My Hero's Journey

This week I did a lot of learning about what is truly required in the mindset of an entrepreneur. Elder Gay offered some profound insights in his talk, using the word "pioneers" instead of "entrepreneurs." "True pioneers solve problems. ... Successful pioneers are inward focused and outward driven."  I like how this identified the jobs of a leader (or pioneer, or entrepreneur... what you will). Another important job is to lift up those who are working for and/or with you. "...Companies die because their managers focus on the economic activity of producing goods and services and forget that their organization’s true nature is that of a community of people." Charles Handy, Harvard Business Journal A couple weeks ago, a friend lent me his book "Business in the 21st Century," by Robert Kiyosaki. In this book, it dwelt on these principles quite a bit. The focus of the book was how to develop a successful business using network mar...

First, fill your mind with truth; second, fill your life with service; and third, fill your heart with love. --Monson I loved this quote! I'm going to put it on my wall. It summarizes what my goals are for my life in a short, simple sentence. Each section focuses on a different aspect of my life: intellect, service and the community, and relationships. If instead of simply "getting my education" I focus on "filling my mind with truth," it takes on a whole new perspective. My paradigm shifts and my goals change from simply going for good grades to pursuing talents and habits that will help me in my future career and family. But this is only part of the threefold formula. Last night I met a couple of girls who are nearing the end of their college experience. When I asked them for advice they both mentioned getting involved and finding balance. Right now my involvement is in dances, workshops, and societies. I think I need to find an opportunity for service to ...

Many times, I wonder or hear others wonder why a certain trial is happening. Why can't we be happy? I thought that this quote from Elder Oaks was very insightful. Our needed conversions are often achieved more readily by suffering and adversity than by comfort and tranquillity, as Elder Hales taught us so beautifully this morning. Father Lehi promised his son Jacob that God would “consecrate [his] afflictions for [his] gain” ( 2 Ne. 2:2 ). The Prophet Joseph was promised that “thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high” ( D&C 121:7–8 ). (General Conference, Oct. 2000)  It is nice to think of it that way. Trials aren't just to help us feel the opposition in all things; they are to help us become converted.  Continuing in his talk, Elder Oaks emphasizes the importance of not just acting, but becoming. What is essential is that our labors in the workplace of the Lord have caused us t...

These were some of the quotes that were meaningful to me from this week’s readings: “The temple as a quiet but consistent reminder in our midst of the centrality of Jesus Christ and of the immortality of the soul cannot but elevate the quality of our education and the depth and beauty of our associations.”--Bednar (emphasis added). It’s incredible that the temple can play such a significant role in our lives. Even our grades and our dating life are affected by our temple attendance. That leads me to this next quote from Elder Washborn: “I have come to better and more fully understand the protection available in the temple and through our covenants. I have come to better and more fully understand what it means to make an acceptable offering of temple worship. There is a difference between church-attending, tithe-paying members who occasionally rush into the temple to go through a session and those members who faithfully and consistently worship in the temple.” --Elder Washborn (quo...

I loved Elder Holland's talk. This time is truly a time of testing, but we can do it! I loved his thoughts, and I want to listen to this talk frequently as a pep-talk. I also enjoyed this quote from Pres. Monson: We are waging a war with sin, my brothers and sisters, but we need not despair. It is a war we can and will win. Our Father in Heaven has given us the tools we need in order to do so. He is at the helm. We have nothing to fear. He is the God of light. He is the God of hope. I testify that He loves us—each one. Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order to be tested, we must sometimes face challenges and difficulties. At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end—no dawn to break the night’s darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea “Is there no ba...