Notes from Sister Earl's Amazing Presentation on Joy

Sister Earl Enrichment Sept 12, 2009

*Story of the lady losing her hair…
*Our thoughts determine our emotions and our emotions determine our behavior. If you don’t like how you feel, change your thoughts.

*Tai Chi at the DMV

Recipe for Joy
1. Change “We’re not here to stay, we are just marching through”

2. Rely on the Lord
Sandbox story “use ALL the strength you have available to you!” this means ask the Lord for his help.

3. Endurance - “The only way out of it is through it!” Stop limping!

4. Attitude is everything! “Old Bitty and Little Bitty” the 86 year old lady with a great attitude.
"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." Pres. Hinckley

5. Tools- Do we have “good medicine” What is good medicine, the temple, our meetings, the scriptures, power from the priesthood.

6. Do we know WHO we are and WHOSE we are? The story of Kapu and her husband. “If you don’t get your act together now and get sealed to me don’t you DARE do it when I die! If I’m not good enough for you now, I don’t want you then!” Luckily sister Earl listened and was able to tell him that his wife was happy and loved him so much.
Example of her calling as choir director. Satan telling her she couldn’t do it and to give up. Then after praying hearing the Father answer, “why do you keep answering the door to hear Satan say those things? You know his voice! You know those thoughts are not of the Lord! Why don’t you ask your Savior Jesus Christ for help?” She imagines asking the Lord to go to the door and answer it for her because Satan has been pounding on it. She imagines the Savior answering the door and scaring Satan off and then turning to her and embracing her and telling her He has been just waiting for her to ask for His help.”

*Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

7. BE THANKFUL!
212 Degrees, the Extra Degree
by Michelle Sedas (Editor), Rich Nickel (Illustrator)
Water is hot at 211 degrees it boils at 212 degrees. It makes steam when it boils and steam has the power to move a locomotive. What can we do with only 1 extra degree?

Inch by Inch life is a cinch…life by the yard, is hard.
Just one extra degree can make all the difference. We need to go the extra degree!

***Thanks to Sister Earl for her FABULOUS presentation, and thanks to Crystal LaReaux for taking notes for us!