Be Your Best Self

My thoughts on President Monson's talk "Be Your Best Self"

"These stirring declarations from prophets of God help us to understand that each man and each boy who holds the priesthood of God must be worthy of that great privilege and responsibility. Each must strive to learn his duty and then to do it to the best of his ability. As we do so, we provide the means by which our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, can accomplish Their work here upon the earth. It is we who are Their representatives here."

I know he is talking to the Priesthood brethren but what about me? Am I a conduit for the Lord to accomplish His great work here on earth?

How can I be the best Doreen?

President Monson tells me:
1. Study diligently
2. Pray fervently
3. Live righteously

"These suggestions are not new; they Have been taught and repeated again and again."

So then why are they brought out again and again. Maybe because we aren't living them to their fullest. Maybe I need to improve in these areas. Maybe the world needs to hear it again and again until we live it fully.

Study:
What are we to study?
When are we to study?
How are we to study?

"Become acquainted with the lessons the scriptures teach."
"Study them as though they were speaking to you, for such is the truth."
"I promise you, whether you hold the Aaronic or the Melchizedek Priesthood, that if you will study the scriptures diligently, your power to avoid temptation and to receive direction of the Holy Ghost in all you do will be increased."

What a promise. I guess I better do better these next few months. I have time. I just need to pull the book out.

Pray:
"With God, all things are possible."

I have always had a strong testimony in prayer and over the past few months it has even grown stronger. Pray can move mountains, dissolve tumors and grant life. It can grant peace and it can calm a troubled heart. It can give strength and it can prick a heart.

Live:
"...He will sustain his servants in righteousness as they avoid the evils of our day and live lives of virtue and purity."

If no unclean thing can enter in to heaven then heaven can't enter into an unclean thing.
I have to ask myself, what am I doing to be unclean, unworthy, undeserving of the Spirit? I hope the answer is nothing and that the Spirit is living inside of me.
I know I'm short with my children. I know I'm not always kind. I know I get frustrated repeatedly as I repeat myself over and over (but isn't that what Pres. Monson is doing for us--repeating over and over?). I know I'm not perfect. I know I need to be more clean.

How am I going to do these three thing?
Are they going to become part of me?
How true are my words, "I will change and be better."?
Will I?
Yes!