This semester my primary goal for my Becoming Project is
DILIGENCE, DILIGENT, DILIGENTLY attribute.
Some weeks were a stretch for me, and others were easier. I
like who I have become and some of the “service opportunities” I have had to
really focus on being positive when I had negative thoughts. It doesn’t matter
what anyone else is doing, what matters is what I am doing. What am I doing to
help others and WHY am I doing it? I need to make sure that my mindset is
because this is how the Savior would like me to help. I have been diligent in my
morning prayers to ask to be guided to service opportunities that come my way.
Sometimes I feel like I haven’t done anything all day but when I look back over
my day, I need to count even the little things I have done for others.
We have had a lot of move in’s and move out’s in our ward this
past couple of months, and I was determined to help when I could. During the
four moves, I worked right alongside the Elder’s Quorum. I was the only woman
from the ward that helped, so I got a workout. I’m not as strong as I used to be,
but I pulled my weight and I climbed many stairs.
I have loved the opportunity to be diligent about weekly
temple attendance. Most weeks I would call ahead and schedule a time so we
would be more committed to going. We were able to do endowments, sealings and
baptisms. Because of work, one week got thrown out of whack and we didn’t make
it to the temple. Each time we attend the temple, we have had great experiences.
I even found a couple of names on my side to do. A few weeks ago, I found a
relative that needed some work done. He is a great-great-great uncle (Emilio). His
name was reserved and shared with the temple but hadn’t been printed yet. I was
determined to get this work done, so I sent an email to the individual that
reserved the record to see if she would release it to me. I didn’t hear from
her so I talked to the temple and they gave me a number I could call. In the
meantime, I finally heard back from this individual and she released the name,
so I was able to go reserve and print it off.
I also got looking at my cousin’s (Delores) info and her dad
(Ambrose). They have both passed so I contacted her brothers to see if they had
some information on Dee’s baptism. They thought that she might have been
baptized but after searching and finding no information, we decided to go ahead
and have her baptized. My cousins said it was okay for me to do Dee’s work and
their dad’s work (my aunt had passed away years ago and we had her work done. However,
I will not be sealing them because they were divorced, and I think I would get
throttled by my aunt). Because we were
busy moving people last Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday morning
(think of the muscles), we didn’t make it to the temple until Saturday
afternoon. We snuck in during the last of some boys doing baptisms and asked
them to do the one name I had, then the next group of girls would do Dee’s
baptism. During Emilio’s baptism, the man got a little choked up doing it, as
did I. However, I didn’t know this until after the confirmation when Doran told
me he talked to the guy. He also mentioned some lady getting choked up. We do
believe that Emilio was happy to finally have this work done. We will continue
doing this work for the next couple of weeks and finishing with my brother
helping at the Idaho Falls Temple.
What blessings are taking place for others as I strive to be
DILIGENT in my search and determination. I realize that every time we go to the
temple there are many people being blessed, but when we do our own family
names, it means a little more. It never fails that when Doran and I attend the
temple, we always have some kind of experience that we are in awe about.
I have also been diligent in blogging my insights that I
have learned in my studies. I have
also been brave to post on my Face Book page and on our ward FB page. I have
had a few comments from people that have said that is just what they needed to
read that day. One of the things that I fasted for this past Sunday was that I
wouldn’t stop studying and that I would keep sharing what I learn.
The Come, Follow Me curriculum has been great as well. I
learned a bunch when I taught this past Sunday. After church as we walked to
the cemetery, I told Doran all that I learned and taught. I was so excited for
everything that I learned. I even shared my “lesson” with his mom when we
called her that night. I still remember the night my in-laws “converted” me.
Through their prayers and diligence, they were able to touch my heart through
their example.
We continue to visit those that we think need a visit and
sometimes that is my parents. They have been having a lot of health issues
and spending more time with them has helped them feel comforted and know that
there is someone close if they need anything. Our relationship has strengthened
over the past few months.
I am thankful for this Becoming Project that had me focus on
certain attributes that I want to improve on. I sometimes get lazy and just
live from day to day but when I think of a “purpose”, I feel less like a slug.
