To Teach and to Be Taught

Tonight for Young Women's we had a Personal Progress night where we worked on our Red value, Individual Worth. It has been a long time since I've done anything with Personal Progress because I've already earned my Medallion. But going back to it, I realized that I could continue to learn and increase my spiritual strength by teaching Personal Progress to the girls who haven't finished.

There is a quote that I have heard many times that basically says,



I finally realized how effective this really is! Teaching my friends about their Individual Worth helped me to solidify more concepts of that value in my mind.

The one that stood out to me most was this optional value experience:
"Heavenly Father has given you special gifts. Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-12; 13; Moroni 7:12-13; 10:8-18; Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-26. Ask a family member, a Young Women leader, and a friend to write down positive qualities the Lord has given you. List your gifts in your journal, and write how you can continue to develop these gifts and use them to serve your family and others."

As we read and discussed these scriptures, a thought struck me. Some of the gifts mentioned in these verses spoke of Energy in some way. One spoke of the gift of healing by the Spirit (or the faith to heal). This doesn't have to mean the Priesthood. This could also be referring to Energy, which is a healing gift.
Another spoke of the gift of discerning of spirits (or beholding of angels and ministering spirits). Some people are blessed with the capability of seeing or knowing when there are spirits around, which is a concept of Energy. Also, this could mean that some are capable of discerning emotions that others are experiencing, another gift of Energy.

The gift of Energy is a great present from God, and is available for many to learn, the same as other gifts. I myself am only barely discovering the concept of Energy. But bit by bit I grasp more, and take in the knowledge from it. The more I learn, the more I discover, the more I intake, the more I receive testimony that these incredible gifts are from Heavenly Father! He wants us to be happy, and He wants us to return to Him with a satisfaction that we have truly discovered our Individual Worth! I love my Father for giving me the amazing experiences that I have received!

-JS

A Special Experience

I had a very special experience today, something I will never forget. My mom was talking to us this morning about a subject that I have been struggling with, and I had an overwhelming feeling of love from my Daddie who passed away 11 months ago. My sister was having an especially hard time with it, and I suddenly had words flowing through my head that weren't just mine. I realized that my Daddie was putting those special thoughts into my mind so that I could help my sister feel his love for her. He wanted her to know that everything would work out and that he is there for her at all times.

These are the words that came from those precious thoughts.

I Will Love You Always

When you laugh with your friends on the couch at night
When you scream and you shout at the spiders with fright
When you stare at the sun as it goes out of sight
That is when I love you.

When you cry from the pain
When you sing in the rain
When you lose what you gain
That is when I love you.

When you care for a flower and watch it grow
When you listen to the wind and feel it blow
When you fly down a hill on your sled in the snow
That is when I love you.

When you smile at the sun
When your Camp has begun
When you have tons of fun
That is when I love you.

When you lay on the lawn and stare at the stars
When you punch your mom for the silly bright cars
When you get all excited about chocolate bars
That his when I love you.

When you play baseball
When you grow really tall
When you know it all
That is when I love you.

When you cry and you feel that all is gone
When your heart is filled with grief that is strong
When you lose a loved one that you've had for so long
Know that I love you.

I will love you always, for eternity
I will be by your side for when you need me
I will surround you with joy so that you will see
That I will love you always.

I love you, Mora!

-JS