DAY 154 -- BECOMING

In a conference talk a while ago, Elder Bednar suggested that we all should concentrate on "becoming" rather than being.  Becoming what? 

To me when I think about becoming, it gives me hope that if I am not all I should, could be now, I can still work on becoming what I need to be.  Or better said, becoming what I really am. 

I have always taught, espoused the idea that we need to be who we were before mortality.  We each had an identity. We each had an opinion about things.  We each had a certain disposition to do good and follow Christ.  We each chose Christ's plan, or we would not be here today.

Each of us had a certain desire to be valiant in the Kingdom, being a disciple of Christ.  However, with that veil place over our mind, often some of us choose not to be as diligent as we desire to be.  We fall short of what we were, and what we really are.  We fail when we are tried and tested.  We are miles away from what we are, and have been in the pre-earth life.

It is nice that there is Eternal Progression and we believe in enduring until the end.  We have time.  We will not be doomed for every mistake.  We have the privilege of using the atonement to repent and grow, and be better.

At the end of each day, are we closer to what we truly are, or are we distancing ourselves from what we want to be, what we were before  we came to earth.  Are we becoming as He would have us be? 

That is so all encompassing, all inclusive.  It is just not reading our scriptures, praying and doing good.  It is not just being a good person, serving everyone we see each day. It is not all obeying the commandments.  Those things are part of it, but becoming a true disciple of Christ is an effort we need to put forth daily, weekly, hourly, and constantly.

We need to live our lives so that we can become our Father's son and daughter.  He doesn't demand perfection, but He certainly suggests it, encourages it and He will help us become what we each know we should become. 

When I look in the mirror each morning, I see how old I am getting, how white my hair is turning, but at least I have hair.  I consider who I truly am, what I believe, how have I served, and how I have helped in His work and Glory for this earth.  There is much to do, and by  so doing, we are becoming what we truly are.