Dear Young Women,
In two weeks we will be having our "Frozen" party.
As a presidency we are so excited for this event. We LOVE the movie "Frozen" as well as its theme- a mighty change of heart.
To introduce our party, here are some thoughts from Elder Marvin J. Ashton from a talk entitled, "The Measure of our Hearts"...
I
would like to share some thoughts about measurements. A measurement is a
standard by which we determine the capacity or dimension of a person or
object. A measurement gives us a basis for comparison.
If
I say, “She is a three-point student,” you have a pretty good idea of
this person’s scholastic ability. A measurement may also be an estimate
of what is expected.
Human
measurement, of course, is subject to human fallibility. My generation,
for example, was taught that a person’s I.Q. was supposedly a fixed
measurement of a person’s capacity to learn. Such a notion is now
generally discredited by the teaching profession. Interestingly, the
Prophet Joseph Smith taught in the nineteenth century: “We consider that
God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty
which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to
the light communicated from heaven to the intellect.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, p. 51.) He was obviously ahead of his time!
We
also tend to evaluate others on the basis of physical, outward
appearance: their “good looks,” their social status, their family
pedigrees, their degrees, or their economic situations.
The
Lord, however, has a different standard by which he measures a person.
When it came time to choose a king to replace King Saul, the Lord gave
this criteria to his prophet Samuel: “Look not on his countenance, or on
the height of his stature; … for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for
man looketh on the outward appearance,
but the Lord looketh on the
heart.” (
1 Sam. 16:7.)
When
the Lord measures an individual, He does not take a tape measure around
the person’s head to determine his mental capacity, nor his chest to
determine his manliness, but
He measures the heart as an indicator of
the person’s capacity and potential to bless others.
Why
the heart? Because the heart is a synonym for one’s entire makeup. We
often use phrases about the heart to describe the total person. Thus, we
describe people as being “big-hearted” or “goodhearted” or having a
“heart of gold.” Or we speak of people with faint hearts, wise hearts,
pure hearts, willing hearts, deceitful hearts, conniving hearts,
courageous hearts, cold hearts, hearts of stone, or selfish hearts.
The
measure of our hearts is the measure of our total performance. As used
by the Lord, the “heart” of a person describes his effort to better
self, or others, or the conditions he confronts.
A question I suggest to you is this: How do you measure up?
As your leaders we hope that you will come to our "Frozen" party! It will be a night of "Frozen" fun as we watch the movie, eat snacks, and learn about a mighty change of heart.
