COUNT THEM 5 BY 5...!

Want to join me?!

This idea came to my mind last night and I am starting today!

 

 In honor of the challenge, you may want to humm along with me...

Hymn 241
Count Your Blessings

1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

[Chorus]
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.

2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Depending on what fills my list, I do plan, come Dec, to post my list of 150.
What if you miss a day? Just pick it up and start on that day! 

I loved Wilford Woodruff's profound statement. I can't remember if I ever posted it, but it is something I am trying to live by....

And on a personal note, Happy November! November 1st is very sacred to me. It is among the choicest of all days in the year! Happy November!

I am grateful for a mission call that required me to

take out my endowments.

Part 1 of the 3 Part Challenge!

Are you up for the challenge?!

This is a 5 month challenge!

Hopefully you have received your Conference Ensign...

The over all challenge is to read a General Conference talk every day for five months/until Oct's General Conference. In the past, I have read the Conference Ensign, every day until it is finished... then, I have re-read the Ensign about 35 days before the next conference. BUT WHAT ABOUT IN BETWEEN?

I heard Sheri Dew take on the challenge of reading/listening to a conference talk every day in between the six months of conference. I have never done it, so... I am going to try it!

Challenge 1: Read the Conference Ensign cover to cover (I am a week into this, and again, it is just soo good!) 

Challenge 2: After the May Ensign has been read, pick from favorite Conference talks in the past/let God impress on your mind the talks He would have you read and read at least one talk each day.

Challenge 3: 38 days before Oct's conference,  re-read the Conference talks from the May's Ensign. 

What do I hope to gain?

This tree is known as the bride tree at temple square, where couples would come sit on the branches. The tree is VERY old and cannot support its own limbs. You can see (there are at least 4) metal support beams holding up the limbs of the tree, sustaining the tree, allowing the tree to continue growth.

I believe that studying General Conference talks will be and do the same thing for me! The talks will act as beams of support... strengthening me through the next five months, allowing/providing the support to help me continue to grow as God would have me grow. Davey wisely put it, that what we receive in General Conference--is what God would have us apply to our lives/is the council for the next six months of our life. (Amen Davey!)

So who's up for this 5 month challenge?! :D  You are welcome to join me!

Q: What if I don't care for reading? Can I listen to a talk a day?
A: Go for it! (You can download a podcast and listen to it that way if you want to listen.)
Q: What if I miss a day and/or fall behind.
A: Elder Holland said, "His [God's] concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there." : D

To listen/read April's Conference Click Here.
For all Conference's to choose from Click Here.

Q: What if this little challenge was life changing?
A: Blessed is the life that gets strengthened/changed for the better!!

What can it hurt?! There are only things to be gained!
JOIN ME! :D

36 DAYS

Thanks to Shani at work, she reminded me that I needed to check when I needed to start reading to finish the last conference talks before 2012's March/April Conference. Apparently I should have started two days ago--but I will catch up tomorrow! Join me! Every six months when I do the "pre" conference challenge, I have never been disappointed with my use of time in studying the talks over!

I have 14 pages of favorite quotes from the Oct 2011 conference... but here are just two pages of them. A taste of what this challenge can/will bring! 

Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten and Beloved Son of God. He is our Creator. He is the Light of the World. He is our Savior from sin and death. This is the most important knowledge on earth, and you can know this for yourself, as I know it for myself. --Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. --President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Let us not give up on the Lord. His blessings are eternal, not temporary. --Elder Robert D. Hales

Tests and trials are given to all of us. These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, that no matter how difficult our circumstances, “all these things shall [be for our] experience, and … [our] good.” --Elder Robert D. Hales

Perhaps as much as praying for mercy, we should pray for time and opportunity to work and strive and overcome. --Elder D. Todd Christofferson

At times we may even feel insignificant, invisible, alone, or forgotten. But always remember—you matter to Him! --President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

He [Jesus Christ] waited upon His Father—exercising His agency to forgive His enemies (Luke 23:34). --Elder Robert D. Hales

...what you see and experience now is not what forever will be. You will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain, or discouragement forever. --President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Our Father in Heaven understood that for us to make desired progress during our mortal probation, we would need to face difficult challenges. Some of these would be almost overpowering. He provided tools to help us be successful in our mortal probation. One set of those tools is the scriptures. --Elder Richard G. Scott

Let us be as quick to kneel as we are to text. --Elder Ian S. Ardern

The way to receive personal revelation is really quite clear. We need to desire to receive revelation, we must not harden our hearts, and then we need to ask in faith, truly believe that we will receive an answer, and then diligently keep the commandments of God. --Sister Barbara Thompson

Satan is a real being set on destroying you... --Jeffrey R. Holland

“Let us plead with the Lord to endow our mind and soul with the spark of faith that will enable us to receive and recognize the divine ministering of the Holy Spirit.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf) --Sister Barbara Thompson

“The Lord expects our thinking. He expects our action. He expects our labors. He expects our testimonies. He expects our devotion.” (President Monson) --Elder Jose L. Alonso

...your eternal destiny will not be the result of chance but of choice. It is never too late to begin to choose eternal life! --Elder Randall K. Bennett
You may in time of trouble think that you are not worth saving because you have made mistakes, big or little, and you think you are now lost. That is never true! Only repentance can heal what hurts. But repentance can heal what hurts, no matter what it is. -- Elder Boyd K. Packer

Dress modestly; talk reverently; listen to uplifting music. Avoid all immorality and personally degrading practices. Take hold of your life and order yourself to be valiant. -- Elder Boyd K. Packer
“Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. ... It is what God gave you time for.” (Rachel Jankovic) --Elder Neil L. Andersen

Time is never for sale; time is a commodity that cannot, try as you may, be bought at any store for any price. Yet when time is wisely used, its value is immeasurable. --Elder Ian S. Ardern

Whoever you are and whatever you have done, you can be forgiven. Every one of you young men can leave behind any transgression with which you may struggle. It is the miracle of forgiveness; it is the miracle of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. But you cannot do it without an active commitment to the gospel, and you cannot do it without repentance where it is needed. --Jeffrey R. Holland

A temple marriage for time and all eternity is worthy of your greatest efforts and highest priority. --Sister Elaine S. Dalton

The Lord’s way is not to sit at the side of the stream and wait for the water to pass before we cross. It is to come together, roll up our sleeves, go to work, and build a bridge or a boat to cross the waters of our challenges. --President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The greatest compliment that can be earned here in this life is to be known as a covenant keeper. --Elder Russell M. Nelson

When we have charity, we are willing to serve and help others when it is inconvenient and with no thought of recognition or reciprocation. We don’t wait to be assigned to help, because it becomes our very nature. --Sister Silvia H. Allred

“There is no chance, no fate, no destiny that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” (Elder Marion D. Hanks) --Elder Quentin L. Cook

Accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as your way of life. --President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

There is power in being reminded of how great God is and His son Jesus Christ!  There is great power in being reminded of Heavenly Father's plan for us ... of the "why" we are here on this earth ... where we are going ... and who we really are. There is power in remembering. There is power in perspective...! 

Jesus LIVES!