One Pearl and Five Stones

I feel that we often get in the way of our own happiness. We look around for things that are imperfect, misplaced, or not up to par with what we think our life should be. I was able to attend at fireside tonight where Elder Trip Meredith spoke and he spoke about the most important things. Things that can make us the happiest, if we will do them.

First he spoke of the Pearl. The doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ is the pearl of the Gospel. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the gospel. By faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. That is the Pearl. It's what we are most focused on.

But like David who was going out to slay Goliath...we have five stones. The way that David slew Goliath was very simple. It was a stone to his head. Elder Meredith pointed out that there are five stones in our lives, simple things; that if we do them, our life will fall into place. Often times these five stones are simple acts or ideas that can make a big difference. We hear about a lot of these things and just think "oh that's too easy to work".

Much like the example of the Children of Israel who were bitten by the snakes. The Lord told Moses to make a staff and carve a serpent into it, and if the people look they will be healed. Many did not look, thinking that it was too easy of a solution.

Much like the example of Naaman who needed to be cleansed, was told to bathe seven times in the river. He thought this was too simple of a request. He can't be blessed that easily. Sure enough when he went off and did the thing required, he was healed.

Much like the five stones we carry in our life will be able to heal us. Five simple things that will make it easier to live the gospel; to focus on the Pearl.

You might think the five stones are "read your scriptures, say your prayers, go to church..." Elder Meredith says that the five stones (those simple things) are different for everyone. He did ask us to make one stone the Book of Mormon.

So here's the challenge:

Choose 5 simple things that you can do in your life to make things easier to focus on the Pearl. 

1. Read the Book of Mormon
2.
3.
4.
5.

The rest are up to you. They are private and they are personal. They are between you and the Lord. You may feel comfortable sharing them, that's great too!  I will share my five with you for examples sake, and because I'm okay if you know my stones.

1. Read the Book of Mormon
2. Pray Morning and Night
3. Stop Complaining
4. Be Where I Need to Be, When I Need to Be There.
5. Get Enough Sleep to Be a Functional Servant of the Lord.

These are five simple things I can do to be a happier person, and stop getting in my own way. Distractions come so easily. I want to focus on the Pearl.

Simply Happy,
Arica

Who Would You Rather Be?

Me, Me, Me.

My little sister has roped me into a couple of different shows, claiming "you'll love it." Some of them she acts are like a personal favor to her since she watches the shows I always suggest. This is how a couple weeks ago I started watching New Girl. Arin was right, I liked it. I started watching and Jess Day (the main character) is what people describe as "adorkable", which I haven't made up my mind if I like that word. I'm leaning toward not liking it. It describes her to a point. I thought I didn't like her at first but you get used to her idiosyncrasies and come to understand why she acts the way she does. I found we're more alike than I might have originally thought.

As I watch New Girl, I sometimes wish I could be a little more like Zooey Deschanel or Jess Day (who is basically the same person), but I made list as to why I am or am not like her.

I am Jess

We love to make people feel happy.

We can be very random and find the silliest things funny.

We like people to think we're funny.

I usually want to be "in" on the joke. Jess always tries to relate to her roommates, even when she can't.

We enjoy making things fun when they tend to be boring.

We hate being alone. We must always have plans, even if it's sitting at home watching a movie...it was in the plan.

We are teachers.

We don't mind talking about our feelings.

I like what I like and don't care who knows it. Popular or not. Jess isn't a hipster, she watches Dirty Dancing and likes popular sitcoms from the 80s. Most people who are hipsters will claim they only watch indie films. "Film purists"

I am Arica

I don't care so much about fashion. I enjoy looking nice but I definitely don't have the flare for what's hot and now in that industry. I sometimes wish I just had a knack for knowing about fashion or even a desire to know. I really don't care, if it looks nice on me I get it. I have my own understanding of what I like. (to my fashion demise? I'm not sure. Don't worry I ask my friend girls and that helps.)

I can't sing. I do want to take voice lessons some time in my life but that's too be determined. Also, I'm kind of sensitive about the fact that I can't sing, I'm not sure why.

I'm not trying to be mean because I like Jess, but she's kind of an airhead. I don't feel like I'm an airhead, maybe naive, but I have more sense.

I could never have a model as a best friend. My friends are beautiful, but models are a different breed and I don't think I could ever really trust their judgment. Models = untrustworthy.

Even if I wasn't Mormon/LDS, I don't think I could live with 3 guys. Maybe one...we'd be such great friends that we could wear matching rings on our left hands. :D (See what I did there...)



I often say, "don't compare yourself to others" because it's a huge life lesson I have applied to my life. So when I get a thought like "I wish I was more like Zooey/Jess" I have to really think "Do I?"
No. I don't. Of all the things we have in common, which I think are the better traits of us both, they don't out weigh the fact that I'm me and she's her. And that's how God made it. I can admire certain characteristics and some things I just am not passionate about. At the end of the day, I'm happy with how my life has turned out and the person I am. I only hope to improve upon it.

Happy about me,
Arica