"now, remember, it is better to look up"

My attention was called back today, on a talk given in the last General Conference by Elder Carl B. Cook, called "It Is Better To Look Up."

If you haven't read/heard it, or it's been a while, I suggest reading it today--http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/it-is-better-to-look-up?lang=eng.

The message is so wonderful. Our Savior loves us, and is simply waiting for us to reach out to Him for help and guidance.

In church, we were asked to think first, "what makes you discouraged?" There are so many things in life that are hard, so many things that get us down, and it happens to everyone.

We all face trials.

Everyone is fighting a hard battle.

The point was made that when people have issues with praying, it is because they have forgotten or do not fully comprehend their relationship with the Lord.

We need to constantly and actively be seeking Him. Elder Cook says that when President Monson told him to look up, it was symbolic for remembering Christ. The only perspective that gives us hope, is up.

When we are sad and feeling discouraged, when our hearts are heavy and we feel burdened, it is easy to hang your head, and look to the floor. But, think of the limitations.

A sister pointed out, when you look to the ground, that's it, you can see everything, you see where it ends; there is no depth. But when you look up towards the sky, towards heaven, your perspective reaches up into infinity--a perspective eternal.

It reminds us that we as humans, can't see how it ends, that there is so much more that the Lord has in store for us. The sky is bright, and when we are constantly looking up, it directs the attention of those who know us and see us to look up as well.

My roommate stated that "we know we can look to Christ, and with that knowledge comes the responsibility to do so."

Christ suffered in Gethsemane for the very purpose of taking on Himself our every hurt, our every struggle or disappointment, that He can relate to us and comfort us in a way that no one else can, because He felt exactly the same.

I so often forget that.

Things can get hard, and I'll admit, I've felt at times like I have lost some direction in my life.

But I was reminded again, that my Savior knows. He has felt what I've been feeling, and I need to let Him help me. Another girl quoted her grandma in saying "the only time to look down, is to raise someone else up." That's what the Lord does for us. He raises us and carries us. As I'm writing this, the poem comes to mind that my parents always had hanging in their bedroom:

The church is so true. I love it with all my heart, and I love my Savior.

MATTHEW 11:28-30: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"

"i love love!" (for real this time)

In light of Valentine's Day, I am inspired to write about love (naturally).

Now I have church every Sunday morning at 9 am, which proves to be very difficult sometimes, because I like staying out late on Saturday nights as much as the next girl (probably more.)

As a result, there are mornings that going to church is hard, and paying attention is even harder, and sometimes, to keep myself awake, I draw pictures....

But, I have found that on days that I am actually awake and really praying to be touched by the Spirit, I have the most amazing lessons.

Today we had this incredible lesson about love. Not necessarily the "I love you let's get married and have babies" kind of love, but the kind that we ought to have for everyone.

Over the course of the lesson, points were made about reserving our judgements about people until we get to know them, because that leaves room for love to grow

"Why do we love Christ? Because He loved us first."

This got me to thinking, how many of us hold back on loving people, because we don't know them or we think they don't deserve it, or we think they don't love us back?

The fact of the matter is, everyone not only deserves love, but we all require it. As human beings, we have to have love, tenderness, affection, or we won't make it.

Like a newborn baby will die if it isn't immediately and constantly in contact with another human's touch, I think we also will wither away and stop living if we aren't loved.

God doesn't make mistakes. He has never made a single person that he hasn't loved, and expected others to love as well.

It's not our duty to pick and try to discern who is entitled to it, but rather to give that love freely and without limitations, because don't we want that in return?

We love Christ because he loved us first--Jesus didn't wait for us to prove ourselves, to see if we were worthy of his love, he just gave it to us.

Who are we to hold back?

You can't choose who to love, because everyone deserves it.

And what a difference that would make in our lives, in society, in the world, if we loved without hesitation. That being said, how can we expect to be loved if we don't? So love without fear, live without regret, and realize that everyone is fighting a hard battle--we all just need a little tender loving care.

come what may and love it

Of course, since it's a new year, we're all writing down our goals, making resolutions, trying to grow, become better than we were the previous year.

As I was writing mine down, I realized, I haven't written down or hardly made New Year's resolutions in years.

So one of my resolutions--make and fulfill some New Year's resolutions...I know.

Really though, some of my goals are that I plan to better myself and grow as a person.

I plan to have a greater knowledge and understanding of the scriptures and gospel in general.

To develop better, closer relationships with my friends and family, as well as make new friends.

On being more outgoing in all aspects of my life, especially with sharing the gospel.

I want the light of Christ to shine from me in a way that people will want to know Christ by knowing me.

I plan to show more service, and be more charitable. Most of all though, I plan to live my life starting now around Elder Joseph B. Worthlin's talk in the 2008 General Conference "Come What May, and Love it."

Everything happens for a reason.

All experiences in life are meant to build you and help you grow.

So I've realized I need to be thankful for every one of them--good or bad--and love what happens. I made a friend today that I went to church with, and he told me "If you live it, you'll love it-if you don't you won't."

Life is meant to be lived to the fullest. We are meant to laugh, love, achieve, get our hearts broken, occasionally fail that we may learn how to succeed.

This is going to be a wonderful year.