The next speaker spoke on the parable of the lost sheep (Luke Chapter 15). She shared a beautiful poem by C.C. Miller titled 'Echo' and I just thought it was so eloquent I just had share it here...
’Twas a sheep not a lamb
That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,
A grown-up sheep that strayed away
From the ninety and nine in the fold.
And why for the sheep should we seek
And earnestly hope and pray?
Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:
They lead the lambs astray.
Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Wherever the sheep may stray.
When sheep go wrong,
It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.
And so with the sheep we earnestly plead
For the sake of the lambs today,
For when the sheep are lost
What a terrible cost
The lambs will have to pay.
That night there was a regional fireside for the YSA with speaker John Bytheway. I had been looking forward to this for weeks. I was so excited to see him in person. I have grown up listening to his talks and watching his 'Book of Mormon Heroes' DVD. It was even more awesome than I thought it would be! But what made even more special was that I got to share it with my 3 little (not so little anymore) brothers <3 One of the quotes he used (and I foolishly didn't record the name of the guy) was "Regardless of your original intention you will eventually become what you surround yourself with". This is so true! I see so many instances in my life and the lives of many around me where this has (and is) happening. "You are the average of the 5 people you hang around with" How interesting and true is that?! A scripture he shared I can really relate to it's found in Proverbs 13: 20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." And another scripture that I love is in Mosiah 5:13 "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from thoughts and intents of his heart?"
And you know what, it wasn't my birthday present that made my day special it was spending spiritual and uplifting time with ALL of my brothers at the John Bytheway fireside. What a special experience that I will always hold dear to my heart <3
Monday we mum, Aunty Robyn and I went to lunch at the Garden Restaurant just near the beautiful Salt Lake Temple. We look over and who do we see...Elder Nelson, one of the Apostles. Oh it was so exciting! Living in Utah does have its perks.
On Tuesday I was able to attend institute, when I arrived, there wasn't many cars. I parked next to this woman that I recognized from a Relief Society Women's Conference a few months ago...It was Wendy Nelson, Elder Nelson's wife! Talk about coincidence! I went inside and sat in her classroom, SO excited to be learning from her! I told her I saw her husband at lunch the day before. She is such and amazing teacher! I don't want to make this an extremely long post but I need to share with you some of the things that I wrote in my notebook that night.
"The Holy Ghost does not keeps secrets well" Meaning the Spirit gives us the answers to all of our wonderings and leaves nothing out.
"We will make better decisions if we let things of eternity influence them."
"Let the Holy Ghost be your teacher EVERYDAY."
The gospel of Jesus Christ is referred to as DOCTRINE singular NOT doctrines plural. Meaning that all the teachings of Christ are considered at one with one another.
"Obedience brings blessings but EXACT obedience brings miracles." Now, I just thought that was such a profound statement, probably one of my favourite things she said.
The gospel is an anchor for your life.
Wednesday night my mum had a presentation at one a Relief Society ward up in Kaysville, so my Wednesday night was filled with spiritual things and so was my Thursday night. We attended a lecture on Pioneers with disabilities. What a special birthday week it has been. I truly believe it was a birthday gift from my Heavenly Father <3
