A Back flip Lesson

A few weeks ago we went to a trampoline place for part of our Pday, (Preparation day) and while we were there one of the Elders asked if we wanted to learn how to do a back flip. Of course the adventurous side of me readily agreed. I'm up for a challenge. I've gone skydiving and I plan on going bungee jumping, what's a measly back flip compared to that? Plus I used to be able to do lots of things on a trampoline when I was a kid, this was going to be a piece of cake. So not true!

He then explains the motions... Jump, toss your head back, a simple tuck of the knees, spot your landing and the rest takes care of itself. And then demonstrates it for me. Simple. Easy. Now it is your turn.

My turn!! Say what!?! You lost me after jump! But I obediently got into the middle of the trampoline and I started to jump... and jump... and jump. With each jump I went into more and more of a panic mode. Toss my head back, tuck my knees, toss my head back and tuck my knees, wait hold the phone. It just occurred to me this is crazy, why did I say yes!?! Eventually I stopped I can't do this.

Why not he said, you've got a good height when you jump, the worst that can happen is that you'll belly flop.

Um yeah that's the point, that will hurt. A lot!

You can do this. I believe in you. You got this.

I tried again and again but I just couldn't bring myself to go for it.

I know that you can do this. I have faith in you! He repeated over and over.

Finally I decided I had to take that leap of Faith and go for it. I counted to 3 (ok so it was more like 10 or 15 but still) I took a deep breath and went for it. Success!! I did a back flip and I didn't belly flop! It wasn't perfect but it didn't have to be all that mattered was that I made it. That day I learned so much more than how to do a back flip.

FAITH

that is what I learned from this experience.

What is faith?

Faith is defined as having a complete confidence and trust in something.

I had to trust that everything would work out, I had to have complete confidence in myself and in what he said to do. Also it taught me more about the Savior. He has that faith in us, He knows what we are capable of doing and He is there every second along the way cheering us on and encouraging us. Helping us reach our potential and becoming even as He is. I am so grateful for Him. My faith isn't perfect but as I know as I continue to grow it and act on my faith that I will see mountains moved in my life. I know that faith is where it all begins, and that the Savior won't ever let us belly flop.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

This week my thoughts kept coming back to one of our greatest gifts that Heavenly Father has given us. Agency.

What is agency you might ask?

Agency is the ability to choose for ourselves.

Why is the gift of agency so important?

It is important because it allows us to fully choose for ourselves and to be ourselves. Nobody can force us to do anything or to choose anything.

But you see sometimes that is my problem, because I never seem to be able to make up my mind and choose one way or the other. Do I want to eat chicken nuggets or a yummy quesadilla for lunch? Should I wear my tan skirt today or my black one? It is a good thing that I only have one pair of boots or I would have to make a decision about those too! Now are these important life changing decisions? Probably not UNLESS... Ok I got nothing, they are still not very important.

So if I have a hard enough time deciding between things that aren't important, how am I supposed to decide between things that are? I have to know where I want to end up, that's how! President Monson talked about this very thing in a general conference talk. In it he gave a good example:

"Let us not find ourselves as indecisive as is Alice in Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. You will remember that she comes to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire cat, of whom Alice asks, “Which path shall I follow?”

The cat answers, “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t matter which path you take.”

Unlike Alice, we all know where we want to go, and it does matter which way we go, for by choosing our path, we choose our destination.

Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed—the courage to say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do determine destiny."

Decisions do determine destiny but they aren't the only thing in the equation that equals destiny. Once you decide on your destiny you have to put in the hard work to get there. Simply put:

Decisions + Discipline = Destiny.

So where is it that we want to go? What is our Destiny? It is to return to our Heavenly Father, and to become like Him. That is our destination.

Basically in other words: "happiness is the destination, but it’s also the path. “Peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” D&C 59:23" So what then brings us happiness? It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news, and the joyful way of a disciple of Christ. It is the commandments and example given to us by our Advocate and Mentor, who knows the way because He is the way. And His way is found in the scriptures, in the words of prophets and apostles, and through personal revelation from the Holy Ghost.-President Uchtdorf

 So the question to ask then is are you on the right course? Are you becoming the person you were designed to be and wanted to become? Are you making choices that will help you to return to your Father in Heaven? If not, are you willing to make the choice to change? I know that He wants us to return to Him and to Choose the Right! I know He loves us and wants the best for us. I know that He has given us help when we choose the wrong through His Son's INFINITE Atonement. I know I this is what I want. This is what I choose. What do you Choose?