Stand Up And Use Your Voice

How many times in our lives do we have the opportunity to share our beliefs, our thoughts, our feelings, our opinions? Many right?

Now let me ask you this, do we take those opportunities and if we do how often?

This is a question that has been on my mind for awhile and was brought to the forefront of my thoughts today as I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting. With me, my personality is not one to voice my opinions to every person that I meet, not to try and force my beliefs on someone or to try even to persuade them to believe that my way is the right way. In some instances this as been a blessing that has kept me out of trouble and help to sustain some friendships and other relationships. However, in other instances it has been my biggest weakness. I have missed so many opportunities to share what I believe and have failed to act on thoughts and impressions that may have had an impact on someone else's life. I have missed opportunities to make relationships grow stronger and friendships to run deeper. I have missed learning from others opinions because I am so set in my own. By not sharing my thoughts or feelings, I have had times when disappointment and disgust were always present in my mind. By not sharing my beliefs I have missed moment to make my own testimony grow stronger. I have missed moments when maybe I could have been the influence in someone's life to help them back on the right path. I have missed opportunities for service, for bringing a smile to someone and to myself, for bringing laughter into a situation that needed it. I have missed so many other opportunities and chances that I cannot even count them.

It makes me sad to know I didn't have the confidence or will power to overcome moments of weakness. It makes me sad to know I haven't trusted the Lord or the Spirit enough to let them guide my actions and words. It makes me sad to know that I have had all these opportunities and have only acted upon a very small percent of them.

I guess pondering and then writing has allowed me to see where I need to improve in my life and using my voice is a part of that improvement. So I would like to make this promise to everyone within my writing voice, that I will no longer be afraid, I will no longer lack the confidence, I will no longer ignore the promptings that I receive to do the things that need to be done. I will strive to share the gospel whenever I am given the opportunity. I will add my opinion and share my insight during a conversation. I will defend my believes in the way that the Savior does all throughout the scriptures. I will have the confidence to voice concerns and try to fix problems that need to be fix. I will not be pushed to a corner to stand awkwardly, afraid of what other people might think.

Just as President Hickley said, "Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do great and good things. Believe that no mountain is so high that you cannot climb it. Believe that no storm is so great that you cannot weather it. You are not destined to be a scrub. You are a child of God, of infinite capacity. Believe that you can do it-whatever it is that you set your heart on. Opportunities will unfold and open before you. The skies will clear when they have been dark with portent."

As long as I got the Lord on my side, guiding and protecting me, I know that I will be able to do many great and wonderful things.

I am Me, I must love Me and I must believe in Me.

I must Stand Up and Use My Voice.