My thoughts on Elder Nelson's talk "Celestial Marriage"
I don't think it is a accident that this year's primary theme is on Eternal Families, and that our prophets have increased their mention of family and celestial marriage in their talks. Just like I don't think it was an accident that for years they talked about getting out of debt and look at us now. (Not that the downturn/recession will change their call to financial stability, getting out of debt and preparedness.) Elder Nelson tells us, remind us, preaches to us the importance of celestial marriages.
I love the messages of JOY scattered through the conference this time around. It truly made me stop and think "Am I happy? Am I filled with JOY?"
"That joy comes when we choose to live in harmony with God's eternal plan."
Joy comes when we choose the right. Plain and simple! The other day a child made a mistake, tried to cover it up, was unrepentant when caught and the day went downhill from there. If he had just repented when caught, the subject would have been dropped. BUT NO! How many times am I caught being unhappy because I was unrepentant?
I've always loved this thought, "While salvation is an individual matter, exaltation is a family matter." I remember my mom telling me that as a teen and I've thought about it often. I will be saved through my OWN actions and my own acceptance of the atonement, but I won't get to the highest without a celestial marriage.
"To obtain the highest, a husband and wife must be sealed for time and all eternity and keep their covenants made in a holy temple." The task is not complete until you have KEPT the covenants. It is one of those "endure to the end" things that we constantly run into.
"The noblest yearning of the human heart is for a marriage..."
Satan has sure mixed that truth up!
"...that can endure beyond death." Fidelity to a temple marriage does that. It allows families to be together forever."
Of course there are days I don't want to be together forever (just joking)!
It would truly be a lonely place without our families. I was recently in the Salt Lake area on a business trip and was in a hotel with a very, very good friend, but not with a single member of my family. I wasn't ALONE and I truly wasn't LONELY, but I did miss my family. I loved the solitude and the ability I had to read 100 plus pages in my book, but I did miss them. I missed their noise, chaos and their hugs. I can't imagine not having them with me forever.
"The earth was created and this church was restored so that families could be formed, sealed and exalted eternally."
And I'm so thankful for that!
"To qualify for eternal life, we must make an eternal and everlasting covenant with our Heavenly Father. This means that a temple marriage is not only between husband and wife; it embraces a partnership with God."
Of course when I was younger and getting married I was naive in my knowledge of this concept, but I embraces it with my heart and wished, hoped and dreamt it was true. In fact I told my future husband (he was "just a friend" at that time in our dating) one evening that my wedding ring needed to have three stones: one representing him, one me and the big one Heavenly Father. I had been taught that it was a three way covenant and I wanted my wedding right to represent that. Little did I know that he was listening and proposed to me with a ring with three diamonds in it.
"When a family is sealed in the temple, that family may become as eternal as the kingdom of God itself."
COOL!!!!! This talk is just filled with gems and thoughts I had thought but didn't have the words for or never attempted to vocalize.
Ok, I just love this next quote: "In fact, each marriage starts with two built in handicaps. It involves two imperfect people."
One of those people is ME! My goal is to change that and not be a handicap to our marriage (but I feel I'm failing miserable)!
He goes on...."That effort will succeed if each partner will minimize personal demands and maximize actions of loving selflessness."
That is why I fail! I'm one of the most selfish persons on the planet. My feeling are wounded quickly and I hold on to those feelings and nurse them for all it is worth! I have a closet full of hurts that need tending regularly and when I'm down, I go to my closet, open it up and visit with them all. One day I will clean them all out, but for now they are like my old pair of jeans that fit so nicely--I can't toss them out.
And the last quote: "Harmony in marriage comes only when one esteems the welfare of his or her spouse among the highest of priorities. When that really happens a celestial marriage becomes a reality, bringing great joy in this life and in the life to come."
I guess I have a lot of work to do. But I'm sure it will be worth it!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Pray Always follow up
I have been remiss in not sharing this experience.
Not long after I posted about Elder Bednar's talk "Pray Always" we had an experience that testifies of the necessity to always be praying. We had taken our big van to my in-laws' for the holiday and driven it on the bumpy roads layered with ice and snow. So when I drove it the next couple of weeks I noticed the car kind of shimmying but didn't think much of it because of the disrepair of the road. I made a mental note to myself that I needed to talk to Steve about it, but I thought since he just drove it, it must not be that big of a deal.
I don't drive the van every day and just kept forgetting about it. Then one day, Jason, Mike and I were running and errand. As we drove to the store we notice the shimmy and a lack of guts when I stepped on the gas. I chalked it up to rotten roads and a cold engine. Then on the way home, it started doing it again. We happened to stop at a light that was on a hill. We were going UP the hill and as soon as the light turned green I stepped on the gas only we went BACKWARDS. Talk about frightening. I immediately knew that I had to call Steve and let him know the transmission was shot. Why I knew it was the transmission is beyond me. I just know the inside of the car (barely), where to put the gas in and where the nearest Ford service lot is. As we continued on our way, and while on the phone with Steve, I made the decision that we had to take it in then and there. No dropping the boys off and then going to Ford. I had to do it then!
I had quite a few more turns and lights to go through as well as a couple of hills to climb--with light on them. I told Jason and Mike to start praying and praying fast! Every single light we came to was RED! EVERY ONE! But as soon as my car was just about to have to stop the car in front was moving because the light had turned GREEN! EVERY SINGLE ONE! I have since counted the light between when I told Jason and Mike to start praying and the Ford place and there are SEVEN and four of those are on hills. But the clincher is that to turn into Ford you have to cross traffic and it is a very, very busy road. I have NEVER had a "free" left turn and have always had to stop before entering their lot. Not this time and not in the very middle of the day when there should have been cars driving up and down this road looking for a place for lunch or doing other business. I turned right into the lot, drove UP their driveway and was able to stop right in front of my mechanic's desk! THAT NEVER HAPPENS! I never once came to a complete stop.
I told Jim (yes, we know him on a first name basis) that I thought it was the transmission. A phone call later that afternoon confirmed it.
I still am in awe that I knew it was the transmission--I shouldn't know that stuff, I barely know the word and what it does in a car. And I wish I could say I'm in awe that our prayers were answered, but I know better. The Lord answers prayers and that day He knew our little trip needed some help with SEVEN green lights.
I just hope that those two young men in my car will remember the day they prayed the van through seven lights and right into the garage.
Not long after I posted about Elder Bednar's talk "Pray Always" we had an experience that testifies of the necessity to always be praying. We had taken our big van to my in-laws' for the holiday and driven it on the bumpy roads layered with ice and snow. So when I drove it the next couple of weeks I noticed the car kind of shimmying but didn't think much of it because of the disrepair of the road. I made a mental note to myself that I needed to talk to Steve about it, but I thought since he just drove it, it must not be that big of a deal.
I don't drive the van every day and just kept forgetting about it. Then one day, Jason, Mike and I were running and errand. As we drove to the store we notice the shimmy and a lack of guts when I stepped on the gas. I chalked it up to rotten roads and a cold engine. Then on the way home, it started doing it again. We happened to stop at a light that was on a hill. We were going UP the hill and as soon as the light turned green I stepped on the gas only we went BACKWARDS. Talk about frightening. I immediately knew that I had to call Steve and let him know the transmission was shot. Why I knew it was the transmission is beyond me. I just know the inside of the car (barely), where to put the gas in and where the nearest Ford service lot is. As we continued on our way, and while on the phone with Steve, I made the decision that we had to take it in then and there. No dropping the boys off and then going to Ford. I had to do it then!
I had quite a few more turns and lights to go through as well as a couple of hills to climb--with light on them. I told Jason and Mike to start praying and praying fast! Every single light we came to was RED! EVERY ONE! But as soon as my car was just about to have to stop the car in front was moving because the light had turned GREEN! EVERY SINGLE ONE! I have since counted the light between when I told Jason and Mike to start praying and the Ford place and there are SEVEN and four of those are on hills. But the clincher is that to turn into Ford you have to cross traffic and it is a very, very busy road. I have NEVER had a "free" left turn and have always had to stop before entering their lot. Not this time and not in the very middle of the day when there should have been cars driving up and down this road looking for a place for lunch or doing other business. I turned right into the lot, drove UP their driveway and was able to stop right in front of my mechanic's desk! THAT NEVER HAPPENS! I never once came to a complete stop.
I told Jim (yes, we know him on a first name basis) that I thought it was the transmission. A phone call later that afternoon confirmed it.
I still am in awe that I knew it was the transmission--I shouldn't know that stuff, I barely know the word and what it does in a car. And I wish I could say I'm in awe that our prayers were answered, but I know better. The Lord answers prayers and that day He knew our little trip needed some help with SEVEN green lights.
I just hope that those two young men in my car will remember the day they prayed the van through seven lights and right into the garage.
The Test
My thought on President Packer's talk "The Test"
I love the history lesson/reviews that every once in awhile our beloved General Authorities give us. Knowing where we have been helps us keep our eye on where we want to go. How often do the ancient prophets in our scriptures remind the people he is speaking to about their past? How often do the prophets bring up Moses and the Israelites 40 year walk in the desert? How often do the prophets remind the people of the parting of the Red Sea? OFTEN! and WHY? because we need to remember the mercies of the Lord, the consequences of our actions and that the Lord NEVER FORGETS HIS PEOPLE!
There are also lessons to be learned from the individuals that go through the trials. I have learned a lot studying Joseph Smith. I've learned a lot from studying those of my family who stood shoulder to shoulder with him and Brigham Young. I've learned a lot from Alma, Nephi, John Taylor, John Daniel Holladay, Christian Olsen and many, many more.
President Packer said, "Rather than being consumed with revenge, they were anchored to revelation." Ever one of the people I have named followed this council (plus those in the talk). It isn't hard for me to follow that same example WHEN I remember the lessons from my history.
President Packer said this "the same Lucifer who was cast out of our Father's presence is still at work. He, with the angels who follow him, will trouble the world of the Lord and destroy it if he can."
and only the righteous can stop him. We can stop him from destroying the means of our future lives by being righteous and bring up a righteous generation. I know it is hard. I know I want to give up some times (OK--a LOT OF TIMES) but it is knowing my history that makes me want to not give up and stick with it and push forward with a steadfast faith.
I love the history lesson/reviews that every once in awhile our beloved General Authorities give us. Knowing where we have been helps us keep our eye on where we want to go. How often do the ancient prophets in our scriptures remind the people he is speaking to about their past? How often do the prophets bring up Moses and the Israelites 40 year walk in the desert? How often do the prophets remind the people of the parting of the Red Sea? OFTEN! and WHY? because we need to remember the mercies of the Lord, the consequences of our actions and that the Lord NEVER FORGETS HIS PEOPLE!
There are also lessons to be learned from the individuals that go through the trials. I have learned a lot studying Joseph Smith. I've learned a lot from studying those of my family who stood shoulder to shoulder with him and Brigham Young. I've learned a lot from Alma, Nephi, John Taylor, John Daniel Holladay, Christian Olsen and many, many more.
President Packer said, "Rather than being consumed with revenge, they were anchored to revelation." Ever one of the people I have named followed this council (plus those in the talk). It isn't hard for me to follow that same example WHEN I remember the lessons from my history.
President Packer said this "the same Lucifer who was cast out of our Father's presence is still at work. He, with the angels who follow him, will trouble the world of the Lord and destroy it if he can."
and only the righteous can stop him. We can stop him from destroying the means of our future lives by being righteous and bring up a righteous generation. I know it is hard. I know I want to give up some times (OK--a LOT OF TIMES) but it is knowing my history that makes me want to not give up and stick with it and push forward with a steadfast faith.
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