Forget about yourself and get to work

Since December I have made it a point to have the same passion for the gospel as I did when I got baptized. Unfortunately I had to hit rock bottom before I made the decision to devote my entire self to the gospel.

Since December I have been studying the scriptures for at least 15 minutes every night, personal prayer, have been to church every single Sunday, pay tithing, have been to the temple, go to FHE and even institute. I have been forming more and more questions about the gospel and have come to realize that there is so much I don't know.

Every week in sacrament meeting I always take a message away from it. Whether it's one that comes from a sister's testimony or from the hymns or from the bishopric, I ALWAYS take something from attending sacrament meeting. The same is true for institute. Attending institute has been wonderful. I was a bit timid at first, but enjoy it quite a bit. It's caused me to ask those questions I have been ashamed to ask because everyone else seems to know that answers. It's caused me to be more humble.

At times I get overwhelmed with school and work and keeping up with my scriptures...they can be quite tricky! I'm guilty of wanting to do things for myself - like sleep, eat, watch a movie, hang with friends, facebook stalk people - when I really shouldn't be thinking about what I want to do but rather what the Lord would want me to do... strive to make myself better, to be an example to others and to share the gospel with those who aren't as fortunate as I am.

At the beginning of the year we talked about New Year's Resolutions. We all make them, and usually give them up within a month or two. I've decided that instead of making resolutions for the entire year to make them for the month or even the week depending on how much motivation I need. This month my goal is to say an opening prayer IN FRONT OF EVERYONE during one of our meetings. I also want to finish reading Alma and start reading the Old Testament.

Though I feel like I am struggling at times and am overwhelmed, I know that if I put the gospel first and rely on my Heavenly Father, everything will be just fine. I always seem to get through the overwhelming days with enough strength to get through the next. I always seem to get what I need to get done, done.