Creating and Being Compassionate

Later this morning I will teach a class in Relief Society where we will discuss the conference address by Elder Dieter Uchtdorf entitled Happiness, Your Heritage. He suggests that sisters sometimes undervalue their abilities which leads to frustration, exhaustion and unhappiness.

He suggests that the antedote is to create and to be compassionate. He says this too: "we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before."

I have thought about what I have created: a marriage, four beautiful children, a home, a garden, a reputation, a classroom, events including galas, parties, a few messes, conferences, a book club, dresses, meals and cookies - oh so many cookies, family reunions. It is true that I have felt frustration, exhaustion, and unhappiness in these things because of my desire to be perfect or to have it like someone else's that seems more perfect than mine. But it is also true that I have found my greatest pleasure, my greatest growth and my greatest success in these things.

And there is still more to create. And still more opportunities to be compassionate. What do you want to create?