What will 2015 bring for you? It is YOUR choice!

At this time of year we naturally begin to turn our thoughts to the coming year and what changes we want to make. 

The lesson in Relief Society today was based on the General Conference talk by Elder Jorg Klebingat entitled "Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence".  He spoke boldly but kindly of some of the choices we currently make and may what to change.

The talk can be viewed HERE

Listen to the questions Elder Klebingat posed to us:

* One a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your spiritual confidence before God?

* Do you have a personal witness that you current offering as a Latter-day Saint is sufficient to inherit Eternal Life?

* Can you say within yourself that Heavenly Father is pleased with you?

* What thoughts come to mind if you had a personal interview with your Saviour one minute from now?

Maybe you feel there is something you could improve on?  As you go through this talk, maybe you will find the Spirit prompting you as to what some of those goals for the coming year could be.

Elder Klebingat said this:

"Whenever the adversary cannot persuade imperfect yet striving Saints such as you can abandon your belief in a personal and living God, he employs a vicious campaign to put as much distance as possible between you and God.  The adversary knows that faith in Christ - the kind of faith that produces a steady stream of tender mercies and even mighty miracles - goes hand in hand with a personal confidence that you are striving to choose the right.  For that reason he will seek access to your heart to tell you lies - lies that Heavenly Father is disappointed you, that the Atonement is beyond your reach, that there is no point in even trying, that everyone else is better than you, that you are unworthy, and a thousand variations of that same evil theme."

Sisters - does that sound familiar? 

So many of us feel we are not good enough, clever enough, anything enough.  Those feelings are NOT from the Lord.  And as the talk went on to share "as long as you allow those voices to chisel away at your soul, you can't approach the throne of God with real confidence.  Whatever you do, whatever you pray for, whatever hopes for a miracle you may have, there will always be just enough self-doubt chipping away at your faith - not only your faith in God but also confidence in yourself..."

It doesn't have to be this way. 

We can CHOOSE to make things different.  Elder Klebingat offered 6 suggestions that can offer us the peace we all look for.  He said them in such a wonderful way we have quoted him below....As you read let the Spirit guide your thoughts in what YOU need to do to allow that peace and confidence to come.  Pick one area and let it become part of your life in 2015.....

1. Take responsibility for your own spiritual wellbeing - Stop blaming others or your circumstances, stop justifying and stop making excuses for why you may not be fully striving to be obedient.  Accept that you are free according to the flesh and free to choose liberty and eternal life.  The Lord knows your circumstances perfectly, but He also knows perfectly well whether you simply choose not to fully live the gospel.  If this is the case, be honest enough to admit it, and strive to be perfect within your own sphere of circumstances.

2. Take responsibility for your own physical wellbeing - Your soul consists of your body and spirit.  Feeding the spirit while neglecting the body, which is a temple, usually leads to spiritual dissonance and lowered self-esteem.  If you are out of shape, if you are uncomfortable in your own body and can do something about it, then do it!  Elder Russell M Nelson has taught that we should 'regard our body as a temple of our very own' and that we should 'control our diet and exercise for physical fitness'

President Boyd K Packer has taught 'that our spirit and our body are combined in such a way that our body are combined in such a way that our body becomes an instrument of our mind and that our body becomes an instrument of our mind and the foundation of our character.'  Therefore, please use good judgement in what and especially how much you eat and regularly give your body the exercise it needs and deserves.  If you are physically able, decide today to be the master of your own house and begin a regular long term exercise program, suited to your abilities combined with a healthier diet.

3. Embrace voluntary, wholehearted obedience as part of your life - Acknowledge that you cannot love God without also loving His commandments.  The Saviour's standard is clear and simple, 'if ye love me, keep my commandments'.  Selective obedient brings selective blessings and choosing something bad over something worse is still choosing wrong.  You can't watch a bad movie and very bad one. Faithful observance of some commandments doesn't justify neglecting others. Abraham Lincoln rightly said 'when I do good I feel good, when I do bad I feel bad.'
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Also, do the right things for the right reasons.  The Lord who 'requireth the heart and a willing mind' and who 'is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the hearth' knows why you go to church  - whether you are present in body only or truly worshipping.  You can't sing on Sunday 'O Babylon, O Babylon I bid thee farewell, and then seek to tolerate it's company again moments later.  Remember that casualness in spiritual matters never was happiness.  Make the Church and the restored gospel  your whole life not just a part of your outward or social life.  Choosing this day whom you will serve is lip service only - until you actually live accordingly.

4. Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly - Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out.  Embrace the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance as things that are to be welcomed and applied daily according to the Great Physicians orders.  Establish an attitude of ongoing, happy, joyful repentance by making it your lifestyle of choice.  In doing so, beware of the temptation to procrastinate and don't expect the world to cheer you on.  Keeping your eyes on the Saviour, care more about what He thinks of you, and let the consequences follow.

5. Become really, really good at forgiving - 'I the lord will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men'.  Forgive everyone, everything, all the time or at least strive to do so, thus allowing forgiveness into your own life.  Don't hold grudges, don't be easily offended, forgive and forget quickly and don't ever thing that you are exempt from this commandment.

6. Accept trials, setbacks and surprises as part of your mortal experience - Remember that you are here to be proved and tested 'to see if you will do all things whatsoever the Lord your God shall command you' and may I just add 'under all circumstances'.  Millions of your brothers and sisters have been or are being thus tested, so why should you be exempt?  Some trials come through your own disobedience or negligence.  Other trials come because of the negligence of others or simply because this is a fallen world.  When these trials come, the adversary's minions begin broadcasting that you did something wrong, that this is a punishment, a sign that Heavenly Father does not love you.  Ignore that!  Instead, try to force a smile, gaze heavenward and say I understand Lord.  I know what this is.  A time to prove myself, isn't it?  Then partner with Him to endue well to the end.

It is our choice Sisters - we truly can become more confident before the Lord and more ready to meet with Him again.  What do you need to do?  Will you do it?  Here is to a wonderful, peaceful and content 2015.