October 2016
Sisters,
as I pondered what to address this month, my mind was all over the
place. Things that I needed to get done kept popping up and I had a
difficult time trying to focus. As a result, I felt it was important
that this month’s message be on “Focusing on the Savior”. Our lives are
so filled with so many things, that I think we need to stop and focus on
what we truly should be focusing on…the Savior.
How
can we and why should we take time out of our extremely busy days and
nights to place the Savior first? Aren’t we doing good things? Shouldn’t
family be our focus? How can I fit in just one more thing? I know that
it is important, but isn’t what I am doing good enough? Is it? Only you
and the Lord together can answer that question. Recently, I played the
piano and accompanied a wonderful arrangement with Cello, Violin, and
two beautiful voices of “if the Savior Stood Beside Me.” As the music
flowed and the words came to my mind, I was touched. What would I do
differently? How would my focus change if the Savior was beside me?
Elder Dallin H. Oaks declared in his April 2001 Conference talk, “Our
priorities determine what we seek in life.” Shouldn’t the Savior be
first?
How
can we daily strive to focus more on eternal things? We need to work,
eat, go to school, and even play. All of these things can be wonderful,
so how do we prioritize correctly. I find it interesting that when we
are asked to talk in church or have to give a lesson, we take the time
to study, ponder, and pray to ensure that we are prepared. How is that
possible? Priorities! I say these things as much to myself as anyone. I
am a Netflix binger, Soccer Mom, who works on a computer for work and
play. I love electronics and could easily be lost in its powers for
hours. Do I need to remove them from my life? Probably not, but I must
use them to my advantage by using the resources available through them
to learn more about the Savior and how I can help my family come closer
to him.
Each
of us has interests, talents, hobbies, and things that drive us. The
key is to figure out in your life how you can take something that you
love to do and involve the Savior and learning of him in that. You love
to read? Seek out spiritually uplifting books. You love to bake? Bake
with your children and take some cookies to someone who needs your
special touch in their lives. You are really effective at cleaning and
organizing? Do as the Savior and seek out those who need your special
gift to help them in their time of need. Good on a computer? Take some
time to do some Family History searching or indexing. Still need to
binge on Netflix? Grab someone who is alone, struggling, in need of a
friend, or heartbroken and bring them into your life and share that time
together to lift them and help them feel loved.
If
we change our focus to think more like the Savior, to feel more like
the Savior, and to love more like the Savior. We will become more like
the Savior. Find time to read your scriptures. Find time to attend all
of your church meetings. Find time to do the best you can in your
callings. Find time to pray. Live your life in such a way, that if the
Savior visited you today, you would be grateful and ready. He is
watching. He is aware of your struggles. Believe in him and believe him.
He has promised us that if we place him first in all things, he will
“pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive
it.” I know this is true. I have seen it and felt it and I am eternally
grateful to him.
Love,
Valyn Tucker
Kanesville Stake RS 1st Counselor
