2 Mormonads (and a video) I Love!

"Our True Identity" (Ugly Duckling) Pres. Uchtdorf

One of my favorite talks from October 2013 General Conference!!!!!!

Okay, for seminary last year I got to read over this talk to pick a power phrase and fell in love with it! It is amazing! (The Moral Force of Women" by D. Todd Christofferson) (See more about "General Conference")

  

 Now, I am not one of those people who say "Women Rule!" "Men are stupid and Women are in a class much higher than men." etc.  NO-WAY! I believe that we need to have both men AND women to do just about anything in this life! REALLY! Think about it! How much do men give to the world? How much do women?  We give equally but have different talents and responsibilities, neither of which is greater because a woman does it or a man. They are equal.  

I think of it (more or less) like this: For example, the men might be represented by a hammer.  Women can be represented by wood. Or visa versa-whichever floats the boat.  It all depends on how you look at it. And a task can be represented by a nail. Now tell me, if you are trying to put a nail in, which is more importance-the hammer? or the wood?

 They are EQUAL WITH DIFFERENT TALENTS, RESPONSIBILITIES OR QUALITIES, BUT THE SAME GOAL!

It is rather hard to put in the nail with just a hammer if you have nothing to hold it in place.  And it does no good to have a piece of wood and a nail if there is no hammer to put it where it needs to go!

So, that is my little...parable.  Makes sense, doesn't it? (You are more than welcome to comment if you see a problem about it that I overlooked, or something). 

Anyway, back to the original talk, I love how he talks about our DIVINE NATURE as women, how our gifts and talents can change the world, how we have a MISSION in life-and not just in this life, but in our pre-mortal life and in the life to come. 

(Here is another cool video, but I couldn't attach it, so hopefully the link works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9tv_3kNv6k)

I love it when he says: "Women bring with them into the world a certain virtue, a divine gift that makes them adept at instilling such qualities as faith, courage, empathy, and refinement in relationships and in cultures."  I think that as both women and men we should strive to develop in ourselves and help others have those same attributes, in all that we say, do and think.

It's really hard to do.  I catch myself many times speaking to a sibling in a way that I know I'll regret later, or even when I am with my friends! I am almost always wondering if I said something that offended someone, or I wonder what someone thinks of me now that I said or did something. And most importantly, if the Savior had been there, would I have doe it? 

Many times I am very much impatient. Sometimes I do not have the courage to do what is right until it is too late, and I sometimes have a hard time trying to understand people's feelings and situations.  But I try.  I am trying really hard to think before I speak and to just Choose The Right no matter what and to to see others as the Savior would see them.  And when I do those things, at least do my best to do them I am able to feel closer to the Savior and have His Spirit's guidance and strength with me more-and boy do I need that!

Special Siblings

Yesterday my family went to the store.  It was rather eventful and I was having a bit of a hard time with my sister.  We went out to the car to eat lunch and before we went back in we had a chance to start fresh: she said she would do her best to listen to me and be calm and I said that I would do my best to be patient and listen to her more.  We went back in and before long I found that we were laughing and smiling with each other.  I let her read the labels of fruits and veggies and find what she thought were the best ones. She listened to me in what I thought and we got along just grandly. I even pulled the end while she stood on the cart, I usually get frustrated when she does that, but because I was so happy and I was trying to be patient I was able to be the kind of big sister I've always hoped I could be.

Today when we got home from the dentist one of my brothers was helping me clean the kitchen and we were talking and we got to talking about "20, 000 Leagues Under The Sea" which got us into sunken ships.  So a few minutes later I was able to be sitting at the table with him studying the Titanic-drawing, reading, writing facts, using a measuring tape to see comparisons of our house and the the ship.  I am so glad that I was able to use that opportunity to be able to spend quality time with him.  (And I got a brush-up on my history!).

I love my siblings! I am so grateful to have some. They are so wonderful, and thoughtful of me.

Daunting Dentists and Grateful Greetings

Hi!

Today I went to the dentist. (dun, dun, dun) This is one place I usually DISLIKE going. Very much.  I won't go into everything, just that the thing I usually dislike the most is the metal toothpick (oh, the chills!). I hate the scraping on my teeth.  It's like listening to nails on a chalkboard, to me.  Anyway, we get to the dentist and I see a lady sitting there on the couch and I get this little feeling like I should maybe try sitting next to her.
But, of course my mind started saying, "But she's got earphones in.  I don't really know how to start a conversation with her.  She'll think I'm totally weird. It could go all wrong because of this and that." So I sat down somewhere else.  I was thinking out some more excuses when her daughter came out and they left.  I had missed an opportunity!  It's so hard to act on impressions.  Usually things work out fine in what would seem like a very awkward situation, but fear keeps me back.  I'm so silly sometimes!

I was the second one in my family to go back.  Instead of acting all timid and frightened today, though, I decided to be friendly.  I tried to talk cheerfully and comply willingly.  And I tried to keep my mouth open extra long instead of having to swallow every five seconds.  I noticed that the lady's scrub shirt was pretty cute and worked up the courage to tell her so. "Oh, thanks!" She responded.  She was super gentle on my teeth today (Hallelujah!) and even though I didn't tell her that, I did at least mention it to my mom.  There was another assistant that came in a little later. I noticed that she had hurt her wrist.  I asked her about it and were able to talk a bit.

Talking about talking, yesterday I was at the temple.  I had brought some family names to do work for and had to wait a little longer than and few people.  There was a lady who had brought in a 3 names to do and we ended up sitting next to each other.  Before I even could think of something to say she said hello and began talking about my name and how she loved it. We were courteous to each other ("You can go first") and smiled at each other whenever we passed each other.  The last time I saw her (before she left) we felt like friends.  I love it when within such a short amount of time I can make friends with someone! I am so glad that she was outgoing enough to say hello to me.  She really made my day!  Thank you, sister!

Gifts Galore

Hi Everyone!  I'm Deepnita (Just in case you are wondering what in the world that name means, it means "Light and Happiness")! I am super excited to start this blog. Really. So, here is my first post:

As human beings we have so many gifts, opportunities and talents (even some that we ourselves do not even recognize)!  We have the power to BECOME. We have the power to help CHANGE ourselves and others.  We have the power to be HAPPY.  I heard a saying recently: "M. O. M. : Make Opportunities Matter" and it has stuck with me.  We have so many opportunities to become better people and make a difference for good. So...why don't we always take advantage of it?  (Among the common language of "Teens" now-a-days: "I'm too lazy." (groan)" I just don't want to." "I'll fail-epically!" "Who cares?" "But it takes so much effort!" "I've got so much to do." "I'm tired-more tired than I've ever been before.")  Okay, maybe we don't think that way, or, at least all the time.  I think the biggest reason is probably that we don't recognize that:

• We have an opportunity
• We have the power to make a difference in the situation
• We have gifts, most of which are completely unique!
• What gifts we have
• We are being watched, listened to, etc. (i.e. by our peers, people we don't think are watching)
• Everyone is important-just as important as ourselves
• Who we really are
• We have a goal in our existence (hopefully we have one...if not, better find it!), that everyone else has one and that our choices make a difference, they effect ourselves and everyone else

If we did recognize all those, whew! The world would be a completely different place, don't you think? 

So, I have made a goal to try to recognize those things in my own life.  This will hopefully reflect in my dress, language, thoughts, music and other media I put in/take out of my life, the way I treat myself, my family and others, and other aspects of my life. I believe that as I try to live with those "recognitions" in mind that I'll be able to have better self-esteem and happiness and a more fulfilled life.