Women's Expo: First Things First

Sharing Station Handouts
First Things First
presented by Julie Passey and Bonnie Gregson

Click here for these notes in a PDF book.
Scroll below pictures for handouts.
Pictures of sharing station:

Handouts:
First Things First--Does it Really Matter?

“So much of the time we spend our efforts on are things that are of no worth and cannot satisfy. We neglect the weightier things the Lord has asked us to take care of, and we think that busyness and competition are better than consecration and personal best efforts... When we make covenants, we promise that everything belongs to the Lord - our time, our abilities, everything we have is His. That means we have to go to Him to know how to balance all of that.” - Julie B Beck

“Go To The Lord For Help With Balance”
“Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with “good things” so there is no room for the essential ones. Have you unconsciously been caught in that trap?” - Richard G. Scott, “First Things First” Apr. 2001 Gen. Conference

“An acceptable sacrifice is when we give up something good for something of greater worth.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “ Forget Me Not”

“When we put God first all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern our claims for affection, the demands of our time, the interests we pursue and the order of our priorities.”

"May God bless us to put Him first and as a result, reap peace in this life (NOW) and eternal life with a fulness of joy in the life to come (LATER).” -Ezra Taft Benson,“The Great Commandment- Love The Lord” April 1988 Ensign

“Just because something is goos is not a sufficient reason for doing it. Some things are better than good. These things are the things that should command priority attention in our lives.
“Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the internet or reading books or magazines. of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But, not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better and other are best.
“We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.
“In choosing how we spend time as a family, we should be careful not to exhaust our available time on things that are merely good and leave little time for that which is better or best. The amount of children and parent time absorbed in the good activities of private lessons, team sports and other school and club activities also needs to be carefully regulated.Parents should act to preserve time for family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening and the other precious togetherness and one - on- one time that binds a family together and fixes children’s values on things of eternal worth.
Parents should teach gospel priorities through what they do with their children.” -Dallin H Oaks,“Good, Better, Best” October 2007 Ensign

“However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform.” -The First Presidency

Scriptures used:
2 Nephi 9:51
2 Nephi 2:27
Mosiah 2:41

Managing our time and finding balance in our lives can be difficult. But it is possible. The Lord has told us, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (3 Ne. 13:33). Things will usually fall into place if we prioritize correctly. Here are some ideas on how to stay balanced:

1. Put the Lord first in your life. Always make time to pray and read the scriptures daily.
2. Get organized. Make a “to-do” list or a schedule.
3. Prioritize. Decide which things are most important and do those first.
4. Write important events on a calendar and refer to it frequently.
5. Keep the Sabbath day holy. You might not think there are enough hours in the day to do all you need to do, but remember Sunday is the Lord’s day, and He will bless you if you are obedient.
6. “Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means … ; but be diligent unto the end” (D&C 10:4). Make the best use of the time you have, and consider eliminating less important activities.
7. Ask for help. Turn to your family, friends, or teachers if your load becomes unbearable and you don’t know what to do.
8. Pray for help. Heavenly Father knows the pressures you are under, and He can help ease your burdens.
9. Listen to the Spirit. You might feel prompted to do something you hadn’t planned on doing.
10. In all your scheduling, don’t book every minute of your day. Leave time for family, for service, and just to relax and be yourself. -April 2003 Ensign