My thoughts on Elder Scott's talk "Honor the Priesthood and Use it Well"
As the mother to five boys (three of which are Priesthood holders, one more within a year and another only a year and 5 days away) this talk hit my heart. I grew up with brothers but most of them were older than me and I really didn't understand what they had or how they might use it.
On Sunday, December 21, 2008, the snow was so deep, the roads so slick that we didn't go to church. In fact the Bishop left it up to us to decide if we would go or not. With the Bishop's permission we held our own sacrament meeting. It was so awesome to see Jason (a teacher) get a plate, a slice of bread, a cookie sheet and 8 Tupperware cups of water and place them on the kitchen table. He then found two white table clothes and draped them over the sacrament. Then Kray (a priest) and my husband said the sacrament prayers. Then Mike (a deacon) passed the sacrament to his family. There is no word in the English language to express the power in my house that day. Four members of my family were providing the most importance ordinance outside the temple that the Lord has given to man!
I then used a conference address (Elder Hamula "Winning the War against Evil") as a talk. And then Jessie (age 8) bore her testimony. She also lead the music for the meeting. It was just so powerful!
As much as I hated missing the Sunday before Christmas it was cool to have it in my home. I don't think that will ever happen again in my family's life.
Cool!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Pray Always, part 2
My thoughts on Elder Bednar's talk "Pray Always"
Ok, now I'll talk about his talk.
Some line's I highlighted:
"We are promised that if we pray sincerely for that which is right and good and in accordance with God’s will, we can be blessed, protected, and directed."
AMEN!
I need to say more meaningful morning prayers. I guess that would start by going to bed earlier--ok, turning the light off before 11 would help. That way I will be awake for my prayers.
"At the end of our day, we kneel again and report back to our Father. We review the events of the day and express heartfelt thanks for the blessings and the help we received. We repent and, with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, identify ways we can do and become better tomorrow. Thus our evening prayer builds upon and is a continuation of our morning prayer. And our evening prayer also is a preparation for meaningful morning prayer."
I need to be accountable for what I pray for. It is hard to pray for a new body when all day long I stuffed it with cookie dough or something like that. ~smile~
"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doing, and he will direct thee for good;"
http://www.waldsfe.org/soapbox/thebook.htm
I had this experience almost 17 years ago.
"...many expressions of thanks and few, if any, requests."
I need to be more thankful. I have thought about that over the past six months as I have prayed for miracles to happen in our family. He knows what I want, that part of the prayer never changed, but my list of things I was thankful for did and it grew longer. I thought that like any parent why would He want to give me something new when I wasn't thankful for what I already have. (I know very sophomoric, but the thought was mine.)
"Just as expressing gratitude more often in our prayers enlarges the conduit for revelation, so praying for others with all of the energy of our souls increases our capacity to hear and to heed the voice of the Lord."
I tried this experiment, and it works. I will continue to pray for others now that my miracle has happened.
Now, if only my children could see the power of prayer in their lives! They will only see it if they experience it. I only know prayer works because it has worked in my own life.
Ok, now I'll talk about his talk.
Some line's I highlighted:
"We are promised that if we pray sincerely for that which is right and good and in accordance with God’s will, we can be blessed, protected, and directed."
AMEN!
"Revelation is communication from Heavenly Father to His children on earth. As we ask in faith, we can receive revelation upon revelation and knowledge upon knowledge and come to know the mysteries and peaceable things that bring joy and eternal life."
I can testify of the peaceable things. Most of my prayers are answered through a peaceful heart.
"... meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day—and precedes the temporal creation or the actual execution of the day."I need to say more meaningful morning prayers. I guess that would start by going to bed earlier--ok, turning the light off before 11 would help. That way I will be awake for my prayers.
"At the end of our day, we kneel again and report back to our Father. We review the events of the day and express heartfelt thanks for the blessings and the help we received. We repent and, with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, identify ways we can do and become better tomorrow. Thus our evening prayer builds upon and is a continuation of our morning prayer. And our evening prayer also is a preparation for meaningful morning prayer."
I need to be accountable for what I pray for. It is hard to pray for a new body when all day long I stuffed it with cookie dough or something like that. ~smile~
"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doing, and he will direct thee for good;"
http://www.waldsfe.org/soapbox/thebook.htm
I had this experience almost 17 years ago.
"...many expressions of thanks and few, if any, requests."
I need to be more thankful. I have thought about that over the past six months as I have prayed for miracles to happen in our family. He knows what I want, that part of the prayer never changed, but my list of things I was thankful for did and it grew longer. I thought that like any parent why would He want to give me something new when I wasn't thankful for what I already have. (I know very sophomoric, but the thought was mine.)
"Just as expressing gratitude more often in our prayers enlarges the conduit for revelation, so praying for others with all of the energy of our souls increases our capacity to hear and to heed the voice of the Lord."
I tried this experiment, and it works. I will continue to pray for others now that my miracle has happened.
Now, if only my children could see the power of prayer in their lives! They will only see it if they experience it. I only know prayer works because it has worked in my own life.
Pray Always
My thoughts on Elder Bednar's talk "Pray Always"
I have such a wonderful testimony of the power of prayer. I remember my mother always telling, no urging me to pray. Pray over everything at any time, any place and for little trivial thing. I remembering praying that our car would make it home. I remember praying that we would find water for the radiator and finding a gallon jug that must have falling off a construction truck on the side of the road. I remember praying for lost uniform socks. I remember praying for peace the night my first serious boyfriend broke up with me. I remember praying for comfort as I made the decision to say "yes" or "no" to a man I loved. I remember praying over sick children in the middle of the night. I know pray over that same child in the middle of the night, but not because he is sick but because he is "out." My mother taught me that prayer is real and that it is necessary for us, that is if we want an easier life.
For about the past six months I have been praying for a miracle for my family. My husband was very dissatisfied at his current job. He works for Microsoft and many a man (and women) envy the fact that he worked there. But he was very unhappy. Not just a little, a LOT. He was became disenchanted many years ago, but was lazy and thought he could weather the unhappiness because the perks that come with the job as well as the fact that looking for a job is not fun. But things progressed and he had to look for a new job. Right now is NOT the time to be looking for a job. Companies are laying people off, not hiring them. I have been praying hard for him to find a new job. Praying hard barely scratches the surface of my efforts. In fact as soon as soccer was over, I even started attending the temple weekly. We needed a blessing. We needed a miracle.
Sometimes answers to prayers take time, after all those blessing are given by our Father and as the giver we get them when they are handed out. Steve started looking in earnest just after Labor day. August was not the month to start looking as we had just had the death of my mother, my surgery and a couple weeks of vacation. It is hard to schedule interviews when you aren't in town. He started sending his resume out and had a few phone interviews, but the bites were slow if not there. But every time I prayed, I felt that peace that comes from following His will. I knew it would happen or we would be OK--one way or another, but it didn't stop me from praying very hard.
Late October started and I found myself picking up the strangest of magazines at my therapist office. Seattle Business was an odd choice, but the fact that I didn't have my general conference Ensign with me or a novel or even my chemistry book with me is a mystery. In it I noticed that Real Networks was thinking about spinning of a company that wrote casual computer games. (I'm sure I'm getting this all wrong--I barely understood half that article.) That is the very thing my husband would die to do. He does it at home for no pay! Imagine him getting a job where he got paid to do that! I decided to bring the magazine home (I was going back to that office in two days for my next session of physical torture) and showed him the article. I don't know what he did with it, but a week later he told me that Real Networks was going to do a phone interview with him. I found out the time and found myself in the temple at that time. I didn't dare call him for fear I would ruin it. I was on pins and needles the whole time. That phone interview moved into an in person interview the Thursday before Thanksgiving week.
I couldn't be in the temple during the interview since I had therapy, but during my ice and stim I did nothing but pray for him. Probably the longest prayer I've had outside the temple since I've had kids---a whole 15 minutes! He felt so good about the interview and he thought he would be hearing from them early the next week. I felt good too. I went to the temple that Tuesday (just before Thanksgiving) and felt that same inner peace, only this time without a worry that my natural man usually drums up.
No word!
We went to his parents' home for Thanksgiving and we were actually feeling a bit more uncertain because we hadn't heard. Again to my knees and the temple I went. This time I prayed hard for him as well as his father who had a huge court case. There were a few nephews, cousins and even siblings who also needed prayers, so I added them (not that they weren't added, but I just didn't know what else to do).
All this time there had been a bit of a change at Real. They were reorganizing the department he would be working in if hired. They needed to straighten things out a bit before they could move forward.
Steve was now on vacation from Microsoft and so torn up inside. He started to feel antsy (of course he may never admit that). He attended the temple with me a few times and I came away feeling that same peace I had been feeling all this time.
Eventually he had to do one more phone interview with a new/old hire. This person would be Steve's boss but he was an ex-employee who was coming back. He felt he had nailed the interview and we felt very good. A few days go by and again nothing. Knots in tummies is mild to compared to what we were feeling. There were no other bites out there for him to pursue (at least locally).
It came out that there was an internal employee who wanted the same job. By know my pj's have holes in their knees! My temple stockings have lost their stretch and my recommend card is on fire from all the laser beams flashed on it!
Finally word came and Steve got the job!
Miracles do happen. What miracle you ask? The miracle of timing. See, with the change in jobs, our health insurance just got a bit worse off. We now have a co-pay for all our visits and prescriptions. I just finished with my back therapy and my shoulder therapy is three visits away from being done. The one medication that the whole family takes (allergy) is now over the counter, but better yet, Costco has it for a fraction of the cost. I can actually afford it now. Any sooner and we would be out quite a few dollars!
I know this has little to do with Elder Bednar's talk, but it reminded me of the times I prayed a car to start, a lost sock to appear, a fever to break, a baby to come, a home for teens and a job for Steve.
I have such a wonderful testimony of the power of prayer. I remember my mother always telling, no urging me to pray. Pray over everything at any time, any place and for little trivial thing. I remembering praying that our car would make it home. I remember praying that we would find water for the radiator and finding a gallon jug that must have falling off a construction truck on the side of the road. I remember praying for lost uniform socks. I remember praying for peace the night my first serious boyfriend broke up with me. I remember praying for comfort as I made the decision to say "yes" or "no" to a man I loved. I remember praying over sick children in the middle of the night. I know pray over that same child in the middle of the night, but not because he is sick but because he is "out." My mother taught me that prayer is real and that it is necessary for us, that is if we want an easier life.
For about the past six months I have been praying for a miracle for my family. My husband was very dissatisfied at his current job. He works for Microsoft and many a man (and women) envy the fact that he worked there. But he was very unhappy. Not just a little, a LOT. He was became disenchanted many years ago, but was lazy and thought he could weather the unhappiness because the perks that come with the job as well as the fact that looking for a job is not fun. But things progressed and he had to look for a new job. Right now is NOT the time to be looking for a job. Companies are laying people off, not hiring them. I have been praying hard for him to find a new job. Praying hard barely scratches the surface of my efforts. In fact as soon as soccer was over, I even started attending the temple weekly. We needed a blessing. We needed a miracle.
Sometimes answers to prayers take time, after all those blessing are given by our Father and as the giver we get them when they are handed out. Steve started looking in earnest just after Labor day. August was not the month to start looking as we had just had the death of my mother, my surgery and a couple weeks of vacation. It is hard to schedule interviews when you aren't in town. He started sending his resume out and had a few phone interviews, but the bites were slow if not there. But every time I prayed, I felt that peace that comes from following His will. I knew it would happen or we would be OK--one way or another, but it didn't stop me from praying very hard.
Late October started and I found myself picking up the strangest of magazines at my therapist office. Seattle Business was an odd choice, but the fact that I didn't have my general conference Ensign with me or a novel or even my chemistry book with me is a mystery. In it I noticed that Real Networks was thinking about spinning of a company that wrote casual computer games. (I'm sure I'm getting this all wrong--I barely understood half that article.) That is the very thing my husband would die to do. He does it at home for no pay! Imagine him getting a job where he got paid to do that! I decided to bring the magazine home (I was going back to that office in two days for my next session of physical torture) and showed him the article. I don't know what he did with it, but a week later he told me that Real Networks was going to do a phone interview with him. I found out the time and found myself in the temple at that time. I didn't dare call him for fear I would ruin it. I was on pins and needles the whole time. That phone interview moved into an in person interview the Thursday before Thanksgiving week.
I couldn't be in the temple during the interview since I had therapy, but during my ice and stim I did nothing but pray for him. Probably the longest prayer I've had outside the temple since I've had kids---a whole 15 minutes! He felt so good about the interview and he thought he would be hearing from them early the next week. I felt good too. I went to the temple that Tuesday (just before Thanksgiving) and felt that same inner peace, only this time without a worry that my natural man usually drums up.
No word!
We went to his parents' home for Thanksgiving and we were actually feeling a bit more uncertain because we hadn't heard. Again to my knees and the temple I went. This time I prayed hard for him as well as his father who had a huge court case. There were a few nephews, cousins and even siblings who also needed prayers, so I added them (not that they weren't added, but I just didn't know what else to do).
All this time there had been a bit of a change at Real. They were reorganizing the department he would be working in if hired. They needed to straighten things out a bit before they could move forward.
Steve was now on vacation from Microsoft and so torn up inside. He started to feel antsy (of course he may never admit that). He attended the temple with me a few times and I came away feeling that same peace I had been feeling all this time.
Eventually he had to do one more phone interview with a new/old hire. This person would be Steve's boss but he was an ex-employee who was coming back. He felt he had nailed the interview and we felt very good. A few days go by and again nothing. Knots in tummies is mild to compared to what we were feeling. There were no other bites out there for him to pursue (at least locally).
It came out that there was an internal employee who wanted the same job. By know my pj's have holes in their knees! My temple stockings have lost their stretch and my recommend card is on fire from all the laser beams flashed on it!
Finally word came and Steve got the job!
Miracles do happen. What miracle you ask? The miracle of timing. See, with the change in jobs, our health insurance just got a bit worse off. We now have a co-pay for all our visits and prescriptions. I just finished with my back therapy and my shoulder therapy is three visits away from being done. The one medication that the whole family takes (allergy) is now over the counter, but better yet, Costco has it for a fraction of the cost. I can actually afford it now. Any sooner and we would be out quite a few dollars!
I know this has little to do with Elder Bednar's talk, but it reminded me of the times I prayed a car to start, a lost sock to appear, a fever to break, a baby to come, a home for teens and a job for Steve.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Come to Zion
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.
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.
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."
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