Two Amazing Weekends
Part Two

When President Uchtdorf stepped to the microphone, you could practically hear the entire Relief Society worldwide sigh. Okay, not really. But my awesome neighbor, Lisa Buckmiller, did exclaim, "Hot dog!" (She told us this as part of her testimony in Sacrament Meeting the next day! This is the same funny neighbor who, after the last conference, told us, in Sacrament Meeting, that President Uchtdorf was the Second Counselor of Looking Good! You'd think the bishop would learn. . .)

That aside, the Spirit was already so strong in that meeting, and President Uchtdorf's talk took it to a higher level. I could feel Heavenly Father's love for me, the love of my Savior, and the love and trust of the Brethren for me and for the sisters of the Church (and all sisters, no matter what religion they are) just pouring over me and into me. I began to feel a little bit of what Christ meant when he called Emma Smith "an elect lady." And Pres. Uchtdorf told us such a cute little story about the difference between the meals his wife prepares (artistic and tasty masterpieces) and what he makes (basic and sometimes burned). He said that no matter how perfect his wife's food is, she always finds something wrong with it and apologizes. He asked the sisters if that sounds like someone they know, someone they know very well. We all chuckled, knowing full well that he was talking about us! Pres. Uchtdorf said, ". . .our splendid sisters sometimes undervalue their abilities—they focus on what is lacking or imperfect rather than what has been accomplished and who they really are." He said that the good side of this is that sisters have an innate desire to please the Lord to the best of our ability. But this trait can lead to frustration and unhappiness if we're not careful.

Pres. Uchtdorf then spoke about two ways we can taste of the happiness of our Heavenly Father in our lives. Heavenly Father's joy comes from two focuses: creation and compassion. Remember, his work and glory is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Creation and compassion both work together to bring about this great and eternal purpose. How can we employ these two principles in our lives to bring greater, eternal joy into our lives?

Create: Pres. Uchtdorf said that the urge to create is one of the deepest desires of the human soul. Creation brings great satisfaction and fulfillment. He said that everyone can create, even those who think they have no talent for creation as most people view it (like music, crafts, art, cooking, etc.)
"If that is how you feel, think again, and remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination.
"But to what end were we created? We were created with the express purpose and potential of experiencing a fulness of joy. Our birthright—and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth—is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things.
"If you are a mother, you participate with God in His work of creation—not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them. If you are not a mother now, the creative talents you develop will prepare you for that day, in this life or the next.
"You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.
"What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.
"If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it." (http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,285-1-54-31,00.html)
Pres. Uchtdorf also reminded us that the more we rely on the Spirit, the more our ability to create and bless this world will be increased. "That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come."

Compassion: "Being compassionate is another great work of our Heavenly Father and a fundamental characteristic of who we are as a people." Christ was the ultimate example, and true disciples of Christ follow his example of great compassion. As we serve others, sacrifice for others, and show kindness to others, the windows of heaven are opened to us and choice blessings can descend upon us. Pres. Uchtdorf quoted President Spencer W. Kimball: "The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls.” He also reminded us that President Hinckley taught that service has great healing power. If we are experiencing grief, heartache, or are lonely, serving others will heal our souls. Pres. Uchtdorf said, "As we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives and our own happiness." The world around us constantly sends messages that are contrary to these inspired words. We live in a world full of self-help manuals, spend-now-pay-later, and people telling us the only way to heal and become a better person is to focus on yourself. But, as Christ said, "Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it." I know this is true.

Pres. Uchtdorf concluded by commending the sisters for their great ability to nourish, teach, and serve with compassion that has blessed countless lives the world over. He stated that every sister is important to our Heavenly Father and an important part of building the kingdom of God. He reminded us of Pres. Monson's words to the conference a year ago: ". . .you are . . . surrounded by opportunities for service. . . . Often small acts of service are all that is required to lift and bless another." Then Pres. Uctdorf said,
"Look around you. There at sacrament meeting is a young mother with several children—offer to sit with her and help. There in your neighborhood is a young man who seems discouraged—tell him you enjoy being in his presence, that you feel his goodness. True words of encouragement require only a loving and caring heart but may have an eternal impact on the life of those around you.
"You wonderful sisters render compassionate service to others for reasons that supersede desires for personal benefits. In this you emulate the Savior, who, though a king, did not seek position, nor was He concerned about whether others noticed Him. He did not bother to compete with others. His thoughts were always tuned to help others. He taught, healed, conversed, and listened to others. He knew that greatness had little to do with outward signs of prosperity or position. He taught and lived by this doctrine: 'He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.'
"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers."

I felt so encouraged, so uplifted, so cheered on, I floated home with renewed desire to be as the Savior would have me be. I hope you have been uplifted and encouraged as I have. No matter who you are, you are a precious spirit child of our Heavenly Father with unique talents, gifts, and blessings, and He loves you and wants you to know of that love. I know this is true!