Isn't conference so motivating? I always get so inspired to go and do! I am so grateful to have a living prophet in this day and to have the opportunity to hear his words and the words of the apostles twice a year.
Sorry if those of you that tuned in didn't get much out of it. Apparently almost every talk was meant just for me. :)
I came away from conference with some very important insight.
There were multiple messages that mentioned personal revelation and listening for the Holy Ghost. I believe it was President Boyd K Packer who said that we cannot make a huge mistake without first receiving a warning. I felt like I need to start trusting my own revelation and decisions and to stop questioning them because of other people.
Growing up I always imagined that I would get married, my husband and I would graduate from college, we'd have children that I drove to public school every morning, and my husband would go to work from 9-5 (no weekends) at a job that was "socially acceptable" (whatever that meant). I was quickly awakened to reality early into my marriage that not everyone follows the same path. Not everything falls into perfect place for everyone (anyone?).
This past year we've made some decisions that most people don't understand as far as Jeff's career and that many people don't agree with as far as our children's schooling.
Jobwise, early this year we prayed diligently and felt ... not like we'd hoped to feel. We knew what we needed not to do, but didn't feel any guidance on what exactly to do. So, we kept going and followed what felt like limited inspiration. The hardest part about this was that we were being hammered with questions of "who?what?when?where?why?how?" and we didn't know at the time. That part hadn't been revealed to us yet. So, we offered up weak explanations, which now I regret doing. Had I trusted more in the Holy Ghost and God's plan for us I would have simply said, "We don't know. We're just moving forward until Father in Heaven decides we're ready for more information." I know this would have been even less of a socially acceptable answer, but does that really matter? People sputtered off, "butbutbutbut," anyway, so I may as well just have given an even more exasperating answer, right?
Schoolwise, I didn't realize how rude people would be when it came to homeschooling. People have attempted to talk me out of it, to tell me nonstop that my kids will be social pariahs, to go behind my back and attempt to trick Salem into saying that she's completely miserable (which didn't work bytheway... and this was a lady from church that I've talked to a total of 5 times).
In fact, I am so grateful that I followed the prompting I recieved a year ago to take Salem out of school. It has been such an amazing experience. I LOVE it, Salem loves it, and we are really happy with the situation. I know that this was personal revelation for my family and I have faith that, while it doesn't fit the "normal" scene I described from my teen vision of a perfect life, it is what I have been led to do in my family.
I know that we are entitled to inspiration as part of the covenants we make at baptism. I know that our Father in Heaven loves us and wants us to be happy. I know that we can rely on the inspiration that we receive and that we need to be strong in our faith and not let the dissenting of others weaken our faith. If you are reading this and have no idea what I'm talking about, go here , it will do good things for your heart!
Sorry if those of you that tuned in didn't get much out of it. Apparently almost every talk was meant just for me. :)
I came away from conference with some very important insight.
There were multiple messages that mentioned personal revelation and listening for the Holy Ghost. I believe it was President Boyd K Packer who said that we cannot make a huge mistake without first receiving a warning. I felt like I need to start trusting my own revelation and decisions and to stop questioning them because of other people.
Growing up I always imagined that I would get married, my husband and I would graduate from college, we'd have children that I drove to public school every morning, and my husband would go to work from 9-5 (no weekends) at a job that was "socially acceptable" (whatever that meant). I was quickly awakened to reality early into my marriage that not everyone follows the same path. Not everything falls into perfect place for everyone (anyone?).
This past year we've made some decisions that most people don't understand as far as Jeff's career and that many people don't agree with as far as our children's schooling.
Jobwise, early this year we prayed diligently and felt ... not like we'd hoped to feel. We knew what we needed not to do, but didn't feel any guidance on what exactly to do. So, we kept going and followed what felt like limited inspiration. The hardest part about this was that we were being hammered with questions of "who?what?when?where?why?how?" and we didn't know at the time. That part hadn't been revealed to us yet. So, we offered up weak explanations, which now I regret doing. Had I trusted more in the Holy Ghost and God's plan for us I would have simply said, "We don't know. We're just moving forward until Father in Heaven decides we're ready for more information." I know this would have been even less of a socially acceptable answer, but does that really matter? People sputtered off, "butbutbutbut," anyway, so I may as well just have given an even more exasperating answer, right?
Schoolwise, I didn't realize how rude people would be when it came to homeschooling. People have attempted to talk me out of it, to tell me nonstop that my kids will be social pariahs, to go behind my back and attempt to trick Salem into saying that she's completely miserable (which didn't work bytheway... and this was a lady from church that I've talked to a total of 5 times).
In fact, I am so grateful that I followed the prompting I recieved a year ago to take Salem out of school. It has been such an amazing experience. I LOVE it, Salem loves it, and we are really happy with the situation. I know that this was personal revelation for my family and I have faith that, while it doesn't fit the "normal" scene I described from my teen vision of a perfect life, it is what I have been led to do in my family.
I know that we are entitled to inspiration as part of the covenants we make at baptism. I know that our Father in Heaven loves us and wants us to be happy. I know that we can rely on the inspiration that we receive and that we need to be strong in our faith and not let the dissenting of others weaken our faith. If you are reading this and have no idea what I'm talking about, go here , it will do good things for your heart!
2 comments:
Conference is life affirming. There are so many answers to questions my heart hasn't as yet asked. And though I, as a parent, would like to give wise guidance, I know that it isn't up to me. Heavenly Father knows what is behind a closed door and I do not. I think that you and Jeff are amazing. You work as a team to find solutions to life's hiccoughs. Dad and I will miss you, but we are excited about your new adventure.
Love,
Grandma Curtis
Ashley, you are an inspiration. Thanks for your post and your courage. I love you!
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