Ward Conference

     I was completely engrossed in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday.  We had ward conference and the Bishop spoke as well as the first councilor in the Stake Presidency because the President was in a meeting with a general authority.  Our Bishop spoke about a parable he made up about a fence.  You build a fence around your property to keep safe from the terrible things in the woods.  At first you are pretty quick to fix it and as time goes on you are more lax until there is a It is a simple big hole and your children get daring and go into the woods and are never heard of again.  It is simple to fix the fence when the problem first starts and harder if you let it get big.  He also brought in the idea that the grass is always greener on the other side and compared it to marriage.  Trespassing onto someone else's property is a sin and if the grass looks greener over there then it's time for a little yard maintenance.  If you put the work in to make your property the best it can be then the grass will never be greener on the other side.
     Our Stake Presidency first councilor spoke abut the story of the old mule falling into the well.  The owner felt it would be too much work to try and save the animal so he got is neighbors together and they started throwing dirt into the well to fill it in and bury the mule.  The mule was confused about all the dirt falling on him so he shook it off and stepped up.  He kept doing so until he reached the top , climbed out, and walked away.  We need to do the same when trials come upon us:  Shake it off and step up.
     I have a hard time doing this so I wallow.  I need to remember these talks and apply them.  Maintain my fence and shake it off and step up.  I have never been so edified in Sacrament Meeting and I want to stay that way for a very long time.