Little Children.

In primary the children are working on their primary program parts. Most of the kids have worked with their parents and written their own parts. They talk about how they know that Jesus loves them and how they can feel the Spirit comfort them when they are scared. They talk about being examples to others and saying prayers. Today I really felt how important it is for children to know these things. Jesus DOES love them. I am very thankful for that love.

The gift

Today at church our speaker was discussing a talk by Russell M Nelson named ask, seek, knock and she gave this quote:

Even more amazing than modern technology is our opportunity to access information directly from heaven, without hardware, software, or monthly service fees. It is one of the most marvelous gifts the Lord has offered to mortals. It is His generous invitation to “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”1

It is amazing how sometimes you will hear something that you have heard since you were 8 years old and then it speaks to you in a different way. Since childhood I have known that we are given the "gift" of the Holy Ghost after baptism. Today when she read this quote I was struck by the truly generous gift it is. I wondered about how different my life would be without the ability to ask my Heavenly Father for something or about a decision and to receive an answer to my prayers. It is nearly impossible to think of how I could live my life and make decisions without this gift. I have thought a lot about how much I use this gift. I am thankful for this gift and will try to remember this gratitude daily.

He will never forget us

A week ago I went on a trip with a bunch of girl friends and as we drove they talked a lot about their kids. They always noticed things their children would like or were wondering what they were doing. I saw the way each of them cared so much about their children and how their love and concern for their children was at the forefront of their being. Then I read this scripture:

15 For can a ^awoman forget her sucking child, that she should not have ^bcompassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may ^cforget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the ^apalms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

I thought about how I couldn't image any of these girls forgetting their babies, but Christ ensures us that as deep as their love is for their children, His love is stronger. He will never forget us and will never abandon us. We are reminded that he had died for us and had His hands pierced for us. These will always be there as a reminder of what he has done for us and as sign of His love you and me.

Things I know for sure...

I am truly grateful for the knowledge and peace that comes into my life by being a member of the church. I know that Heavenly Father is a loving God that cares for all of his children and loves them individually. I know that because He loves us He sent his son to suffer and die for our sins. He did this so that we could be clean and resurrected and live with our Heavenly Father again. I know that one of the blessings of attending the temple is to come closer to our Heavenly Father and feel the spirit there. I also know that because of the blessings of the temple we can live as families forever. I know that Heavenly Father wants us to try to be better people every day. We are supposed to look for ways to improve and live a more Christlike life and when we make mistakes or fall short He is there to make up the difference. I know that when we pray He hears and answers them. I know that sometimes we have to endure trials and hardships, because sometimes that is God's will. I know that Heavenly Father has the power to perform miracles. I know that he still speaks to His children on earth today. He does this through modern prophets. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the current prophet. I know that we were given the Book of Mormon to be a second testimony of Jesus Christ.

There are many things I don't know and many that I am coming to know and understand, but I am thankful to know about these things.

Miracles

In primary this month we have been talking about how Jesus Christ performed miracles. When I think of the miracles performed by Christ I automaticallly think of the raising of the dead, making the blind see, feeding the 5000, calming the storms and helping the lame to walk. Today I realized his greatest miracle of all when I was reading in Luke 5.

18 ¶ And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was ^ataken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are ^aforgiven thee.

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh ^ablasphemies? Who can ^bforgive sins, but God alone?

22 But when Jesus ^aperceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23 ^aWhether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to ^aforgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, ^aglorifying God.

After thinking about that story I realized what an incredible miracle forgiveness of sins is. It is more difficult to comprehend or measure than some of these other tangible miracles, but it is the greatest of all his miracles. We are made whole and our sins our washed away. It doesn't matter who you are or what you have done, the Savior has atoned for your sins. Nobody is beyond help. We can ask him for this atonement in our lives constantly. It is never ending. That IS a miracle!!

I am back!

Every week I have thought about something I wanted to post, but then I don't get around to it.

It has been over a month since I last posted, but for some reason I am feeling like August should be a good time to restart on a regular basis.

This week at work I had an experience that was unusual for me. Often times when I meet people coming into the office they are not in their best state. They are sick or not feeling well. This week I met a woman who was suffering with some stress and sadness in her life. She asked where I was from and when I told her I was from Utah, she got excited and asked if I was mormon. I told her I was and she said, "oh good, I know some of what you believe and I know that you have faith." She told me about some sweet revelation she gathered from reading the bible about Job. She then asked if I would pray with her. This is not conventional, but I believe that prayer can be important in the healing process. She said the prayer and I will say that I could feel the Spirit in the room and I could feel how much love Heavenly Father had for her and me. In her prayer she humbly proclaimed, "I love you Jesus and I know that you will not give me something that I can't handle." I was so touched by this statement. It is wonderful to know this simple truth. He will not give us something we can't handle. He gives us trials and we are promised that they will be for our good. Often it is impossible to understand how something can be for your good when it is so difficult and long lasting. It seems counterintuitive that our Heavenly Father who love us would put us in painful circumstances. Whether they be emotional, financial, health related or relationship problems this is what our Father wants us to experience. There are lessons to be learned from trials. These lessons can range from learning to have compassion or finding an unknown personal resolve or simply coming unto Christ.

Individual Worth

I have always loved Doctrine and Covenants 18:10. Remember the ^aworth of ^bsouls is great in the sight of God. I find it very comforting that Heavenly Father cares about us as individuals. Then if that wasn't enough it goes on to say:

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one ^asoul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the ^akingdom of my Father, how great will be your ^bjoy if you should bring many ^csoulsunto me!

I can picture a loving father who is so excited when his child does something good and I know that is how He feels about us. He will always be excited and feel joy when somebody (whether it be us or another person) makes a change for the best. It makes me want to add to the joy and share the gospel with others and do my best to make good choices everyday.

In conference this year Elder Uchdorf said, "One woman who had been through years of trial and sorrow said through her tears, 'I have come to realize that I am like an old 20-dollar bill—crumpled, torn, dirty, abused, and scarred. But I am still a 20-dollar bill. I am worth something. Even though I may not look like much and even though I have been battered and used, I am still worth the full 20 dollars.' "

the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”⁴ We cannot gauge the worth of another soul any more than we can measure the span of the universe. Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen.

I love this talk and I have thought about it often. Sometimes at work I will meet somebody who has a big personality conflict with me. I tend to get frustrated and judgmental, but it is interesting how much my perspective changes when I try to remind myself how much Heavenly Father loves each of his children. Even if this person is making poor life decisions or is hurtful to others our Heavenly Father still see their worth and only feels sadness about the choices they make. He loves them and truly understands their value. I want to see others in the world in the same way Heavenly Father does.

Nothing Fancy

Today I taught primary and I read about this analogy and sort of adapted it to my own and I really liked it. So this is the story I told the children:

My husband's grandma was in town and she loves to go to antique shops. We went to a big antique shop and as we are walking though, I see this chair that is broken dusty. There are gouges in the wood. The seat is broken, stained and dirty. I looked at that chair and thought I could paint that with a bright color and put a new geometric pattern on the seat and maybe even do some vinyl lettering on it. I thought it would look really fancy like that. Then Richard's Grandma looked at the chair and she wanted to sand it and clean it and repair the seat, clean the fabric, stain the wood and RESTORE it to its initial condition.

This is what Joseph Smith did with the Church. He did not take what was existing on the earth and fancy it up, but rather he restored it. He restored it to what it was when Christ was on the earth. He brought back revelation through a mouthpiece of God such as a prophet or Christ. He restored the priesthood authority. He re instituted divinely inspired ordinances such as baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the sacrament and temple ordinances. He made more scriptures and a new testament of Christ available to people for our edification. He restored the true gospel as it was when Christ was on the earth. I am so thankful for that knowledge.

Desire

Alma 32: 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Recently I was reading about faith and came across this excerpt from Alma 32 and it made me reflect on an experience in high school. I had been in seminary and had a goal for my scripture reading during the school year. I felt that I was making a lot of spiritual progress and I could feel a difference in my outlook on life. I knew that when the Spirit was with me I was happier. I felt my testimony growing each time I read my scriptures. Then school ended and I no longer had to get to bed early and I didn't have Seminary anymore. I was staying out late with friends every night and when I would finally come home I would fall asleep reading my scriptures. I felt a halt in my spiritual progression. It took me a while to realize it and a few weeks turned into a month and I knew that I wasn't in the same place I had been during the school year. When I tried to read the scriptures I found myself browsing through the highlights and reading the words, but there was no searching, pondering or enlightening happening. One night I was getting ready for bed and I realized how tired I was of reading the words in the scriptures just so I didn't feel bad that I hadn't done it. I decided that I had to change, but I didn't know what to do. I felt frustrated and felt like I needed to be in a class or have somebody ELSE help me to feel the Spirit again. I prayed that night that I would get that feeling back. I prayed that I would be able to feel the prompting of the Holy Ghost while I studied. I prayed that I would be able to focus not just on the words in these holy writings, but on the meaning and specifically on the meaning for me. I prayed that Heavenly Father would help me continue to grow and strengthen my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That night I pulled my scriptures out and it was like a switch had gone off. I felt the Spirit flood into my soul and I felt my testimony stir back into a place where it could grow. I was amazed at how fast it happened. I realized that all I had to do was to have a desire and a faith that Heavenly Father would allow the Spirit to be with me and it was. I am so grateful for that experience and I am grateful for this passage in Alma 32 that reminded me of that time of growing in my life and reminded me that all I have to do is desire for faith and He will help me.

This week for my scripture study I was reading in Alma 32 and I came across these verses that I think are so beautiful and well written. I pasted them below for your reading.


28 Now, we will compare the word unto a ^aseed. Now, if ye give place, that a ^bseed may be planted in your ^cheart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your ^dunbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to ^eenlighten my ^funderstanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own ^alikeness.

32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

34 And now, behold, is your ^aknowledge ^bperfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your ^cfaith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your ^dmind doth begin to expand.

35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is ^alight; and whatsoever is light, is ^bgood, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?

36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.

37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

38 But if ye ^aneglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ^aground is ^bbarren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the ^atree of life.

41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with ^apatience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree ^bspringing up unto everlasting life.

42 And because of your ^adiligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the ^bfruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall ^areap the ^brewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth ^cfruit unto you.


I highlighted the part that I wanted to write about. As I read about the word being like a seed, I pictured a little tomato seed that I would plant in my garden. In these verse it is talking about the garden being your heart and the seed being the gospel. If the seed is a "good seed," it should grow and bring forth fruit and understanding. I thought about the gospel and church doctrines and how they are planted within my heart and as I learn my understanding grows and my knowledge and testimony of the truth of the gospel also grows. I pictured my own testimony plant growing with beautiful tomatoes of my knowledge. I thought about how true those verses were and how I initially had to pray and study and nurture my seed (the word/scriptures) to find out if it was true and would grow into something more. I thought about being in high school and deciding that I was going to read my scriptures and go to seminary. Then as I did those things I felt my testimony blossom and have fruit. I was feeling good about the effort I had put in over the years and the fact that my efforts had helped by testimony be fruitful. THEN, I read on further in verse 37 and it talks about an existing plant or testimony that has no roots or replenishment because the ground is barren. That plant dried up and died in the sun. Not to be overly dramatic but I started to picture my own testimony plant withering and shrinking until there is no purpose for it but to be weeded out and thrown away. It was actually a scary realization that I could have the word/seed planted in my heart and grow to the beautiful testimony/fruit, but if I didn't continue to nourish then it would all be for naught. I realized that I need to constantly be working on strengthening my testimony to keep its root in my heart where it can get the nourishment it needs.

Whatching out for us

Today a speaker at church discussed the Prophet and his role as a watchman and last week I read in the Gospel Principles manual the basics about prophets. I was touched in both instances that I need to really take to heart what the Prophet speaks about in General Conference. The messages that the prophet gives us in formal setting such as General Conference and in the Ensign and inspired words from our Heavenly Father to us. As I learned of these things I realized that I need to take extra care to heed these promptings. I need to obey them the same way I would if Heavenly Father appeared to me and gave me instructions. I have started to look back at old Conference talks from the prophets of my lifetime to find out what their counsel has been over the last few years and to know what things are watchmen and warning of. I have learned of the importance of service, the reasons we need to make gospel oriented life time goals, the importance of gratitude. I know that Heavenly Father has given up prophets to be a guide in our lives.

What is the motivation

John 6: "Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."

The other day I was reading in the Gospel of John about the miracle of the Loaves and Fish. I love this verse after that when Christ calls them out on their motivation. He tells them that he doesn't think they are there for him or for the Gospel but rather for the food. How sad would that be? To be in the presence of Christ and have him say, "I know you are only here for the food." Or more appropriate for some, "I know you are only here for the social aspect or to look good to others." It made me really wonder, what are my motivations for going to church? or even why I am I a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
I know that I have felt the whispering of the Spirit tell me of the truth or Christ's gospel and specifically the Gospel restored to the earth by Joseph Smith. I know that the reason I go to Church is to worship, but on some days I do find I forget that and I start to let other motivation drive me. I am grateful for these verses where I am reminded to keep my motivations for church attendance to be about the miracle or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am truly amazed and grateful for my Savior and his Atonement. I know that because of that Atonement I can be cleansed of my sins and have everlasting life. I know that Joseph Smith restored the fullness of the Gospel in these latter days, that we might be able to employ all the power of the Atonement in out lives. I will make my resolve to keep these things in mind from now on as I go to church and remember the "meat that endureth unto everlasting life."

Alma the Younger

In college I took a Book of Mormon class where I had to write a report about one person in the Book of Mormon. I decided to write my paper on Alma the Younger. This Sunday I was teaching about the atonement and repentance and I told the kids about Alma the Younger. He was the son of a prophet yet he was fighting against the church. He was leading people away from the gospel and were trying to destroy the church. Alma the elder prayed for his son to be brought back to the light. When Alma the younger was meeting and setting out to destroy the church he was visited by an angel who told him that he was wrong. Alma was so stunned that he went into a stupor and was not able to speak or move. While he was in a stupor this was the experience he had. (I can't get my blog to allow copy and paste of the actual scriptures, so you'll have to go to this link). Alma 36. I find that his explanation of his experience is so powerful. It just shows how the atonement and Christ's loving sacrifice truly has the ability to take us out of any terrible or hopeless place. He sums it up by saying, "Yea, I say unto you , my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you , my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy." Because of the atonement we can be brought from a stage of utter guilt and misery to a place of peace and joy. What an amazing miracle!! I am grateful for that power and experience I have felt in my own life.

No Neutrality

First, sorry about the hiatus, but I am back (and so is our computer).


I was reading a passage recently about Christ's writings in the scriptures and about how we are taught that we cannot be neutral. We MUST make a stand and align ourselves. We are either disciples and worshippers of Jesus Christ or we are against him. In Matthew 12:30 is says: "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." Christ makes is absolutely clear that there are only two options, there is no third neutral or middle ground option. We are either believers and supporters of Christ or by not choosing or being "neutral" we are actively against Christ.

It is easier to see where you stand on the big picture with this one. I know that I believe in Christ. I know which side I stand on with that, but I believe it is the smaller decisions each day that show what we really believe. It is things like honesty and kindness that can tell us which side we are really on. We cannot say that we are disciples of Christ and act contrary to how he would have us act. Our actions must support our claims of believing in Christ. We must do more that proclaim belief in Christ, we must show our alliance with Him in our actions. We cannot be neutral.