Developing Motivation

For the past few months, I keep forgetting that a new year has come and instead include 2010 on many of the dates that I write down. A new year has indeed come though and with the passing of one year into the next, we are given the wonderful opportunity to take a step back and evaluate our lives. The tradition of setting resolutions to better our lives is a great chance for us to make the first step towards positive change. None of our lives are perfect; we are all subject to the trials of regular life. Many of the heartaches we face are unfortunately brought onto our shoulders by of our own mistakes. There are solutions to all of life's problems though, and there is always room for change. We are now quite a ways into 2011 and hopefully we won't wait for the next new year to make additional changes in our life. So what can we do to motivate and inspire ourselves to make these changes?

For all those who struggle feeling happy because of the weight of life's problems, for those who want to make positive changes in their life, know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly the path to joy in this life. This has been my experience. At times, I knew that I wanted to follow God's commandments more fully, but I did not have the desire to follow through. I had trouble shaking the natural man. Many of us know what to do, and yet we struggle to actually do it.

Here are some things to know that will help us on our path to improvement.

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. - 1 Nephi 3:7

God will never ask us to do anything that we are unable to do.

For with God nothing shall be impossible. - Luke 1:37
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. - Philippians 4:13

Anything is possible with God's assisstance. Start with simple, specific and achievable goals. Pray for heavenly aid. As you progress, pay attention to the joy that comes into your life. Turn those results into further motivation towards imporvement in other areas. As we do this, we will blossom taking full advantage of the many talents God has given each of us. We will become better disciples of Jesus Christ and we acheive goals to be more Christlike. We will gain a testimony of God's love for each of us as we see him help us on our road to perfection.

Don't be complacent, "Awake thou that sleepest." We all have need to improve ourselves and to do it now, for "the night cometh, wherein no man can work." - 3 Nephi 27:33

What is the purpose of life? (Part 2: Progression)

Before we lived here on Earth, we lived back in our Heavenly Father's presence. While we were there, a plan was presented for each of us to grow and progress to become more like our Him. This plan involved coming to Earth, getting a physical body and then doing the things we need to so that we could return to live with our Heavenly Father.

Those things are clearly outlined in these verses from the Book of Mormon.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.

And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

It is not through these things that we earn heaven, however it is through these things that we learn heaven. This life is a prepatory, probationary period where we are to do all that we can to become heavenly so that when the day comes for us to return to our Father in Heaven, we will truly feel like it is home. It is through these things that the promise of this scripture will be fulfilled.

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.