Desires are the Key to 'A Mighty Change of Heart.'

 Desires are the Key to 'A Mighty Change of Heart.'

And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? -Alma 5:14 

Being spiritually born of God, receiving His image in your countenance, or a mighty change of heart are all synonymous for the change that can happen to us as we become "perfect in Christ" (Moroni 10:32) or as we become 'One' in Christ (Galations 3:28-29.)

 32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.- Moroni 10:32

From this scripture we learn that the change happens as we deny ourselves of everything that is unholy and impure not only externally, but internally as well. That seems an impossibly large order, something we are all destined to fail at!  

Fortunately the verse continues and we realize that we do not have to do this unaided.  We are told that His grace will come into effect and aid us if we are working on the 'denying' and doing one other thing... 

We have to love God.  

...love Him not only with our feelings, but with our minds, the strength of our actions and our very will.  We have to choose to desire the things that He desires.

How do we love God?

Jesus Christ tells us that Himself, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

As we act in obedience and seek to have those desires, we are promised that they will "swell in" us and become "delicious to" us. (Alma 32:27-28)

 Desires are what we must plant in our hearts. 

It is NOT the things we do, but the DESIRES BEHIND them that allows the atonement to change us and change our hearts.

President Joseph F. Smith taught that the “education … of our desires is one of far-reaching importance to our happiness in life.” -Dallin H. Oaks

"What we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity." -Neil A Maxwell 

If we are doing the things of the gospel without 'understanding' (see Bednar's book "Increase in Learning.") and proper desires those actions will not enact the full power of the atonement, they will be spiritual 'dead works' unto us.  Obedience alone will not change us.  We have to desire to be changed.  God will never come into our lives contrary to our agency and our desires are at the very core of agency.  Our desires, more than our words or deeds,  let God know what we choose.

“Do you,” President Young asked, “think that people will obey the truth because it is true, unless they love it? No, they will not” (in Journal of Discourses, 7:55). Thus knowing gospel truths and doctrines is profoundly important, but we must also come to love them. When we love them, they will move us and help our desires and outward works to become more holy."- Neil A Maxwell

I taught Seminary today and we talked about 'dead works.'

Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works. (D&C 22:2) 

We discussed how the children of Israel went through the motions of keeping the commandments without internalizing or "understanding" why they were doing what they were asked to do.  For example, they strapped a small box (tefillin) containing scripturess to their foreheads. Without understanding that this was to remind them to keep the word of God 'forefront' in their minds, this action was 'dead.'  Spiritually it"availeth them nothing."  

I asked my students if they participate is 'dead works,' and the answer was a resounding 'Yes.'  We talked specifically about the sacrament, and how easy it is to go through the motions without internalizing the meaning and actually applying the atonement, and how that preparation to participate in that sacred ordinance should occur far before the sacrament hymn or even Sunday.  

But the application of dead works extends far beyond the sacrament. In order to experience that 'mighty change of heart) (Mosiah 5:2, Alma 5:12-14) that King Benjamin speaks about we have to desire all of our works to be made "alive in Christ"(2 Nephi 25:25, Romans 6:11)

So my focus has changed from the things I do to live the Gospel

 to the desires I have to live the Gospel.

This perspective has completely changed the power that flows into my life through obedience.  Gone are the worries about doing enough. Instead I focus on learning and changing as a result of everything I do.  Everything is schooling me now.  I try to embrace every opportunity that comes my way as a chance for me to practice my desires.  

• Extra stress gives me the opportunity to practice my desire to be more patience.  
• A chance to take a meal gives me the opportunity to practice my desire to be more charitable and empathetic. 
• A chance to substitute for seminary gives me the opportunity to practice my desire to let the spirit teach through me.  

When I focus on practicing the things I desire, the little irritations of life that used to interrupt me and over burdened me no longer do!  I am acutely aware that getting irritated and frustrated would be counter productive to what I really desire.  I know that it would take away the spirit and the grace and power of the Savior that helps me everyday. I choose not to act on those negative feelings and I pray to be able to act according to my desires. I find I get extra strength to be patient, to show love, to teach with the spirit, and to be far better and do far more than I ever could on my own. 

This is how grace works and it is the biggest and most amazing part of the Atonement because I use it every minute of every day to access those spiritual gifts and the spiritual light that comes directly from the Savior and flows into me and changes me.  

This has been an absolute miracle in my life and it is changing my heart in a mighty way.  The disposition to do evil, to feel justified in my bad feelings and to want to do it 'my way' are fading.  

Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

I can see that perfection in Christ is actually possible through this process.  I have an incredibly long way to go, but I see how this path chips away and refines us one trait at time, and we don't have to do it through shear grit.  We do it through grace.

I invite you to ponder how you can apply the principle of desires to invite the power of obedience into your life.  Currently I am studying more about the virtues and the traits of the Savior so that those things are forefront in my mind as I go through the 'schooling' experience of life.  Studying and having what I need to work on in the front of my mind allow me to get the maximum amount of practice and learning from my daily experiences.  I invite you to pray to ask Heavenly Father what areas of the gospel can be made more "alive" in your life by focusing on desires and understanding.  Share back how this is helping you.

Conference talks to consider:

Benson, Ezra T. "A Mighty Change of Heart," Oct 1989

Bednar, David A." Converted Unto the Lord," Oct 2012

Oaks, Dallin H. "The Desires of our Hearts," BYU Devotional Oct 1985

Maxwell, Neil A "According to the Desire of Our Hearts," Oct 1996

More Scriptures to consider:

Studying the change of heart in Mosiah 5, and Alma's discussion of planting the seed Alma 32.  Studying the surrounding chapter around the above references will bring new understand. Writing while you study will help 'understanding' through the spirit.

Galations 6:15-17:  Do we 'bear' the 'marks of the Lord' in our hands and feet.  Are our hands doing His work, and our our feet 'walking' along the path that He trod because we truly desire to follow Him and be changed in Him?

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.17From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

These concepts are taught in the bible using slightly different verbiage than the Book of Mormon. (These references may help you teach this concept to non-members as well as give you more understanding)

"bear the marks"  instead of "image in his countenance" Galations 6:15-17 (above)

"grow" instead of "swell"  

2 Peter 3:18  18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

"sweet" instead of "delicious" 

Psalms 119:103  103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

"born again" instead of "change of heart"

Being born again is much more than that initial commitment to the gospel, or that initial feeling of the spirit.  It requires continued faithfulness along the path that Jesus walked.  It requires us to purified our souls or to purify our very desires through obedience and love

1 Peter 1:22-23 -22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

"perfect in Christ"

 Colosians 1:28  28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

How to Receive Personal Revelation

How to Receive Personal Revelation

Immediately after my husband's death I had some amazing spiritual experiences. They were truly tender mercies for me.  In the middle of the night, I was often awakened with specific counsel.  It became my daily bread, and as the time approached for the funerals, I found myself up for many hours of the night writing.  The Lord was schooling me in how to receive revelation.  During this time I was told that one of the purposes for Scott's death was for me to learn how to better receive and record revelation.  I was instructed to teach this to my children and extended family.

The importance of this was heavily stressed on my mind.  

For this reason, I have devoted a considerable amount of time to the study of this topic.  You will see many posts on this thread, because I have learned that Light, the Holy Ghost, Revelation, Intelligence, Truth, Spiritual Gifts and the Ministering of Angels are all very interconnected.

I do not believe that my husband's death was coincidently only a month after the lowering of the missionary age and the announcement to Hastening of the Work. 

I have watched things unfold, and I  now see even more clearly why I was told to make this a point of study.  In last general conference there were 4 specific talks devoted to this subject, and many others that referenced it.  This principle in conjunction with following the prophet will enable us to survive in our rapidly changing world.  We ourselves need to be confident in our ability to receive that guidance individually and collectively in our marriages and callings.  Then our experience will enable us to teach it to the youth while they are still in our homes.

In our home now, we talk about these things nearly everyday.  We share our experiences receiving and acting on promptings.  I regularly invite my children to implement specific study and prayer practices, and then we discuss their experience.  As they have acted on these principles, their ability to hear and follow promptings has increase.

Most youth expect to have a "burning in the bosom" when they feel the Holy Ghost, and are very unaware of other ways that the Holy Ghost can speak to them.  I know that most of our youth are receiving promptings daily, they simply have not learned to distinguish between their own voice, the voice of the spirit and the voices of temptation that come from Satan and his followers.

We often think our good thought are our own invention. 

I do not believe this is so.

I believe any good thought that comes into your mind is...

 the spirit impressing truth and light upon your mind.  

About a year ago I was frustrated and trying to sell my house and nothing was working the way I had planned.  Everything fell apart and after much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth I finally submitted my will to God and I said,

"I will do anything you want me to do.  I will follow any good prompting no matter what, if you will just take care of me and my family."  

I had no idea what that promise would mean or the path of amazing experiences and enlightenment that it would put me on.  It has been crazy and difficult at times and has tested my courage and resolve, but it has been worth every minute.

When you start being 'quick to observe' your thoughts, you will discover how much junk needs to get weeded out and how much quiet revelations you have missed.

“When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” ( Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 151.) 

Here are a few key principles about revelation that I have identified.  I invite you to ponder on the these and seek how to understand, teach an apply them better.

Revelation is...

• received on principles of obedience
• received only by asking, knocking, and seeking.  
• received in response to questions. 
• easier to receive when we are seeking it for the purpose of helping others.
• received line upon line as we act on what knowledge we already have.
• easier to receive after dedicated prayer and fasting 24 hours.
• received according to the timetable of the Lord
• received in different ways 
• easier to receive if we are writing as part of our gospel study 

As you look at this list, listen closely to the thoughts that enter your mind.  The spirit will direct you to the area that you need to study and learn more about.  I find it helpful to write down questions that principles spark and refer to them and write additional ones as I study.  The process of asking questions while you are studying will allow the spirit to communicate better.   I have included some of the resources that I have studied to help me better understand and apply these principles.  

I invite you to study and take notes on this material. Share them with your children and ask them to study and prepare them for gospel discussions in your home. Look up the references that the apostles and prophets use to write their talks. Doing this allows us to follow their path of learning and gain greater understanding. Be patient and thorough in your study.  Listen to the things the spirit prompts you to do as you study and act on those things.  I promise you that as you prayerfully do this, that the spirit will teach you and change your knowledge into understanding over time.

Resources:

Scott, Richard G. "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life, Oct 2012
(this is the talk the spirit instructed me to read the day after Scott died)

Bednar, David A. "The Spirit of Revelation, April 2011 

Also watch the three part video series on the sidebar of this page called Patterns of Light: The Light of Christ, Patterns of Light: Discerning Light, Patterns of Light: Spirit of Revelation) These are great FHE resources and #ShareGoodness resources as well

Packer, Boyd K, "Revelation in a Changing World." Oct 1989

Packer, Boyd K, "Personal Revelation:The Gift, The Test, and The Promise." Oct 1994
****This should be taught in FHE for all youth- excellent direction spoken specifically to youth

Hales, Robert D. "Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets." Oct 2007

Bednar, David A. "A Reservoir of Living Water,"  CES Fireside Feb 2007 (Using the scriptures to receive personal revelation)

Gordon Limb, "Recognizing and Responding to the Promptings of the...," BYU Devotional Mar 2013 
(Another great one for youth, he references both Packer and Bednar)

Kendrick, Lionel "Personal Revelation." BYU Devotional May 1997

This is certainly not an all inclusive list.  If you find additional resources that you believe would be helpful please add them to the comment section.  Thank you and God Bless you all in your personal efforts. 

This is a companion post to "The Affects of our Loved Ones from the Other Side of the Veil." coming soon.

Being Touched by the Savior

 Being Touched by the Savior

My mother passed away on August 21, 2014, on her 64^th wedding anniversary.  After arriving home from the funeral I felt a sadness at being separated not only from my mother but from all my siblings and my father... for I live a long ways from many of them.  It was such a wonderful feeling of love when we were all together working on the plans for our dear mother’s funeral.  One particular day I felt a need to call one of my sisters to talk.  In our conversation she said something to me that left an impression on my mind...

a seed was planted.

That very next Sunday during the sacrament my mind went back to that comment by my dear sister.  She had told me how she had felt a desire to touch the Savior just as those who had lived during his lifetime had, and so for a year she went on a quest to learn how she could touch the Savior.  

She read stories about his life, studying those accounts of others who were privileged to touch the Savior, and her heart yearned for that experience someday herself.  Then she said one day as she was partaking of the sacrament, she heard the words come into her mind,

                           “Now you have touched the Savior”.  

She realized how true that was. 

As long as she was worthy,

each time she partook of the sacrament,

 she was touching the Savior 

and being cleansed from it.

The following Sunday as I was partaking of the sacrament, I pondered that thought from my sister and suddenly....
                              I felt the Holy Ghost begin to teach me.  

The story of the woman being healed by the Savior just merely by touching his garment came into my mind. (Matthew 9:20-22) 

She had been sick for twelve years seeking help from many physicians to no avail.  But when she heard about Jesus and the miracles he was performing, she just knew he could heal her.  There were so many people always surrounding Jesus and so she said within herself, 

“If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole (healed)."  

I realized that this woman had enough faith in who Jesus was and the power or light that was in him.  She knew that she only needed to touch him to receive his healing light.  

As the story goes she did touch the hem of his garment as he passed by and when she did He felt it.  He felt a portion of His power, His light leave him and he turned around to see who had touched him.  When he saw her, he could tell who had received a portion of his light and he said to her, 

“Daughter be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole.” 

And she was healed from that hour.  

This is a beautiful story about faith, but also about the power or light that comes from the Savior that does heal...... that does strengthen our mortal bodies and makes us whole in so many ways.

I continued to search for other accounts of healing and was led to another story that is found in Matthew 14:35-36.  

This account is mentioned right after the experience of Peter walking on the water.  I had never remembered this part of the story because my mind was always drawn to the experience of Peter and the faith he had to walk on water. But as I began to read further, I found that this ship he was on eventually landed into the land of Gennesaret. 

"And when the men of that place had knowledge of him,”   

which means they recognized him because of his light and the Holy Ghost bore witness of this to them, or they had seen him before and heard of the great miracles he had performed, 

“they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; and they besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

As I read that story I sensed how much faith those people had in Jesus Christ.  I realized that they had probably bore their illnesses, their trials and adversities for a very long time.  These had humbled them and when they saw and learned what Jesus Christ could do and who he was, they only had to touch the hem of his garment to be healed. 

As I came to understand this, I realized that for me, 

each time I partake of the sacrament.....

Power in the Temple

Power in the Temple

Knowledge always unlocks doors 
for God’s people. 

I gained some incredible knowledge in the temple last week, which set the stage for an amazing experience to follow.  I want to share this “key” that I discovered which unlocks a beautiful experience just waiting to happen to each of us as we attend the temple. 

I have always understood that as we serve in the temple, we are serving our dead.  We are giving them the opportunity to accept or reject the covenants that we are doing that day.  I always pray for them throughout my temple service.  I pray that they will be receptive to the ordinances done that day.  Elder Richard G Scott encourages us to, 

"Be mindful of the individual for whom you are performing the vicarious ordinance. At times pray that he or she will recognize the vital importance of the ordinances and be worthy or prepare to be worthy to benefit from them." Temple Worship by Richard G Scott

As I have studied more about prayers, I have learned that the spirit can give you the words to pray.  

24 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire. ( 3 Nephi 19:24)

So, I had begun to make that my focus during my prayers—to say the words that the spirit directed me to pray. I’m not great at it, but I’m trying. During one particular day in the temple, I found my usual prayer changing. I instead prayed that this particular name would recognize how important these ordinances were to ME, and that she would desire to have them as well.

I knew at that moment that she was a quiet observer that day.  She didn’t know if this was something she wanted to accept, but she was allowed to watch as I took her name through the temple.  I was praying that she would begin to desire it as she watched me and could see the importance I placed upon these ordinances. 

Until then, I didn’t understand how connected we can be with our deceased ancestors during the temple ordinances.   As we take their name upon us in the temple, we allow them to be very, very close to us.  We can gain great insights into the life that they lived and the feelings that they are experiencing there in the temple.

Last week, while in the temple, I began by taking a few family names through the initiatory process.  Richard G Scott has taught that,

The Afterglow of Conference Weekend

The Afterglow of Conference Weekend

Ever since Scott died I find myself counting the days down to conference... yearning for the new direction that it will bring.  10 hours of talks later (yes, I listened to priesthood too!)  I find my head swimming with so many thoughts and good intentions... Then Monday comes, and without a clear cut plan that spiritual high can dissipate.  I wanted to sum up some reoccurring themes that I saw.  The plan is to revisit these themes with other supporting talks during the next 6 months. Following Bednar's example from "Increase in Learning,"  I will be posting questions from each topic to consider and discuss with our families so that we can better apply the principles taught.

Theme from Conference October 2014 

(W: women's conference, P: priesthood)

We have a need to seek personal revelation, follow prophetic counsel, and follow the consecrated path walked by the Savior that will enable us to become more devoted disciples who will do the Savior's work and build strong personal and family foundations capable of weathering the storms ahead.

1. Personal Revelation
1. Uchtdorf, Eyring, Hales, Gody
2. Increasing individual spiritual preparation and commitment
1. Repentance, Sacrament, Agency and Avoiding sin:  Esplin, Robbins, Christofferson, Hamula, Ballard, Kacher, P: Cook, P:Utchdorf, P:Monson
2. Devoted discipleship: Packer, Klebingat, Gavarret, Monson, Scott, W:Burton, W: Stevens, W: Marriott, W: Utchdorf,  P: Christensen, 
3. Reaching out to rescue, love, comfort and serve others
1. Wong, Oaks, Anderson, Holland, Packer, Martinez, Bednar,  P:Davies,
4. Increasing Family spiritual preparation and commitment
1. Callister, Perry,  P: Eyring
5. Following the Prophet
1. Nelson, McConkie, 

Over and over we heard that we need to study the scriptures and "the words of the living prophets."  We know from President Benson that... 

"The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet."  

Today and yesterday we got to sample from the spiritual banquet of the specific things the Lord wants us to focus on during the next 6 months.  Now it is up to each of us to go back and feast on their words. Topical study is a great way to do this and organizing them into topics lets us see through repetition the things that the Lord is emphasizing.  Here is my Monday FHE plan...

1. I asked my children to review their notes and write down some major themes and things they felt inspired to work on.
2. We will discuss these and implement some plans to act on those things
3. Our ideas and questions are getting posted on a white board so that we can remind each other and add additional things as we think of them.
4. We will be revisiting the talks in FHE during the next 6 months tying them back to the doctrine and focusing on how to internalize and act on these principles.

I also wanted to share a few other key things in the past that have helped me to feast on the words of the talks as I review them later:

The Need to Be Right

The Need to Be Right

Since my husand's death I have learned to greatly appreciate the relationships that I had previously  built with my children.  They have served as a great sense of support and strength to me in a time of need.  The effort before became oil to my lamp in the darkness.

But I still had much work to do in those relationships and in the relationship with my extended family....

I have often had a inner struggles with the need 'to be right.' I think it is one of my biggest weaknesses.  When I was 16 my family bought me a sweatshirt that said, 

"I'm Not Opinionated, I'm just Always Right!"

I honestly didn't understand why they thought it was so funny.  That was how very un-selfaware I was.  I still really struggle with this, but now it is something I am working to correct within myself. I equate it with pride or the lack of humility or meekness. 

The need 'to be right' is one of the biggest cancers in relationships.

I find that if I ever feel the need to justify my negative behavior that I am flat out in the wrong.  It doesn't matter what someone else has done or said, I have the ability to control my response and I do not need to respond negatively in turn.  I can choose to do better than that.  Inflamed communications don't need fanning of the fire, they need quenching.  I can choose to be the water that smooths things over if I am thinking and empathizing with the other person instead of thinking of myself.

The other day I was driving with my 15 year-old son who was not listening to my patient corrections about his driving.  I raised my voice and then I began to berate him.  I watched as he became more anxious and I felt him close off from me.  I knew that I had damaged our relationship by my unkind corrections.

Now I could have easily justified myself because of the potential danger of having an accident.  I did need to correct him, but it was not the correction that was the problem, it was the way I did it and the way I made him feel.  

I was wrong because I made him feel bad.

I am always in the wrong, even if I am right, if I make someone feel bad.

One of the biggest problems with this kind of communication is that we cripple other people's ability to positively act.  We hurt their confidence and we put them in a place where they cannot feel the spirit.

Do I care more about my car than I do about my son's ability to feel the spirit and to feel good about himself?

Establishing the Cause of Zion: The Desires of our Hearts part 1

Establishing the Cause of Zion:

The Desires of our Hearts part 1

I got asked to teach Doctrine in Covenants in Seminary this week.  I was super excited about this, because I have been wanting to study the D&C in greater depth.  It was Scott's favorite book of scriptures, but I never understood why until recently.  The lesson was on a topic that has become of special interest to me since Elder Bednar's BYU devotional.  I wanted to share some of my thoughts and insights as I believe this chapter 11 holds the key to understanding how our desires and doing the Lord's work facilitate us on the consecrated covenant path.

The word desire is repeated 8 times in D&C 11 verses: 3, 8, 10, 14, 17, 21, and 27.  I have learned that repetition is the Lord's way to draw our attention to important concepts in the scriptures.  He says whoso desireth to reap... (vs3), as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you... if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good... (vs8), if thou wilt desire of me in faith... (vs10), all things whatsoever you desire of me... (vs14), according to your desires (vs17), if you desire, you shall have my Spirit ... (vs21),  all who have good desires (vs27).

Hence our righteous desires are the root of any blessing we seek to obtain, and making sure that they are righteous is the key to receiving those things that the Lord is so eager to give us. How do we know where our true desires lie?  Not just the things that we say, but the things deep in our heart?  This is an important question, because in the end, we know that we are judged by the desires of our hearts.

I think the best way to be introspective is to ask ourselves... If I had a free day with no obligations, how would I choose to spend my time?  Would you want to watch sports, or movies, go out to eat, get your nails done?  Would you catch up on extra work, or visit a friend?  Would you want to spend time with family, or study your scriptures?  How would you parcel that day and what portion would you willingly give to the Lord... not out of obligation, but how much would you want to give Him?

We are all on a different spectrum.  If I asked this question to someone who had deep seeded addictions, I would get one desire; a average member of the church would give me another, and President Monson another still.  

How would the Savior answer that question?  Where would His desires be? 

That is where we need to be some day, where He is, but thank goodness we don't have to come all that way on our own. We start where we are...

Alma 32:27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than ^adesire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

We start with one desire and we nourish that through obedience.  In the beginning it is a tender plant and we have to take care to not let that desire die.  As we continue to faithful act that plant becomes mature and it is fruitful unto us.

 Alma 32:42 And because of your ^adiligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the ^bfruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall ^areap the ^brewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth ^cfruit unto you.

That fruit is the blessing promised to us by our Heavenly Father.  What is the specific blessing of being obedient and acting on righteous desires?  The blessing is to feel joy and to receive a greater portion of the spirit of God or a greater portion of light.  What does that light amount to? It is the knowledge and attributes of divinity found in spiritual gifts.

As we find the fruit to be "delicious" to us, new desires are planted in our hearts.  It is interesting to me that fruit is always filled with new seeds.  Those desires grow and become fruitful.  What starts as a seed, the 'smallest particle of faith' or the 'desire to believe' eventually if nourished becomes an orchard.

This is the how the Savior enables us to go from bad to good and from good to better.

We do not have to plant all of the seeds at once, and as the trees mature they can withstand periods of drought and high winds.  The planting and care of an orchard can seem like an enormous task with just a single seed to begin with.  Fortunately we have a master Gardner near by who will instruct us if we simple turn to Him for help.

God's work and glory is to bring to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39) His goal is to get us to desire to become like Him, and then line upon line to school us so that we, in the end, do have the same desires as He does.

I invite you to study the scriptures in this message in addition to other scriptures and conference talks about desire.

Seminary Teacher's Manual for D&C 11-18

Maxwell, Neil A. "According to the Desires of Our Hearts," Oct 1996

Oaks, Dallin H. "The Desires of Our Hearts" Oct 1985