3. Strive to be your Best Self-General Conference Reflection

Elder Larry R. Lawrence said, "It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we were today." But how? I think a lot of the themes and topics spoken on during General Conference apply to this phrase. Seek the Lord's help in everything you do, turn to him in prayer, ask the right questions, keep the commandments, center your life in Christ, trust Him, be thou an example, feast upon the words of Christ, remember the Atonement, and listen to the Spirit were all themes talked about this past conference that also apply to becoming our best selves. If we want to better ourselves first, we need to figure what needs improvement. Elder Lawrence talked about the Holy Ghost and turning to the Lord in prayer, asking with a sincere heart, "what lack I yet?" Not only do we have to ask but we have to be willing to take the answer we are given and act upon it. Henry B. Eyring said the most valuable inspiration is what God would have you do. And as we obey and demonstrate our willingly to better ourselves the Spirit will send us more impressions of what God would have us do. But as Robert D. Hales said, "Will we let ourselves be led?" Put your trust in Him! Having the guidance of the Spirit is essential in our day and time. Striving to keep the commandments and keeping our lives centered in Christ makes it easier to have the Holy Ghost present in our lives and therefore, easier to receive revelation. President Eyring said that having the "companionship of the Spirit makes what's good more attractive and temptation less compelling." Sometimes our answers come through "ponderizing" the scriptures. Elder Durant invited us all to pick a scripture each week to "ponderize." Having a specific scripture present on our minds throughout the week helps to uplift us. After all, "the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do" right?
If you ever feel you are struck and can't progress because of sin or sorrow, remember the Atonement. Dallin H. Oaks said, "Christ is perfectly positioned to lift us and give us the strength we need to endure our afflictions. We only have to ask." The Savior is someone who can help us become clean no matter how dirty we have become. Allen D. Haynie in quoting President Boyd K. Packer said, "the Atonement leaves no tracks, no traces. What it fixes is fixed." There is Always a way back to our Father in Heaven. Repentance is just another step in our journey of becoming our best selves and ultimately returning to live with our Heavenly Father again.
Being better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we were today is a continuous journey. As President Uchtforf said, "exaltation is our goal; discipleship is our journey."