"Keep Moving Forward"

If there is one message I wish to promote this Summer for our Carriage Cove 167th Ward Elder's quorum, it is the following quote by President Hinckley: "I would like to suggest to you that you ‘grab life by the horns’ and do not let life grab you by the horns. You take control of your lives. … Do not let life control you. … Take charge. Rise to the divinity that is within you." ~ Ensign, June 2003, 74–75.

In seeking a motto to summarize this sentiment, I discovered what I sought in an unexpected place—a quote from the Disney/Pixar film, Meet the Robinsons. "Keep Moving Forward" Will be our rallying cry. (If you haven't seen the movie, I won't spoil it. Just let me say, watch it. It's smart and hilarious. My favorite part was the Tom Seleck joke.)

The villain is basically Satan

It's funny how answers will jump out at you from the most random places when you are prayerfully seeking them. I sat down to the movie having been searching for a way to combat the typical Summer trend of spiritual stagnation here at Carriage Cove. "Keep Moving Forward" is a simple reminder for each of us to make goals that can be achieved by the end of the Summer. Hopefully, through regular PPIs and earnest concern from every home teachee, each person in the ward will feel enabled to grow and achieve their personal spiritual desires. I want the men in my ward to feel a motivating sense of hope, even if they may feel crippled by past mistakes.

President Hinckley also said, "None of us will become perfect in a day or a month or a year. We will not accomplish it in a lifetime, but we can begin now, starting with our more obvious weaknesses and gradually converting them to strengths as we go forward with our lives. This quest may be a long one; in fact, it will be lifelong. It may be fraught with many mistakes, with falling down and getting back up again. And it will take much effort. But we must not sell ourselves short. We must make a little extra effort. We would be wise to kneel before our God in supplication. He will help us. He will bless us. He will comfort and sustain us. He will help us to do more, and be more, than we can ever accomplish or be on our own. ~Standing for Something: Ten Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes.

On that note, I'd like to share a comforting idea I discovered while attending the temple this week. It basically helped me feel better about not being perfect.

God sent Adam to earth. There, God permitted Satan to tempt Adam. But God also provided Adam with a Savior and a plan for redemption which included the laws of obedience and sacrifice.

God never intended for us to live sinless lives. He fully expected (and needed) us to make mistakes here on earth so that we may know the difference between good and evil and ultimately choose the good.

p.s. I was going to go with "Just keep swimming" from Finding Nemo, but that was so 2003!

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Tuesdays with Muerte

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