Go and Become

How often do we disregard the little things? The things that are important, but that maybe we just don't really seem to acknowledge. I'm talking about the things each day that maybe a loved one does for us, or the little things daily that we must do in order to keep going, to keep living. I was thinking this morning about how the things we want to accomplish, our passions, the dreams we've set our hearts on since we were children, are all made up of little steps, little goals, simple, daily acts.

Isn't that fastinating to think about? I mean, if anything, I think at first it takes a little pressure off of the idea that all of the sudden these are things that have to be accomplished overnight. For example, if I wanted to become a scholar in music, specifically the piano, there is no way, no matter how much I wished for it, that if I stayed up all night reading and studying, I would be able to explain to you all about the origins of the piano, share with you all of the amazing pianists the world's ever known, etc. etc. To become a scholar takes time. It takes dedication and focus, time and perserverance. And those are all made up of the little decisions and actions that grow into big results.

I was thinking more especially about goals and why they're important. Goals are what help us accomplish the bigger and better things. They give us the steps and the motivation behind everything that we do and accomplish. In Preach My Gospel, Elder M Russell Ballard is quoted, "I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don't set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life."

My study of PMG and the scriptures, every day on my mission gave me the confidence that the spirit would help me remember the things that I had studied so that I could help others. I admit that nowadays it is becoming harder and harder for me to find the motivation to study daily, but I recognize each day when I don't do it, that I am failing myself, and letting myself down. I recognize that my priorities are not where they used to be, and I understand that it can take only 5 mins a day for me to accomplish this goal. That's so little compared to all of the time I have in a day. Remember, it's the little things that make a difference.

This last Sunday we had Regional Conference for the whole state of Idaho. Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy was there with Sister Marriott and Elder Perry. They all gave wonderful talks and the underlying topic that I gathered from all of them was change. And most importantly, little changes that need to take place inside of each of us. Elder Nielson told us that when he became a Seventy he waited for days to receive instruction until finally one of the other general authorities told him to, "go and become," so he studied more about the Savior and soon he started to become more like him. The same applies to us. If we want to be something different, to change, then we, as well, need to go and become.

"Go and Become"

Anything worth while isn't meant to be easy.

Why?

Because the goals we set push us to do something different

To step out of our comfort zone and to change.

They help us to look at who we are and recognize

That that is not who we need to become.

When we look at the things that we want,

The things we want to accomplish

Our dreams.

When we push ourselves,

When we look at who we are

And who we want to be,

We are proving to ourselves 

That we are capable of more.

Our pasts don't define us

They refine us.

We prove to not only ourselves,

But the world, 

That we are stronger, 

Better,

Capable, 

And ready to change.

We prove that what we want to become,

Is far more important than where we come from,

Or who we were,

Are,

Or what we have done.

We cannot become what we want to be

By remaining who we are.

So each day let us remember

That who we are TODAY

can be different than who we are TOMORROW.

That we have the power, 

The choice,

And the ability to be different,

To change,

And to leave our marks on the world.

Let us remember that we can

Make a difference,

That we can see the difference,

That we can be the difference.

That being different is not a bad thing,

It's what sets us apart.

Be the change you wish 

To see in the world.

Go and become.