A day of learning

Yesterday was amazing! I just sat in my seat and soaked up everything that was thrown at me.

Marzipan talked about love and how important it is to share it.

"It's so important to treat others with kindness because you never know what kinds of trials they may have to endure," she said.

She also shared: Matthew 25:40 and Luke 6:27-28. "You cannot give what you don't have," Marzipan said.

Waponi-Wu gave an excellent talk about the carnal vs. the spiritual. So often we get lost in the desires of the flesh and we lose sight of what is really important (i.e. the "big" picture). He shared a lot of scriptures and I am going to list them off for you to look up:

- John 11:25-26
- Galatians 5:21
- Galatians 5:22-23
- Luke 12:34 (an interesting note about this scripture is something my mission president always hit on. You must decide who your god is going to be. Where will you stand when it is all over?)
- Matthew 4 (The scriptures are the best way to handle any objection a person may have about your beliefs. This is why it is so important to learn what is inside the scriptures.)
- Jacob 2 (The Book of Mormon)
- Doctrine and Covenants 29:7
- Moroni 10 (The Book of Mormon)

Finally, Waponi-Wu shared some good wisdom from a friend: "You can't buy heaven, but you can buy hell."

The last speaker was a high councilman (I am terrible with names, so don't ask what it was). He spoke on a variety of things. One of the things he said that struck me was:

"The spirit is not something you attend church to find. It is already present and we must put ourselves in a position to feel of the spirit."

Wow! You must attend your meetings ready to be taught. The spirit is there and ready to teach you, but are you ready to be taught? The reason it is so important is because the greatest responsibility members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have is to share the gospel. Share what you have learned with others.

I find it interesting, because often people tell me they cannot teach or do something because they don't have a lot of knowledge about something. To me, it is not the knowledge that matters, but that you are willing to share what you know. When you share, you learn. When you keep it for yourself, it gets lost and what little you had is gone.

In Sunday School we talked about Job. I challenge you to read about him and find out what his traits and trials were. Then ask yourself what you can learn from them.

Probably the event I soaked up the most is the fireside we had. Larry Christensen, a professor at SLCC, came to speak to us. He is a psychology professor and when he started to talk about how our brains record life, I found it quite facinating.

Christensen shared how the nuerons work in our brain. When a baby is born, it has millions upon millions. Doctors figure this is why their head is so large at birth. Interestingly, as we get older, those nuerons begin to pair off and you develop a talent or genius in you. You become superior at something inparticular.

He then talked about the Drive Reduction Theory, which is a six step process.
1. Thought occurs
2. Dwell on the thought
3. Move toward it
4. Involved in the behaviour
5. Satiation (enough is enough)
6. Addiction: Any process or substance you use to ease your pain. Things used so you don't have to face up to the pain and/or reality. (he added this one because if you continue in the cycle, addiction occurs until it is broken)

When you get caught in this cycle and you want to get out, where do you need to make the break? Think about it...

As you get into situations in life, Satan will work hard to tempt you. Therefore, Christensen shared two things you can do:

1. You must be prepared before you get into a situation. When you make a decision about what you will do before you go, it is already decided and you don't have to battle with it.

2. This one has three parts:
a. Do you know what your spiritual gifts are?
b. Do you know what your talent you can do better than anyone else is?
c. Do you know how to share those gifts?

Doctrine and Covenants 46
1 Corinthians 12
Moroni 10

"Heavenly Father is listening to their prayers and he sent you!"