The New Year: New You

For those of you reading this, you are witnessing history in the making as I attempt to try and express my thoughts and beliefs as a young 19 year old missionary from Utah living in Northern Virginia, about something so vast, huge and so exciting. How to obtain Eternal Life. So bear with me, as it is my hope that you will be able to gain a better understanding of our Heavenly Fathers plan.

It's crazy to believe it's a New Year! With the New Year, comes change, if we allow it to we can obtain  better progression. One of my favorite talks from the leaders of our Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland called "The Best is Yet to Be." In the talk he shares   the Saviors warning "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:32). He shares the story of Lot and his family leaving the city of Gomorrah. The Lord warned them to "look not behind thee..."(Gen. 19:17) And as they left, Lot's wife turned around, looked back... and Poof! Turned into a pillar of salt. So what was so wrong with looking behind? Well some may argue that you need to turn around to see how far you've gone, however the problem here is that Lot's wife was urning and wanting to be back in the city and lifestyle of Gomorrah.

We can think about this story and relate it in our own lives. Many of us have tried to set New Year goals or resolutions, and haven't been able to follow through with them. What sounded like a good idea to begin with often quickly fades the more we realized the effort we need to put in. A good example is those who are trying to loose weight, workout more, be healthier, etc. I once talked with a man who was a super buff, ripped guy, and he would always joke about how the gym was just going to be packed for the month of January and part of February, and then return to the regular guys who come with the exception of few new people. He said he could always tell who was going to be the people to stay committed to coming. It was those who really put there heart into it, and had the mindset of they needed this and not just a "good idea." I would think that Lot's wife thought it was a good idea to leave Gomorrah, but didn't have her heart in, she fell to quickly back to old habits.

Recently we went to the Vienna Metro station and tried to talk and see what different goals or resolutions people are setting. It was a bit surprising that most of those we talked to said they didn't bother setting goals for the New Year because they knew that they weren't going to keep it up. I thought this was interesting. If we look at the definition of repentance, we see that it really is to change.
In order for us to become better and grow, we must step out of our comfort zones and strive to become the best. In the book of Alma, from the Book of Mormon, chapter 5 v:14 it states, "And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?" Let us do all we can to have a change of heart sot that we can be those who stick with their goals. Let us rely on the Savior to help us change ourselves and become more as he is.

Happy New Year everyone, 2014 is the year we all can be changed through Christ. 

This video shows how the New Year is the time for opportunity. 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/mormon-channel-daily/385?v=910930409001

this is also a link to the talk "The Best is Yet to Be" - Jeffrey R Holland

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2010/01/the-best-is-yet-to-be?lang=eng&query=lot's+wife