Sunday Notes

Notes from the young men's program on Sunday, celebrating the anniversary of the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood.

Notes 16/5/15
• How much more joyful will our lives be if we make events a matter of "How did I succeed?" rather than "Did I succeed?"
• Temples are an anchor between heaven and earth. They link mortals in time on earth with gods through eternity in the spirit world. The temple is the bridge from mortal to eternal lives, passing over death.
• Gospel experiences motivate us to move forward and do more (such as sincere repentance, receiving revelation, giving service, etc). The Holy Ghost testifies that the things we do have meaning, and we are blesses with a foretaste of eternal joy. This is no Pavlo conditioning -- we feel this divine joy because we are beginning to reach our potential as children of "the Father of Lights." Eternal growth brings eternal joy, much as eternal families bring eternal happiness, and eternal knowledge brings eternal confidence.
• These young men possess a unique clarity and insight, despite their age, and in spite of the many world my distractions they may fall victim to. They, with untainted minds, recognize in simple terms the significance of things that "make us feel good inside." They trust their feelings, they trust their experiences, and they are not yet hardened enough to insist on doing things their own way. They are still willing to "experiment on the word."
• Too often now, we focus on understanding and dissecting and mastering negative feelings. This has sapped our confidence in our positive feelings, and robbed us of much of our focus and attention. We can live the abundant life if we will but follow the things that bring wholesome, uplifting feelings to our hearts. We have feelings for a reason: to guide us where logic and reason is insufficient.
• Nothing can inspire us more than the cries of those we love. This is why we have a family, why we seek friends, and above all else, why we foster a relationship with a loving Father in Heaven.
• Made from a rib, haha. At each other's side, close to the heart, but not above or below, dominant or submissive. Partners.
• Men and women are intentionally created with often similar and different traits, built to be complementary, to aid one another and grow in unity. You cannot make 3 with 1 and 1, or 2 2's. You need a 1 and a 2.