Our load to carry :)

Hello everyone!

What an empowering weekend of General Conference we had!  I LOVED all of it and tried to soak it all up!  It was wonderful and filled my heart with love, peace, gratitude, and committment.  I am so grateful for how the Lord works with us and that our Heavenly Father uses the pattern of prophets and apostles to lead us and guide us.  What a blessing!

This last week was good, and I feel that I am learning and growing.  There were struggles and disappointments, but we were blessed.  I feel that I am learning how to manage time and plan better.  It's been humbling to me to learn how much physical and mental things affect our spiritual things.  They are all connected.  It's important to not let the physical and mental things become higher priority than spiritual things, but it is important to take care of them to the best of our ability.

[Our investigators couple] have helped me learn a lot.  I shared last week how I felt I had been too bold with some of our investigators.  Specifically I felt that way with [this couple].  I was getting frustrated that they weren't learning what I wanted them to learn as fast as I wanted them to learn it.  I have learned patience, love, meekness, and creativity.  I've learned the importance of simplicity.  One of the quotes in Preach My Gospel is, "It is true intelligence for a man to take a subject that is mysterious and great in itself, and to unfold and simplify it so that a child can understand it." (President John Taylor)  That is what I have been learning.

I loved the message from Elder Bednar about the load in the truck enabling his friend to get the traction he needed to move forward, back to his family and loved ones.  It taught me that it is ok and in fact necessary for us to carry loads.  The scripture goes, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."  It does not say "my load is light."  I loved that analogy so much!  That gave me such comfort, that if we feel we are carrying a load, we are doing what's right.  It will teach us humility (and meekness), and it will lead us home.  It does not have to be burdensome, but if we are not involved in taking the Lord's yoke upon us - meaning we want to work and carry the load - then we are not following a path that will lead us back to our Heavenly Home.

I know that our Heavenly Father loves us.  I had the special and touching experience of teaching a 16 year old young man how to pray this last week.  I was so humbled by his simplicity, sincerity, and specifics.  I know that our Father in Heaven hears our prayers and answers them.  I know that as we seek His spirit - the comforter promised to us by the Savior - He will give it to us to bear the load He has given us.  I love my Savior and hope to love Him even more as I continue to study His word and follow Him.

I love you all!  May you know that you are not alone as you carry your load this week!  It is a blessing! :)