The Power of Spiritual Momentum

I recently gave a talk in church covering the April 2024 general conference address by Elder Renlund entitled the Powerful Virtuous Cycle of the Doctrine of Christ.

In this address, I related many things but what I got out of it mostly for myself is that I need to be much more consistent with the things I want to do in my life. I've been attempting weight loss by yo-yo dieting. I've been wanting to know the mysteries of God by reading my scriptures only occasionally. This inconsistency is no good.

Fast forward to just yesterday. I was reading about the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's in the Book of Mormon in Alma. They were consistent and diligent in keeping the covenants they made with the Lord. Yes they had one big act of conversion to the gospel, but they kept their choice even when they were dying because of it. I need to be much more like that. I need to practice diligently and never give up. I need to read my scriptures daily. I need to do a lot more things in my life.

When the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's gave up their sins, they became an industrious people and that's what I want to be. What sins do I need to get rid of in order to become industrious and more righteous? That's easy. Sloth and Gluttony.

SLOTH

I am lazy sometimes. I procrastinate sometimes. I scroll way too much on my phone. So I gave it up. I buried my sword, so to speak, by deleting all of my social media and gaming apps. The only things left on my phone are a coloring app that I probably wont ever use and Duolingo because I'm learning Spanish. Everything else, Facebook, Instagram, and all the games, GONE! Deleted. And I'll promise NEVER to download them again. Now, I'll post on them from the PC now and again. But I need to be more of a producer and not a consumer of these programs any more. The other promise I made was to not let my rear end touch the couch until 8PM every night. This will help me get more stuff done. I can sit in chairs, sure, but the couch is off limits. The couch is for the end of the day when all the work is done. To show that I do that every day, I'll fold the blankets each night and set the throw pillows on the couch so I know that I haven't touched the couch all day.

GLUTTONY

I have some weight I need to lose. I have had a hard time saying no to any junk foods in my life. So I need to give it up entirely. At least until I get to the weight goal that I've had for years. I want to get into my healthy BMI index range for my weight. Until I reach that goal, no more junk food at all!

How does this relate to music?

Well, I need to get going on so many projects I have in mind to post here. I'm working on a jazzy piano cover of a fun tune I'd like to record here as well as a clarinet quintet that I'd like to get going on. Scrolling on my phone is not going to get me there. Onwards and upwards.