I had to speak in church today (again...yeah, I don't know why they keep having me to do that), and as the newly-called Primary President in my ward, I was asked to speaking about the Sharing Time topics (Sharing Time=instruction that we do with children 3 to 7 years old and 8 to 11 years old). My two counselors and I each covered 4 of the monthly topics, and while I don't think anyone really wants to read through my entire talk, I just thought I'd post part of it. Our theme for this year is Choose the Right, and I spoke about some of the foundational principles that we need to understand if we're really going to make a lifetime of right choices.
Jesus Christ Is the Son of God.
Of all the messages we’re talking about in Sharing Time this year, I think this is the most important. Each of us, as a child of God of whatever age, needs to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God—and we need to know what that means for us.
I think that wrapped up in that short sentence, we have pretty much everything we need to know. I think it means that Jesus Christ is exactly who He said He was and He did everything He said He would do.
I want to quote from The Living Christ, since the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles expressed, way better than I ever could, what it means to us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God:
“We offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.
“He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth…He 'went about doing good,' yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.
“He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth…
“We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world…
“We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”
What it means for us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is that it’s all real, and eternal life and eternal families and happiness and all of the blessings of the Gospel are really possible. Because He is the Son of God and He did everything that He said He would do, the plan of salvation works and choosing the right will lead us back to the presence of our Father.
I testify that Jesus Christ really is the Son of God, and that because of that, eternal life is possible. I want to join my testimony with the words of our closing hymn [we sang I Believe in Christ]—I believe in Christ; I believe that He is the Son of God, that He came to earth and lived a perfect life, that He healed the sick, raised the dead, and marked the path for each of us. He did make it possible for each of us to be freed from Satan’s grasp, and we can have lives that are joyous and filled with love. He has made eternal life possible for all those who will follow Him. Jesus Christ lives, and He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world. He is all that He said He is, and He is everything that we need.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, December 24, 2011
And It Did
I've been thinking this week that surely of all times, now, during this Christmas season, it would be good to post a new message of Jesus, but I was also trying to figure out some eloquent message to share of Christ and I was struggling with that. Plus, this month has been kind of hard, for a few reasons. However, this morning, things sort of came together in my head, and I found the message I want to share, although it's a little jumbled, so I'm still not sure it will be eloquent. Nevertheless, here is the message of Christ that I want to share this Christmas.
As I said, this month has been kind of hard. As some of you might already know, my sweet Adam and I would very much like to be parents, but we haven't been able to get pregnant. It has been quite a struggle for us, with lots (and lots, and lots) of tears and frustration and sadness and disappointment as month after month after month, we've found that yet again, we weren't able to get pregnant. I was really hoping, even more than I've hoped every month, that this month would be the one. At the same time, the medicine I have to take to try to help us get pregnant has really been messing with my hormones and makes me depressed, and that only got worse when I realized that yet again, there still would be no baby for us, at least not yet.
However, I can confidently say that I have not been left alone in this struggle. There have been several times this month that I have felt and heard the Lord's messages to me, reminding me of scriptures and such to lift me and help me.
Earlier in the month, a five-year-old boy in our ward, Simeon, was assigned to give a talk in Primary. He spoke about the prophecies and signs that would help people to recognize the birth of the Savior of the world. After he told about the prophecies, Simeon also talked about their fulfillment and how they did happen. For example, Simeon spoke of Samuel the Lamanite's prophecy to the Nephites that new star would arise to herald the Savior's birth, and then said in his sweet little voice, "And it did!" That sweet little "And it did" is something that the Lord has been reminding me of this month--that just as Simeon said in his talk, each of the promises regarding Christ's birth truly did happen. Another thought that has popped into my head is a line from the not-often-sung fourth verse of I Am a Child of God: "I am a child of God. His promises are sure." Through these messages, and other that I've received this month as well, I have felt the assurance of the Savior that the promises made to me (which, through Priesthood blessings and such do indeed include children) will all come to pass and there will be a point in my life where I can say regarding parenthood, "And it did!"
While that blessing hasn't yet happened for us, I can look back at my life and see some many areas where I can say "And it did!" The Lord has kept His promises to me, and He has led me and guided me in so many ways to find the opportunities and path that bring happiness into my life. He has been with me, helping me, supporting me, loving me. And this Christmas season, as I reflect on how all of the prophecies of Him and His birth and then His life, atonement, death and resurrection were fulfilled every single whit, I know that in my life I will say "And it did"--because He did. He did every single thing He promised He would do; He didn't forget a single detail. He has overcome the world in all things, and because He did, all of us can rejoice in knowing that we will be able to say "And it did" in our lives.
And so, on this Christmas Eve, as I think of my Savior's birth and His life and atonement and death, I want to say, as did Jon Menzies Macfarlane,
"Lord, with the angels we too would rejoice,
Help us to sing with the heart and voice:
Glory to God, Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest:
Peace on earth, goodwill to men;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men!"
I know that Christ's birth and the sweet reminders I've had this month are each a "message of mercy from heaven above" (Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains; click here for an audio version). And so I say, glory to God; praise be to Him who has kept every promise, who "shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4). God is merciful and we can have hope that He will keep each promise to us, just as each promise regarding the birth of the Savior was kept.
As I said, this month has been kind of hard. As some of you might already know, my sweet Adam and I would very much like to be parents, but we haven't been able to get pregnant. It has been quite a struggle for us, with lots (and lots, and lots) of tears and frustration and sadness and disappointment as month after month after month, we've found that yet again, we weren't able to get pregnant. I was really hoping, even more than I've hoped every month, that this month would be the one. At the same time, the medicine I have to take to try to help us get pregnant has really been messing with my hormones and makes me depressed, and that only got worse when I realized that yet again, there still would be no baby for us, at least not yet.
However, I can confidently say that I have not been left alone in this struggle. There have been several times this month that I have felt and heard the Lord's messages to me, reminding me of scriptures and such to lift me and help me.
Earlier in the month, a five-year-old boy in our ward, Simeon, was assigned to give a talk in Primary. He spoke about the prophecies and signs that would help people to recognize the birth of the Savior of the world. After he told about the prophecies, Simeon also talked about their fulfillment and how they did happen. For example, Simeon spoke of Samuel the Lamanite's prophecy to the Nephites that new star would arise to herald the Savior's birth, and then said in his sweet little voice, "And it did!" That sweet little "And it did" is something that the Lord has been reminding me of this month--that just as Simeon said in his talk, each of the promises regarding Christ's birth truly did happen. Another thought that has popped into my head is a line from the not-often-sung fourth verse of I Am a Child of God: "I am a child of God. His promises are sure." Through these messages, and other that I've received this month as well, I have felt the assurance of the Savior that the promises made to me (which, through Priesthood blessings and such do indeed include children) will all come to pass and there will be a point in my life where I can say regarding parenthood, "And it did!"
While that blessing hasn't yet happened for us, I can look back at my life and see some many areas where I can say "And it did!" The Lord has kept His promises to me, and He has led me and guided me in so many ways to find the opportunities and path that bring happiness into my life. He has been with me, helping me, supporting me, loving me. And this Christmas season, as I reflect on how all of the prophecies of Him and His birth and then His life, atonement, death and resurrection were fulfilled every single whit, I know that in my life I will say "And it did"--because He did. He did every single thing He promised He would do; He didn't forget a single detail. He has overcome the world in all things, and because He did, all of us can rejoice in knowing that we will be able to say "And it did" in our lives.
And so, on this Christmas Eve, as I think of my Savior's birth and His life and atonement and death, I want to say, as did Jon Menzies Macfarlane,
"Lord, with the angels we too would rejoice,
Help us to sing with the heart and voice:
Glory to God, Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest:
Peace on earth, goodwill to men;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men!"
I know that Christ's birth and the sweet reminders I've had this month are each a "message of mercy from heaven above" (Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains; click here for an audio version). And so I say, glory to God; praise be to Him who has kept every promise, who "shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4). God is merciful and we can have hope that He will keep each promise to us, just as each promise regarding the birth of the Savior was kept.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
On Relief Society
When the Relief Society Presidency first passed out our copies of Daughters in My Kingdom, the new book about the history of Relief Society, I thought it was nice that they remembered to pass them out the Primary teachers, but then I took it home and set it aside. I was busy with Primary lessons, my personal scripture study, rereading General Conference talks, and trying to keep up with the Sunday School and Relief Society lessons. I had plenty of other Church materials to keep me busy, and for me, Relief Society has always been the place I have to go when I can’t get the bishopric to give me a calling in Primary. So, I wasn’t really that interested. However, once I finally cracked the cover, I found that this slim blue book is a treasure trove of inspiration and it offered me a connection to Relief Society that I’ve never quite found before. I wanted to devour it in one sitting, but I also wanted to stretch it out day after day because I loved the feelings I got as I was reading it and wanted to be able to experience them each day. There have been so many lessons that the Spirit taught me as I read through the book, and I just want to share a few.
We Can All Be Extraordinary and Change the World
Daughters in My Kingdom begins, “In the first meeting of the Relief Society, Sister Emma Smith said, ‘We are going to do something extraordinary.’ She was right. The history of Relief Society is filled with examples of ordinary women who have accomplished extraordinary things as they have exercised faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ” (xi). This stood out to me, because I always want to be special in some way; I’m always longing for some sort of recognition that will show me that my efforts matter—that I matter. Reading this just helped me realize that I don’t have to try to prove that I’m special; I can be ordinary but as I have faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and use the talents endowed in me as a daughter of God, They will provide the “extraordinary.”
Later in the book, Elaine S. Jack tells about how in 1992, the 150th celebration of the Relief Society was an opportunity for service and all over the world, Relief Society groups went out and served. The R.S. presidency in one ward went to the city council and asked what they could do to help. Sister Jack recalled,
And the men said, ‘You mean 20,000 groups throughout this world are going to be doing this same thing?’ And she said yes. And [one of the council members] said, ‘You’ll change the world.’ And I think we did … for the better… [Sisters] made lap rugs in South Africa for those elderly in the home. … They planted flowers around [a] clock tower in Samoa. And they did so many things with homeless shelters or providing books for children or painting homes for unwed mothers, that sort of thing. We felt that throughout the world these community service projects were a great thing, both for the sisters and for the community (p. 95-96).
Being somewhat cynical, as I looked through that list of projects, I thought, But they didn’t change the world—because lap rugs and flowers don’t seem world-changing to me. However, the Spirit quickly corrected me to say that they did change the world. Did they solve world hunger? End warfare? Eliminate crime? No. Not on a large scale anyway. But they made people’s lives better, and that does change the world.
We All Have Something to Offer
In Nauvoo, the women of Relief Society decided to help the men who were building the temple; in the minutes from one of their meetings, they recorded what each woman volunteered to do or to give in order to help. Some said they’d solicit donations, or donate material for clothing, or give soup or milk, etc. (p.22). This list of their different offerings taught me that all of us have something that we can offer to meet the needs around us. It might not be the same as what someone else offers—and maybe we’re even a little embarrassed that we don’t have more to offer—but we can all contribute.
Be Obedient, Even If You Can’t See Why It Matters
I’ve long known the story of how the Relief Society sisters back in the late 1800 and early 1900s had stored lots of wheat and then sold it to the U.S. government during World War I. But Emmeline B. Wells’s comment on that experience was an eye-opening one for me; she said, “In all these years we have not had much need to use the grain stored away for the purpose it was designed, but with the dark cloud hovering over the world as it now does, we can see the prophetic wisdom of President Young in calling upon the sisters to save grain against a time of need” (p. 56)
Brigham Young gave the instructions and decades later—and four prophets later, since Joseph F. Smith was the prophet during WWI—they finally could see why the instruction was given, at least on a large scale. That means many of the sisters who had helped with the storage never even saw why it was needed, because they died before WWI. And many women weren’t alive when President Young gave the initial instructions. And yet, they were faithful to the words of the prophet, and the Lord was able to use them to bless countless lives. This story is a good reminder that even if we can’t see why the Lord has asked us to do something, He can—and we need to do it even if we never see why.
Developing a Positive Attitude Is a Skill of Self-Reliance
In the 1930s, the First Presidency, comprised of Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, and J. Reuben Clark, Jr. offered this counsel: “We…urge, earnestly and always upon the people, the paramount necessity of living righteously; of avoiding extravagance; of cultivating the habits of thrift, economy, and industry; of living strictly within their incomes; and of laying aside something, however small the amount may be, for the times of greater stress that may come to us.” (p. 71). The words “habits of thrift, economy and industry” stood out to me; I thought living within our means and having savings were the habits of economy and thrift. So I started thinking of other habits we can develop, like learning to garden, preserve food, sew, knit, do car maintenance, and anything that allows us to help ourselves and others.
Then I read about Louise Y. Robison, the seventh Relief Society General President, and how she had “grown up in a humble log home in rural Scipio, Utah, where she had learned to farm, garden, sew, work hard, live on little, and be of good cheer.” (p.70-71). I didn’t think of being of good cheer as a habit of thrift, economy, and industry, but I came to realize that might actually be the best habit we can acquire in these areas. Earlier in the book, there was a sidebar about becoming self-reliant and the second item on the list is “acquire a spirit of self-sacrifice.” While we should be acquiring whatever skills we can, we need to remember that our attitude toward self-reliance is just as important as any other skill.
Relief Society Is Energizing
There were several instances as I was reading this book that I felt very inadequate. After reading President Spencer W. Kimball’s quotation, “The cultivation of Christlike qualities is a demanding and relentless task—it is not for the seasonal worker or for those who will not stretch themselves again and again” (p. 5), I was left worrying that I’m only a “seasonal worker” who gets “weary in well-doing” (D&C 64:33) because it seems like there’s always so much to do.
When I read that President Boyd K. Packer had taught, “It is as obligatory upon a woman to draw into her life the virtues that are fostered by the Relief Society as it is an obligation for the men to build into their lives the patterns of character fostered by the Priesthood” (p. 16), I was very worried because I’ve never taken Relief Society as seriously as the Priesthood.
Reading about visiting teaching was another hard area for me: “Through this system of watchcare [visiting teaching], each Latter-day Saint woman has the opportunity to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands” (p. 110). Visiting teaching has always been hard for me; I always feel inadequate to teach anyone. And I wondered how get to the point where I really, truly want to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands—to want Him to be involved in other people’s lives through me? That is one of the invitations of Relief Society, but I feel like I’m not a very good instrument.
So, I felt discouraged, but at the same time, I really wanted to become more than I am through Relief Society. I’ve been inviting the Spirit into my life more, and I’ve tried to act more like a Relief Society sister should. And I found that it’s not in the doing that I become weary. If I think about all the things a daughter of God should do (service, personal and family scripture study, visiting teaching, fulfill callings, temple and family history work, and on, and on, and on), that’s wearying. But as I actually get to work doing these things, I’m energized. I’m excited to be involved in the Gospel. And instead of feeling drained or overwhelmed or even sad about my inadequacies (which are still there and unfortunately didn’t magically disappear), I’ve found that the increased measure of the Spirit that came as I elevate my life really makes a difference. I’ve found that, “The Holy Ghost ‘satisfies and fills up every longing of the human heart and fills up every vacuum. When I am filled with that Spirit […] my soul is satisfied, and I can say in good earnest, that the trifling things of the day do not seem to stand in my way at all” (Eliza R. Snow, p. 46). I still get tired, of course, but I’m not weary in well-doing.
Relief Society Is about Getting Just As Much As It Is about Giving
Elder John A. Widstoe discussed the different areas of relief to be found in Relief Society: “Relief of poverty; relief of illness; relief of doubt, relief of ignorance—relief of all that hinders the joy and progress of woman” (p. 25). I realized that we all need relief from something. I’ve always thought of Relief Society in terms of what we’re supposed to do for other people, but I’ve never really thought about what it should be for me. I’m not very poor, or ill, or doubtful, and I hope I’m not very ignorant. But there will always been things that can hinder our joy and progress, and each of us needs to know that Relief Society is not only a place where we give but also where we get relief from whatever is hindering our joy and progress.
President Packer said of Relief Society, “This great circle of sisters will be a protection for each of you and for your families. The Relief Society might be likened to a refuge—the place of safety and protection—the sanctuary of ancient times. You will be safe within it. It encircles each sister like a protecting wall (p. 81). What protection can we find in Relief Society—or could if we would let ourselves find it—and what protection we can help others find? A few of the things I thought of were:
• Protection against loneliness, in the form of friends
• Protection against spiritual danger, as we’re strengthened by the women around us and the doctrines taught.
• Protection against the economy, as we learn habits of thrift, economy, and industry
• Protection against ignorance and Satan’s temptations and lies as we learn knowledge.
I’m sure there are many more as well, but just this brief list helped me see that Relief Society has protected me and provided relief in ways that I overlooked before.
It’s Time to Step Up and Stand Out
President Spencer W. Kimball prophesied: “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.” (p. 95)
I’m not really one for standing out; I’d rather blend in. I don’t want to attract very much attention, but here is a call from a prophet to be seen and to be heard—to be viewed doing good and being happy and to be articulate. God didn’t send me here to be a mouse hiding in a corner; He sent me here to be a woman who will point others to Him. It reminds me of a line from the Young Women anthem for 2011, Guardians of Virtue: “We are beacons of His love, pointing others to His light.” I think that this is what God is calling us to do. The world needs Relief Society, but the world won’t even know that we exist or what we are really here to do unless we are willing to stand up and show them.
President Kimball also said, “There is a power in this organization [of Relief Society] that has not yet been fully exercised to strengthen the homes of Zion and build the Kingdom of God—nor will it until both the sisters and the priesthood catch the vision of Relief Society.” (p. 142). I still have a long way to go before I fully catch the vision of Relief Society, but Daughters in My Kingdom has greatly expanded what I think about Relief Society. It’s time for me to stop thinking of Relief Society as that class I have to go to when I can’t go to Primary and instead, realize that it is the Lord’s institution for women and that I have a responsibility to Him and my sisters both in the Church and out to do my part, to really be a member of Relief Society and do the Lord’s work.
Relief Society Is for Me
In the last chapter of the book, there’s a story about a woman whose stepfather passed away as a teenager and the Relief Society sisters really helped her and her mother. She wanted to repay them but couldn’t really; years later, she “repaid” them by taking her “turn” to serve. This legacy of service was something that really mattered to her—she said, “That’s how I feel about Relief Society way down deep. And why” (p. 177-178). That stood out to me because I didn’t know what I felt about Relief Society deep down, probably because it didn’t go deep down for me. But through reading Daughters in My Kingdom, it has started to mean something to me—and for the first time in my life, I actually miss Relief Society, even though I love my calling in Primary. I do believe it was given by the Lord, through His prophets, to His daughters, and I want to give it a chance to mean more to me, way deep down. I want to learn to really belong to Relief Society and I want to be able to pass that onto my children as well. I’m grateful that the Lord cares about His daughters, that He gave us Relief Society, and that He inspired this beautiful book, which has helped me better understand both Relief Society and what it means to be His daughter.
We Can All Be Extraordinary and Change the World
Daughters in My Kingdom begins, “In the first meeting of the Relief Society, Sister Emma Smith said, ‘We are going to do something extraordinary.’ She was right. The history of Relief Society is filled with examples of ordinary women who have accomplished extraordinary things as they have exercised faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ” (xi). This stood out to me, because I always want to be special in some way; I’m always longing for some sort of recognition that will show me that my efforts matter—that I matter. Reading this just helped me realize that I don’t have to try to prove that I’m special; I can be ordinary but as I have faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and use the talents endowed in me as a daughter of God, They will provide the “extraordinary.”
Later in the book, Elaine S. Jack tells about how in 1992, the 150th celebration of the Relief Society was an opportunity for service and all over the world, Relief Society groups went out and served. The R.S. presidency in one ward went to the city council and asked what they could do to help. Sister Jack recalled,
And the men said, ‘You mean 20,000 groups throughout this world are going to be doing this same thing?’ And she said yes. And [one of the council members] said, ‘You’ll change the world.’ And I think we did … for the better… [Sisters] made lap rugs in South Africa for those elderly in the home. … They planted flowers around [a] clock tower in Samoa. And they did so many things with homeless shelters or providing books for children or painting homes for unwed mothers, that sort of thing. We felt that throughout the world these community service projects were a great thing, both for the sisters and for the community (p. 95-96).
Being somewhat cynical, as I looked through that list of projects, I thought, But they didn’t change the world—because lap rugs and flowers don’t seem world-changing to me. However, the Spirit quickly corrected me to say that they did change the world. Did they solve world hunger? End warfare? Eliminate crime? No. Not on a large scale anyway. But they made people’s lives better, and that does change the world.
We All Have Something to Offer
In Nauvoo, the women of Relief Society decided to help the men who were building the temple; in the minutes from one of their meetings, they recorded what each woman volunteered to do or to give in order to help. Some said they’d solicit donations, or donate material for clothing, or give soup or milk, etc. (p.22). This list of their different offerings taught me that all of us have something that we can offer to meet the needs around us. It might not be the same as what someone else offers—and maybe we’re even a little embarrassed that we don’t have more to offer—but we can all contribute.
Be Obedient, Even If You Can’t See Why It Matters
I’ve long known the story of how the Relief Society sisters back in the late 1800 and early 1900s had stored lots of wheat and then sold it to the U.S. government during World War I. But Emmeline B. Wells’s comment on that experience was an eye-opening one for me; she said, “In all these years we have not had much need to use the grain stored away for the purpose it was designed, but with the dark cloud hovering over the world as it now does, we can see the prophetic wisdom of President Young in calling upon the sisters to save grain against a time of need” (p. 56)
Brigham Young gave the instructions and decades later—and four prophets later, since Joseph F. Smith was the prophet during WWI—they finally could see why the instruction was given, at least on a large scale. That means many of the sisters who had helped with the storage never even saw why it was needed, because they died before WWI. And many women weren’t alive when President Young gave the initial instructions. And yet, they were faithful to the words of the prophet, and the Lord was able to use them to bless countless lives. This story is a good reminder that even if we can’t see why the Lord has asked us to do something, He can—and we need to do it even if we never see why.
Developing a Positive Attitude Is a Skill of Self-Reliance
In the 1930s, the First Presidency, comprised of Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, and J. Reuben Clark, Jr. offered this counsel: “We…urge, earnestly and always upon the people, the paramount necessity of living righteously; of avoiding extravagance; of cultivating the habits of thrift, economy, and industry; of living strictly within their incomes; and of laying aside something, however small the amount may be, for the times of greater stress that may come to us.” (p. 71). The words “habits of thrift, economy and industry” stood out to me; I thought living within our means and having savings were the habits of economy and thrift. So I started thinking of other habits we can develop, like learning to garden, preserve food, sew, knit, do car maintenance, and anything that allows us to help ourselves and others.
Then I read about Louise Y. Robison, the seventh Relief Society General President, and how she had “grown up in a humble log home in rural Scipio, Utah, where she had learned to farm, garden, sew, work hard, live on little, and be of good cheer.” (p.70-71). I didn’t think of being of good cheer as a habit of thrift, economy, and industry, but I came to realize that might actually be the best habit we can acquire in these areas. Earlier in the book, there was a sidebar about becoming self-reliant and the second item on the list is “acquire a spirit of self-sacrifice.” While we should be acquiring whatever skills we can, we need to remember that our attitude toward self-reliance is just as important as any other skill.
Relief Society Is Energizing
There were several instances as I was reading this book that I felt very inadequate. After reading President Spencer W. Kimball’s quotation, “The cultivation of Christlike qualities is a demanding and relentless task—it is not for the seasonal worker or for those who will not stretch themselves again and again” (p. 5), I was left worrying that I’m only a “seasonal worker” who gets “weary in well-doing” (D&C 64:33) because it seems like there’s always so much to do.
When I read that President Boyd K. Packer had taught, “It is as obligatory upon a woman to draw into her life the virtues that are fostered by the Relief Society as it is an obligation for the men to build into their lives the patterns of character fostered by the Priesthood” (p. 16), I was very worried because I’ve never taken Relief Society as seriously as the Priesthood.
Reading about visiting teaching was another hard area for me: “Through this system of watchcare [visiting teaching], each Latter-day Saint woman has the opportunity to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands” (p. 110). Visiting teaching has always been hard for me; I always feel inadequate to teach anyone. And I wondered how get to the point where I really, truly want to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands—to want Him to be involved in other people’s lives through me? That is one of the invitations of Relief Society, but I feel like I’m not a very good instrument.
So, I felt discouraged, but at the same time, I really wanted to become more than I am through Relief Society. I’ve been inviting the Spirit into my life more, and I’ve tried to act more like a Relief Society sister should. And I found that it’s not in the doing that I become weary. If I think about all the things a daughter of God should do (service, personal and family scripture study, visiting teaching, fulfill callings, temple and family history work, and on, and on, and on), that’s wearying. But as I actually get to work doing these things, I’m energized. I’m excited to be involved in the Gospel. And instead of feeling drained or overwhelmed or even sad about my inadequacies (which are still there and unfortunately didn’t magically disappear), I’ve found that the increased measure of the Spirit that came as I elevate my life really makes a difference. I’ve found that, “The Holy Ghost ‘satisfies and fills up every longing of the human heart and fills up every vacuum. When I am filled with that Spirit […] my soul is satisfied, and I can say in good earnest, that the trifling things of the day do not seem to stand in my way at all” (Eliza R. Snow, p. 46). I still get tired, of course, but I’m not weary in well-doing.
Relief Society Is about Getting Just As Much As It Is about Giving
Elder John A. Widstoe discussed the different areas of relief to be found in Relief Society: “Relief of poverty; relief of illness; relief of doubt, relief of ignorance—relief of all that hinders the joy and progress of woman” (p. 25). I realized that we all need relief from something. I’ve always thought of Relief Society in terms of what we’re supposed to do for other people, but I’ve never really thought about what it should be for me. I’m not very poor, or ill, or doubtful, and I hope I’m not very ignorant. But there will always been things that can hinder our joy and progress, and each of us needs to know that Relief Society is not only a place where we give but also where we get relief from whatever is hindering our joy and progress.
President Packer said of Relief Society, “This great circle of sisters will be a protection for each of you and for your families. The Relief Society might be likened to a refuge—the place of safety and protection—the sanctuary of ancient times. You will be safe within it. It encircles each sister like a protecting wall (p. 81). What protection can we find in Relief Society—or could if we would let ourselves find it—and what protection we can help others find? A few of the things I thought of were:
• Protection against loneliness, in the form of friends
• Protection against spiritual danger, as we’re strengthened by the women around us and the doctrines taught.
• Protection against the economy, as we learn habits of thrift, economy, and industry
• Protection against ignorance and Satan’s temptations and lies as we learn knowledge.
I’m sure there are many more as well, but just this brief list helped me see that Relief Society has protected me and provided relief in ways that I overlooked before.
It’s Time to Step Up and Stand Out
President Spencer W. Kimball prophesied: “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.” (p. 95)
I’m not really one for standing out; I’d rather blend in. I don’t want to attract very much attention, but here is a call from a prophet to be seen and to be heard—to be viewed doing good and being happy and to be articulate. God didn’t send me here to be a mouse hiding in a corner; He sent me here to be a woman who will point others to Him. It reminds me of a line from the Young Women anthem for 2011, Guardians of Virtue: “We are beacons of His love, pointing others to His light.” I think that this is what God is calling us to do. The world needs Relief Society, but the world won’t even know that we exist or what we are really here to do unless we are willing to stand up and show them.
President Kimball also said, “There is a power in this organization [of Relief Society] that has not yet been fully exercised to strengthen the homes of Zion and build the Kingdom of God—nor will it until both the sisters and the priesthood catch the vision of Relief Society.” (p. 142). I still have a long way to go before I fully catch the vision of Relief Society, but Daughters in My Kingdom has greatly expanded what I think about Relief Society. It’s time for me to stop thinking of Relief Society as that class I have to go to when I can’t go to Primary and instead, realize that it is the Lord’s institution for women and that I have a responsibility to Him and my sisters both in the Church and out to do my part, to really be a member of Relief Society and do the Lord’s work.
Relief Society Is for Me
In the last chapter of the book, there’s a story about a woman whose stepfather passed away as a teenager and the Relief Society sisters really helped her and her mother. She wanted to repay them but couldn’t really; years later, she “repaid” them by taking her “turn” to serve. This legacy of service was something that really mattered to her—she said, “That’s how I feel about Relief Society way down deep. And why” (p. 177-178). That stood out to me because I didn’t know what I felt about Relief Society deep down, probably because it didn’t go deep down for me. But through reading Daughters in My Kingdom, it has started to mean something to me—and for the first time in my life, I actually miss Relief Society, even though I love my calling in Primary. I do believe it was given by the Lord, through His prophets, to His daughters, and I want to give it a chance to mean more to me, way deep down. I want to learn to really belong to Relief Society and I want to be able to pass that onto my children as well. I’m grateful that the Lord cares about His daughters, that He gave us Relief Society, and that He inspired this beautiful book, which has helped me better understand both Relief Society and what it means to be His daughter.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
The Book of Mormon: Keystone of Our Religion
In October 1986, the Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ezra Taft Benson, delivered a General Conference talk, The Book of Mormon: Keystone of Our Religion, that has become a classic in Church literature. In the October 2011 Ensign, they reprinted that talk, and reading through it again was such a powerful experience. I won't share the entire thing, since it's pretty lengthy, but I particularly enjoyed reading President Benson's second and third reasons for why we need to value the Book of Mormon and read it daily:
The second great reason why we must make the Book of Mormon a center focus of study is that it was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. Mormon wrote near the end of the Nephite civilization. Under the inspiration of God, who sees all things from the beginning, he abridged centuries of records, choosing the stories, speeches, and events that would be most helpful to us.
Each of the major writers of the Book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generations. Nephi said: “The Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation” (2 Nephi 25:21). His brother Jacob, who succeeded him, wrote similar words: “For [Nephi] said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation” (Jacob 1:3). Enos and Jarom both indicated that they too were writing not for their own peoples but for future generations (see Enos 1:15–16; Jarom 1:2).
Mormon himself said, “Yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel” (Mormon 7:1). And Moroni, the last of the inspired writers, actually saw our day and time. “Behold,” he said, “the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.
“Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing” (Mormon 8:34–35).
If they saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, “Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?”
And there is example after example of how that question will be answered. For example, in the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the Second Coming. A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to Christ’s coming to America. By careful study of that time period, we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that preceded His coming and what brought others to stand at the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust their hands into the wounds of His hands and feet.
From the Book of Mormon we learn how disciples of Christ live in times of war. From the Book of Mormon we see the evils of secret combinations portrayed in graphic and chilling reality. In the Book of Mormon we find lessons for dealing with persecution and apostasy. We learn much about how to do missionary work. And more than anywhere else, we see in the Book of Mormon the dangers of materialism and setting our hearts on the things of the world. Can anyone doubt that this book was meant for us and that in it we find great power, great comfort, and great protection?
The third reason why the Book of Mormon is of such value to Latter-day Saints is given in the same statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith cited previously. He said, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” That is the third reason for studying the book. It helps us draw nearer to God. Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book.
It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life” (see D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.
Our beloved brother, President Marion G. Romney … testified of the blessings that can come into the lives of those who will read and study the Book of Mormon. He said:
“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness.”
These promises—increased love and harmony in the home, greater respect between parent and child, increased spirituality and righteousness—are not idle promises, but exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said the Book of Mormon will help us draw nearer to God.
Brethren and sisters, I implore you with all my heart that you consider with great solemnity the importance of the Book of Mormon to you personally and to the Church collectively.
Over 10 years ago I made the following statement regarding the Book of Mormon:
“Do eternal consequences rest upon our response to this book? Yes, either to our blessing or our condemnation.
“Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity to his whole life. There is a difference between a convert who is built on the rock of Christ through the Book of Mormon and stays hold of that iron rod, and one who is not.”
I reaffirm those words to you this day. Let us not remain under condemnation, with its scourge and judgment, by treating lightly this great and marvelous gift the Lord has given to us. Rather, let us win the promises associated with treasuring it up in our hearts.
President Benson's words are just so powerful, and reading this talk was a great reminder about what a blessing The Book of Mormon is in my life. It's so reassuring to know where to find Jesus--to be able to pick that book up and find Him on every page and to read His words and testimonies of the prophets as they teach of Him.
The second great reason why we must make the Book of Mormon a center focus of study is that it was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. Mormon wrote near the end of the Nephite civilization. Under the inspiration of God, who sees all things from the beginning, he abridged centuries of records, choosing the stories, speeches, and events that would be most helpful to us.
Each of the major writers of the Book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generations. Nephi said: “The Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation” (2 Nephi 25:21). His brother Jacob, who succeeded him, wrote similar words: “For [Nephi] said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation” (Jacob 1:3). Enos and Jarom both indicated that they too were writing not for their own peoples but for future generations (see Enos 1:15–16; Jarom 1:2).
Mormon himself said, “Yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel” (Mormon 7:1). And Moroni, the last of the inspired writers, actually saw our day and time. “Behold,” he said, “the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.
“Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing” (Mormon 8:34–35).
If they saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, “Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?”
And there is example after example of how that question will be answered. For example, in the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the Second Coming. A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to Christ’s coming to America. By careful study of that time period, we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that preceded His coming and what brought others to stand at the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust their hands into the wounds of His hands and feet.
From the Book of Mormon we learn how disciples of Christ live in times of war. From the Book of Mormon we see the evils of secret combinations portrayed in graphic and chilling reality. In the Book of Mormon we find lessons for dealing with persecution and apostasy. We learn much about how to do missionary work. And more than anywhere else, we see in the Book of Mormon the dangers of materialism and setting our hearts on the things of the world. Can anyone doubt that this book was meant for us and that in it we find great power, great comfort, and great protection?
The third reason why the Book of Mormon is of such value to Latter-day Saints is given in the same statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith cited previously. He said, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” That is the third reason for studying the book. It helps us draw nearer to God. Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book.
It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life” (see D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.
Our beloved brother, President Marion G. Romney … testified of the blessings that can come into the lives of those who will read and study the Book of Mormon. He said:
“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness.”
These promises—increased love and harmony in the home, greater respect between parent and child, increased spirituality and righteousness—are not idle promises, but exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said the Book of Mormon will help us draw nearer to God.
Brethren and sisters, I implore you with all my heart that you consider with great solemnity the importance of the Book of Mormon to you personally and to the Church collectively.
Over 10 years ago I made the following statement regarding the Book of Mormon:
“Do eternal consequences rest upon our response to this book? Yes, either to our blessing or our condemnation.
“Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity to his whole life. There is a difference between a convert who is built on the rock of Christ through the Book of Mormon and stays hold of that iron rod, and one who is not.”
I reaffirm those words to you this day. Let us not remain under condemnation, with its scourge and judgment, by treating lightly this great and marvelous gift the Lord has given to us. Rather, let us win the promises associated with treasuring it up in our hearts.
President Benson's words are just so powerful, and reading this talk was a great reminder about what a blessing The Book of Mormon is in my life. It's so reassuring to know where to find Jesus--to be able to pick that book up and find Him on every page and to read His words and testimonies of the prophets as they teach of Him.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Forgiveness in Advance
There's an article in the Sept. 2011 Ensign called Anticipating the Need to Forgive by A. Dean Byrd that has pretty much blown my mind over the past couple days as I've been pondering it. The article talks about deciding in advance that you're going to forgive people. A couple snippets:
"We will be on the receiving end of hurtful remarks or actions countless times throughout our lives. Deciding ahead of time to forgive those who intentionally or unintentionally hurt us empowers us to move forward without bitterness or pain." (p. 61)
"The following hypothetical example helps show how important it can be to make decisions in advance. A man is bitten by a rattlesnake. He must quickly make a choice: should he chase down the snake and kill it to avenge the offense, or should he immediately tend to his wound? If he kills the snake, he will get his revenge on the creature that has caused him pain. However, this rash act would neither dull the pain nor delay the onset of the poison. If he chooses instead to address the problem and tend to the wound, he will not have his revenge—but he may save his life in the process. Choosing this course of action ahead of time helps him take lifesaving steps as quickly as possible and avoid prolonged suffering.
"We will be on the receiving end of hurtful remarks or actions countless times throughout our lives. Deciding ahead of time to forgive those who intentionally or unintentionally hurt us empowers us to move forward without bitterness or pain." (p. 61)
"The following hypothetical example helps show how important it can be to make decisions in advance. A man is bitten by a rattlesnake. He must quickly make a choice: should he chase down the snake and kill it to avenge the offense, or should he immediately tend to his wound? If he kills the snake, he will get his revenge on the creature that has caused him pain. However, this rash act would neither dull the pain nor delay the onset of the poison. If he chooses instead to address the problem and tend to the wound, he will not have his revenge—but he may save his life in the process. Choosing this course of action ahead of time helps him take lifesaving steps as quickly as possible and avoid prolonged suffering.
We can apply the same pattern when others hurt us with their remarks or actions. We can decide to forgive them in advance. While it is not likely that a rattlesnake will bite us, it is likely that we will be on the receiving end of intentional or unintentional negative remarks or actions from others many times in our lives. Anticipating that and forgiving ahead of time keeps the “poison” out of our system and spares us from unnecessary pain and suffering." (p. 61)
"'It’s like putting on sunblock before going into the sun. The healing balm of forgiveness takes the sting out of the conflict and the hurt, and even soothes the pain.'" (p.65)
This probably isn't the most mind-blowing article ever written, but it's so different from how I normally am. Normally, I anticipate problems and think about the cutting remark I'll make in response or what retribution I'll get (which is usually about as severe as unfriending someone on Facebook--something I haven't actually done.) I'll think about the things I should have said when someone wronged me, and think about how I'm going to speak my piece the next time (although 99% of the time I don't say it the next time either.) So, this forgiveness-in-advance thing is totally a foreign language to me. And yet, I can't deny that this is a language of the Spirit. This is how Christ deals with us--He doesn't sit there waiting for us mess up again so He can give us our just rewards; He's focusing on forgiveness, on how He can show us a better way and how He can draw us closer to Him. His whole life and death and Atonement and pretty much His whole existence is about forgiveness--and forgiveness is what will bring us closer to Him and give us the peace that we need in our lives, something that even the most cutting, intelligent, and even accurate comeback is never going to do for us.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
We Thank Thee, O God
Perhaps because I have to speak in church on Sunday and my topic is gratitude, the hymn, "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet," has been running through my head this week. I really like this hymn, but I'm a little embarrassed to say that for many years, I thought it was about the Prophet, particularly the third verse where it talks about praising "him"...I just thought the "him" referred to was the prophet. (In my defense, we sing this a LOT around General Conference time, when the living prophets and the Apostles speak to us, so maybe it's not that weird that I misunderstood the song.) Anyway, it did take me years to realize that this song isn't so much about the prophet as it is about God and it lists several of the blessings that we have received from Him: a prophet, the Gospel, and hope and deliverance through the Lord, and is an opportunity to praise the Lord for His goodness, His mercy, His protection, and more. So, it took me a long time to understand the song, but I am grateful for the blessings I've received from the Lord, and I offer this brief blog post as a small bit of praise to Him. The Lord is the source of all of our blessings, and I thank Him.
We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet
(words by William Fowler, music by Caroline Sheridan)
We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet,
To guide us in these latter days;
We thank Thee for sending the Gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays;
We thank Thee for every blessing
Bestowed by Thy bounteous hand;
We feel it a pleasure to serve Thee,
And love to obey Thy command.
When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv’rance is nigh;
We doubt not the Lord, nor His goodness,
We’ve proved Him in days that are past;
The wicked who fight against Zion,
Will surely be smitten at last.
We’ll sing of His goodness and mercy,
We’ll praise Him by day and by night,
Rejoice in His glorious Gospel,
And bask in its lifegiving light;
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message,
Shall never such happiness know.
(To listen to the song, go here.)
We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet
(words by William Fowler, music by Caroline Sheridan)
We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet,
To guide us in these latter days;
We thank Thee for sending the Gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays;
We thank Thee for every blessing
Bestowed by Thy bounteous hand;
We feel it a pleasure to serve Thee,
And love to obey Thy command.
When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv’rance is nigh;
We doubt not the Lord, nor His goodness,
We’ve proved Him in days that are past;
The wicked who fight against Zion,
Will surely be smitten at last.
We’ll sing of His goodness and mercy,
We’ll praise Him by day and by night,
Rejoice in His glorious Gospel,
And bask in its lifegiving light;
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message,
Shall never such happiness know.
(To listen to the song, go here.)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
O Remember, Remember
Adam and I have to speak in church on Sunday, and our topic is the story of the 10 lepers. So, I'm focusing on the obvious topic--gratitude. In preparation for the talk, I've been doing lots of reading and stuff, and one General Conference talk that I've been looking at is President Eyring's talk, "O Remember, Remember." Here's an excerpt:
“I came home late from a Church assignment. It was after dark. My father-in-law, who lived near us, surprised me as I walked toward the front door of my house. He was carrying a load of pipes over his shoulder, walking very fast and dressed in his work clothes. I knew that he had been building a system to pump water from a stream below us up to our property.
He smiled, spoke softly, and then rushed past me into the darkness to go on with his work. I took a few steps toward the house, thinking of what he was doing for us, and just as I got to the door, I heard in my mind—not in my own voice—these words: ‘I’m not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.’
I went inside. I didn’t go to bed. Although I was tired, I took out some paper and began to write. And as I did, I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family. Grandpa didn’t have to do what he was doing for us. He could have had someone else do it or not have done it at all. But he was serving us, his family, in the way covenant disciples of Jesus Christ always do. I knew that was true. And so I wrote it down, so that my children could have the memory someday when they would need it.
I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: ‘Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?’ As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.
More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers […]
My point is to urge you to find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness. It will build our testimonies. You may not keep a journal. You may not share whatever record you keep with those you love and serve. But you and they will be blessed as you remember what the Lord has done.”
So, I've been trying to pay attention to the blessings in my life, the little ways (as well as the big ways) that the Lord shows me that He loves me and is an ever-present friend. Recently as part of my prayers, I've been asking for help in paying back my student loans. My payments are manageable; Adam and I are certainly financially stable. Still, I'd really like to be able to pay them off sooner rather than later and only have to worry about our house payment. Well, the other day, my boss emailed a few of us to say she needed someone to work an extra shift, and my initial reaction was, "Oh, maybe if no one else can take it, I'll tell her I can." (I don't have conflicting plans, but Adam has the day off, too, and I always like to spend time with him.) After a little while,though, it hit me that I've been praying for ways to pay off my debt--and here the Lord was offering me an opportunity and I didn't even recognize it! I did email my boss to say I could do it, and then she also told me she needed me for ANOTHER extra shift--so, even more money. Yay! By then, since I did recognize it as the blessing and opportunity that it was, accepted it, and did remember to offer a prayer of gratitude. After I'd taken the time to express gratitude and was reflecting on how the Lord was providing for me, then it also occurred to me that three or four times this summer, Adam has come home with zucchini, yellow squash, potatoes, and/or corn from his boss--yet another way the Lord is answering my prayer because that means I can have a smaller grocery bill. And Adam's parents keep us stocked with eggs and onions and whatever produce they can get from their garden.
So, I was able to see for myself how, as President Eyring said, as we start looking, then the Lord will help us recognize the blessings that we overlooked before. I have been grateful each time we've received food from Randy (Adam's boss) or my in-laws, but somehow, I never connected it to being an answer to my prayers. (DUH, Adrienne!) So, I'm grateful for the Lord's patience and His willingness to help open my eyes to the blessings around me, and I'm grateful that He does hear and answer prayers.
“I came home late from a Church assignment. It was after dark. My father-in-law, who lived near us, surprised me as I walked toward the front door of my house. He was carrying a load of pipes over his shoulder, walking very fast and dressed in his work clothes. I knew that he had been building a system to pump water from a stream below us up to our property.
He smiled, spoke softly, and then rushed past me into the darkness to go on with his work. I took a few steps toward the house, thinking of what he was doing for us, and just as I got to the door, I heard in my mind—not in my own voice—these words: ‘I’m not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.’
I went inside. I didn’t go to bed. Although I was tired, I took out some paper and began to write. And as I did, I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family. Grandpa didn’t have to do what he was doing for us. He could have had someone else do it or not have done it at all. But he was serving us, his family, in the way covenant disciples of Jesus Christ always do. I knew that was true. And so I wrote it down, so that my children could have the memory someday when they would need it.
I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: ‘Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?’ As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.
More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers […]
My point is to urge you to find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness. It will build our testimonies. You may not keep a journal. You may not share whatever record you keep with those you love and serve. But you and they will be blessed as you remember what the Lord has done.”
So, I've been trying to pay attention to the blessings in my life, the little ways (as well as the big ways) that the Lord shows me that He loves me and is an ever-present friend. Recently as part of my prayers, I've been asking for help in paying back my student loans. My payments are manageable; Adam and I are certainly financially stable. Still, I'd really like to be able to pay them off sooner rather than later and only have to worry about our house payment. Well, the other day, my boss emailed a few of us to say she needed someone to work an extra shift, and my initial reaction was, "Oh, maybe if no one else can take it, I'll tell her I can." (I don't have conflicting plans, but Adam has the day off, too, and I always like to spend time with him.) After a little while,though, it hit me that I've been praying for ways to pay off my debt--and here the Lord was offering me an opportunity and I didn't even recognize it! I did email my boss to say I could do it, and then she also told me she needed me for ANOTHER extra shift--so, even more money. Yay! By then, since I did recognize it as the blessing and opportunity that it was, accepted it, and did remember to offer a prayer of gratitude. After I'd taken the time to express gratitude and was reflecting on how the Lord was providing for me, then it also occurred to me that three or four times this summer, Adam has come home with zucchini, yellow squash, potatoes, and/or corn from his boss--yet another way the Lord is answering my prayer because that means I can have a smaller grocery bill. And Adam's parents keep us stocked with eggs and onions and whatever produce they can get from their garden.
So, I was able to see for myself how, as President Eyring said, as we start looking, then the Lord will help us recognize the blessings that we overlooked before. I have been grateful each time we've received food from Randy (Adam's boss) or my in-laws, but somehow, I never connected it to being an answer to my prayers. (DUH, Adrienne!) So, I'm grateful for the Lord's patience and His willingness to help open my eyes to the blessings around me, and I'm grateful that He does hear and answer prayers.
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