You see this right here? This is me sustaining my husband. ;) There were a few sudden change of plans so he kindly asked me to fill in with the comment that I was on the list of speakers for next month anyway but I’m not sure I believe him. But regardless, thanks Brother Score for this opportunity to speak.
INTRO
I feel like everyone knows me since I
grew up in the ward, but we’ve also had a lot of new families move in so I
thought I’d give a little into.
Rebecca Score married to Jeff Score
Celebrating our 10th
anniversary this year which doesn’t seem possible
We have 4 kids, 2 boys and 2 girls
ranging in age form 7 to 1
We both grew up in the ward and
actually both of our parents are still in this ward too
If we haven’t met it is probably
because I’m serving in the primary
I was asked
to speak about Making the Gospel a priority in our lives but not just a
priority, THE main priority in our lives.
As I was thinking about what to say the typical Sunday school answers
came to mind, pray, read your scriptures, go to church, etc. But we all know that those are important, we
hear it over and over and over again. So
what could I say to help it click? To
help our perspective become more in line with Heavenly Father’s?
Let me start
with the definition of Priority but listen closely as you think about this
definition in relation to the gospel:
Definition of Priority
1. The right to precede others in order,
rank
2. Something given special attention
3. Highest or higher in importance
So how do we
make the gospel the most important thing in our lives? The thing that precedes
all other things in our lives. How do we give it special attention?
I think it
all comes back to The Plan of Salvation.
What is the purpose of our lives? Why are we here on earth?
Elder Russle
M. Nelson said, “It is important to know who you are and who you may become. It
is more important than what you do, vital as your work is. You pursue an
education to prepare for life’s work, but you also need to prepare for
life—eternal life. I emphasize this because some people on life’s journey forget who they really are and what is
really important. Without sure identity and priority, blessings that matter
most are at the mercy of things that matter least.”
When we
truly understand and remember who we really are, and why we are here it helps
us prioritize the things in our lives. It helps the things of the world fall
back on the list and the things of God become of higher importance.
Elder Nelson
“Whether married or single, you will all have work to
do. I hope it will be enjoyable. It’s nice to bounce out of bed each morning
eager to enjoy a day’s work, and it is especially gratifying when we can bless
the lives of others. But please remember:
You work to sustain life; you don’t live to sustain work.
Your life
will be a blessed and balanced experience
if you first honor your identity and priority. “
I think a
lot of us seek for this balance in life.
We often wonder how we can manage it all. I know as a young mother I feel it every
single day. How can I take care of the
kids, clean the house, prepare meals, be a good wife, serve those around me,
fulfill my calling, AND do the everyday things that will keep me close to the
Lord? But as Elder Nelson just told us, “Your life will be a blessed and
balanced experience if you first honor
your identity and priority. “
Sister Linda
S. Reeves told us a few conferences ago, “The only things that NEED to be
accomplished in the home are daily prayer, scripture study, and FHE. These are
the very practices that help take away stress, give direction to our lives, and
add protection to our homes.” So on rough days when I’m feeling overwhelmed,
when my house is a disaster, and the kids are wild I remind myself A) are the
kids alive, and B) did I do these things and despite the chaos I can then feel
peace and know my Father in Heaven is please.
Now I don’t
think this means we have to cut out all the things in the world. But are we letting too many worldly things
take up our time? This seems like a much
bigger issue now than ever before with literally an unlimited resource for
anything and everything just at the swipe of our fingers. In this day and age phones are an important
part of life, but not so important that they should take precedence over our
families and the gospel. I think of how
we as parents are suggested to limit screen time for our children, but do we do
it for ourselves too?
Elder
Richard G. Scott warns, “Are there so many fascinating, exciting things to do
or so many challenges pressing down upon you that it is hard to keep focused on
that which is essential? When things of the world crowd in, all too often the
wrong things take highest priority. Then
it is easy to forget the fundamental purpose of life. Satan has a powerful tool
to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill
life with “good things” so there is no room for the essential ones. Have you
unconsciously been caught in that trap?”
This quote
is so powerful and it is especially for us.
Satan knows that tempting me with drugs or alcohol at this point in my
life is pointless. He is sly and cunning
and trying to fill my life with other “good things” that will push out the
essential ones. I think about TV for
example. Jeff and I like to binge watch a good show on Netflix like the next
person. Often times you find yourself
going to bed later then you should and too tired to read scriptures. At one point, we had a rule that we had to
study scriptures before we watched anything.
Now going back to the definition of Priority, by doing this we gave the
scriptures a higher priority than whatever we were watching.
Now I know
this is kind of a silly example, but it is little things like this that
matter. On nights where we fell asleep
while reading or praying for that matter, Satan had us fooled. In my mind I still loved the scriptures and I
would tell you they were very important to me, yet how is it that we show the Lord they are important to us? By studying them. By giving back to Him a
tiny fraction of our time. And here I was slowly pushing them out of my life
for what, a silly show. I urge you to
heed elder Scott’s warning and don’t let Satan use this powerful tool of
distraction against you whether it be through your phones, television, or other
extracurricular activities.
“While
wholesome pleasure results from much we do that is good, it is not our prime
purpose for being on earth. {Elder Scott encourages us to} Seek to know and do
the will of the Lord, not just what is convenient or what makes life easy. You
have His plan of happiness. You know what to do, or can find out through study
and prayer. Do it willingly.
The Lord
declared:
“It is not
meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all
things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth
no reward.
“… Men
should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own
free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
“For the
power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men
do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
Elder Nelson
“How do you determine your priority?
Ask yourself, What do I really want most of all? Compare your answer with the
high standard revealed by your Creator. He said you are to “seek not the things
of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to
establish his righteousness; and all … things shall be added unto you” (JST,
Matt. 6:38; see KJV, Matt. 6:33, footnote a). You build up the kingdom of God
as you place your family first. A husband’s highest priesthood duty is to love
and care for his wife, to bless her and their children. A wife’s highest
calling is to love her husband and nurture their children. As you serve the
Lord, know that your “duty is unto the church forever, and this because of
[your] family” (D&C 23:3).”
4 Tools from
Elder Scott:
Our Father
in Heaven has given us tools to help us come unto Christ and exercise faith in
His Atonement. When these tools become fundamental habits, they provide the
easiest way to find peace in the challenges of mortality. Consider evaluating
your personal use of each tool; then seek the guidance of the Lord to determine
how you could make better use of each one of them.
Prayer
Choose to
converse with your Father in Heaven often.
Because He
respects your agency, Father in Heaven will never force you to pray to Him. But
as you exercise that agency and include Him in every aspect of your daily life,
your heart will begin to fill with peace, buoyant peace. That peace will focus
an eternal light on your struggles. It will help you to manage those challenges
from an eternal perspective.
Parents,
help safeguard your children by arming them morning and night with the power of
family prayer. Children are bombarded every day with the evils of lust, greed,
pride, and a host of other sinful behaviors. Protect your children from daily
worldly influences by fortifying them with the powerful blessings that result
from family prayer. Family prayer should
be a nonnegotiable priority in your daily life.
Scripture Study
The second
tool is to study the word of God in the scriptures and the words of the living
prophets. We talk to God through prayer. He most often communicates back to us
through His written word. To know what the voice of the Divine sounds and feels
like, read His words, study the scriptures, and ponder them.5 Make them an
integral part of everyday life. If you want your children to recognize,
understand, and act on the promptings of the Spirit, you must study the
scriptures with them.
Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you
don’t have time to study the scriptures. Choose to take time to study them.
Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school,
work, television shows, video games, or social media. You may need to
reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If
so, do it!
There are
many prophetic promises of the blessings of daily studying the scriptures.6
I add my
voice with this promise: as you dedicate time every day, personally and with
your family, to the study of God’s word, peace will prevail in your life. That
peace won’t come from the outside world. It will come from within your home,
from within your family, from within your own heart. It will be a gift of the
Spirit. It will radiate out from you to influence others in the world around you.
You will be doing something very significant to add to the cumulative peace in
the world.
I do not
declare that your life will cease to have challenges. Remember when Adam and
Eve were in the garden, they were free from challenges, yet they were unable to
experience happiness, joy, and peace.7 Challenges are an important part of
mortality. Through daily, consistent scripture study, you will find peace in
the turmoil around you and strength to resist temptations. You will develop
strong faith in the grace of God and know that through the Atonement of Jesus
Christ all will be made right according to God’s timing.
Family Home Evening
Be cautious not to make your family
home evening just an afterthought of a busy day. Decide that on Monday night
your family will be together at home for the evening. Do not let employment
demands, sports, extracurricular activities, homework, or anything else become
more important than that time you spend together at home with your family.
The
structure of your evening is not as important as the time invested. The gospel
should be taught both formally and informally. Make it a meaningful experience
for each member of the family. Family home evening is a precious time to bear
testimony in a safe environment; to learn teaching, planning, and
organizational skills; to strengthen family bonds; to develop family
traditions; to talk to each other; and more important, to have a marvelous time
together!
Temple Attendance
The fourth
tool is to go to the temple. We all know there is no more peaceful place on
this earth than in the temples of God. If you don’t have a temple recommend,
qualify to get one. When you have a
recommend, use it often.9 Schedule a regular time to be in the temple. Don’t
let anyone or anything prevent you from being there.
These four
tools are fundamental habits for securing your life in the power of the
Atonement of Jesus Christ. Remember our Savior is the Prince of Peace. Peace in
this mortal life comes from His atoning sacrifice. When we are
consistently praying morning and night, studying our scriptures daily, having
weekly family home evening, and attending the temple regularly, we are actively
responding to His invitation to “come unto Him.” The more we develop these
habits, the more anxious is Satan to harm us but the less is his ability to do
so. Through the use of these tools, we exercise our agency to accept the full
gifts of His atoning sacrifice.
Make Coming unto Him you highest
priority for that is the whole reason we came to this earth, to become like Him. “What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you,
even as I am” (3 Ne. 27:27). “Your most sincere sign of adoration of Jesus is
your emulation of Him.”
I am not
suggesting that all of life’s struggles will disappear as you do these things.
We came to mortal life precisely to grow from trials and testing. Challenges
help us become more like our Father in Heaven, and the Atonement of Jesus
Christ makes it possible to endure those challenges. I testify that as
we actively come unto Him, we can endure every temptation, every heartache,
every challenge we face, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
eventually
you will stand before the Lord in judgment.”
Elder scott
- An axiom we all understand is that you get what you pay for. That is
true for spiritual matters as well. You get what you pay for in obedience, in
faith in Jesus Christ, in diligent application of the truths that are learned
in your own life. What you get is the molding of character, the growth in
capacity, the successful completion of your purpose here on earth—to be proven.
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