Conference Weekend.

If you didn't watch conference, I invite you to do so. Some of the messages were SO powerful and completely unlike any ones from past sessions. Those messages really inspired me to do better and to keep the standards that Heavenly Father has for his children. For many that have grown up in Utah, certain things of the world might not seem appealing. But because I lived in Miami for the first 10 years of my life and saw my sisters grow up there, many standards are difficult for me to have the desire to keep. Like modesty, for example. I grew up always picturing myself wearing a bikini at the beach and a strapless dress to prom. That was what was normal in Miami. Utah, though, has different norms and so, although I know it is wrong, I still envy those who can wear a strapless dress without a guilty conscience. Anyway, I know that's a dumb example. Nonetheless, I learned something very important this weekend; I am not trying to impress the world. I am here to do what my Father wants me to do. I am here to learn to be better, to resist temptation, and to grow both spiritually and intellectually. I can't limit myself to the temporal perspective...I have to gear my perspective to the eternal. When I people see me, I want them to see that I am different from everyone of the world and that I stand up for my beliefs and actually live them. Obviously, perfection is not really possible in this world but something Elder Holland said really impacted me: "if your trying to do the best you can....then give yourself high marks."

So, the most important thing I learned is evaluate myself; to really think about if I'm living to be the best that I can be. The answer will most likely always be no, but the point is to figure out the problem area and to try and do better next time.

So yeah, I'm done with my speal.
xoxoxoxo
Eli