A Love of Correction

I had the opportunity to have a conversation with my YSA Stake President at a training I recently attended. He was telling me about a recent conversation he had with the Mission President of the Utah Ogden Mission. He asked the Mission President, “If you could give one piece of advice to soon-to-be-missionaries, what would it be?” His reply was not at all what I was expecting. He said, “I would tell them to gain a love of correction.” I was floored. I would have never guessed that would be his answer. “A love of correction.” Wow. President went on to explain, “You need to love being corrected. Whether by your companion, your district or zone leaders, your mission president, or by the Spirit, you need to love being corrected.” Again. I was floored. I have never thought of that before and probably never would have thought of it in all my life! My President could tell I was in total awe about what he had just told me and he quietly slipped away to help out the next person in need.

Upon thinking about it more, I realized how much this should, and already does, in ways, apply to my life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about progress, and in order to progress, we must correct, or change, things in our lives. To change things in our lives, we must be willing and meek and humble enough to change. The Spirit helps us to know when we need to make changes and the Atonement of Jesus Christ enables us to make those changes. We are ultimately trying to progress to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. “A love of correction” is something we all must gain in order to continue progressing so we can return to live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in eternal happiness.





So, how can we gain “a love of correction”? Here’s a few things I thought of;

1. Continually Praying. Asking our Heavenly Father to help us be more willing, meek and humble so that we can know what changes need to be made and how we can make them through the Holy Spirit. Asking for help not only in our morning and night prayers, but also throughout the day when we might be faced with difficulties. Asking for help to gain a real desire to really, truly love being corrected.

2. Pattern our lives after Jesus Christ. By studying His life and teachings in the Scriptures, we can gain a better understanding and knowledge of Him. He is the Master Teacher. He is our perfect example and we should look to His example in all things and think, “What would the Savior do?”.

3. Use the Atonement. Not only it’s redeeming power, but also it’s enabling power. It’s redeeming power helps us be forgiven for our mistakes, no matter how small they might be, and it’s enabling power helps us carry on and keep going. Use the Atonement in all its forms and it will help soften our hearts when needed and help us to better understand the reasons we need to continually change.

We aren’t going to get it right the first time. I know I won’t even get it right on the fifth, sixth, or seventh time! Perhaps never in this life, but I truly believe by fervently praying for help, earnestly seeking Christ and using the Atonement, we can begin to gain “a love of correction” and ultimately become more like our Savior so we can return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again.

How grateful I am for the inspired leaders of the Church, Stakes and Wards to give us guidance. I look up to them so much and someday hope to be even half the disciple of Christ that they are. I am so excited to try my best to gain “a love of correction” so that I can more fully progress into the person that Heavenly Father created me to be! I know that it is through the gift of the Holy Ghost that we can know what in our lives we need to change and through the power of the Atonement it is possible to change.

What are some ways you think we can gain “a love of correction”?

Until next time,