This article takes a bit of courage to write, but I’ve recently decided that I’m a lazy Mormon. I know there are times when we Mormons think the “to-do” list is too large. There are so many things that we should be doing, all of them good of course, that it does become overwhelming. And we often wonder, can’t we just be happy where we are? Can we just relax a little and call it a day? I believe we can. And I believe there are many days when I have lived up to my full potential and I have reasonably accomplished what needed to be done.
While I believe there is always room for error, and I have to be flexible when changes arise, I have still concluded that I have been lazy in too many things. My list will be different than your list, and we are all in various stages of life and facing different challenges. So this “talking to” relates directly to what I think needs to be improved in my own life. In your life, the “talking to” could be on a completely different note.
Last year, I estimate that I went to the temple 6-7 times. That was an improvement on the year before, so I am proud of that. This year though… I’ve been twice. And it’s almost May. I don’t really have a lot of good excuses except that I deleted “temple” from my calendar a few times so that I wouldn’t be reminded every Tuesday morning that I had automatically posted it.
At the beginning of the year, I made a commitment to become closer to God. I have done this to about 80% of my capacity. I’ve studied my scriptures on a daily basis, although sometimes the “study” has turned into reading a chapter on my phone about 11:00 p.m. at night when I can barely download one more thing into my brain. I have also spent a lot more time in prayer and thought, and I have taken notes during church meetings about things that have inspired me. So that is all good.
Listening to General Conference a few weeks ago reminded me that I have let other things slide, like helping my girls with their Personal Progress. (Kids never really do things on their own, do they?) I also realized that I need to stay more consistent with family scripture study and FHE. In a month’s time frame, we are probably at 50-60% with this, which is better than nothing, but really, I think I can do better.
Family prayer and family council have gone really well, and we’ve stayed on top of that. Also… this might be a bonus with my diligent scripture study, I’ve felt more a peace and have taken things in better stride. I have also been listening to my children more and letting them take on more decision-making. (This is hard!)
Thank goodness my son is done with scouts… that’s a whole other ball of wax. And my son and I did go do baptisms for the dead a few weeks ago. If any of you haven’t done them since you were a youth, it’s an experience you need again. If nothing else but to be a witness to the amazing process, and to also gain new appreciation for the youth who perform this service in droves.
Being a Mormon sure does take a lot of time out of our regular lives… unless we look at it from the perspective of being a Mormon is our life. For me, I’d like to recommit, and with nearly four months of 2013 gone, I think it’s a good time.
This is what I’ll be working on: Reading scriptures when I’m actually awake, annoying my kids with yet another family scripture study as often as humanly possible, resetting my temple reminder for Tuesdays (this will give me a 50% chance), and getting back into Personal Progress with my girls (this will probably take another calendar reminder).
It seems the older I get, the faster time goes, and the more I forget things. But I won’t blame my laziness on this. And I certainly can’t blame my calendaring-it’s all there. It just needs to transfer into action on my part. This article will serve as a good starting point, and I hope that we can all take a good assessment in where we are at on our journey and find places to improve that will make an eternal difference.
Heather B. Moore is the author of Christ’s Gifts to Women, and the recent historical novel, Esther the Queen. Visit her blog for more information.
Heather MooreNovember 4, 2013
This is a late thank you, but I really appreciate the wonderful advice. It has been very touching for me to read. I've recently cut my writing goals in half so I can do some of the things you suggest... and not be on the "treadmill" so much :-)
ChadJuly 1, 2013
Heather sounds like you are doing just fine. Remember President Hinkley told us to "follow on" meaning just keep doing what we're doing.....the best we can. The Lord will be pick up the slack.