As another session of MOM PoWeR winds down, you may be asking yourself, “What’s next?” Consider yourself invited to T.E.A.M. MOM PoWeR, where you will connect with like-minded women, learn to live a more peaceful and Christ-centered life, and apply powerful tools and methods for guiding and strengthening YOURSELF and your family members.
Each T.E.A.M. MOM PoWeR ends with a mastermind question. The rules are simple: One person poses a question. Every person has a chance to respond. The “questioner” silently takes notes, then after everyone is done, she shares her takeaways.
Here’s a glimpse into our May 7 mastermind, which is relevant not only to specific trials we may be facing like COVID-19 and addiction, but also to any ongoing trial.
Debi: I’m having a hard time remembering President Nelson’s promise, “I assure you that wonderful days are ahead.” I watched his most recent video several times and wrote his hopeful words down before they really sunk in. So my mastermind question is, “How do you find joy in the journey when you don’t know how long the journey is?”
Sara: This life is all about the journey. I have to consciously remind myself it’s supposed to be hard in the middle. Acknowledge the Lord’s timing. Find joy in connection along the way.
Sheri: Find joy in remembering promises and have hope in Christ. I love these words from President Hinckley:
I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we “accentuate the positive.” I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good.
Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life.
Kellie: Be like Sister Rogers in BYU Women’s Conference and list what is awesome about quarantine. The 13th Article of Faith is the key to endurance. When we “seek after” things during isolation that are “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy,” we can discover positive things even in a situation we’re not thrilled about.
Kristen: Reframe what you are experiencing to feel peace in the midst of trial. “My child is screaming” becomes “I’m grateful my child has a healthy, strong voice.”
Speaking of voices, check out “I Will Fear No More” by The Afters:
Laura: When your trial has no timetable, look up, not around. If we focus on our relationship with the Savior we can have peace amidst the storms of life. Our tendency is to look around us and focus on all of the things that are not right. But God has promised us peace if we look to him. I had a situation where we were having a very difficult trial with my son which at the time seemed unbearable. My husband prayed and asked how long it would last and was actually prompted that it would only last a certain number of days. That prompting came to pass and things came to a head as promised and we were able to take action. It was a great comfort to him to know when this would end, but life is rarely like that and some things never get resolved.
I had a blessing once when I was struggling with many things in my life and was told that all things would be restored to me. Well, my first thought was that I was going to die and then everything would be made right. That wasn’t the case but little by little many of those things that were bothering me have been resolved and I have learned to have joy even when not everything in my life is the way I would hope it would be.
I love this quote from Elder Holland’s talk “An High Priest of Good Things to Come,” “For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead. It is enough just to know we can get there, that however measured or far away, there is the promise of ‘good things to come.’…Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.” I testify we can have peace right now even when our lives are a mess, and as we look forward with hope in Christ that all things will be resolved in their proper time.
Allyson: I am always trying to put something encouraging and uplifting inside me by listening, reading, or watching. Write the prophet’s words or anything you want to remember on an index card and carry it in your pocket. When you start feeling discouraged, pull it out and read it. Sometimes you’ll need to remind yourself “wonderful days are ahead.” You may need to remind yourself several times a day. And that’s okay!
Karen H.: I’ve been working on the faith to submit to God’s will. These verses in 2 Corinthians 1 remind me that although suffering abounds, so does consolation through Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Susie: If you’re worried about the future, that’s anxiety. If you’re worried about the past, that’s depression. Joy is now. Channel Dory from Finding Nemo and “just keep” praying!
Karen B.: Reading Loving What Is by Byron Katie at a stretchy time in my life helped me be present. Whatever feeling I’m having came from a thought—I can choose a different thought.
Mastermind questions remind me of D&C 88:122, which says “let one speak at a time and let all listen unto [her] sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all.” As the Zoom call ended and we went our ten separate ways, we all were truly edified.
If you would like to join me and a small group of women who want additional training and support from a T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More), CLICK to register for a free month of T.E.A.M. MOM PoWeR.
TOGETHER in the fight!
Karen Broadhead
