I have been thinking a lot lately about my purposes here on earth. Clearly, there are the most important purposes: building a family and living worthily to return to our Father, but I believe there are a few other purposes that each of us have. The Lord has given us specific talents, skills, and blessings for a reason, and as we closely identify those and prayerfully ask Him for help, He will enable us to become instruments in His hands.
The Topical Guide is where I go for guidance when I need insight on a gospel principle. Last night I was feeling a little down--comparing myself to some who are clearly fulfilling their purposes and feeling frustrated that I have been a little grumpy with my family lately (because, after all, how can I even think about other purposes if I am not giving my very best to my family?). Of course, the scriptures always bring that peace that I long for. The Lord has a beautiful way of teaching with His word so I feel motivated to do more and simultaneously forgiving of my own weaknesses.
The first thing I noticed about "Purpose" in the TG is the "see also" list. It includes Desire, End, and Will. So I headed off to look at "Desire" for a minute, and I love the teachings I found. Psalm 37:4 "he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" and D&C 18:38 "by their desires you shall know them." Then back to "purpose," and there is a beautiful scripture in D&C 76:3: "His purposes fail not."
After reading through these scriptures, I decided that the only way for me to understand my purpose is to understand the Lord's purpose for me. It is not about me. It is about Him. How would He like for me to serve Him with my life? If I listen to Him, He will tell me what my desires ought to be, and if I make His desires my desires (or His purpose my purpose), there is no way I can fail...because His purposes fail not.
This might seem like such a simple idea, but it answers every one of the questions I have been struggling with lately. Am I spending my time wisely? Should I try to do such and such? Am I going to fail big time at this? Should I plan to ________? The answers are simple. All I need to ask myself is, "Is this what the Lord desires for me right now?" If the answer is yes, then I go forth the best I can, and I don't need to fear failure. If the answer is no, then I stop.
It is such an exciting thought when I realize that the Lord is willing to bless me with His power. We all feel inadequate at times, but He is never inadequate. I am feeling much more motivated to fulfill my purposes because they are not mine alone.
Personal Goals:
(1) Seriously consider what the Lord would have me learn, do, become, etc.
(2) Plan each day so I am fulfilling those purposes...even if they do not seem grand at the time.
(3) Live with confidence...there is no reason to doubt myself if I am following what the Lord wants for me.
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2 comments:
Hi April, Maybe this isn't quite on the topic, but when you mentioned desires, it reminded me of my all-time favorite conference talk that I have reread hundreds of times. It is Neal A. Maxwell's "According to the Desire of our Heart" from the Oct. 1996 conference. I heard this talk a couple weeks before I left on my mission and it stood out to me. As I studied it more and more, it helped me to figure out how to WANT to do all the things that I knew I SHOULD do. I have zero willpower, if I'm going to do anything, I have to want it. It got me through all the unpleasant things I had to do on a mission, and of course life continues to have unpleasant tasks (I just read your post about a recent Sunday morning!) and the only way I can face them is to recognize God's will and change my desires to align with Him.
Thanks for that. So well put. If I "force" myself to do things, it's like giving a gift I don't want to give. Gratefully, the Lord has the power to help us want to do things! Thanks so much.
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