Forget-Me-Nots

On Sunday, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the 1st Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, gave a great analogy of Forget-Me-Nots. This picture sums up his talk. I needed to hear this talk! It was as if he was speaking directly to me. I have felt so alone lately. I've been feeling like the Lord has forgotten about us. I've been trying to put on a happy face for everyone because I don't like attention. I don't want people doting on me when I need to be the one to figure it all out for myself. I've been trying to find happiness in the scriptures and other areas but really, I've just felt really alone and forgotten. I cried when I listened to President Uchtdorf speak. It really hit home and I'm trying to apply it to my life so I can be happier. I had it DVR'd on my TV so I've watched it again. I've cried each time. It has just meant so much. You can watch it here. It's so much better to watch it but a summary is below.

President Uchtdorf Reminds Sisters of Five Things to “Forget Not”

“No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, gave this loving reminder during the General Relief Society Meeting on September 24, 2011.

Using the forget-me-not flower as a metaphor for his remarks, President Uchtdorf noted that although the flower is small in size, and easily unnoticed among larger flowers, it is still beautiful and vibrant.

President Uchtdorf tied the five petals of the forget-me-not flower to five things women should not forget.

Forget not to be patient with yourself:

President Uchtdorf reminded women that everyone has strengths and weaknesses—that no one is perfect, even those who may seem so.

“God wants to help us eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but He knows that this is a long-term goal,” President Uchtdorf said. “It is OK that you are not quite there yet. Keep working on it but stop punishing yourself. “

“Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others,” he added. “Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.”

Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice:

President Uchtdorf defined an acceptable sacrifice as giving up “something good for something of far greater worth.”

“Dedicating some of our time to studying the scriptures or preparing to teach a lesson is a good sacrifice. Spending many hours stitching the title of the lesson into homemade potholders for each member of your class may not be.”

President Uchtdorf noted that every situation is different, and suggested asking, “Am I committing my time and energies to the things that matter most?” in order to distinguish between good and foolish sacrifices.

Forget not to be happy now:

Using an example from the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, President Uchtdorf described how one of the characters, Willy Wonka, hid golden tickets within chocolate bars, promising to reveal wonders to five people who discovered the tickets.

“In their anxiousness, people began to forget the simple joy they used to find in a candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter disappointment if it does not contain a golden ticket,” President Uchtdorf said. Whatever a “golden ticket” may represent to each person, President Uchtdorf warned Relief Society sisters to not put their happiness on hold as they wait for a future event, or golden ticket, to appear.

“The lesson here,” he said,” is that if we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.”

Forget not the “why” of the gospel:

President Uchtdorf said that sometimes, in the routines of daily life, the vital aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ are unintentionally overlooked. “We sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks that we must add to our already impossibly long “to do” lists. We focus on what the Lord wants us to do and how we might do it, but we sometimes forget why.”

President Uchtdorf reminded the sisters that the gospel is not an obligation, but a pathway leading to happiness and peace in this life and “glory and inexpressible fulfillment” in the life to come.

Forget not that the Lord loves you:

In closing, President Uchtdorf said, “Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time.”

“You may at times feel a little like the forget-me-not—insignificant, small, or tiny in comparison with others,” he said, noting: “I hope (the forget-me-not) will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet.”

Music

I am not an accomplished musician. I'll never claim to be but I have had singing lessons and I have been playing the piano since I was 4. That really doesn't mean much because when I was given the chance to quit piano lessons at the age of 14 I did! What teenager wouldn't? So therefore, my skill is stuck at that level. Although. I do feel like I can sit down and teach myself to play something if I desire. So, on occasion, I try to do just that. There are also some days when I feel the need to sit down at my piano and play what is familiar to me; what I've known how to play for years! Maybe even since I was 14. Sunday afternoons are a favorite time for me to do that. Maybe it's because the Spirit is so strong in our home on Sundays because we've been to church that I find myself playing spiritual songs. Well, today was no exception. I sat down and randomly started playing, and singing, a few of my favorites. While doing so, the Spirit was very strong! The words to 2 of these songs stuck out at me with such force that I felt that I needed to record them here. I would hope you will look them up, listen to them, listen to the words, and let them touch your heart personally, as they did me today. If I was daring enough, I would sing them to you but since I'm scared to death to do a solo in front of people, I guess I won't!

Oh, Lord, My Redeemer
Arranged by Greg Hansen
Words and Music by Jeff Goodrich

1. And the Roman soldiers laughed When they saw their pris'ner stumble.
He did not revile them back. And wondering, I asked, "Who was this man so humble?"
And a woman at my side Choked on her reply. Though she struggled not to weep,
The tears poured down her cheek, Her heart breaking as she cried:

Chorus
"Oh, Lord, my Redeemer. Thou hast done so much for me!
Oh Lord, my Redeemer, All my love I give to Thee!"

2. And the crowd went pushing on. I felt compelled to follow.
I knew that they were wrong How they mocked Him all along. Suddenly my heart felt hollow.
For they nailed Him to a tree On a hill called Calvary.
While I stood there filled with wonder, The heavens roared with thunder,
And again I heard this plea:

Chorus
"Oh, Lord, my Redeemer. Thou hast done so much for me!
Oh Lord, my Redeemer, All my love I give to Thee!"
I could not forget his face As I wandered from that place.
With the questions ever burning, I put myself to learning,
And each answer came with grace. And I knelt in earnest prayer,
His memory still there. and the more that I'd enquire, The hotter burned the fire.
I found joy beyond compare.

3. And the day turned into three. Morning found me in a garden
Where the gentle April breeze Returned me to my knees, Pleading for a pardon.
And I can't say when or why I opened up my eyes,
But his feet were there before me, His hands were open o'er me, and his face I recognized.

Chorus
"Oh, Lord, my Redeemer. Thou hast done so much for me!
Oh Lord, my Redeemer, All my love I give to Thee!"

Isaiah 47:4 As for our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

Learn of Me
Words by Joy Saunders Lundberg
Music by Janice Kapp Perry


1. I walk today along the path of life, No more a child protected from the strife.
Now I must face whatever foes may come and fight with strength until the battle's won.
I trembling fear the task is far too great, on every side the Tempter lies in wait.
What can I do? I plead to Him above, then hear Him speak these gentle words of love:

Chorus
Learn of me and listen to my words, walk in the meekness of my light.
And I shall give you peace, my love will never cease, For I am Jesus Christ.

2. When I was yet a child so clean and pure, I doubted not and knew God's love was sure.
I knew He lived, for every bird and tree, by breath and leaf were witnesses to me.
But now the world would fill my mind with doubt, and so my soul, in search of truth finds out.
How may I know? I plead to Him above, then I recall these gentle words of love:

Chorus
Learn of me and listen to my words, walk in the meekness of my light.
And I shall give you peace, my love will never cease, For I am Jesus Christ.

3. My life is blessed to have His sacred word, to feel His love and know my prayers are heard.
Within my soul His light has found a place. It leads the way as I receive His grace.
The peace I feel, my joy in sacred things, Surpasses all the world could ever bring.
With humble heart I take a valiant stand I will obey this gentle sweet command:

Chorus
Learn of me and listen to my words, walk in the meekness of my light.
And I shall give you peace, my love will never cease, For I am Jesus Christ.
Learn of Me.


Doctrine and Covenants 19:23 Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.

A loss of life, a blessing of life

This last week it would have been really easy to to be angry at God. I guess, it was just easier to be happy about the blessings He blessed me with instead.

On Monday August 29, 2011 at around 5:15am, my grandma passed away. She was 12 days shy of her 91st birthday. She was very special to me because I was born on her 60th birthday. It has always been very special to me to be able to share our birthdays. Each year we would get a picture together. Most years growing up we had birthday cake together at her house. I felt so special because my cousins, aunts and uncles would be there to celebrate her birthday but because it was mine too I got to enjoy the excitement as well. She will be so dearly missed!

On Wednesday, August 31st, a life was spared. Paul was in an accident at work where he was almost crushed by some trusses from the roof he was building. A large gust of wind came as they were putting them up and knocked them over. He was able to get to the end of the roof just before they completely collapsed. The truss on the end pulled him off the 16 foot high wall he was hanging on to. He was able to come away from it with just a scrape on his cheek, a black eye, a bruised elbow, and a scrape on his shin. 3 other guys he was working with were sent to the hospital but are OK now. Had the spirit not told him to get off the roof at just the right moment, he wouldn't have made it to the outer wall without being pulled down and into the pile of trusses.

I am so extremely grateful for the Spirit and the for the Plan of Salvation. I know that I will see my grandmother again. I know that she is in Heaven with her beloved husband who died 32 years ago. I know that the spirit told Paul to run off that roof when he did. I have no doubt in my mind that the Lord is there and that he's mindful of us in our lives.

“And they were spared and were not sunk and buried up in the earth; and they were not drowned in the depths of the sea; and they were not burned by fire, neither were they fallen upon and crushed to death; and they were not carried away in the whirlwind; neither were they overpowered by the vapor of smoke and of darkness.” (3 Ne. 10:12–13.)

The Plan of Salvation

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In the premortal existence, Heavenly Father prepared a plan to enable us to become like Him and receive a fulness of joy. The scriptures refer to this plan as “the plan of salvation” (Alma 24:14; Moses 6:62), “the great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8), “the plan of redemption” (Jacob 6:8; Alma 12:30), and “the plan of mercy” (Alma 42:15). The plan of salvation is the fulness of the gospel. It includes the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and all the laws, ordinances, and doctrines of the gospel. Moral agency, the ability to choose and act for ourselves, is also essential in Heavenly Father's plan. Because of this plan, we can be perfected through the Atonement, receive a fulness of joy, and live forever in the presence of God. Our family relationships can last throughout the eternities.

Additional Information

We are participants in Heavenly Father's plan, and our eternal experience can be divided into three main parts: premortal life, mortal life, and life after death. As we come to understand the plan, we find answers to questions asked by so many: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go after this life?

Premortal Life

Before we were born on the earth, we lived in the presence of our Heavenly Father as one of His spirit children. In this premortal existence, we attended a council with Heavenly Father's other spirit children. At that council, Heavenly Father presented His great plan of happiness (see Abraham 3:22-26).

In harmony with the plan of happiness, the premortal Jesus Christ, the Firstborn Son of the Father in the spirit, covenanted to be the Savior (see Moses 4:2; Abraham 3:27). Those who followed Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were permitted to come to the earth to experience mortality and progress toward eternal life. Lucifer, another spirit son of God, rebelled against the plan and “sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3). He became Satan, and he and his followers were cast out of heaven and denied the privileges of receiving a physical body and experiencing mortality (see Moses 4:4; Abraham 3:27-28).

Throughout our premortal lives, we developed our identity and increased our spiritual capabilities. Blessed with the gift of agency, we made important decisions, such as the decision to follow Heavenly Father's plan. These decisions affected our life then and now. We grew in intelligence and learned to love the truth, and we prepared to come to the earth, where we could continue to progress.

Mortal Life

We are now experiencing mortal life. Our spirits are united with our bodies, giving us opportunities to grow and develop in ways that were not possible in premortal life. This part of our existence is a time of learning in which we can prove ourselves, choose to come unto Christ, and prepare to be worthy of eternal life. It is also a time when we can help others find the truth and gain a testimony of the plan of salvation.

Life after Death

When we die, our spirits will enter the spirit world and await the resurrection. At the time of the resurrection, our spirit and body will reunite, and we will be judged and received into a kingdom of glory. The glory we inherit will depend on the depth of our conversion and our obedience to the Lord's commandments (see Kingdoms of Glory). It will depend on the manner in which we have “received the testimony of Jesus” (D&C 76:51; see also D&C 76:74, 79, 101).

Blessings through Knowledge of the Plan

A testimony of the plan of salvation can give us hope and purpose as we wrestle with the challenges of life. We can find reassurance in the knowledge that we are children of God and that we lived in His presence before being born on the earth. We can find meaning in our present life, knowing that our actions during mortality influence our eternal destiny. With this knowledge, we can base important decisions on eternal truths rather than on the changing circumstances of life. We can continually improve our relationships with family members, rejoicing in the promise that our families can be eternal. We can find joy in our testimonies of the Atonement and the Lord's commandments, ordinances, covenants, and doctrines, knowing that “he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23).

See also Agency; Atonement of Jesus Christ; Creation; Death, Physical; Death, Spiritual; Fall; God the Father; Gospel; Heaven; Hell; Jesus Christ; Kingdoms of Glory; Paradise; Resurrection

—See True to the Faith (2004), 115-17

Scripture References

2 Nephi 2:5-30; 10:23-25

Alma 12:24-37; 22:12-14; 42

Moses 6:47-62