July 1-8, What a Week!!

Our bishopric counselor called June 30th to ask if Mark and I would speak in Sacrament meeting.  Amid Mark's protests I said we'd be glad to.  Our topic?  "Mountains to Climb" from Preisdent Eyring's talk in April's General Conference.

It was a busy week, because not only were we speaking, I was also responsible for finding a special musical number for Sacrament Meeting, plus substituting for the music in Primary and directing the ward choir on Sunday.  I was also trying to finish my History class and get all of my assignments turned in.  Plus it was the 4th holiday.  AND were looking for a house in Salt Lake, so I was consumed with trying to find something.  They've (the homes) have been going so quickly!

Thankfully I had a lot of help with the Spirit.  It was through the Spirit that I got my idea for a special musical number.  I ended up getting a quartet together from choir to sing a hymn.  We actually practiced that morning and then performed.  It went well.

I tried to do a little bit on my talk every day, but ended up writing most of it the Saturday before.  I used some ideas for Primary I found on Sugardoodle along with visual aids I printed off.

Everything came together and turned out great.

Mark lucked out.  He already had a talk written on trials that he had given for a high council talk.  All he had to do was review it.

I especially thought Mark did a good job.  After the meeting we had several people come up and say how they had really needed to hear the things we said.  One woman I know in the Primary, thanked me for our talks.  She has a friend who is really struggling with some terrible trials she's gone through, thinking that God hates her.  Allison, her friend was really hoping she would understand the purpose of trials and that God does love her.

One quote from President Monson was a good reminder for me: 

:  “Lest we question the Lord concerning our troubles, let us remember that the wisdom of God may appear as foolishness to men; but the greatest single lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and a man obeys, that man will always be right.”  (President Thomas S. Monson, April, 1998, 52.)

Since I tend to feel sorry for myself and wallow at times of trial, I also really liked this quote I found on Facebook that made me smile:

“Breaking News:

The Pity Train has derailed at the intersection of Suck It Up, and Move On, and crashed into We All Have Problems before coming to a complete stop at Get the Heck Over It.  Any complaints about how we operate can be forwarded to 1-800-waa-waaa.  This is Dr. Sniffle reporting LIVE from Quit Complaining.  If you like this share it.  If you don’t, suck it up.  Life doesn’t revolve around YOU.”

That got a chuckle from the audience.

Mark thinks we may be off the hook now, when it comes to speaking, especially since he also spoke for our Family Home Evening group at the Mission President's home.  (We meet on the 2nd Monday of every month with the senior missionaries and President and Sister Anderson).

 

I told him not to hold his breath, because I think as the temple is nearing completion, he or both of us may be asked to speak again.  So...we'll see.