The Business of Me

  Week 13 3/24/21   “ We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. ” (Thomas S. Monson, An Attitude of Gratitude, General Conference April 1992) This week’s focus is on a journey of gratitude. The practice of gratitude has played a large role in my life. My minutes, hours, days, and weeks go better when I remember to exercise gratitude. In President Monson’s address he lists a few seemingly simply things to be grateful for. One of them is mothers. He says “Mother, who willingly made that personal journey into the valley of the shadow of death to take us by the hand and introduce us to birth—even to mortal life—deserves our undying gratitude. One writer summed up our love for mother when he declared, “God could not be everywhere, and so He gave us mothers.” I grew up with a single mother who sacrificed much so that I could have plenty. We lived with my grandmother for most o

Week 12  3/16/21 This week’s theme is "Becoming a Change Maker." The study from this week is bringing home the importance of choosing a career where you can make a difference in the world. It is necessary to investigate the mission of each of our steeping stones. The mission of the company/job is just as if not more valuable than the position we accept. Elder Holland in this October 2014 conference address, “Are We Not All Beggars?”, stated “ Down through history, poverty has been one of humankind’s greatest and most widespread challenges. Its obvious toll is usually physical, but the spiritual and emotional damage it can bring may be even more debilitating. In any case, the great Redeemer has issued no more persistent call than for us to join Him in lifting this burden from the people. ” In one of the videos watched this week, it was stated that Isaiah 58 and Malachi 3 tell us how to relieve this poverty. Specifically quoting Malachi 3:10 “Bring all the tithes into the store

 3/12/21 "We have the responsibility to be prepared, to be productive, to be faithful, and to be fruitful as well. What we need, as we journey along through this period known as mortality, is a compass to chart our course, a map to guide our footsteps, and a pattern whereby we might mold and shape our very lives… First, fill your mind with truth; second, fill your life with service; and third, fill your heart with love." (Thomas S. Monson, Formula for Success, churchofjesuschrist.org) The formula President Monson shares is one that will lead anyone to a fulling life and beyond that, coupled with a few ordinances, back to our Heavenly Parents. This week’s theme for Intro to Entrepreneurship is “Measuring the Cost.” I think it is important to note that nothing is worth the cost of this formula. Truth, service and a heart filled with love are crucial aspects of a vibrant life. If, more likely when, we come face to face with a choice that would lead us away from these things we

         The Apostle Paul taught that the Lord’s teachings and teachers were given that we may all attain “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” ( Eph. 4:13 ). This process requires far more than acquiring knowledge. It is not even enough for us to be  convinced  of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are  converted  by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to  know  something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to  become  something. (Dallin H. Oaks, The Challenge to Become, General Conference Oct. 2000)        I recently read a book called Return From Tomorrow by George Richie. It is a true story about a man that dies as a solider and has an out of body experience where he meets Christ before returning to his body. In this experience Christ shows him around the spirit world. Richie is amazed by all the spirits in spirit prison that are so caught up in their addictions (from drugs and alcohol to things like lust and anger)