In our most recent annual LDS Womens Broadcast, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, delivered his first address to the women of the Church. For me, it was very powerful. He proclaimed that it is "Our birthright—and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth—is to seek and experience eternal happiness."
I was particularly moved by President Uchtdorf's teachings regarding our ability to CREATE...
Make sure and watch this beautiful video YOUR ABILITY TO CREATE!
"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.
Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.
Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty—and I am not talking about the process of cleaning the rooms of your teenage children.
You might say, “I’m not the creative type. When I sing, I’m always half a tone above or below the note. I cannot draw a line without a ruler. And the only practical use for my homemade bread is as a paperweight or as a doorstop.”
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.4 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.5 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.
Nearly a century and a half ago, President Brigham Young spoke to the Saints of his day. “There is a great work for the Saints to do,” he said. “Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the mean time continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ.”6
The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."
You can read the entire talk - "Happiness, Your Heritage".
tDMg
LdsNana
Thank you for posting this great video and thought. I think it is interesting that our leaders have the vision to instruct the women of the church, so beautifully, concerning our priesthood responsibility. The ability to create is such a God given gift given to all women.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through Gramee's suggestion and you leaving a note on my blog. I am going to put you on my blogs I follow list! :) I just wanted to say that I loved Elder Uchtdorf's -- in fact, THAT message is what made me step out and create my blog in late September 2008. Today my blog has become a sort of "therapy" since my husband was diagnosed with cancer a few days before Christmas 2008. I still think back on that talk and smile -- such inspriation it was!
ReplyDelete@Doghouse - Yes, I too and impressed with how our leaders, especially of recent, are instructing the women of the Church. They are truly inspired to our current needs, concerns and abilities.
ReplyDelete@Loretta - I'm so glad you came to visit. I love how our leaders can inspire us to do the things that we always knew we were capable of doing. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis of cancer. I know you have the faith required to endure whatever the Lord sees fit. I feel that about you. I'm so glad we have met. Thank you for following my blog:-)
tDMg
Kathryn
What a great talk! I really like how he said to start samll...Our creative endeavors don't have to be huge masterpieces, and it doesn't have to be a specific type of creativity. I like how he said it could even be something silly like making eggs or just making other people smile.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I stumbled across your blog!
What a wonderful inspiration to us! I love good talks. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
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