NOTHING

The more I learn about spiritual things or even about earthly things, the more I know that I know nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  And in the grand scheme of things the people with doctorates and research grants and fancy words and brilliant minds they know very little more than my nothingness.  How little we know and can see of truth and of knowledge and yet we keep trying (and we SHOULD), but we are nothing and we KNOW nothing.

Moses, who with all of his firsthand faith and experience with miracles and God, was "caught up into an exceedingly high mountain" where he was transfigured and saw and spoke with God.  Without being transfigured he wouldn't have been able to do such for so great is the power of and glory of God.  When God withdrew from him and Moses' natural strength returned to him he said "Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed." (Moses 1:10)

He continues in verse 11; "But now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence; but his glory was upon me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him."

We are nothing.  We know nothing.  We can't pretend to know the plans of God or even His intent.  All we can do is closely follow the Spirit, whether our natural selves agree with it or not, because in doing so we will find peace and our hearts will be changed to follow Him.

SIMPLE

SIMPLE is just about my favorite word in the English language.  I love SIMPLICITY more than I could ever find words to express.  SIMPLE to me doesn't mean boring, it doesn't mean without perks, it doesn't mean uneducated.  To me some of the most simple products are quite complex when you really get down to it, and they took a LOT of thought and understanding to create.

For a few years now I have had this little block of wood that says "SIMPLIFY" and I just adore it.  What better reminder do we need in our lives?  Are we making our lives more complicated than they need to be?  I have spent a lot of time trying to SIMPLIFY different aspects of my life.  I am interested in SIMPLIFYING my cleaning, organization, meals, parenting, etc.  Anything that I can SIMPLIFY I am super excited to learn about!  I spent lots of hours reading about different ways to SIMPLIFY my life, ironically.

L. Tom Perry April 2014 #LDSconf

I've spent at least as many hours learning different things about health - physical and emotional.  I have learned a lot of amazing details.  These little intricate discoveries about minerals, vitamins, herbs, chakras, crystals, energy, and essential oils have been amazing.  I've been learning the amazing complexities of our mortal bodies and how they function in the world around us.  I am constantly astounded by what I am learning.

It is because of these discoveries that I have been astounded by the complete SIMPLICITY of the gospel that has caused me to find the most joy, to recogize that those things are amazing and good to know, but not necessary.  Learning to love the SAVIOR and to create a relationship with him and to learn to feel His love for ME, has created the most serene, calm feeling that I have ever experienced.  I still suffer from depression, I still would prefer to sleep half of the day, I still wish that my house was so much cleaner, and my children more well behaved, and that I was able to interact with them more perfectly, but these concerns remain at the back of my mind now.

Deiter F. Uchtdorf October 2015 #LDSconf

The gospel is so SIMPLE that by focusing on growing closer to the SAVIOR, by reading my scriptures daily, and by pondering on the things that He would have me know everything else just starts to melt a way.  The gospel in all of its SIMPLICITY works in such a complex way.  I cannot understand it, but I can feel it working and I can even see it working and I am so grateful for that and for this new understanding.

SIMPLIFY.  Be centered in CHRIST.  The rest works itself out.

JOY and LOVE

These two words have been the topic of my thoughts lately.  Joy is something I have been struggling to understand and to find this entire year.  I guess it has sort of turned into my 2015 theme.  Through unraveling it I have come to understand more clearly the love that my Father has for me.  I don't think I ever truly realized how personally He knows each of us.  There are no words to describe what it means to me.  Truly I cannot vocalize it.  It has been a magical experience uncovering the small bit of truth that I have so far.

I recently read John Pontius' book "Visions of Glory" thanks to some beautiful post nap inspiration provided by the Spirit.  It has opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of the connection that we have with our Father without even knowing it.  It has opened my eyes to the relationship that we can have with our Savior.  I didn't know.  It didn't feel very tangible to me until now.  And EVEN now, having JUST completed the book, I feel as if the connection I discerned is growing dimmer by the second, as though a constant and dilligent effort has to be made to maintain it.

My desires have been slowly changing to fit this new vision of myself.  Suddenly things I felt were so important just don't seem that way anymore.  Conference this last weekend confirmed to me in almost every talk the importance of JOY, of Christ centered living, of SIMPLICITY, and of the LOVE our Father and Savior have for each of us and the LOVE that we should share with each other.

Thomas S. Monson April 2014 #LDSconf