I'M A MORMON!!

Dad and I watched the Saturday morning session of Conference together.  We had rushed around doing yard work and cleaning right up until the Mormon Tabernacle Choir started to sing the opening song.  Then we quickly went in the house, plopped ourselves on the couch, and enjoyed the next two hours of spiritual nourishment!

One of the talks that resonated with me was that of Ann Dibbs.  Her story about the teenage girl she ran into at a store, who was wearing a shirt that read “I’m a Mormon!  Are you?” and Sister Dibbs’ subsequent thoughts leading to her declarative statement that followed really felt at home in MY heart.  She hoped we would ALL be able to boldly declare: 

I’m a Mormon!

I KNOW it!

I LIVE it!

I LOVE it!

I have thought about this off and on for the past 24 hours.  What makes some of us willing and able to state this without any hesitation, and yet others aren’t able to.  I think it has everything to do with our choices. 

When we make choices consistent with what we believe (our value core), we are happy, confident and secure.  When we don’t make choices consistent with what we know, we become defensive, withdrawn, and even sometimes start attacking and tearing down what we know inside. 

I know people who have tried to deal with their conflicting feelings by entertaining the thoughts that they were “brain-washed” or “manipulated” when raised with gospel principles as children, and that were turned away from as teenagers or adults.  We don’t deal well with conflict in our lives when it comes to our core beliefs. 

We may have started smoking, or drinking.  We may have been sexually active before marriage.  We may have become involved with drugs, or pornography, just to list a few of the things that are so rampant in our society. 

No matter what it is with which we struggle, living the gospel of Jesus Christ, doing everything in our power to LIVE WHAT WE KNOW, will give us peace, security, and confidence in all that we do. 

REPENTANCE is the most incredible opportunity EACH of us have been given.  You don’t have to be rich, talented, a CEO, or a college graduate; you don’t have to be organized, employed, or be an entrepreneur.  Every single one of us can repent of the things we are doing wrong in our lives; we can improve; we can be a little better each day.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has already paid the price for each one of us and every single sin and mistake we have made or will make.  But WE have to decide if we will accept His incredible gift to us by doing everything in OUR power to repent.  I hope we will!

I’M A MORMON!

I KNOW it!

I LIVE it!

I LOVE it!