Last week I had two interesting experiences that were somewhat similar.

First, I attended a patriotic program (week of President’s Day) at my girls’ elementary school. It was so cute, and all the kids did a great job. I love that our school emphasizes patriotism and goes above and beyond to teach the children respect and gratitude for our country and those who serve and defend it in various forms (not just miliary but political office and being good citizens). Getting to the school and going through the process to get in for an all school program like this is not my favorite thing, I especially get frustrated finding a parking spot since parking is quite limited at the school and there are “No Parking” signs all along the streets surrounding the school because it is in a neighborhood. As I was walking up to the line of parents and grandparents attending the event, I started talking to a woman in line next to me. I didn’t know her. I don’t even know why I started the conversation. That is not like me at all. I don’t really start up random conversations with strangers. But, we got to talking … and we talked throughout the entire time I was at the program. We didn’t chat during the performances, but in between when the kids were going on and off the stage or while we were waiting for it to start or at the end when people were filing out. It was a wonderful experience. I feel like I made a new connection, a new friend. Her kids were similar in age to my own, but in different grades. She was new to the school this year and we found lots of things to talk about including the school, but even outside that topic.

Only one hour after this school program, I had my second experience making a new friend, chatting it up with someone I did not know. We were volunteering for an after school activity, and I’m sure I’d at least seen her before if not talked to her briefly. I couldn’t remember her name. She came up to me and said, “Hey, you look familiar. Have we talked before? Have we volunteered together before?” I laughed and agreed we probably had. A conversation ensued and we talked for quite a while. It was refreshing and fun to hear her experiences and insights on the venue for the kids.

By the end of these two events, I admit I was physically exhausted. I was tired and ready to be done for the day, but spiritually and emotionally I felt uplifted, enriched, even strengthened. I had to chuckle as I told my husband about my afternoon that night over family dinner. He was not all that surprised I had talked to these women, though I still am. It is really not like me. Sure, I can talk the ear off my friends and family – people I am super comfortable with – but rarely do I chat up a stranger.

The very next day I started listening to a podcast with Ed Mylett and Charles Duhigg. I have read books by both these gentlemen and businessmen before. Great books (The Power of Habit and The Power of One More). But the podcast talked about Charles Duhigg’s recent release of his new book Supercommunicators. I just got it and cannot wait to read it. I’ll have to make a book review post about it after I do.

The main points they discussed in this podcast hit home as I reflected on my day talking to those ladies at random. As humans, we long to connect with other people on a deeper level than simply the weather or the task we are presently sharing. We want to know what people think and feel, but with strangers or even general acquaintances, it can be awkward. Further, I was thinking about Heavenly Father’s plan for us. We are not meant to navigate this world alone. We are sent here to live in families (yes, not all families look the same and there are unique circumstances, but God’s plan centers around the family). We have ward families, neighborhoods, communities, societies, states, provinces, nations. Many groups gather for different reasons, but regardless of the reason, people need people. We each are given unique gifts and strengths from God to help us help each other on our journey back to Heaven. Jesus Christ was the best example of this in the New Testament. He served, loved, gave, sacrificed and shared His true self with others. He still shares Himself with us if we seek Him.

I pray that we do and that we will. I know I am going to make a purposeful effort to connect to others, even strangers, throughout my day. I will choose to not make it awkward and press forward in faith in Christ and His example; in addition, I will strive to see other as God sees them – His children, my brothers and sisters on this earth. We can find connection. We can share on this journey of mortal life.

How do you think you do with chatting it up with strangers? What tips or tricks do you have that help you?

Have you listened to Elder Bednar’s talk that he gave this week at BYU? If not, visit “Consider the Wondrous Works of God” (Job 37:14) | David A. Bednar | BYU Speeches and listen to it. You can also follow the Recent BYU Speeches Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, which is what I like to do to keep up on the devotionals and forums given. As a BYU alum myself, it brings back great memories of going to the Marriott Center to listen to whatever speaker they had each Tuesday. I loved how everything shut down to encourage students to attend the devotional. It was always an extra special event when one of the First Presidency or the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles would visit and speak. Twenty years later, I still enjoy hearing what they have to say. Even though I’m not a student nor single or newly married, the principles and promises given in these talks still apply to me. After listening to Elder Bednar’s remarks from this week, here are my thoughts and take aways:

1. President Nelson has said more than once that the Lord loves effort. This talk takes a deep dive into what that effort might look like as a follow of Jesus Christ, as a covenant keeper in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love that Elder Bednar started out talking about the Lord’s work and that His entire goal is us, His children. We are what matters most to Him. Moses learned that man is nothing compared to God. But yet to God, we are everything to Him. (Elder Bednar words this so much better, but I don’t yet have access to the transcript, so I’m paraphrasing based on what I remember while listening. Again, go listen 🙂 If we consider this, then what can we do to help God with His work? That is the key. If we are His work, then what we do really matters.
2. In order for the Lord to accomplish His purposes (Moses 1:39), we must each do our part. We can’t sit idly by and hope that someone else will do the work for us. I thought of so many things on our gospel to do list (prayers, scripture study, church attendance, temple work, family history, tithing/offerings, service, callings, etc). Honestly, if we really take the time to list out all the things, it can be daunting and overwhelming. There is a lot of work to do! But what is the purpose of that work? Yes, “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” The Lord wants us to become like Him. He wants us to learn and grow and develop Christlike attributes. We are doing His work to help others to become as well (think anyone in your stewardship, young or old). We learn by doing. We grow by doing. We become by doing.
3. We are agents with the ability to choose for ourselves – to act and not be acted upon. Being lazy and idle and coasting through life without purpose, meaning, or direction is not how the Lord intended us to live. God values our choices and our agency. In any situation we can choose to be acted upon and react, or we can choose to act. I was jumping ahead and listening to John Hilton III’s Book of Mormon Masterclass for 1 Nephi 16-22 and I loved how he explained this concept. It was wonderful listening to these two things back to back because they went hand in hand. Nephi chose to pray instead of complain. Nephi chose to ask his father for counsel instead of murmuring against him or the Lord. Great examples. When I think of my own life, I know I fall short in this are so many times. I am trying to learn to stop and think and then act when something comes along in life, especially that takes me by surprise. Just after Thanksgiving, I tripped on some metal-framed white boards that had been haphazardly placed in my office entrance at home. It was dark (because I was of course in a hurry and didn’t turn the light on), and I didn’t see the white boards. The metal frames were apparently no match for my foot. I broke a toe and severely sprained my foot. I was in instant pain. My husband was not home and my children came rushing out of bed to see whether I was okay. I was not happy that one of my kids had put the white boards there. I was not happy that I hadn’t seen them. I was not happy that I knew from prior experience I had broken something and would not be able to walk for a while. But in that moment, I was blessed with a heavenly view of the situation. My children loved me. They were taking care of me. My youngest went to get me some ice (because in our house ice cures all ills upon first injuring something). My oldest helped me into our office rollie chair and wheeled me to my recliner so I could elevate my swelling foot. I didn’t yell. I didn’t even cry. I honestly laughed a bit. Yes, it hurt like the Dickens (timely for that season of the year), but the Lord blessed me to see something unique in the situation that allowed me to act in faith and feel joy: I thought I finally have a ‘normal’ injury. This is something most people experience – a broken toe or foot. I recall texting my husband about what happened since he was at the gym. Then I prayed with my kids. Then I prayed by myself. I remember praying with gratitude over and over that I was blessed with this “normal” trial – that I was healthy enough to endure such a trial. Over the next several weeks in a boot and on crutches, it was tough, and I had my moments of yelling out in pain and moaning in misery; but what comforted me the most was knowing that this was not unique to me. That may sound odd, but I have had so many “rare” medical issues my entire life that it was really nice to just be average here. I knew the Lord saw me and knew me. I think if I had just given my normal reaction to the situation, I would have missed this great spiritual lesson tailored to me from the Lord. Of the hundreds of other times I didn’t act and simply reacted, I wonder what lessons I missed. I hope in the future I can remember this and wait and pray and feel the Spirit teach me. Now that I can walk without crutches or a boot, I hope I don’t forget this lesson.
4. “There are no spiritual shortcuts.” As Elder Bednar was summarizing the points of his talk, he said this phrase. He talked about how we cannot just pass through life without striving for daily spiritual experiences and growth. I have been doing physical therapy, but sometimes frequent surgeries (or foot injuries) get in the way of my progress. It can feel defeating. But, I know that when I do my best and give it my all for that day (even if that is a super small amount, but great effort), I see the incremental improvement. Over time, I feel myself getting stronger and look at what I am becoming physically. It may not show on the outside, but I feel it when I get out of bed in the morning or kneel down to pray (which some days has been a miracle in and of itself – just ask my kids). As I thought about the daily efforts we must put in to grow spiritual strength and endurance, I thought of the small reps I do to build back my muscle mass. Such simple, but often difficult or inconvenient tasks, but big differences over time. Similarly, prayer, scripture study (think of all the things you thought of on your to-do list from point #2) all provide small and simple means to accomplish the great work of becoming like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

My dad used to always say a phrase when we were growing up (okay, he still says it now, but I don’t live with him so I don’t hear it as often). Apparently, he learned it from his dad. I am not sure where to attribute this phrase, so if you know, please share it with me. I like to give credit where credit is due. Anyway, my dad would say, “Work will win when wishy-washy wishing won’t.” He called this “W to the 8th Power.” We kids always knew what he meant when he said it. There was no shortcut. We had to do the work. Whether it was yard work, other service projects, chores around the house, or some issue we had to deal with that we had to work out for ourselves, this phrase stuck. My dad is probably the hardest worker I know. Even though he recently retired, that man continues to work. He finds projects. He attends the temple and serves in the Church. He wakes up early and doesn’t stop until the day is done. When we went on vacations, we got the biggest bang for our buck because we never just lazed around – we were up and going and doing every minute of every day. I have great memories of many trips because of this. Spiritually, my parents taught us to put in the work. We were not perfect at reading the scriptures every single day, but we sure put in the effort and tried and tried to do it daily. They taught me the value of learning how the Spirit talks to me and how to know what the Lord wants me to know about me and my life in addition to learning about Him and His life. I hope that I am teaching my children similar things and that they will know: when in doubt, think W to the 8th power!

We must be willing to work: to go and search and pray and ponder ourselves, just like Nephi in The Book of Mormon. Laman and Lemuel may have been trying to find a spiritual shortcut; when Nephi asked if they had asked the Lord about Lehi’s dream, they said they hadn’t, making the excuse that the Lord wouldn’t make those things known to them. I learn from this that I need to have more faith in the Lord and ask even when I don’t want to. I need to pause and read the scriptures or listen to Conference talks even when time is short. I need to prioritize things of God first and foremost because ultimately that’s the only thing that will matter. No wonder President Nelson’s talk in the last General Conference was about thinking celestial. If we can make Jesus Christ the focus, the center of our lives, we will be happier. Life will still be hard, but we will not just get through it – we can enjoy each day doing it.

Okay, so I mentioned that I love podcasts, especially podcasts about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But, I have to highlight my favorite one simply because it brings me so much joy. I found this podcast a few years ago, just a couple months after it launched. The podcast is called The Standard of Truth. It is all about Church history and various topics from the beginnings of the Church to how to know a good historical or factual source to all the topics they may or may not talk about in the next 38 seasons of their show. The dry humor alone would keep me coming back for more. The thing I love the most, though, is the testimony and witness of Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat. His experiences and his knowledge are compelling. His research is thorough. What he doesn’t know, he admits to not knowing. If he can research it and find it, he does. If there is not a specific, doctrinal answer, he will discuss the various facets of the question and possible solutions, but he only cites good sources and does not make statements contrary to Church doctrine. I subscribed to the premium content as soon as it released because I seriously cannot get enough of this podcast. I also love Prof. Richard LeDuc. He wasn’t on the first episodes much if at all as I can recall, but he is great. His humor and his own insights are just spot on.

My husband and I have listened to some episodes more than once as they are so insightful and interesting. I like that this year studying The Book of Mormon, they are highlighting some of the historical information about the coming forth of The Book of Mormon. While they go at their own pace and don’t follow Come, Follow Me curricula, the information is simply great. I have not read any of The Joseph Smith Papers cover to cover, but we do have them and I have looked at them. Dr. Dirkmaat knows his stuff, especially from the 19th century. I am also enjoying the premium content which includes American History as well as Joseph Smith history and sacred places from our past because of the format and nature of the podcast and its hosts. I share this podcast with anyone and everyone because it brings me such joy to listen to it. Last year and again this year, the tours they offer have been in conflict with other obligations that we have, but I sincerely hope my husband and I can tour with them in the future.

We love this podcast so much that we simply refer to it in our home as “The Podcast” rather than specifying its name. My husband will ask whether I listened to The Podcast today, and I smile. If I say, “What did you think about The Podcast?” my husband always knows what I mean. If you haven’t ever listened, give it a whirl. If you have listened before, but didn’t enjoy it, try again. It will be worth it. You don’t have to do the premium content because the regular content is great, but the premium is wonderful, too! Check it out.