After all, we give our lives to that to which we give our time. We need to examine all the ways we use our time so we can better understand what we should really be spending our time doing. It must be our best understanding of those things that are important as opposed to those things that are just interesting, between things we really need and things we just want. It must be the product of inspiration and prayerful judgment. This list must follow the gospel pattern and contain elements needed for our sanctification and perfection. To do this we need to develop a list of basics, a list of those things that are indispensable to our mortal welfare and happiness and our eternal salvation. We must actually get rid of what we do not need. It is nice to get better organized, but that is not enough. I have learned that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to unclutter one’s life by starting at the top of the pile with the idea that the solution is to just get things sorted and better organized. If by his subtle means he can become our silent partner, he can influence us to make wrong choices that use our time unwisely and prevent us from doing what we should. He also knows that while in mortality we are subject to time. He knows that we have agency and are at liberty to make choices for ourselves. Nothing suits the devil better than to become a silent partner with us. Whenever I think of something subtle-something kind of hidden that we know is there if we stop to think about it but don’t suspect it of cluttering or negatively influencing our lives-I know Satan is busy at his work. They are more subtle and just seem to evolve, taking control of us. Other things that clutter our lives and use our time are not as obvious. Look around and you will see all the gadgets and toys and the nice and the fun things that cause us to squander and pay and to wander and play. We can surround ourselves with the material things to the extent that we have no time for the spiritual. Some are obvious, such as material things. Our lives can become cluttered by many things. It is a life in which the things you have surrounded yourself with, and allow to use up your time, are controlling you and negatively influencing your happiness and eternal progress. My daughter’s situation was temporary and for a good cause, but I’ve been hearing more often about people who are filling their lives with meaningless and harmful things.Ī cluttered life is a life that you do not have control of. But those last words, “I WANT MY LIFE BACK,” have stuck in my mind. When we read the letter, we gave each other a knowing smile. Anyway, nobody in this family is sick in the head we are just all sick.” Then in capital letters she wrote, “I WANT MY LIFE BACK!” I’m changing my ambitions from psychiatrist to nurse. My wife and I recently received a letter from one of our daughters that, in part, read, “I’ve become a nurse. Bradford, “I Want My Life Back,” New Era, Sep 1993, 49įrom an address delivered in April 1992 general conference.ĭo you own things, or do they own you? Who-or what-is pushing your control buttons?
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