A Reminder: The Challenge to Become

My brothers (sorry you were on your mission for the wedding Jake) have recently inspired me in my personal challenge to become. I have learned so much by watching them and listening to their experiences of coming closer to Christ. Something they shared today reminded me of these wonderful words from Elder Oaks about our greatest challenge.

"In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something...

Now is the time for each of us to work toward our personal conversion, toward becoming what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. As we do so, we should remember that our family relationships—even more than our Church callings—are the setting in which the most important part of that development can occur. The conversion we must achieve requires us to be a good husband and father or a good wife and mother. Being a successful Church leader is not enough. Exaltation is an eternal family experience, and it is our mortal family experiences that are best suited to prepare us for it.

Our needed conversions are often achieved more readily by suffering and adversity than by comfort and tranquillity, as Elder Hales taught us so beautifully this morning. Father Lehi promised his son Jacob that God would “consecrate [his] afflictions for [his] gain” (2 Ne. 2:2). The Prophet Joseph was promised that “thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high” (D&C 121:7–8).
...persons who are proceeding toward the needed conversion are beginning to see things as our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, see them. They are hearing His voice instead of the voice of the world, and they are doing things in His way instead of by the ways of the world." (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, Nov 2000, 32–34)

These words motivate me, encourage me. This challenge to become, to change ourselves-surely a lifelong process, but today I am a processing and I am going to keep on the challenge! Thank you to my giving brothers for the reminder. I consider it a miracle to have such influences on earth to REMIND us, even unknowingly, what it is we are striving for. I need them.

Because...tomorrow I just may forget.
That dang veil.