This was one of my favorite talks from general conference. Time is so slippery. There are so many things I want to do, and some I know I should do, but I can’t seem to get it all done. And though it’s not realistic to get done everything we ever wish we could do, sometimes an analysis of spent time reveals choice not in line with priorities. That’s why I loved his reminders about using our time wisely. It’s a lesson I really need to learn.
| A Time to Prepare by Elder Ian S. Ardern |
“With the demands made of us, we must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or risk being exposed to the winds of procrastination and being blown from one time-wasting activity to another. We are well taught about priorities by the Master Teacher when He declared in His Sermon on the Mount, ‘Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness’ “
What about this talk stood out to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Diapers and Divinity 
Yay! I’ve been waiting all day for this 🙂
I really enjoyed this talk – when I first heard it, when I listened to this this weekend while I was driving – and again this morning as I read it.
This was one of my favorite quotes: “We must be sure that being busy also equates to being productive.” I am often a “busy” person without being very productive, I am ashamed to admit it – I’m getting better, getting more productive. I’m also learning that playing with my children can be very productive, even though at times it feels like I’m just being busy and not productive (hmm… calling good evil and evil good?)
I am a lot more aware, since reading this talk, of whether I am being “busy”, “productive”, or both. I’m still working on being more productive, but at least I’m aware of when I am idling away my time – that’s a place to start.
Find more thoughts (some really good stuff – really, I also linked to a bunch of related talks. This is a really great topic) over on My Soul Delighteth.
and when I say “all day” I obviously mean “all morning”…
This talk is the reason I canceled my Facebook account between the Sunday sessions of Conference. The only reason I didn’t do it immediately is because I sent some messages to specific people asking for alternate contact info and waited 24 hours to get responses. Time wasted on the internet – even if it’s “useful” like “researching” homeschool stuff or crafting projects – is one of my biggest faults right now.
And speaking of … time to get off the computer and read some library books with my girls.
When someone complains that they don’t have the time to do something, my dad loves to say, “You do what’s important to you.” It is so true. If something is really important to you, you make the time to make it happen. This talk is a good reminder to look at how we spend our time. It will show us what is really important to us. That could be a pretty revealing exercise…
This IS a fine talk.
The part that ‘spoke’ to me: “I know our greatest happiness comes as we tune in to the Lord and to those things which bring a lasting reward, rather than mindlessly tuning in to countless hours of status updates.”
That would be FB and Pinterest for me.
~Shari
This was the talk I think I needed to hear the most. I’m trying to remember Elder Ardern’s counsel this holiday season, and as I prepare New Year Resolutions. I need to remember that “busy does not equal productive” and that if I put God first everything else will fit in. (Remember the object lesson with the rocks and pebbles and sand?)
Here’s the link to my blog post: Whispers of the Spirit. Have a wonderful day!
I really liked “Let us be as quick to kneel, as we are to text.” In this information age, it is so easy for me to do a google search and then make a decision based on that, instead of also making it a matter of prayer before I make a decision. That is something that I can certainly work on.
I had forgotten this talk and I can’t believe I did. Loved the whole thing. I really need to stop being on the computer so much. Sigh-
That was the talk that stood out most to me. I shouldn’t say anything for fear of becoming a hypocrite (you know, like knowing something is true and then not living accordingly… kinda like dieting, I try not to talk about it.) Thank you for the reminder though, I will go do something about it. Like erase some things off the ipod.
I don’t really care for angry birds, I used to think it was important to keep on there when I needed a kid pacifier, like at the dr. office or something, but now I realize that that would just be perpetuating the problem and getting them into bad habits. I think a small pad of paper and a pen would work just as well, and if we’re writing “notes” and drawing pictures to be sent in the mail to people, it would be much more fun and rewarding. A stamp is a small price to pay for a lesson in productivity and thoughtfulness.
I still have a long ways to go in prioritizing and time management, but every little thing helps right? Thanks again.
Time management has been the “Theme” I have been learning about recently. But not so much with what I do with my time, but my heart. The Lord has things he wants me to do, but if I am so distracted by activities and thoughts that will only tear me apart, I am not serving him. That is hard for me. Letting go of old, destructive habits, and bad behaviors. hmmmm….I know I cant do it without him, but this GCBC is just a continuation of the same message.
What is important in life? Getting a little sidetracked is part of the human condition. So is anxiety over Satan’s lie that there isn’t enough time to take care of the things that are important. Examining how precious time is spent, idleness or time wasters can be identified, an eternal perspective helps to prioritize choices to reflect goals. Without this introspection, basking in procrastination and drifting from one time-wasting activity to another become more than doable.
Again I’ve written a long post, since brevity isn’t my way. Read more here http://alittleginger.blogspot.com/2011/12/10-minute-bites.html
It is interesting to me, and very telling of this day and age, that a talk about how we use our time directly talks about media for about half of the talk, and the other half can definitely relate to it. I was thinking a while ago that if someone asked my daughters what I like to do, I thought that one of the first things they might say would be “Use the computer.” Yikes! I made a goal to not turn on the computer until 1:00 (nap time for my youngest). I give myself the exception of turning it on when we are headed to the library to see what is due, but yes, I have actually been using the phone book instead of looking up phone numbers and actually using my cookbooks instead of online recipes. I have been praying for help and reporting how I am doing to a good friend each week. Now the next step is to spend less time on the computer after 1:00.=) A few of Elder Ardern’s quotes that really stuck out to me were “I know our greatest happiness comes as we tune in to the Lord” and “I urge each of us to take those things which rob us of precious time and determine to be their master, rather than allowing them through their addictive nature to be the master of us.” That was kind of long….thanks for letting me share. It helps me be more resolved!
This was one of my favorite talks from conference. “false impression of being busy and productive” really stood out to me as something I need to be more mindful of.
This must have been a talk I needed to re-read because my VT’s also talked about this one when they came to visit last month. In the beginning I thought of patting myself on the back with me spending time with my kids and serving them. BUT, as soon as he brought in the social media, texting etc… I had to take a look at myself and reevaluate.
I know I am late in reading this one but seeing as it is a new year and a common time for goal setting it worked out for me.
I really like the end where he invites us to identify and remove our time wasting activities!
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