Forget-Me-Nots and New Beginnings

The five petals of the forget-me-not flower represent five important messages from G-d to remember. (Photo by dawnzy58 on Flickr)

Shana tovah u'metukah!

I love autumn. It, to me, seems more filled with the promise and anticipation of new beginnings than a cold January new year - so it seems perfect to come back from a summer's hiatus to write about the sweetness of the new year.

Latter-day Saints may not celebrate Rosh Hashanah, but around the same season each year, we mark a time of new beginnings and introspection through a General Conference broadcast worldwide each first weekend of October. During four two-hour sessions on Saturday and Sunday, we gather together in churches or in homes to hear counsel and guidance from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - advice for living with hope in difficult days, reminding us to live up to the privileges we've received from G-d and to seek His promised blessings.

In advance of the conference, Mormon women are treated to a 90-minute broadcast specifically focused for them the last Saturday of September. The highlight of last weekend's meeting came from Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, third-in-command in the Church, who used the delicate forget-me-not flower as a metaphor, each of its five petals representing a message from G-d that we ought not to forget.

"You may at times feel a little like the forget-me-not-insignificant, small, or tiny in comparison with others," he said, noting: "I hope (the forget-me-not) will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet."

Along with the introspection of Rosh Hashanah, I'd like to share the five "forget-nots" from Pres. Uchtdorf:

• Forget not to be patient with yourself - Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, even those who seem perfect. It is unfair to compare our weaknesses with others' strengths. "G-d wants to help us eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but He knows that this is a long-term goal," Pres. Uchtdorf said. "It is OK that you are not quite there yet. Keep working on it but stop punishing yourself. "
• Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice - In today's time-crunched world, it is crucial to be able to prioritize and to choose the best things over good and better choices. Pres. Uchtdorf noted that every situation is different, and suggested asking, "Am I committing my time and energies to the things that matter most?" in order to distinguish between good and foolish sacrifices.
• Forget not to be happy now - Using the example of the golden ticket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Pres. Uchtdorf emphasized not overlooking the simple joys of life. "In their anxiousness, people began to forget the simple joy they used to find in a candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter disappointment if it does not contain a golden ticket," he said. Whatever a "golden ticket" may represent to each person, he urged all to not put their happiness on hold as they wait for a future event, or golden ticket, to appear.
• Forget not the "why" of your religion - Too often for people of all faiths, religious observances can become routine, and vital aspects at the heart of the faith can get overlooked. "When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight. It becomes precious and sweet. Let us not walk the path of discipleship with our eyes on the ground, thinking only of the tasks and obligations before us. Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us."
• Forget not that G-d loves you - Pres. Uchtdorf closed his address with a reminder that each man and woman is a child of G-d who desires a personal connection with each of His children. "Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time... No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love."

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