One reason for prayer

Idea: One reason prayer is important is that it helps s get to thinking about other people. Heavenly Father wants all of his children cared for, so He that is probably one reason He uses prayer. When we are praying, we are thinking beyond ourselves and we are trying to think about His will. That helps us think about others.

Agency and mortality

Moses and Abraham (the books) have a lot of stuff about mortality and the purpose. I am being blessed for keeping my first estate, and these blessings come in the form of trials and testing too. Heavenly Father is doong it for me. He wants me to be sure, to truly have the pure chance to choose him.

Self worth

I have been feeling a little bit low on my self-worth lately. It's causing me to compare myself to others and feel like my life isn't as cool as it could be or whatever. Getting on social media never helps with this. So I think I need to avoid it for a little while. But I ready to talk from October 2017 by Sister Jones about our value and how the Holy Ghost can help us feel of our value, especially during Quiet Moments when we receive simple feelings. I've experienced those often through my life and they are truly such blessings. Those are indications that the Lord sees me worthy to receive impressions she also mentioned a few methods of increasing our self-worth. She mentions the scripture about letting virtue garnish our thoughts and having charity toward others. She says that we can control our thoughts and choose to avoid negative thoughts or self-doubt. I need to be better about redirecting my thoughts. She also talks about focusing on the atonement and the Savior and what he did for me to give me self-worth. She says to give energy and love toward the Savior, and that as we do so his love and energy will flow into us. She says, if the pull of the world is stronger than the faith and trust we have in the Savior, then the pull of the world will prevail every time. She is saying that we have a choice where we focus our energies and everything and what we respond to. And there are results for those choices. Anyway, I just want to focus more and think more about my covenants and the Savior. I want to redirect my thoughts and use positive self-talk, and have virtuous thoughts.

Temple thoughts and other stuff

I've been reading the Book of Mormon quickly, trying to not re-read or look up too many footnotes, and also trying to look at it like it was my first time reading it. It's so good. I like how clear it is about Christ.

Tonight I read Enos and Jarom, and I asked Heavenly Father beforehand to teach me something He wanted me to learn (leftover from going to the temple yesterday, in case I missed something while I was there--because I'd been feeling like I needed to go to the temple, and it was a great experience, but nothing earth-shattering--see below). In Enos, I realized that Enos may not have been a bad guy. I always thought his repentance process was because he was really sinful. Maybe not. Maybe he just went through that wrestling with God because he was becoming more refined and consecrated--not necessarily because of serious sin.

I can apply this to me by thinking about different experiences or callings in my life. Becoming a mother. Getting married. Getting a new calling. Having an experience where you feel you need to play a certain role in someone's life or do something. Figuring out the Lord's will for you, etc. It reminded me of in Jacob when he says he got his "errand of the Lord" by visiting the temple.

Ok and here, about the temple. It was so nice. I did 10 names in initiatories,and all the workers made me feel so good, like they really needed me there and were so happy to see me. It made me feel really special.  I also learned a bit about "anointed." And how it means like set apart for something, but not necessarily ordained. I used to think that the initiatory was kind of like us women getting the priesthood, once we're in the next life and if we get sealed to a husband in this life. But it's not that, I don't think, although we get all the blessings of the priesthood. But being anointed is getting set apart for something (the calling of becoming a queen and priestess) and cleansed in preparation for something (all the blessing in the anointing section of initiatory, and also the clothing one). It also has to do with oil. I'm basing these three definitions of "anoint" off of the TG entry on that word.

I liked the temple. I felt love. I felt to pray for the YW presidency, my priesthood leaders, and my dear friends who are having faith struggles. I felt close to Heavenly Father. And grateful for opportunities to have spiritual exposures in life.

BoM is sufficient

2nd Nephi 33 verse 10 and 25 or 28 are so good. They just say that the Book of Mormon is sufficient for us to know how to follow Christ. And it teaches all men what we should do and that we should do good

Grateful for Jesus

I just read 2nd Nephi 9. It is such a great chapter. Jacob is so serious and sincere and full of power about the atonement, and Jesus Christ and coming into Jesus Christ and using what he did for us to help us, save us, bring us joy. You can tell that Jacob just feels like the answer is so clear, and it's because he's experienced what it feels like when you know Jesus. I'm grateful for Jesus and what he did for me in the atonement, and that I know I will answer to him.

Don't fear or be ashamed

Isaiah is cool amd carries this theme.

2 Nephi 7:7 For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
8 And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me, and I will smite him with the strength of my mouth.
9 For the Lord God will help me. And all they who shall condemn me, behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, and the moth shall eat them up.

8:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner. But my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool. But my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
12 I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you. Behold, who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die, and of the son of man, who shall be made like unto grass?
13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?

Don't fear what people think of me. Anyone. Focus on Christ's love and salvation.