Sunday, September 28, 2008

A little inspiration

create |krēˈāt|
verb [ trans. ]
bring (something) into existence :

creative |krēˈātiv|
adjective
relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of an artistic work : change unleashes people's creative energy | creative writing.
• (of a person) having good imagination or original ideas



I attended a woman’s conference yesterday and had the privilege of listening to this fabulous talk by Dieter F. Uchtorf. I loved this talk and wanted to share with you the section on creating. I was so touched that I felt it very appropriate to share it with all of you on this blog. 

“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty.”

“You might say, I’m not the creative type . . . If that is how you feel, think again, and remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative being in the universe. Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it. Your spirit body is a masterpiece. Created with the beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination. But to what end were we created? We were created with the express purpose and potential of experiencing the fullness of joy. Our birthright and the purpose of our great journey on this Earth is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things. If you are a mother, you participate with God in his work of creation. Not only by providing physical bodies for you children, but also by teaching and nurturing them . . .”

“You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption. For we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extends far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush a pen or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before; colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter. What you create doesn’t have to be perfect . . . Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you. Whether their voice comes from the inside or the outside. If you still feel incapable of creating start small; try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it.”

“Nearly a century and a half ago President Brigham Young spoke to the saints of his day. “There’s a great work for the Saints to do”, he said. “Make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards and make the Earth so blessed that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure and that angles may delight to come visit your beautiful locations. And in the mean time continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the spirit of Christ”

“The more you trust and rely upon the spirit the greater your capacity to create.”

The whole talk is fabulous! If you want to read the whole thing I will attach a link when the talk is published. Until then you can Click Here to listen to the talk.  At the bottom of the picture you can select Dieter F Uchdorf's talk.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.


6 comments:

Mom & Dad said...

Thank you for posting that wonderful talk. I really enjoyed it and it is good to read it. It certainly applies to all of us. We shouldn't feel guilty about wanting to beautify our homes. Of course that doesn't mean to go to extremes, especially financially, but it is a good thing to try to make our surroundings as lovely as possible.

Christie said...

Wasn't it such a great women's conference. I am so thankful for words that were spoken, it's interesting how Heaven Father knows exactly what we need.

Mary, Tyson and Family said...

That is so perfect for this blog!!! Love the quotes you chose. The whole talk was so good!!!

Andrea said...

That was a beautiful talk! It cultivates an understanding of why so many people have a need to create and beautify.

By the way, I am officially a follower of It's a Shabby Thing! I added my cube to the others. :)
Love what you're doing!
Andrea

kim said...

I loved his talk as well and felt like it was just for me. I am so hard on myself and I always feel like I have no crafting abilities to help others. It is so nice to know that talents do not just have to be physical things. Thanks for writing it up, it was great to read again!!

Anonymous said...

Sometimes in life you hear things that change your life or your perspective. This talk was one of those times for me. I absolutely loved it-every woman can take something from this talk and walk away a better person for it. It is perfect for this blog too!
Thanks Erika.