early to rise

With the new school year comes an earlier wake up time for all of us. If I want to exercise in the coolest part of the day and get the kids ready for school on time, I need to be up and out the door by 5:00.

As Mike and I were running this morning, I took a mental stock of myself at that early hour. Yes, it had been hard to get out of bed, but after being up for just a few minutes, I felt full of energy and optimism. I was able to formulate a plan for my morning to make the getting-ready-for-school routine go smoothly. I had time to think about what I would make the kids for breakfast and what I would pack in their lunches. Mike and I were spending time together before he left all day for work. And as a bonus, I was able to see the pretty sunrise.

For this week's Conference Report, I am using an article from our church's magazine, the Ensign, entitled "Filled with Life and Energy". It is a good read, especially if you don't consider yourself a morning person.

The article starts with a story from the life of Elder Marion G. Romney, a previous General Authority. He was feeling quite inadequate in his new call and sought advice from good friend and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Harold B. Lee. Elder Lee told him, "If you are to be successful as a General Authority, you will need to be inspired. You will need to receive revelation. I will give you one piece of advice: Go to bed early and get up early. If you do, your body and mind will become rested and then in the quiet of those early morning hours, you will receive more flashes of inspiration and insight than at any other time of the day."

Elder Romney later recalled, "From that day on, I put that counsel into practice, and I know it works. Whenever I have a serious problem, or some assignment of a creative nature with which I hope to receive the influence of the Spirit, I always receive more assistance in the early morning hours than at any other time of the day."

I have seen this in my own life, too. Things seem clearer first thing in the morning. The solution to whatever I've been struggling with, or worried about, all of a sudden becomes obvious. I am more cheerful, more patient, and better able to handle the stresses of the day. When I wake up early, I feel like I am able to accomplish so much more.

I've noticed that having an earlier bedtime has helped keep the peace in our home. We are winding down and getting settled earlier, before anyone has a meltdown (and that includes me). It feels good to be following this wise advice.

As a final plug, Elder Russell M. Nelson said, "To those who feel defeated and downtrodden, look to the early hours of the day for your rescue."

It is these early hours that have provided mine.


You can read the whole article here.