Seek things of real worth

Heavenly Father speaks to us in so many different ways. We know that we can feel the Spirit, and God's love through the scriptures, prayer, church attendance, and through the living prophets words at General Conference.  In addition, our loving Heavenly Father has given us other avenues to feel His presence in our lives.  Have you ever been hiking in the mountains, enjoying a day at the lake, looking at a piece of art and felt moved by the Spirit or felt God's love? This has happened to me multiple times in my life and noticing the Spirit, or recognizing that those feelings come from God, has increased my faith that God lives, he is aware of us, and loves us.
 One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon is in Moroni 7 which reads,

"Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God [...] that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell  of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:  

“We … live in a world that is too prone to the tasteless and we need to provide an opportunity to cultivate a taste for the finest music. And likewise, we’re in a world that’s so attuned to the now. We need to permit people to be more attuned to the best music of all the ages.”

I completely agree with the words of Elder Maxwell. Our Heavenly Father has given us so many beautiful, good, things of worth to enjoy like nature, art, music, and different cultures to enjoy and help cultivate and refine us. And from the scripture in Moroni we learn that all good things come from God. So then why do we waste our time with things that have no worth? John H. Vandenberg commented that, 

"The sad part of humanity seems to be the utter lack of desire, in the lives of many, to really do something about enlarging the vistas of their existence. A distinguished doctor made the observation that “for the great majority of people, the good life is identical with trivial entertainment, cheap music, superficial writing, and an unending stream of visual trash."  (Dr. E. A. Gutkind, Quote—the Weekly Digest, vol. 51, no. 4, quote 32.)

The world is filled with too many beautiful pieces of art, wholesome literature, and refined music to waste our time with things of no real worth. About a year and a half ago I was sitting in an Art History class and my professor projected  Michelangelo's Pieta and I was so overcome by the Spirit. Understanding the whole process of creating and sculpting this work of art moved me and noticing the details of this sculpture strengthened my love and appreciation for the Savior. I know he died for our sins, and lives again to help us on our journey back home to Him and our Father in Heaven.

Elder Douglas L. Callister said this, 

"If we could part the veil and observe our heavenly home, we would be impressed with the cultivated minds and hearts of those who so happily live there. I imagine that our heavenly parents are exquisitely refined. In this great gospel of emulation, one of the purposes of our earthly probation is to become like them in every conceivable way so that we may be comfortable in the presence of heavenly parentage and, in the language of Enos, see their faces “with pleasure” (Enos 1:27). President Brigham Young  said, 'We are trying to be the image of those who live in heaven; we are trying to pattern after them, to look like them, to walk and talk like them.'

Waterlilies by Monet

I love this mental image of our Heavenly Parents defined as "exquistitely refined." Christ said,  "We are to become ^"perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." (3 Nephi 12:48)
So lets start appreciating things of real worth now, and strive to become like our Father in Heaven. Not only will this give added meaning to this life, but also the next. Like Elder Douglas Callister says, "There are those who speak of stirring ideas, compelling books, and inspiring doctrine; these are the few who make their mark in this world. The subjects discussed in heaven are not trifling or mundane; they are sublime beyond our most extended imagination. We will feel at home there if we are rehearsed on this earth in conversing about the refined and noble, clothing our expressions in well-measured words.

We can drawer nearer to Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ through all the good things They have provided us on this beautiful Earth. I am grateful Heavenly Father has given us so much to enjoy, and so much to help us prepare for our journey back to Him. Our souls will be touched as we draw nearer to things of real worth.  "Your Father in Heaven has sent you away from His presence to have experiences you would not have had in your heavenly home—all in preparation for the conferral of a kingdom. He doesn’t want you to lose your vision. You are children of an exalted being. You are foreordained to preside as kings and queens. You will live in a home and environment of infinite refinement and beauty, as reflected in the language, literature, music, art, and order of heaven.  I close with the words of President Young: “Let us … show to the world that we have talent and taste, and prove to the heavens that our minds are set on beauty and true excellence, so that we can become worthy to enjoy the society of angels.” (Our Refined Heavenly Home)