I missed the beginning of this talk (technical difficulties) so I had to rewind and listen again. COOL!
I remember when President Hinckley was being sustained. I was in the car with my nephew getting paint. We weren’t able to stand, but we did raise our hands at the right time. Of course I missed standing with everyone else, but when I replayed it and then reread it, I raised my arm (even in when I read it before church on Sunday).
There is something profound about bearing witness that you support and sustain these men and women as our leaders. I truly hope we don’t take this very lightly.
I truly sustain Pres. Monson (and the rest) as my leaders. What comfort it is for us to have this testimony.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Anchors of Testimony
My thoughts on Sister Cook’s talk “Anchors of Testimony”
I know Sister Cook is talking to “young” women when she says, “Right now, your testimony is growing,” so I will consider my age as young!
Our family is reading in 3 Nephi where the Savior appears to those on the American continent and he spells out “His doctrine” and it is the first four principles of the gospel as we find them in the 4th Article of Faith. Sister Cook uses that too. Faith—first thing we can do to anchor our testimony. And how do you get it?
“…pray to your Heavenly Father. Ask Him for help in finding answers to your questions.”
How many times to I have to go back to step one? Well since I’m human, every day. I think I need to do a refocus week on this principle. I think I need to be a bit more earnest in my prayers. I usually wait for my husband to come to bed and say our together prayers before my personal prayers, but lately I’m falling asleep before he gets up and he just lets me sleep. I’m missing them. I’m going to have to change that.
I know the Lord is mindful and probably a little upset I haven’t called upon his for blessings as well as in gratitude. Shame on me.
Of course number two and it usually follows prayer is scripture study. Between this group, a Relief Society study group and my family’s scripture time, I’m pretty immersed in the word of God, but am I really taking the words I read into my heart? Time for a gut check!
The scripture she quotes, Alma 32:27, is what I call a dangerous scripture. The promise is so true. I didn’t have a testimony of Relief Society and the Lord made me experiment upon it: He called me as Relief Society President. I didn’t have a testimony of visiting teaching and He made me experiment upon it. I guess I better do some more experimenting on it as I deal with some tough issues in my family. I do have the desire to believe and I trust the set up for the experiment, now I just had to do it. Scary, but I do have some questions that need to be answered.
I think she says it best and hopefully I’m trying to do just this, “It’s not enough, however, to just read the words of the prophets. You must follow the final step in our pattern and ‘keep these standards and live by the truths in the scriptures.” I (and hopefully you) are studying the words of the prophets but are we making them part of our lives? Are we following our list of “I will do” and religiously not doing the things “I will not do”?
I think I need to look that list over; add a few more things and as President Kimball said, “Do it!”
The young women she talks about did “simple” things. Mine are just as simple because it is only a matter of doing.
I know Sister Cook is talking to “young” women when she says, “Right now, your testimony is growing,” so I will consider my age as young!
Our family is reading in 3 Nephi where the Savior appears to those on the American continent and he spells out “His doctrine” and it is the first four principles of the gospel as we find them in the 4th Article of Faith. Sister Cook uses that too. Faith—first thing we can do to anchor our testimony. And how do you get it?
“…pray to your Heavenly Father. Ask Him for help in finding answers to your questions.”
How many times to I have to go back to step one? Well since I’m human, every day. I think I need to do a refocus week on this principle. I think I need to be a bit more earnest in my prayers. I usually wait for my husband to come to bed and say our together prayers before my personal prayers, but lately I’m falling asleep before he gets up and he just lets me sleep. I’m missing them. I’m going to have to change that.
I know the Lord is mindful and probably a little upset I haven’t called upon his for blessings as well as in gratitude. Shame on me.
Of course number two and it usually follows prayer is scripture study. Between this group, a Relief Society study group and my family’s scripture time, I’m pretty immersed in the word of God, but am I really taking the words I read into my heart? Time for a gut check!
The scripture she quotes, Alma 32:27, is what I call a dangerous scripture. The promise is so true. I didn’t have a testimony of Relief Society and the Lord made me experiment upon it: He called me as Relief Society President. I didn’t have a testimony of visiting teaching and He made me experiment upon it. I guess I better do some more experimenting on it as I deal with some tough issues in my family. I do have the desire to believe and I trust the set up for the experiment, now I just had to do it. Scary, but I do have some questions that need to be answered.
I think she says it best and hopefully I’m trying to do just this, “It’s not enough, however, to just read the words of the prophets. You must follow the final step in our pattern and ‘keep these standards and live by the truths in the scriptures.” I (and hopefully you) are studying the words of the prophets but are we making them part of our lives? Are we following our list of “I will do” and religiously not doing the things “I will not do”?
I think I need to look that list over; add a few more things and as President Kimball said, “Do it!”
The young women she talks about did “simple” things. Mine are just as simple because it is only a matter of doing.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
All Time, in All Things, and in All Places
My thoughts on Sister Dalton’s talk “All Times, in All Things, and in All Places”
What a great continuation of Sister Tanner’s talk. I call this talk the character talk. One of our local talk show hosts says that “Character is what you do in the dark, when no one is looking.” Do you act the same when people are looking at you? Do you act different in front of different audiences? Is your character unmoved no matter what the situation?
Eye opener (never thought of this in quite that light) “The precious gift of your body enables you to exercise your agency and put your faith and obedience into action. Have you ever noticed that nearly all of Satan’s attacks are directed at your body? Pornography, immodesty, tattoos, immorality, drug abuse, and addictions are all efforts to take possession of this precious gift. This was a gift that was denied Satan. Obedience to the commandments and standards enables each of you to be steadfast and immovable in protecting the precious gifts of your agency and your body.”
Reminds me of the scripture “Put off the natural man, for he is an enemy to God.”
I love her marathon story. We all need people cheering us along the way. I’ve lost two of best cheerleaders in the past couple of years and I feel the whole they left so deeply. I know they are cheering for me, but I don’t hear them anymore. I know I have Heavenly Father, but there was something about physical arms and physical voices that made running “heartbreak hill” (ie. mothering teens) that much more bearable. But I continue to run the hill because if I stop, I too will be lost and behind me six children and their children as well. I can not break the chain that was so carefully laid for me to follow by those who went before me.
What a great continuation of Sister Tanner’s talk. I call this talk the character talk. One of our local talk show hosts says that “Character is what you do in the dark, when no one is looking.” Do you act the same when people are looking at you? Do you act different in front of different audiences? Is your character unmoved no matter what the situation?
Eye opener (never thought of this in quite that light) “The precious gift of your body enables you to exercise your agency and put your faith and obedience into action. Have you ever noticed that nearly all of Satan’s attacks are directed at your body? Pornography, immodesty, tattoos, immorality, drug abuse, and addictions are all efforts to take possession of this precious gift. This was a gift that was denied Satan. Obedience to the commandments and standards enables each of you to be steadfast and immovable in protecting the precious gifts of your agency and your body.”
Reminds me of the scripture “Put off the natural man, for he is an enemy to God.”
I love her marathon story. We all need people cheering us along the way. I’ve lost two of best cheerleaders in the past couple of years and I feel the whole they left so deeply. I know they are cheering for me, but I don’t hear them anymore. I know I have Heavenly Father, but there was something about physical arms and physical voices that made running “heartbreak hill” (ie. mothering teens) that much more bearable. But I continue to run the hill because if I stop, I too will be lost and behind me six children and their children as well. I can not break the chain that was so carefully laid for me to follow by those who went before me.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Stand as a Witness
My thoughts on Sister Tanner’s talk “Stand as a Witness”
I hope that one day I can look back on my children’s lives and see such great witnesses as Sister Tanner. I will truly have done a great job then.
When I was in YW we didn’t have the phrase “to strengthen home and family” and I’m glad they added it. As I have been a parent of teens, I have noticed how much they do set the tone for the spirit in the home. I wish they truly understood deep down how much they do play a part in setting the spiritual and physical tone in the home. How do you teach this without constantly harping on it? (Yes, I do expect some feedback and thoughts on that question.)
I hope that one day I can look back on my children’s lives and see such great witnesses as Sister Tanner. I will truly have done a great job then.
When I was in YW we didn’t have the phrase “to strengthen home and family” and I’m glad they added it. As I have been a parent of teens, I have noticed how much they do set the tone for the spirit in the home. I wish they truly understood deep down how much they do play a part in setting the spiritual and physical tone in the home. How do you teach this without constantly harping on it? (Yes, I do expect some feedback and thoughts on that question.)
Monday, April 7, 2008
Good, Better, Best
My thoughts on Elder Oaks’ talk “Good, Better, Best”
I think this talk will be like Elder Bednar’s talk on taking offense or President Benson’s talk on Pride or President Hinckley’s talk on the Be’s; it will live on long after the words have died out. I know I have used this in my life over and over and over since it was spoken.
I have to continually ask myself, “Is this the best for my family? What could I do to make it the best?” I’m not sure I know the answers to all the questions but I have had to put my food down and say, “No, it isn’t the best; let’s try again.”
Just a few months ago the cub program wanted to change times as it was going to work better for the leaders. Unfortunately it wasn’t best for my family and so we decided to run the cub program at home. I’m so sad too as my son needs the interaction, but it would require too much on my part to make it all work. Unfortunately what was best for my family hurt a child’s heart.
I spent a couple hours visiting a friend while in Utah a few weeks ago and she talked about how she had “circled the wagons” with her family. They have pulled out of many extra activities and she has circled the wagons with her children and family. As my life is falling apart I too, may have to reevaluate what is best for my family. Here are some questions I must ask myself:
Does this really need to happen or is it something I want?
How bad to I want this to happen?
Will this bring my family closer together or pull us further apart?
Does this activity bring happiness to the family as a whole or just to part?
In the long term what will be important?
Is this just something that everyone is doing, or is it truly what is best for my family?
I think this talk will be like Elder Bednar’s talk on taking offense or President Benson’s talk on Pride or President Hinckley’s talk on the Be’s; it will live on long after the words have died out. I know I have used this in my life over and over and over since it was spoken.
I have to continually ask myself, “Is this the best for my family? What could I do to make it the best?” I’m not sure I know the answers to all the questions but I have had to put my food down and say, “No, it isn’t the best; let’s try again.”
Just a few months ago the cub program wanted to change times as it was going to work better for the leaders. Unfortunately it wasn’t best for my family and so we decided to run the cub program at home. I’m so sad too as my son needs the interaction, but it would require too much on my part to make it all work. Unfortunately what was best for my family hurt a child’s heart.
I spent a couple hours visiting a friend while in Utah a few weeks ago and she talked about how she had “circled the wagons” with her family. They have pulled out of many extra activities and she has circled the wagons with her children and family. As my life is falling apart I too, may have to reevaluate what is best for my family. Here are some questions I must ask myself:
Does this really need to happen or is it something I want?
How bad to I want this to happen?
Will this bring my family closer together or pull us further apart?
Does this activity bring happiness to the family as a whole or just to part?
In the long term what will be important?
Is this just something that everyone is doing, or is it truly what is best for my family?
Service
My thoughts on Elder Snow’s talk “Service”
In a world where we buy our house clean, laundry done, food shopped for, etc. etc. how do we teach our children about service. I’m befuddled and worried. I have lazy children who truly do not know the meaning of hard work or service. I’m truly frightened for them.
An author (I’m too lazy to go look at my book shelf) wrote about the five languages of love. One of them is service. I know that is my predominate way of expressing love and when someone serves me I know they love me. Words are of little meaning. If you love me your will support and serve me. Of course that means that I show my love by service. Therein lies the rub. Not everyone’s primary love language is service. In fact these past few weeks I think I have found one reason my oldest son and I are at odds: his primary love language isn’t service and it is driving me crazy.
As he last line states: “If we fail to serve, we fail to receive the fullness of the privileges and blessings of the restored gospel.”
In a world where we buy our house clean, laundry done, food shopped for, etc. etc. how do we teach our children about service. I’m befuddled and worried. I have lazy children who truly do not know the meaning of hard work or service. I’m truly frightened for them.
An author (I’m too lazy to go look at my book shelf) wrote about the five languages of love. One of them is service. I know that is my predominate way of expressing love and when someone serves me I know they love me. Words are of little meaning. If you love me your will support and serve me. Of course that means that I show my love by service. Therein lies the rub. Not everyone’s primary love language is service. In fact these past few weeks I think I have found one reason my oldest son and I are at odds: his primary love language isn’t service and it is driving me crazy.
As he last line states: “If we fail to serve, we fail to receive the fullness of the privileges and blessings of the restored gospel.”
Knowing That We Know
My thoughts on Elder Callister’s talk “Knowing That We Know”
Living on borrowed light: we have all done it and there are times in our lives when we must rely on others’ light for just a bit to make it through the rough patches. But here is a thought—how many times is that borrowed light your own light? How many rough patches do you get through because you know but are having a trial that makes it difficult to remember it all, but you remember just a bit of that knowledge.
I feel I’m there right now myself. So much has been happening in my own life that I feel like I’m living on my reserves and if I don’t change that I’m going to run out.
Elder Callister says, “The opportunity and responsibility for testimony bearing exist first in the family setting. Our children should be able to remember the light in our eyes, the ring of our testimonies in their ears, and the feeling in their hearts as we bear witness to our most precious audience that Jesus was truly God’s own Son and Joseph was His prophet. Our posterity must know that we know, because we oft tell them.”
When was the last time I told my kids? Family Home Evening is tonight, maybe I change that.
Living on borrowed light: we have all done it and there are times in our lives when we must rely on others’ light for just a bit to make it through the rough patches. But here is a thought—how many times is that borrowed light your own light? How many rough patches do you get through because you know but are having a trial that makes it difficult to remember it all, but you remember just a bit of that knowledge.
I feel I’m there right now myself. So much has been happening in my own life that I feel like I’m living on my reserves and if I don’t change that I’m going to run out.
Elder Callister says, “The opportunity and responsibility for testimony bearing exist first in the family setting. Our children should be able to remember the light in our eyes, the ring of our testimonies in their ears, and the feeling in their hearts as we bear witness to our most precious audience that Jesus was truly God’s own Son and Joseph was His prophet. Our posterity must know that we know, because we oft tell them.”
When was the last time I told my kids? Family Home Evening is tonight, maybe I change that.
After All We Can Do
My thoughts on Elder Zivic's talk "After All We Can Do"
I’m so behind and you don’t want to know why—let’s just say, “Teens are lots and lots of work.”
Because I read these talks so long ago and am now just reviewing them the thoughts I share won’t be so specific but more feelings. I can tell that I need to repent and write my feelings as soon as I have them as well as not read ahead. I need to nibble on the words from conference instead of gorge.
“All that we can do.” What a phrase. It is loaded with lots of meaning.
1. We must do something.
2. We can’t do it all.
Both of those meanings are downright scary. First, it means that I must do something; be baptized, repent, have faith, endure to the end. Second, it means that I must rely on someone else to make up the slack. I’m not one who likes to abdicate anything, just ask my family, and so giving a bit of my salvation to someone else is downright hard to do. BUT I must because there is NO WAY I can make it to heaven without our Savior’s atonement and I must put my faith and trust in that.
That phrase also has a lot of meaning for me as a parent to children who are starting to spread their wings. I have to apologize to my oldest as he is the one Steve and I are cutting our teeth on. In the same breath though, I must also say the memories of my teen years are very fresh in my mind and therefore I have vivid knowledge of how fast things can turn south. This phrase means that at some point I must remember I have done “all that I can do” and cut the apron strings and let my son fall. It is so painful to watch, and I’m sure I only get a tenth of what our Heavenly Father feels as he watches me fall on my face.
I only hope that “all that I did” was good enough.
I’m so behind and you don’t want to know why—let’s just say, “Teens are lots and lots of work.”
Because I read these talks so long ago and am now just reviewing them the thoughts I share won’t be so specific but more feelings. I can tell that I need to repent and write my feelings as soon as I have them as well as not read ahead. I need to nibble on the words from conference instead of gorge.
“All that we can do.” What a phrase. It is loaded with lots of meaning.
1. We must do something.
2. We can’t do it all.
Both of those meanings are downright scary. First, it means that I must do something; be baptized, repent, have faith, endure to the end. Second, it means that I must rely on someone else to make up the slack. I’m not one who likes to abdicate anything, just ask my family, and so giving a bit of my salvation to someone else is downright hard to do. BUT I must because there is NO WAY I can make it to heaven without our Savior’s atonement and I must put my faith and trust in that.
That phrase also has a lot of meaning for me as a parent to children who are starting to spread their wings. I have to apologize to my oldest as he is the one Steve and I are cutting our teeth on. In the same breath though, I must also say the memories of my teen years are very fresh in my mind and therefore I have vivid knowledge of how fast things can turn south. This phrase means that at some point I must remember I have done “all that I can do” and cut the apron strings and let my son fall. It is so painful to watch, and I’m sure I only get a tenth of what our Heavenly Father feels as he watches me fall on my face.
I only hope that “all that I did” was good enough.
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