Finding Joy in the Journey; A Talk by President Thomas S. Monson

     I would like to occasionally share Talks that were given at General Conference.  In sharing these talks I would like to point out what I have gained and learned from these talks. I would like to start with a talk  about Joy. 

Finding Joy in the Journey

President Thomas S. Monson

October 2008    Click here to Link up to the original talk.

  At the beginning of this talk Pres Monson speaks of the one aspect in our lives that is constant that  is change.  Some Change is welcome and some is not.  My personal change in my life that was unwanted was our son passing away. Change that I welcome, seasons changing, kids growing up and positive life experiences.  We all go through life experiences of change; some are similar but the details are ours alone.  Time/life marches on day after day and change comes at us on its own time. 
  Pres Monson speaks of ; Find joy in the Journey --Now!  He tells us one of the greatest lessons we are to learn in this mortal existence is to learn distinguish between what is important and what is not.
  I always have said, "Tomorrow never comes, but today is always here".  He reminds us " There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something now". How similar my thought goes along with what he states.  It is always important to do today what is important.  ENJOY LIFE NOW!  We need to take moments at hand and live every moment without regrets. Live without "what if'" and "if only".
   A story was spoken of regarding how to share with our family what is important in life.
 In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”
What would be your important list???? That is something I need to make and remember.
  Realizing what is important helps us see our blessings. We cant feel Joy or Happiness if we have the attitude of, it is greener on the other side. We need to choose to tend our own garden.What someone else has is not so great if we are greatful and joyful for what we have in our own life. The ancient Roman philosopher Horace admonished, “Whatever hour God has blessed you with, take it with grateful hand, nor postpone your joys from year to year, so that in whatever place you have been, you may say that you have lived happily.”  It is important for ourselves to see the JOY in front of us everyday.
We are told in this talk of the importance of, gratitude. We see those that have true gratitude are happy.

My 2 favorite statements in this wonderful talk regarding Finding joy in the journey

1.  Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed.
2.  Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

  

What a wonderful teacher and leader Pres Monson is for us all!!! Heavenly Father wants us to find JOY in the journey!

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