A bit of learning

Since my last post a bit has happened on both fronts of "being" and "finding". Let me essplain.

"Being": Again, while reading my scriptures on the trax... side note: I JUST realized this whole not having a car thing (my car broke down the first week of January), which has caused me to ride said trax a lot, has also given me an opportunity to be read my scriptures more while on the train. So maybe, just maybe, it's a blessing to have a broken car!

Ok, back to what I was getting to. I came across a verse of scripture that hit me in regards to where I want to be in life. Here goes...

2 Ne. 26:31

31 But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.

My though process: I have debt that I really REALLY want to be paid off!!! I've recently realized that it could be a lot worse, but it still causes me stress, and I don't like it. I want to be financially successful, I want to be able to start a business if I want to without the worry of debt deterring me. I would prefer not having to live paycheck to paycheck which is what I've been doing since moving back to Salt Lake in the summer of '08. In 2009, I made almost 1/2 as much as I made in 2007 working full time in Tucson. Now I know why 2009 seemed a little harder than the year before. It was!

I am plugging right here, right now though: TITHING! 10%, that's how I survived last year. I had shelter over my head, food to eat, and my bills got paid. I know it's because the Lord blesses those who have done what He's asked. I went without a lot of wants, but hey, looking back now, I can't complain. I think I'm a better person for it. I've perfected my pasta sauce, tortillas, and wheat bread recipes because of it. Oh yeah, and I had multiple, Multiple, MULTIPLE experiences in being humbled. It was hard! I've realized though, what in life that is worth anything isn't hard? I still would prefer not being poor, just to clarify. haha.

My thought on the scripture verse though went something like this... "Wow, I really do think a lot about money!" I think about what I have to buy, what I can't buy, what bills I need to pay, what bills I can't pay right away, and how I can get more money.

So I ask(ed) myself, am I laboring for money or am I laboring for Zion?

I was looking up some scriptures on the subject of laboring and found this to be very applicable too:

2 Ne. 9: 51

51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

Zion! Zion is what I want to be laboring for! I don't want to be "spending" for that which is of no worth, nor laboring for that which cannot satisfy. I want to be pure in heart, I want to help build a place where the pure in heart can live, I want to be one heart and one mind with the Lord.

I have a long way to go, but I can see the path ahead of me. I know that by following the Holy One of Israel and feasting upon His Word, His Work, and His Glory that my soul will delight in fatness! Yay for fatness! I'm not sure I ever thought I would say that. ;) Seriously though, I'm so glad the path is in view!

Now onto "Finding": Over the last two months, I've had a desire to ADVENTURE! By adventure I mean, try new things that I haven't done before, things physically, mentally, and spiritually. These things may be out of my comfort zone, but I'm challenging myself to do them anyway. I want to experience life, live it, love it and find JOY in every aspect of it!

I totally took ballroom dance lessons! I let people in my bubble of physical comfort! There was also a mental thing I had to overcome with trying something new in front of people, but that's another post. Those of you who don't know me that well (or at all) need to understand that I don't like people touching me. We'll have to delve into the psychological reasons for this later, but I think it might have something to do with a certain sister who will remain nameless who would always pinch me. You know who you are! haha. I did however learn... I actually don't have of a problem with it like I thought I did. I'm thinking I just don't like people coming up to me and pinching me. So, folks no pinching!

I've decided to go on what I like to call Temple Adventures! I have a goal to go to every Temple in Utah and do an Endowment Session. Starting from the newest to the oldest. There are 13 Temples so it will take 6 1/2 months with me going every two weeks. So far, the Oquirrh Mountain and Draper Temples can be checked off the list. This weekend I'll be going to Vernal! I'm soooo excited! I LOVE the Temple!!! I find such peace in the Temple and have an insight there that I don't have anywhere else. With this whole "findin' my ore" adventure I'll be needing extra insight and peace. I can't knock trax though, revelation keeps coming there too. lol.

I've heard insanity defined as doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. So I've decided that if what I was doing before wasn't working in findin' my ore, that I would do something different so I wouldn't go insane.

I like a guy. I'm thinking I'm looking for the right type of ore. He's a good guy. His smile makes me smile! He's smart, he's nice, he does his home teaching and goes to the Temple regularly. We'll see if my pursuing actually yields any return. The more metal in the ore, the easier it is to find ya know. It shines! And boy do I like shiny things! I'm going to try something different this time and go after the shiny things instead of waiting for the shiny things to find me.

I'll let ya know how it goes. *wink* *wink*

Clarification

So I re read my post and realized I sound a little more crazy than I really am. Don't get me wrong, I do want to be married, but it's not ALL I think about. I have work and a career to figure out too, but Marriage is a more interesting subject in my life right now. With that cleared up, now LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN :) haha

Explanation of Findin' My Ore

Let me first introduce myself and the craziness that is Sarah:
(and since this is the first post, it's gonna be a little long since I have to explain what I'm doing here)

I am 27, I love to cook, craft, and converse. I am the youngest of four with two older brothers and an older sister and a mom who loves us enough to put up with us all. I LOVE my family! Yes, we are odd, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I have three nephews and 2 nieces who I ADORE! Seeing these kids grow up is one of the most amazing and sweet experiences of my life. I just wished we all lived a little closer!

I was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but because of my own lack of testimony and understanding I didn't fully live up to the standards of the Gospel until my early 20's. The time when I made the decision to LIVE the Gospel of Jesus Christ was an "ah ha" moment. I knew that it wasn't a decision that I would have to make just the once, but a decision that I would have to continually make each and every day. I have never known such happiness since I made that decision to strive to be better!

So onto why this blog was created:
I was sitting on the Trax reading The Book of Mormon on my way home from work last week and a few versus of scripture stood out to me. So I re read them and while I was re reading them, the impression of the need to apply them in my life and the how that can be accomplished came to my mind. (This blog is going to open the can of worms which is Sarah and her thought processes, so if ya don't want to be traumatized by that, I recommend you stop reading here) *grin*

Ok, I need to back up. I want to let you in on where my thoughts are, have been, and are going. Simple fact about Sarah: I want to be a wife and a mother more than you can possibly comprehend. Over the last year and a half since I moved back up to Salt Lake I have had sooooo many amazing experiences which have helped me to understand a little more on how I can prepare to be a better wife and mother and I've been blessed to have learned a little of why this blessing hasn't come into my life yet.

I truly believe in the Lord's timing and the fact that He can see the BIG picture and has a complete understanding of ALL. He knows me and He knows what's best for me. He also knows how I learn and how I can apply His teachings into my life.

Hence the experience on the Trax while reading my scriptures. I started over at the beginning of the year in 1Nephi. I was in chapter 17 and while reading versus 7-10 I starting receiving the impressions that follow after the scriptures below. I didn't think about it to much that night, but was able to go to the Salt Lake Temple the next day and I re read the scriptures and thought about them during my time there. This is what they say:

7 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me , saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.
8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.
9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools, to construct the ship after the manner which though hast shown unto me?
10 And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools.

The Spirit prompted this thinking:
Mountain = House of the Lord
Ship = Eternal Family
Ore = Eternal Companion
Tools = Children

After having more than a week to think about this and talking to a few close friends about it, my thinking has slightly changed. At first I thought it was literal, well ok, kinda literal.
Lord, where can I find my Ore?
What mountain will I find the Ore in?
Where is the Ore?
Who is the Ore?
What do I need to extract the Ore?

The insight I got last night though has shifted my thinking of not only finding the ore, but how I can be better prepared for when the ore is to be found.
Am I in a place in my life where if the Lord asked me to get into the mountain, I would?
Am I listening for the Lord?
Am I taking action and going into the mountain?
Am I praying and calling on the Lord for His guidance?
Am I prepared to "construct" a ship in the manner which He has shown me through His scriptures and Prophets?

Pretty interesting huh? This blog will be an insight to my spiritual journey that encompasses learning from these versus of scripture and the mental and physical actions that I need to take to to FIND the Ore.

I'm hoping this is a fabulous adventure where I am a better person by going on it.
LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!


Love,
Me

p.s. this is an official disclaimer for Sarah's lack of proper use of grammar, punctuation, and any spelling mistakes. hehe