Your list

So today if you have time or sometime this week (which I will do as well) and if you even want to I read this talk by Sister Wixom and I loved the idea of making a list of our top 10 priorities. I feel like we should do this to. Sister Wixom said, "When you know you are walking a path, in spite of whatever detours may occur, you will be OK. When your path is focused on the ultimate goal—that of exaltation and returning to Heavenly Father, you will get there." I thought through any problem, difficulty, stressful time, etc. if we have written down where we want in life and work for it I know what Sister Wixom said is true... We will get there. I hope this isn't too cheesy and you both would want to do this, because I really feel like it's important! I love you both!!

Mamie

Taking Time to Talk and Listen

BY ROSEMARY M. WIXOM

Primary General President

From a Salt Lake City stake conference satellite broadcast address given on October 24, 2010.

Prioritizing Our Eternal Purpose

Last spring, while I was visiting a class of young women, the teacher asked the class to write our 10 priorities. I quickly began to write. I have to admit, my first thought began with “Number 1: clean the pencil drawer in the kitchen.” When our lists were complete, the Young Women leader asked us to share what we had written. Abby, who had recently turned 12, was sitting next to me. This was Abby’s list:

1. 1. 
   Go to college.
2. 2. 
   Become an interior designer.
3. 3. 
   Go on a mission to India.
4. 4. 
   Get married in the temple to a returned missionary.
5. 5. 
   Have five kids and a home.
6. 6. 
   Send my kids on missions and to college.
7. 7. 
   Become a “cookie-giving” grandma.
8. 8. 
   Spoil the grandchildren.
9. 9. 
   Learn more about the gospel and enjoy life.
10. 10. 
    Return to live with Father in Heaven.

I say, “Thank you, Abby. You have taught me about having a vision of the plan Heavenly Father has for all of us. When you know you are walking a path, in spite of whatever detours may occur, you will be OK. When your path is focused on the ultimate goal—that of exaltation and returning to Heavenly Father, you will get there.”

Where did Abby get this sense of eternal purpose? It begins in our homes. It begins in our families. I asked her, “What do you do in your family to create such priorities?”

This was her answer: “Besides reading the scriptures, we are studyingPreach My Gospel.” Then she added, “We talk a lot—at family home evening, at dinner together, and in the car while we drive.”

Nephi wrote: “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ.” Why? “That our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).

Talking, listening, encouraging each other, and doing things together as a family will bring us closer to our Savior, who loves us. Our intentional effort to communicate better today—this very day—will bless our families eternally. I testify that when we talk of Christ, we also rejoice in Christ and in the gift of the Atonement. Our children will come to know “to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”