Whisperings of the Spirit

GCBC - President Monson

2012-02-05T15:38:00.000-05:00

General Conference Book Club - Week 19
President Thomas S. Monson
"Stand in Holy Places"

I read this talk because it was on the schedule for the Relief Society lesson in our ward. I don't know what the focus was on, because in Primary we talked about how we chose to follow Jesus before we were born, but I know what I got out of it.

From the title, I was expecting the talk to be about the importance of temples, yet it really wasn't at all. Instead it was on the importance of personal prayer and inspiration. We live in a very wicked world, and it's not getting any better as a whole. However, it is totally possible to feel peace and righteousness. I loved President Monson's stories that he used as examples of how that works. I appreciated his challenge to learn how to communicate with our Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for a prophet who lives what he preaches.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"Although the world has changed, the laws of God remain constant. They have not changed; they will not change. The Ten Commandments are just that - commandments. They are not suggestions."

"As a means of being in the world but not being of the world, it is necessary that we communicate with our Heavenly Father through prayer. He wants us to do so; He'll answer our prayers."

"Not a day has gone by that I have not communicated with my Father in Heaven through prayer. It is a relationship I cherish - one I would literally be lost without. If you do not now have such a relationship with your Father in Heaven, I urge you to work toward that goal. As you do so, you will be entitled to His inspiration and guidance in your life - necessities for each of us if we are to survive spiritually during our sojourn here on earth. Such inspiration and guidance are gifts He freely gives if we but seek them. What treasures they are!"

"There is nothing which can bring more joy into our lives or more peace to our souls than the Spirit which can come to us as we follow the Savior and keep the commandments."

That last quote reminded me of one of my favorite scriptures - Isaiah 32:17 - "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever." What a beautiful promise!

Finally, one of the lessons that I do remember (at least the preparing part if not the giving part) from teaching seminary was the one on D&C 87, where we're taught of the importance of standing in holy places. President Harold B. Lee wrote a whole book on the subject, but it was summarized in this statement "A holy place is any place where a man enjoys the Spirit." (You can find it here, all the way at the bottom.) I remember the responsibility I felt to help the teenagers understand that even while walking down the hallways of the high school they could "stand in holy places," as long as they were worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Even several years later, I try to remember that concept on a daily basis myself.

GCBC - Elder Ballard

2012-01-30T07:33:00.000-05:00

General Conference Book Club - Week 18
Elder M. Russell Ballard
"The Importance of a Name"

Would you believe I didn't take any notes at all while listening to this talk originally? However, that doesn't mean it wasn't a good one, and I definitely took some notes while reading it again. Elder Ballard's main point was that we need to use the full, proper name of the church. After all, it was given to us by the Savior himself. As was quoted, "The use of the revealed name is increasingly important in our responsibility to proclaim the name of the Savior throughout all the world." I'm still amazed that people have a hard time believing we're Christians. I guess that means we need to do a better job at following Elder Ballard's counsel.

Note: This isn't a new phenomenon. President George Albert Smith had the following to say nearly 100 years ago, in 1924: "I have found many in the world who have not known that we believe in the divine mission of our Lord, and I have been led to say upon more than one occasion that there are no people in the world who so well understand the divine mission of Jesus Christ, who so thoroughly believe him to have been the Son of God, who are so sanguine [confident] that at the present time he is enthroned in glory at the right hand of his Father, as the Latter-day Saints."

I also appreciated his comments that nicknames are okay. After all, many of us don't use the name on our birth certificate all of the time. It's a sign of love and friendship to be given a nickname, even if it starts as teasing. (The story of how Wayne's grandpa went from Wetzel to Judge is a great example.) It's okay to be known as Mormons. Mormon was a wonderful prophet and a great example to all of us. However, I also appreciated Elder Ballard's counsel that the church is not the "Mormon Church" because it's not Mormon's church, it's Christ's church. I think there's a great distinction we need to make there.

The full name may be 9 words long, but that's okay, and I liked that he pointed that out. Primary children love singing "I Belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and we should love saying the whole thing as well.

Finally, this was my favorite sentence of the talk - "Saint simply refers to those who seek to make their lives holy by covenanting to follow Christ." I need to remember to become a better saint by striving to be more holy each and every day, and that happens as I keep my covenants.

The Oak Tree

2012-01-29T12:57:00.003-05:00

Elder Ballard shared this poem in our stake conference broadcast this morning. We miss the "mighty oaks" from our yard in Brandon, but at least we can always remember them, especially when we're reminded of the lessons that we can learn.

THE OAK TREE

A mighty wind blew night and day

It stole the oak tree’s leaves away

Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark

Until the oak was tired and stark.

But still the oak tree held its ground

While other trees fell all around

The weary wind gave up and spoke.

How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you

Can break each branch of mine in two

Carry every leaf away

Shake my limbs, and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth

Growing stronger since my birth

You’ll never touch them, for you see

They are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn’t sure

Of just how much I could endure

But now I’ve found, with thanks to you

I’m stronger than I ever knew.

By Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

GCBC - Sister Dalton

2012-01-24T08:39:00.001-05:00

General Conference Book Club - Week 17
Sister Elaine Dalton
"Love Her Mother"

This was my absolute favorite talk from conference this time. I had so many thoughts running through my head while it was given.

First, I was grateful for my own father. He's absolutely the best. I never felt unwanted or unloved or unbeautiful (I know that's not a real word), and because I knew without a doubt that my earthly father loved me, it was easy to know that my Heavenly Father did too. That's really the greatest gift I've ever received and I'll cherish it forever.

Second, I was grateful for the father of my children. He's absolutely the best too! He's a great father of sons, and it's been a challenge to father a daughter, a challenge that has pushed him out of his comfort zone. There really is a difference between boys and girls. However, he's following all of Sister Dalton's advice, so I hope listening to this talk helped him feel better about that role.

Third, I was grateful for my son who is a new father of a daughter. I remember how touched I was with the picture he sent of him meeting her for the very first time. I'm grateful that he's been taught how to be a great father, and I'm looking forward to seeing the future unfold. He's already doing a terrific job!!

Last, I kept thinking about the next grandchild that will be joining our family shortly. In October we didn't know if it would be a boy or a girl, but my intuition felt it might be a girl. And since I needed a project to work on during conference, and I knew someone expecting a baby girl that could use it if my intuition was wrong (it wasn't), I went with a pink baby afghan. As I stitched I thought of these sweet little girls that are just about to begin their journey on earth. They are so blessed to have parents who already love them, love the gospel, and are anxious to help them return to Heavenly Father. And I'm grateful for living prophets and leaders who are there to help us too.

I am grateful to be surrounded by men who "are not ordinary men," men who take their responsibility to be "guardians of the home" seriously, men who love women, whether they're little girls or aging grandmothers. What a marvelous blessing!

P.S. Don't forget to read all the other comments on this talk!

Sodom and Gomorrah

2012-01-24T08:12:00.000-05:00

Last night for family night Wayne expanded upon the lesson he gave a few weeks ago (the one I missed because I was sick) by sharing a quote he heard on Sunday. Here's what President Packer taught:

"I know of nothing in the history of the Church or in the history of the world to compare with our present circumstances. Nothing happened in Sodom and Gomorrah which exceeds in wickedness and depravity that which surrounds us now."

We do live in a wicked world. However, we don't have to be wicked ourselves. We have the ability to rise above the filth and stand in holy places. President Packer spoke on this theme again at the seminary commemoration broadcast on Sunday. I loved that talk as well. Remember to pray and repent, and then follow the promptings of the Spirit, and you'll be able stay on the right path.

Note: The source I found for the quote Wayne heard was an address given to seminary teachers in 2004. I attended that meeting and it was great reading the talk again. Here are some of the other quotes that made an impression upon me then, and again today.

"This shield of faith is handmade in a cottage industry. What is most worth doing ideally is done at home. It can be polished in the classroom, but it is fabricated and fitted in the home, handcrafted to each individual."

"Spiritual diseases of epidemic proportion sweep over the world. We are not able to curb them. But we can prevent our youth from being infected by them. Knowledge and a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ are like a vaccine. We can inoculate them. Inoculate: In—'to be within' and oculate means 'eye to see.' We place an eye within them—the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost."

"You are not responsible to cure the world’s environment. You can, with parents and priesthood and auxiliary leaders and teachers, send young Latter-day Saints out as leaven into the world, spiritually nourished, immunized to the influences of evil."

"Our youth can look forward with hope for a happy life. They shall marry and raise families in the Church and teach their little ones what you have taught them. They, in turn, will teach their children and their grandchildren."

"I do not know now any more surely that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father, than I did then as a soldier boy sitting on the cliff on that tiny speck of an island. There is one difference—now I know the Lord. I bear witness of Him and invoke His blessings upon you who teach, as fathers and mothers, as grandfathers and grandmothers, upon your families, upon your classes, upon your work."

GCBC - Elder Callister

2012-01-19T08:36:00.000-05:00

General Conference Book Club: Week 16
Elder Tad R. Callister
"The Book of Mormon - a Book from God"

Although I'm teaching a CTR class in Primary, I am aware that the adults are studying the Book of Mormon in Sunday School this year. And so I'm trying to stay caught up a bit with that as well. It was nice to review this talk and be reminded of the importance of the Book of Mormon. He's so right that it's either from God or the devil; there is no middle ground. And I'm grateful for my testimony that it's from God.

I also absolutely loved his visual for why we need this second witness to the Bible - a line with one dot or two. (You can go here to read it, because I'm not explaining it very well.) If the dot represents the scriptures and the line represents our interpretations, we can see that with just the Bible there are a myriad of interpretations, but if the interpretation has to agree with both sets of scriptures, there is only one. That's the beauty of the Book of Mormon - it enlightens our understanding of the gospel and leads us to Christ.

GCBC - Elder Hales

2012-01-19T08:22:00.000-05:00

General Conference Book Club
Elder Robert D. Hales
"Waiting upon the Lord"

I read this talk last week (here it is) and have been thinking a bit about trials and adversity. In fact, that was the topic of our FHE lesson this week. No matter how well we may be doing at keeping the commandments (and there's always room for improvement in that area), we will have challenges. That's one of the purposes of life. So, I appreciated Elder Hales reminder that we are fully capable of coping with adversity. Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need, and he is always there to help us endure. And the better we get at aligning our will with His, the easier it gets.

For some reason, I also really like the word "wait" instead of "be patient." And I loved all his examples of what that means:

hope
anticipation
trust
faith
diligence
confidence

Like Elder Hales, I am grateful for adversity, mainly because of the blessings that come as we faithfully endure our trials. And I pray that I will always remember to "wait upon the Lord" no matter what happens.

GCBC - President Eyring

2012-01-19T08:05:00.000-05:00

General Conference Book Club
President Henry B. Eyring
"A Witness"

I loved that President Eyring started by saying his was a message of encouragement. (Find the talk here.) I appreciate being encouraged; I already know my faults. And I have a testimony that the Book of Mormon really does help us draw closer to God. It can help us remember what we need to do. After all, it was while reading the Book of Mormon this morning that I was motivated to move "do the General Conference Book Club comments" from the bottom of my to-do list to the top.

I appreciated the reminder of promises we've made - to be charitable, to become witnesses of God, and to endure. I liked his promise that the "Book of Mormon directs us upward on the path to eternal life." It really does. And that's why it's so important to not just drink from its pages daily, but to follow through on the impressions we're given as we do.

GCBC - Elder Perry

2012-01-19T07:46:00.001-05:00

General Conference Book Club
Elder L. Tom Perry
"Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear"

This morning as I read in the Book of Mormon I was reminded that the Nephites had success in defeating the Lamanites because they had listened to their leaders and followed their counsel. And that reminded me that I need to follow through on this challenge to myself to keep reviewing the general conference talks. How can I follow the counsel of the prophets if I don't know it? And so, although I've been reading the talks, I haven't made the time to write my thoughts. Today I plan on "finishing" what I've started!

I loved Elder Perry's idea that we should feel like our lives are an "open house" for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I need to always remember that I'm supposed to be a shining light on a hill, that I'm supposed to be setting a good example for those around me. I don't need to be afraid of what others think. I need to remember that the gospel is a gospel of love, it's good news, and that it brings happiness to me. Why wouldn't I want others to have that happiness as well?

I liked this quote: "The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is unlike anything else you will share with others. In the information age, it is the most valuable information in all the world. There is no question about its worth. It is a pearl of great price."

I also liked his list. (I like lists!)

Be bold in our declaration of Jesus Christ.
Be righteous examples to others.
Speak up about the church.

Now that I think about it, this talk goes perfectly with my last blog post. Part of preparing our children to serve missions is to give them opportunities to share the gospel before they leave. Parents need to lead by example. I don't feel I've done my best in this area, but that's why repentance exists. I know we really do have the "most valuable information in all the world" and I have a responsibility to do my part to help share that message.

Preparing Sons for Missionary Service

2012-01-13T12:54:00.000-05:00

At our last Relief Society Meeting, I was asked to take five minutes and explain how we prepared our sons to serve full-time missions. That assignment could easily take a whole hour-long class! However, I did my best to keep it short. (Another mom was given the same assignment; you probably wouldn't be surprised to know that our thoughts were pretty much the same.) I decided a list would be the best way to go, and I thought my daughters-in-law might like this list all in one spot, so here you go. I can already tell you, though, lovely daughters-in-law, that you don't need this list; you're doing a fantastic job on your own already!

1 - Start early.

2 - Have high expectations.

3 - Do all the little things - family prayer and scripture study and family home evening - consistently.

4 - Attend all church meetings, and do it together.

5 - Build strong family relationships.

1993

6 - Have regular PPI's (monthly interview with Dad to review For the Strength of Youth and set goals).

7 - Encourage completion of the Duty to God program.

8 - Use the Scouting program - help them become an Eagle.

9 - Expect them to attend seminary.

10 - Teach them that serving a mission is a priesthood duty, not an optional commandment.

2002

11 - Teach them how to work.

12 - Teach them other skills - laundry/ironing/mending, cooking/eating new foods, playing the piano, learning another language.

13 - Give them opportunities to serve others.

14 - Provide an environment where they can gain their own testimony.

15 - Be a good example.

2011

After making this list, I've thought of a few things that I'd like to expand upon, so you can look forward to some new posts in the future. However, I want to add one more item right now, and that is to express appreciation as your sons make correct choices. This morning I read the counsel Alma gave to his son Shiblon. You don't hear too much about him - he wasn't the next prophet like Helaman, and he didn't cause problems like Corianton. But I really admire Shiblon, and so did Alma. And his words apply to my sons as well:

"And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end. I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering" (Alma 38:2-3).

GCBC - Elder Christofferson

2011-12-21T04:43:00.007-05:00

General Conference Book Club
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
"The Divine Gift of Repentance"

Here are a couple of the quotes that "spoke to me" as I read this talk by Elder Christofferson (which can be found here.)

"In reality the prophetic call [to repentance] should be received with joy. Without repentance, there is no real progress or improvement in life. Pretending there is no sin does not lessen its burden and pain. . . Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace."

I love this idea that repentance should be a joyful part of our lives. And I appreciate the reminder that peace comes from being obedient, which necessitates repentance.

"Repentance means striving to change. It would mock the Savior's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross for us to expect that He should transform us into angelic beings with no real effort on our part. Rather, we seek His grace to complement and reward our most diligent efforts."

The phrase that stood out to me in my regular scripture reading this morning was from Mosiah 27:5 - "Doing these things [laboring for their own support], they did abound in the grace of God." If we are to expect the grace of God, which means his aid and help, we need to work and do our part. That's what repentance entails. And, look, there in verse 6 we get the results again - "There began to be much peace again in the land." Repentance (obedience) brings peace, and that's my wish for you this Christmas season.

GCBC - Elder Curtis

2011-12-21T04:18:00.011-05:00

General Conference Book Club
Elder LeGrand R. Curtis, Jr.
"Redemption"

Elder Curtis is my mom's cousin, so my ears perked up just a bit more while he spoke during conference. (Find his talk here.) And I loved his talk, particularly the "stories of redemption" and the importance of helping others come to Christ. I'm thankful that my parents took that role in my life. I'm thankful for a heritage of pioneer ancestors. And I'm determined to do my best so that my children and grandchildren know that we can all be redeemed and return to live with our Heavenly Father because of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Here's my favorite quote from the talk - "Those who have strayed significantly from the paths of righteousness desperately need this redemption, and if they fully repent, it is theirs to claim. But those who have worked hard to live good lives also desperately need this redemption, for none can get to the presence of the Father without Christ's help."

GCBC - Elder Ardern

2011-12-04T08:59:00.011-05:00

General Conference Book Club
Elder Ian S. Ardern
"A Time to Prepare"

Find the talk here. Find others' comments here.

If I had to pick a favorite talk from this conference, this one would be a contender. The subject of time management has always fascinated me (especially since that was the subject of my mom's college thesis). I wrote a lot of notes as I listened, including:

Need to prioritize choices to match goals
Use time to serve others
Seek the Kingdom of God first
Busy needs to equal productive too
Identify time wasting activities and "grind them to dust"
Poor use of time is a close cousin to idleness
I can be the master of electronics, not their slave
What am I doing today to prepare to meet God?
Am I prepared to be happy with the accounting I will have to give?

"It is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity. For he who is faithful and wise in time is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions prepared for him of my Father" (D&C 72:3-4).

I also wrote a note to look up a couple of quotes. Here's the one by Elder Quentin L. Cook: (in October 2003, "Are You a Saint?". You won't be disappointed if you decide to read the whole talk.)

"Saints who respond to the Savior’s message will not be led astray by distracting and destructive pursuits and will be prepared to make appropriate sacrifices. The importance of sacrifice to those who want to be Saints is exemplified by the atoning sacrifice of the Savior, which is at the center of the gospel. What a wonderful blessing it is to be a Latter-day Saint. I love the words in the last lines of the hymn “O Saints of Zion”:

O Saints of Zion, tread the paths
Your faithful fathers trod.
Lift up your hearts in gratitude
And serve the living God! "

So, it takes a bit of sacrifice to use our time wisely!  And here's the one by President Ezra Taft Benson which helps us realize the sacrifice is worth it** (given in April 1988 general conference):

"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives."

Just last night I made the comment that it's so hard to be productive when you're tired. Wayne said, "And you're just learning that now!?" No, I knew that, but after reading this talk again that morning, I was more aware of trying to be productive and using my time wisely. And I was tired and sleepy and it was difficult. So, I guess one of the lessons I need to learn when it comes to time management is making sure I get the proper amount of sleep! I'm looking forward to keeping Elder Ardern's counsel in mind as I prepare for the current holiday season and New Year's Resolutions.

**I wrote about this before. I like this quote!

GCBC - Elder Andersen

2011-12-02T09:00:00.006-05:00

General Conference Book Club

"Children"

Elder Neil A. Andersen

Elder Andersen started his talk with some VERY powerful statements:

As we look into the eyes of a child, we see a fellow son or daughter of God who stood with us in the premortal life. It is a crowning privilege of a husband and wife who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for these spirit children of God. We believe in families, and we believe in children.

As I listened, I couldn't help but feel grateful that we kept this commandment to have children, and that now our children are doing the same. And I couldn't help but feel grateful that all the angst of "when and how many" is behind us! It is such a personal ("private and sacred") decision and I appreciated the repeated reminder to not judge others. I'm grateful that our challenges included wonderful children and not the lack of them. I hope I can always be suportive of those whose challenges are opposite.

Listening to this talk brought back memories of the faith it does take to have children. I love the stories he told. President Kimball's counsel (through conference talks and books - not in personal conversation!) had a huge impact in our decision making. I'm so grateful for prophets who can help us recognize and filter out the world's view and lead and guide us in the way of true happiness.

Yes, I believe in children.

Find the talk here. See what others have to say over at the GCBC here.

Gratitude Day Thirty-One

2011-12-01T07:20:00.003-05:00

Moroni 10:3

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts."

There are actually only 30 days in November, but I couldn't decide which verse to omit, and, anyway, this one brings us full circle. Nephi challenges us to read the Book of Mormon looking for examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. Moroni ends the book with the same challenge. So, now as we officially begin the Christmas season, I hope we can all look for the mercies and miracles that are inherent in this special time of year. I hope that our hearts will be ever more grateful as we celebrate our Savior's birth all month long.

Gratitude Day Thirty

2011-11-30T09:19:00.001-05:00

Ether 6:9

"And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord."

Time for one last Thanksgiving hymn of praise, but that doesn't mean we can't sing them throughout the whole year!

Sing Praise to Him

Sing praise to him who reigns above,

The Lord of all creation,

The source of pow'r, the fount of love,

The rock of our salvation.

With healing balm my soul he fills

And ev'ry faithless murmur stills.

To him all praise and glory!

Thus, all my toilsome way along,

I sing aloud thy praises,

That men may hear the grateful song

My voice unwearied raises.

Be joyful in the Lord, my heart!

Both soul and body bear your part.

To him all praise and glory!

Gratitude Day Twenty-Nine

2011-11-29T09:18:00.003-05:00

Mormon 9:31

"Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been."

GCBC - Elder Bednar

2011-11-29T09:06:00.004-05:00

General Conference Book Club

"The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn"

Elder David A. Bednar

The other day we sang "Turn Your Hearts" (Hymn 291) for family scripture and prayer. I love the message of its words, which reminded me of this latest general conference talk by Elder Bednar.

Turn your hearts; the Lord is coming,

Malachi the prophet said.

Turn your hearts in preparation

To the work of exaltation

For the living and the dead.

In the latter days Elijah

Will renew the plan sublime.

He will teach you and remind you

Of the promises that bind you

To all men throughout all time.

Turn your hearts toward your parents --

Generations gone before.

May you seek until you find them;

In the temple seal and bind them

To your hearts forevermore.

Turn in love to all your children --

Generations yet to be.

May your deeds of gospel giving,

Temple service, righteous living,

Bless them all eternally.

I especially enjoyed the reminder that "family history" goes both directions - forward and back. I need to seek out my ancestors, yet I also need to be a good example to my children and grandchildren. I love family history work, and I am grateful for temple covenants that can seal and bind us together forever.

Elder Bednar taught that "as members of Christ's restored Church, we have the covenant responsibility to search out our ancestors and provide for them the saving ordinances of the gospel." This reminded me of a quote by Elder Russell M. Nelson that "every activity, every lesson, all we do in the Church, point to the Lord and His holy house" which he gave in general conference in 2001 and essentially repeated in 2008. Temple work is important, and it's the little things we do every day, in our homes and in our callings, that help us focus on this great work of salvation.

I also appreciated Elder Bednar's challenge to the youth to get involved. I'm excited to see what happens as a result of that challenge!

Read more insights from this talk here on Stephanie's website.

GCBC - President Uchtdorf

2011-11-29T08:31:00.003-05:00

General Conference Book Club

"You Matter to Him"

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I always love President Uchtdorf's talks, and this was no exception. It IS a paradox that man is nothing, yet man is everything. I appreciated the reminder that "our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters," and that "we have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation -- worlds without end -- within our grasp." It's that amazing.

Yet some days it's difficult to find the balance between humility and pride, between self-confidence and discouragement. Satan works so hard to make us forget who we really are. If we can remember the four principles that President Uchtdorf mentioned, maybe this would be a little easier:

1) God loves the humble and meek.

2) The Lord trusts the "weak things of the world."

3) Heavenly Father loves us individually. We are not invisible to Him.

4) The present is not the future.

It really doesn't matter if we're dealing with "marble halls or stable stalls" in our current situations. The blessings of the gospel and the Atonement are available to everyone. All we have to do is keep trying. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me; that knowledge is a priceless gift.

One of the things I love about reading the talks in the Ensign is going through the footnotes. After telling of his experience with pilot training in Texas, and how he often felt insignificant and unknown, and yet realized that all he could do was try his best, President Uchtdorf stated, "And all was well." The footnote states, "Dieter F. Uchtdorf graduated first in his class." I just love that understatement. If we follow his example and remember and practice these principles, all can be well with us as well. (The picture is of him receiving the Commander's Trophy; read about it here.)

Gratitude Day Twenty-Eight

2011-11-28T09:18:00.003-05:00

3 Nephi 10:10

"And the earth did cleave together again, that it stood; and the mourning, and the weeping, and the wailing of the people who were spared alive did cease; and their mourning was turned into joy, and their lamentations into the praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer."

Gratitude Day Twenty-Seven

2011-11-27T09:18:00.001-05:00

Alma 49:28

"And it came to pass, that on the other hand, the people of Nephi did thank the Lord their God, because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies."

There aren't always many people we can go to in times of trouble, but I love the reminders found throughout the Book of Mormon that we can always turn to God. He has the power to deliver us from all of our enemies, seen and unseen.

Gratitude Day Twenty-Six

2011-11-26T09:17:00.002-05:00

Alma 48:12

"Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people."

Captain Moroni's another worthy hero. And having a heart filled with thanksgiving is just one of his many great qualities.

Gratitude Day Twenty-Five

2011-11-25T09:17:00.002-05:00

Alma 37:37

"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

This was one of my favorite scriptures when I was in seminary. Thanksgiving Day is over (I hope you enjoyed your turkey dinner!), yet the need to be prayerful and to give thanks to Heavenly Father will never be over. Let's see if we can keep a grateful heart for the next 365 days, and longer!

Gratitude Day Twenty-Four

2011-11-24T09:17:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Alma 34:38

"Worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and . . . live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

We all hope you have a beautiful day!

Gratitude Day Twenty-Three

2011-11-23T09:16:00.002-05:00

Alma 26:8

"Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever."

This little snack mix is one way to help us remember to be thankful. And there's still time for you to make some before the big day.

Thanksgiving Blessing Mix Poem

Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our nation's abundance.

Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country.

Candy corn: Sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn a day.

Nuts or seeds: Promise of a a future harvest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence.

Dried fruits: Harvest gifts of our bountiful land.

M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future.

Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

Go here for the printable and instructions. And have a great time preparing for tomorrow!

Gratitude Day Twenty-Two

2011-11-22T09:15:00.003-05:00

Alma 19:14

"Now Ammon seeing the Spirit of the Lord poured out according to his prayers upon the Lamanites, his brethren, who had been the cause of so much mourning among the Nephites, or among all the people of God because of their iniquities and their traditions, he fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and he was also overpowered with joy; and thus they all three had sunk to the earth."

Gratitude brings joy. That reminds me of President Monson's talk "Finding Joy in the Journey." He suggests that in order to find joy in life, it's important to adapt to changes, realize what is most important, and express gratitude always. I agree with him.

Gratitude Day Twenty-One

2011-11-21T08:15:00.000-05:00

Alma 24:7-8

"Now, these are the words which he said unto the people concerning the matter: I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the traditions of our wicked fathers. And behold, I thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts, that we have opened a correspondence with these brethren, the Nephites."

We're currently "between missionaries" in our family, but I am extremely grateful that our four older boys all served missions, and that the youngest is diligently preparing to go next summer. I'm also grateful for the missionaries who introduced my great-great grandparents to the church, and for all that are serving right now so that other families may feel the joy of the gospel in their lives. Missionaries are wonderful!

Gratitude Day Twenty

2011-11-20T09:15:00.002-05:00

Alma 7:23

"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive."

Humility, patience, gentleness, diligence, obedience, gratitude - just a few of the qualities I can be working on this week of Thanksgiving, and all year-round too.

Gratitude Day Nineteen

2011-11-19T09:14:00.004-05:00

Mosiah 26:39

"And they did admonish their brethren; and they were also admonished, every one by the word of God, according to his sins, or to the sins which he had committed, being commanded of God to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things."

Pray to give thanks. What a simple concept, and yet so powerful, no matter what day of the year it is!

Gratitude Day Eighteen

2011-11-18T09:14:00.004-05:00

Mosiah 24:22

"And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God."

Time for another hymn; there are so many wonderful hymns of gratitude. This is the one we sang for family prayer last night. I always love it when the "next one in line" is really applicable for that particular day. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to praise God through music.

With Songs of Praise (Hymn #71)

With songs of praise and gratitude

We worship God above,

In words and music give our thanks

For his redeeming love.

Then come before God's presence!

With singing worship him!

Express the heart to full to speak

In one exultant hymn.

Gratitude Day Seventeen

2011-11-17T09:14:00.003-05:00

Mosiah 24:21

"Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God."

You'll be happy to know that we finally got our version of the "Blessing Box" completed. (I should go add "freedom from bondage" to one of the cards now.) These things can be quite simple. As you can see, ours is just a basket with pieces of paper inside. There's a pen in there, too, and after you write something down, you fold the paper and put it right back in the basket. I'm not sure when our little turkey showed up in the house, but he's perfect for keeping an eye on our blessings. If you push his belly, he gobbles, which someone decided we need to do each time we add something. Isn't that a nice touch that makes this activity fun?

Gratitude Day Sixteen

2011-11-16T09:13:00.002-05:00

Mosiah 8:19

"And now, when Ammon had made an end of speaking these words the king rejoiced exceedingly, and gave thanks to God, saying: Doubtless a great mystery is contained within these plates, and these interpreters were doubtless prepared for the purpose of unfolding all such mysteries to the children of men."

I love the scriptures! I had wanted to spend some more time with this post expounding on that statement, but I'm running out of time to do "all my heart yearns to do" so I'll just leave it at that.

Gratitude Day Fifteen

2011-11-15T09:13:00.002-05:00

Mosiah 7:12
"And now, when Ammon saw that he was permitted to speak, he went forth and bowed himself before the king; and rising again he said: O king, I am very thankful before God this day that I am yet alive, and am permitted to speak; and I will endeavor to speak with boldness."

How often do we take the time to express gratitude just for the fact that we're still breathing? I know I take it for granted. I'm grateful that I haven't had any near-death experiences to make life itself front and center in my mind, but I guess it's important to not wait for drastic circumstances. I should be thankful every day for that new day. That would be a good resolution!

Gratitude Day Fourteen

2011-11-14T09:12:00.002-05:00

Mosiah 5:4

"And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy."

I'm not sure I ever really thought about it before, but the ability to gain knowledge is indeed a great blessing. I'm grateful that I can learn new things every day, and I don't even have to go to school to do so!

Gratitude Day Thirteen

2011-11-13T09:11:00.004-05:00

Mosiah 2:20-21
"I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another – I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another – I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants."

This has always been a concept that's intrigued me. No matter how much gratitude I may express, I'm always behind. You'd think that would be a discouraging thought, but it really isn't. It just helps me realize how greatly blessed I've been, and encourages me to keep noticing and doing the little things. November's a great month recognize this and put it into practice.

Gratitude Day Twelve

2011-11-12T09:11:00.003-05:00

Mosiah 2:19

"And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!"

King Benjamin has always been one of my heroes. Service, humility, and gratitude are all great traits to emulate.

Gratitude Day Eleven

2011-11-11T09:10:00.001-05:00

Mosiah 2:4

"And also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men."

Things to be thankful for:

safety and deliverance
just teachers
righteous leaders
peace
guidance of the commandments
joy and happiness
love and charity
kind friends and family
a gracious Heavenly Father

Things really don't change very much over the years, do they?

Gratitude Day Ten

2011-11-10T09:10:00.003-05:00

Jacob 4:3

"Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents."

One of the best places to compile our "list of blessings" is in our journals. Journal writing is so important. Even if no one else ever reads our journal, keeping one can help us individually. (See a great article on this here.) November would be a great month to take some time and write down all the things we're grateful for. If you did that every year, and kept it in the same place (i.e. your journal), it would be really easy to go back and compare. And then you'd have even more things to be grateful for!

Gratitude Day Nine

2011-11-09T09:10:00.003-05:00

2 Nephi 25:29

"And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out."

President Monson gave the following counsel: "Do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love. My beloved friend President Gordon B. Hinckley said, 'When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.' . . . A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives."

Gratitude Day Eight

2011-11-08T09:09:00.002-05:00

2 Nephi 9:52

Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.

I recall President Kimball teaching that "remember" might be the most important word in the dictionary. I believe him. Remembering God and expressing gratitude through prayer truly brings happiness and rejoicing into our lives. What a blessing!

GCBC - President Packer

2011-11-07T12:09:00.002-05:00

General Conference Book Club

"Counsel to Youth"

President Boyd K. Packer

One of the things which I loved about this talk (you can find it here) was the sense of optimism that pervaded it. Did you know that President Packer gave a very similar talk several years ago? You can find it here - "Do Not Fear." I also enjoyed listening to the CES fireside talk he gave yesterday; it seemed like he covered many of the same points, which to me just gave them more emphasis. We live in exciting times, and I'm grateful for the counsel to not worry about that - to listen to my leaders, follow the Spirit, and just do what is right.

We attended Young Women in Excellence last week, and one of the girls sang the song, "Maybe I will be There" taken from the September 2001 New Era. I thought it went quite well with this talk. You can find the music here, but here are the words:

Maybe I Will Be There

Words by Cynthia Mrazek Pyne
Music by Melissa Henrie Spencer

1. I wasn’t at the manger
Nor at the cruel cross.
I didn’t lay Him in the tomb,
Feel numb with grief and loss.

2. I wasn’t there when He arose
To worship at His feet.
I wasn’t in a Nephite land
As He taught other sheep.

Chorus
But maybe I will be there
When Jesus comes again.
Maybe I will hear His voice
And see the angels then.
Surely I will praise His name
When ev’ry knee shall bend.
Maybe I will be there
When Jesus comes again!

3. I didn’t see the miracles
Or walk in Galilee.
I didn’t see Him raise the dead,
Take children on His knee.

4. I never knew His tender smile
Or heard Him call me friend.
I wasn’t there to see the pain
He suffered for all men.

5. My time is in the latter days
When truth has been restored.
And though I’ve never seen His face,
I know my Savior’s word.

6. The scriptures say I need not fear
If I will but prepare.
Then with the just I’ll be caught up
And meet my Savior there.

Chorus
And maybe I will be there
When Jesus comes again.
Maybe I will hear His voice
And see the angels then.
Surely I will praise His name
When ev’ry knee shall bend.
Maybe I will be there
When Jesus comes again!
I pray that I will be there
When Jesus comes again!

I think that having a testimony that we've been sent to earth at the right time for us is critical. We need to know that Heavenly Father knows us individually and we need to discover what our personal mission might be. I'm grateful for talks like President Packer's that help me in this quest.

Gratitude Day Seven

2011-11-07T09:09:00.002-05:00

2 Nephi 9:49

"Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God."

Here's a beautiful talk that expands on this topic: My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord. As Sister Tanner mentioned, there are so many things that can bring us delight. November is a great time to remember them and be thankful for them.

Gratitude Day Six

2011-11-06T09:08:00.004-05:00

2 Nephi 8:3

For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

Here's one of my favorite hymns: On This Day of Joy and Gladness. I love its chorus of "Alleluia" and I think it makes a great Thanksgiving hymn, even if it's normally not thought of that way.

Gratitude Day Five

2011-11-05T09:08:00.004-04:00

1 Nephi 18:16

"Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions."

I think that one of the best ways to praise God (which is definitely a form of expressing gratitude) is through music. Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow is a great one to start with.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him, all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

At one point it was one of our son's favorite hymns (probably because it's the shortest in the hymnbook), and having a family that also loves music is just another blessing in my life.

Gratitude Day Four

2011-11-04T09:08:00.002-04:00

1 Nephi 7:22

"And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tent of our father. And after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down unto the tent of my father, they did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him."

If you don't want a branch full of "thankful" leaves, how about a turkey full of "thankful" feathers? Here's the link: Thankful Feathers

Gratitude Day Three

2011-11-03T09:07:00.002-04:00

1 Nephi 5:9

"And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel."

Here's another craft/centerpiece to help us focus on gratitude for the whole month (or even just the one day) of Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving Tree.

Gratitude Day Two

2011-11-02T09:05:00.002-04:00

This verse is pretty short and simple, but isn't expressing gratitude a sweet and simple thing?

1 Nephi 2:7

"And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God."

When was the last time you gave a prayer expressing only thanks? I know it's been a while since I have. That sounds like a good thing to try today. And because there are so many things I'm thankful for, I should allow plenty of time to do so.

P.S. There are a lot of neat Thanksgiving traditions built around making lists of things you're thankful for. Here are two I read about yesterday: The Blessing Box and Thanksgiving Advent Calendar.

Gratitude Day One

2011-11-01T08:46:00.002-04:00

I'm trying to do better at following through on promptings (see the previous post), so when I had the idea to compile a list of 30 scriptures on gratitude from the Book of Mormon for the sister I visit teach, I did. And since it doesn't take much additional effort to post them here, I figured I would. At the very least, it will keep this principle of giving thanks uppermost in my own mind for the month. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

I even thought about putting them in some kind of organized progression of theme, but finally decided that just going from 1 Nephi to Moroni was organization enough. This first verse doesn't exactly mention "thanksgiving" yet whenever I read it I'm grateful for so many things. First, it reminds me of Elder Bednar's talk on The Tender Mercies of the Lord. Second, it reminds me of President Hinckley's challenge in August of 2005** to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. Michelle and I read it together, looking for examples of tender mercies; it was a wonderful experience. So, in my mind, this is definitely a verse that shows gratitude to the Lord for all of our many blessings. And that's what Thanksgiving is all about.

1 Nephi 1:20

"And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

**"We studied the Book of Mormon in Sunday School this past year. Nonetheless I offer a challenge to members of the Church throughout the world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book of Mormon. If you will read a bit more than one and one-half chapters a day, you will be able to finish the book before the end of this year. . . .

"Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God." (Gordon B. Hinckley, August 2005 Ensign)

GCBC - Elder Alonso

2011-10-31T08:25:00.004-04:00

"Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time, Without Delay"

Elder José L. Alonso

I could have guessed that this would be the title of his talk when it was printed, because this phrase was repeated several times, and that's what I remember first about his talk. I get great ideas all of the time, but sometimes that's all they are - just ideas. It's the follow-through that's important, and the sooner the better.

One new concept to me from this talk is that sometimes people don't even realize that they are lost. We need to find them anyway, especially when we know that they are lost. That's a concept that I need to spend more time pondering. How do you identify those that are lost, and how do you help them recognize that?

I also liked his comment that they didn't take the time to have a planning meeting when they realized their little boy was lost. They just started looking for him while praying fervently inside. Plans and organization are important; I find that I'm more effective when I think things through first. However, sometimes we just need to stop planning and go do. Our service doesn't have to be "perfect" to be effective. If our hearts are in the right place, and we're trying to do what the Savior would do, that's what matters most.

In addition, one of the things I've learned about service is that it isn't always convenient, and it's often unpredictable. That's something I struggle with. I'm trying to do better at being less selfish and more willing to serve others. I'm a work in process, and I guess we all are. Elder Alonso's talk was a gentle reminder to me that I need to improve in serving others, and that I need to do so without delay.

P.S. Be sure to check out others' thoughts on this talk here; they're much better than mine!

GCBC - Elder Clayton

2011-10-23T19:19:00.007-04:00

General Conference Book Club

"The Time Shall Come" by L. Whitney Clayton

My first thought as I listened to Elder Clayton's talk was "Hey! I've been to Lima, too!" It was a great experience, but that really has nothing to do with his talk.The only note I took was after he quoted Moroni telling Joseph Smith "God has a work for you to do." God has a work for me to do as well; I just need to figure out what that is and then do it. That's what I've been pondering for the last couple of weeks. Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing? What is my mission here on earth? How will I accomplish it? I have a responsibility to find that out, and I have the promise that I can. My patriarchal blessing is a wonderful tool, as are studying the scriptures and strengthening my testimony - topics that were discussed in the two talks before Elder Clayton spoke. Actually, I have a pretty good idea of my personal mission, and I'm grateful my Heavenly Father has confidence in my ability to complete it.

That said, it was great to take the opportunity to read the talk again. My favorite part was this quote:

"This work of the Lord is indeed great and marvelous, but it moves forward essentially unnoticed by many of mankind’s political, cultural, and academic leaders. It progresses one heart and one family at a time, silently and unobtrusively, its sacred message blessing people everywhere."

I also loved the quote from President Hinckley, given in conference eight years ago, and appreciated being able to read the entire thing:

"It was said that at one time the sun never set on the British Empire. That empire has now been diminished. But it is true that the sun never sets on this work of the Lord as it is touching the lives of people across the earth.

"And this is only the beginning. We have scarcely scratched the surface. We are engaged in a work for the souls of men and women everywhere. Our work knows no boundaries. Under the providence of the Lord it will continue. Those nations now closed to us will someday be open. That is my faith. That is my belief. That is my testimony.

"The little stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands is rolling forth to fill the earth (see Dan. 2:31–45; D&C 65:2).

"To the Latter-day Saints everywhere, as we gather in this great conference I say, may God bless you. Keep the faith; be true to your covenants. Walk in the light of the gospel. Build the kingdom of God in the earth.

"The Church is in wonderful condition and can and will improve. It will grow and strengthen.

"We are ordinary people who are engaged in an extraordinary undertaking."

The Church will continue to grow and spread until it covers the whole earth. That's a promise. What am I doing to help that happen? I may be just ordinary, but a prophet of God as told us that's okay. It's a wonderful thing to be part of something so extraordinary as "building the kingdom of God in the earth."

Faith and Personal Character

2011-10-20T09:26:00.002-04:00

This morning I came across some notes I took from a talk by Elder Richard G. Scott (link at bottom). I'm glad I wrote them down, because I needed to reminded of these beautiful truths.

“Faith is a foundation building block of creation.”
Faith can transform our daily activities from drudgery to a “symphony of joy.”
“Faith and character are intimately related. Faith in the power of obedience to the commandments of God will forge strength of character available to you in times of urgent need. Such character is not developed in moments of great challenge or temptation. That is when it is intended to be used.”
“We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become.”
“Strong moral character results from consistent correct choices in the trials and testing of life.”
“The bedrock of character is integrity.”
Happiness on earth, as well as eternal salvation, comes from making many correct choices. They aren’t difficult to make, and together they forge a character that can resist temptation. This nobility of character gives our lives direction.
“Your character is a measure of what you are becoming. It is the evidence of how well you are using your time on earth.”
Serving others helps forge our character. It gives us a greater capacity to recognize the Spirit’s direction.
A testimony “is the very essence of character woven from threads born of countless correct decisions.”
“A testimony grows from understanding truth distilled from prayer and the pondering of scriptural doctrine. It is nurtured by living those truths with faith anchored in the secure confidence that the promised blessing will be obtained.”
“Humility is the precious fertile soil of righteous character.”
Cultivate seeds of growth with faith, prune with repentance, fortify with obedience and service and you’ll receive the fruit of spiritual direction.

“The Transforming Power of Faith and Character” by Elder Richard G. Scott (general conference October 2010)

GCBC - Sister Thompson

2011-10-17T05:57:00.006-04:00

“The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life.” Julie B. Beck

This statement by Sister Beck, given in the April 2010 general conference, really struck me. It's pretty bold to declare that there is a "single most important skill" to acquire! And yet she's right. For years I've felt very strongly that learning how the Spirit talks to them was one of the most important things I could help my children learn before they left home. It was nice to have the validation from a conference talk that I was on the right track.

Anyway, Sister Thompson talked about this same topic this month in general conference. (You can find the talk here.) The phrase that stood out most to me as she was talking was this one: "Because we have a strong testimony doesn’t mean it will always remain that way. We must nourish and strengthen it in order that it will have sufficient power to sustain us."

That reminded me of a quote from President Harold B. Lee: "The testimony you have today will not be your testimony of tomorrow. Your testimony is either going to grow and grow until it becomes as the brightness of the sun, or it is going to diminish to nothing, depending on what you do about it. The greatest responsibility that a member of Christ’s church has ever had is to become truly converted—and it is just as important to stay converted." (February 1971 New Era - This is an incredible article and I'd encourage you to read the whole thing.) Did you notice that superlative "greatest responsibility" again? We become converted as we learn how to recognize the Spirit.

Once we have felt the Spirit testifying truth to us, we need to work daily to keep our testimonies. And that reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures: Alma 5:26 "And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?"

Sister Thompson taught the way to keep our testimonies strong every single day: "The way to receive personal revelation is really quite clear. We need to desire to receive revelation, we must not harden our hearts, and then we need to ask in faith, truly believe that we will receive an answer, and then diligently keep the commandments of God."

I'm grateful for my testimony. I'm thankful for the encouragement to do the little things each day to keep it growing.

P.S. Saturday we went to watch the sunrise at the beach. It was a cloudy day, but you could still tell that the sun had actually risen above the horizon. It was reminiscent of Elder Bednar's talk last spring, which Sister Thompson also referenced: "The Spirit of Revelation."

quotes from Harold B. Lee - (He didn't just say it one time!)

"Testimony is as elusive as a moonbeam; it’s as fragile as an orchid; you have to recapture it every morning of your life. You have to hold on by study, and by faith, and by prayer. If you allow yourself to be angry, if you allow yourself to get into the wrong kind of company, you listen to the wrong kind of stories, you are studying the wrong kind of subjects, you are engaging in sinful practices, there is nothing that will be more deadening as to take away the Spirit of the Lord from you until it will be as though you had walked from a lighted room when you go out of this building, as though you had gone out into a darkness."

"That which you possess today in testimony will not be yours tomorrow unless you do something about it. Your testimony is either going to increase or it is going to diminish, depending on you. Will you remember your responsibility, then? The Lord said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17)."

"No truly converted Latter-day Saint can be immoral. No truly converted Latter-day Saint can be dishonest, nor lie, nor steal. That means that one may have a testimony as of today, but when he stoops to do things that contradict the laws of God, it is because he has lost his testimony and he has to fight to regain it again. Testimony isn’t something that you have today and you keep always. Testimony is either going to grow and grow to the brightness of certainty, or it is going to diminish to nothingness, depending upon what we do about it. I say, the testimony that we recapture day by day is the thing that saves us from the pitfalls of the adversary."

Scripture Mastery Verses

2011-10-16T09:01:00.001-04:00

I'm going to post this link, mainly so I can remember where to find it easily! Here are the 100 scripture mastery verses: Scripture Mastery List.

In addition, here's the list for the ones we memorized when I was in seminary: 160 Scripture Mastery Verses. (Note: Actually I was one of those who saved the original list in my "attic crawl space," aka my filing cabinet, but using this link saves me the trouble of typing them all.)

GCBC - Elder Scott

2011-10-12T15:40:00.003-04:00

General Conference Book Club - Week Two

(You can find Week One here.)

This time around, we're going through the conference talks in order. That means the first one to focus on is Elder Scott's talk on the scriptures. This morning I woke up with the song "Scripture Power" running through my head. I think that about sums up this talk. Reading, studying, pondering, and memorizing scripture gives us the power to avoid temptation. It gives us courage to remember our covenants and keep the commandments. We're even promised that in the scriptures themselves:

"Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—

"And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out" (Helaman 3:29-30).

"Whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction" (1 Nephi 15:24).

Whether we read the Bible, Book of Mormon, words of living prophets and apostles, or any other scriptures, we can find those "packets of light" that Elder Scott mentioned. My day isn't complete (and I wouldn't want it to be) without spending time with my friends, the scriptures. I hope yours isn't either.

Here are some more links:

Elder Scott's conference address

"Scripture Power" words

"Scripture Power" music (scroll down)

online scriptures

General Conference Book Club - Week 2

General Conference Review

2011-10-03T08:06:00.004-04:00

General Conference Highlights, October 2011

I told myself I needed to write these down before reading anyone else's answers, and I did. However, I have already read Stephanie's post, and we have a lot of the same answers. I guess that just means we're kindred spirits!

1. Who were your three favorite speakers?
It's really hard to narrow it down, but I'd have to say my favorite was Sister Dalton, next was Elder Carl Cook and then Elder Alonso. (My husband and sons all had Elder Holland's talk near the top of their list, so I'm anxious to go listen to that one.)

2. Which talk spoke to you the most?
Elder Ardern's talk on prioritizing time (and making the time to ponder) was a talk I needed to hear.

3. What was your favorite Hymn and why did it move you?

I loved "Consider the Lilies" because it's just a very comforting and peaceful hymn that I don't hear very often. I also loved hearing "Arise, O God, and Shine" and it's enthusiastic message "that all the world [God's] truth may know." Isn't that the purpose of conference?

4. Which speaker was the best dressed? (Come on, we can have a little fun.)

A dark suit, crisp white shirt and nice tie make any man look more and, unfortunately, equally handsome, so I'd have to go with Sister Dalton's beautiful purple suit. (I liked that Sister Thompson chose purple as well; my sister would be so pleased!)

Remember I said I'd count the color of ties in honor of my cousin's Primary? My tally was 9 red ties, 1 red & blue, 8 blue ties, 5 black/gray ties and 2 gold ones.

5. Were there any topics that you felt were repeated often? Any conference “themes”?

Overall, I felt a sense of encouragement, and that we need to use our agency to strengthen our personal relationship with Heavenly Father and do our part to build the Kingdom of God on earth. (That encompasses covenants, temples, missions, gathering, testimony, obedience, following the Holy Ghost's promptings, reading the Book of Mormon, praying, etc. etc.) I also felt that our leaders were really trying to reach the youth and young adults and encourage them to stay faithful.

6. Share a few of your favorite quotes from any of the talks (paraphrasing is fine).

"It's better to look up." (Cook quoting Monson)

"Prayer is the passport to peace." (Cornish quoting Monson)

"Decisions determine destiny." (Bennett)

"God has a work for you to do." (Clayton)

"My testimony kept me." (Thompson)

"Scriptures are our friends. They are packets of light." (Scott)

"Do the right thing at the right time without delay." (Alonso)

7. Name something(s) that made you smile or laugh during conference.

President Monson's "Hello!"

President Eyring remembering what happened to Abinadi.

Elder Nelson reminding us we "get" to participate in the gathering of Israel!

8. Was there any evidence that your children paid attention?

Our kids are old enough that I knew they would all be paying attention; however, Sunday morning when we got out our things to work on family history before conference started, our teenage daughter said, "You can't do that! I'm supposed to!" She definitely heard Elder Bednar's message.

9. What doctrine did you learn as you listened to the choir(s) sing?

My Heavenly Father lives and loves me. Families can be together forever.

10. Did the music enhance your General Conference experience? How?

My testimony is always strengthened by listening to hymns, and that just makes the beautiful music of conference even better. The hymns serve as a reminder to keep my covenants, especially as the melodies and phrases are recalled during the day. "Redeemer of Israel" reminded me of Elder Bednar's "Tender Mercies" talk, and the little things that bring joy to my own life each day. "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" reminded me of my teenage sons desires to serve missions. And I really appreciated the phrase "give us strength to do thy will" in the last closing hymn.

11. What are some of your post-conference goals?

Pray daily for strength to do God's will.

Take the time to really ponder as I study the scriptures.

Be a finisher.

Remember to review all of these talks frequently and set more goals!

What would your answers to these questions be? Feel free to write them down, and then link up over at Diapers & Divinity. And don't forget to come participate in the next round of the General Conference Book Club!

A Recurring Quote

2011-09-21T08:50:00.003-04:00

"Don't let a day go by without doing something to act on the promptings of the Spirit."

I've come across that counsel three times in less than 24 hours. I figure that means something!

First, I was clearing off some of the papers on my desk and found it scribbled in a notebook. Second, this month's visiting teaching message includes that subject, so I was reminded of the quote again, and decided to read the whole talk. Third, while waiting for Michelle this morning I was reading the October New Era, which arrived yesterday, and there it is again, on page 38!

Are you wondering yet who said it? Or do you already know because you've been following that counsel for the past six months? Anyway, it was said by President Uchtdorf in the April 2011 general conference priesthood session. However, you don't have to hold the priesthood to follow that advice. So, guess what I'm going to make a greater effort to do daily? How about you?

Here are the links if you want them:

President Uchtdorf - "Your Potential, Your Privilege"

September 2011 Visiting Teaching Message

What's Up? - October 2011 New Era

Also, the VT message contains another quote by Sister Beck that I love and am trying to remember and apply: "The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life." That's a pretty bold statement, yet I know it's true. Having that ability makes it possible to do everything else we need to do.

Prophets

2011-06-05T22:28:00.003-04:00

Or the story behind a good quote.

Last Sunday our teacher read the following quote in class:

"The passage of time has not altered the capacity of the Redeemer to change men’s lives. As he said to the dead Lazarus, so he says to you and me: '… come forth.' (John 11:43.) Come forth from the despair of doubt. Come forth from the sorrow of sin. Come forth from the death of disbelief. Come forth to a newness of life. Come forth."

I thought she said it was given by Elder McConkie in the April 1974 general conference, so when I got home I looked it up; the quote wasn't there.

However, this quote was there:

"The great need in the world today is not for the Lord to send a prophet to reveal his mind and will. He has done that; we have a prophet; we are guided by many men who have the spirit of inspiration. The great need today is for men to have a listening ear and to give heed to the words that fall from the lips of those who wear the prophetic mantle." (Elder Bruce R. McConkie)

Knowing that Steven was preparing a talk about the importance of following prophets, I sent it over to him. He really liked it and actually used it for the conclusion of his talk. I just thought it was amazing how the Lord works. I don't know whether the teacher said Monson and I heard McConkie, or if she really said McConkie; it doesn't matter. What does matter is that the Lord sometimes "works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform." Steven needed that quote for his talk, and he got it.

Oh, and I eventually did find the reference for the first quote. It's from Thomas S. Monson, given at that same general conference.

Friends are Important

2011-06-05T08:01:00.003-04:00

I've spent quite a bit of time over the past few months pondering this thought and trying to meet the challenge:

"As a member of the Church, reach out to those you do not know and greet them warmly. Each Sunday extend a hand of fellowship to at least one person you did not know before. Each day of your life, strive to enlarge your own circle of friendship." (Russell M. Nelson)

The older I get, the more I realize how important true friendship is. Although at times it may seem difficult to build strong relationships, particularly as that circle gets larger and larger, the blessings that come from the good examples and and thoughtful acts of others make it worthwhile. And the very best relationship to strengthen is the one with Heavenly Father. That will make all the rest even better.

Faith

2011-06-01T07:47:00.003-04:00

The following quote was shared in our Sunday School lesson this week:

“Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God’s laws the greater will be the endowment of faith” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 264).

I've always loved that quote, but the teacher didn't give the reference, and I've learned (from teaching seminary!) that sources are important. This morning I found it quoted in this talk by Elder Pearson. It's a great talk and I wanted to remember it as well, so that's why I'm writing this post! I loved the whole talk, and particularly appreciated his summary:

"These Six Destructive Ds—doubt, discouragement, distraction, lack of diligence, disobedience, and disbelief—all erode and destroy our faith. We can choose to avoid and overcome them."

I'm continually reminding myself that fear and faith can't co-exist. And discouragement and distraction have been a temptation lately. I appreciate the words of the prophets that help strengthen my resolve to focus on faith and not doubt. We can do it!

Songs from the Friend

2011-05-06T09:35:00.004-04:00

There are some wonderful songs, with great messages, that we don't sing very often because they're not in the "regular" book. If you ever want a great family night lesson, try learning one of these:

"My Testimony Grows" (April 1991)

"The Lord Will Watch Over Me" (January 1994)

"My Testimony is Growing" (March 1994)

"I Will Always Obey" (March 1996)

"Our Savior's Atonement" (April 1997)

"I Heard the Prophet Speak Today" (October 2001)

"I Know that my Savior Loves Me" (October 2002)

And here are a few Christmas ones, too!

"Samuel the Lamanite" (December 1988)

"If I had been in Bethlehem" (December 1989)

"Christmas Lullaby" (December 1994)

General Conference

2011-04-12T10:37:00.003-04:00

I just love general conference. And I love being able to go back and re-read all the talks. As we've been counseled, we should make these messages part of our walk and talk for the next six months. Because last October one of my visiting teaching sisters was unable to listen to conference when it was originally broadcast, we spent some time over the months sharing thoughts from each individual talk. I really appreciated that chance to review them. So, when I discovered an online General Conference Book Club this month, I was pretty intrigued. I think it will be a great way to motivate me to keep the messages of general conference in the forefront of my life.

"Lord, I Would Follow Thee"

2011-03-07T07:53:00.003-05:00

Last night at choir practice we were going over an arrangement of the hymn, "Lord, I Would Follow Thee." Our regular choir director wasn't feeling well and stayed home. Before she started, our substitute choir director said she wanted us to know the story behind the writing of the hymn before we sang it; she had been in the same BYU ward as the author. I didn't feel comfortable sharing the sweet story online because it was so personal. However, I searched, and Susan Evan McCloud shared it herself here a year ago.

But her story reminded me of my own experience that I wanted to share. Just a few days before Steven was born I was shopping with Jeff while the other boys were at school. We had a lengthy list and at the very last store we were both exhausted. Under any other circumstances, I would have called us done and gone home. However, the crib set that would make the baby's room "perfect" just happened to be on sale that day only, and there were a few other things that we needed before his birth. We hurried into the store, got them, and stood in line to pay for them. At about that time Jeff noticed something at the check-out that he really wanted. He had already chosen his "treat" for the day and so I said no. As you can imagine he wasn't happy about that and started throwing a fit. I just tried to ignore it, pay for our stuff, and get out of there as fast as possible. Then I heard the lady behind us say something like "Why on earth is she having another baby (good thing she didn't know it was number 5!!) when she can't control the kid she already has." I was crushed. I was trying to be a good mom and just take care of my family. I was already humiliated that my three-year-old was causing a disturbance and I just wanted to disappear. Why couldn't that lady understand that I was trying to do my best, that I wasn't trying to bug her on purpose?

And so I understand what Sister McCloud was trying to say in her hymn. We don't know what's going on inside other people's lives and hearts. For the last 18 years, I've tried to remember this incident and give others the benefit of the doubt. While there's really no excuse for rudeness and unkind behavior, knowing that people are probably suffering in some way makes it easier for me to be forgiving. And smiling and offering help go a lot further than being unkind and rude back. Isn't that what the Savior taught?

1. Savior, may I learn to love thee,
Walk the path that thou hast shown,
Pause to help and lift another,
Finding strength beyond my own.
Savior, may I learn to love thee—
Lord, I would follow thee.

2. Who am I to judge another
When I walk imperfectly?
In the quiet heart is hidden
Sorrow that the eye can’t see.
Who am I to judge another?
Lord, I would follow thee.

3. I would be my brother’s keeper;
I would learn the healer’s art.
To the wounded and the weary
I would show a gentle heart.
I would be my brother’s keeper—
Lord, I would follow thee.

4. Savior, may I love my brother
As I know thou lovest me,
Find in thee my strength, my beacon,
For thy servant I would be.
Savior, may I love my brother—
Lord, I would follow thee.

Text: Susan Evans McCloud, b. 1945. © 1985 IRI

Music: K. Newell Dayley, b. 1939. © 1985 IRI

Functional Families

2011-01-20T06:32:00.003-05:00

This morning I was reminded of a talk by James MacArthur given at the 1999 BYU Education Week that I listened to years ago. Here's the link - Functional Families. And while I thought it had some great ideas for having a strong family, it helped me even more as a seminary teacher with my relationships with my students. In particular, #2 helped me realize that I couldn't make them stay awake and be happy to be in class at 6 AM, but that I could be prepared to do my part. I needed to re-learn that principle --one that I had learned years before when trying to put a 2-year-old to bed - I could make them stay in their room by sitting in front of the door or have miserable consequences if they made it all the way down the stairs, but I couldn't make them go to sleep!

The Functional Family: A Gospel Perspective

1. In a funtional family, there is a good, loving atmosphere.

2. In a functional family, parents are more interested in what they can offer to their kids than what their kids do with that offering. They act as guides and coaches, not as managers.

3. In a funtional family, parents intentionally parent. They meet together on a regular basis and talk about their kids and decide how they're going to handle things.

4. In a funtional family, parents are very aware of the messages that they're sending their children.

5. In a functional family, the basic human needs are met in the home. These needs are to feel significant, important, worthwhile and relevant.

6. In a functional family, relationships are of supreme importance.

7. In a functional family, parents are teachers. They plan what to teach.

8. In a functional family, parents have clearly defined roles and responsibilities that are mutually agreed upon.

9. In a functional family, parents give strong and confident leadership. They have a shared vision for the family.

10. In a functional family, mistakes are part of the learning process. The family keeps its head up and faces tough times together.

11. In a functional family, all family members play and have fun together.

12. In a functional family, the family is the gospel school.

Peace and Joy

2010-12-19T14:38:00.002-05:00

Earlier this month I wrote "Peace and Joy" on the whiteboard to help me remember to focus on those qualities during this Christmas season, and look for opportunities to feel peace and joy. A few days later I was reading in the new church handbook and was struck by a paragraph that mentioned peace and joy; it also mentioned love. The paragraph was on the duty of the ward council to help new members stay strong. It says "They [the ward council] counsel about ways to help new members feel the love of other members, the joy of serving in the Lord's kingdom, and the peace that comes through living gospel principles." If we truly want to feel joy, we need to serve others, and if we want to feel peace, we need to be obedient to God's commandments. It's that simple. I'm so grateful that I have plenty of opportunities to feel love and joy and peace, particularly at Christmas, but all throughout the year as well.

4 C's of Leadership

2010-11-17T14:15:00.001-05:00

The Young Women were reminded the other night that they are leaders, and that they should work on developing the following qualities:

Courage
Candor (Integrity)
Commitment
Competence (have Confidence in your Competence)

Those are good values for all of use to work on!

"Safely Dead"

2010-11-08T07:10:00.004-05:00

Last night we listened to the CES fireside with Elder M. Russell Ballard. Near the end he told a story about a stake conference talk he heard from his 90 year old stake patriarch on the importance of enduring to the end. Part of that story included the phrase "safely dead" and I knew I had heard that phrase before, but I remembered it being a general conference talk, and not a stake conference talk. I also didn't think it was given by Elder Ballard. So, I did some research in my old D&C seminary manual, and discovered it really did come from Elder Ballard. This isn't the first time he's told the story!

Here's the quote:

"We are a covenant people. If there is a distinguishing feature about members of the Church, it is that we make covenants. We need to be known as a covenant-keeping people as well. Making promises is easy, but to follow through and do what we have promised is another matter. That involves staying the course, being constant and steadfast. It means keeping the faith and being faithful to the end despite success or failure, doubt or discouragement. It is drawing near to the Lord with all our hearts. It is doing whatever we promise to do with all our might -- even when we might not feel like it.

"I once attended a funeral service with Elder M. Russell Ballard. A statement he made there has remained with me to this day. He said, 'Life isn't over for a Latter-day Saint until he or she is safely dead, with their testimony still burning brightly.' 'Safely dead' -- what a challenging concept. Brothers and sisters, we will not be safe until we have given our hearts to the Lord -- until we have learned to do what we have promised."

Elder F. Burton Howard, April 1996 general conference

Eight Simple Things

2010-10-29T10:16:00.003-04:00

A couple of years ago in stake conference, our stake presidency introduced "Eight Simple Things" that they hoped each individual and family in the stake would do. We were promised that they would provide protection for our family. They included:

•family prayer twice a day
•personal prayer twice a day
•family meal times
•family scripture study five times a week
•daily personal scripture study
•family home evenings on Mondays & regular family councils
•family attendance at all Sunday church meetings
•temple attendance monthly

Because these are so important, every once in a while we review them and see how we can improve. One of the more memorable of these sessions resulted in more frequent family dinners, and I was amazed at how trying to be more effective in that really made a difference in our family life. It always pays to follow your leaders.

We reviewed them again for our family night lesson last week, focusing on how it takes faith to be obedient. Faith is a gift from God, but it's one we can each receive. Faith is an action word; it takes effort to increase our faith, and yet increasing our faith makes the effort easier.

Remember to do the little things (no matter how tedious or repetitive they may seem) that bring such great blessings!

A Formula for Success

2010-10-13T09:09:00.003-04:00

I had the opportunity to teach seminary one day this week, and the lesson was taken from D&C 30:1-2, which the manual called a formula for failure. It basically included fearing man more than God, relying on the things of the world, and not listening to the Spirit or your church leaders.

However, we don't want to dwell on that; we want the formula for success. The class agreed that doing the opposite would bring success - trust in God, follow the prophet, listen to the Spirit. I also discovered a couple of quotes that said the Lord's formula for success could be found in Matthew 6:33 -"Seek ye first the kingdom of God."

President Monson also taught a formula for success. It is

Fill your mind with truth.
Fill your life with service.
Fill your heart with love.

I was reminded that I wanted to share these thoughts when I read today's daily "gem" - "We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit." Julie B. Beck

Our definition of success may be different from the world's definition of success, but I know that putting God first in our lives will bring true happiness and real success.

Personal Revelation (part two)

2010-10-01T09:15:00.002-04:00

Part of our family night discussion involved recalling instances when we had received personal revelation. For example:

Brad lost his shoe on the hike. David prayed. We found it under a bush.
Someone didn't want to come to family prayer. Mom was prompted to take family prayer to him. We had family prayer.
The Holy Ghost told Becky that she would marry Wayne during their very first phone call. (See lesson #5 in this post. It was good this came up, because the kids hadn't heard that before.)

We discussed the importance of following through on promptings we receive, and that as we do that more and more, the more often promptings come, and the more easily they are recognized.

Then a couple of days later a friend shared an experience that perfectly illustrates this principle, as well as how the Lord uses us to serve and help others. That morning she was out running errands, had a conversation with one of the store clerks, and was prompted to share information learned in that conversation with another friend. She figured she'd do it the next time she saw him, but the thought kept returning, and finally she realized she better follow through on it right away. During the course of that phone call, the conversation turned to another topic - the youth temple trip that afternoon. She realized that this friend, a new convert, was under the impression that there wasn't time for him to prepare family file names. He was excited about going to the temple with his (also newly baptized) son, though, and they were hoping to be able to go again later to do the work for their grandparents. At that point this sister realized why she had been prompted to call him. She explained that since he already had the information, it would take just a few minutes to print out the request and they could be baptized for his relatives that very day. So they were, and it turned out to be a special experience for all involved.

Moral of the story: Sometimes you learn right away why you were prompted to do something. Sometimes you don't. But it's always a good idea to be obedient to the Spirit. And the more you practice, the better you get.

Personal Revelation (part one)

2010-10-01T08:46:00.003-04:00

This week Steven gave a great lesson. (You can tell it's a good one when you still remember it days later!) Anyway, he chose the topic prayer/personal revelation from the new Duty to God book. The first thing he noticed was that they went together. You couldn't pick just "prayer" or just "personal revelation" and that in itself is something to ponder.

Part of the assignment in learning more about the subject was to compile a list of questions someone might ask as you taught them what you learned. I thought the older brothers might appreciate knowing those questions, and the answers we came up with. And feel free to add your own thoughts.

Question #1: How can you tell if it's your thoughts or promptings from the Holy Ghost?
Answer (from Michelle): It doesn't really matter. If it's an idea to do something good, just do it. It doesn't matter if you thought of it all on your own or not. Remember that everything that is good leads to more good.
Answer (from Mom): You practice and practice and practice listening. And you do what Michelle suggested. Eventually you'll learn how the Holy Ghost speaks to you and it will quite obvious. And if it isn't, that doesn't really matter either (see Michelle's answer and Moroni 7:16).
Answer (from Dad): If you totally understand what you're thinking, but can't explain it to another person, it's likely personal revelation meant just for you and no one else.

Question #2: What do you do if you pray and pray and don't get an answer?
Answer (can't remember who said what but it includes): Don't give up. Remember that stupor of thought is an answer. Remember that "not now" is an answer. Make sure you're asking the right questions. (Have you done your part to study and make a decision?) Remember this quote from Brigham Young:

"If I ask him to give me wisdom concerning any requirement in life, or in regard to my own course, or that of my friends, my family, my children, those that I preside over, and get no answer from him, and then do the very best that my judgment will teach me, he is bound to own and honor that transaction, and he will do so to all intents and purposes." (DBY, 43 or Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 46)

And then I found a more current quote on the same subject as I read an article by Elder Christofferson in the October New Era this morning. He was quoting Elder Richard G. Scott:

"What do you do when you have prepared carefully, have prayed fervently, waited a reasonable time for a response, and still do not feel an answer? You may want to express thanks when that occurs, for it is an evidence of His trust. When you are living worthily and your choice is consistent with the Savior's teachings and you need to act, proceed with trust. As you are sensitive to the promptings of the Sprit, one of two things will certainly occur at the appropriate time: either the stupor of thought will come, indicating an improper choice, or the peace of the burning in the bosom will be felt, confirming that your choice was correct. When you are living righteously and are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision." (April 2007 general conference)

I find those two quotes quite comforting.

Next up: some examples of this put into practice.

Consumption

2010-09-28T15:53:00.004-04:00

As I was reading in the Book of Mormon today, I was struck by the word "consumption" and wondered what it really meant. So I looked it up. The main definition is "the act of consuming or devouring something, as by use, decay, or destruction." (It olden days it also referred to the disease tuberculosis, so I guess that involved destruction of the lungs.)

I'm still trying to figure out how the righteousness part of the phrase relates to destruction. 2 Nephi 20:22 states "the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness." The cross reference is to Daniel 9:27 which uses the word "consummation" (instead of "consumption") which means "completion, perfection, fulfillment." Another cross reference I found goes to D&C 87:6, 8. In this section the Lord is talking about the end of the world, the destruction that will come, and our need to "stand in holy places" so that we can avoid it. I guess that's where the righteousness part comes. Isaiah (and Nephi), along with Daniel and Joseph Smith, were helping us prepare for the Second Coming by warning us of the dangers and reminding us of what we need to do.

All of that was a long introduction to say we're still being reminded. Here's a great talk I found by President Eyring which I wanted to share. I hope you enjoy it!

"As the challenges around us increase, we must commit to do more to qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Casual prayer won’t be enough. Reading a few verses of the scripture won’t be enough. Doing the minimum of what the Lord asks of us won’t be enough. Hoping that we will have the Atonement work in our lives and that we will perhaps sometimes feel the influence of the Holy Ghost won’t be enough. And one great burst of effort won’t be enough. Only a steady, ever-increasing effort will allow the Lord to take us to higher ground."
(from talk given by Henry B. Eyring at BYU-Idaho January 2005)

"I will preserve you."

2010-05-14T06:35:00.003-04:00

Last night we read Isaiah 41 for family scripture study. The chapter heading included the phrase "To Israel the Lord says: Ye are my servants; I will preserve you." During my personal scripture study earlier in the day, I had read Alma 44:4 which states "God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him," so I was excited to see what Isaiah had to say on the subject. I was disappointed to discover that Isaiah doesn't actually use the word "preserve" in Isaiah 41. After discussion, we decided the chapter heading was probably referring to verse 10:

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

During times of trial, I appreciate the fact that I can turn to the Lord and receive strength, help and support to be able to handle the challenges I'm facing. However, preservation seems to be a greater blessing. I'd rather be protected and sheltered - removed from the storm instead of receiving strength to withstand it.I loved the way Michelle put it. She thinks of canned fruit when she hears the word preserve. It's like Heavenly Father seals us in a jar while the commotion of the world swirls around us, and when everything's calmed down he'll take off the lid and let us out.

In the end, I guess it doesn't really matter whether I'm strengthened or preserved, it's up to me to be obedient and faithful. The Lord is always there and he'll bless me with what I truly need.

Thought for the Day

2010-05-12T09:41:00.002-04:00

Be Bold but not Bossy.

Also, be temperate in all things, be diligent and not idle.

(thoughts while reading Alma 38)

Some Quotes on Obedience

2010-03-10T11:55:00.007-05:00

"The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar. The many other things we "give," brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God's will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!"

--Neal A. Maxwell, October 1995 general conference

"When you have done the best you can, be satisfied and don't look back. Rather than berate yourself for what you didn't do, congratulate yourself for what you did."

--M. Russell Ballard, October 1991 general conference

"Disobedience is essentially a prideful power struggle against someone in authority over us. It can be a parent, a priesthood leader, a teacher, or ultimately God. A proud person hates the fact that someone is above him. He thinks this lowers his positiong. God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be humble or we can be compelled to be humble."

-- Ezra Taft Benson, April 1989 general conference

"All that the Lord requires of us is strict obedience to the laws of life. All the sacrifice that the Lord asks of his people is strict obedience to our own covenants that we have made with our God, and that is to serve him with an undivided heart."

--Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 18:246

And I need to add another one, that I was just reminded of:

Elder Donald L. Staheli, a member of the Seventy, said “Regardless of our age and stage in life, daily obedience to gospel principles is the only sure way to eternal happiness. President Ezra Taft Benson put it most poignantly when he said, ‘When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.’” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1998, 108; or Ensign, May 1998, 82 ).

Learning to Choose

2010-03-10T11:41:00.003-05:00

Another Tender Mercy

Several years ago I remember being impressed with a thought while listening to general conference, and that was that we weren't given the gift of agency so we could choose whatever we wanted, but Heavenly Father bestowed this gift on us so that we could prove to him, and ourselves, that we would choose what he wanted. I was pretty sure that Elder Bednar taught that, but I couldn't find where.

So, fast forward to 2010 when we started having a series of lessons on agency in Sunday School and Relief Society. I tried looking for that quote again, but wasn't successful. Then it became my turn to prepare the lesson and the Spirit said it should be on obedience. One of my favorite scriptures on that subject is D&C 11:20 and I knew that Elder Bednar had talked about that in relation to Moses 1:39. So, I looked up that talk, and, lo and behold, found that "lost" teaching. You can find it yourself, in the "Tender Mercies" talk from the April 2005 general conference. What a wonderful example of the Lord's tender mercies.

Here's the passage so you don't have to read the whole talk if you don't want to:

God does not have a list of favorites to which we must hope our names will someday be added. He does not limit “the chosen” to a restricted few. Rather, it is our hearts and our aspirations and our obedience which definitively determine whether we are counted as one of God’s chosen.

Enoch was instructed by the Lord on this very point of doctrine. Please note the use of the word choose in these verses: “Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;

“And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father” (Moses 7:32–33; emphasis added).

As we learn in these scriptures, the fundamental purposes for the gift of agency were to love one another and to choose God. Thus we become God’s chosen and invite His tender mercies as we use our agency to choose God.

One of the most well-known and frequently cited passages of scripture is found in Moses 1:39. This verse clearly and concisely describes the work of the Eternal Father: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (emphasis added).

A companion scripture found in the Doctrine and Covenants describes with equal clarity and conciseness our primary work as the sons and daughters of the Eternal Father. Interestingly, this verse does not seem to be as well known and is not quoted with great frequency. “Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength” (D&C 11:20; emphasis added).

Thus, the Father’s work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children. Our work is to keep His commandments with all of our might, mind, and strength—and we thereby become chosen and, through the Holy Ghost, receive and recognize the tender mercies of the Lord in our daily lives.

Faith, Hope & Charity

2010-03-09T11:18:00.003-05:00

"Challenging times require greater spiritual power." (3)

FAITH

"Faith is much more than passive belief. You express your faith through action - by the way you live." (2)

"Faith is a principle of power." (1)

"Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: 'Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God's laws the greater will be the endowment of faith.' If we desire more faith, we must be more obedient." (3)

"Faith requires an attitude of exact obedience, even in the small, simple things." (3)

"Faith and fear cannot coexist. One gives way to the other." (3)

HOPE

"When we have hope, we trust God's promises." (2)

"Hope is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance." (1)

"Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness." (4)

"Hope is a gift of the Spirit." (4)

"We grow in our ability to 'abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost,' as we more perfectly live the gospel." (4)

CHARITY

"Charity is a gift from God." (1)

"Charity, like faith, leads to action." (1)

"Nothing you do makes much of a difference if you do not have charity." (5)

"Love is the greatest of all the commandments - all others hang upon it. It is our focus as followers of the living Christ. It is the one trait that, if developed, will most improve our lives." (5)

These are some quotes that I really liked. We found them while discussing "faith, hope & charity" in FHE last night. Our resources were

1 - Preach My Gospel

2 -True to the Faith

and three conference talks
3 - "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ," Elder Kevin W. Pearson, April 2009
4 - "The Infinite Power of Hope," President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2008
5 - "The Great Commandment," Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, October 2007

Resisting Temptation

2010-02-21T17:16:00.002-05:00

We had an interesting (and very good) discussion on agency in Relief Society today. We can't have true agency without opposition, and so we spent a little bit of time discussing Satan and temptation. I was reminded of this quote by C. S. Lewis that I really like:

“A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. … You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down.” (It was quoted in the January 2007 Home Teaching Message by President James E. Faust.)

I also thought it was interesting that several of the comments shared in our class contained ideas that President Faust mentioned in this article, like “The devil is not smart because he is the devil; he is smart because he is old.” He's been around a long time, and knows what works and what doesn't as he tries to get people to join his side.

And, "However, we need not become paralyzed with fear of Satan’s power. He can have no power over us unless we permit it. He is really a coward, and if we stand firm, he will retreat. . . . Certainly he can tempt and he can deceive, but he has no authority over us that we do not give him. The power to resist Satan may be stronger than we realize. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: 'All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not. The devil has no power over us only as we permit him.'"

One of my favorite "rediscovered" scriptures is 1 Nephi 14:12-14, which reminds us "that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions . . . were small." However, "they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory." In spite of the fact that the devil's followers are growing ever larger in number, the winning side is Christ's side. It's empowering to know that we've been given the tools to defeat Satan. We know the outcome of this battle, and we can choose the winning side.

He Cannot Desert Us

2010-02-14T19:09:00.003-05:00

There was a quote shared in stake conference that I really liked, so I had to come home and look it up. The original quote was by George Q. Cannon:

"No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is [against] His character [to do so]. He is an unchangeable being. . . . He will stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and the purer for them, if we only trust in our God and keep His commandments."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland quoted it in his October 1997 general conference talk, where he also added this:

"Those who will receive the Lord Jesus Christ as the source of their salvation will always lie down in green pastures, no matter how barren and bleak the winter has been. And the waters of their refreshment will always be still waters, no matter how turbulent the storms of life. In walking His path of righteousness, our souls will be forever restored; and though that path may for us, as it did for Him, lead through the very valley of the shadow of death, yet we will fear no evil. The rod of His priesthood and the staff of His Spirit will always comfort us."

It's a comforting reassurance to know that no matter what trials and challenges we face, we are never alone.

Putting First Things First, part three

2010-02-10T07:58:00.006-05:00

The Baking Analogy

Something I've found very helpful as I strive to juggle responsibilities and set priorities is to compare each of my different roles to a baking ingredient. For example, wife = sugar, mother = flour, friend = eggs, housekeeper = chocolate chips, volunteer = milk, etc.

Some days I may use more "flour" than "sugar" and end up with rolls.

Other days may have more "sugar" than "flour" with cookies as the result.Still other days may have a lot of "eggs" and "milk," leaving no time for "sugar." (Hopefully these days are rare.)However, no matter what the proportion of other ingredients is, if there isn't any "salt" in my day, the whole day is a tasteless flop. Salt stands for my role as a daughter of God. If I make time for that relationship - through prayer and scripture study - whatever else happens turns out beautifully. Just like in baking, it doesn't take a lot of salt to make a difference. And so I find great comfort in this quote from President Packer:

"Things of the Spirit need not—indeed, should not—require our uninterrupted time and attention. Ordinary work-a-day things occupy most of our attention. And that is as it should be. We are mortal beings living in this physical world. Spiritual things are like leavening. By measure they may be very small, but by influence they affect all that we do."
Boyd K. Packer

What are you baking today?

Putting First Things First, part two

2010-02-10T07:52:00.008-05:00

The Parable of the Walnut and the Rice

(an object lesson to go with Matthew 6:33 - "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.")

The walnut in this jar represents the time we spend with God. The rice represents the time we spend doing other things.

If you pour the rice into the jar first, then try to insert the walnut, it will not fit.

If you put the walnut in first,
then pour the rice around it,

there is a perfect fit!

Likewise, if we spend time doing other things first, we will never find time to spend with God. If we spend time with God first, there will always be time for other things.

The key to making that happen is found in the second half of this quote by President Benson:

"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives."

President Ezra Taft Benson

Putting First Things First, part one

2010-02-10T07:40:00.003-05:00

While we were living in California we had the opportunity to attend a regional conference where Elder Richard G. Scott presided and spoke. His message really touched us, and it was a "tender mercy" to have him give a similar talk at the next general conference. Now we have an official transcript, which you can find here. The phrase that jumped out at us was this one:

"In quiet moments when you think about it, you recognize what is critically important in life and what isn’t. Be wise and don’t let good things crowd out those that are essential."

Over the years I've gone back to that thought over and over again as I strive to find the right balance between all my choices between good and good. Essential things must come first.

An Answered Prayer

2010-01-21T15:45:00.004-05:00

Today I came across an old journal entry that is definitely worth remembering and being posted as a "whispering of the Spirit." Do you remember this, Brad, because I certainly didn't? 2/3/2006

I had a prayer answered yesterday in an unusual way. Well, really it was the usual way, but an unexpected answer. On Tuesday Brad asked me to get a doctor appointment for him concerning his ringworm. I wasn't sure how serious he was and I felt it was kind of late anyway - that there was no way a doctor could treat and clear ringworm in a couple of days. I questioned him on it Wednesday night and discovered that he really was serious. In my Thursday morning prayer I prayed specifically to know what to do, remembering the promise in 2 Nephi 32:5 that we can know what we're to do. The answer was very clear: "This is what Brad's prayed about and you need to make the apointment." I still didn't think it would work, but I figured I better be obedient, so at 8:00 AM I made the call. It turned out they had a 9:45 appointment so I took Brad down. Now, here's the amazing thing - there is a drug that can kill ringworm quickly - and it takes 36 hours. So, the doctor signed the note saying Brad is not infectious as of 9 AM Saturday, which is exactly when he needs it (well, 10 AM Sat.). I am so grateful I didn't procrastinate any longer. I've done what I can do. Now it's up to Brad & Jeff to get themselves qualified for regions.

(They did qualify for the regional tournament.)

This is an amazing example of the scripture I re-learned this week: 1 Nephi 17:13 - "I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments." We can't see beforehand what the Lord is placing in our paths, but we can be assured that he's watching over us carefully and wants to bless us.

Redeeming the Dead

2010-01-04T07:52:00.004-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 137-138

I love doing family history and going to the temple. Maybe that's why I love these sections as well. They validate for me that time spent in those activites is valuable and of great worth.

When I glance at these sections, the words that jump out are "joy" and "rejoicing" and "peace." That's great encouragement to not give up when I hit a roadblock in research or trying to find time in a crazy schedule to make it to Orlando on a regular basis.

Okay, I probably should have spent more time pondering this subject. After all, it was because President Smith took the time to reflect and ponder and pray that we even have Section 138. I'm glad I was able to complete my goal to read the Doctrine and Covenants in 2009, but now it's time to once again move on to something else.

Practical Commandments

2010-01-04T07:49:00.003-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 136

Be organized.
Provide necessities for yourselves.
"Do as I have told you."
Use edifying words.
If you borrow something, return it.
Take care of your things.
Pray to turn sorrow into joy.

Remember that if we're diligent and faithful in keeping the commandments, we will be blessed.

Joseph Smith

2010-01-04T07:31:00.004-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 135

I always love reading John Taylor's testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. And I'm grateful that I have a testimony as well. Mine came during a seminary class when we watched "The First Vision" movie. If you have a copy of the Church History Collection dvd, you can watch it too.

It's #3 - The First Vision. This is the original video dramatization of the events that led Joseph Smith to pray in the Sacred Grove, where he received the First Vision. This video can be used to teach the importance of obtaining and sharing a testimony of the First Vision. (14:42)

Government

2010-01-04T07:26:00.002-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 134
"A Declaration of Beliefs"

"We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man."

"We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers" (but they should be equitable and just).

"We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside. . . . Sedition and rebellion are unbecoming."

"All men should step forward" and work towards peace and tranquility, bringing offenders to justice, and encouraging leaders to be righteous.

It's nice to be reminded that good citizens are proactive.

An Appendix

2010-01-04T07:16:00.004-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 133

I couldn't remember why this section was called the appendix, so I went searching and found an explanation in the institute manual:

Elder John A. Widtsoe explained that “the ‘Appendix’ [ D&C 133 ], supplements the introduction [ D&C 1 ]. The two sections together encompass the contents of the book in a condensed form. An appendix is something which the writer thinks should be added to amplify that which is in the book, to emphasize it, to make it stronger or to explain the contents a little more completely.” ( Message of the Doctrine and Covenants, p. 17.)

The scriptures form a great latticework of gospel concepts. Rather than collect gospel concepts by topic, the Lord chose to scatter them throughout the sacred writings, here a little and there a little. Only by diligent searching and studying can we come to a fulness of understanding. The more we immerse ourself in the scriptures, the more familiar we become with language and concepts that trigger a host of associations.

Section 133 contains an unusual number of such concepts that presuppose a knowledge of other scriptures. If one is not familiar with such principles as the Lord coming to His temple (see D&C 133:2 ), Babylon (see vv. 4–7, 14 ), the parable of the ten virgins (see v. 10 ), the story of Lot’s wife (see v. 15 ), the Lamb standing on Mount Zion (see v. 18 ), or the time when Jesus will stand on the Mount of Olives (see v. 20 ), one will miss significant insights into what the Lord says in this section.

Well, that helped me and I hope it helped you. Here are some of the phrases that jumped out to me on this reading:

verse 3 - "make bare his holy arm" - We need to roll up our sleeves and get to work!

verse 4 - We prepare for the future by gathering together and sanctifying ourselves now.

verse 19 - It is our responsibility to GO to meet the Bridegroom. Am I always striving to be in the right place at the right time?

verses 39-40 - Prayer and worship are important.

verse 71 - We can't expect to be rescued if we're not willing to be obedient.

Eternal Marriage

2010-01-04T07:03:00.003-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 131-132

There's a lot that could be said about celestial marriage, and I'm grateful that I've been taught this principle. And I'm grateful for a husband who has the same goal to spend eternity together. But I'm not very eloquent myself, so here are some talks by people who are:

Elder Bednar - "Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan"

President Hinckley - "The Marriage that Endures"

President Kimball - "Temples and Eternal Marriage"

Elder McConkie - "Celestial Marriage"

And here's a favorite quote from President Spencer W. Kimball:

"Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions and has the most far-reaching effects, for it has to do not only with immediate happiness, but eternal joys as well."

Items of Instruction

2010-01-04T06:33:00.004-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 130

I like that concise phrase in the section heading; what a simple way to describe what could be considered a hodge-podge of doctrine. And all of the doctrine is profound. We can tell that this was given near the end of Joseph's life when he had great maturity and understanding. So, here are a couple of things that stood out to me as I read this section.

Cross references for D&C 130:7 - Moses 1:6, D&C 38:2. Here are the scriptural references for the doctrine that Joseph Smith taught (see here) that God can behold the past, present and future all at once.

Revelation and answers to questions come "while praying earnestly."

Knowledge is important.

Blessings come after obedience, not the other way around.

Angels

2009-12-23T11:01:00.004-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 129

As I was preparing for a Relief Society lesson last week, I was reminded of a talk on angels given by Elder Holland. He had this to say:

"From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children. . . .

"As Mormon said to his son Moroni, who would one day be an angel: “Has the day of miracles ceased? “Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? “Behold I say unto you, Nay; for … it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men. … “For behold, they are subject unto [Christ], to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.” (Moroni 7)

"Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times.
. . . We are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. . . . 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 mind.

(Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, general conference October 2008)

I decided that a lesson on angels would be perfect for the Christmas season. Here's another quote I found:

"Miracles during [the] Christmas season require our faith and works. As we sing the hymns of Christmas and speak of angels sent to earth to witness the Savior’s birth in the meridian of time, may we rise to the occasion and minister to those in need in our day. . . .

"I bear witness that Christmas is a season for angels. As they ministered to the Savior and others in the “meridian of time,” may we, as angels of mercy, minister to other families and to those in need in the “fulness of times” so that the Lord’s work may move forward.

(Elder Merrill J. Bateman, Ensign, December 2007)

So, I thought it was quite appropriate to re-read section 129 this week later this week and be reminded of the role of angels in our lives.

A Voice of Gladness

2009-12-23T10:56:00.002-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 127-128

Sister Menlove, when she was serving as General Primary President, used the ending verses of these sections as a reminder to share the "voice of gladness" with others, particularly our children. The gospel really is the good news, and we should be excited about it. And one of the things that we should be excited about is that the sealing power has been restored and we have the opportunity to do temple work for our deceased ancestors, forming that eternal chain to bind us all to each other. It will take deligence and perseverance and patience, but it's exciting work.

Take Especial Care of Your Family

2009-12-23T10:54:00.002-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 125-126

I love these two short sections, one with a reminder to just be obedient and follow the Lord by following his prophet, and the other explaining a blessing Brigham Young received because he did just that. Am I laboring diligently enough that my offering is acceptable to the Lord?

A Delightful Habitation

2009-12-23T10:44:00.002-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 124

Isn't this a beautiful description of an ideal home? - "Let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting-place for the weary traveler, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion" (D&C 124:60). Actually it's a description of an inn the saints were to build in Nauvoo, but I think "a delightful habitation for the weary" is what I want my home to be.

This is a long section, with a lot of information, particularly about the priesthood, and other people of done a great job of explaining it. Go here to see what the institute manual has to say.

Adversity

2009-12-21T07:35:00.002-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 121-123

These first two sections are fairly well known, and they've been quoted a lot in the recent general conferences. But I think Section 123 isn't as well-known. It contains, however, what I think might be my favorite phrase in the scriptures - "whole concatenation of diabolical rascality and nefarious and murderous impositions." Don't you love all those big words!!

It also contains the reminder that little things make great differences (a small helm moves a large ship) and that we should attend to things "with great earnestness" and "cheerfully do all things that lie in our power."

Whenever I'm struggling with that precept, I try to remember President Eyring's counsel from the October 2005 general conference:

"So, the great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God’s commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage."

And he said basically the same thing the year before: "But the test a loving God has set before us is not to see if we can endure difficulty. It is to see if we can endure it well. We pass the test by showing that we remembered Him and the commandments He gave us. And to endure well is to keep those commandments whatever the opposition, whatever the temptation, and whatever the tumult around us."

Tithing

2009-12-17T15:26:00.003-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 119-120
Tithing

These are the sections you turn to when it's time to teach a lesson on tithing. And we've all had dozens, if not hundreds, of those lessons, haven't we? So, even though I'm not a great story teller, I thought I'd share a couple of personal experiences/memories about the importance of paying tithing.

As I recall, I started getting allowance when I was 3 years old. I got a whopping 30 cents! And I had three little jars - one for tithing, one for savings, and one for spending. Tithing and savings were 10% each and I got to spend the rest. So, first of all, I'm thankful that my parents taught me well right from the start and paying tithing became a habit.

Habits are good, but everyone needs to have a testimony of gospel principles as well. I can't remember a specific time when I gained that testimony, but I do remember recognizing an obvious blessing, which certainly strengthened my testimony. We had been married about a year when we had an unexpected car repair of $50. As we were trying to figure out how to pay for it, one of the options was to postpone our tithing, yet we knew that was not the correct choice, and we decided to cut corners elsewhere. Right after we paid our tithing, we received a belated wedding check for $50. What a miracle!

Several years later we became friends with an older, single sister who had just joined the church. I was amazed at her faithfulness to keep this commandment. She was living paycheck to paycheck and didn't have a lot, yet she was determined to pay her tithing. She even made arrangements with her landlord to pay her rent weekly instead of monthly so that her cash flow would work better. I could see the sacrifices she made, but they were all worth it to her. Her goal was to be temple worthy, and she accomplished it.

One last story (there really are a lot more) is really our son's story. The summer after high school he worked hard, and just before he left for college, he put together a budget. After going over it, he noticed that if he didn't pay his tithing, there would be exactly enough money to last for two semesters. If he did, he'd have to get creative and probably find a part-time job during the school year. He chose to pay his tithing. Then, just a couple of days later, he received notification of a scholarship - for the exact amount of his tithing check.

As President Hinckley was fond of saying, it doesn't take money to pay tithing, it takes faith. I know that's true. And I also know that "faith precedes the miracle" and that the Lord's blessings are predicated upon obedience to his commandments.

A Favorite Story

2009-12-17T15:24:00.003-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 118
The Apostles and Far West

So, it's taken me nine months to "catch up" with Michelle, but I'm making progress, and this week I read D&C 118. And it contains one of my favorite church history stories. I've already written about it here, so that saves me some time this month!

"I Know Thy Heart"

2009-12-16T08:29:00.002-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 112-117

Isn't it great to know that, just like the early members of the church, Jesus Christ knows us individually? Here are some phrases that give me hope in the midst of my challenges:

"I have heard thy prayers." (D&C 112:1, and more)
"All thy sins are forgiven thee." (D&C 112:3)
"Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers." (D&C 112:10)
"An effectual [which means energetic and efficient] door shall be opened unto you." (D&C 112:19)
"Trouble not yourselves." (D&C 112:27)
"Be faithful until I come." (D&C 112:34)
"To put on her [Zion's] strength is to put on the authority of the priesthood." (D&C 113:8)
"Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations." (D&C 115:5)

There's a really neat "end of the story" to section 117 and Oliver Granger, where he is promised that "his name shall be had in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever." President Packer gave a talk on this in October 2004 and reminded us that we will fail, but that as long as we remain true and faithful, that's okay. He said, "Let no one underestimate the power of faith in the ordinary Latter-day Saints." That promise also gives me great hope.

Treasures

2009-12-15T10:53:00.002-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 111

Be sure you read the introduction before reading this section, because the background history is important, but I like the thought that the Lord is "not displeased" with us even when we try something that backfires. I do that a lot. And we don't always recognize where true treasure lies.
This morning I read an old Christmas message where President Monson mentions that each December he reads three "books" - Luke (in the Bible), "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens and "The Mansion" by Henry van Dyke. I hadn't heard of the last one, so I went searching and found it online here. It's a nice reminder of where our treasure should be.

Elijah

2009-12-15T10:34:00.003-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 110

This is the section that records the marvelous vision Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery witnessed after the Kirtland Temple Dedication. I always find it fascinating that the Lord timed it so that Elijah came to bestow the sealing power of the priesthood on the exact day that Jews set a place for him at their Passover Seder, anxiously awaiting his arrival to herald the coming of the Messiah. Elijah did come in 1836 to fulfill that prophecy from Malachi, but he came to the Kirtland Temple.

Another thing that helps me understand this section a little bit better is to correlate it to the three-fold mission of the church. The "gathering of Israel" is "proclaim the gospel," the "gospel of Abraham" relates to his patriarchal responsibility to strengthen families and is "perfect the Saints," and Elijah's "turning the hearts of the fathers to the children" is "redeem the dead."

The Kirtland Temple

2009-12-08T07:46:00.001-05:00

Doctrine & Covenants 109
This section contains the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple. I love the promised blessings, and the reminder to make our homes as temples - houses of prayer, fasting, faith, learning, glory, order, and God. Did you know that you can find the dedicatory prayers of ALL the temples online? Go to the LDS Temples website and click on the individual temple and you'll find the link on the left. Here's a sample:

Orlando Florida Temple - Dedicatory Prayer
Dedicated 9–11 October 1994 by Howard W. Hunter

O God, Our Eternal Father, thou Great Elohim, we bow our heads before thee in reverence and love. We are met to dedicate this thy holy house.

We thank thee for this beautiful structure, and for the purposes for which it has been built. We thank thee for the eternal priesthood restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, which will be exercised herein. We thank thee, above all, for the atonement of thy Beloved Son through whose sacrifice salvation and eternal life are made possible. We thank thee for the ordinances of this house which will be administered in behalf of the dead as well as the living. We thank thee for the great vicarious work which will be carried on within these premises.

Father in Heaven, we note the beauty of this thy temple, and thank thee for the consecrations of thy faithful people throughout the world which have made possible this sacred house of peace and divine love.

Now, acting in the authority of the Holy Priesthood which has come from thee, and in the name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, we dedicate this the Orlando Florida Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it as thy house and the house of thy Beloved Son, and pray that thou wilt accept it as the consecrated gift of thy people. We pray that it may be acceptable unto thee and unto Him, and that thy Holy Spirit may hallow it at all times. We dedicate the structure from the footings to the statue of Moroni which crowns its steeple. We dedicate all of its facilities, including the dressing rooms, the fixtures and appointments for the washing and anointing ordinances, the endowment rooms, the beautiful celestial room, and the sealing rooms with their sacred altars where under the authority of the Holy Priesthood there will be bound in the heavens that which is bound upon the earth. We dedicate the grounds on which this temple stands with the vegetation growing thereon—the trees, the flowers, the shrubs, the lawns.

We pray that thy watch-care will be over this thy sacred house. Preserve it by thy strong arm from storm and tempest, and above all from the defiling hand of man. To all who look upon it, including those who reside in this area, may it ever present a picture of peace and beauty, a structure partaking of thy divine nature.

Bless all who shall enter its portals that they may come with clean hands and pure hearts, setting aside the cares of the world as they engage in the sacred service to be performed herein. Grant unto them a greater understanding of things divine and things eternal. Bless them with joy in the service which they give. May the generations of the families of thy sons and daughters be joined in unbroken linkage that thy divine purposes may be brought to pass concerning the immortality and eternal life of thy children. We pray that all who covenant with thee in the sacred endowment service will stand ever true to their promises.

Bless the youth who will be baptized for the dead. May this sacred service instill in their minds a greater understanding of thy divine plan, and a stronger resolution to live worthy of every blessing which eventually may become available to them in this thy holy house.

May those who come to be sealed in marriage kneel at these sacred altars and resolve within their hearts to be ever true and faithful, that the sacred relationships here solemnized may continue with happiness throughout all eternity. May the spirit of the prophet Elijah rest upon thy people that the hearts of the children may turn to their fathers that the earth shall not be wasted, and that thy divine will may be brought to pass for the blessing of thy sons and daughters of all generations.

Our Beloved Father, we pray for all who have responsibility in thy kingdom, including the First Presidency, the Council of the Twelve, the Seventy, the Bishopric, and for all who serve in any capacity throughout the world. May all be faithful and true and work with a spirit of love and dedication. Prosper thy faithful Saints in their temporal affairs. Bless them in their homes and in their hearts with peace and gladness. May they walk in thy divine favor as they walk the paths which thou hast marked for them.

We ask it all, Beloved Father, as thy thankful sons and daughters, and on this day of dedication, we dedicate ourselves anew to thy service through service to our fellow men, both the living and the dead, in the name of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.