My thoughts on Elder Christofferson's talk "Come to Zion"
I have loved the concept of Zion and can't wait to life in a world full of Zion people.
"Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes and faithfulness of her citizen."
"If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard. It will be necessary 91) to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2) to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3) to car for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us. We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen--Zion will come only as they happen.
If we want to live in Zion we better be a Zion people. We need to be one of heart!
What comes first the Zion or the people of Zion---we know the answer to this one. W will live in Zion when Zion is in all of us.
Elder Christofferson asks:
Are we free from strife and contention?
The Nephites were able to live for 200 plus years in peace after Christ came to visit them because there was no contention among them. This is my daily goal in my life. I just want an hour to go by without contention--an hour in the daylight ~smile~.
Are we forgiving all?
I admit I'm not the most forgiving person. In fact I hold grudges tightly. My bad, my wrong and my sin to repent of. I'm working on it desperately.
"We will become of one heart and one mind as we individually place the Savior at the center of our lives and follow those He has commissioned to lead us."
Who is the center of your life?
"Most of the work to be done in establishing Zion consists in our individual efforts to become "the pure in heart". … which include our constant remembrance of the Savior and our pledge of obedience, sacrifice, consecration and fidelity."
As much as there is unity, no poor there is also no sin or unholiness in Zion.
I guess I have lots to work on.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Way
My thoughts on Elder Corbridge's talk "The Way"
How come my teens don't get this? "There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment"
"He offers a well of living water. Either we drink and never thirst more, or we don't and foolishly remain thirsty still."
"He is the Bread of Life. Either we eat and hunger no more, or we don't and foolishly remain weak and hungry still."
"Either we learn of Him and have life more abundantly, or we don't and foolishly remain dead still."
But then a teens eyes don't see beyond themselves and what happens to them. They only see five to ten minutes ahead of now. They just don't see it.
They see those that break the commandments, standards and Word of Wisdom rake in millions, having a good time, responsible for nothing and they see us who are the opposite of that, have callings, have responsibilities and struggle to make ends meet.
It is very frustrating!
"Every good thing depends on getting and keeping the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives."
My ultimate goal is to keep the Holy Ghost each day in my life and hopefully it will seep out into my home and my children.
"The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel."I think I'm going to make that into a poster and put that into each child's room!
"Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light strength, knowledge, confidence, love and joy, or we can go some other way, whatever other way, and go it alone--without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?"
YEP that is a poster!
I want my life to be as easy as possible but life is hard and I only complicated it when I don’t invite the Spirit into my life.
How come my teens don't get this? "There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment"
"He offers a well of living water. Either we drink and never thirst more, or we don't and foolishly remain thirsty still."
"He is the Bread of Life. Either we eat and hunger no more, or we don't and foolishly remain weak and hungry still."
"Either we learn of Him and have life more abundantly, or we don't and foolishly remain dead still."
But then a teens eyes don't see beyond themselves and what happens to them. They only see five to ten minutes ahead of now. They just don't see it.
They see those that break the commandments, standards and Word of Wisdom rake in millions, having a good time, responsible for nothing and they see us who are the opposite of that, have callings, have responsibilities and struggle to make ends meet.
It is very frustrating!
"Every good thing depends on getting and keeping the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives."
My ultimate goal is to keep the Holy Ghost each day in my life and hopefully it will seep out into my home and my children.
"The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel."I think I'm going to make that into a poster and put that into each child's room!
"Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light strength, knowledge, confidence, love and joy, or we can go some other way, whatever other way, and go it alone--without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?"
YEP that is a poster!
I want my life to be as easy as possible but life is hard and I only complicated it when I don’t invite the Spirit into my life.
Even a Child Can Understand
My thoughts on Elder Causse's talk "Even a Child Can Understand"
The difference between my religion and most everyone else's is that I do search for more knowledge through studying and praying about the doctrine I'm taught.
Why do we as LDS search for knowledge?
Is it because we believe that one day we will be gods?
Is it because we have been commanded?
Is it because we have a curiosity?
I don't know the answer and I think each of us studies for different reasons.
The church puts great emphasis on knowledge, and yet the gospel is so simple even a child can understand. In fact I believe that sometime they know more because they don't let all those "things" interfere with their faith.
"Little children have a marvelous disposition to learn. They have total trust in their teacher, a pure spirit, and great humility--in other words, the same qualities which open the door to the Holy Spirit."
Did not the Lord command us to be like little children?
Is this why?
The difference between my religion and most everyone else's is that I do search for more knowledge through studying and praying about the doctrine I'm taught.
Why do we as LDS search for knowledge?
Is it because we believe that one day we will be gods?
Is it because we have been commanded?
Is it because we have a curiosity?
I don't know the answer and I think each of us studies for different reasons.
The church puts great emphasis on knowledge, and yet the gospel is so simple even a child can understand. In fact I believe that sometime they know more because they don't let all those "things" interfere with their faith.
"Little children have a marvelous disposition to learn. They have total trust in their teacher, a pure spirit, and great humility--in other words, the same qualities which open the door to the Holy Spirit."
Did not the Lord command us to be like little children?
Is this why?
My thoughts on Elder Holland's talk "The Ministry of Angels"
"God has used angels is His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children."
"Usually such being are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near."
"…most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention guidance in difficult times."
"I testify that angels are still sent to help us."
"Not all angels are from the other side of the veil."
Who are your angels?
What have they done for you?
I have had angels both heavenly and earthly touch my life. The most glaring example was in my auto accident six years ago. I should have not made it out of the car alive. My mother said that six little guardian angels were there to protect me, but my husband disagrees. (I have six children.) My husband said it was one big guardian angels. Both of them may have their tongues in their cheeks when they said this, but I have done the research about being broadsided by a car doing over 45 (the other car was doing 60+). The occupant on the side of impact has her insides all mixed up. The spleen separates and the lungs are usually punctured by a broken rib. I was home within five hours of being transported to the hospital. Yes, it helped that I was in a very well built car and had the latest safety technology, but there was still someone watching out for me. I truly believe it was from Heaven.
The angels then turned earthly as the ward rallied around my family. Because of a head injury I will never know who they all were, but I know Heaven recorded their acts of service.
I have felt other angels in my life. In those quiet hours when you are so distraught and don't know how to even pick yourself up off the floor, somehow you have the strength to continue. I wish I could share all of them instead they are forever stored in my heart.
"Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mine."
"God has used angels is His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children."
"Usually such being are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near."
"…most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention guidance in difficult times."
"I testify that angels are still sent to help us."
"Not all angels are from the other side of the veil."
Who are your angels?
What have they done for you?
I have had angels both heavenly and earthly touch my life. The most glaring example was in my auto accident six years ago. I should have not made it out of the car alive. My mother said that six little guardian angels were there to protect me, but my husband disagrees. (I have six children.) My husband said it was one big guardian angels. Both of them may have their tongues in their cheeks when they said this, but I have done the research about being broadsided by a car doing over 45 (the other car was doing 60+). The occupant on the side of impact has her insides all mixed up. The spleen separates and the lungs are usually punctured by a broken rib. I was home within five hours of being transported to the hospital. Yes, it helped that I was in a very well built car and had the latest safety technology, but there was still someone watching out for me. I truly believe it was from Heaven.
The angels then turned earthly as the ward rallied around my family. Because of a head injury I will never know who they all were, but I know Heaven recorded their acts of service.
I have felt other angels in my life. In those quiet hours when you are so distraught and don't know how to even pick yourself up off the floor, somehow you have the strength to continue. I wish I could share all of them instead they are forever stored in my heart.
"Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mine."
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Come What May, and Love It
My thoughts on Elder Whirthlin's talk "Come What May, and Love It"
I think I need to give a follow up to my so depressing post earlier this week.
As I have been contemplating what I said about hope. I want to be very clear that my lack of hope is a temporary feeling as I deal with the day to day issues/stresses that I face as I raise teens, have a husband be told no as he interviews, watch our retirement drop over 30%, have clients say “no thanks,” struggle with my own health and generally see negativity all around. I want you to know that I have the eternal hope that President Uchtdorf talks about. I feel very hopeful in eternity, in the atonement and resurrection. Of that I have no doubt about hoping for.
The way the talks were given, Elder Wirthlin’s talk comes after President Uchtdorf’s in our study, but they were given in two different sessions, but reading one right after the other gave me hope (pun intended). Last week I felt that my trials, tribulations and day to day responsibilities left me with little hope, but in reading over Elder Wirthlin’s talk “Come What May, and Love it” I feel that I was mistaken in my lack of hope.
I love raising teens. They keep me hopping and always inventing new ways of parenting. They keep my life fresh.
I love that my husband is looking for a new job and I am confident that he will find one. He has found that he is valuable and has some darn good skills that some employer will be lucky to have.
I know that we may be working for our retirement a little longer than we wanted or planned to, but we will do it together. It also makes me work my home business all the much more.
I know that my clients are saying no to me because they too are feeling the financial pinch and one day they will come flocking to me as my product is what they all believe in too. Family means everything to me and that is what my business is about—bring family together again. Mending fences and putting love back into the home.
I know that my struggles with my health are going to be shortly over. In fact I’m about to end my physical therapy for my back and it has been a very long six years!
I will do as Elder Wirthlin says. I will learn to laugh more. I will learn to shake off the lack of control I feel over my life and my family’s life. I will learn to laugh when the Priests change their plans yet again and screw up my beautifully planned car pool. I will laugh and make the best of it when they switch the Cub Scout’s meeting time yet again and just enjoy working with my son in our own little den because we can’t do it when they have it scheduled. I will learn to at least smile through these situations and hopefully laugh at them too.
I will seek for the Eternal. I will understand that it is NOT what happens to me, but how I REACT. I will understand that we each have trials to go through and it how we react to them that will separate the wheat from the tares. I will no longer be someone who allows others to push her buttons. I will be the one who laughs, is proactive and doesn’t allow negativity to ruin a good day—because they are all good. Because I have HOPE!
I have buckets of joy waiting for me. As I read this statement: “The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.” I imagined that party to be like the kind they have at the end of important sports game. Cannons of confetti and balloons drop from the rafters. Bands will play and people will be hugging, screaming and crying tears of joy. I know I have buckets of them waiting for me and I’m sure my mom is filling them with shredded paper as I type.
I have to trust in the Father and His Son! I have to trust that He loves me enough that He will be on my side cheering me along, giving me the tools I need to finish this mission—hard as it may be—to raise teens in this trying time. He gave me these kids because He knew I could do it. I just have to be like Nephi, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” And I’m not done doing what He commanded.
As a choir today we sang hymn 124, “Be Still My Soul” and I’m breaking every copyright by posting it, but it spoke volumes to me today. My soul needs to be told to “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Ps 46:10)
1. Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2. Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
3. Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Text: Katharina von Schlegel, b. 1697;
trans. by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897
I think I need to give a follow up to my so depressing post earlier this week.
As I have been contemplating what I said about hope. I want to be very clear that my lack of hope is a temporary feeling as I deal with the day to day issues/stresses that I face as I raise teens, have a husband be told no as he interviews, watch our retirement drop over 30%, have clients say “no thanks,” struggle with my own health and generally see negativity all around. I want you to know that I have the eternal hope that President Uchtdorf talks about. I feel very hopeful in eternity, in the atonement and resurrection. Of that I have no doubt about hoping for.
The way the talks were given, Elder Wirthlin’s talk comes after President Uchtdorf’s in our study, but they were given in two different sessions, but reading one right after the other gave me hope (pun intended). Last week I felt that my trials, tribulations and day to day responsibilities left me with little hope, but in reading over Elder Wirthlin’s talk “Come What May, and Love it” I feel that I was mistaken in my lack of hope.
I love raising teens. They keep me hopping and always inventing new ways of parenting. They keep my life fresh.
I love that my husband is looking for a new job and I am confident that he will find one. He has found that he is valuable and has some darn good skills that some employer will be lucky to have.
I know that we may be working for our retirement a little longer than we wanted or planned to, but we will do it together. It also makes me work my home business all the much more.
I know that my clients are saying no to me because they too are feeling the financial pinch and one day they will come flocking to me as my product is what they all believe in too. Family means everything to me and that is what my business is about—bring family together again. Mending fences and putting love back into the home.
I know that my struggles with my health are going to be shortly over. In fact I’m about to end my physical therapy for my back and it has been a very long six years!
I will do as Elder Wirthlin says. I will learn to laugh more. I will learn to shake off the lack of control I feel over my life and my family’s life. I will learn to laugh when the Priests change their plans yet again and screw up my beautifully planned car pool. I will laugh and make the best of it when they switch the Cub Scout’s meeting time yet again and just enjoy working with my son in our own little den because we can’t do it when they have it scheduled. I will learn to at least smile through these situations and hopefully laugh at them too.
I will seek for the Eternal. I will understand that it is NOT what happens to me, but how I REACT. I will understand that we each have trials to go through and it how we react to them that will separate the wheat from the tares. I will no longer be someone who allows others to push her buttons. I will be the one who laughs, is proactive and doesn’t allow negativity to ruin a good day—because they are all good. Because I have HOPE!
I have buckets of joy waiting for me. As I read this statement: “The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.” I imagined that party to be like the kind they have at the end of important sports game. Cannons of confetti and balloons drop from the rafters. Bands will play and people will be hugging, screaming and crying tears of joy. I know I have buckets of them waiting for me and I’m sure my mom is filling them with shredded paper as I type.
I have to trust in the Father and His Son! I have to trust that He loves me enough that He will be on my side cheering me along, giving me the tools I need to finish this mission—hard as it may be—to raise teens in this trying time. He gave me these kids because He knew I could do it. I just have to be like Nephi, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” And I’m not done doing what He commanded.
As a choir today we sang hymn 124, “Be Still My Soul” and I’m breaking every copyright by posting it, but it spoke volumes to me today. My soul needs to be told to “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Ps 46:10)
1. Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2. Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
3. Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Text: Katharina von Schlegel, b. 1697;
trans. by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Infinite Power of Hope
My thoughts on President Uchtdorf’s talk “The Infinite Power of Hope”
WARNING: This will probably be very depressing post since things have “got me down” at the moment. Life isn’t looking fun, pretty or comfortable and I truly needed this talk, but I have a bunch of “issues” with it.
Ok, I would have died has I been his mother at that train station. My worst fear of all is to loose a child. I had an experience where I thought I had lost my daughter and I almost threw up it was so hard to deal with. We had come home from soccer, and because some of the neighborhood kids were on my son’s team I was the carpool driver. That also meant that I had all three benched in my van in. I know I counted noses before we left the soccer fields, but when we got home and after about 15 minutes of getting dinner on the table I couldn’t find Jessica anywhere. Steve had just pulled up and I was about ready to send him to the fields to go get her. She was maybe three years old at the time. I literally was in a panic. She wasn’t anywhere in the house or yard. I grabbed the kids and we hit our knees. I’m not sure who thought of it, but someone said, “Did you check the car?” I of course said, “YES” Duh! I’m not a dumb mom. But then Kray said, “But she wasn’t sitting in her car seat, but in Chris’” Chris’ car seat was in the very back, not the front bench. She had fallen asleep and slumped over so that her head couldn’t be seen above the seats and of course her feet were too short to be seen when you looked under the benches. She was strapped into her car seat asleep, slumped over so that she was “gone” from view. I’m sure she had no idea why a crying, hysterical mother unbuckled her and just held her for the night.
Pres. Uchtdorf wonders how she managed to go on in the face of her fears. You do because you HAVE to find your child. There is no other option. There was no option for me. I HAD to find Jessica, NOTHING else mattered. I don’t recall what emotion I had, but I know that it the most horrifying few moments of my mother career. (And I’m sure my teens will give me a few more.)
What is the “infinite power of hope”?
How do we get or find it?
“Hope is a gift of the Spirit. … This kind of hope is both a principle of promise as well as a commandment, and as with all commandments, we have the responsibility to make it an active part of our lives and overcome the temptation to lose hope.”
Well, I guess I’m a sinner today. I feel as if I have lost a lot of the hope I had. I know things are supposed to work out, but this part of the journey is a very rough one and I’m not sure I can hold on much longer. I cling to the promise of the principle of hope, but to have it, as the commandment says, is hard. I have hope in the atonement and the resurrection—that part is clear, but the part of having hope for the daily things in life is where I struggle.
“The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness.”
Boy do I feel that today.
“Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be.”
You know I would love to have some joyful days right about now.
“Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.”
I know this all too well. It seems like I’m on a long staircase down and I don’t know where the up side is.
“Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving card of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear.”
I totally get this, and on an eternal plane it is great. I believe it, I hope it, I trust it, I know it. But what about today? What about the situation I find our family in today. Where is the hope when for many long months the situation hasn’t changed? How much longer can our family sustain this level of hope until it is gone? “Endure to the end,” it says, but the end had better come because I’m nearing the end of my rope. In fact I’ve added other sections to my rope…
“I wish to speak today of the hope that transcends the trivial and centers on the Hope of Israel, the great hope of mankind, even our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.”
This isn’t the type of hope I’m struggling with at all. Watching my sister, my grand niece and then my mother die, there is not wiggle room in my life for this type of hope. I know, I mean I KNOW, without any shadow of doubt that the atonement has worked in their lives and that they are their already, waiting for us to join them. My only hope is that I live worthy enough to join them. I’m sure that is their hope too.
“Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that it we live according to God’s law and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.”
This is what I’m having trouble with. It is so hard to wake every morning to the same troubles and move forward. He has promised total healing and yet, six year later…. He has promised a new job, and yet, months later we are still waiting and the offers are not coming…. He has promised that family life will smooth over and yet I’m still looking up boarding school on the east coast… I want hope and peace in my home today. I’m tired of uncertainty, physical pain, anger and frustration in my home. My prayer each morning is, “Let me get through the day without killing someone.” And most of the time I truly mean it.
I don’t struggle with the eternal hope, but the temporal hope of blessings we have asked for and need so desperately TODAY. I’m not sure my “hope jar” has anything left in it. I wake every morning, take a big swig and pray it will be enough until my eyes close at night. Many, many nights the eyes never close because the heart and mind are so full of the daily struggles our family faces at this time. I’m tired of living in despair, frustration. I know how it feels to have my heart bound my “heart and mind in suffocating darkness.” It has drained most of the joy in my life and left me with “empty remnants of what life was meant to be.” It has killed “ambition.” And I truly feel like I’m on a downward spiral.
I have to cling to this promise, “No matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Chris, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations.”
“The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through our trials, temptations and sorrow. Everyone has experienced discouragement and difficulty. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light.”
These are the two promises I have to hold to every morning or I would walk away from all this. Many times I say, “This isn’t worth it. My heart is too broken. My spirit to wounded to make it through this day.” But I say a prayer asking for strength to make it through one more day, in the hope that tomorrow those promised blessings will come. I’m just not sure how many more days I can hit my knees and utter that prayer.
“This type of hope in God, his goodness, and his power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges and gives strength to those who feel threatened by enclosing walls of fear, doubt and despair.”
This sums up my life right now: “There may be times when we must make a courageous decision to hope even when everything around us contradicts this hope.”
“When frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces our resolve and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of reward.”
Must have hope then because through all of this I have charity for those around me. I haven’t stopped serving my fellowman and I don’t do it for a reward but because it is just what I do. But I do feel frustrated.
I hold the same hope his mother had, “sustain[ed] our family and me and [give] confidence that present circumstances [will] give way to future blessing.”
This is the hope that I have to live with every day. I have to have hope that eventually these trials will end and the blessings for going through them and making it to the end will come. I just wish (dare I say hope?) the end will come soon. I too, take to heart Pres. Uchtdorf’s words.
“And to all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your spirit. Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow and gladdens every heart.”
WARNING: This will probably be very depressing post since things have “got me down” at the moment. Life isn’t looking fun, pretty or comfortable and I truly needed this talk, but I have a bunch of “issues” with it.
Ok, I would have died has I been his mother at that train station. My worst fear of all is to loose a child. I had an experience where I thought I had lost my daughter and I almost threw up it was so hard to deal with. We had come home from soccer, and because some of the neighborhood kids were on my son’s team I was the carpool driver. That also meant that I had all three benched in my van in. I know I counted noses before we left the soccer fields, but when we got home and after about 15 minutes of getting dinner on the table I couldn’t find Jessica anywhere. Steve had just pulled up and I was about ready to send him to the fields to go get her. She was maybe three years old at the time. I literally was in a panic. She wasn’t anywhere in the house or yard. I grabbed the kids and we hit our knees. I’m not sure who thought of it, but someone said, “Did you check the car?” I of course said, “YES” Duh! I’m not a dumb mom. But then Kray said, “But she wasn’t sitting in her car seat, but in Chris’” Chris’ car seat was in the very back, not the front bench. She had fallen asleep and slumped over so that her head couldn’t be seen above the seats and of course her feet were too short to be seen when you looked under the benches. She was strapped into her car seat asleep, slumped over so that she was “gone” from view. I’m sure she had no idea why a crying, hysterical mother unbuckled her and just held her for the night.
Pres. Uchtdorf wonders how she managed to go on in the face of her fears. You do because you HAVE to find your child. There is no other option. There was no option for me. I HAD to find Jessica, NOTHING else mattered. I don’t recall what emotion I had, but I know that it the most horrifying few moments of my mother career. (And I’m sure my teens will give me a few more.)
What is the “infinite power of hope”?
How do we get or find it?
“Hope is a gift of the Spirit. … This kind of hope is both a principle of promise as well as a commandment, and as with all commandments, we have the responsibility to make it an active part of our lives and overcome the temptation to lose hope.”
Well, I guess I’m a sinner today. I feel as if I have lost a lot of the hope I had. I know things are supposed to work out, but this part of the journey is a very rough one and I’m not sure I can hold on much longer. I cling to the promise of the principle of hope, but to have it, as the commandment says, is hard. I have hope in the atonement and the resurrection—that part is clear, but the part of having hope for the daily things in life is where I struggle.
“The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness.”
Boy do I feel that today.
“Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be.”
You know I would love to have some joyful days right about now.
“Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.”
I know this all too well. It seems like I’m on a long staircase down and I don’t know where the up side is.
“Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving card of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear.”
I totally get this, and on an eternal plane it is great. I believe it, I hope it, I trust it, I know it. But what about today? What about the situation I find our family in today. Where is the hope when for many long months the situation hasn’t changed? How much longer can our family sustain this level of hope until it is gone? “Endure to the end,” it says, but the end had better come because I’m nearing the end of my rope. In fact I’ve added other sections to my rope…
“I wish to speak today of the hope that transcends the trivial and centers on the Hope of Israel, the great hope of mankind, even our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.”
This isn’t the type of hope I’m struggling with at all. Watching my sister, my grand niece and then my mother die, there is not wiggle room in my life for this type of hope. I know, I mean I KNOW, without any shadow of doubt that the atonement has worked in their lives and that they are their already, waiting for us to join them. My only hope is that I live worthy enough to join them. I’m sure that is their hope too.
“Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that it we live according to God’s law and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.”
This is what I’m having trouble with. It is so hard to wake every morning to the same troubles and move forward. He has promised total healing and yet, six year later…. He has promised a new job, and yet, months later we are still waiting and the offers are not coming…. He has promised that family life will smooth over and yet I’m still looking up boarding school on the east coast… I want hope and peace in my home today. I’m tired of uncertainty, physical pain, anger and frustration in my home. My prayer each morning is, “Let me get through the day without killing someone.” And most of the time I truly mean it.
I don’t struggle with the eternal hope, but the temporal hope of blessings we have asked for and need so desperately TODAY. I’m not sure my “hope jar” has anything left in it. I wake every morning, take a big swig and pray it will be enough until my eyes close at night. Many, many nights the eyes never close because the heart and mind are so full of the daily struggles our family faces at this time. I’m tired of living in despair, frustration. I know how it feels to have my heart bound my “heart and mind in suffocating darkness.” It has drained most of the joy in my life and left me with “empty remnants of what life was meant to be.” It has killed “ambition.” And I truly feel like I’m on a downward spiral.
I have to cling to this promise, “No matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Chris, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations.”
“The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through our trials, temptations and sorrow. Everyone has experienced discouragement and difficulty. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light.”
These are the two promises I have to hold to every morning or I would walk away from all this. Many times I say, “This isn’t worth it. My heart is too broken. My spirit to wounded to make it through this day.” But I say a prayer asking for strength to make it through one more day, in the hope that tomorrow those promised blessings will come. I’m just not sure how many more days I can hit my knees and utter that prayer.
“This type of hope in God, his goodness, and his power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges and gives strength to those who feel threatened by enclosing walls of fear, doubt and despair.”
This sums up my life right now: “There may be times when we must make a courageous decision to hope even when everything around us contradicts this hope.”
“When frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces our resolve and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of reward.”
Must have hope then because through all of this I have charity for those around me. I haven’t stopped serving my fellowman and I don’t do it for a reward but because it is just what I do. But I do feel frustrated.
I hold the same hope his mother had, “sustain[ed] our family and me and [give] confidence that present circumstances [will] give way to future blessing.”
This is the hope that I have to live with every day. I have to have hope that eventually these trials will end and the blessings for going through them and making it to the end will come. I just wish (dare I say hope?) the end will come soon. I too, take to heart Pres. Uchtdorf’s words.
“And to all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your spirit. Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow and gladdens every heart.”
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament
My thoughts on Elder Oaks’ talk “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament”
Elder Oaks speaks with such economy of words. I hear his training as a lawyer come through the words as much as I hear the words of a prophet as well. What a great reminder of the reason for Sunday.
As I wrote a friend last night, “I hate Sundays. They are not a day of rest for me.” I think I often forget the reason for the Sabbath day and get caught up in all the other things that happen on Sunday. My focus needs to be put back on the sacrament. As our family is reading the New Testament along with the seminary kids we are daily reading the teachings of Jesus while he was on the earth and just this morning we read about the “Last Supper”—or as my kids like to call it “The First Sacrament”. I should have a better attitude toward the Sabbath and the sacrament than I do. Elder Oaks reminds us of why.
This was a great Family Home Evening lesson for our family last week. Here are some of the points we discussed as a family:
Enjoy it as a family. Since I have a lot of teens who would rather be anywhere other than with their family, it was nice to have Elder Oaks to back me up on the family part of the meeting.
Not to comment on other people’s behavior and understand that their level of understanding is not quite there and to lovingly and gently teach them about such things.
We shouldn’t be holding conversations and chit chat while the congregation is gathering. That business needs to be taken care of elsewhere. This is so hard when others don’t live this law. I know it is hard for one of my calling as I pass out papers when new VT assignments are given. The only place I can do it is at church and before sacrament meeting as I’m in primary for the rest of the meetings. (this is where my two callings collide.)
The importance of the meeting should be on the sacrament and all the other things should be focus on that. From talks, to music, to business. It should all reflect on our Savior and the gospel.
Dress—white shirts and conservative ties. Since we do that, we talked about how they should look—PRESSED! We also comments on how we should NEVER judge another by their dress on Sunday. We brought out the point that one year while we were vacationing we wore our blue jeans to church because we weren’t sure we would have access to an iron or electricity. The boys were white polo shirts, jeans and even tennis and Jessie and I wore simple skirts. Our attitude in the way we dress is more important than what we wear, but when we can (which is most all the time) we should be conservative in our dress and if it can’t pass the “would I shake the hand of the prophet wearing this” test then change.
And lastly with so many Priesthood holders and future Priesthood holders in our family it was important for us to go over their duties, the reason for their duties and the manner in which they perform their duties.
It was a great discussion and I hope it sank in.
Because My Father Read the Book of Mormon
My thoughts on Elder Aidukaitis’ talk “Because My Father Read the Book of Mormon”
First off, what a last name—I just barely got President Uchtdorft’s mane correctly spelled and now they throw another name at me. ~smile~. And better, what a family history! All those places, all those languages and what a blessing that was. Sometimes families take the long way in finding the gospel.
I don’t have anything so miraculous in my history, but we do have two stories on my mom’s side that stick out.
One great-great grandfather was a slave owner in Alabama. He joked that he could only own 99 of them because as soon as he got 100 one would run away. He was a fair and loving slave owner and never beat his slaves and treated them kindly. He needed them to run his huge plantations. He was also a drunk! He had four lovely southern belle daughters and a young adult son at the time he joined the church. His son was actually away from home on an errand when the missionaries found this family.
The story goes that one of the young missionaries was home sick and was nursing his heart in a tavern (remember back then that is was the only place in town to get food or drink). My grandfather Holladay was of course visiting the establishment when these three people met. This young missionary had left a wife at home—just married for days when he set off on his mission—and grandfather Holladay thought he could cheer him up by introducing him to his lovely girls at home. On the way to their plantation the missionaries did what missionaries were supposed to do and converted my drunk grandfather. After the missionaries met the family and had dinner with them they taught the rest of the family and planned the baptisms for the next day on their plantation.
The next day came and everyone of the family was baptized and a few of the house slaves were as well. As grandfather Holladay tells it, “That day I became the richest man in the world.” After he dried off he called his head slave and told him that he should round up all the slaves as he had an important announcement to tell them. He them gave each of them a slip of paper that freed them, every one of them. He didn’t sell them, he didn’t trade them, he freed them. A few more slaves were baptized after that as well. We have no record of these baptisms but the girls recorded them in their diaries.
He then sold his home and land at a great lost and went to Nauvoo to help build the temple. His son who was away when all this was happening went with the family to Nauvoo and as he was working on the temple realized that HE hadn’t been baptized and was baptized. We have contradictory records when it comes to recording this part of the history. He was either baptized or confirmed by one of the Smith brothers. The prophet Joseph and/or his brother Hyrum were both involved in his baptism but we don’t know how. We have authenticated records stating that Joseph baptized him and that Hyrum confirmed him, but we also have records that his father baptized him and that Joseph confirmed him. And then to complicate matters we have that they were just in attendance.
That son, John Daniel Holladay, Jr., was one of Brigham Young’s advanced party and spotted the Salt Lake Valley. Holladay, Utah is also named after the father.
I’m sure in there they read the Book of Mormon as their faith was extremely strong and the gospel rang true to them.
The other side of the family is just as wonderful. It was full of persecution and trial as it took them over a decade to get from Norway to Salt Lake one by one.
Of course there is more to each story but their faith and courage encourage me to continue on the path they have set for our family.
Elder Aidukaitis give us some great talking points for our children:
1. Read and ponder
How many of us forget the pondering part? But we all have to start somewhere. If we continue to read the words, thoughts, doctrines start to sink into our thoughts and then we are pondering. It is a magical and miraculous moment when that happens to you or a child.
2. Pray to receive a testimony
This is a natural step after the pondering process, but sometimes we think we already have testimony or are leaning on those who went before us and forget to get our own. We need to pray to find out if what we are reading is true—confirmation brings about more personal revelation.
3. Then pray with sincerity and real intent
meaning to act upon that testimony. OUCH! What do we do with the testimony we receive? Do we live our life with that conviction and determination to live the gospel? Can we be convicted in a court of being a believer and a follower of Christ?
It will all come from reading the Book of Mormon for ourselves and getting the testimony that MY family had when they first set the ball rolling for our family.
First off, what a last name—I just barely got President Uchtdorft’s mane correctly spelled and now they throw another name at me. ~smile~. And better, what a family history! All those places, all those languages and what a blessing that was. Sometimes families take the long way in finding the gospel.
I don’t have anything so miraculous in my history, but we do have two stories on my mom’s side that stick out.
One great-great grandfather was a slave owner in Alabama. He joked that he could only own 99 of them because as soon as he got 100 one would run away. He was a fair and loving slave owner and never beat his slaves and treated them kindly. He needed them to run his huge plantations. He was also a drunk! He had four lovely southern belle daughters and a young adult son at the time he joined the church. His son was actually away from home on an errand when the missionaries found this family.
The story goes that one of the young missionaries was home sick and was nursing his heart in a tavern (remember back then that is was the only place in town to get food or drink). My grandfather Holladay was of course visiting the establishment when these three people met. This young missionary had left a wife at home—just married for days when he set off on his mission—and grandfather Holladay thought he could cheer him up by introducing him to his lovely girls at home. On the way to their plantation the missionaries did what missionaries were supposed to do and converted my drunk grandfather. After the missionaries met the family and had dinner with them they taught the rest of the family and planned the baptisms for the next day on their plantation.
The next day came and everyone of the family was baptized and a few of the house slaves were as well. As grandfather Holladay tells it, “That day I became the richest man in the world.” After he dried off he called his head slave and told him that he should round up all the slaves as he had an important announcement to tell them. He them gave each of them a slip of paper that freed them, every one of them. He didn’t sell them, he didn’t trade them, he freed them. A few more slaves were baptized after that as well. We have no record of these baptisms but the girls recorded them in their diaries.
He then sold his home and land at a great lost and went to Nauvoo to help build the temple. His son who was away when all this was happening went with the family to Nauvoo and as he was working on the temple realized that HE hadn’t been baptized and was baptized. We have contradictory records when it comes to recording this part of the history. He was either baptized or confirmed by one of the Smith brothers. The prophet Joseph and/or his brother Hyrum were both involved in his baptism but we don’t know how. We have authenticated records stating that Joseph baptized him and that Hyrum confirmed him, but we also have records that his father baptized him and that Joseph confirmed him. And then to complicate matters we have that they were just in attendance.
That son, John Daniel Holladay, Jr., was one of Brigham Young’s advanced party and spotted the Salt Lake Valley. Holladay, Utah is also named after the father.
I’m sure in there they read the Book of Mormon as their faith was extremely strong and the gospel rang true to them.
The other side of the family is just as wonderful. It was full of persecution and trial as it took them over a decade to get from Norway to Salt Lake one by one.
Of course there is more to each story but their faith and courage encourage me to continue on the path they have set for our family.
Elder Aidukaitis give us some great talking points for our children:
1. Read and ponder
How many of us forget the pondering part? But we all have to start somewhere. If we continue to read the words, thoughts, doctrines start to sink into our thoughts and then we are pondering. It is a magical and miraculous moment when that happens to you or a child.
2. Pray to receive a testimony
This is a natural step after the pondering process, but sometimes we think we already have testimony or are leaning on those who went before us and forget to get our own. We need to pray to find out if what we are reading is true—confirmation brings about more personal revelation.
3. Then pray with sincerity and real intent
meaning to act upon that testimony. OUCH! What do we do with the testimony we receive? Do we live our life with that conviction and determination to live the gospel? Can we be convicted in a court of being a believer and a follower of Christ?
It will all come from reading the Book of Mormon for ourselves and getting the testimony that MY family had when they first set the ball rolling for our family.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
You Know Enough
My thoughts on Elder Andersen’s talk “You Know Enough”
I’m really struggling right now with self worth and self pity. I’m trying so very hard not to get “down in the dumps” with all that has been happening in our home. I wish I could list them, but that is for a different blog. Needless to say, I sometimes wonder if He hears me. As a child I’m tempted to yell, “Are you there? Don’t you see the mess I’m in down here? What is taking you so long?”
I sometimes wonder…
Thankfully I have this to rely on “…we each have moments of spiritual power, moments of inspiration and revelation. We must sink them deep into the chambers of our souls. As we do, we prepare our spiritual home storage for moments of personal difficulty.”
I’m living on that spiritual home storage. I just hope that whatever I have in the well doesn’t run out as I’m going through a lot of it right now. I hope that I’m like the wise virgins or the mother who kept going back to the jar of oil and found some. I have no idea when it will run out but I hope it is Heavenly Father’s math because right now our family needs blessings we probably haven’t even earned and rightfully don’t deserve.
Here’s to knowing enough to getting you through the difficult times.
I’m really struggling right now with self worth and self pity. I’m trying so very hard not to get “down in the dumps” with all that has been happening in our home. I wish I could list them, but that is for a different blog. Needless to say, I sometimes wonder if He hears me. As a child I’m tempted to yell, “Are you there? Don’t you see the mess I’m in down here? What is taking you so long?”
I sometimes wonder…
Thankfully I have this to rely on “…we each have moments of spiritual power, moments of inspiration and revelation. We must sink them deep into the chambers of our souls. As we do, we prepare our spiritual home storage for moments of personal difficulty.”
I’m living on that spiritual home storage. I just hope that whatever I have in the well doesn’t run out as I’m going through a lot of it right now. I hope that I’m like the wise virgins or the mother who kept going back to the jar of oil and found some. I have no idea when it will run out but I hope it is Heavenly Father’s math because right now our family needs blessings we probably haven’t even earned and rightfully don’t deserve.
Here’s to knowing enough to getting you through the difficult times.
Go Ye Therefore
My thoughts on Sister Allred’s talk “Go Ye Therefore”
I’m not very missionary minded—never have been and it will probably take a child on a mission to even get me to say anything to my friends. I think the biggest hang up is that most of my friends are members. I don’t work, do PTSA, visit a local coffee shop, etc and I hang out with people who share the same religion as I do. Yes, I coach soccer, but I coach the kids and seldom interact with the parents. I actually know them better as “Bob’s Mom” or “Molly’s Dad” than Mr. and Mrs. So when I hear talks like this I often tend to dismiss them and for the most part I dismissed this talk as well.
But something struck me. “Every day after school, we would race home to get to the book first.” Do I “race” to get to “the book”? Do I set aside time to drown in The Book of Mormon? And if I don’t what is stopping me? What am I doing instead of that?
I needed this reality check to get me back on track of “racing home” to read “the book”.
I’m not very missionary minded—never have been and it will probably take a child on a mission to even get me to say anything to my friends. I think the biggest hang up is that most of my friends are members. I don’t work, do PTSA, visit a local coffee shop, etc and I hang out with people who share the same religion as I do. Yes, I coach soccer, but I coach the kids and seldom interact with the parents. I actually know them better as “Bob’s Mom” or “Molly’s Dad” than Mr. and Mrs. So when I hear talks like this I often tend to dismiss them and for the most part I dismissed this talk as well.
But something struck me. “Every day after school, we would race home to get to the book first.” Do I “race” to get to “the book”? Do I set aside time to drown in The Book of Mormon? And if I don’t what is stopping me? What am I doing instead of that?
I needed this reality check to get me back on track of “racing home” to read “the book”.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Let Him Do It with Simplicity
My thoughts on Elder Perry's talk Let Him Do It with Simplicity
Four things. How simple and yet how complex.
Food! At our house food comes and goes like it was water. My kids are never satisfied unless I make something and then I hear choruses of "I’m not hungry." Feeding a family of six, most of which are teens, is hard work. I feel like I should give up most days as I'm never going to get ahead.
Clothing! We don't have the modesty fight at our house, thankfully. We have the pick them up off the floor fight! And the "that's MINE!" fight.
Shelter! Staying within your means is hard--especially when you are home educating your kids. I try so hard to stay within our budget but it so hard. Who doesn't get music lessons? Who doesn't get extra? Who gets short changed? BUT, we have been warned and those who didn't heed are in trouble. Thankfully we think we can weather this financial storm, but of course my children may not like the food they eat during that time. Oh, well, they are feed, shelter and clothed.
Fuel! With a teen driver boy has our gasoline bill shot up! Of course he is very good about where he drives, because he has to fill the tank up too. Thankfully the prices are falling finally but it will never be enough. But Elder Perry wasn't talking about fuel for the car or home, but for our souls.
Just as our cars need fuel to get from point A to point B our bodies need the proper fuel to get back to our Heavenly Father. Just like at the gas station, we must first pay for that fuel. But unlike the gas station the charge is our will. I think that is harder to give up than money, but we must give it as it is the only way to pay. "We must acquire knowledge of God’s eternal plan and our role in it, and then by living righteously, surrendering our will to the will of the Lord, we receive the promised blessings."
Four things. How simple and yet how complex.
Food! At our house food comes and goes like it was water. My kids are never satisfied unless I make something and then I hear choruses of "I’m not hungry." Feeding a family of six, most of which are teens, is hard work. I feel like I should give up most days as I'm never going to get ahead.
Clothing! We don't have the modesty fight at our house, thankfully. We have the pick them up off the floor fight! And the "that's MINE!" fight.
Shelter! Staying within your means is hard--especially when you are home educating your kids. I try so hard to stay within our budget but it so hard. Who doesn't get music lessons? Who doesn't get extra? Who gets short changed? BUT, we have been warned and those who didn't heed are in trouble. Thankfully we think we can weather this financial storm, but of course my children may not like the food they eat during that time. Oh, well, they are feed, shelter and clothed.
Fuel! With a teen driver boy has our gasoline bill shot up! Of course he is very good about where he drives, because he has to fill the tank up too. Thankfully the prices are falling finally but it will never be enough. But Elder Perry wasn't talking about fuel for the car or home, but for our souls.
Just as our cars need fuel to get from point A to point B our bodies need the proper fuel to get back to our Heavenly Father. Just like at the gas station, we must first pay for that fuel. But unlike the gas station the charge is our will. I think that is harder to give up than money, but we must give it as it is the only way to pay. "We must acquire knowledge of God’s eternal plan and our role in it, and then by living righteously, surrendering our will to the will of the Lord, we receive the promised blessings."
Welcome to the Conference
My thoughts on President Monson's talk Welcome to the Conference
This is a welcome address but yet it speaks of the gospel. He enlightens us on the miracles that have happened surrounding the Lord's temples and his faithful children. The miracle of holding off the rain for the people of Brazil is truly amazing. What quiet faith and love President Monson has for those people. The Lord hears and answers the prayers of few for the many.
I can't believe there is going to be a temple in Rome. The capital of the Catholic church is going to have a temple. To me that is almost as amazing as temples in Eastern Europe. Of course this didn't happen over night and it has taken decades for things like this to happen, but that they are happening is a miracle.
I can only hope that miracles continue in my life.
This is a welcome address but yet it speaks of the gospel. He enlightens us on the miracles that have happened surrounding the Lord's temples and his faithful children. The miracle of holding off the rain for the people of Brazil is truly amazing. What quiet faith and love President Monson has for those people. The Lord hears and answers the prayers of few for the many.
I can't believe there is going to be a temple in Rome. The capital of the Catholic church is going to have a temple. To me that is almost as amazing as temples in Eastern Europe. Of course this didn't happen over night and it has taken decades for things like this to happen, but that they are happening is a miracle.
I can only hope that miracles continue in my life.
Happiness, Your Heritage
My thoughts on President Uchtdorf's talk Happiness, Your Heritage
My husband cooks very similar to President Uchtdorf. Since we have only known President Uchtdorf for a few years I love to see the humor and humility when he starts a talk off like this. He seems almost human.
Weary! That's me. I feel like every morning I wake up, put on my fightin' clothes and go 18 rounds/hours and then hit the hay to rest up. The rest up is never enough time to let old wounds heal and muscles to stop shaking. I feel like I’m very weary, discouraged and very inadequate to deal with the problems that are facing my little family.
He hit the nail on the head for me:
I am not suggesting that we can simply flip a switch and stop the negative feelings that distress us. This isn’t a pep talk or an attempt to encourage those sinking in quicksand to imagine instead they are relaxing on a beach. I recognize that in all of our lives there are real concerns. I know there are hearts here today that harbor deep sorrows. Others wrestle with fears that trouble the soul. For some, loneliness is their secret trial.
But he gives us hope.
God's Happiness--"Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate."
Creating: So then why am I so tired and weary in this work? Why do my teenagers cause such anxiety in my breast? Why am I so nervous every time they leave the house? Why am I so wracked with grief that I screwed up? Why can't they treat their siblings and parents with kindness and love? WHY? WHY?
And the other things I create? The world doesn't value them and likewise neither does my family. My only hope is that like with my mother, when I'm gone they will see only the good creations of my hands and appreciate them. I love writing, but never had time. I love sewing but never have time (except right before the next pack meeting or court of honor). I love taking pictures, but they stay locked up in my computer. I would love to water color more, but I'm not good and it makes such a mess.
Compassionate: I think I have lost my compassionate bone. I don't even know where to go and find it. I just hope that I'm ready when called upon. I hope that my instrument is in tune when called upon.
My husband cooks very similar to President Uchtdorf. Since we have only known President Uchtdorf for a few years I love to see the humor and humility when he starts a talk off like this. He seems almost human.
Weary! That's me. I feel like every morning I wake up, put on my fightin' clothes and go 18 rounds/hours and then hit the hay to rest up. The rest up is never enough time to let old wounds heal and muscles to stop shaking. I feel like I’m very weary, discouraged and very inadequate to deal with the problems that are facing my little family.
He hit the nail on the head for me:
I am not suggesting that we can simply flip a switch and stop the negative feelings that distress us. This isn’t a pep talk or an attempt to encourage those sinking in quicksand to imagine instead they are relaxing on a beach. I recognize that in all of our lives there are real concerns. I know there are hearts here today that harbor deep sorrows. Others wrestle with fears that trouble the soul. For some, loneliness is their secret trial.
But he gives us hope.
God's Happiness--"Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate."
Creating: So then why am I so tired and weary in this work? Why do my teenagers cause such anxiety in my breast? Why am I so nervous every time they leave the house? Why am I so wracked with grief that I screwed up? Why can't they treat their siblings and parents with kindness and love? WHY? WHY?
And the other things I create? The world doesn't value them and likewise neither does my family. My only hope is that like with my mother, when I'm gone they will see only the good creations of my hands and appreciate them. I love writing, but never had time. I love sewing but never have time (except right before the next pack meeting or court of honor). I love taking pictures, but they stay locked up in my computer. I would love to water color more, but I'm not good and it makes such a mess.
Compassionate: I think I have lost my compassionate bone. I don't even know where to go and find it. I just hope that I'm ready when called upon. I hope that my instrument is in tune when called upon.
Now Let Us Rejoice
My thoughts on Sister Thompson's talk Now Let Us Rejoice
Sister Thompson said:
Let’s devote ourselves to Relief Society, as advised by President Boyd K. Packer: “Service in the Relief Society magnifies and sanctifies each individual sister. . . . When you devote yourself to the Relief Society and organize it and operate it and participate in it, you sustain the cause that will bless every woman who comes within its influence.”
How easily do we magnify and sanctify our calling as a visiting teacher?
I'm over Visiting Teaching in my ward and it is so hard to get my own visiting teaching done. Granted I have a hard list--I write to the very inactive sisters--the ones who don't want any contact with the church. It has been very hard because I have no relationship with these sisters. If I ran into them at the grocery store I wouldn't know them from Eve. But I faithfully do my calling.
Now, I'm not sure what to think about the teaching comments she made. I don't mean to sound puffed up, but I'm a dang good teacher--I do it every day, and yet, I'm behind the piano in primary. Likewise my husband is behind the computer doing scouting stuff. I sometimes think the Lord truly doesn't need nor want us in this ward. I know that sound conceited, but that's how I feel.
She said:
Sisters, now more than ever, we need women to step up and be strong. We need women who declare the truth with strength, faith, and boldness. We need women to set an example of righteousness. We need women to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause.” We need to live so that our lives bear witness that we love our Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ and that we will do what They have asked us to do. We need to rescue “all that is finest down deep inside of [us]” so that as daughters of God we can do our part to build the kingdom of God. We will have help to do this. As Joseph declared, “If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.”
I can't but once a month in fast and testimony meeting declare with boldness, neither my husband. Of course I do it daily with my family and hopefully my actions at all times, in all things and in all places say that, but I don't "declare" when behind a piano.
I truly feel like an ace player sitting on the bench, rested, waiting for my turn to play and the coach keeps passing me by. I guess I just need to be ready for when I'm called upon.
Sister Thompson said:
Let’s devote ourselves to Relief Society, as advised by President Boyd K. Packer: “Service in the Relief Society magnifies and sanctifies each individual sister. . . . When you devote yourself to the Relief Society and organize it and operate it and participate in it, you sustain the cause that will bless every woman who comes within its influence.”
How easily do we magnify and sanctify our calling as a visiting teacher?
I'm over Visiting Teaching in my ward and it is so hard to get my own visiting teaching done. Granted I have a hard list--I write to the very inactive sisters--the ones who don't want any contact with the church. It has been very hard because I have no relationship with these sisters. If I ran into them at the grocery store I wouldn't know them from Eve. But I faithfully do my calling.
Now, I'm not sure what to think about the teaching comments she made. I don't mean to sound puffed up, but I'm a dang good teacher--I do it every day, and yet, I'm behind the piano in primary. Likewise my husband is behind the computer doing scouting stuff. I sometimes think the Lord truly doesn't need nor want us in this ward. I know that sound conceited, but that's how I feel.
She said:
Sisters, now more than ever, we need women to step up and be strong. We need women who declare the truth with strength, faith, and boldness. We need women to set an example of righteousness. We need women to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause.” We need to live so that our lives bear witness that we love our Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ and that we will do what They have asked us to do. We need to rescue “all that is finest down deep inside of [us]” so that as daughters of God we can do our part to build the kingdom of God. We will have help to do this. As Joseph declared, “If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.”
I can't but once a month in fast and testimony meeting declare with boldness, neither my husband. Of course I do it daily with my family and hopefully my actions at all times, in all things and in all places say that, but I don't "declare" when behind a piano.
I truly feel like an ace player sitting on the bench, rested, waiting for my turn to play and the coach keeps passing me by. I guess I just need to be ready for when I'm called upon.
Holy Temples, Sacred Covenants
My thoughts on Sister Allred's talk Holy Temples, Sacred Covenants
As I read this talk I was filled with joy that we have always had a temple near by. When I was little, the Salt Lake Temple was only 12-14 hours away and my parents tried to get there once a year. Then in 1980 the Seattle Temple was built and dedicated. My parents tried to attend more often. Ten years later I moved here with my sweet husband and tried very hard to attend but having babies and raising a young family made it hit and miss for me--miss more times than hit.
Now that I'm in the throes of raising teens it has been even harder to make it to the temple. But I need the blessings of attending. I hate going by myself but my husband is so busy. I really need to make an effort this month to get there. Maybe I just need to sit down with the calendar and put it on and --wait for it--not let anything knock it off.
As I read this talk I was filled with joy that we have always had a temple near by. When I was little, the Salt Lake Temple was only 12-14 hours away and my parents tried to get there once a year. Then in 1980 the Seattle Temple was built and dedicated. My parents tried to attend more often. Ten years later I moved here with my sweet husband and tried very hard to attend but having babies and raising a young family made it hit and miss for me--miss more times than hit.
Now that I'm in the throes of raising teens it has been even harder to make it to the temple. But I need the blessings of attending. I hate going by myself but my husband is so busy. I really need to make an effort this month to get there. Maybe I just need to sit down with the calendar and put it on and --wait for it--not let anything knock it off.
Fulfilling the Purpose of Relief Society
My thoughts on Sister Beck's talk Fulfilling the Purpose of Relief Society.
I've felt kind of distant from Relief Society as well as from the other sisters in the ward because of my calling: primary pianist. It is hard to have that interaction that one gets from contact with others. I sit behind a piano for two hours every Sunday and have very little interaction with the sisters. But this isn't a pity party and I know the importance of Relief Society even to those who sit behind a piano every Sunday.
Sister Beck gives a little history lesson and that is good-we need it every now and then. Why was this organization put together? It is one of the oldest ones in the church's history (oldest if you don't count priesthood quorums). Our purpose "is to organize, teach and inspire His daughters to prepare them for the blessings of eternal life." What a cool purpose! I wish I remembered that every time I grumbled about going to a meeting.
How do you keep that purpose in your fore mind?
Our responsibilities:
Increase in faith and personal righteousness
What do you do to accomplish this?
I do a lot with my family, but what do I do personally? I do attend a weekly Women's Study Group, but I'm not always prepared for the discussion. My personal scripture study is very lacking-maybe 4 out of the 7 days. My prayers-well my goal is to NOT fall asleep while on my knees. Trying to get to the temple-even though it is only 18 miles away is even more difficult because I homeschool, have a job, serve on non-profits, coach soccer and have SIX KIDS! I'm thankful if I can get there once a quarter. I do tell myself at least I'm doing better now that I'm done being pregnant and nursing babies ~smile~.
Strengthen Families and homes
It seems as if EVERYONE is against this even those who live inside our own homes. At least that is how it is at my house. I feel like for everything that moves us forward there are 10 that pull us backwards. I often feel like giving up. Sometimes I have to settle for the "good" because the"better" and the "best" just won't happen. I'm just banking on intent of the programs we have in place not the execution. We have family scriptures and prayers and hold FHE and let the Home Teachers come, but there is so much missing. I just hope that is enough and that the Lord will look upon my desires and understand what I had to deal with in the execution of those desires.
What are you doing?
Serve the Lord and His children
Now there is a loaded responsibility for a mom, woman and wife. Isn't that what we do all day? There is a song from the movie "Robin Hood" that is sung by Bryan Adams called "Everything I do I do it for you." That is my song to my children. Going to the gym isn't for me-oh, no! I would rather sleep in that hour. I go because I want to play with them, have a healthy heart and eventually play with their children and stay away from the operating table! In fact I cook only because I have a responsibility to feed those children! I HATE COOKING!!! So why would I do it unless I had to. If it was just me, I could live on apples, carrot sticks, toast and milk and be just fine. (I'd throw in some chocolate and ice cream, but those are ready made at thes tore.) Outside my home I serve as well. I don't want to sound like a braggart so Iwill stop with just my family.
What do you do?
I've felt kind of distant from Relief Society as well as from the other sisters in the ward because of my calling: primary pianist. It is hard to have that interaction that one gets from contact with others. I sit behind a piano for two hours every Sunday and have very little interaction with the sisters. But this isn't a pity party and I know the importance of Relief Society even to those who sit behind a piano every Sunday.
Sister Beck gives a little history lesson and that is good-we need it every now and then. Why was this organization put together? It is one of the oldest ones in the church's history (oldest if you don't count priesthood quorums). Our purpose "is to organize, teach and inspire His daughters to prepare them for the blessings of eternal life." What a cool purpose! I wish I remembered that every time I grumbled about going to a meeting.
How do you keep that purpose in your fore mind?
Our responsibilities:
Increase in faith and personal righteousness
What do you do to accomplish this?
I do a lot with my family, but what do I do personally? I do attend a weekly Women's Study Group, but I'm not always prepared for the discussion. My personal scripture study is very lacking-maybe 4 out of the 7 days. My prayers-well my goal is to NOT fall asleep while on my knees. Trying to get to the temple-even though it is only 18 miles away is even more difficult because I homeschool, have a job, serve on non-profits, coach soccer and have SIX KIDS! I'm thankful if I can get there once a quarter. I do tell myself at least I'm doing better now that I'm done being pregnant and nursing babies ~smile~.
Strengthen Families and homes
It seems as if EVERYONE is against this even those who live inside our own homes. At least that is how it is at my house. I feel like for everything that moves us forward there are 10 that pull us backwards. I often feel like giving up. Sometimes I have to settle for the "good" because the"better" and the "best" just won't happen. I'm just banking on intent of the programs we have in place not the execution. We have family scriptures and prayers and hold FHE and let the Home Teachers come, but there is so much missing. I just hope that is enough and that the Lord will look upon my desires and understand what I had to deal with in the execution of those desires.
What are you doing?
Serve the Lord and His children
Now there is a loaded responsibility for a mom, woman and wife. Isn't that what we do all day? There is a song from the movie "Robin Hood" that is sung by Bryan Adams called "Everything I do I do it for you." That is my song to my children. Going to the gym isn't for me-oh, no! I would rather sleep in that hour. I go because I want to play with them, have a healthy heart and eventually play with their children and stay away from the operating table! In fact I cook only because I have a responsibility to feed those children! I HATE COOKING!!! So why would I do it unless I had to. If it was just me, I could live on apples, carrot sticks, toast and milk and be just fine. (I'd throw in some chocolate and ice cream, but those are ready made at thes tore.) Outside my home I serve as well. I don't want to sound like a braggart so Iwill stop with just my family.
What do you do?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Faith of Our Fathers
My thoughts on President Uchtdorf's talk "Faith of Our Fathers"
I’ve been thinking a lot about family as of late. I have just attended a family reunion and then my mother’s funeral and family has been forefront on my mind. What type of example was given to me by my family? What type of an example am I giving to my family? Do I take the easy way out?
As I read President Uchtdorf’s talk I think about my chances to go the extra mile, like President Monson did. Did I crumble under pressure or did I “go and do”?
As President Uchtdorf tells us how his wife’s family struggled to join I think about my struggles just to live up to that covenant and do I honor the faith of MY fathers. Do I think about their bloody feet as they walked across the plains? Do I think about the things they left behind for the gospel? Do I honor them? How do I honor their faith? Have I made their faith my faith? Do I do it because of them, me or because I love the Lord? What motivates me and make me “go and do”?
I’ve been thinking a lot about family as of late. I have just attended a family reunion and then my mother’s funeral and family has been forefront on my mind. What type of example was given to me by my family? What type of an example am I giving to my family? Do I take the easy way out?
As I read President Uchtdorf’s talk I think about my chances to go the extra mile, like President Monson did. Did I crumble under pressure or did I “go and do”?
As President Uchtdorf tells us how his wife’s family struggled to join I think about my struggles just to live up to that covenant and do I honor the faith of MY fathers. Do I think about their bloody feet as they walked across the plains? Do I think about the things they left behind for the gospel? Do I honor them? How do I honor their faith? Have I made their faith my faith? Do I do it because of them, me or because I love the Lord? What motivates me and make me “go and do”?
Faith and the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood
My thoughts on President Eyring's talk "Faith and the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood"
Elder Eyring is a powerful speaker!
“First, the very fact that you have been offered the oath and covenant is evidence that God has chosen you, knowing your power and capacity. He has known you since you were with Him in the spirit world. With His foreknowledge of your strength, he has allowed you to find the true Church of Jesus Christ and to be offered the priesthood. You can feel confidence because you have evidence of His confidence in you.”
I don’t hold the Priesthood, but I’ve often felt I was so lucky to be born into the church because I’m not sure I would have ever recognized the truth if I stumbled upon it. I want to believe I would have. A statement like the one above tells me that I truly was a beloved daughter in the spirit world. YEAH! It also means the same thing for my children.
“Second, as you will try to keep the covenants, the Savior has promised His personal help. He has said that as you go forward in honoring the priesthood: ‘There I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.’”
I personally have felt him go before me. There have been challenges in my life where I know *I* didn’t go through them alone. I would have buckled, succumbed to the pressure, but someone was there with me, surrounding me and helping me through it. I know I don’t have the Priesthood, but I have the power to call upon it through my temple covenants as well as living righteously.
“Priesthood service will prepare you for living in eternal families.” What a bold statement! As a mother I see that. Priesthood service is all about someone else—you can’t bless yourself—and being a part of an eternal family is all about the other people; not you. But even deeper, priesthood service is about love and that is all about family. When I see the priesthood in action—truly in action—it is because of LOVE, the pure love of Christ. We as Relief Society sisters think we have the market cornered on charity, but when men use the power of the priesthood it is because of love.
Just recently I have witnessed this in a way I hoped I would never. Friday, July 25th at 7:30 a.m. I got the call I never wanted to get: my mother had just had a massive heart attack. An hour later we were at the breakfast table when I had to tell my children. Before I finished my wonderful husband asked if I wanted a blessing of comfort. Of course! I wish I would have thought of that. I left town around 3 that afternoon and just as I was getting gas the brothers who were at her bedside got the siblings who weren’t there on the phone and I was able to listen to my brother anoint and bless my mother. Those words must have been the hardest they had ever spoken, but it was a beautiful prayer. Two days later I asked my brothers to anoint me for an upcoming surgery I had planned. The blessing was so wonderful. They then turned around and said another one on my mother. Words, beautiful words of comfort and releasing her to heaven were spoken. No miracles happened then, well no biblical type, but the peace only the gospel, the priesthood can give swept over the family. Those men would have loved to have said, “arrive and walk beloved mother,” but that wasn’t said. The words said in all those blessings were words of charity—pure words from our Heavenly Father to those mortal imperfect bodies here on earth and pure words of love to the spirits that inhabit those bodies.
Love is another word for pure priesthood.
Elder Eyring is a powerful speaker!
“First, the very fact that you have been offered the oath and covenant is evidence that God has chosen you, knowing your power and capacity. He has known you since you were with Him in the spirit world. With His foreknowledge of your strength, he has allowed you to find the true Church of Jesus Christ and to be offered the priesthood. You can feel confidence because you have evidence of His confidence in you.”
I don’t hold the Priesthood, but I’ve often felt I was so lucky to be born into the church because I’m not sure I would have ever recognized the truth if I stumbled upon it. I want to believe I would have. A statement like the one above tells me that I truly was a beloved daughter in the spirit world. YEAH! It also means the same thing for my children.
“Second, as you will try to keep the covenants, the Savior has promised His personal help. He has said that as you go forward in honoring the priesthood: ‘There I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.’”
I personally have felt him go before me. There have been challenges in my life where I know *I* didn’t go through them alone. I would have buckled, succumbed to the pressure, but someone was there with me, surrounding me and helping me through it. I know I don’t have the Priesthood, but I have the power to call upon it through my temple covenants as well as living righteously.
“Priesthood service will prepare you for living in eternal families.” What a bold statement! As a mother I see that. Priesthood service is all about someone else—you can’t bless yourself—and being a part of an eternal family is all about the other people; not you. But even deeper, priesthood service is about love and that is all about family. When I see the priesthood in action—truly in action—it is because of LOVE, the pure love of Christ. We as Relief Society sisters think we have the market cornered on charity, but when men use the power of the priesthood it is because of love.
Just recently I have witnessed this in a way I hoped I would never. Friday, July 25th at 7:30 a.m. I got the call I never wanted to get: my mother had just had a massive heart attack. An hour later we were at the breakfast table when I had to tell my children. Before I finished my wonderful husband asked if I wanted a blessing of comfort. Of course! I wish I would have thought of that. I left town around 3 that afternoon and just as I was getting gas the brothers who were at her bedside got the siblings who weren’t there on the phone and I was able to listen to my brother anoint and bless my mother. Those words must have been the hardest they had ever spoken, but it was a beautiful prayer. Two days later I asked my brothers to anoint me for an upcoming surgery I had planned. The blessing was so wonderful. They then turned around and said another one on my mother. Words, beautiful words of comfort and releasing her to heaven were spoken. No miracles happened then, well no biblical type, but the peace only the gospel, the priesthood can give swept over the family. Those men would have loved to have said, “arrive and walk beloved mother,” but that wasn’t said. The words said in all those blessings were words of charity—pure words from our Heavenly Father to those mortal imperfect bodies here on earth and pure words of love to the spirits that inhabit those bodies.
Love is another word for pure priesthood.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Examples of Righteousness
My thoughts on President Monson's talk "Examples of Righteousness"
"My young friends, be strong. The philosophies of men surround us. The face of sin often wears the mask of tolerance. do not be deceived; behind the facade is heartache, unhappiness and pain."
Never were more true words spoken.
“My brethren, I reiterate that, as holders of the priesthood of God, it is our duty to live our lives in such a way that we may be examples of righteousness for others to follow.”
What kind of an example am I?
"My young friends, be strong. The philosophies of men surround us. The face of sin often wears the mask of tolerance. do not be deceived; behind the facade is heartache, unhappiness and pain."
Never were more true words spoken.
“My brethren, I reiterate that, as holders of the priesthood of God, it is our duty to live our lives in such a way that we may be examples of righteousness for others to follow.”
What kind of an example am I?
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
A 12-Year-Old Deacon
My thoughts on Elder Madsen's talk "A 12-Year-Old Deacon"
I LOVED THIS TALK! Maybe it is because I have a 12 year old deacon (that is until tomorrow) and then I have to wait 13 months for my next 12 year old deacon.
Elder Madsen asks a great question, “What do you see” and then “What can you see?”
“I trust and pray that we can all see their divine potential; that we can see them going forth as bearers of the holy priesthood and as missionaries preaching ‘the everlasting gospel’ by the Spirit ‘to the nations of the earth’, that we can see them as faithful husbands and fathers and as valiant servants in the leaders of the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days.”
This has ALWAYS been my goal, desire, wish, hope, whatever you want to call it. This is my purpose as a mother—to do whatever is right and necessary to see that the above statement comes true for each one of my boys (and my girl—only she will be a “holder” of the priesthood ~smile~). Everything I do is to bring about this end. My goal as a homeschooler is to prepare my sons to be bread winners, helpmeets, great citizens, honorable priesthood holders, faithful husbands, great dads and just plain neat guys. Like wise I’m raising my daughter to be one of those herselves and to find someone who is just like them. It is my daily prayer! But it is dang hard!
I LOVED THIS TALK! Maybe it is because I have a 12 year old deacon (that is until tomorrow) and then I have to wait 13 months for my next 12 year old deacon.
Elder Madsen asks a great question, “What do you see” and then “What can you see?”
“I trust and pray that we can all see their divine potential; that we can see them going forth as bearers of the holy priesthood and as missionaries preaching ‘the everlasting gospel’ by the Spirit ‘to the nations of the earth’, that we can see them as faithful husbands and fathers and as valiant servants in the leaders of the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days.”
This has ALWAYS been my goal, desire, wish, hope, whatever you want to call it. This is my purpose as a mother—to do whatever is right and necessary to see that the above statement comes true for each one of my boys (and my girl—only she will be a “holder” of the priesthood ~smile~). Everything I do is to bring about this end. My goal as a homeschooler is to prepare my sons to be bread winners, helpmeets, great citizens, honorable priesthood holders, faithful husbands, great dads and just plain neat guys. Like wise I’m raising my daughter to be one of those herselves and to find someone who is just like them. It is my daily prayer! But it is dang hard!
Do You Know Who You Are?
My thoughts on Brother Burgress' talk "Do You Know Who You Are?"
“Remember you’re a child of God.” Was always the last thing I would here when I left the house. My mom never let me forget I was an Ostler and a Child of God. I really should try to do that with my boys and girl.
Brother Burgess tells us three things we need to ask ourselves—DAILY!
“First do you know that you are a son of God?”
“You are important to a loving Father in Heaven! Young men, pray always! Your prayers both morning and night will help you come to know that you are a son of God.”
I truly do not know how else you can find out that our Father in Heaven is “loving” and that you are truly his child unless you are praying. My mom can’t drill it into me, my husband can’t, my children can’t, the sacrament meeting speaker, the teacher, the prophet. Only through the Holy Spirit while praying do we come to know this. Even if the prayer is only a silent desire to know.
But how do we as parents “drill” it into our children?
“Second, do you know who you are in God’s plan?”
“As part of Heavenly Father’s plan, you are sent to an earthly home and to a family. The coventants you make in God’s plan, as an individual and as part of a family, will bind you forever in your family and in the family of God for all eternity. Honor and respect those names you bear. Live the standards and the commandments of God. Allow other to know who you are by the way you live the standards, as found in the For the Strength of Youth booklet. Study, ponder, and live these divine standards. They are for you!”
We had a bishop you would show the adults the SOY (Strength of Youth) booklet and have his thumb coving the “th” and say, “This is For the Strength of YOU!” it truly is a guide for every member of the church. Why would it be any different for us as adults than for the youth of the church? We have to live the same standards.
When we talk about raising the bar, I remind my children that in truth the bar wasn’t raise, Satan just dug the dirt out from under it. When I was a youth, even when my mom was a youth, if you committed a sin, you still had to repent. Smoking, drinking, pornography, sexual sins, etc will all still sins. You did them, you saw the bishop to clear things up. Today, you do them, you see the bishop. Now the methods of delivery and the amount of it around us has only increased. The same sins are still around. Knowing God’s plan and that you belong to the plan help us make the decision not to go down that path.
“Third, do you know who you are as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?”
The blessings of baptism are great—just listen to them said every Sunday during the sacrament prayers! WOW! “always have his spirit to be with us” Can’t get any better than that.
“I testify that knowing who you are and keeping your promises and covenants with the Lord will bring you happiness in your life.”
Now if only we believe it completely, especially during the times of trials.
“Remember you’re a child of God.” Was always the last thing I would here when I left the house. My mom never let me forget I was an Ostler and a Child of God. I really should try to do that with my boys and girl.
Brother Burgess tells us three things we need to ask ourselves—DAILY!
“First do you know that you are a son of God?”
“You are important to a loving Father in Heaven! Young men, pray always! Your prayers both morning and night will help you come to know that you are a son of God.”
I truly do not know how else you can find out that our Father in Heaven is “loving” and that you are truly his child unless you are praying. My mom can’t drill it into me, my husband can’t, my children can’t, the sacrament meeting speaker, the teacher, the prophet. Only through the Holy Spirit while praying do we come to know this. Even if the prayer is only a silent desire to know.
But how do we as parents “drill” it into our children?
“Second, do you know who you are in God’s plan?”
“As part of Heavenly Father’s plan, you are sent to an earthly home and to a family. The coventants you make in God’s plan, as an individual and as part of a family, will bind you forever in your family and in the family of God for all eternity. Honor and respect those names you bear. Live the standards and the commandments of God. Allow other to know who you are by the way you live the standards, as found in the For the Strength of Youth booklet. Study, ponder, and live these divine standards. They are for you!”
We had a bishop you would show the adults the SOY (Strength of Youth) booklet and have his thumb coving the “th” and say, “This is For the Strength of YOU!” it truly is a guide for every member of the church. Why would it be any different for us as adults than for the youth of the church? We have to live the same standards.
When we talk about raising the bar, I remind my children that in truth the bar wasn’t raise, Satan just dug the dirt out from under it. When I was a youth, even when my mom was a youth, if you committed a sin, you still had to repent. Smoking, drinking, pornography, sexual sins, etc will all still sins. You did them, you saw the bishop to clear things up. Today, you do them, you see the bishop. Now the methods of delivery and the amount of it around us has only increased. The same sins are still around. Knowing God’s plan and that you belong to the plan help us make the decision not to go down that path.
“Third, do you know who you are as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?”
The blessings of baptism are great—just listen to them said every Sunday during the sacrament prayers! WOW! “always have his spirit to be with us” Can’t get any better than that.
“I testify that knowing who you are and keeping your promises and covenants with the Lord will bring you happiness in your life.”
Now if only we believe it completely, especially during the times of trials.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
A Matter of a Few Degrees
My thoughts on President Uchtdorf's talk "A Matter of a Few Degrees"
How absolutely horrible to that such a tragedy could have been prevented by just a few degrees or correction. How horrible to think that many of our friends and neighbors could be saved by just a little correction in their lives.
There are many examples in the scriptures of those who needed only a small correction in a moment of weakness; King Saul as Pres. Uchtdorf points out, but I wonder how many great ones we don’t know about. I think of Alma who did get a course correction.
“Small errors and minor drifts away from the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring sorrowful consequences into our lives. It is therefore of critical importance that we become self-disciplined enough to make early and decisive corrections to get back on the right track and not wait or hope that errors will somehow correct themselves.”
I know this was given during the Priesthood session, but I know he is speaking to me personally and more importantly as the mother of five Priesthood holders. As their mother it is so important for me as their guide to make sure they have set their course on the correct path. To make sure that they are watchful for the signs of course deviation and make those correction necessary to bring them back in line with the proper path. That the Iron Rod isn’t just word play, but a book that means something to them. And of course, I also need to look in the mirror. Does my charted course and actually course match up?
But what happens when they do get off a bit. Many scriptures tell us what we need to do, even the fourth Article of Faith tells us what we need to do. Repent!
How absolutely horrible to that such a tragedy could have been prevented by just a few degrees or correction. How horrible to think that many of our friends and neighbors could be saved by just a little correction in their lives.
There are many examples in the scriptures of those who needed only a small correction in a moment of weakness; King Saul as Pres. Uchtdorf points out, but I wonder how many great ones we don’t know about. I think of Alma who did get a course correction.
“Small errors and minor drifts away from the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring sorrowful consequences into our lives. It is therefore of critical importance that we become self-disciplined enough to make early and decisive corrections to get back on the right track and not wait or hope that errors will somehow correct themselves.”
I know this was given during the Priesthood session, but I know he is speaking to me personally and more importantly as the mother of five Priesthood holders. As their mother it is so important for me as their guide to make sure they have set their course on the correct path. To make sure that they are watchful for the signs of course deviation and make those correction necessary to bring them back in line with the proper path. That the Iron Rod isn’t just word play, but a book that means something to them. And of course, I also need to look in the mirror. Does my charted course and actually course match up?
But what happens when they do get off a bit. Many scriptures tell us what we need to do, even the fourth Article of Faith tells us what we need to do. Repent!
And Who is My Neighbor?"
My thoughts on Bishop Burton's talk "And Who is My Neighbor?"
I love the way we, the church, without ceremony, without media, go about doing good. I know there isn’t much “doctrine” in this talk, but there is much love and warmth. I was part of the “helping hands” that helped those in the NW with the floods that hit us last December. I didn’t do much. I just tied a quilt. I truly didn’t do much as others spent days, weeks and even months trying to help those people. I didn’t do much. I just spent 10 hours hemming quilts for new baby kits for a scouts eagle project. It was only 10 hours—only 40 blankets. I didn’t do much when my son asked me to help him with his eagle project: making wood block kits for the church to give to under privilege kids. I just helped a young man reach out. We all don’t do much, but together we do a lot and we do make a difference.
We may not help in the big things--earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes—but we do help when we hold a child’s hand, comfort a sister in need, take a dinner over or just listen. We truly are serving our God when we serve his people.
I love the way we, the church, without ceremony, without media, go about doing good. I know there isn’t much “doctrine” in this talk, but there is much love and warmth. I was part of the “helping hands” that helped those in the NW with the floods that hit us last December. I didn’t do much. I just tied a quilt. I truly didn’t do much as others spent days, weeks and even months trying to help those people. I didn’t do much. I just spent 10 hours hemming quilts for new baby kits for a scouts eagle project. It was only 10 hours—only 40 blankets. I didn’t do much when my son asked me to help him with his eagle project: making wood block kits for the church to give to under privilege kids. I just helped a young man reach out. We all don’t do much, but together we do a lot and we do make a difference.
We may not help in the big things--earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes—but we do help when we hold a child’s hand, comfort a sister in need, take a dinner over or just listen. We truly are serving our God when we serve his people.
Give Heed Unto the Prophets' Words
My thoughts on Elder Cook's talk "Give Heed Unto the Prophets' Words"
As I was reading this I was thinking, “This isn’t ringing a bell. I don’t remember any mention of crisis and fire.” Then in the second paragraph, I realize he is speaking at the Priesthood session. Sometimes it take a bit of time for my lights to come on all the way.
“…it is also valiant today to follow the counsel of our prophet.”
I love D&C 1:38 “What I the Lord have spoke, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; …whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” I use this as my guiding stick. Sometimes they are hard to do and other times they are easy.
“Prophets are inspired to provide us with prophetic priorities to protect us from danger.” Elder Cook gives examples of how the prophets have spoken of dangers way before the world knew. Who knew about the ill effects of coffee, tobacco, drugs etc in the 1800’s? Who knew the family would be under attack like never before?
I want to share something with you. I don’t recall when I heard this, but I want to say it was from President Benson’s lips. I have searched and can’t find the direct quote. If you know the quote, day, time, setting, please, please email me! But I know it was after 1989 because I was married and it was devastating for me to do what the prophet asked. I do know that in the “True to the Faith” book it says on page 27 “Latter-day prophets strongly discourage the piercing of the body except for medical purpose. If girls or women desire to have their ears pierced, they are encouraged to wear only one pair of modest earrings.”
Ok, this rocked my world. How could something so little and insignificant rock the world ofa grown woman? Well it did! When I was 14 I got my ears pierced. I love it since my earlobes are detached. Earrings looked great. When I was 16 my mom took me down to get a second piercing in my right ear. She must have saved a ton of money because she bought me a real pearl earring. She told me that I was to wait for the “right” man who would treat me as a “pearl” of great price. And when that day would come I was then to go get my left ear pierced and have my husband put in a diamond earring signifying that I had “left” my father’s home for a man who was worthy to put a “diamond” on my finger. I wore a pearl and diamond in a mismatched set until I heard the words of the prophet ask me to remove them. My heart broke. I pleaded with Him to let me keep them. This was different. They weren’t gaudy pieces of jewelry. They meant the world to me. My mother had to pay a LOT of money for those pearl earrings and I know my husband didn’t have the money to fulfill my mother’s wishes, but somehow we managed. Now I had to take them out. I went to bed that night with those same earring in my ears and with a very heavy heart. But that was the last night I slept with four earrings. The next morning with tears running down my face I removed them because the prophet asked me to.
I thought the holes would fill in and never be seen again. I was wrong. To this day I could easily slip a pair of earring in them and often times when I’m putting my set in blindly I will then look in the mirror to see one earring higher than the other. They have not filled in or healed. I still have four holes in my head and a mismatched set of earrings in my jewelry box.
As I was reading this I was thinking, “This isn’t ringing a bell. I don’t remember any mention of crisis and fire.” Then in the second paragraph, I realize he is speaking at the Priesthood session. Sometimes it take a bit of time for my lights to come on all the way.
“…it is also valiant today to follow the counsel of our prophet.”
I love D&C 1:38 “What I the Lord have spoke, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; …whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” I use this as my guiding stick. Sometimes they are hard to do and other times they are easy.
“Prophets are inspired to provide us with prophetic priorities to protect us from danger.” Elder Cook gives examples of how the prophets have spoken of dangers way before the world knew. Who knew about the ill effects of coffee, tobacco, drugs etc in the 1800’s? Who knew the family would be under attack like never before?
I want to share something with you. I don’t recall when I heard this, but I want to say it was from President Benson’s lips. I have searched and can’t find the direct quote. If you know the quote, day, time, setting, please, please email me! But I know it was after 1989 because I was married and it was devastating for me to do what the prophet asked. I do know that in the “True to the Faith” book it says on page 27 “Latter-day prophets strongly discourage the piercing of the body except for medical purpose. If girls or women desire to have their ears pierced, they are encouraged to wear only one pair of modest earrings.”
Ok, this rocked my world. How could something so little and insignificant rock the world ofa grown woman? Well it did! When I was 14 I got my ears pierced. I love it since my earlobes are detached. Earrings looked great. When I was 16 my mom took me down to get a second piercing in my right ear. She must have saved a ton of money because she bought me a real pearl earring. She told me that I was to wait for the “right” man who would treat me as a “pearl” of great price. And when that day would come I was then to go get my left ear pierced and have my husband put in a diamond earring signifying that I had “left” my father’s home for a man who was worthy to put a “diamond” on my finger. I wore a pearl and diamond in a mismatched set until I heard the words of the prophet ask me to remove them. My heart broke. I pleaded with Him to let me keep them. This was different. They weren’t gaudy pieces of jewelry. They meant the world to me. My mother had to pay a LOT of money for those pearl earrings and I know my husband didn’t have the money to fulfill my mother’s wishes, but somehow we managed. Now I had to take them out. I went to bed that night with those same earring in my ears and with a very heavy heart. But that was the last night I slept with four earrings. The next morning with tears running down my face I removed them because the prophet asked me to.
I thought the holes would fill in and never be seen again. I was wrong. To this day I could easily slip a pair of earring in them and often times when I’m putting my set in blindly I will then look in the mirror to see one earring higher than the other. They have not filled in or healed. I still have four holes in my head and a mismatched set of earrings in my jewelry box.
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Gospel of Jesus Christ"
My thoughts on Elder Perry's talk "The Gospel of Jesus Christ"
Elder Perry speaks to my heart. I collect cookbooks because of the pictures. When my mom was sane she use to give me a cookbook for my birthday every year. They were always themed. My favorite was the chocolate one. I gained 10 pounds just going through the cake section. But these aren’t just any ordinary cookbook, no they have a picture on every page! I love those cookbooks—never use them, but occasionally I crack them out to drool over the pictures. I don’t know how to cook or bake so I just drool. Elder Perry’s statement I can testify is truthful. “..there are pictures of the prefect dishes that recipes make—the fullness of the joy of cooking.” That is what those cookbooks are for me. My problem is that I know the agony of defeat in the kitchen all too well to know not to even start the process. But that could change. I could go to cooking or baking school. I could hire a private tutor. I could watch lots of cooking shows (which I do). And here is the one that gets me all the time: practice. I could do a lot of things to increase my chances of success.
I believe that is the same for the gospel. We know how it will end. Nephi has shown us that. We could be standing by the tree cheering on our loved ones who are walking the straight and narrow while holding to the rod of iron and/or weeping for those we love who are letting go or worse who are in the great and spacious building. Now how we get to that picture is through classes (church), hire a private tutor (home/visiting teachers & bishop), watch lots of cooking shows (conference and other church videos—and articles) and then practice (just live the gospel). I think I too can achieve this as well.
“It is important to begin with the end in mind, but the end represented by pictures in cookbooks is an end that is only possible if everything is done right.” That is usually my problem in cooking. I substitute and find out I don’t have something and then it doesn’t end up like the picture. “If directions are not followed or an ingredient is left out or miscalculated, the desired taste and appearance are seldom attained.” Oh, that’s my problem ~smile~. “The picture of a perfect dish, however, can serve as motivation to try again to create something that ids both delicious and beautiful.” I love how he didn’t say nutritious—because I love my chocolate cookbook.
Seriously though, he speaks wisdom. I make pancakes almost every morning and have the recipe memorized now. I can make them perfectly when not distracted. When I kid starts speaking to me I’m not sure how many eggs I cracked or how many teaspoons of baking powder I’ve put in. Worse yet, is I forget to flip them and one side is not the shade of brown I’m striving for. When I follow those instructions—memorized or not—I get the perfect back of buttermilk pancakes every time. The same goes for our life. When we follow the direction—memorized or not—we get the prefect life, or at least the life that leads us to perfection.
But unlike my pancakes, there is more to The Gospel of Jesus Christ than just buttermilk, eggs, flour and a few other things. The Gospel starts out with faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost but there is that last ingredient—enduring to the end that is so hard and difficult. And just like my pancakes which I make every morning, we too must start over constantly, weekly, even daily with faith, repentance, sacrament, Holy Ghost and that enduring to make that perfect being.
A few quote that I love:
“…we must humble ourselves before Him—off our sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and accept His will.” I’ve heard it said that since EVERYTHING is his the only thing we can give him is our will and yet it is the hardest to give.
“Baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost are the prescribed ways to enter the strait and narrow path to eternal life.” Kind of like trying to cheat on your diet. You know exactly how to lose weight, but you cheat and the weight doesn’t come off. There is only one way to the path—no cheating is allowed.
Enduring—oh how I hate that word. Reminds me of the end of my pregnancies. “First, it requires the Savior’s redemptive power.” WOW! ”second, enduring to the end requires the Holy Ghost.” Good thing we get it just before we have to start enduring. “Third…serving and receiving service from our brothers and sisters in the gospel.” I got the serving, but receiving? Now that’s hard. But be careful the Lord has a way of humbling you into receiving. “Fourth, we must share the gospel with others.” As moms we do it daily with our children, extending that is hard. It is tough seeing someone trample on things you hold in the center of your heart. Hopefully being an example will qualify. “finally… are praying, fasting and reading the scriptures.” I want to add, with a sincere heart.
I’m sure I can create the prefect dish if I follow the recipe. I have all the ingredients and I even have many helpers, but it is up to ME to put then in my life and create it.
Elder Perry speaks to my heart. I collect cookbooks because of the pictures. When my mom was sane she use to give me a cookbook for my birthday every year. They were always themed. My favorite was the chocolate one. I gained 10 pounds just going through the cake section. But these aren’t just any ordinary cookbook, no they have a picture on every page! I love those cookbooks—never use them, but occasionally I crack them out to drool over the pictures. I don’t know how to cook or bake so I just drool. Elder Perry’s statement I can testify is truthful. “..there are pictures of the prefect dishes that recipes make—the fullness of the joy of cooking.” That is what those cookbooks are for me. My problem is that I know the agony of defeat in the kitchen all too well to know not to even start the process. But that could change. I could go to cooking or baking school. I could hire a private tutor. I could watch lots of cooking shows (which I do). And here is the one that gets me all the time: practice. I could do a lot of things to increase my chances of success.
I believe that is the same for the gospel. We know how it will end. Nephi has shown us that. We could be standing by the tree cheering on our loved ones who are walking the straight and narrow while holding to the rod of iron and/or weeping for those we love who are letting go or worse who are in the great and spacious building. Now how we get to that picture is through classes (church), hire a private tutor (home/visiting teachers & bishop), watch lots of cooking shows (conference and other church videos—and articles) and then practice (just live the gospel). I think I too can achieve this as well.
“It is important to begin with the end in mind, but the end represented by pictures in cookbooks is an end that is only possible if everything is done right.” That is usually my problem in cooking. I substitute and find out I don’t have something and then it doesn’t end up like the picture. “If directions are not followed or an ingredient is left out or miscalculated, the desired taste and appearance are seldom attained.” Oh, that’s my problem ~smile~. “The picture of a perfect dish, however, can serve as motivation to try again to create something that ids both delicious and beautiful.” I love how he didn’t say nutritious—because I love my chocolate cookbook.
Seriously though, he speaks wisdom. I make pancakes almost every morning and have the recipe memorized now. I can make them perfectly when not distracted. When I kid starts speaking to me I’m not sure how many eggs I cracked or how many teaspoons of baking powder I’ve put in. Worse yet, is I forget to flip them and one side is not the shade of brown I’m striving for. When I follow those instructions—memorized or not—I get the perfect back of buttermilk pancakes every time. The same goes for our life. When we follow the direction—memorized or not—we get the prefect life, or at least the life that leads us to perfection.
But unlike my pancakes, there is more to The Gospel of Jesus Christ than just buttermilk, eggs, flour and a few other things. The Gospel starts out with faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost but there is that last ingredient—enduring to the end that is so hard and difficult. And just like my pancakes which I make every morning, we too must start over constantly, weekly, even daily with faith, repentance, sacrament, Holy Ghost and that enduring to make that perfect being.
A few quote that I love:
“…we must humble ourselves before Him—off our sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and accept His will.” I’ve heard it said that since EVERYTHING is his the only thing we can give him is our will and yet it is the hardest to give.
“Baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost are the prescribed ways to enter the strait and narrow path to eternal life.” Kind of like trying to cheat on your diet. You know exactly how to lose weight, but you cheat and the weight doesn’t come off. There is only one way to the path—no cheating is allowed.
Enduring—oh how I hate that word. Reminds me of the end of my pregnancies. “First, it requires the Savior’s redemptive power.” WOW! ”second, enduring to the end requires the Holy Ghost.” Good thing we get it just before we have to start enduring. “Third…serving and receiving service from our brothers and sisters in the gospel.” I got the serving, but receiving? Now that’s hard. But be careful the Lord has a way of humbling you into receiving. “Fourth, we must share the gospel with others.” As moms we do it daily with our children, extending that is hard. It is tough seeing someone trample on things you hold in the center of your heart. Hopefully being an example will qualify. “finally… are praying, fasting and reading the scriptures.” I want to add, with a sincere heart.
I’m sure I can create the prefect dish if I follow the recipe. I have all the ingredients and I even have many helpers, but it is up to ME to put then in my life and create it.
To Heal teh Shattering Consequences of Abuse
My thoughts on Elder Scott's talk "To Heal the Shattering Consequences of Abuse"
I don’t even know how to begin dissecting this talk. I’ve never been abused, nor do I abuse (at least I think so), nor do I honestly know someone who has suffered from abuse. But I think this talk was timely. There are many open wounds out there that need to be healed by the love of the Savior. Many people out there who need to hear this talk, read this talk and take actions to repent, to heal and to forgive.
I love his opening paragraph—the one that really starts his talk, “Some matters are so sensitive and intensely personal and can awaken such disturbing feelings that they are seldom mentioned publicly. Yet, if tenderly and compassionately treated in the light of truth…” I hear the love and concern he had in his voice even when I read his words. It reminds me of the time the Savior told the disciples not to send the children away or when here in the Americas he blesses the children.
In his words to the abused he said this “Satan uses your abuse to undermine your self-confidence, destroy trust in authority, create fear, and generate feelings of despair. Abuse can damage your ability to form healthy human relationships. You must have faith that all of these negative consequences can be resolved; otherwise they will keep you from full recovery. While these outcomes have powerful influence in your life, they do not define the real you.”
I have thought about this paragraph since I first read it a while ago. The things Satan uses to get us NEVER define us. Even though I was never abused, he has used much to destroy my self-confidence and self-worth. He tells me I’m fat. Yes, I’m overweight, but that is a health problem not a look problem. He tells me I’m stupid for being a stay at home mom. He tells me I’m mixed up because my family is my first priority and I don’t have ME as number 1. He has great influence in my life and has told me what I really am—but I’m not listening and I don’t believe him and therefore his influence is weak, very weak. I just have to remember that the one who defines me, love me and died for me.
I do have an abuser in my life, but I’m not sure if ___ knew or knows how much ___ influenced my life. While I was growing up this person seldom gave me the time of day and yet ____ should have been the biggest part of my day. I married who I married because of this person and for that one thing I’m thankful. I do not need to seek a bishops counsel in this matter, I just need to forgive and move on. Not an easy task when the pain is very deep. An acquaintance of mine had the same problem as I did and she has learned to forgive. She tells me it is very freeing and I should do it. I’m working on it every day. No I will never confront this person because I don’t think this person even knows it, but I do and I do my best to not let ____’s actions, words and emotions make me a victim or influence me in anyway. Yes, I learned a lot from that person; mostly how not to treat people, but the education was painful—still is.
I don’t even know how to begin dissecting this talk. I’ve never been abused, nor do I abuse (at least I think so), nor do I honestly know someone who has suffered from abuse. But I think this talk was timely. There are many open wounds out there that need to be healed by the love of the Savior. Many people out there who need to hear this talk, read this talk and take actions to repent, to heal and to forgive.
I love his opening paragraph—the one that really starts his talk, “Some matters are so sensitive and intensely personal and can awaken such disturbing feelings that they are seldom mentioned publicly. Yet, if tenderly and compassionately treated in the light of truth…” I hear the love and concern he had in his voice even when I read his words. It reminds me of the time the Savior told the disciples not to send the children away or when here in the Americas he blesses the children.
In his words to the abused he said this “Satan uses your abuse to undermine your self-confidence, destroy trust in authority, create fear, and generate feelings of despair. Abuse can damage your ability to form healthy human relationships. You must have faith that all of these negative consequences can be resolved; otherwise they will keep you from full recovery. While these outcomes have powerful influence in your life, they do not define the real you.”
I have thought about this paragraph since I first read it a while ago. The things Satan uses to get us NEVER define us. Even though I was never abused, he has used much to destroy my self-confidence and self-worth. He tells me I’m fat. Yes, I’m overweight, but that is a health problem not a look problem. He tells me I’m stupid for being a stay at home mom. He tells me I’m mixed up because my family is my first priority and I don’t have ME as number 1. He has great influence in my life and has told me what I really am—but I’m not listening and I don’t believe him and therefore his influence is weak, very weak. I just have to remember that the one who defines me, love me and died for me.
I do have an abuser in my life, but I’m not sure if ___ knew or knows how much ___ influenced my life. While I was growing up this person seldom gave me the time of day and yet ____ should have been the biggest part of my day. I married who I married because of this person and for that one thing I’m thankful. I do not need to seek a bishops counsel in this matter, I just need to forgive and move on. Not an easy task when the pain is very deep. An acquaintance of mine had the same problem as I did and she has learned to forgive. She tells me it is very freeing and I should do it. I’m working on it every day. No I will never confront this person because I don’t think this person even knows it, but I do and I do my best to not let ____’s actions, words and emotions make me a victim or influence me in anyway. Yes, I learned a lot from that person; mostly how not to treat people, but the education was painful—still is.
Three Presiding High Priests
My thoughts on Elder Walker’s talk “Three Presiding High Priests”
I didn’t highlight much of this talk, but it did make me think about how I run my life, my marriage and my family. Not long ago we had to institute a formal family council every afternoon after church to go over the week. Since we homeschool our children there wasn’t much that needed to be openly discussed. We communicated all day long and for the most part everyone knew what each other was doing. But then we had our oldest turn 16 and get a driver’s license and a job outside of the home. And then he decided to do something weird: have friends! Needless to say, I love the time where we get to go over the calendar and make sure everyone is taken care of with rides to and from, last minutes details taken care of (well most of the time) and a chance to catch up on what is happening in the life of our family, I also hate it! I’m no longer in control. I hate losing control—just hate it! I guess that is why I like being in charge. I guess that is why I like coaching—I’m in charge! No longer—I have others that have opinions, desires and wishes. Many times we butt heads. I need to remember Elder Walker’s council when he describes President Joseph F. Smith and his councilors working out a problem. “When a case came before [the President of the Church] to judge, he and his counselors would talk it over and give it their careful consideration until they came to the same conclusion.” Then Elder Walker adds “That should be our pattern in presidencies.” I will change the last word to say “families.”
When we as the head of the family and families get together we should pray and pray until we all come to the same conclusion. I think the best thing we can hear as partners is “Yes, I got that same answer.” And even more spectacular is when a child comes up to you after pondering on a big decision and says, “mom, you were right I think I better….”
There is much we can learn from the way the church is organized. There needs to be three: you, him and Him. And they need to be in every decision.
I didn’t highlight much of this talk, but it did make me think about how I run my life, my marriage and my family. Not long ago we had to institute a formal family council every afternoon after church to go over the week. Since we homeschool our children there wasn’t much that needed to be openly discussed. We communicated all day long and for the most part everyone knew what each other was doing. But then we had our oldest turn 16 and get a driver’s license and a job outside of the home. And then he decided to do something weird: have friends! Needless to say, I love the time where we get to go over the calendar and make sure everyone is taken care of with rides to and from, last minutes details taken care of (well most of the time) and a chance to catch up on what is happening in the life of our family, I also hate it! I’m no longer in control. I hate losing control—just hate it! I guess that is why I like being in charge. I guess that is why I like coaching—I’m in charge! No longer—I have others that have opinions, desires and wishes. Many times we butt heads. I need to remember Elder Walker’s council when he describes President Joseph F. Smith and his councilors working out a problem. “When a case came before [the President of the Church] to judge, he and his counselors would talk it over and give it their careful consideration until they came to the same conclusion.” Then Elder Walker adds “That should be our pattern in presidencies.” I will change the last word to say “families.”
When we as the head of the family and families get together we should pray and pray until we all come to the same conclusion. I think the best thing we can hear as partners is “Yes, I got that same answer.” And even more spectacular is when a child comes up to you after pondering on a big decision and says, “mom, you were right I think I better….”
There is much we can learn from the way the church is organized. There needs to be three: you, him and Him. And they need to be in every decision.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Service, A Divine Quality
My thoughts on Elder Amado's talk "Service, A Diving Quality"
Elder Amado spoke about something that is so close to my heart. In fact we make this a part of our schooling. Every Friday we serve at a local food bank for a couple of hours (until the job is done). It has been hard, but the rewards are great!
Three purposes of the Lord’s life: His atoning sacrifice, His doctrine, and His service. One of my favorites parts of the scriptures is when the Savior takes the children and blesses them, not because he has to but because he wants to serve them and bless them. Why do I could dinner? Yes, I have to—well sort of, they can make a mean PB&J—but because it is my way of saying “I love you” to my family.
Elder Amado has quite a bit of stuff on the blessings of service. “those who serve…” Interesting list. But I like the two paragraphs before the list. “Service makes us strong in our faith an useful in His kingdom.” We all need to feel needed and useful and we do buy doing our Visiting Teaching, home teaching and other callings. It is a blessing to just be useful and extra cool that we can strengthen our faith by being useful and needed.
“Kindness, love, patience, understanding and unity will increase as we serve, while intolerance, jealousy, envy, greed and selfishness decreases or disappear.” I TRULY NEED THIS BLESSING RIGHT NOW!!!! I need those things to decrease, so I guess I need to increase the others (so this will be short since it is almost dinner time).
I have two scriptures that are my mantra “I will go and do…” and “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” I live my life according to those two scriptures.
Of course the best thing about the church is “by their fruits ye shall know them.” I have NEVER seen an organization who can have people on the ground in record time when disasters happen and truly MAKE A DIFFERENCE without thought to politics, religion, race, gender, etc. As I watch other organization duke it out for who was first, I know the church went in, accessed, moved forward, moved out and left a HUGE impact. I had a friend’s husband who is a truck driver and he was in Texas when Katrina hit and as he was leaving the area because of the approaching storm he noticed that at the truck stops around Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma, generic looking trucks that were from Salt Lake City. They were ready for the hurricane to hit and then move in. They held back just enough to be safe but when the storm was done, they were able to come in and be there. Another friend’s husband flies for a Fed Ex or is it UPS (not sure which) but he was called in to make flights into the area carrying LDS Humanitarian aid within 24 hours of the hurricanes arrival. By their fruits ye shall know them.
Elder Amado spoke about something that is so close to my heart. In fact we make this a part of our schooling. Every Friday we serve at a local food bank for a couple of hours (until the job is done). It has been hard, but the rewards are great!
Three purposes of the Lord’s life: His atoning sacrifice, His doctrine, and His service. One of my favorites parts of the scriptures is when the Savior takes the children and blesses them, not because he has to but because he wants to serve them and bless them. Why do I could dinner? Yes, I have to—well sort of, they can make a mean PB&J—but because it is my way of saying “I love you” to my family.
Elder Amado has quite a bit of stuff on the blessings of service. “those who serve…” Interesting list. But I like the two paragraphs before the list. “Service makes us strong in our faith an useful in His kingdom.” We all need to feel needed and useful and we do buy doing our Visiting Teaching, home teaching and other callings. It is a blessing to just be useful and extra cool that we can strengthen our faith by being useful and needed.
“Kindness, love, patience, understanding and unity will increase as we serve, while intolerance, jealousy, envy, greed and selfishness decreases or disappear.” I TRULY NEED THIS BLESSING RIGHT NOW!!!! I need those things to decrease, so I guess I need to increase the others (so this will be short since it is almost dinner time).
I have two scriptures that are my mantra “I will go and do…” and “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” I live my life according to those two scriptures.
Of course the best thing about the church is “by their fruits ye shall know them.” I have NEVER seen an organization who can have people on the ground in record time when disasters happen and truly MAKE A DIFFERENCE without thought to politics, religion, race, gender, etc. As I watch other organization duke it out for who was first, I know the church went in, accessed, moved forward, moved out and left a HUGE impact. I had a friend’s husband who is a truck driver and he was in Texas when Katrina hit and as he was leaving the area because of the approaching storm he noticed that at the truck stops around Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma, generic looking trucks that were from Salt Lake City. They were ready for the hurricane to hit and then move in. They held back just enough to be safe but when the storm was done, they were able to come in and be there. Another friend’s husband flies for a Fed Ex or is it UPS (not sure which) but he was called in to make flights into the area carrying LDS Humanitarian aid within 24 hours of the hurricanes arrival. By their fruits ye shall know them.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Opening Our Hearts
My thoughts on Elder Lund's talk "Opening Our Hearts"
I testify that you “feel” the Holy Ghost more than you “hear” him. Although on occasions I have heard him.
“The heart is a tender place. “
“It can be softened by love”
Elder Lund then talks about the fences we build around them. As someone who has studied a lot of defenses fences (notice the word fence in defenses—yes spelled a bit different), it pains me to see people put up stone walls 10 feet high around their heart. Because of abuse, life happenings, pains, or rebellion and sin they become higher and thicker, harder for the love to find them, but try we must.
“We must, of our own free will, open our hearts to the Spirit, for He will not force Himself upon us.”
I think we have to remember this when dealing with our children as well—especially our teens. You can lead a horse to water…
But where is my heart? What kind of fence or wall does it have surrounding it? “Purity of heart is certainly one of the most important qualifications for receiving inspiration from God.” (What am I going to be working on this month, year, decade, life-time?) I can either have this blessing “O, all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love.”
OR
“The Lord noted there natural consequences of having one’s heart set on the things of the world: First, we seek to hid our sins instead of repenting of them. Next, we seek to gratify our pride and vain ambitions rather than seeking the things of God. Finally, we begin to exercise unrighteous dominion over others.”
Gut check time! Where is my heart? Where are my thoughts, my actions, my words? And how do I teach this to my children without pointing fingers (even the three pointing back at me)?
“Pride quickly desensitizes our hearts to spiritual promptings.” We see this in almost every civilization on earth that fell or is falling. What about our country, our state, our county, our city, our school, our home, our family, ourselves? Are we desensitized? Are we so proud that we can not receive the promptings and comforting of the Spirit?
“I say again, the condition of our hearts directly affects our sensitivity to spiritual things.” “We choose what we let in or hold out.”
And as the scripture says, “As for me and my house, we will choose the Lord.” I just pray that my children are doing the same thing. That their fence is short, approachable, with a welcome sign on it and that they eagerly allow the Spirit in.
I testify that you “feel” the Holy Ghost more than you “hear” him. Although on occasions I have heard him.
“The heart is a tender place. “
“It can be softened by love”
Elder Lund then talks about the fences we build around them. As someone who has studied a lot of defenses fences (notice the word fence in defenses—yes spelled a bit different), it pains me to see people put up stone walls 10 feet high around their heart. Because of abuse, life happenings, pains, or rebellion and sin they become higher and thicker, harder for the love to find them, but try we must.
“We must, of our own free will, open our hearts to the Spirit, for He will not force Himself upon us.”
I think we have to remember this when dealing with our children as well—especially our teens. You can lead a horse to water…
But where is my heart? What kind of fence or wall does it have surrounding it? “Purity of heart is certainly one of the most important qualifications for receiving inspiration from God.” (What am I going to be working on this month, year, decade, life-time?) I can either have this blessing “O, all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love.”
OR
“The Lord noted there natural consequences of having one’s heart set on the things of the world: First, we seek to hid our sins instead of repenting of them. Next, we seek to gratify our pride and vain ambitions rather than seeking the things of God. Finally, we begin to exercise unrighteous dominion over others.”
Gut check time! Where is my heart? Where are my thoughts, my actions, my words? And how do I teach this to my children without pointing fingers (even the three pointing back at me)?
“Pride quickly desensitizes our hearts to spiritual promptings.” We see this in almost every civilization on earth that fell or is falling. What about our country, our state, our county, our city, our school, our home, our family, ourselves? Are we desensitized? Are we so proud that we can not receive the promptings and comforting of the Spirit?
“I say again, the condition of our hearts directly affects our sensitivity to spiritual things.” “We choose what we let in or hold out.”
And as the scripture says, “As for me and my house, we will choose the Lord.” I just pray that my children are doing the same thing. That their fence is short, approachable, with a welcome sign on it and that they eagerly allow the Spirit in.
Gaining a Testimony
My thoughts on Elder Hales "Gaining a Testimony of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Chris; and the Holy Ghost."
A testimony of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost. Why do you think it needs to be a testimony of these three beings? Is this different than having a testimony of the Gospel? Or Baptism? Or Tithing? I believe it is.
I have a friend whose husband pays on honest tithe because he has a testimony of it, but is not a baptized member of our church. He sees the blessing that come to his family through his obedience. But he doesn’t have a testimony of the Father, The Son or the Holy Ghost—at least not yet.
I truly didn’t mark but one line from the whole talk because I just agreed with everything Elder Hale said. So what I’m going to say has NOTHING to do with the talk but about my testimony of the God Head.
When I was a young girl and trying desperately to find direction for my life, I was praying like nothing else to feel the Savior’s love and to become a changed person. (not sure I changed all that much ~smile~) I was on an overnight water skiing activity with my Laurel class. We spent the night under the stars at some state park. For some reason when I choose my spot I didn’t realize that when the sun came up it would hit me straight in the face. Everyone else must have placed their heads better than I for at 4:30 AM (we are up way north) the sun woke me up. Of course there wasn’t much for me to do. We air was a bit chilly so I just snuggled into my bag and watched the sun rise. Eventually the sunrays hit a spider web. This as a unique spider web as it was like a ladder between two trees which must have been about 10 feet apart. The dew and the sunlight made this invisible ladder some to life. As my eyes traced up the ladder I noticed that it led to heaven. It was then that my heart burned and I knew Heavenly Father truly loved me as much as anyone else. Not that the spider web was special, but that my heart and mind were open at that moment to feel the love.
Of course I crawled as best as I could onto my knees and spent some time in prayer and then opened my scriptures (the only books we were allowed to bring) and the testimony that had begun to burn that morning was etched into my mind and heart.
When the scriptures say that they can not write the words they heard, I know what it is like. I didn’t hear words, but the feelings I had don’t have an English (or any spoken language) word for them. There is NOTHING to describe the way I felt. I knew then as I do today that the Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost are three different beings each with a similar but different task.
Another time, about 10 years ago, I was asked to speak on Father’s Day, but my topic was our Heavenly Father. You can search all you want, but the scriptures talk very, very little about our Heavenly Father. Our latter-day prophets have spoken more about him than any ancient prophet has. But the one thing I did learn is that if you want to know the Father, know the Son. As you study the Son, his mission, his life and his teachings you will come to know the Father. After all he is about his father’s business.”
A testimony of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost. Why do you think it needs to be a testimony of these three beings? Is this different than having a testimony of the Gospel? Or Baptism? Or Tithing? I believe it is.
I have a friend whose husband pays on honest tithe because he has a testimony of it, but is not a baptized member of our church. He sees the blessing that come to his family through his obedience. But he doesn’t have a testimony of the Father, The Son or the Holy Ghost—at least not yet.
I truly didn’t mark but one line from the whole talk because I just agreed with everything Elder Hale said. So what I’m going to say has NOTHING to do with the talk but about my testimony of the God Head.
When I was a young girl and trying desperately to find direction for my life, I was praying like nothing else to feel the Savior’s love and to become a changed person. (not sure I changed all that much ~smile~) I was on an overnight water skiing activity with my Laurel class. We spent the night under the stars at some state park. For some reason when I choose my spot I didn’t realize that when the sun came up it would hit me straight in the face. Everyone else must have placed their heads better than I for at 4:30 AM (we are up way north) the sun woke me up. Of course there wasn’t much for me to do. We air was a bit chilly so I just snuggled into my bag and watched the sun rise. Eventually the sunrays hit a spider web. This as a unique spider web as it was like a ladder between two trees which must have been about 10 feet apart. The dew and the sunlight made this invisible ladder some to life. As my eyes traced up the ladder I noticed that it led to heaven. It was then that my heart burned and I knew Heavenly Father truly loved me as much as anyone else. Not that the spider web was special, but that my heart and mind were open at that moment to feel the love.
Of course I crawled as best as I could onto my knees and spent some time in prayer and then opened my scriptures (the only books we were allowed to bring) and the testimony that had begun to burn that morning was etched into my mind and heart.
When the scriptures say that they can not write the words they heard, I know what it is like. I didn’t hear words, but the feelings I had don’t have an English (or any spoken language) word for them. There is NOTHING to describe the way I felt. I knew then as I do today that the Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost are three different beings each with a similar but different task.
Another time, about 10 years ago, I was asked to speak on Father’s Day, but my topic was our Heavenly Father. You can search all you want, but the scriptures talk very, very little about our Heavenly Father. Our latter-day prophets have spoken more about him than any ancient prophet has. But the one thing I did learn is that if you want to know the Father, know the Son. As you study the Son, his mission, his life and his teachings you will come to know the Father. After all he is about his father’s business.”
Monday, June 16, 2008
Testimony
My thoughts on Elder Oaks talk "Testimony"
Elder Oaks hold nothing back when he says, “A Testimony is not a travelogue, a health log, or an expression of love for family members. It is not a sermon. President Kimball taught that the moment we begin preaching to other, our testimony is ended.”
How many of us sit through fast and testimony meeting without hear a testimony. I know there are times we want to share our experiences of travel, or an event, but unless there is a testifying of why we know the gospel to be true, or who the Holy Ghost has worked in our lives, we realy shouldn’t stand up. I don’t begrudge anyone their time at the microphone, but I truly only want to hear testimony. If I want to know about their travels, stories or their sermon I will ask.
Knowledge: “…three different kinds of knowledge, each learned in a different way.” Scientific proof. As homeschooler we should understand this knowledge as we try to teach it every day. Personal and subjective can’t be proven scientifically but it is “still important.” Then there is spiritual knowledge. This truly can’t be explained, it has to be felt deep inside. Science can’t explain it and will not yield it.
I have a friend who loves to find facts that the Book of Mormon is true and can’t be a made up story from the mind of Joseph Smith. One day he taught a class on the first 13 chapters of Nephi. In the class he was going to attempt to prove that what Lehi and his family did was totally possible and even show us the route. But before he began he told us that what he was going to show us should NOT be the basis for our testimony and if it is, we should leave and come back when we knew the Book of Mormon was true because science and physical evidence does NOT make a testimony as evident in many of the witnesses to the Gold Plates. He had a long pause before he began his class. I’ve thought about that as I get travel brochures for Central America to tour the Book of Mormon ruins, etc. Those will only enhance my testimony but they are NOT the foundation of my testimony. My testimony of the Gospel comes through the Holy Spirit; one of the Godhead. It is only then that these extra stuff can help cement my testimony in the gospel.
I can liken this to have of the gospel because the Bishop is a good man or you like the youth program. What happens when the bishop is released or something goes wrong at YM/YW? Feelings get hurt and then we leave and have to come back ask Elder Bednar talked about in a conference address.
Elder Oaks then tells us how to get it. This shouldn’t be a secret to those who read the scriptures because it is all over. Nephi tells us how to get it just before he has the same vision as his father. Joseph Smith tells us in his history. The first thing you need is DESIRE! You can add fasting to your prayers to help in declaring your desire and to prepare the soul to receive the personal revelation the Lord has waiting for you. “As we desire and seek, we should remember that acquiring a testimony is not a passive thing but a process in which we are expected to do something.” DARN! I have to work? I wanted it free! Nothing worthwhile is free—especially a testimony of the Gospel.
Elder Oaks also tells us that we can strengthen our testimony by bearing it. “Someone even suggested that some testimonies are better gained on the feet bearing them than on the knees praying for them.”
But my favorite part of this is the scripture Elder Oaks quotes: “To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, … To others it is given to believe on their words,” I ask you where are you? Are you a bearer or a believer? We need to remember this with our children as well. They might not be a bearer but a believer and if that is the case who are they listening to? As Elder Oaks said, “Our children should also hear us bear our testimonies frequently.”
The last bit of this talk is about the relationship between obedience and knowledge. “…knowledge encourages obedience and obedience enhances knowledge.” DARN more work! “Obedience is not blind when we act upon knowledge suited for the subject of our action.”
I’m not blind!
Elder Oaks hold nothing back when he says, “A Testimony is not a travelogue, a health log, or an expression of love for family members. It is not a sermon. President Kimball taught that the moment we begin preaching to other, our testimony is ended.”
How many of us sit through fast and testimony meeting without hear a testimony. I know there are times we want to share our experiences of travel, or an event, but unless there is a testifying of why we know the gospel to be true, or who the Holy Ghost has worked in our lives, we realy shouldn’t stand up. I don’t begrudge anyone their time at the microphone, but I truly only want to hear testimony. If I want to know about their travels, stories or their sermon I will ask.
Knowledge: “…three different kinds of knowledge, each learned in a different way.” Scientific proof. As homeschooler we should understand this knowledge as we try to teach it every day. Personal and subjective can’t be proven scientifically but it is “still important.” Then there is spiritual knowledge. This truly can’t be explained, it has to be felt deep inside. Science can’t explain it and will not yield it.
I have a friend who loves to find facts that the Book of Mormon is true and can’t be a made up story from the mind of Joseph Smith. One day he taught a class on the first 13 chapters of Nephi. In the class he was going to attempt to prove that what Lehi and his family did was totally possible and even show us the route. But before he began he told us that what he was going to show us should NOT be the basis for our testimony and if it is, we should leave and come back when we knew the Book of Mormon was true because science and physical evidence does NOT make a testimony as evident in many of the witnesses to the Gold Plates. He had a long pause before he began his class. I’ve thought about that as I get travel brochures for Central America to tour the Book of Mormon ruins, etc. Those will only enhance my testimony but they are NOT the foundation of my testimony. My testimony of the Gospel comes through the Holy Spirit; one of the Godhead. It is only then that these extra stuff can help cement my testimony in the gospel.
I can liken this to have of the gospel because the Bishop is a good man or you like the youth program. What happens when the bishop is released or something goes wrong at YM/YW? Feelings get hurt and then we leave and have to come back ask Elder Bednar talked about in a conference address.
Elder Oaks then tells us how to get it. This shouldn’t be a secret to those who read the scriptures because it is all over. Nephi tells us how to get it just before he has the same vision as his father. Joseph Smith tells us in his history. The first thing you need is DESIRE! You can add fasting to your prayers to help in declaring your desire and to prepare the soul to receive the personal revelation the Lord has waiting for you. “As we desire and seek, we should remember that acquiring a testimony is not a passive thing but a process in which we are expected to do something.” DARN! I have to work? I wanted it free! Nothing worthwhile is free—especially a testimony of the Gospel.
Elder Oaks also tells us that we can strengthen our testimony by bearing it. “Someone even suggested that some testimonies are better gained on the feet bearing them than on the knees praying for them.”
But my favorite part of this is the scripture Elder Oaks quotes: “To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, … To others it is given to believe on their words,” I ask you where are you? Are you a bearer or a believer? We need to remember this with our children as well. They might not be a bearer but a believer and if that is the case who are they listening to? As Elder Oaks said, “Our children should also hear us bear our testimonies frequently.”
The last bit of this talk is about the relationship between obedience and knowledge. “…knowledge encourages obedience and obedience enhances knowledge.” DARN more work! “Obedience is not blind when we act upon knowledge suited for the subject of our action.”
I’m not blind!
The True and Living Church
My thoughts on President Eyring "The True and Living Church"
“Now our obligation is to remain worthy of the faith necessary for us to fulfill our promise to sustain those how have been called.”
I had never thought of my faith being part of my promise to sustain the Prophet and other general authorities or even local leaders. WOW what an earth shattering thought for me.
“For us to sustain those who have been called today, we must examine our lives, repent as necessary, pledge to keep the Lord’s commandment and follow His servants. The Lord warns us that if we do not do those things, the Holy Ghost will be withdrawn, we will lose the light which we have received, and we will not be able to keep the pledge we have made today to sustain the Lord’s servants in His true Church.”
My thoughts go back to early in the Church’s history; those who didn’t keep the commandments, fell away and their support and faith of the chosen leaders was deeply felt. I wonder what my little bitty pieces of faith does to the chosen leaders today.
Elder Eyring asks us to evaluate ourselves (oh, don’t we just love to look at the huge old beam in our own eye!). “First, we need to measure the depth of our gratitude for membership in the true Church of Jesus Christ. Second, we need to know by the power of the Holy Ghost in what ways we can do better in keeping the commandments.”
This last sentence is the one I’m praying for daily. I’m not feeling the Spirit too often in my home so I know there is something missing and so I’m praying to find out what it is that I’m not doing so I can do it better. I pray for help each day trying to figure out why the Spirit of Contention is rampant in our home and how to get him out. I’m sure most of it is lain at my feet, so I pray harder each day to fix one more thing. (Ok, I pray for the whole week or even the month to fix that one thing before I move on to the next.) and then he adds this: “Our lives will be transformed for the better as we exercise faith unto repentance, always remember the Savior, and try ever harder to keep His commandments.” I’m hoping for the transformation—I NEED IT!
I love service. To me that is the ultimate in expressing love. When President Eyring said, “Every member will have opportunities to sustain through service given in the name of God, “ my heart jumped. That is how I can best show my love for the Prophet and other leaders. That is how I can express love to my Relief Society President by doing my visiting teaching. This to me is the best example of our church—by their fruits they will know them.
“Now our obligation is to remain worthy of the faith necessary for us to fulfill our promise to sustain those how have been called.”
I had never thought of my faith being part of my promise to sustain the Prophet and other general authorities or even local leaders. WOW what an earth shattering thought for me.
“For us to sustain those who have been called today, we must examine our lives, repent as necessary, pledge to keep the Lord’s commandment and follow His servants. The Lord warns us that if we do not do those things, the Holy Ghost will be withdrawn, we will lose the light which we have received, and we will not be able to keep the pledge we have made today to sustain the Lord’s servants in His true Church.”
My thoughts go back to early in the Church’s history; those who didn’t keep the commandments, fell away and their support and faith of the chosen leaders was deeply felt. I wonder what my little bitty pieces of faith does to the chosen leaders today.
Elder Eyring asks us to evaluate ourselves (oh, don’t we just love to look at the huge old beam in our own eye!). “First, we need to measure the depth of our gratitude for membership in the true Church of Jesus Christ. Second, we need to know by the power of the Holy Ghost in what ways we can do better in keeping the commandments.”
This last sentence is the one I’m praying for daily. I’m not feeling the Spirit too often in my home so I know there is something missing and so I’m praying to find out what it is that I’m not doing so I can do it better. I pray for help each day trying to figure out why the Spirit of Contention is rampant in our home and how to get him out. I’m sure most of it is lain at my feet, so I pray harder each day to fix one more thing. (Ok, I pray for the whole week or even the month to fix that one thing before I move on to the next.) and then he adds this: “Our lives will be transformed for the better as we exercise faith unto repentance, always remember the Savior, and try ever harder to keep His commandments.” I’m hoping for the transformation—I NEED IT!
I love service. To me that is the ultimate in expressing love. When President Eyring said, “Every member will have opportunities to sustain through service given in the name of God, “ my heart jumped. That is how I can best show my love for the Prophet and other leaders. That is how I can express love to my Relief Society President by doing my visiting teaching. This to me is the best example of our church—by their fruits they will know them.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Concern for the One
My thoughts on Elder Wirthlin’s talk “Concern for the One”
“Some are lost….” This was a different talk for me. I’m not sure what it was, but there was something different about it as it was one that spoke to the heart without words just feelings and I can’t put those feeling into words. I know that makes sense to someone out there.
Elder Writhlin points out that Jesus was always concerned about the one. He spoke to multitudes and blessed multitudes but his concer was always for the one. The lost sheep, the prodigal son, the leaper, the blind, the dead, the little child and on and one. I think the greatest example if in the Book of Mormon when Christ visit the Americas. “And he took their children and blessed them one by one.” If ever there was a time and place I would want to go back in time to this would be the place. When I was a child I desperately wanted to go back then and now that I’m an adult I would still love to go back to that day if only to observe how he treated the children.
Some are lost because they are different. I know what “different” Elder Writhlin is talking about, but I too am different. I’m a stay at home mom who homeschools her children. In my ward the stay at home isn’t too different, but the homeschool is. Because of that the sisters who are my peers and I don’t share too much in common. It is hard to strike up conversations with them. In fact when people bring up the socialization issue with homeschooling, I think they have the wrong humans in mind. It isn’t the children who are sheltered, it is us moms!
Some are lost because they are weary. I think this is me. I’m so very weary. I feel very overwhelmed right now. There are days that my plate is so full that I’m scared to even sit down to look at it. I’ve been known to just call it a veg day and “give up.” I know it is wrong to do that, but there are some days I can’t face that long to-do list. Nothing will get marked off, but the projects and obligations on it are just too much. I truly need to lessen my plate, but when I go to the Lord and ask what to remove, he never lets me remove the hard stuff and reminds me of all the time wasters that I put on that plate making it harder to do the important ones. Thankfully I don’t feel very lost—just sometimes forgotten.
Some are lost because they have strayed. “Except for the Lord, we have all made mistakes. The question is not whether we will trip and fall but, rather, how will we respond?” I hope I’m never in this category. I hope that my testimony is always strong enough to withstand the onslaught of Satan telling me I’m not worthy because I’m not perfect. “To those who have strayed because of doctrinal concerns, we cannot apologize for the truth. We cannot deny doctrine given to us by the lord Himself. On this principle we cannot compromise.” I think we need to internalize this so that when we make mistakes we understand that the standard of conduct and testimony are set and they are not moving. The kids and I just had a discussion about the standards of the church. One of my kids said that I had it easier in my day because the standards were so low. I told them that the commandments have not changed! They are truly the same. The bar may seem higher but only because the world has dug the dirt out from under it and sunk to new levels. We couldn’t commit sexual sins when I was a kid. We couldn’t murder. We couldn’t lie, steal, or cheat. We paid 10% tithing. We paid a generous fast offering. We had to read our scriptures (family and personal), hold family home evening, attend our meetings, say our prayers (family and personal), attend seminary, be good citizens, etc. etc. The only place the bar was raised was in qualifying for a mission. The same bar is there for a temple recommend. The Lord’s doctrine hasn’t changed, see Article of Faith #4 and then 3 Nephi 22:32-35 “And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; … And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; … for he will bisit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.” Hebrew 6:1-2 “Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, … Of the doctrine of baptism, and of laying on of hands, …” and I could go on (do your own search). Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end is what will save us and the Church will never apologize for this doctrine for it truly is the doctrine of Christ.
I know that the Lord is always concerned for the one and I have to remember that I am that ONE!
“Some are lost….” This was a different talk for me. I’m not sure what it was, but there was something different about it as it was one that spoke to the heart without words just feelings and I can’t put those feeling into words. I know that makes sense to someone out there.
Elder Writhlin points out that Jesus was always concerned about the one. He spoke to multitudes and blessed multitudes but his concer was always for the one. The lost sheep, the prodigal son, the leaper, the blind, the dead, the little child and on and one. I think the greatest example if in the Book of Mormon when Christ visit the Americas. “And he took their children and blessed them one by one.” If ever there was a time and place I would want to go back in time to this would be the place. When I was a child I desperately wanted to go back then and now that I’m an adult I would still love to go back to that day if only to observe how he treated the children.
Some are lost because they are different. I know what “different” Elder Writhlin is talking about, but I too am different. I’m a stay at home mom who homeschools her children. In my ward the stay at home isn’t too different, but the homeschool is. Because of that the sisters who are my peers and I don’t share too much in common. It is hard to strike up conversations with them. In fact when people bring up the socialization issue with homeschooling, I think they have the wrong humans in mind. It isn’t the children who are sheltered, it is us moms!
Some are lost because they are weary. I think this is me. I’m so very weary. I feel very overwhelmed right now. There are days that my plate is so full that I’m scared to even sit down to look at it. I’ve been known to just call it a veg day and “give up.” I know it is wrong to do that, but there are some days I can’t face that long to-do list. Nothing will get marked off, but the projects and obligations on it are just too much. I truly need to lessen my plate, but when I go to the Lord and ask what to remove, he never lets me remove the hard stuff and reminds me of all the time wasters that I put on that plate making it harder to do the important ones. Thankfully I don’t feel very lost—just sometimes forgotten.
Some are lost because they have strayed. “Except for the Lord, we have all made mistakes. The question is not whether we will trip and fall but, rather, how will we respond?” I hope I’m never in this category. I hope that my testimony is always strong enough to withstand the onslaught of Satan telling me I’m not worthy because I’m not perfect. “To those who have strayed because of doctrinal concerns, we cannot apologize for the truth. We cannot deny doctrine given to us by the lord Himself. On this principle we cannot compromise.” I think we need to internalize this so that when we make mistakes we understand that the standard of conduct and testimony are set and they are not moving. The kids and I just had a discussion about the standards of the church. One of my kids said that I had it easier in my day because the standards were so low. I told them that the commandments have not changed! They are truly the same. The bar may seem higher but only because the world has dug the dirt out from under it and sunk to new levels. We couldn’t commit sexual sins when I was a kid. We couldn’t murder. We couldn’t lie, steal, or cheat. We paid 10% tithing. We paid a generous fast offering. We had to read our scriptures (family and personal), hold family home evening, attend our meetings, say our prayers (family and personal), attend seminary, be good citizens, etc. etc. The only place the bar was raised was in qualifying for a mission. The same bar is there for a temple recommend. The Lord’s doctrine hasn’t changed, see Article of Faith #4 and then 3 Nephi 22:32-35 “And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; … And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; … for he will bisit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.” Hebrew 6:1-2 “Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, … Of the doctrine of baptism, and of laying on of hands, …” and I could go on (do your own search). Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end is what will save us and the Church will never apologize for this doctrine for it truly is the doctrine of Christ.
I know that the Lord is always concerned for the one and I have to remember that I am that ONE!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Special Experiences
My thoughts on Elder Rasband’s talk “Special Experiences”
I read this talk right after Elder Holland addressed our stake in the adult session of our conference and it was profound. I do not know how to adequately express my thoughts on this topic, but I will try. My heart is very heavy as I’m dealing with a lot of emotions during this season in my life. There is much that I want to change and most of that is not in my control. I can only pray that the bumpy will get smoother, or that I won’t notice so much, because the bumps tend to make my eyes water ~smile~.
“Some experiences will come as serious challenges and heavy trials that test our ability to cope with them.”
I’ve heard all the saying again and again. “He won’t test you more than you can bear.” And my favorite comes from Mother Teresa, my hero, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.” But when you are in the middle of it all, it sure gives little comfort, well at least to me.
“As experiences accumulate in our live, they add strength and support to each other. Just as the building blocks of our homes support the rest of the structure, so too do our personal life experiences become building blocks for our testimonies and add to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
But this statement is only true if we recognize it. Otherwise we will see the trials and experiences as a wrecking ball and we will sit back and watch the wrecking ball ruin our testimony. The only thing is we didn’t see who was controlling that ball—ourselves!
I’m glad Elder Rasband added this line, “…think of the special experiences you have been blessed with in your life that have given you conviction and joy in your heart.” After reading the tradition talk by Sister Lant (I read them in reverse order) most of these experiences have happened while participating in a family or ward tradition.
He later says, “…a new building block has been added to my house of faith.” How many times do we look backwards and say that very thing, but while we are in the midst of the experience can’t see that building going on.”
As I’m struggling dealing with life right now, I must have faith that right now the Master Builder and Architect and I are building an amazing house of faith because it sure feels lonely walking through the refiners fire as the building is being built.
I read this talk right after Elder Holland addressed our stake in the adult session of our conference and it was profound. I do not know how to adequately express my thoughts on this topic, but I will try. My heart is very heavy as I’m dealing with a lot of emotions during this season in my life. There is much that I want to change and most of that is not in my control. I can only pray that the bumpy will get smoother, or that I won’t notice so much, because the bumps tend to make my eyes water ~smile~.
“Some experiences will come as serious challenges and heavy trials that test our ability to cope with them.”
I’ve heard all the saying again and again. “He won’t test you more than you can bear.” And my favorite comes from Mother Teresa, my hero, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.” But when you are in the middle of it all, it sure gives little comfort, well at least to me.
“As experiences accumulate in our live, they add strength and support to each other. Just as the building blocks of our homes support the rest of the structure, so too do our personal life experiences become building blocks for our testimonies and add to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
But this statement is only true if we recognize it. Otherwise we will see the trials and experiences as a wrecking ball and we will sit back and watch the wrecking ball ruin our testimony. The only thing is we didn’t see who was controlling that ball—ourselves!
I’m glad Elder Rasband added this line, “…think of the special experiences you have been blessed with in your life that have given you conviction and joy in your heart.” After reading the tradition talk by Sister Lant (I read them in reverse order) most of these experiences have happened while participating in a family or ward tradition.
He later says, “…a new building block has been added to my house of faith.” How many times do we look backwards and say that very thing, but while we are in the midst of the experience can’t see that building going on.”
As I’m struggling dealing with life right now, I must have faith that right now the Master Builder and Architect and I are building an amazing house of faith because it sure feels lonely walking through the refiners fire as the building is being built.
Righteous Traditions
My thoughts on Sister Lant’s talk “Righteous Traditions”
Sister Lant asks some very thought provoking questions, “What kinds of traditions do we have?” and “Are we consciously creating righteous traditions, or is life just happening to us?”
I know the rest of the talk is important, but want to discuss traditions we have, both good and bad.
Fortunately or not, I not only brought my traditions but those of my husband to my family. I brought some good ones and some bad ones and he did too. Some even clashed and we had to work out a compromise.
I think of all the huge holiday traditions we have. I was so poor we only celebrated the big ones and most of the time the traditions were dictated by the amount of money we didn’t have. Christmas was hard, but we celebrated even if we had a small Christmas. Somehow the Lord provided for us. Steve, on the other hand, wasn’t so poor (at least when he can remember) so they had a bounteous Christmas. I didn’t have stocking; he did and now we do. He always got a book from his mother; I didn’t and that was one tradition I continued. I always got underwear for Christmas; he didn’t and now my children get a pack of underwear for Christmas. My family always got a puzzle or game for Christmas; his family was hit and miss, now we get a puzzle or game every year. I always put up my Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving just like my mom; but we have two trees—mine and the family. We always acted out the Nativity; so did he and we still do it (thankfully I finally had a girl to take over the part of Mary). We always read the story in Luke and so did he and we still do today. But we have started our own traditions. Steve ALWAYS reads “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and we watch a Christmas movie (usually on Christmas Adam—that is the day before Christmas Eve). I always sing in our stake’s Christmas devotional and my children attend. We always go caroling on Christmas Adam.
What about the other holidays? We truly don’t have many traditions around holidays but we did start one of our own and this one comes from when my husband was courting me. We were dating at BYU and I had a night volleyball class the night of Valentine’s Day in 1989. During that class a glass trophy case fell on my head and shattered. Because I was in class I had to go to the ER to be checked out. That put me clear across campus and without transportation home. My cousin always walked me to my scooter after class, but he wasn’t able to come to the ER with me—he had to finish the class. Needless to say I was a bit upset that all my warm clothes were back at the PE building and so my by scooter. I only had my PE uniform on and it was February in Provo! I knew one of my roommates had a car, but the likelihood of her being home was slim to none, but I didn’t know who else to call. My best friend, who had a car was in the hospital and so I was between a rock and a hard place. Then the ER guy told me that because I was hit on the head, I couldn’t walk home but had to have someone come get me. I decided to call my apartment and see if someone could go find a car to come get me. It so happened that Steve was at my apartment and he came to get me. I didn’t know who was coming for me as my roommate just said that they would find someone. He got me and took me to the PE building where I changed clothes. He then told me to leave the scooter and that he would help me the next day get it. He took me home and then wouldn’t leave but insisted on coming in with me. “I need to make sure you make it up the three flights of stairs.” (YEAH RIGHT!) When I got in the apartment I told Steve that I needed to take a shower to get all the glass out of my hair. He still just stood there! I truly didn’t want to see anyone that day because it was a HORRIBLE day. The library didn’t have any of the books I needed for a report, the trophy case fell on my head, I have lost a ton of homework time by sitting in the health center and now this guy wouldn’t leave my apartment!
Well, I walked back to my room and taped on my door there was a construction paper heart. I opened my door and over my bed was hanging probably 75 construction paper hearts!!! On a few of them were words and I had to put them in order. Steve had spent the better part of the afternoon cutting and taping hearts all over my bedroom asking me out the next day. The next day’s date was truly the first of many that won my heart.
To this day, we spend February 13th cutting out hearts only to tape them to the bedroom door (our first apartment had popcorn ceiling and then our second had vaulted ceilings). We call it a Heart Attack. When the kids came along the Valentine Fairy started showing up and leaving a helium balloon with a deck of cards or something small holding it down. To this day we continue that tradition! It is now trickling down to my children. Sometimes I find my door heart attacked when I’ve had a bad day. Sometimes I will find something yummy outside my bedroom door with a note that has creative spelling!
We also have the tradition of going camping. This comes from my house. We were so poor that is about all we could afford. Of course my husband would rather rough it in a Hotel 6, but he is kind and lets me continue this tradition. I love to camp! I’m just hoping that this year we can afford to go camping and can find the weekend to do it in.
Other traditions our family has:
Family council
Family Home Evening
Family Scriptures
Family Prayer
Yard work together
Saturday clean up!
July 4th (we all wear red, white and blue)
I’m not sure many of these are “righteous” traditions but my hope and prayer is that they will build wonderful memories and that some will even be used in their future homes. And I fervently pray that the bad traditions will be tossed by the way side.
Sister Lant asks some very thought provoking questions, “What kinds of traditions do we have?” and “Are we consciously creating righteous traditions, or is life just happening to us?”
I know the rest of the talk is important, but want to discuss traditions we have, both good and bad.
Fortunately or not, I not only brought my traditions but those of my husband to my family. I brought some good ones and some bad ones and he did too. Some even clashed and we had to work out a compromise.
I think of all the huge holiday traditions we have. I was so poor we only celebrated the big ones and most of the time the traditions were dictated by the amount of money we didn’t have. Christmas was hard, but we celebrated even if we had a small Christmas. Somehow the Lord provided for us. Steve, on the other hand, wasn’t so poor (at least when he can remember) so they had a bounteous Christmas. I didn’t have stocking; he did and now we do. He always got a book from his mother; I didn’t and that was one tradition I continued. I always got underwear for Christmas; he didn’t and now my children get a pack of underwear for Christmas. My family always got a puzzle or game for Christmas; his family was hit and miss, now we get a puzzle or game every year. I always put up my Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving just like my mom; but we have two trees—mine and the family. We always acted out the Nativity; so did he and we still do it (thankfully I finally had a girl to take over the part of Mary). We always read the story in Luke and so did he and we still do today. But we have started our own traditions. Steve ALWAYS reads “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and we watch a Christmas movie (usually on Christmas Adam—that is the day before Christmas Eve). I always sing in our stake’s Christmas devotional and my children attend. We always go caroling on Christmas Adam.
What about the other holidays? We truly don’t have many traditions around holidays but we did start one of our own and this one comes from when my husband was courting me. We were dating at BYU and I had a night volleyball class the night of Valentine’s Day in 1989. During that class a glass trophy case fell on my head and shattered. Because I was in class I had to go to the ER to be checked out. That put me clear across campus and without transportation home. My cousin always walked me to my scooter after class, but he wasn’t able to come to the ER with me—he had to finish the class. Needless to say I was a bit upset that all my warm clothes were back at the PE building and so my by scooter. I only had my PE uniform on and it was February in Provo! I knew one of my roommates had a car, but the likelihood of her being home was slim to none, but I didn’t know who else to call. My best friend, who had a car was in the hospital and so I was between a rock and a hard place. Then the ER guy told me that because I was hit on the head, I couldn’t walk home but had to have someone come get me. I decided to call my apartment and see if someone could go find a car to come get me. It so happened that Steve was at my apartment and he came to get me. I didn’t know who was coming for me as my roommate just said that they would find someone. He got me and took me to the PE building where I changed clothes. He then told me to leave the scooter and that he would help me the next day get it. He took me home and then wouldn’t leave but insisted on coming in with me. “I need to make sure you make it up the three flights of stairs.” (YEAH RIGHT!) When I got in the apartment I told Steve that I needed to take a shower to get all the glass out of my hair. He still just stood there! I truly didn’t want to see anyone that day because it was a HORRIBLE day. The library didn’t have any of the books I needed for a report, the trophy case fell on my head, I have lost a ton of homework time by sitting in the health center and now this guy wouldn’t leave my apartment!
Well, I walked back to my room and taped on my door there was a construction paper heart. I opened my door and over my bed was hanging probably 75 construction paper hearts!!! On a few of them were words and I had to put them in order. Steve had spent the better part of the afternoon cutting and taping hearts all over my bedroom asking me out the next day. The next day’s date was truly the first of many that won my heart.
To this day, we spend February 13th cutting out hearts only to tape them to the bedroom door (our first apartment had popcorn ceiling and then our second had vaulted ceilings). We call it a Heart Attack. When the kids came along the Valentine Fairy started showing up and leaving a helium balloon with a deck of cards or something small holding it down. To this day we continue that tradition! It is now trickling down to my children. Sometimes I find my door heart attacked when I’ve had a bad day. Sometimes I will find something yummy outside my bedroom door with a note that has creative spelling!
We also have the tradition of going camping. This comes from my house. We were so poor that is about all we could afford. Of course my husband would rather rough it in a Hotel 6, but he is kind and lets me continue this tradition. I love to camp! I’m just hoping that this year we can afford to go camping and can find the weekend to do it in.
Other traditions our family has:
Family council
Family Home Evening
Family Scriptures
Family Prayer
Yard work together
Saturday clean up!
July 4th (we all wear red, white and blue)
I’m not sure many of these are “righteous” traditions but my hope and prayer is that they will build wonderful memories and that some will even be used in their future homes. And I fervently pray that the bad traditions will be tossed by the way side.
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