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?
Sunday, July 13, 2008
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.
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