Conference



I'm taking an NCLEX review class this semester to prepare for the biggest and scariest test of my life. The NCLEX is our licensure test, the test that gives you the little initials RN after your name, you know, the test that tells you if the past four years of your life were a complete and total waste or not. Its a big DEAL. So on our first day of review class my professor walked in to the room and poses this question:

"Nurses, who are we going to take care of after we die?"

The room was silent. Was there some reading I missed? Did you get an email about this?

She continues, "Come on guys, who are we going to take care of?"

Uhhh more blank stares and whispering...

"Hello? No one! after we die no one will be sick. Nursing is an earthly calling. Prioritize it as such."

She proceeded to put things in perspective for us. Our very first lesson on how to pass the NCLEX included things like go to the temple, do your visiting teaching, and don't you dare tell your Bishop you are too busy for a calling. Are you busier than President Samuelson who is a general authority as well as running our university? No, I didn't think so. You're not too busy. Church is first because church is eternal. And that way, when you are staring at that computer completely blank on whatever pharmaceutical question they happen to throw at you, you can say a little prayer that sounds something like,

"Dear Heavenly Father, I don't know the answer to this question but I did attend the temple every month and I could really use some help right now..."

Bingo. That's how you pass the NCLEX. Gotta love Renea.

So this coming weekend is one of those things that you just can't be too busy for, General Conference. Twice a year the we hear from the prophet and apostles, the leaders of our church, in a worldwide conference that is held in Salt Lake City and broadcast in hundreds of other countries and languages to members around the globe.

They had a Relief Society broadcast (the meeting specifically for the women) this Saturday night and I just wanted to share a few things that hit home to me, both from President Uchtdorf's talk.

1. Remember to be happy NOW

The parable of the chocolate bar.

We all know this story, its the story of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Willy Wonka decided to hide 5 golden tickets in his chocolate bars and the lucky winners who found the tickets would get a tour of his candy factory full of mystery and surprise. But as the contest went on and as each ticket was found people would open their chocolate bar and be disappointed when they didn't find a ticket. They completely forgot about the joy they used to get from simply eating the candy bar in the first place.

Tell me this is not your life! I'll be happy when I am done taking this test, when I find Mr. Right, when I don't have to buy Western Family brand anymore, when all the kids are out of the house.... whatever your "golden ticket" is. Okay maybe its not your life. but sometimes its mine! (especially that Western Family brand thing...) But life isn't about finding the golden ticket, and even if you do find it, it may turn out to be quite different than you expected. Like their tour of the candy factory. So forget the ticket and remember to enjoy the chocolate. Be happy now.

2. Remember the WHY

This goes hand in hand with the first one. He was mostly talking about this from a gospel perspective, that we sometimes get so caught up in the "what" and the "how" of the gospel that we forget the why. But I think it applies to everything in our lives. I can make a to-do list a mile long about what I need to do and how I need to do it, from school, to church, to family responsabilities. But the important part is the why. For me, why am I in nursing school in the first place? Why am I a wife? Why am I a member of the LDS Church? President Uchtdorf said:

         "The what and how of obedience marks the way, yes, it keeps us on the right path. But the why of obedience sanctifies our actions transforming the mundane into the majestic."

I loved that idea. Remember why you started something in the first place.


Why do you do what you do? How are some ways you can remember to be happy now?

Happy Conference! Can't wait to hear from this dear man!




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