Happy Thanksgiving week, everyone. I know it will be a busy one, but I think this talk might help us keep focused on what matters most. It’s now week 7 of general conference book club, and we’ll be studying President Uchtdorf’s message– the last talk from the Saturday A.M. session:
By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
President Uchtdorf talked about some of the things that people seem to reflect on the most when they are facing death. He pointed out three major common regrets:
- I Wish I Had Spent More Time with the People I Love
- I Wish I Had Lived Up to My Potential
- I Wish I Had Let Myself Be Happier
Which one of these stood out to you? Number 3 was a great reminder to me because I tend to get frustrated with my children when days seem full of setbacks and pushback, and I have a hard time letting it go and moving forward with any measure of cheer. This was a good reminder to me to spend more time choosing to be happy even when things, or even whole days, go wrong.
Because we make mistakes, most days will include something we regret doing or saying. Even though it wasn’t a major focus of the talk, I felt the importance of apologizing, repenting, and carrying on with minimal regret so that we’re not stockpiling regrets until the end of life.
What did you like and learn from this talk? Please share in the comments below some of your insights.
(A reminder to those of you who are new to General Conference Book Club: You’re welcome to return to this post any time this week and leave your comment and thoughts in the comment section below. You may also want to see what others are saying about the talk and engage in a conversation for mutual understanding and encouragement. A new talk will be posted each Sunday and will be studied and discussed throughout the week.)
Diapers and Divinity 
Just listened to this yesterday….made me really want to drive to Michigan to be with my family for Thanksgiving…not sure that’s going to happen, but it made me really want to! 🙂
The part about wearing busyness like a badge and how the Savior would be focused on people. I liked that imagery.
I also liked the imagery of the person complaining and being dragged to be a disciple. I don’t want to be that person.
I guess the images brought to my mind inby this talk really gave me something to consider. I want to be more like the Savior in my daily actions.
I really liked this quote:
“So often we get caught up in the illusion that there is something just beyond our reach that would bring us happiness: a better family situation, a better financial situation, or the end of a challenging trial.”
I always get on to my husband for saying things like “I’ll be happier when…” but I have been doing the same thing – I have found myself saying “Maybe I would be happier if I wasn’t enduring this horrible trial.” I have been wishing for happiness to come as I endure this trial, and it hasn’t – but I think it’s because in the back of my mind I have been blaming my unhappiness on the trial that I am enduring.
I wrote more about it here
I particularly liked Sister Uchtdorf’s comments about their bike ride being about the journey, not about arriving at their destination. I often am so focused on the destination, that I just endure the journey instead of enjoying it. I need to take more time to smell the flowers 🙂
I worry about all 3 of these things! As a single mom, #1 worries me because so much of my time at home has to be spent DOING things (laundry, cooking, etc.) and I worry how much I am really giving to my kids. It’s a tricky thing to balance. I think about #3 a lot too. I’ve learned that one of the key elements to being a happy person is to be a grateful person. I’ve had a rough couple of years, but I’ve learned that life is far more tolerable when I’m focused on my blessings rather than the things that are difficult or negative. I’m trying to instill this mindset in my kids. Every night at dinner we do “Goods & Bads”. Everyone gets to tell one bad thing about their day and then one good thing. As a parent, it is a great way to find out about what is going on in their lives. My other motive is to help them see that there is good to be found in every day. We’ll see in 15 or 20 years if it worked. 🙂
I loved this talk. He said that living the gospel “can definitely help us to avoid future regrets.” I especially have thought about what he said about living up to my potential, and how it has nothing to do with worldly success, but all about what Heavenly Father wants us to become.