Mormons are a peculiar people. You know why? Because we think the best weekend of the last six months is the one where we sit for 10 hours listening to old men talk about the gospel. Many other people would not even think to do that nor would anyone outside the Church in our age group think it sounds like something they would remotely want to do. In the end, I love General Conference, no matter how peculiar. I had another post that I wanted to post this week, but this idea hit me during conference that I felt needed to be shared. So, you will get that post next week (for sneak peek… just think Bundt Cakes). The Book of Mormon teaches of the Pride Cycle. Many times a people become sanctified and are blessed for their righteousness. Then they forget their teachings and their blessings, and become puffed up in their own pride. Their pride leads to wickedness, which inevitably causes suffering and destruction. Hopefully, the people recognize their wrong doings and know where happiness comes from. Humility and repentance, if embraced, encompass their lives and they are able to prosper again. ![]() Just like we are taught about the Pride Cycle in the Book of Mormon, I feel that can also be called the Happiness Cycle for those that are Single. Let me explain. Prosperity and Righteousness: A couple of months ago I was in a very happy place. During my Sabbatical, I felt confident in myself, in being single, in my chosen place in life. I was doing what I was supposed to. I was close to the Spirit. Pride and Wickedness: Then things became hard. Some trials passed my way. I got discouraged, I lost my faith. All my actions felt useless, when I retreated far from the Spirit. The good works that I knew I should do felt like they didn’t mean anything. I didn’t feel like I was reaping the blessings I deserved. Destruction and Suffering: I withdrew from the Spirit in turn becoming pouty. I didn’t try and wasn’t doing everything that I knew was correct. My heart wasn’t in it. Longing to have the Spirit with me again I knew I needed a way out. Although, I felt I lacked the motivation deep within me. The tricky thing about motivation is that it doesn’t come until you act. This is pretty different than what society teaches us about motivation. We tell ourselves “I don’t have the motivation to start to do something.” Well, tough luck Chuck, you won’t have motivation until after you start. Humility and Repentance: So I started to act. Prayed harder. Looked for ways to serve others. Went to institute. Turned to those around me for advice. I started to feel the Spirit again because I acted. The Spirit wasn’t going to come back to me if I just waited for it. We see the pride cycle come and go at different times in our lives and for different reasons. One of my triggers that put me on this particular cycle was ingratitude for the blessing I have received. Elder Nelson spoke deeply to me from Sunday morning’s session. He taught: I feel like I have learned this lesson before. I have been preached this on this blog already! Singles tend to blame their circumstances for their unhappiness. I have done this several times! I have been feeling that I would never figure this out! No matter how many times I have tried to change, I kept resorting to the original behavior. I have read books, studied popular topics about change to understand this concept to create lasting change. President Packer has taught, “The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.” That was the kick in the butt I needed to learn from the gospel. So I began praying to know how to enable actual changes in my behavior. I have come to the conclusion that it is what is the focus of my life, one guiding principle that will sustain long term change, not just action. Here is a little diagram that I think helps to visualize what I’m talking about. If Christ is my focus, then he is my Exemplar. By following His example, I will strive to love. If I will develop love in my heart, I will sincerely want to act in a way that Christ would. Things like serving others, fulfilling my calling, praying, reading scriptures won’t feel like a responsibility, but a genuine interest.
(see the article about rituals vs. relationships here: http://ldsmag.com/is-your-scripture-study-a-ritual-or-relationship/). I believe this is what General Conference is teaching us! In each and every one of the speaker’s own way, we are being taught different methods to change and make Christ our focus. Everyone changes differently. This is how I can see myself changing. I know it’s going to be a long road, but it is starting to make sense to me. What has General Conference taught you about changing yourself? What are you going to do about it?
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single.The Ability to Be Whole and Complete on My Own Archives
April 2017
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