Sister Judilyn Christensen - Winchester Hills 1st Ward

I'm thankful for this opportunity to be challenged by our stake RS presidency and do my part in answering President Stucki's call to become a Zion people here and now. I know that they are inspired and this will not only benefit us personally, but also as a Stake.
As I have pondered and prayed about the many areas I personally need to improve in. The word "FOCUS" kept coming to my mind.
As I have listened and reread several conference talks, all of them have great council of things I need to be doing to help me draw closer to my savior, but I found myself struggling in picking the "one". So I continued my search.
While I was reading  the First Presidency message for January "Aiming for the Center" by President Uchtdorf, the word "FOCUS" again came into my mind.
As I read about how he explained how he was watching a group of people practicing the art of archery. He observed that to become an accomplished archer you don't just shoot at an empty wall and draw a target around it.  You have to first find the target, then focus on the bull's-eye. It takes a lot of time and practice.
In the article President Uchtdorf explains that "sometimes we have a tendency to attach ourselves to gospel programs, issues, and even doctrines that seems interesting and enjoyable to us. We are tempted to draw targets around them, making us believe we are aiming at the center of the gospel.  The savior has not only shown us the target, but he also identifies the bull's-eye"
When the savior was asked, "Master, which is the great commandment?"
We all know how Jesus answered:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind"
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
When I read this I realized that my priorities needed adjustment and that this is what I needed to "Focus" on.  I have been practicing applying this in my life, and trying to focus on these commandments. I have felt an increase of love for my Father in Heaven and my Savior.  I feel more love and peace in my life. I don't feel as overwhelmed with the obligations I need to attend to daily. I feel like my priorities are in place and the things that really matter get taken care of. I have really noticed a big difference in how I feel about myself and how I look and feel about others. I find myself having more patience and genuinely concerned for others.
I really like how President Uchtdorf finished his message.
"If our primary focus, thoughts, and efforts are centered on increasing our love for Almighty God, then we will be able to extend our hearts to others and reach out in understanding and love."