Elder Kearon spoke at our YSA fireside last Sunday, and one of the topics he covered was about reordering our lives.
He started by telling us how he is a convert to the Church, and when he first started attending meetings, he was struck by how dreary many of the hymns sounded. For example, "Let Us All Press On" was often sung as though the congregation were tired, bored, or weighed down.
Then he shared a story about how one of the organists of the Tabernacle Choir (I think I'm remembering this right?) had the opportunity to compose a new arrangement to that hymn. When the new arrangement was sung by the Tabernacle Choir (video below!), they could all feel something different.
One lesson from this is that we get to rearrange and reorder our lives. We can come up with something magnificent (with the Lord's help) that can enable our lives to feel exciting, powerful, and in line with the Lord.
A question I wrote down in my notes was, "What do I need to reorder in my life?"
I'm still pondering that question, but I've learned that I can often change my activities, expectations, boundaries, plans, projects, perceptions, etc. Life doesn't need to feel "dreary."
Elder Kearon told us that when he wants to "reset" himself, he often listens to this hymn 3-4 times in one morning.
I've started doing that, as well--AND I added this hymn, which is the most beautiful arrangement of "Now Let Us Rejoice" that I've ever heard. (YouTube knows how much I like these, so they've made me a special "mix" playlist with these two songs--and several others from the Tabernacle Choir. THANK YOU, YouTube!)
I've been reading in Alma lately--specifically about Captain Moroni. As I read, I'm highlighting all the unique things he did as a disciple and leader (and I've been recording them in Evernote, where I have read through all of The Book of Mormon asking how I can be a better disciple and a better leader).
The verse in Alma 48:17 is familiar to a lot of us: "...if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."
I love that. And I especially love reading WHY this was so. He thought creatively--in totally new ways, to the point that the Lamanites were "astonished exceedingly" because of how secure he made their lands. They were "prepared in a manner which never had been known," and it was because "Moroni had altered the management of affairs among the Nephites." (Alma 49: 5, 8, 11)
Altered. Reordered. Changed. Elevated. Improved.
All things we can do in our homes and families as we fight for them--as we protect them.
I especially love Alma 50:12, where we learn that Moroni's armies "did increase daily because of the assurance of protection which his works did bring forth unto them."
One thing we're working on in our family and in our stake at BYU is encouraging emotional resilience.
If you haven't yet seen the Church manual, "Finding Strength in the Lord - Emotional Resilience," there's a section in the free Gospel Library app, or you can access it online here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/emotional-resilience-for-self-reliance?lang=eng
(Ordering the manual and working through that is best, though--it's an awesome workbook.)
The reason I love this so much is because over the years, I've learned repeatedly that it isn't "what happens to us" that causes stress. Nor is it what's going on in the news, what's happening on social media, what your family members are doing/not doing, whether you have money or vacations or a perfect body, etc. It's more about the truth shared in this quote by President Nelson:
At the beginning of the manual, it says, "Because your Heavenly Father loves you, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to strengthen you during any situation you face in life."
The more resilient we are, the more we're able to look at life with an eternal perspective--which doesn't mean we simply "press on." It means we move forward with that creative, heaven-assisted energy that will help us reorder the chaos that's often the default.
Our faith in Jesus Christ is more than a nice idea we discuss once in awhile at church. We've been promised that when we exercise our faith in Him, He won't let us down. I have seen that happen in my own life over and over and over again, and I know that faith works.
I'll close with this quote from Elder David A. Bednar that is shared in Lesson 1 of the Emotional Resilience manual:
"The children of Israel are carrying the ark of the covenant. They come to the River Jordan. The promise is they will cross over on dry land. When does the water part? When their feet are wet. They walk into the river--act. Power follows--the water parts."
Sending lots of love today as you consider which parts of your life you'd like to "reorder." I hope you listen to those two songs by the Tabernacle Choir, too. Life just feels brighter when we fill it with goodness.
xoxo
No comments:
Post a Comment