10th Anniversary for TOFW

This year was the 10th anniversary for Time Out For Women. I am so grateful I was able to go! It is always a weekend full of spiritual and educational lifts. At TOWF every speaker is amazing; every message is delivered with clarity and the peace of the spirit, I want to buy every product and snack that is being sold, and I leave feeling more connected with my savior. I laughed, I cried, and I grew as a Latter Day Saint Women… and do not even get me started on how much I adore the totes!

This year’s motto is “Seek the Good”. We were taught to seek those that are lonely, to give company and aid. Seek the good things that exist in our lives right now, what life has waiting for us, and what life needs us to bring to it. Seek forgiveness. Seek a personal relationship with the Savior. Seek opportunities to give. Seek blessings. Seek occasions to receive blessings and help. Seek truth. Seek happiness. Seek connection. Seek purpose. Seek individual worth and chances to shine. Seek talent. In all, search for a full and exalted life. Colossians 3:23, “And whatsoever ye do, do it HEARTILY…”, no matter your current life circumstances, you can add more good to this world, to your home, to your family, to your life.

I took notes during this event, but they pale in comparison to the spirit that was in that room. I wish that every woman could hear the words that were shared that weekend. There were a few things that I was motivated unto action to change. One was forgiveness, forgiving myself and others. I truly feel as though a weight has been lifted off of me. The second is to know who I come from and wanting to be more involved in genealogy. The third is to write more and needing to place it at a higher priority.

I wanted to share some of the highlights of that weekend in my post today.

Virginia H. Pearce
-When we have a relationship that is damaged between you and another person, the real relationship that is damaged is between you and the Savior.
-It is in our nature to feel guilt, wounds, and suffering. We cannot heal alone. We need the Savior to heal the wounds in us, and in others.
-Especially with those we love, we hold things over their heads to punish them. Instead thank them for the good things they have done. Communicate with them. Pray and allow gratitude in your relationships.

Sheri Dew
-Let us study and think about our mortal heritage; it is how we become who we are and how we see ourselves. Do we live up to the endurance, fortitude and faith of my family before me?
-Morale women have more influence than immoral women. We cannot limit the influence of women who keep their covenants.
-Men and women stand in absolute equality in front of the Lord. Since the beginning, women have never been bystanders in the gospel. We know whose church we belong to and we know what that means.
-Not having certain blessings in your life does not mean that God doesn’t love you that would be inconsistent with his character.

Jenny Oaks Baker
-Prioritize what is most important - Don’t sweat the small stuff, but you need to sweat the spiritual stuff.
-We need the strength that comes in spiritual growth. We need to unify in the gospel and put it first.

Mercy River
-Even though we can’t take away the pain of others we can always comfort them.
-When we are buried in trials that we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, be faithful because Heavenly Father will always send us hope.

Chris Williams
-As soon as we choose to let a burden go our perspective will change.
-You cannot know the master’s touch without feeling his concern for others. Through the Saviors mercy no one is lost. We can’t get in the way of the Savior rescuing others and we need to join the Savior in the rescue.
-Having a vision of this life is more important than having a vision of the other side of the vale.
-The Savior heals with patience, we can never force someone to heal and we must allow them the time they need.

Brad Wilcox
-The Savior’s goal is not to get us to heaven; it’s to make us heavenly.
-God loves us just the way we are but we need to be thankful that he does not want us to leave us the way we are. Allow change in our lives so we can become better people. He wants us to become his work and his glory.
-Covenants are not cold promises. They are warm engagements made on a first name basis.

Emily Freeman
-Five lessons we can learn in life: The Lord is aware of us. Trust the Lord’s word. Trust in the Lord’s timing. Learn to trust the Lord’s example. Trust that sacrifice will lead to miracles.

John Bytheway
-Regardless of our intentions we will become what we surround ourselves with.
-You are the average of the 5 people you hang out with the most.
-If you were to separate your body and your spirit which one would be the real you? The pedigree of your spirit is listed on a single line.
-Ask yourself what is one good thing that the Lord wants you to give more heart to, and then do it.