me in my scripture case for the next 6 months so I can refer back to it, remember, and use what I learned.

2. Be ready to listen and learn

• Again, get enough sleep. 8 hours is a long time, and brethren, 10 hours in one weekend is a challenge. It takes some spiritual and physical endurance. For those of us who have the opportunity to watch from the comfort of our own homes, sometimes this is a blessing and sometimes it is a curse because we can watch it wrapped up in our blankets and quilts. So be well rested so you can get the most out of the time you're devoting.
• Look the part. This historically and presently has been difficult for me. I have looked to conference as a break from getting ready; however, I am a huge proponent of dressing the part. I'd dress up to take tests (sometimes*) in grad school because I wanted to look successful to tell myself I was going to be successful. I believe the same applies. I feel like I'm going to get more out of it when I look the part.
• Have snacks. Done.
• Be spiritually ready. Really here I think the biggest thing is to know how the Lord talks to you. If we are being consistent in studying the scriptures and praying, this is generally easier in my opinion. Do whatever you need to to be ready to hear and feel what he has to tell you through the Holy Ghost.
• Have a pen and paper ready. Coming from this compulsive note taker...this is critical. Write down the thoughts you have because you might not have them again. 
• Go on walks in between sessions and prior. Again with the being awake concept. :)
• Turn off the stuff. We live in a society of smart phones, laptops and ipads...we check facebook automatically, instagram, pin things, whatever...leave your phone in the charging station or away from your fingers. An entire talk could have come and gone before you realize how much time you've spent communing with your phone rather than listening to the prophet. Eek!

3. Review your questions frequently.

I really like to have my questions on a note card or some place in my notebook that is easily accessible so I can review them frequently. 

4. Focus on your thoughts and feelings.

Sometimes I almost transcribe the whole talk...but that's not the point. The point is that I write down the inspiration I receive. The words that they say will be posted but the impressions I have will never be published unless I write them down.

5. Note patterns and things that stand out. 

One of my favorite activities is to write down summaries of each conference. What themes stood out? What recurring thoughts did I keep having? What patterns are in my notes as I review them? What was the Lord trying to tell me? What do I need to change? What does he want me to observe in myself? I then love later going back and comparing what themes stuck out to me initially and then what themes stick out 6 months later.

6. Write things you're going to do because of what you have felt and learned.

Coming from someone with a perpetual to-do list, this is key for me. I like to keep a list of do impressions as it were that I can tape in my journal and go and do as a result of conference. Sometimes, I've also called this my focus list, just things to focus on over the next 6 months.

7. Re-read, re-listen and re-view.

Never be afraid to go back and ask the Lord, is there more? Even after studying talks for 6 months, I still learn new things, different things still impress me and even now sometimes I think...do I remember this talk? Because different things will end up standing out to me. I love that we can go back, that I can dial up a talk and listen to it while I drive, while I get ready in the morning, anytime. Its an easy way to fill my life with good things!

8. Keep your commitments. 

If there was a change you felt prompted to make, make it. If you felt like you needed to do something as a result of what you heard or felt, do it. Remember that the Lord blesses us by what we do with what we are given. And where much is given much is required. If it was right on Saturday afternoon during conference, it will still be right on Monday evening.

9. Keep conference in your heart.

Review your notes. Its also always a personal goal of mine to re-read every conference talk by the following conference. This time I'm going to try to watch, read, or listen to a conference talk everyday  between conferences. And before you discredit this...in a world of technology and smart phones, its SO easy to listen to talks as we exercise, garden, commute (that's what I do), get ready, shower, prepare meals, etc. There are so many ways we can keep conference in our hearts, just find a way that works for you to do it.

10. Express gratitude to the Lord for living Prophets and Apostles. Pray for them for the following conference.

These good brethren need our prayers. I can't imagine all the time, effort, labour and diligence they put into preparing these talks, and for the first presidency to prepare two, even three talks...I just can't even imagine. They need our faith and prayers! Also it is so important to thank Our Heavenly Father for what we have learned, for living prophets and for the blessings that come into our life as we listen and learn from latter-day prophets. 

Now it's your turn. What works for you? How do you prepare for general conference? What is something new you will try to prepare for this general conference? 

______________
to view general conference
to learn more about what i believe
lds.org's, how to prepare for general conference
why conference matters?
preparing for general conference, ensign 2012

winning the hearts

institute night! you know what that means...lots of things rolling around in this head of mine.

favorite quote: "to state it again, even thought the scriptures contain no words to answer our specific personal question, a prayerful study of the scriptures will help us obtain such answers. This is because scripture study will  make us susceptible to the inspiration of the holy ghost." --dallin h. oaks, studying the scriptures, byu-hawaii campus, march 14, 1986, p. 19

favorite scripture/new theme of my life: alma 17: 29. i had a special love for alma 17 ever since my mission and the morning we sat in front of the huge painting of 'go ye therefore' in the main hall of the mtc. but the end of alma 17 just always seemed violent, cutting off arms and all...well i'm giving ammon's story another look. :) j/k. ammon, who is the servant of king lamoni sees the lamanites scatter his flocks. his fellow servants say, ah the king will slay us and they start to cry. and what does ammon do? his heart swells for joy. he saw not a tragic event but a glorious opportunity to win the hearts of his fellow servants in hopes he can lead them to believe him. he saw opportunity.

there are many attributes i could delve into here, but here is just one that strikes me particularly hard. he isn't concerned about his own heart, he is seeking to win hearts, the hearts of others.

a few months ago, getting myself to church was really hard. not to say that i didn't go or that i didn't want to go, but i guess i lost perspective because all i could see was me. i felt lonely, and alone. i felt like i could go through the whole day and no one would necessarily sit by me or talk to me or even really notice if i was there or not and at that, really care.

i give you that example because i think its the opposite of this "winning hearts" concept. someone who wants to win the hearts of others is not interested in the welfare of their own heart, they are seeking to others hearts. its being concerned for someone else, saying hello, caring more about making others feel loved, appreciated, noticed and cared for. the miracle is...your heart benefits as well.

there are many other stories that could be told, other parallels that can be drawn; and this is just my beginning. hello new theme: "win the hearts"

loving something vs loving the idea of something

I feel I'm wedged between these two ideas: 

loving something and loving the idea of that same something.  

Put another way, its the contrast between loving (insert here) and loving the idea of (insert same as previous).  

As I get closer to the point where I can make definite decisions about my future (as options open up)...I have been trying to filter through why (exactly) I love the things I love.

And do I really love them?

Or do I just love the idea of them?

I've thought about these things before.  I've even learned some pretty good lessons about distinguishing between the two before.  These lessons have related to everything from majors, to jobs, to boys, to goals and everything in between.

Now as I look to the future, I am becoming increasingly aware of the importance of not only doing the right things for the right reasons.  But doing the things I love because I truly love them, and not just because I love the idea of it.  Ideas are misleading because they are pretenses that may or may not evolve into what you love.  You could learn to love it, or your feelings might never change.

Hopefully this makes some sense.

I realize that most of my thoughts, are really only partially developed thoughts.  Writing about them however, helps my mind to process them more and they slowly grow into more complete thoughts.  Hopefully you are able to witness that progression with me as I write about things over time.

Tomorrow, I'm probably going to write somethings about commitment.  Its another topic I've been thinking a lot about.  I'll share one of my favorite talks about commitment that has changed the way I live my life.  It's a winner for sure.  Until then, a thought to ponder.  How can we develop the ability to more clearly discern if we really love something or whether we just love the idea of it.

a trustworthy gut

My mom could quote me on a statement I made just a little over a week ago that went something like this: it's interesting that a lot of the people I work with could have gotten help earlier in their neurological event had they acted on their suspicions that all was not right.

I am now quoting myself, on lesser of a severe scale than having a neurological event however, if I had recognized the signs that I myself was sick and had gone to the doctor a week ago, the last 3 weeks of my life could have been a lot more....peaceful.

Now I sit here thinking...why don't I trust my gut more reliably to actually act on what I feel? I've talked previously about never suppressing a generous thought and although I know it is something I should always do, I still question myself at times. And sometimes, I don't even let myself think about it long enough to act on it, dismissing the thought before the possibility of acting on such a thought.

Tonight at institute, we talked about the second coming of Christ. At the end, Brother Clayton asked each of us to identify something we would work to change to be more prepared. Too many things came to mind, but the overriding thought that I think could positively influence a lot of different areas is: to become quick to observe and act accordingly. While I appreciate my mind, it talks my heart out of doing a lot of things.

I'm grateful to be a work in progress. The keywords being work and progress.

Who are you gonna be?

Choices. Life is made of them. We make thousands of them every day. Each choice shapes our world and the experience we have here in a place called mortality.

Change. Another one of my favorite c words. I'm so grateful for change. The ability to change and to choose and accept change is one of the greatest blessings in life.

Commitment. This one became a buzz word of sorts for me as a missionary. It all started with a BYU article that changed my mission and changed my life for the better.

With these three c words in mind (the unplanned alliteration sneaks onto the scene) I pose the question, "who are you gonna be?" Life is not a game of chance, it is a game of choice and the choice is ours. (thank you Liz Craig) Tonight as I sat in a room with people I love dearly, I thought of the choices I had and as the spirit touched my heart, I knew that my choice was the same one it had always been because it was still the same choice and commitment I'd made a long time ago. I was also grateful for the ability to change because the people in the room were not the same as I'd known them so long ago, they'd changed, and gratefully, so had I. Later as I was reading an e-mail from a friend whom I also love dearly but had been out of touch with for some time, my heart ached as I read of the twists in her road. My heart was also enlivened however by the hope of her spirit and the choices she recognized she had and the chance/blessing she had to commit to good things and change for the better.

And so, in essence, I delight in the opportunity of another day. For the choice to change and to commit. Life is a blessing, its a gift we've been given. Let's make it a great day.

I delight in enthusiasm.

(pardon the spots on my pictures. something is wrong somewhere in my camera. it's going to the shop this week.)

It has been a great week. Although lately, I've been in the business of 'making great weeks.' I had a roommate once, who always said, "Make it a great day." I'll be honest, somedays I was flat out annoyed as I was, at times, completely convinced that nothing in my power could 'make' the day any better--it was just bad.

Yesterday I was talking to my Mom. She was telling me about the epiphany she'd had during the week. My Mom does not live a solitary existence. Two other souls depend on her for their food, transportation, and at times entertainment. In fact, most of the time, it's mom+1, the +1 is LB. LB (aka Christin) is the sidekick, always there following often inches behind asking questions like, "what's for dinner mom?" and "is it pals yet?" or "slurpee day?" These questions can all get old after a while plus when you have so much to do during the day that dinner is the last thing on your mind--the question "what's for dinner" while eating breakfast, can make a long day ahead...even longer. Back to the point at hand. Mom realized that whatever her attitude is, rubs off on Christin. So if she's agitated, so is LB. If she's happy, so is LB. If Mom makes it a great day, then it's a great day for LB and if those two are happy--I think its fair to say that the rest of us are happy.

Point of the story, our attitude makes a difference in our lives and the lives of those around us. We have gifts and talents insomuch that when we utilize them, great things can happen!

What does all this have to do with enthusiasm? Elder Perry spoke at the Salt Lake Institute tonight. He started by telling how all his siblings were full of talent--musical talent, athletic talent, scholastic talent. He, however, did not possess any of those talents, but he soon realized he did have enthusiasm. I spent the first 10 minutes, wondering if he was joking, surely he has other talents, but none so significant he felt to address them. Enthusiasm it was. However, as the oldest current general authority spoke I realized how his enthusiasm was a great gift in his life and in his presence. At the age of 89, Elder L. Tom Perry doesn't look much different from the first picture I remember seeing of him (besides his glasses...they're different now).

Elder Perry spoke of how the the word enthusiasm is derived from a greek word meaning 'possessed by god' 'inspired.' He quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson as saying something to the effect of, Nothing great ever happens without enthusiasm. Up to this point, I hadn't thought much about enthusiasm but as I listened to Elder Perry speak the following words, I realized how he personified this quality. "I am an average person whose had extraordinary opportunities." "God can do extraordinary things with ordinary people who invite God to be with them."

He spoke about the need of enthusiastic leaders in this church. Elder Perry told of three lessons he would have us learn from his life, 1) aAlways be active and a part of a community, 2) Keep alive the great Christian heritage in America, and 3) Remember who you are and that God is our Father.

In closing he shared, "Whatever your talents are--they can make you extraordinary because God is in your life."

Sometimes we value some talents over others. But tonight I had the epiphany that perhaps it is not about the talent its self, it's about how you've invited God to assist you in developing that talent.

I think I've been blessed to have some pretty extraordinary opportunities in my life. I know I'm an average simple soul but a significant soul to my Father in Heaven. It is my hope that I can always say that I have taken advantage of every opportunity God grants me so that by His guiding hand, I can find myself leading an extraordinary life by being both a builder of this great nation and church.

Because I choose God's influence in my life based on the choices I make--I can make it a great day.

I delight in fall.

Abundantly blessed.

Today has been amazing.

The season of fall is magical to me. No season inspires me more than fall. Today I think I identified why.

Fall or autumn as some prefer, brings inherent change and I think change is magical. Change is hard. In fact, over the summer, I 'played a game with myself' where I tried to change one 'routine' every day, ON PURPOSE. *If you lack spontaneity and find yourself being a compulsive planner (regarding everything from what to wear, 30-minute schedule breakdown, exactly what roads you'll take to get from a to b)...it will be a good activity for you too!

I found each small daily change to be inspiring. Overall however, I still struggle with change. Some habits are just hard to change. But nature makes it seem so easy. Green leaves turn red or yellow or orange. They seem to embrace the drastic change so flawlessly.

Oh to be like a leaf. Oh to be inspired by a leaf. Believing change is possible is the first step in receiving and dare-I-say inviting change.

I delight in slc.

One thing I never thought I'd whole heartedly delight in is living in Salt Lake.

For years Salt Lake was the short-term destination-either for the hospital, a wedding, the engineering building at the U, a concert, shopping but never staying long term. Never.

Moving here was an adjustment--living where I do helped. Its the city but not up here in the aves. I love going walking, driving and sitting in various places around here.

I feel SL and I have really bonded in the past year. We've grown and changed together.

In some ways it seems forever longer than a year, and in other ways it seems like only yesterday that I sat on temple square with my best friend and she reminded me to breathe. Literally yesterday, we sat among strange trees near the same location as last year pondering what the next year would bring in both of our lives.

Change is in the air. I always feel change in cities because they change at a more rapid rate than rural country areas do. This time I feel the change within myself, change in my surroundings, change around me.

A door opened, and I went through it.

"A door opened, and I went through it." Its a quote from the Temple Grandin Movie: Thinking In Pictures. Its a movie I've talked a lot about here because its influenced my life in numerous ways. Today, that influence didn't come as I worked with clients or thought about the social skills group, in fact it came in thoughts that are completely unrelated to Autism. It came with regards to my own life.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we believe in patriarchal blessings. "Patriarchal blessings are given to worthy members of the Church by ordained patriarchs. Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person's lineage in the house of Israel and contain personal counsel from the Lord. As a person studies his or her patriarchal blessing and follows the counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection (from here).

As I've reflected on the course and direction of life, I have recognized where God has opened the doors he said he would open in my patriarchal blessing. God keeps his promises. He wants a powerful people. And make no doubt about the fact that He is aware of where you are, what you're doing, and the potential you have.

Life is a series of doors. The doors symbolize choices. Some choices lead to locked doors, open doors, doors we have to knock at and wait, doors we have to pound at and then go search for a key, doors that have treasures behind them and doors that have mice behind them (I despise mice...worse than spiders or snakes), doors that lead to a comfy place to land for a while and doors that lead to mountains to climb before the next door becomes within sight.

Point of the story, life has a purpose. We're all on the journey to figure out more about our personal purpose or in other words, our divine mission. It may not be exactly as we hope or expect but it will work together for our good ('wotofoyogo"). As doors open, go through them. Discover what's in store in the abundant life.

I delight in educating desires.

photo by my dad...its a porcupine in a tree

Currently, I'm doing just that...educating my desires. I am passionate about helping people and about communication, hence I'm studying speech-language pathology, its the perfect match! On my mission of my district leaders gave a fantastic training about the importance of educating our desires. It made an everlasting impact on my life...we have desires for reasons and it is up to us to educate those desires. So if you desire to learn cake decorating, Sister Oaks said the classes at Michaels are 'fabulous,' if you desire to sew, well by golly learn how, if your passion is rocks, go rockhounding, if your passion is people, talk to them, if your passion is learning french, well learn it! A world of knowledge is at our finger tips, what we choose to learn is entirely up to us.

All semester I have been working with the two most amazing little boys. They have captivated my heart and have driven me to do things I never thought I could do. My expectations have risen has they have in turn risen to the occasion and reached beyond their goals. Today was the last time I'll have them in therapy. It breaks my heart in someways but in other ways I feel nothing but pure joy. Joy in their confidence and their honed abilities to express themselves. They have impacted my life and truly 'shown me how its done.'

What does a picture of porcupine have to do with any of this? Nothing. Pretend its a beaver will you...it goes better with my story. The word beaver was difficult word for one of my clients. We worked on it and worked on it...why am I working on the word beaver? He loves animals and it was in our book (It's Not Easy Being A Bunny). Anyway, we worked and worked and he has beaver down now as well as bear, bird, pig, moose, possum and skunk. Today as he read the book (with my help of course) to his next semester clinician my heart radiated with joy as I heard him say beaver with ease. He was no longer the shy boy who was insistent the word was 'too hard.' He was now the boy saying the word was 'easy.' His primary desire is to communicate, to interact back with the world around him. He's working so hard to educate himself, to learn and to do it better, so others will understand him. He is my example of the importance of taking control of what we want to do in life and doing it. And so, life lesson from a 4 year old hit home for me today....'Educate Your Desires.'

I delight in being inspired.

I've decided for the next few weeks, I'll mostly be posting a series of my favorite inspirational phrases. They're not really quotes because none of them are longer than a line, but they're all essentially lessons I've learned that have greatly impacted my life. Please share things that have inspired you or 'one-liner' lessons you've learned. Somedays I'll share stories about how I learned the lesson and other days, I'll just share the lesson. And so, for today...here you go:

"Be so good at what you do that they cannot ignore you."

Last night I went to a screening of the documentary film MissRepresentation. While I can't say I would necessarily recommend it due to some graphic images, I think its a phenomenal movie. And the images aren't anything you haven't seen before. The basis of the movie is how women are represented in film and media. What we worry about. What we allow to consume our thoughts and the focus of our time. Its sad really. We as women must not allow our divine nature and character to be demoralized by degrading media that constantly advertises that being a 'real' woman is dependent on our relationship with men and how we look. Someone during the course of the movie mentioned that if women spent 10% of the time they spend worrying about their weight and how they look on just doing good, we could change the world.

As I drove home and reflected on the role of women from the perspective of the gospel, I couldn't help but smile as I recognized how women are empowered by the true restored doctrines in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I truly believe that God wants a powerful people, powerful men and powerful women. The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world, that is power and that power is not to be taken lightly. We can impact lives in a very unique and wonderful way thus it is our responsibility as women to be well educated, to know who we are, why we're here, and to recognize the impact we can have on those around us.

As I discussed life and the gospel with my Mom yesterday, we talked about how serving in the church, specifically serving other women can be hard sometimes. But life isn't supposed to be a 'hoodie of happiness.' The armor of God was not designed to be comfortable it was designed to help us bring about the work of salvation.

Let us be inspired to do a little more good. Let us take a stand in not supporting forms of women that don't represent women in appropriate ways.

What does all this have to do with the initial quote? Well its from the movie and I think its profound. YOU can make a difference in the world, don't doubt that. Sometimes though, it takes being so good at what you do that no one can ignore you.

I delight in the strength to do hard things.

Life has a way of bringing hard things our way. We can fight it all we want but the hard things will always be there. But they don't have to be quite so hard. In fact, the Savior said:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." — Matthew 11:28-30.

and some snippits from one of my FAVORITE chapters in the Book of Mormon, from Alma 37:

6Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

7And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord dothconfound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

13O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict are the commandments of God. And he said: If ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence.

17For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.

35O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.

36Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thydoings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

37Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

38And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

39And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

40And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

41Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

42Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

43And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

44For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

So maybe, its not as hard as we think it is. The theme in all these scriptures is that we can't do hard things by our own strength but by the strength of the Lord and the power provided through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I believe God wants a powerful people. He does not give us trials to weigh us down but to lift us up. But that 'lifting' part can't come until we let it, until we actively invite it and let it become a part of us. Its easy to be slothful. As one of my favorite hymns puts it, sometimes "I'm prone to wander." Never too far, but far enough that I can feel the weight of the hard things and think...what's wrong? Well, I'm grateful for the 'heart' check happens and for the 'return' that is always possible.

I truly delight in the strength to do hard things. I delight to have people in my life who live in their lives an example of delighting in the hard things. To be something we've never before been, we must do things we've never before done.