January 5, 2015 Letters - New Year's Resolution

What can drop out of your life to make room for something better?

On Mon, Jan 5, 2015 at 10:47 AM, Amy wrote:

Dear Elder J. Hackleman,

Well it snowed last night. We got snow on Saturday as well. It's not a lot, but it sure is pretty. So I have a favor to ask you. I have been on one of my remodel kicks painting and beautifying our house. I will send some pictures sometime this week, so by next Monday you should be able to see all the updates I have done. Anyway, I wanted to update some family photos for above the tv so I need a recent picture of you.

So, how are things in Peru? We are trying to get back into the swing of things. The Christmas break was sure nice, but school starts back up today, so my break is over. Everyone is back to our regular schedule now.

We sure had a good day yesterday at church. Relief Society was very spiritual. Sharon Packard taught the lesson based on a talk given by Sheri Dew. It was a lesson about Grace and what that means for us. I felt inspired to challenge the ladies to make a new year’s resolution. It is really a challenge the bishop gave each of us when we were in tithing settlements, but I felt it needed to be reiterated. The bishop asked each one of us to think of something in our lives that we can get rid of, to make room for something better. I took the bishops challenge and added to it. I feel like many of us, have a lot of items in our lives that certainly can drop out. We do not need to be so busy and stressed all the time. I decided to try and make a list of things that can drop out of my life this year, so rather than adding new daily tasks, I am making a list of what can drop out of my daily tasks. What a comforting feeling it is. Then I challenged the women to go to the temple in 2015. If they haven't been before, to prepare themselves and go this year. If they have been, go more often. Whatever their attendance was for the year 2014, double it for 2015.

I kept thinking of the counsel you gave us while we were skyping and I have not been able to get it out of my head. I feel like the Cottonwood ward could become a place of Zion if we all refocused our attention on the temple. So I just wanted to thank you for your wonderful spirit and teaching you have given to me and I am hoping to pass on to all those who will hear me.

Keep up the good work!

Love,

Mom

Hey mom! That is so great that you are challenging the relief society to go to the temple! Remember though that it’s a family commitment so if they are going to go, they need to take their husbands. If their husbands don’t have time or aren´t prepared, the answer is, ´´figure it out!” It is the most important thing we do as members of the church. Challenge them to go to the temple on their date nights as couples. That´s way better. =)

Love You