1. Richness, Rewards &Well-Being ExpoFinding Balance Throughthe LordRene PackerAugust 16th, 2014

2. Welcome sisters! What a wonderfuland unique meeting we have today. Itis such a fabulous fit for the busywomen of our day.My thoughts will focus more on howwe might find balance in our lives as wenavigate between the spiritual, physicaland mental needs of our lives. 3. In the demanding and chaotic life thatwe live in, it would be quite easy toallow our lives to become out of balanceand to stop caring for the things thatmatter most. Pres. Monson once said,[If we] were to step back, however, andtake a good look at what we're doing, wemay find that we have immersedourselves in the thick of thin things. 4. I trust that the women in this Stake wouldknow if they were climbing down thewrong mountain, or chasing the wrongrainbow, but do we really know when ourlives are out of balance in the simple andmundane things of life? Do we recognizethe natural man that can creep in?Perhaps we do get immersed at times inthe thick of thin things? I know I do! 5. How often do we feel like we never accomplishanything, yet weve been busily running around allday long? Do you find yourself looking for a quickpick me up, just to help you get through therigorous and hectic schedule you face, yet finding atthe end of the day, an empty and battered soul?What is on your list of things that help pick you up?Perhaps its your diet drink, snack foods, or maybethose coveted, mouthwatering chocolates thatmight help to fulfill a needed lift, believingsomehow those famous chocolate quotes wouldreally do as they say, You know the ones I mean. 6. Keep Calm and Eat ChocolateSisters and chocolatemake life bearableNever under-estimate the power of chocolateChocolate is the answer,who cares what thequestion is 7. But in the end, even chocolate cantseem to fulfill the spiritual gaps in ourlives. Believe me, I love chocolate too!~~~~~~~~Perhaps you have found thesolution, as I have. 8. As I look at the wide expanse of sisters in ourStake, each have unique challenges, and specificstrengths to help you through your presentcircumstances. I have learned so much from you.We may not all be strong in all the same areas,but together we can bless one another as sistersin the gospel, through visit teaching, as greatneighbors, serving one another, meeting togetherin various Relief Society functions, as we learnand draw strength from one anotherand our families. 9. Perhaps as we invite continued growthin our own lives, we will be able to shareour own light and knowledge with thosearound us, as we strive to become morelike the Savior. When we do, we arestrengthening our FAITH, fortifying ourFAMILIES and giving much neededRELIEF. 10. If you are ever feeling a bit worn out, beatdown or drained to the max, and needing areal pick me up, you might find morestrength by listening to beautiful anduplifting music, pondering, reading yourscriptures, reading an Ensign magazine,listening to Mormon messages, servingothers, praying, going to the temple, spendquality time with a child, visiting loved ones,and maybe even share some chocolate to lifta dear friend. 11. In January of 2012 at our Stake Womensconference, I briefly discussed Julie B. BecksEssential, Necessary, and Nice to Dopriority lists. What a beautiful and simpleformula, as we strive to put our lives inbalance. How often do we forget theEssentials, and instead plug in the Nice toDos, before even the Necessary lists?There isnt a sister here who isnt striving toput balance in their lives. 12. Perhaps we may go to the extreme, and findourselves thinking if we ran faster, accomplished alittle more in each hour, and put our children inevery extracurricular activity possible, that it willsave them and us from the ills of the world, often atthe expense of leaving First Things last andaffecting our spiritual, physical and mental well-being!As we daily put the Lord first, while strivingto find balance in our lives, all else will fall intoview, with a greater understandingof the Lords plan for us. 13. Sister Linda S. Reeves shared in our last April 2014 GeneralConference these words.Some of you have heard me tell how overwhelmed myhusband, Mel, and I felt as the parents of four youngchildren. As we faced the challenges of parenting and keepingup with the demands of life, we were desperate for help. Weprayed and pleaded to know what to do. The answer thatcame was clear: It is OK if the house is a mess and thechildren are still in their pajamas and some responsibilitiesare left undone. The only things that really need to beaccomplished in the home are daily scripture study andprayer and weekly family home evening. 14. We were trying to do these things, but they were notalways the priority and, amidst the chaos, weresometimes neglected. We changed our focus and triednot to worry about the less-important things. Ourfocus became to talk, rejoice, preach, and testify ofChrist by striving to daily pray and study thescriptures and have weekly family home evening.A friend recently cautioned, When you ask thesisters to read the scriptures and pray more, itstresses them out. They already feel like they have toomuch to do. 15. She then said, Brothers and sisters, because I knowfrom my own experiences, and those of my husband,I must testify of the blessings of daily scripturestudy and prayer and weekly family home evening.These are the very practices that help take awaystress, give direction to our lives, and add protectionto our homes.I too would like to testify of these truths.Before finishing the remainder of this message, next watch aspecial video of The Empty Pickle Jar Relief Society Style 16. I love the story of the Jaredites found in the Book ofMormon. In the 2nd chapter of Ether, the people hadbeen directed to build barges so that they could journeyto the land of promise, specifically preserved for arighteous people. They were given a promised land andthat whosoever would possess it should serve God.Because the Brother of Jared had not remembered tocall upon the name of the Lord, the Lord wasdispleased with him and spent three hours chastisinghim. After his repentance and that of his people, beingpromised that the Lords spirit would not always bewith them if they did not remain faithful, they set forthagain to do as they had been told. 17. Do we often find ourselves like the Brother of Jared,being promised great blessings, with freedoms in achoice land and prosperity in the things of the Lord,only to forget and get off course, or lose sight ofwhat matters most? After diligently obeying theLord, he was taught a great lesson of the importanceof building barges Tight Like Unto a Dish, so as tokeep them from sinking into the depths of theocean or being dashed by raging waters. Are webuilding our personal lives, homes and familiesTight Like Unto a Dish? 18. Could the waves and storms of life enter into ourlives, or are we building our personal lives andfamilies with spiritual, physical and mentalstructures to withstand the storms that could breakus into pieces? My husband would use this analogyand story of the barges often while our childrenwere growing, and how we too needed to build ourlives and homes to be Tight Like Unto a Dish. Hewould hold his fingers so tightly together that watercould not penetrate, giving our children a personalobject lesson for them to remember. 19. As we seek personal revelation fromthe Lord on how to best balance ourlives, since life is a balancing act, Imreminded of the next lesson we learnfrom the brother of Jared of how hesought for help from the Lord. 20. As each of us may go to the Lord, seeking answers tovital questions in our lives, the brother of Jared alsosought answers with the Lord concerning a fewimportant matters as the barges were being built.They needed air and light and had no idea how toachieve either one. The Brother of Jared soughthelp from the Lord how they might obtain air in thebarges. Knowing that air is life sustaining, one thatcould not be trifled with, the Lord directly gave ananswer how they could receive air. 21. Remember, the boat was Tight Like Unto aDish. The Lord instructed them that theywould need to make a hole at the top and thebottom of the barges and then tightly seal beforegoing under water. This also tells me thatperhaps they didnt know if they would beupside down or right side upPerhaps that may sound a bit likeour lives at times. 22. There was also a great need for light in the barges.The Brother of Jared again went to the Lord with aquestion concerning light. What was the Lordsanswer this time? Did the Lord quickly reply withan answer as he did concerning the need for air?No, this time the Lord replied by asking a question,What will ye that I should prepare for you that yemay have light when ye are swallowed up in thedepths of the sea? We too need to continually seekfor answers from the Lord. 23. The Brother of Jared acknowledged how mercifulthe Lord had been, and recognized that the Lordcould do all things, and so he asked the Lord totouch the stones with his finger so that they couldbring forth light in the darkness. The Lord did infact stretch forth his hand and touched each stonewith his finger. Because of his faith and diligencein the Lord, the Brother of Jared was given morelight, light of assurance and knowledge of essentialtruths, principles and doctrine. Sisters, we cannotdo our lifes journey without the Lord. 24. Each of us are capable to receive truthand light as we seek to put First ThingsFirst. By so doing, our light willincrease. With this increased light, wealso receive peace and reassurance onour path. 25. As I attend the temple, I have gained agreater insight on how to obtain balancein my life. I love mother Eve, and howobedient she was. She had no otherdesire than to be obedient, in order tobe exalted and return to live with ourFather in Heaven. I want to be morelike mother Eve. 26. In the temple I have also gained agreater understanding of theimportance of good health, whichultimately may also affect our spiritual,physical and mental well-being. Ivelearned the importance of service andto glorify God and so much more, all ofwhich helps me keep mylife more balanced. 27. As you continue to attend thetemple, you too may find how theLord is teaching you about balance orkeeping your priorities, with eternaltruths to be used here on this earth,with promises of eternal blessings. 28. Studying my scriptures and prayer has been a reassuringway to know how to sort through my hectic schedule. Iam more able to receive personal guidance in my life,learn valuable doctrine and principles, and gleanunlimited examples from righteous lives or learn fromthe wayward examples of those who chose a path awayfrom the light of Christ. We cant afford not to have thisdirection in our lives. The winds are too strong and willblow us off course, finding us way off balance in the end.When we put the Lord first each day, we are invitingmore holiness in our lives. 29. In the hymn, More Holiness Give Me, we are taughthow to receive more holiness, and the importance ofincrease, the Lords increase Seeking for more of theSaviors influence in our lives, in being more Holy, tobe more patient, to repent, to have more faith, to caremore, to have more joy in service, to have morepurpose in prayer, to have more gratitude, to havemore trust in Him, to have more pride in His glory, tohave more hope in His word, to have morecompassion, to have more meekness, praise, purityand strength. Simply more blessed and holy,more like the Savior. 30. Sisters, it is when we are striving to bemore like the Savior, becoming holyin all we do, that everything else inour lives will find balance in itsrightful place.To this I testify, in the name of JesusChrist, Amen.Please continue to the last slide for further links on YouTube on thisfinal message of More Holiness Give Me. 31. If you wish to view two differentYouTube videos of the Hymn, MoreHoliness Give Me, by Jenny Phillips,type these URL into your browser.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HsDIf_h5qUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvibFgWs_Ow