DARE TO SOAR (12/10/2008)

The following is from a Church Relief Society Lesson that was given to th Leander Ward that I wanted to share will everyone. If we focus on ourselves we are not being united with the Lord and we are being selfish. Dare to Soar sould simply in theory, but can all of us do our best to achieve our greatest potiental ... At the end there is a challenge to try.

DARE TO SOAR
Who here wants a life of sadness, frustration, or heart ache – Anyone?? O.K. What DO you want?

A few years ago, my husband and I went to Alaska for a vacation. And one of the most spectacular things I saw was an eagle in flight. I watched as that eagle soared through the skies… he knew that there were dangers… wind sheer, rain, fog banks, wind shifts… but he kept flying. At times, he would be struggling just to keep going, but then there were times that he would float through the air, with what seemed no effort at all. The eagle almost looked like he was smiling… he seemed to love the flight. He seemed truly happy. He would fly over the ocean in search of his meal. He would dive, over and over again. He never gave up. Finally after many attempts, he had success. A huge fish, so big he could hardly carry it. He would sit on the rocks, eating in peace and seemed to be so content. We marveled at the sight. I wondered to myself… why does he keep going up into the skies even when he knows that something bad may happen? That he may not find dinner? Why is it so important to him, that he is willing to overlook all of the obstacles? Then I thought to myself… do I overlook the obstacles in my life and soar like that majestic bird? Do I allow the challenges that may lie ahead of me keep me from a life that would make me happy?

In the talk by Pres. Monson this last conference, “The Joy of the Journey”, he said… “I begin by mentioning one of the most inevitable aspects of our lives here upon the earth, and that is change. At one time or another we’ve all heard some form of the familiar adage:” Nothing is as constant as change”. Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not. There are changes in our lives which are sudden, such as the unexpected passing of a loved one, an unforeseen illness, the loss of a possession we treasure. But most of the changes take place subtly and slowly.”

Sisters, we will have challenges and obstacles in our lives. As we find these obstacles we must also realize that we also have many blessings-

Did you know that our Father in Heaven has given us many promises? Not just suggestions, or ideas.. but true promises. Promises that He will keep if we keep the commandments, repent of our sins, and continually strive and prepare ourselves to live with Him.

Let me share with you what I believe are our Fathers Top 10 Promises:

1. The Privilege of being strengthened by ministering angels. D&C 84:88
2. The Promise of prosperity. 2 Nephi 2:20-21, D&C 9:13, Deut. 29:9, Mal. 3 9-10, D&C 64, D&C 78:17-18
3. The Promise of Peace. Luke 2:14, 1:79, 2 Cor. 13:11, D&C 59:29
4. The Promise of “renewed” health and strength. Isa 40:31, D&C 89
5. The Promise of Joy and Happiness. 2 Nephi 2:23-25, Alma 22:15, 41:5, 28:14, 36:20, 42:8, D&C 93:33, John 13:17
6. The Promise of Faith, Hope and Charity. Moroni 7:25, 33 43-48, Alma 13:28-29
7. The Promise of the Holy Ghost, whose influence, comfort and guidance are manifest through the Light of Christ. D&C 88:11-13, 49-50, 62, 66-68, D&C 84: 45-47, 88, D&C 8:2-3, D&C 121:46, 2 Nephi 32:5, Romans 5:5, Moroni 8:26.
8. The Privilege of rising in the first resurrection and living with the Savior during the 1,000 year Millenium. D&C 76:50-70, Mosiah 15:20-25
9. The Promise to return home and live eternally with Heavenly Father. Moses 6:57
10. The Promise of Enjoying Exaltation and Creating Eternal Families. Moses 1:35

Do you want to qualify for these promises? What are you doing today to be eligible? My dad has a saying that I love: “Anything that you can vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe in, powerfully pray for and enthusiastically act upon will inevitably come to pass!”

As a new year approaches- have you thought about what you really want in your life? What are you thinking about? What are you dreams?

We are a sisterhood in this room. We watch over each other. And we do it really well. Just last month our Visiting Teaching stats were______. That is the highest it has ever been. Well done! I believe that we have all caught the vision of oneness and unity. This is a team effort. We each have individual dreams. But as a whole, if we are focused, we can receive the power that comes with the gift of unity. So, here is what I would like to propose to all of our sisters. I would like to have every one of us take a moment each day at 12 noon, and pray for each other. Pray for individuals that are in your thoughts, pray for those you visit teach and those that visit you, pray for our sisterhood as a whole, and then pray for yourself. Visualize in your mind what your greatest dreams are for this year and your future. Share these dreams with our Father in Heaven. Take the opportunity to repent of your weaknesses. And then prepare yourself to receive the promises that our Father in Heaven has given to us.

I believe that as we pray together, our Father in Heaven will give us the power to do anything we strive for that is virtuous, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy.

Dare to Soar sisters! You are beautiful. You are daughters of our Father in Heaven and He loves you. And you deserve His promises.

CHALLENGE: Pray for your sister everydsat at Noon! Prayer for whom ever you are thinking about and then pray for yourself. THen watch for the Lord's blessings to come into your lives.