BE OF GOOD CHEER

Be of Good Cheer--that was Heather's lesson in Relief Society today. Her lesson was taken from a talk by our new prophet, Thomas S. Monson at the BYU Women's Conference, 2008 Here are a couple of things I jotted down in my notebook:

1. We have an immense amount of power--we have just forgotten
2. Keep a gratitude journal--she asked for a raise of hands to see how many people do this and there were several. I looked at Joan and whispered, "I have one, I've just never written in it." She whispered back, "So do I and neither have I."
3. Have confidence in the Lord.
4. Heather asked what people do when they are "down," and lots of ideas were expressed. My favorite one was to go where it was light. Go outside and stand in the light. Then Genny, my neighbor I adore, said something like, "I think you need to cry sometimes, you need to get it out, to grieve and feel sorry for yourself. And anyway," she said, "people who are so cheerful all the time kind of bug me." The whole congregation of sisters broke up in laughter.
5. Amy, who is the Primary secretary, came in for a few minutes and said something I think was inspired--she had heard it from someone else but I think she was inspired to relate it to us today. She said to imagine you are in the top of a tower. All of a sudden you see a buffalo stampede coming toward you. You begin to feel the power of it, the vibration, when it gets closer and actually goes under your tower and around your tower you can smell the buffalo, the dust comes up and swirls around. All your senses are involved and you feel overwhelmed but you are safe in the tower and soon you watch as the herd stampedes off into the distance and then they are gone. Simply gone. You are safe. You were always safe, you just felt overwhelmed for a while. She told it better than this but you get the idea.
6. Heather gave us homework. Look for the words "good cheer" or other words that mean the same. Look in the scriptures and other places. Write down what we find and find ways to have good cheer. I did that. I looked on the Internet and a talk by Jeanne Inouye came up. She gave the talk in 1993. It was called, "Be of Good Cheer." Jeanne buried her husband Saturday. This was the funeral I talked about yesterday. Her husband was an incredible man, loved by all. Jeanne was at church today, smiling. I know she is hurting inside, lonely already, missing her husband but she will be of good cheer. I have much to learn from this wonderful woman.

Heather closed with this quote from Neal A. Maxwell, "Be of Good Cheer," Ensign, November 1982, pg. 68 "Brothers and sisters, these are our days. This is our time on earth! These are our tasks to be done!

"And in these days, being of good cheer is part of being valiant in the testimony of Jesus. (See D&C 76:79; D&C 121:29.)

"Finally, in those moments when we feel the pain which is a necessary part of the plan of happiness, we can remember that there was an ancient time when that plan was first unveiled. Then the perceptive among us voted not secretly, but audibly—by shouting for joy! (See Job 38:7.) Let us not go back on those feelings now—for we saw more clearly then what we are experiencing now! "

I hope--that is if you got this far in this long blog--that you will know you are loved by your Heavenly Father, that your sins have been paid for by The Savior, all you have to do is come with a broken heart and ask forgiveness. I hope you know there are covenants that can be made. Blessing that can be had. Eternity to be of good cheer with your loved ones and with Christ and your Heavenly Father.

May God bless you.