The overwhelmed whiteboard

This is my whiteboard:

It currently sits in the kitchen, where I spend a large portion of my time. Soon, though, it will relocate to the office wall, where it will hang safely out of Rylan's reach. Lately he really enjoys pulling it down and rubbing the quotes off with his fat little sliding belly.

On my whiteboard, I collect quotes that strike home with me, or things that I've been thinking about. It's my effort to keep things of importance "always before my face". When I find a beautiful statement of truth, something that uplifts me and edifies me, it goes on the whiteboard.

My whiteboard has been a little overwhelmed the last few days.

You see, last weekend my church had a semi-annual general conference. Twice a year, we hold a two day conference in which the leaders of our church, messengers called of God to testify of Christ, speak to us. They give us counsel specific to our time and our circumstances, teaching us how to draw closer to God and be more like Him.

It was wonderful. I was uplifted and edified. There were so many beautiful statements of truth taught. I was reminded again why I am here and what I need to be doing.

The text of the talks given were posted on the internet two days ago, and I've been reading them and dissecting them a little more. My whiteboard simply isn't big enough, so today my blog is going to be an extension of my whiteboard.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught us that receiving revelation for our calling and in our personal lives “requires serious mental effort on our part…. Revelation is not a matter of pushing buttons, but of pushing ourselves"

"Without personal revelation, we cannot succeed. If we heed personal revelation, we cannot fail. This will happen as we allow ourselves to be still enough and quiet enough to listen to the voice of the Spirit."

--Julie Beck

He didn’t know everything, but he knew enough. He knew God loved him. That priceless piece of spiritual knowledge was sufficient for his doubt to be replaced with faith.

Faith is not only a feeling; it is a decision

--Neil Andersen

Creating and being compassionate are two objectives that contribute to our Heavenly Father’s perfect happiness. Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate.

We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty

Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination.

Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter

As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.

--Deiter F. Uchtdorf

These are excerpts from just a few of the wonderful talks. To read more go here.