"I'm the captain of my soul."

*Typical conversation at Hermana Reed's house during High School*:

Me: Mom, can I go hang out with my friends?

My Mom: Have you finished all your homework and studied?

Me:....no...

My Mom: Well then you can't go out until you have done that.

Me: But mom!!!! We are going to watch this sweet movie and ALL my friends will be there!!

My Mom: Just finish your homework and then you can go.

Me: You're so unreasonable! None of my other friends have to do their homework first!

My Mom: I just want what is best for you. You'll come to realize how important your education is. 

*The night ends with me being super dramatic, storming off to my room, finishing my homeworking, and later going out with my friends.*

I learned so much from my parents through temper tantrums experiences like these. One thing in particular is that my mom is always right. Second, she was totally right when she said I'd come to realize how important education is.  Our Heavenly Father has each given us this life to learn and to gain knowledge and experiences that only we can learn. The Lord even tells us how important it is to learn when He says, "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection." We can't take anything else with us, except what is in our minds. That's pretty important stuff.

A principle that is important to understand is that YOU are in charge of your education. No one else can obtain it for you. Elder Oaks stated, "Beyond increasing our occupational qualifications, we should desire to learn how to become more emotionally fulfilled, more skilled in our personal relationships, and better parents and citizens. There are few things more fulfilling and fun than learning something new. Great happiness, satisfaction, and financial rewards come from this. An education is not limited to formal study. Lifelong learning can increase our ability to appreciate and relish the workings and beauty of the world around us. This kind of learning goes well beyond books and a selective use of new technology, such as the Internet. It includes artistic endeavors. It also includes experiences with people and places: conversations with friends, visits to museums and concerts, and opportunities for service. We should expand ourselves and enjoy the journey." I couldn't agree more with Elder Oaks, I have noticed in my own life that as I have focused on my education, I am happier, I appreciate life more, and am more filled spiritually. (For more thoughts on that read this blog post). You are the captain of your soul. 

Education changes us. The more we know the more we can do. Elder Oaks puts it this way, "Our quest for truth should be as broad as our life’s activities and as deep as our circumstances permit. A learned Latter-day Saint should seek to understand the important religious, physical, social, and political problems of the day. The more knowledge we have of heavenly laws and earthly things, the greater influence we can exert for good on those around us and the safer we will be from scurrilous and evil influences that may confuse and destroy us." Being educated doesn't mean we have to attend a top-tier school or use big, fancy words. It also doesn't mean just wordly knowledge, but an education of things spiritual too. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "You have a mandate from the Lord to educate your minds and your hearts and your hands. The Lord has said, “Teach ye diligently . . . of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—that ye may be prepared in all things” (D&C 88:78–80)."

Heavenly Father wants us to have secular and spiritual knowledge because it determines who we will become. Education allows us become like He is. We are not alone in this journey, Elder Oaks states that,  "In our quest for truth, we need to seek the help of our loving Heavenly Father. His Spirit can direct and intensify our efforts to learn and magnify our ability to assimilate truth. This learning with the Spirit is not confined to classrooms or preparation for school examinations. It applies to everything we do in life and every place we do it—at home, at work, and at church." 

This is my little brother Chandler and I four years ago when I graduated from High School:

This is my little brother now, who graduated from High School this week:

Watching him go through school has taught me that we get better looking over time  as we place an emphasis on our education, we grow spiritually. As my brother has really grasped on to the importance of gaining personal knowledge, I have seen his spirituality increase and deepening love of things of real worth. 

I can't quite articulate how I feel about how important it is to be educated, because like many things it's just something I feel and understand through experience. I know Heavenly Father values the development of the mind because He talks about in His scriptures, and it is often mentioned by His servants, the Prophets.  With the Lord, “all things work together for [our] good” (Romans 8:28), and the education we receive in this life will determine our eternal and temporal happiness. I encourage everyone to read the talk that I quote so often by Elder Oaks, and to evaluate where you are at on your quest for truth, because you are the captain of your soul. 

Reasons to go to Church

Have you ever been asked by a missionary, a friend, or your home/visting teachers to go to church on Sunday? Have you ever thought, "I am just too tired to wake up and go on Sundays", "I'd rather spend time with friends, family, and clean the house", or "I really just don't think it matters if I go to church on Sunday."

Well, I am pretty sure you're not the only one that has felt that way. But if I am going to be honest... you're missing out. I am serious. I love Sunday's, it's my favorite day of the week. Let me tell you a few reasons why it's important we go. 

First, it's a commandment. When your home or visiting teachers, the missionaries, or a friend invites you to church, they don't ask you out of obligation or because they'll gain something. It's because our Heavenly Father has asked us to attend church. In the Bible we read, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates." Or in other words, Sunday is not our day, it is a day dedicated to our Heavenly Father. In the creation of the world, The Lord rested from his labors on the 7th day, or the Sabbath. So we too must set Sunday apart as a day from our world labors and worship Him. So when someone invites you to church remember that your Heavenly Father has already invited you through His scriptures. 

Second, the Sabbath is the day where we can renew our baptismal covenants. Have you ever gone to a baptismal service and thought to yourself, "Man, I wish I could be baptized again!" Guess what? YOU CAN! Every single Sunday through the ordinance of the Sacrament. The Sacrament is a renewal of the promises and blessings we made at baptism.  Just as we would never neglect our physical needs of hunger or thirst, we can not neglect our spiritual nourishment. Partaking of the sacrament worthily strengthens us and gives us power to overcome temptation. When we don't go to church and partake of the sacrament weekly, we are denying ourselves blessings. We can not renew these covenants at home, these blessing only come by partaking of the sacrament. For more blessings of the sacrament read here (http://becomingthegoodandfaithfulservant.blogspot.com/2014/03/one-by-one-and-sacrament.html)

3: One final reason it's essential to come to church is because there are those that need you, yes you, your personal testimony. In Alma we read, "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed." We have a part to play in helping others prepare to meet our maker. President Spencer W. Kimball taught, "God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom. The people of the Church need each other’s strength, support, and leadership in a community of believers as an enclave of disciples. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read about how important it is to “… succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” (D&C 81:5.) So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds! …"  During my final year at college I was called to be the Gospel Essentials teacher, I was passing through a time where I really struggled to make it to my Sunday services. When I received the call I felt completely inadequate and didn't feel like I had sufficient gospel knowledge to be a teacher. Over and over again at the end of each class I would feel that I didn't articulate well enough or that the Spirit wasn't present. Yet, almost every week I would find notes from the same person underneath my door that said my lesson were exactly what they needed. I felt needed and knew for whatever reason Heavenly Father knew that someone needed my testimony. And I know that's how it is for you, there are people waiting for your comments in class, your testimony during sacrament, your smile, or friendship. 
 
 When our priorities are in place we are happier and have more spiritual power. When we put the Lord first, everything else works out. I promise as we make the commitment to come to church every week we will be happier, more blessed, and be on the path to return to Our Father in Heaven. I have felt the emptiness that comes when we don't put our Lord first, I have seen the decay of my life as I haven't reguarly attended church. No other activity is worth it. No homework assignment, nap, clean house, or time spent with friends will feed you spiritually like attending church can. Sunday will come weekly but it is up to us to decide if we will be there to keep commandments, receive a remission of our sins, and help others.

The Path to Perfection

In the Book of Mormon it says, " Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." (3 Nephi 12:48) Or in the Bible, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."(Matthew 5:48) If you are like me do you just think "Uhhh perfect? It's taken me so long to make the habit of studying the scriptures every day and sometimes I want to freak out at people who cut me off while I am driving. How on Earth can I be perfect?" If you don't struggle with these things, please teach me how, because I fall short every day. As I have been studying to figure out how I can be perfect like the Savior I have found it's important to define what perfection is. First, we need to acknowledge that the fullest kind of perfection, or Christ-like perfection is not attainable in this mortal experience. But, we can start on the path to perfection. President Joseph F. Smith explained this:

“We do not look for absolute perfection in man. Mortal man is not capable of being absolutely perfect. Nevertheless, it is given to us to be as perfect in the sphere in which we are called to be and to act, as it is for the Father in heaven to be pure and righteous in the more exalted sphere in which he acts. We will find in the scriptures the words of the Savior himself to his disciples, in which he required that they should be perfect, even as their Father in heaven is perfect; that they should be righteous, even as he is righteous. I do not expect that we can be as perfect as Christ, that we can be as righteous as God. But I believe that we can strive for that perfection with the intelligence that we possess, and the knowledge that we have of the principles of life and salvation.” (Gospel Doctrine,p. 132.)

This is not saying that we can have a defeatist attitude and say "Well I can't be perfect, so what's the use in trying?". No, not trying is not an option. But, accepting the fact that you will make mistakes, try harder, and can repent is the mindset you must have on the path to perfection. We must also keep in mind that the only person we can compare ourselves to is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father sent Christ to be our perfect example, and has given us the pattern to follow. I read recently this great insight, " That while it is the Lord’s pattern to give us righteous examples to emulate and follow, it is Satan’s counterfeit to tempt us to compare ourselves with them in order to determine our worth or success." So, learn from the Savior's example, and don't compare yourselves to others.

Heavenly Father expects a lot of us because He knows what we are capable of. It is a commandment to strive for perfection. Ponder this question, "Do you think the Lord would excuse you if in mortality you did not climb as high on the ladder of perfection as it is possible for you to do?"  Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said: 

“It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today. Why? Because we are on that road, if we are keeping the commandments of the Lord, we are on that road to perfection, and that can only come through obedience and the desire in our hearts to overcome the world.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:18–19.)

So how can we start today on the road to perfection? First, we need to identify what is keeping us from perfection, perhaps it is a certain commandment we are struggling with.

President Harold B. Lee taught:

 “The most important of all the commandments of God is that one that you’re having the most difficulty keeping today. If it’s one of dishonesty, if it’s one of unchastity, if it’s one of falsifying, not telling the truth, today is the day for you to work on that until you’ve been able to conquer that weakness. Then you start on the next one that’s most difficult for you to keep.” (Church News, 5 May 1973, p. 3.)

So, take some time to think of a few of your weaknesses. Make a list of your weakness and put them in order of priority. Then we have been counseled to, "Each morning review your list, particularly noting the problem you want to work on that day. Then pray to the Lord, entreating him for power and promising him you will do all you can. That night report to him on your success or failure. As you find yourself improving (and you will), pray for forgiveness and additional strength. Keep constantly in mind the joy and love your Heavenly Father is feeling toward you because of your efforts. Remember also that your weaknesses can become your strengths; indeed, as each is overcome, it can be a rung of power leading upward to God and your eternal home. Examine Ether 12:27. What is the purpose of weakness? What does the Lord intend to do with your weaknesses if you let him? Will you let him? If you do, you will find the power of heaven opened to you and you will receive greater joy and peace and a closer relationship with your Savior than most people ever know."

Heavenly Father doesn't expect more than we are capable of doing. The path of perfection is real and you can start today. I started my own list this week and I have already seen more strength to resist temptation as I have tried to be perfect in keeping my promises to the Lord. As we report back to our Father of our day and our struggles and success, I promise you will be filled with more of a desire to keep your promises, covenants, and the commandments. Christ has already felt what it is like to fail, to makes mistakes, and to disappoint. He knows exactly how to help you, so stay close to Him and just keep trying. President Uchtdorf puts it this way,
"Our destiny is not determined by the number of times we stumble but by the number of times we rise up, dust ourselves off, and move forward." 

Will you start your path to perfection today?