Reaching For Your Spiritual High
General Conference is a special time for most Mormons. It is a time when we get to listen and be taught by the Prophet of God, President Hinckley, and by other Leaders of the Church. General Conference is held in April and October every year.
This past October, Mormons around the world gathered again for the 177th Seminannual General Conference. For many members of the Church, General Conference is an incredible spiritual experience. For me, General Conference leaves me in a state that I describe as being on a “Spiritual high.”
I’ve been very fortunate to be in attendance in the Conference Center a few times during General Conference. I’ve sat in the presence of the Prophet of God and have truly felt his Spirit. I’ve also participated in General Conference via satellite from a remote location. I’ve felt the Spirit even then. Regardless of whether I listen to the Prophet in person or through the marvels of modern technology, I’ve always felt the love that President Hinckley has for all of us and an assurance that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me.
A couple of years ago our family had another opportunity to attend General Conference at the Conference Center. I remember standing and singing “We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet” along with the Tabernacle Choir towards the end of the session. I’m sure everyone was focused on President Hinckley as he stood there in his usual place on the stand. The Spirit testified strongly to me that President Hinckley is a Prophet of God. I could see how moved my family was, especially our boys. I remember thinking that if only we can hold on to that Spirit for the rest of our lives our family would be just fine. I sat and offered a silent prayer that our boys will remember that feeling when they are faced with trials and tribulations.
We all know that it is practically impossible to hang on to such feelings when we are faced with the realities of life. It is hard to be on a spiritual high when the world we live in is anything but spiritual. But does this mean that we shouldn’t strive for it in our lives? No! If anything this should make us try even harder to maintain or to get back that feeling of being on a Spiritual high. The fact that we’ll sometimes do things that are not in keeping with being on a spiritual high should not stop us from always reaching for that feeling in our lives.
One of the things that really helps me to maintain or re-discover my spiritual high is by reading and re-reading the powerful talks and articles that are available on the Church’s web site. We also have the monthly Church magazines and I do urge you to get those if you don’t have them in your homes yet. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we are taught to “seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom…” The Scriptures, Church Magazines, and other Church sponsored publication are prime examples of “best books.” This extends to Church approved online publications and databases as well.
The online database of articles and talks gives us access to the most recent talks by the Prophet and other Church leaders. It also gives us access to the many talks and inspirational messages by previous Church leaders. At the very top of the homepage of the Church’s official web site, you’ll see a menu bar with the words “Search” “A to Z” and others. Click on “Search” and this will start you on your way to finding talks and articles on just about any gospel related topic you want. You can search for an article by title, by subject, or by author/speaker. You can limit your search in a number of different ways too.
I’ve found the practice of reading one article a day on a chosen subject to be spiritually uplifting. It helps me to deal with whatever I’m faced with that day. You may not have time to read an article every day. That’s okay, don’t feel as if you have to. I just happen to have the time to do that at this point in my life. I read when I’m waiting in the car to pick up our boys after school. I read when I’m sitting in front of my computer waiting for the right words to come before I write a post. I read when I can’t sleep.
You may only have time to read an article every other day or once a week. Whether it is once a day or once a week, I hope that you do take advantage of this wonderful resource. There have been many times when I’ve found the exact thing I needed at the time by reading these articles. There have been many times when my resolve is strengthened after reading these inspired messages for our times.
I know that each of us will experience times of trials and tribulations. Some will be minor nuisances while others will be almost unbearable. It is my hope that when we do experience those times, that we will reach for those moments in our lives when we’ve had the Spirit testify to us about our Heavenly Father’s love for each of us. I hope that we will try to remember those times when we’ve known in our hearts that there is a purpose to life, that our trials and tribulations are only for a moment. When those times come, and they will, remember to reach for your Spiritual High.
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