1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,280 [♪ Music. The 2 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:11,000 Music and Voice Over. 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,800 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, where two friends who love Jesus 4 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,920 share our own approach to studying the most recent General Conference talks. This is Abby 5 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,600 and Amy. Let's jump into it. 6 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:27,120 Today we get to enjoy the Talk, Seek Him With All Your Heart, by Bishop L. Todd Budge, second 7 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,780 counselor and the presiding bishopric. 8 00:00:29,780 --> 00:00:33,900 Let's start it out with one of his openers. 9 00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:39,720 During a visit to our mission by then elder Russell M. Nelson, one of the missionaries 10 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,680 asked him how best to respond when a person tells them that they're too busy to listen 11 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:45,380 to them. 12 00:00:45,380 --> 00:00:49,660 With little hesitation, Elder Nelson said, I would ask if they were too busy to eat lunch 13 00:00:49,660 --> 00:00:54,740 that day, and then I teach them that they have both a body and a spirit, and just as 14 00:00:54,740 --> 00:00:58,680 their body will die if not nourished, so will their spirit if not nourished by the good 15 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:02,040 will, a good word of God. 16 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:03,040 That's a great opener. 17 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:04,040 I know, right? 18 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:08,760 Missionaries, I know they can't listen to this podcast, but if you have a missionary 19 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,920 kid out there, share that with them. 20 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:12,920 You don't have time for lunch? 21 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:13,920 Exactly. 22 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:20,920 So, Abby, I love this quote, and for me the most important part is the teaching each of 23 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,800 us that we both, that we have both a body and a spirit. 24 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:29,020 I would say that those of us on earth right now are the most disconnected generation thus 25 00:01:29,020 --> 00:01:34,520 far, and the Lord is calling on us to wake up when we are connected, body and spirit. 26 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,800 Abby, the most important part of that for me is teaching each of us that we have both 27 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,520 a body and a spirit. 28 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,360 I would say that those of us on earth right now are the most disconnected generation thus 29 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:49,680 far, and I feel like the Lord is calling on us to wake up when we are connected, body 30 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:54,480 and spirit, and then we choose to connect to God, our abilities soar, and our potential 31 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:55,480 is limitless. 32 00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:01,240 I feel like that's kind of, let's stop and pause on what you say disconnected generation. 33 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:02,240 What do you mean by that? 34 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,360 I mean our spirit and our body are not connected. 35 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:05,360 Okay. 36 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:06,360 And we're on autopilot. 37 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,720 And you think that something like technology has something to do with that? 38 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:12,360 Every distraction, but yes. 39 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,440 Because there's too many things to distract us. 40 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:16,440 Totally. 41 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,200 It seems like it was a well-intentioned plan to do that. 42 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:21,200 Right. 43 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:26,400 Because when you're at war, you charge, what is it? 44 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:27,760 You do something to the signals. 45 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:29,200 You jam the signals, right? 46 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:33,080 So you can't get the messages that need to come through, and that would be from heaven. 47 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:37,580 So the first thing I would ask about teaching that we have a body and a spirit is this, 48 00:02:37,580 --> 00:02:43,020 what are we doing in our body right now so that your spirit wants to stick around? 49 00:02:43,020 --> 00:02:47,880 And by that I just mean, are some of your habits offensive to your spirit? 50 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:53,120 Do we take physical care of our body so that our brain can function? 51 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,280 What things do we do that invite the Holy Ghost? 52 00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:00,920 And there might be some room for gentle returning to the Lord in this or like a gentle correction 53 00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:04,020 if we're not doing things that. 54 00:03:04,020 --> 00:03:08,240 So a lot of those things that you're mentioning are things that we affect on our physical 55 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:12,120 body to free up what we need to for the spiritual space. 56 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:13,720 Yes, space. 57 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:14,720 And to connect them. 58 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:15,720 Now I have one. 59 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:17,600 So this is a good one, Abby. 60 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:22,140 So if you can picture your spirit in your body, have there been times when your body 61 00:03:22,140 --> 00:03:25,300 pushes forward without much regard to what your spirit needs? 62 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:29,440 This would look like powering through a busy day without turning to God in prayer or scripture 63 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:30,440 study. 64 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,300 Our spirit yearns for its home with heavenly parents. 65 00:03:33,300 --> 00:03:35,440 It yearns for a connection to God. 66 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:40,040 Do we have times when we're not getting enough sleep or eating, we just passed the holidays, 67 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:46,260 eating foods that might not fuel our bodies properly or relying on caffeine for energy. 68 00:03:46,260 --> 00:03:50,760 Each of these things can cause our body and our brain to feel like it's in a fog and these 69 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,680 actions cause a disconnect. 70 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:55,220 And it's all in the name of getting stuff done. 71 00:03:55,220 --> 00:04:00,160 So having your body in charge might feel best to us sometimes, but there's a better way. 72 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,860 And then on the flip side, have there been times when your spirit feels like it's in 73 00:04:03,860 --> 00:04:07,200 charge but maybe more like it's dragging your body up a hill? 74 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:11,980 This could look like sticking to our spiritual goals and not resting our body or mind as 75 00:04:11,980 --> 00:04:15,040 needed and you just push forward, push toward them. 76 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:19,800 Getting things done and having your spirit in charge may be what feels best for us, but 77 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:20,800 there is a better way. 78 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:21,800 You know what that makes me think of? 79 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:22,800 What? 80 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,440 Burying your weapons of rebellion. 81 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:25,800 Oh, that's awesome. 82 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:26,800 Yeah. 83 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:27,800 Did you think of that talk at all? 84 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,800 No, but just when you said that, I mean, that's fantastic. 85 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:34,680 That one hit me so hard because all like both of those scenarios, it's good to be a get 86 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:40,160 done person and it's good to have spiritual goals, but not when it's out of balance. 87 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:41,160 Exactly. 88 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:42,640 That's exactly what I was thinking. 89 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,440 So now, so both of those were out of balance. 90 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:46,440 Yes. 91 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,480 Now, imagine your spirit and your body as friends and equal partners, much like the 92 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:51,480 Godhead. 93 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,360 Maybe you could see them as equally yoked. 94 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:54,720 Neither one buys for attention. 95 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:59,000 Neither one has a role that is dragging the other into eternal progression and glory. 96 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:05,480 They have a mutual respect for one another and they value each role that the other plays. 97 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,360 Notice I'm saying they, like you have two- 98 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,360 Split personalities. 99 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:11,360 It's a glove in the hand, right? 100 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:15,840 It is a glove in the hand and it is like something that you have to- 101 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:18,880 Personify, because I did just personify it. 102 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:19,880 You're right. 103 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,120 Gain control over. 104 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:26,960 It's not like our natural inclination to have perfect control over- 105 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:27,960 Or perfect balance. 106 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,400 It's always striving for that, right? 107 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:31,480 So yes, they both opt in. 108 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:36,720 It's a beautiful reciprocal and balanced working relationship. 109 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,600 This is what I hear when I hear President Nelson say, then teach them that they have 110 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,360 both a body and a spirit. 111 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,480 It's not something we think about often. 112 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:50,860 The Lord knew in this fast-paced world that is full of distractions and commotion that 113 00:05:50,860 --> 00:05:55,960 making quality time for him would be one of the major challenges of our day. 114 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:56,960 Yeah. 115 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:01,720 So the question we might ask is why is it so important to slow down? 116 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,000 Yeah. 117 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:04,480 He did address this. 118 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:09,160 He said, speaking through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord provided these words of counsel and 119 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:14,000 also caution, which can be likened under the tumultuous days in which we live. 120 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:22,480 He said this, in returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and in confidence 121 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:24,040 shall be your strength. 122 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:25,880 Then he says, and you would not. 123 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,020 This returning means returning to him, God. 124 00:06:29,020 --> 00:06:32,580 This rest is mental, physical, and also spiritual rest. 125 00:06:32,580 --> 00:06:37,580 He knew that we needed all of them as we experience different types of exhaustion. 126 00:06:37,580 --> 00:06:40,840 And then at the end he says, and ye would not. 127 00:06:40,840 --> 00:06:44,320 Can he not be speaking any clearer to our day? 128 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,760 So this is another quote from this, which I love. 129 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:52,320 As we concentrate our hearts, and I'm just adding another way to say spirit, and our 130 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:56,560 minds, that's part of our body, on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and listen to the 131 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:03,120 still small voice of the Holy Ghost, we will have greater clarity about what is most needful, 132 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:08,000 develop deeper compassion, and find rest and strengthen him. 133 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:14,680 Also helping God hasten his work of salvation and exaltation may require that we slow down. 134 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:20,240 Being always in motion may be adding to the commotion in our lives and robbing us of the 135 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:21,920 peace we seek. 136 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:30,080 And it always is worth mentioning when we talk about the unity between our minds and 137 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:34,040 our bodies, that is the definition of perfection. 138 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:35,040 Yeah. 139 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,200 Like when we're like, oh, like in the resurrection. 140 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:39,560 We're expecting us to be perfect. 141 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:41,880 And like, that's not what you think it means. 142 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,360 It means being able to unify these two things. 143 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:45,360 Yeah, right. 144 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:49,200 They don't have to always be in disconnect or discord with each other, but often we're 145 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:53,800 fighting that battle until we get control over it and we can let them be at peace in 146 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,520 the same moment, in the same space and time. 147 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:57,520 Honestly. 148 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:01,280 And Abby, I used to think that like I was winning in life when my spirit dominated my 149 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:02,280 body. 150 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:03,280 I feel like I've heard that a lot. 151 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:04,720 Because I've overcome the natural man. 152 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:05,720 Yeah. 153 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,640 It is kind of like when I had cancer, that's when I started thinking about it. 154 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:09,640 I was like, you know what? 155 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:10,640 Wow. 156 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:14,120 I want them to actually be equally yoked and partners like the Godhead is. 157 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:18,720 That was the first time I ever thought that maybe my spirit shouldn't be cracking a whip 158 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:19,720 to my body. 159 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:24,640 That is a fact because the way that you articulated that before that it's like your body was asking 160 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:30,000 for a moment to catch its breath and your spiritual side's like, no, you've got to push 161 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:31,000 forward. 162 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:32,000 You've got to do this thing. 163 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:33,000 Right? 164 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:34,000 That wasn't getting over it. 165 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,000 You missed the lesson. 166 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,200 If you couldn't stop in the stillness, find that it was okay to catch your breath for 167 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:38,200 a second. 168 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:39,200 Yeah. 169 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:40,200 Interesting, huh? 170 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:45,280 So what, the word still, that's popping out here. 171 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,280 What does that mean to you? 172 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:52,640 So I'll let you think about it so I don't just throw you under the bus on it. 173 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:58,840 But the reason that I'm asking is because he was talking about a word spoken in Japanese 174 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:00,560 and I'll do this terribly. 175 00:09:00,560 --> 00:09:01,560 I know, right? 176 00:09:01,560 --> 00:09:02,560 M-U-I-Mui. 177 00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:03,560 That's what I would say. 178 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:06,740 I'm so sorry to our listeners if you're like, that was terrible. 179 00:09:06,740 --> 00:09:09,240 But it's two characters put together. 180 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,160 It is nothingness and doing. 181 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:16,960 So in doing, so it is non-doing. 182 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:24,080 Much like stillness isn't just sitting without moving, non-doing is more than doing nothing. 183 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:25,080 It's stillness. 184 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:26,760 It's quiet reflection. 185 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:31,440 It's aligning our heart and our mind and our spirit and body and then aligning with God. 186 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:32,680 Love that. 187 00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:35,120 Being still requires more than just making time for the Lord. 188 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,840 It requires letting go of our doubtful and fearful thoughts and focusing our hearts and 189 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:39,840 minds on Him. 190 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,360 Elder Bednar taught the Lord's admonition to be still. 191 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:44,640 Love that talk. 192 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:48,120 And entails much more than simply not talking or not moving. 193 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,240 Was that a whole conference ago or was it this conference? 194 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,020 Oh, that was a while ago. 195 00:09:52,020 --> 00:09:58,760 To be still, he suggested, may be a way of reminding us to focus upon the Savior unfailingly. 196 00:09:58,760 --> 00:09:59,760 Yes. 197 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,160 I know, right? 198 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,000 Those words that he taught, they're still in my heart. 199 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,040 I need to look back and see when he did that. 200 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:09,440 Being still is an act of faith and requires effort. 201 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:14,000 Lectures on faith states that when a man works by faith, he works by mental exertion. 202 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:19,100 President Nelson declared, our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. 203 00:10:19,100 --> 00:10:22,760 It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought, but when we do 204 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:26,880 our doubts and fears, flee. 205 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:31,200 And then he also said, speaking of this need to focusing of our minds, President David 206 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:35,280 O. McKay said this, so clearly since it's David O. McKay, this has been decades since 207 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:36,280 this was said. 208 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:42,640 I think we pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion. 209 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,680 Meditation is one of the most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of 210 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:47,680 the Lord. 211 00:10:47,680 --> 00:10:50,680 It's interesting too, you know, we were talking about what stillness isn't. 212 00:10:50,680 --> 00:10:55,340 So number one, it requires time, making time for the Lord. 213 00:10:55,340 --> 00:10:56,560 It's an act of faith. 214 00:10:56,560 --> 00:10:58,040 It requires effort. 215 00:10:58,040 --> 00:10:59,320 It's mental exertion. 216 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:02,480 I mean, this isn't just a passive thing, right? 217 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:04,440 This is actually putting a full body experience. 218 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,760 It really is. 219 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:08,440 What generation was McKay? 220 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:09,440 70s. 221 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:10,440 That's what I was thinking of. 222 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:12,960 I came to mind 70s, 50 years ago. 223 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:14,800 It's been a while. 224 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:20,320 As much as he desires our attention, the Lord, he will not force us to come to him. 225 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:27,480 He says these words, how oft will I gather you as a hen gather her chickens under a wing. 226 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:32,560 How oft will I gather you as a hen gather her chickens under her wings if you will repent 227 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:37,520 and return unto me with full purpose of heart. 228 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:38,520 That's a good little line. 229 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:39,520 How oft will I? 230 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:40,520 How oft would I? 231 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:41,520 How oft would I have? 232 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:42,520 Right, both of them. 233 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:43,520 He put all of those in there. 234 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:44,520 He did. 235 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:51,920 He asked in a question form because we are the deciding factor in this equation. 236 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:57,080 What does it look like to return often to the Lord with full purpose of heart? 237 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:58,080 You know what? 238 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:02,960 I love this talk again because he just reminds us that the gospel of Jesus Christ gives us 239 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:07,040 opportunities to return to him often. 240 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:12,160 And when I think of these things more as opportunities to return to Christ, it feels so much better 241 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:17,760 to me than just a list of suggestions to do just for the sake of doing and checking them 242 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:18,760 off. 243 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:23,000 So these opportunities include daily prayers, scripture study, the sacrament ordinance, 244 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,000 the Sabbath day, and also temple worship. 245 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:27,040 And I love this. 246 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:32,880 What if we were to take these sacred opportunities off our to-do lists and put them on our non-doing 247 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:37,280 lists, he says, meaning to approach them with mindfulness and focus. 248 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:38,280 So good, right? 249 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,360 A way different experience if they're not a check the box opportunity. 250 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:44,860 They're just a way of being. 251 00:12:44,860 --> 00:12:49,920 And then we'll know when to make time for them or when there's other things that are 252 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:50,920 more needful. 253 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:52,120 That's so, you know what? 254 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:53,120 That's perfect. 255 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,040 We do hit on that in a little minute. 256 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:56,480 That's definitely part of it. 257 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:58,080 He goes on to say you may be thinking. 258 00:12:58,080 --> 00:12:59,080 I love this part. 259 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:00,840 I don't have time for that. 260 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:07,320 I have often felt the same, he says, but let me suggest that what may be needed is not 261 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:13,520 necessarily more time, but more awareness of and focus on God during the times that 262 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:15,700 we already set aside for him. 263 00:13:15,700 --> 00:13:18,760 So he's not asking us like I'm 100% on board with this. 264 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:22,780 He's suggesting we connect our mind and our body and then connect with God. 265 00:13:22,780 --> 00:13:28,280 It's not that we need more things to do to feel connected, to have a covenantal connection 266 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:29,780 or even more time to do them. 267 00:13:29,780 --> 00:13:33,520 It's that we are focused and mindful in the stuff we're already doing. 268 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:34,520 I love that. 269 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:39,840 That's just a shift, right? 270 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:41,080 I love this talk. 271 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,920 And I love that you brought that piece of it out because I'm like, I didn't zero in 272 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,360 on that in my passing of it, but I'm like, thank you. 273 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:50,720 You've made it possible for me to achieve that. 274 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:52,680 Just do a little better on the things I'm already doing. 275 00:13:52,680 --> 00:13:53,680 Absolutely. 276 00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:54,680 In a more mindful way. 277 00:13:54,680 --> 00:13:55,680 Yes. 278 00:13:55,680 --> 00:13:57,760 Don't try to make 26 hours out of a 24 hour day. 279 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:58,760 Amen. 280 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:00,840 Then you're just getting more tired, your body. 281 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,920 I think you're the expert on this question. 282 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:08,800 How could we more fully focus on God during times we already set aside for him? 283 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:13,160 Give me some how Amy has achieved this in her life. 284 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:14,160 Well, you know what? 285 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,400 I'm actually taking this directly from, it is so good. 286 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:18,400 Even better. 287 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:19,400 Honestly. 288 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:20,400 Just add your testimony to what he says. 289 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:21,400 He is serious. 290 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,720 He has five things and I feel like he hit them so perfectly. 291 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:25,720 Number one prayer. 292 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:31,600 He says when praying, what if we were to spend less time talking and more time just being 293 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:36,780 with God and when we were to speak to give more heartfelt and specific expressions of 294 00:14:36,780 --> 00:14:41,540 gratitude and love, that is a way to deepen your connection during prayer. 295 00:14:41,540 --> 00:14:42,880 It's not just saying prayers. 296 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,160 It is connecting with God. 297 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:46,640 Number two scriptures. 298 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:51,160 President Nelson has counseled that we not just read the scriptures, but savor them. 299 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:57,840 When he asks us what difference would it make if we were to do less reading and more savoring? 300 00:14:57,840 --> 00:14:58,840 I love that. 301 00:14:58,840 --> 00:14:59,840 What does that look like? 302 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:00,840 I don't know. 303 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,480 Maybe it looks like you liked a certain phrase and it you decide to take that phrase and 304 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:08,120 something you just read and you really do a deep dive in that because it seems very 305 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,280 pertinent to your life right then. 306 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,320 And that's definitely happened to me because I feel like the Lord put scriptures in our 307 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:18,280 path that are perfectly aligned with what we're going through right then. 308 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:19,800 Number three sacrament. 309 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:27,400 He asks what if we were to do more to prepare our minds to partake of the sacrament and 310 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:32,720 joyfully ponder on the blessings of the atonement of Jesus Christ during the sacred ordinance? 311 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,680 The fourth one Sabbath on the Sabbath, which in Hebrew means rest. 312 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:41,000 What if we were to rest from other cares and take time to sit quietly with the Lord to 313 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,240 pay our devotions unto him? 314 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,080 And then the fifth one, the temple. 315 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:49,520 During our temple worship, what if we were to make a more disciplined effort to pay attention 316 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:55,160 or if we lingered a little longer in the celestial room in quiet reflection? 317 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:56,880 That answer came to me about the temple. 318 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:02,640 I did ask the question how I could improve my temple worship and he reminded me of shortened 319 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,080 things and you have, you know, like you go and you don't want to be away from your kids 320 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:07,080 too long. 321 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:08,880 You have other pressures in the day. 322 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:12,480 Use that extra few minutes to just be with me in the celestial room. 323 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:13,480 Amen. 324 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:14,480 And it's been great. 325 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:15,480 That's awesome, Abby. 326 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:16,480 I love that. 327 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:18,520 Are there components of finding peace and stillness? 328 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:22,040 Like what's our part in this process? 329 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:23,960 So this is, I feel like that's a great question. 330 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:28,760 I'm still a student in this and one thing I've learned is that two things are necessary 331 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,360 for true connection to God and if we skip one of them, it just kind of doesn't work. 332 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:39,440 I feel like the first one is we need to connect our heart and our mind and then we connect 333 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:40,440 to God. 334 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:45,360 So when we do this properly, so it's just kind of saying the reason we connect to our 335 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:51,360 heart and our mind is so that we become centered in ourselves and then we go to God. 336 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:55,560 And I'll say what I think you're saying, you're calling me out on this, that I'm like, I opened 337 00:16:55,560 --> 00:17:01,400 the scriptures and I'm like, I've opened the scriptures, I've done my part, now teach me. 338 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:06,720 When really there's more of a process of like, I've made time for this, I am ready to be 339 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,720 tutored. 340 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,120 I don't know, that kind of sounds like the same thing, but I'm feeling that it's different. 341 00:17:13,120 --> 00:17:14,600 I'm having a hard time articulating. 342 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,880 I think it's just being present and not being on autopilot. 343 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,680 I do so many things in my life on autopilot. 344 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,480 There are sometimes I'll get to the grocery store and I'm like, wow, I don't remember even 345 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:25,920 making a left turn, here I am. 346 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:27,200 Do you know what I mean? 347 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:30,960 And so when we read our scriptures on autopilot, it just kind of doesn't work as well. 348 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:35,040 Which is a hard thing because a lot of us have to be scheduled like the first thing 349 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:37,240 that you do in the morning, it's a prayer or it's a scripture. 350 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:38,240 Oh, and you still do it. 351 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,840 And yeah, just to like get control over my natural mind tendency to like go about and 352 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:46,440 be doing a million other things than if I schedule it, then I'm doing it that way. 353 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,520 But then it becomes more checkboxy. 354 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:49,520 Totally. 355 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:51,960 And actually that's what we're going to be really there to be tutored. 356 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:53,160 I'm just doing it. 357 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:54,360 Yeah, needed to be done. 358 00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:55,360 Yeah. 359 00:17:55,360 --> 00:17:57,760 And then things like blessings are still going to come from reading the scripture. 360 00:17:57,760 --> 00:17:59,040 Somehow it's going to come up. 361 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:05,200 But you're telling me that he's telling us that when we can make that connection with 362 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:10,040 the heart and mind first, there's much more power that can be unlocked here. 363 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:11,400 That's what I've learned in my life. 364 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:12,920 That's where I am right now. 365 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:17,580 When done properly, we cannot help but feel peace because we have connected to the true 366 00:18:17,580 --> 00:18:20,080 source of peace at that point. 367 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:24,440 And President Nelson has said repeatedly, he's pled with us to make time for the Lord 368 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,400 in our lives each and every day. 369 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:31,720 He reminds us that quiet time is sacred time and that it will facilitate personal revelation 370 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:34,040 and instill peace. 371 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:40,960 But to hear the still small voice or the voice of the Lord, he counseled you to must be still. 372 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,040 How are we going to do this? 373 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,000 This sounds like action item time. 374 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:46,000 It does. 375 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:47,320 So, okay. 376 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:49,440 One of the ways to do this is through breath. 377 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:55,360 A beautiful way to connect our mind and body and our spirit is to take three deep breaths 378 00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:57,440 in before praying or reading scriptures. 379 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:58,920 That's a great idea. 380 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,300 This slows us physically and mentally. 381 00:19:01,300 --> 00:19:04,900 And also the breath is the bridge from the spiritual body to the physical body. 382 00:19:04,900 --> 00:19:06,840 So it literally does connect them. 383 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,600 Then we connect to God through prayer or scripture study. 384 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:14,800 And I would like to add this is a very acceptable thing to do in a group setting or congregation 385 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,000 because it's just for you and nobody notices it. 386 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:23,880 The second way you could do is take one hand and put it on your heart, the other hand and 387 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:26,620 put it on your belly and breathe in a few times. 388 00:19:26,620 --> 00:19:29,840 This is a physical way of asking the body and mind to be in sync. 389 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:33,240 And it helps to be mindful and focused in our next task. 390 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,080 Now this might sound totally funny. 391 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:39,800 I know like 10 years ago me would be like, what are you even talking about? 392 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,140 But it really can't hurt. 393 00:19:41,140 --> 00:19:45,000 And just give it a try next time you sit down for personal scripture reading or personal 394 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:49,820 prayer and see if you notice a difference. 395 00:19:49,820 --> 00:19:51,460 Another idea is pondering or meditation. 396 00:19:51,460 --> 00:19:55,520 This would be pondering on a scripture that you read, a general conference talk or a line 397 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:58,120 in your own patriarchal blessing. 398 00:19:58,120 --> 00:20:00,980 Maybe there's a teaching you'd love to understand on a deeper level. 399 00:20:00,980 --> 00:20:05,200 You could sit quietly with hymns or instrumental music playing and take a few breaths, start 400 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:10,880 with a prayer to help your own thoughts move out of the forefront and open your minds to 401 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,040 God's will and His direction. 402 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:17,480 Then hold the line or the question in your mind and see what comes to your heart. 403 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:26,800 And taking this from Elder Scott, I have a pencil or note tabs, a note app nearby to 404 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:30,080 capture what the spirit teaches you in this quiet moment of returning to God. 405 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:34,560 And notes app if you're using electronic, but I really was thinking like a little post-it 406 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:37,480 note with a question in mind before I go into the scriptures. 407 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:38,480 Love that. 408 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:39,480 It could be a game changer. 409 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:40,480 Oh yeah. 410 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:42,600 Because if I'm maybe working my way through the Doctrine and Covenants this year or I'm 411 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:47,880 popping back into the Book of Mormon, whatever answer I'm looking for can be on whatever 412 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,120 page that he wants to lead me to. 413 00:20:50,120 --> 00:20:53,900 But it's more special when you've asked the question in advance and then he leads you 414 00:20:53,900 --> 00:20:54,900 to the answer. 415 00:20:54,900 --> 00:20:55,900 I agree. 416 00:20:55,900 --> 00:20:58,900 And as we're studying the Doctrine and Covenants that remember these revelations came because 417 00:20:58,900 --> 00:20:59,900 of good questions. 418 00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:00,900 Exactly. 419 00:21:00,900 --> 00:21:05,080 And you know what's so interesting that you say this Abby, just today I was reminded, 420 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,760 I was taught this years and years ago, maybe it's been a decade, I don't remember. 421 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:15,680 But when Elder Bednar said, ask inspired questions, that's what it is. 422 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:21,280 It's when we're quiet and reflective, then the spirit can help us like you said with 423 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:23,560 that inspired question on the note tab. 424 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:26,800 And then there's just a beautiful connection that happens with that, right? 425 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:30,800 Because first the spirit touches your heart and you ask the question, then the Lord answers 426 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:32,960 you and it's just... 427 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:38,200 He's a masterful teacher and what I've learned from him over the years is like, that's true. 428 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:42,720 We should ask inspired questions, but sometimes just ask a crappy question. 429 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:43,720 Start with that. 430 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,880 And demonstrate your willingness to know the process and how that's going to work. 431 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:47,880 I love that. 432 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:54,720 And I would wager a good bet that the questions that you start asking aren't going to be the 433 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,080 questions you end with. 434 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:58,040 That will lead to further better questions. 435 00:21:58,040 --> 00:21:59,040 Start somewhere. 436 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:00,040 Totally. 437 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:01,040 That's awesome, Abby. 438 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:02,040 I really like that. 439 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:03,040 Crappy questions are great. 440 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:05,040 I'm asking them all the time. 441 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:06,040 Start somewhere, right? 442 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,240 Yes, I do too. 443 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:11,080 And then the last one is just a guided meditation app. 444 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,080 It's great because... 445 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:15,460 Or a visualization. 446 00:22:15,460 --> 00:22:18,480 Because it's a great way to be gently directed in your thought process. 447 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,600 It leaves part of your brain open to listening to the recorded words that someone's guiding 448 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:25,860 you through while also leaving part of your brain open to receiving inspiration and to 449 00:22:25,860 --> 00:22:26,920 dream from the Holy Ghost. 450 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,240 So like the one before I talked about, that's all on you. 451 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,000 This one, there's a little bit of help. 452 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:37,720 I would say you actually are an expert on this stuff. 453 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:39,120 You've taken extra courses on it. 454 00:22:39,120 --> 00:22:40,720 You've shared this gift with a lot of people. 455 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:45,360 And I feel like we've kind of steered clear of that skill set that you have. 456 00:22:45,360 --> 00:22:50,600 We've stuck to this podcast as being for current general conference talks and what it will 457 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:52,280 do to bring us closer to Jesus Christ. 458 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:56,320 But I've watched the Spirit work on you and the skill set that you have, and He's impressed 459 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,280 you to write some meditations. 460 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:04,840 And we've shared that that exists in the podcast world, closer to Christ through guided visualizations 461 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:06,680 is what we call it. 462 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:11,040 And trying to take that terminology that we're hearing being spoken over the pulpit. 463 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:14,480 And I know that when we've mentioned meditations in the past, we've said, you know, if that 464 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:19,280 seems kind of woo-woo to you, put it on a metaphorical bookshelf, and if the time ever 465 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,840 feels right to kind of pick that back up. 466 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:26,120 But I'm hearing it more and more, think you're hearing it more and more. 467 00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:32,760 It's definitely something, it's time in this chaotic, wild, crazy world to slow down a 468 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:33,880 little bit more. 469 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:39,340 This is something that has been spoken about since the 70s by Elder McKay. 470 00:23:39,340 --> 00:23:43,680 But it's kind of, I feel like the lever has been flipped on. 471 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:49,080 That's a tool that we all can benefit from to have in our arsenal right now, because 472 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:54,320 it calms the storm in a very chaotic, fast paced world. 473 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:56,280 So, a plug. 474 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:57,920 Amy's podcast is amazing. 475 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:03,440 And she's got, I mean, would you say this talk itself inspired quite a few meditations? 476 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,040 Oh, yeah, I could definitely defy from this. 477 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:07,040 Yeah. 478 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:08,040 So good. 479 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,920 So stay tuned for the ones, like what were you thinking they would be maybe on prayer? 480 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:15,220 Yes, the prayer scriptures, sacrament, Sabbath and temple. 481 00:24:15,220 --> 00:24:19,880 And you have a beautiful one in there on the sacrament already, but it'll be a little different 482 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:20,880 take on that. 483 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:25,200 All kind of preparatory to going into those experiences. 484 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:31,480 And if you've never done a meditation before, or it's just not your thing, I would just 485 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,360 say like that would be my action item to you is to give it a roll. 486 00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:42,000 I will put a link to like, I don't know, whichever one I think is most pertinent to this particular 487 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:43,000 talk. 488 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,160 But that'll be in the show notes and that'll link you over to the podcast. 489 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,840 And if it's something that you find value in, then you follow that show and then you'll 490 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:51,640 know as things come up. 491 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:55,240 The way that guided visualizations work is that you tend to use the same ones over and 492 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:59,160 over again, maybe to the point where you can kind of walk yourself through. 493 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:05,800 But like the music and stuff that's behind it is helpful in calming your breathing, finding 494 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:12,000 yourself in the present and then opening your mind to like what I would consider a more 495 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:13,280 direct channel to God. 496 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,000 Love that Abby. 497 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,680 And you know, also in thinking, you know, you said we've been talking about this since 498 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:19,680 the 70s. 499 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:24,740 You know, the quote we have from Elder McKay or President McKay was from then, if you take 500 00:25:24,740 --> 00:25:29,780 it all the way back to Adam and Eve, I am pretty certain that Heavenly Father wanted 501 00:25:29,780 --> 00:25:34,400 them to have a mind and a body that were connected. 502 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:35,880 That's the whole reason we came to earth. 503 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:40,280 The whole reason that this earth was provided for us is so that we could come and have an 504 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:43,000 actual body experience. 505 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:48,720 Whereas before in the pre-mortal existence, all of it was great ideas. 506 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:50,820 It was all theoretically wonderful. 507 00:25:50,820 --> 00:25:53,880 But when you have a body, it just takes it to the next level. 508 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,680 And it also makes it more difficult because you have two things that you're trying to 509 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:59,560 get in sync before you just had the spirit. 510 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:01,640 So I love that part of it. 511 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:05,760 That's an internal concept, because when we have the resurrection, that's going to be 512 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:06,760 part of it as well. 513 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:08,040 We need to all be together. 514 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:10,100 Any last thoughts? 515 00:26:10,100 --> 00:26:14,680 So when we focus as less on doing and more on strengthening our covenant connection with 516 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,800 Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, this is his testimony. 517 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:22,580 He says, I testify that sacred moments will be enriched and we will receive the guidance 518 00:26:22,580 --> 00:26:24,840 needed in our personal lives. 519 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:30,360 Like Martha and the account in Luke, are often careful, oh sorry, we like Martha in the account 520 00:26:30,360 --> 00:26:34,440 of Luke, are often careful and troubled about many things. 521 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:39,720 However, as we commune with the Lord each day, He will help us to know what is most 522 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,880 needful, just like you said earlier. 523 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:46,320 The Savior took time from His ministry to be still. 524 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,360 He says the scriptures are replete with examples. 525 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:50,680 And I clicked on that reference. 526 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:55,840 He referenced eight different accounts of this in the scriptures, where the Lord retreated 527 00:26:55,840 --> 00:27:02,800 to a solitary place, a mountain, the wilderness, a desert place, or going a little way off 528 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:04,400 to pray to the Father. 529 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:08,800 If Jesus Christ sought quiet time to commune with God and to be strengthened by Him, it 530 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:12,120 would be wise for us to do the same. 531 00:27:12,120 --> 00:27:13,120 That's it. 532 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:14,120 That's a wrap. 533 00:27:14,120 --> 00:27:15,320 That's a lot to think about. 534 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:22,280 But we hope you have the opportunity to invite the Holy Ghost to distill in your mind, like 535 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:26,840 what pieces and parts are there for you right now. 536 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:27,840 We'll catch you on the next one. 537 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:28,840 See you next time. 538 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:37,120 God bless you.