Summer Reading Challenge: “Deep in Our Hearts”

Alright, I’ve got my May Ensigns packaged up with my Summer Reading Challenge bookmarks and some highlighters and I’m headed to go and drop them off to ministering sisters in just a bit!!

I’m so excited about this reading challenge! If you’re a paper and pen girl like me and would like to pick up the Ensigns….you can find them at Deseret Book for only $1.

As promised…each week I’ll be picking one conference talk to go over and highlight and discuss.  If you’ve read this particular talk, I’d encourage you to leave comments as to what you got from the talk, yourself.  It’s always fun to hear everyones feedback and what they’ve learned!  And if you haven’t yet read the talk, I’ll always leave a link on my page to read it electronically.

Lastly…you don’t have to be a member of my church to participate in this!!! These talks were all given for the good of EVERYONE!  They’re uplifting and inspiring.  They are a breath of fresh air in this crazy, crazy world right now.  ANYONE can take away SOMETHING GOOD from it!

The talk I chose this week was called “Deep in Our Heart” by Douglas D. Holmes.

Brother Holmes talks about 3 different principles that we should be focusing on in our lives, to allow the gospel of Jesus Christ to sink deeper into all of our hearts.

The first one he talks about is RELATIONSHIPS.  This is my favorite one.  He talks about how relationships take TIME.  They don’t just magically happen.  He says, “Seeing others as God does is a gift.  I invite all of us to seek for this gift.  As our eyes are opened to see, we will also be able to help others see themselves as God does.”

“Helping others understand their true identity and purpose is one of the greatest gifts we can give.  Seeing others and ourselves as God does knits our hearts together in unity and in love.” 

Wouldn’t it be GREAT if every person on this planet recognized that THEY were a child of God?  That THEY had a loving father and mother in heaven who LOVES them? And that THEY have a Savior who has made it possible for us all to return back to them one day?  Just imagine.  I have a feeling, things on this earth right now would be a tad different if everyone knew this.

Brother Holmes also goes on to say:  “As we plan activities, meetings, and other gatherings, let us remember an overarching purpose of these gatherings is to build loving relationships that unite us and help get the gospel of Jesus Christ deeper in our hearts.”

That’s it!  Isn’t that so simple?  I’ve sat in many a planning meetings…whether it been planning youth activities, girls camp festivities, stake Relief Society gatherings, primary programs…..and this is it! THIS is WHY we plan these gatherings!!!  “To build loving relationships that unite us and to help get the gospel of Jesus Christ deeper in our heats.”  Don’t you just LOVE that?

This talk also highlights the GREAT importance of  our youth.  Our teenagers!!!  There is SO much they can be doing to move the work of the Lord forward and it is time that we put our faith into them and help them become the leaders that they can be now, and can be in the future.