Repentance and Hope

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the October 1999 conference.

I listened to all of the talks this morning while I did the dishes from yesterday. We have a vintage dishwasher, me! All of the talks were great, but I especially felt drawn to Elder Eyring's and Elder Holland's talks because of some challenges a son is facing. I think the two talks dovetail perfectly.

Elder Eyring spoke of not procrastinating our repentance. One of the reasons he gave for promptly repenting is so that we don't miss out on blessings and service. He spoke of a man who began to smoke at age 12 and after a few years left both his small hometown and the church. He worked construction jobs, married, had a family, but ended up divorced and estranged from his family. In fact, he ended up quite alone living in boarding houses and out of a single trunk.

One night as he was lightening his load he found a Book of Mormon in the bottom of his trunk. He never knew how it got there, but he read it through and knew through the Spirit that it was true. He realized that all those years ago he had walked away from the true Church of Jesus Christ. 

This now old man and a young Elder Eyring were district missionary companions. Elder Eyring was teaching a lesson and told the people of the power of the Atonement to give a new heart and wash away sins. Later the older man rebuked Elder Eyring saying: ". . .that while God was able to give him a new heart, He had not been able to give him back his wife and his children and what he might have done for them. But he had not looked back in sorrow and regret for what might have been. He moved forward, lifted by faith, to what yet might be."

That struck me as a parallel to my life for reasons I won't go into here. I have a firm testimony of the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to pay for sins and to heal sorrows, but the one thing it cannot do is to change the consequences of sin. If we delay our repentance, procrastinating, or worse, refuse to repent, we will suffer the full and unalterable consequences of our sins, both in this life and the life to come.

Elder Eyring ends on such a sweet note: "Those in our families who love us, on both sides of the veil, would say as we consider whether to humble our hearts and repent, 'Please, do not delay.' That is the Savior's invitation and His plea."

Elder Holland's talk focused on the promise of the Savior's role as "An High Priest of Good Things to Come."

In the entire history of the world no one has ever loved so purely or served so selflessly--and been treated so diabolically for His effort. Yet nothing could break His faith in His Father's plan or His Father's promises. Even in those darkest hours at Gethsemane and Calvary, He pressed on, continuing to trust in the very God whom He momentarily feared had forsaken Him.

Because Christ's eyes were unfailingly fixed on the future, He could endure all that was required of Him, . . . Because He knows that for the faithful, things will be made right soon enough.

This is the talk in which he told the story of his young family moving to the east to go to graduate school and their dilapidated car breaking down twice in the same place. Such a tender story! Elder Holland ends with his testimony of the Father and the Son saying, ". . .They will sustain us in our hour of need--and always will, even if we cannot recognize that intervention."

Repentance and Hope! One leads to the other. And they are sorely needed in today's world, especially by me. 

Nana Rozy and grandbaby #3

 

Families

First, a little PSA: Please remember the lessons we learned during the pandemic and do not bring sick children to church! Thank you!

(I've been sick three times since September from the children in my Primary class. NO MORE!!)

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday morning session of the October 1999 conference.

Each year I choose a "word of the year", something that I want to work on in my life. This year's word was contentment. But I decided that has been the wrong word. In one sense I need to be more content with the things that I can not change, but in another sense I can't be content to remain as I am. So the part of me that wants to be and do better is more active in my brain, and it spills over into everything; hence, the tendency to complain, murmur, criticize, etc. 

What does this have to do with Elder Neil L. Andersen's talk, Prophets and Spiritual Mole Crickets? Glad you asked. I was surprised to find this talk in this week's reading because I remember this talk and didn't realize it was so long ago. My how the years fly swiftly by.

This talk was about listening to and acting upon the counsel from the prophets and apostles. He relates an experience when a neighbor warned him of mole crickets in his lawn, but when he looked around he couldn't see any evidence. What he didn't know was that they were underground, and only active at night. By the time he noticed the results of the infestation it was too late to do anything about it, except through the huge expense of replacing all the sod.

Elder Andersen, then of the Seventy, told of a letter from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve sent to every member of the church, earlier that year, regarding families. 

We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform.

Perhaps we need another reminder for the current generation of parents of young children. Of the seven families represented in my Primary class, only two families study the scriptures daily with Come Follow Me. A few more have Family Home Evening, and some pray at least once a day. All of the children are sent to public schools, which I think is the scariest part of the whole situation. But that's another topic. 

How can parents send their precious children out the door without the spiritual armor and inoculation that comes from daily feasting on the word of God, without a prayer for protection and guidance, without making family time the highest priority? 

Of course, there are no guarantees to parents, because our children have agency too and when they are old enough they exercise it. But the promised blessings are real. He quotes the First Presidency from 107 years ago (84 at the time of the conference):

"If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them."

I recently asked our oldest, a daughter what she remembers about Family Home Evening. She said she couldn't remember any specifics, just that we had it and we enjoyed it. I asked if she remembered it being, as others have described it "the only family fights that open and close with prayer"? No, she didn't remember it that way at all. Neither do I, but I wanted to check that my memory wasn't selective. I remember having good times and it being rather enjoyable with lots of laughter. 

All of our five children are adults. Two chose not to be active in the church after they left home. They are not antagonistic, they just leave it alone. I hope that someday the teachings of their childhood will be brought to their remembrance and their hearts will be changed. In the meantime, we do have the blessing of increased love. It is a joy to get together. My boys all call me with their good news, engagements, promotions, awards, etc. They call me for help with recipes or household questions, or just to talk. 

It is my firm belief that the more time a family spends together, especially in spiritual pursuits, the closer the family will be no matter what. The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. We have most of those in spades!

 

Sacrament Meeting Talk

One of the (few) benefits of moving around is that I have been able to recycle talks I've given.  Today I gave a talk from eight years ago (2014). Writing that talk was an intensely spiritual experience and I enjoy sharing it with others. 

If you're new to my blog or would like to read it again here is the blog post where I have posted it.

Like A Flame Unquenchable

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 1999 conference.

Sunday afternoon usually has such great talks, I wonder why anyone would skip out on this session. In this particular session, Elder Eyring gave a fabulous talk about teaching doctrine. You can read more about it over at Light in Leaves by Marilyn. I want to share Elder M. Russell Ballard's talk about keeping covenants.

Too many of our young men and women are succumbing to the pressures imposed by a world saturated with evil messages and immoral behavior. Lucifer is waging a vicious ware for the souls of young and old alike, and the casualty count is climbing. The standards of the world have shifted like the sands of a windblown desert. That which was once unheard of or unaccepted is now commonplace.

Doesn't that sound like it was given last month? Think of how much worse things are today than they were twenty-three years ago.

But one thing is certain: the commandments have not changed. Let there be no mistake about that. Right is still right. Wrong is still wrong, no matter how cleverly cloaked in respectability or political correctness. We believe in chastity before marriage and fidelity ever after. That standard is an absolute standard of truth. It is neither subject to public opinion polls nor dependent upon situation or circumstance. There is no need to debate it or other gospel standards.

But there is a desperate need for parents, leaders, and teachers to help our youth learn to understand, love, value, and live the standards of the gospel. Parents and youth must stand together in defense against a clever and devious adversary. We must be just as dedicated, effective and determined in our efforts to live the gospel as he is in his efforts to destroy it--and us.

 

Elder Ballard discusses at length four ways we can build a fortress of faith.

First is gospel information. Knowledge that we are God's children and that He provided a Savior for us. Knowledge that will build a strong testimony. He talked about making covenants and gave the example of Brigham Young asking the people to covenant to give aid and assistance to bring all those who wanted to leave Nauvoo and move west, but were unable to because of poverty. 

We often hear of the suffering and the sacrifice those early Saints endured, and we ask ourselves, How did they do it? What was it that gave them such strength? Part of the answer lies in President Young's powerful words. Those early Latter-day Saints had made covenants with God and those covenants burned like unquenchable fire in their hearts.

He goes on to say that ". . . there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants. . . . We need to become so deeply converted to the gospel of Christ that the fire of the covenant will burn in our hearts like flame unquenchable. And with that kind of faith we will do what is necessary to remain true and worthy."

Second is communication. "Nothing is more important to the relationship between family members than open, honest communication."  He gives some instruction about how to increase communication in the family too.

There are powerful moments of communication through regular family prayer and through family scripture study. The scriptures help define family values and goals, and talking together about them will assist family members to learn to become individually secure, spiritually strong and self-reliant. This requires time, and so we need to counsel together about how much television, how many movies, videos, video games, time on the Internet, or out-of-the home activities should be allowed.

Third is intervention. "It is the parents' duty to intervene when they see wrong choices being made." This doesn't refer to taking away a child's agency, rather to make sure the children understand appropriate behavior and the consequences that will follow if they pursue a wrong course.

Make your home a haven of peace and righteousness. Don't allow evil influences to contaminate your own special spiritual environment. . . . When one of our youth stands at a moral crossroad in life, almost always there is someone--a parent, a leader, a teacher--who could make a difference by intervening with love and kindness. 

Fourth is example. "We cannot expect them to avoid those things that are inappropriate if they see their parents compromising principles and failing to live the gospel.

As parents, teachers, and leaders, it is our solemn duty to set a powerful, personal example of righteous strength, courage, sacrifice, unselfish service, and self-control. These are the traits that will help our youth hold on to the iron rod of the gospel and remain on the straight and narrow path."

Elder Ballard acknowledges that even focusing on information, communication, intervention and example doesn't guarantee a perfect family with no straying children. But he does promise that doing these things will make it easier to work through the challenges that come to every family.

I enjoy hearing from Elder Ballard, he comes across as a wonderful man, father, and grandfather; humble and loving, strong and kind.

 

 

A Prophet's Testimony

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 1999 conference.

As a child I never liked when General Conference and Easter occurred on the same Sunday. Rather like Christmas on a Sunday. But as an adult I've come to appreciate the spirituality of celebrating a big holiday on a holy day. It seems totally appropriate to gather together and worship our Savior on the days of His most important events, birth and resurrection.

On this Easter morning, then current prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley shared his fervent witness and testimony in a beautiful way. He began by expressing gratitude.

It it plainly evident that the gospel, when lived, makes people better than they otherwise would be. . . . How deeply grateful I am for the devotion and the loyalty of the members of the Church throughout the earth who respond to every call, no matter the inconvenience, no matter what comfort they must forgo.

 

 And he continues, "But of all the things for which I feel grateful, I am most grateful this Easter morning for the gift of my Lord and my Redeemer. This is Easter, when, with all of Christendom, we commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ."

I can't think of anything more important or more impressive than the fact that Jesus Christ overcame death and rose again. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about this, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." (1 Cor. 15:19-20) In the margin of my scriptures I wrote, 'Like the hopeless masses mourning their losses on 9/11/01.' I vividly remember feeling such sorrow for those who didn't know that they would see their loved ones again, that this life is not the end.

Another thought I had as I listened to President Hinckley was about those who claim that we are not Christians. They would benefit from listening to this talk, as there is no plainer declaration of our discipleship than one from a prophet who knows the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to the Almighty. His glorified Son broke the bonds of death, the greatest of all victories. As Paul declared, 'For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.' (1 Cor. 15:22)

He is our triumphant Lord. He is our Redeemer, who atoned for our sins. Through His redeeming sacrifice all men shall rise from the grave. He has opened the way whereby we may gain not only immortality but also eternal life.

As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bear witness and testimony of these things this Easter day. I speak in solemnity and reverence and gratitude, . . . 

 

At the end of the talk my final thought was, "I really miss President Hinckley!" Just like I miss my Grandpa Joe, and my Nana Rose. I'm grateful I'll be able to meet them again. I'm so thankful that there is purpose to this life and that we all will live again! Death is not the end of our existence. Jesus Christ won the victory over the grave. As we approach the season of celebrating His birth it is wise to remember that without the completion of His mission, to atone for our sins and rise from the grave, His birth would have been just another of the billions of anonymous babies born on this earth. But, praise God, He successfully completed His mission and did all that His Father asked of Him. That is truly the best gift of all.

The First Law of Heaven

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the April 1999 conference.

Recently, while watching several YouTube videos I heard something profound, (and I can't remember which one so I can't give credit) 

"Obedience is the first law of heaven and Gen Z hasn't been taught to be very obedient." (Or something close to that, please forgive my aging brain for not remembering exactly.) In our Stake Conference this weekend a member of the Stake Presidency, talking about the new For the Strength of Youth booklet advised us that young children need 'the Law of Moses' to teach them how things work and to guide their choices; while teens can better operate under a higher New Testament framework of laws. I see this played out each week in Primary where the young children, with no knowledge of the consequences of their choices, are given choices and decisions to make. I think all that freedom makes most young children anxious and uneasy inside. It's been my experience that young children do best with well defined boundaries and careful guidance to understand how both the world, and the Spirit work before being given enough freedom to decide for themselves, which could lead to harm.

President James E. Faust's address Obedience: The Path to Freedom impressed me as just what we need today as an antidote to what's happening around us.

I wish to raise a warning voice. In today's society, the difference between right and wrong is being obscured by loud, seductive voices calling for no restraints in human conduct. They advocate absolute freedom without regard to consequences. I state unequivocally that such behavior is the high road to personal destruction.

Can you think of anything more personally destructive than the supposed transition from one sex to another of young children and teens? We witness the tragic results as one after another comes to their senses and realizes what they have done to their precious bodies. Satan is leading the destruction of the rising generation in a particularly gruesome way.

President Faust relates the story of David O. McKay's horse Dandy, who, while well behaved when saddled, disliked restraint and would find ways to escape any. His final escape, driven by curiosity, led to his death when after wandering from the safety of his corral he found and ate from a sack of grain which was actually poisoned bait for rodents. Quoting Pres. McKay, "How like Dandy are many of our youth! . . . They are impulsive, full of life, full of curiosity. . . . They, too, are restive under restraint, but if they are kept busy, guided carefully and rightly, they prove to be responsive and capable; but if left to wander unguided, they all too frequently violate principles of right which often lead to snares of evil, disaster, and even death."

Sheri Dew recently spoke about prophets being able to see around corners (view talk here) which led me to think about how I've been viewing General Conference. In the weeks leading up to conference I'm usually hoping and praying that the prophets will say something about what is going on right now. In the past I have sometimes felt rather disappointed and thought that maybe they can't or won't speak of anything specific to the USA because this is a world-wide church. After pondering the principles Sister Dew spoke of I think I better understand that the prophets and apostles, and other leaders, are actually prophesying of conditions to come, giving us guidance on how to prepare. But we seem to only see it in hindsight. This will change the way I study current conference talks!

President Faust concluded his talk with this wonderful statement:

Freedom and liberty are precious gifts that come to us when we are obedient to the laws of God and the whisperings of the Spirit. If we are to avoid destruction, which was the fate of President McKay's horse Dandy and his companion, fences or guardrails must be built beyond which we cannot go. The fences which we must stay within are the principles of revealed truth. Obedience to them makes us truly free to reach the potential and the glory which our Heavenly Father has in store for us.

I'm grateful for the guardrails of the Gospel! 

Understanding

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the April 1999 conference.

I'm beginning to think, after all these years, that what is said in General Conference doesn't pertain so much to today (as in when it is spoken), as it pertains to our future needs, the way the world will be in the future. Or it could be that human nature never changes so each generation needs to hear the same things. Or maybe it's a combination of both.

As I listened to this session I was struck by how pertinent the subjects were to life today. 

Elder Neal A. Maxwell gave a searing address about selfishness which seems definitely more apropos today than when given.

"Cultural decline is accelerated when single-interest segments of society become indifferent to general values once widely shared. . . . Today, in place of some traditionally shared values is a demanding conformity pushed, ironically, by those who eventually will not tolerate those who once tolerated them."

Doesn't that sound a lot like today? 

During this month of Thanksgiving I'm so very grateful to the gift of fifteen men who are prophets, seers, and revelators. We are blessed to have guides to lead us to the Savior. 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the Day

Whenever I think my life is hard I can remember that since there is opposition in all things (see 2 Nephi 2:11) I should be grateful that things aren't worse.

We Are Not Alone

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Relief Society session of the October 1998 conference.

Sheri L. Dew is not talking about aliens visiting us. Rather she is referring to the presence of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost.

It is vital that we, the sisters of Relief Society, learn to hear the voice of the Lord. Yet I worry that too often we fail to seek the guidance of the Spirit. Perhaps we don't know how and haven't made it a priority to learn. Or we're so aware of our personal failings that we don't feel worthy, don't really believe the Lord will talk to us, and therefore don't seek revelation. Or we've allowed the distractions and pace or our lives to crowd out the Spirit. What a tragedy! For the Holy Ghost blesses us with optimism and wisdom at times of challenge that we simply cannot muster on our own. No wonder the adversary's favorite tactics among righteous LDS women is busyness--getting us so preoccupied with the flurry of daily life that we fail to immerse ourselves in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sisters, we can't afford not to seek the things of the Spirit! There is too much at stake. Too many people are depending on us as mothers, as sisters, leaders and friends. A woman led by the Lord knows where to turn for answers and for peace. She can make difficult decisions and face problems with confidence because she take her counsel from the Spirit, and from her leaders who are also guided by the Spirit.

 

I need to work on this and felt called to repentance when I listened to this talk. Sister Dew has always been a favorite of mine!

Personal Purity

 

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the October 1998 conference.

"As modern winds of immorality swirl luridly around them, I am concerned for any of our youth or young adults who may be confused about principles of personal purity, about obligations of total chastity before marriage and complete fidelity after it."

So begins Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's power sermon on personal purity, which is a much needed refresher course for today. Too many people don't understand the plan and purpose of life on earth. Too many are under the false impression that we evolved from some primeval pond scum and can do whatever we want with our bodies. Many people are more concerned about conserving the earth, plants and animals than about taking precious care of their physical and spiritual selves. Most don't even know that we have spiritual bodies housed in our physical ones. 

During my youth and young adult years I certainly struggled with morality. Not because I didn't know any better, but because I hadn't been taught how to control the powerful emotions I felt and thought I was somehow different than the rest of the girls. No one told me I would have sexual urges; we were just told to resist the advances of young men. 

Elder Holland quotes Will and Ariel Durant, "A youth boiling with hormones will wonder why he should not give full freedom to his sexual desires; [but] if he is unchecked by custom, morals, or laws, he may ruin his life before he . . . understand[s] that sex is a river of fire that must be banked and cooled by a hundred restraints if it is not to consume in chaos both the individual and the group."

Long after I was married I learned and began to understand that the way we use our God given powers of procreation will determine if we will have that power and gift in the eternities. Once during a temple session I had a brief glimpse of eternity and eternal increase. It was a moment of great joy, which filled me with determination to be found worthy of that gift so I could feel that joy forever. 

I'm so grateful for another gospel gift, that of repentance and forgiveness through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Elder Holland ends his talk with this testimony, "I bear witness of the great plan of life, of the powers of godliness, of mercy and forgiveness and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ--all of which have profound meaning in matters of moral cleanliness. I testify that we are to glorify God in our body and in our Spirit."

Like a Dry Sponge

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the October 1998 conference.

This weekend's General Conference was a magnificent fountain of living water. I felt like a dry sponge soaking up all the goodness: music, prayers, and talks. It was a much needed refueling in my life. We live in a time of great drought and famine, not of earthly water and food, but of living water and the bread of life. The eternal truths spoken of in conference can be feasted upon again and again. Which is one of the reasons I'm enjoying participating in the General Conference Odyssey.

Topics in this session from 1998 included tithing, hope, temples, testimony, righteousness, and a Q&A format from President Hinckley. Choosing a favorite talk is like trying to choose a favorite child. They are all great.

The talk on tithing resonated with me as we personally face challenging circumstances of a slightly reduced income and greatly increasing prices due to governmental inflation. It's good to be reminded of the financial commandments and attendant blessings to bolster our faith.

President James E. Faust talked about his father paying tithing in kind with the best of the hay and said, "The legacy of faith he passed on to his posterity was far greater than money, because he established in the minds of his children and grandchildren that above all he loved the Lord and His holy work over other earthly things." 

He told of being a young bishop and having President Henry D. Moyle, of the First Presidency, in his ward come in for tithing settlement declaring, "Bishop, this is a full tithe, and a little bit more, because that's the way we have been blessed." I can add my testimony to that. It's better to round up and give a little more, than to try and be precise with odd numbers. You can't ever out give the Lord.

I've always believed that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to all of societies ills. Especially regarding poverty. I've never known or heard of any full-tithe payer being homeless, or starving, or even hopeless. President Faust quoted President Hinckley from when he spoke to saints in the Philippines, "if members, even living in poverty and misery . . . will accept the gospel and live it, pay their tithes and offerings, even though those be meager, they will have rice in their bowls and clothing on their backs and shelter over their heads. I do not see any other solution." President Faust continued, "Indeed, I believe it is possible to break out of poverty by having faith to give back to the Lord part of what little we have."

I have seen the blessings of tithing in my life. The windows of heaven have truly opened, not always in a direct monetary way, but in countless ways that add up to living prosperously. Blessings of health when there isn't medical insurance; vehicles and appliances lasting until there is money to replace them. Getting great gas milage when serving in callings that require a great deal of travel. (Here in the Midwest where branch boundaries are huge.) Finding items on sale right when they are most needed. Receiving "hand-me-downs" of all kinds of the very things we needed. Having food stretch, almost to the point of "fishes and loaves". All these constitute blessings I associate with paying a full and honest tithing.

President Faust used a favorite Joseph Smith quote, "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation." When I hear leaders say, "Oh we can't ask the members to do that," I wonder why not? Aren't we supposed to sacrifice? And those of us who have been endowed in the temple have covenanted to consecrate our all to the building up of the kingdom. President Faust said, "Our donations are made holy by our faith." Much like the widows mite. "To be faithful members of this Church requires sacrifice and consecration."

He finished by talking about all of the sacrifices we must make to obtain the blessings. "Receiving the blessings requires the payment of tithes and offerings. Ours is not a Sunday-only religion. It demands exemplary conduct and effort every day of the week. It involves accepting calls and serving with fidelity in those callings. It means strength of character, integrity, and honesty to the Lord and our fellowmen. It means that our homes need to be places of sanctuary and love. It means a relentless battle against the bombardment of worldly evils. It means, at times, being unpopular and politically incorrect." How timely is that! 

The promise for obedience is that "Those who keep their covenants and pay their tithes and offerings will have some extra defense against these virulent modern-day forms of evil."

For My Sons

 

This post is part of the General Conference Odessey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the October 1998 conference.

I married an Marine, who had been a Drill Instructor. Four of our five children are boys. They grew up with more military stories than missionary stories. They all love guns. When we have family reunions one activity day is dedicated to shooting. Three of our sons have or are serving in the military. (Our daughter was the first to serve, but she doesn't enjoy guns or shooting. The other son tried but was injured in Recruit Training and didn't get to serve.)

As our sons have built up their arsenals I have reminded them again and again that there is something more powerful than guns or bombs or any other weapon. President James E. Faust said it this way, "You young holders of the priesthood have access to the greatest power source in the world." Though he cautioned that "we can enjoy priesthood power only when we do our duty."

President Faust told the story of Zion's Camp and some of the hardships they endured. He quoted George A. Smith, a sixteen year old who recorded their experiences, saying of Joseph Smith, "But during the entire trip he never uttered a murmur or complaint." And went on to explaining that "Although Zion's Camp failed in its stated purpose of restoring the Saints to their lands in Jackson County, Missouri, it was invaluable as a stern schooling. They learned that faith is more important than life itself." What an important lesson! Similar to what I've tried to impress on our sons, that being a righteous priesthood holder is more important that having a huge arsenal. 

President Faust told about the covenants made at various times in early church history to provide for and take care of the poor and needy, assisting them to physically move from one place to another. Then he admonished, "We have an additional duty in our time to increase our labors to love the spiritually poor among our brethren so that they and their families might enjoy 'peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.'" I find it interesting to read these talks in light of the adjustments in recent years to the concept of ministering. It's as if that is what has been preached to us all along and we just didn't fully understand it.

He concluded, "As we look to the future, we will continue to have obstacles, difficulties, challenges, and opposition. Satan has more tools at his disposal than ever before to deceive, distract, and corrupt our people. We will continue to be winnowed." 

The brethren aren't called prophets casually, they are the real deal. They see what is coming and we benefit when we heed their teachings and warnings. 

We will have the privilege of hearing from them this coming weekend during another General Conference. By listening with our spiritual ears we will hear what we need to move forward with faith and confidence.

Becoming Like Christ

This post is part of the General Conference Odessey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the October 1998 conference.

Some years ago I read through all of my journals, which I began keeping in June 1975 after I received a journal as a high school graduation gift from a cousin. I haven't written daily for the entire 47 years, but enough to get to know me and my life. 

While reading I noticed three themes that were constant throughout:

1) I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ

2) I want to be married to a righteous man

3) I feel that I don't measure up, and want to be better and do better

It was an interesting exercise in self-reflection and discovery. I'm so grateful I've kept a record of my life. For the past two or three years I've been writing daily, partly because my memory is not what it once was, and I want to remember things!

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk resonated with me as he talked of "Cultivating Divine Attributes". Since 2020 I've been contemplating what it means to "live the gospel" and "become like Christ" and "build a Zion people". I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to re-read this talk and find some answers.

Elder Wirthlin speaks of preparing for the Second Coming and asks, " What do we believe that will motivate us to move forward? What do we hope for? What are the virtuous, lovely or praiseworthy things we should seek after? I believe we should strive to develop within ourselves the traits of the character of the Savior." 

He turns to the words of the Apostle Paul, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." Then Elder Wirthlin suggests, "We should not wait a single day to intensify our personal efforts to strengthen these virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy attributes. . . As I read and ponder the scriptures, I see that developing faith, hope and charity within ourselves is a step-by-step process. Faith begets hope, and together they foster charity. . . . These three virtues may be sequential initially, but once obtained, they become interdependent. Each one is incomplete without the others. They support and reinforce each other. . . . These are the virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy characteristics we seek." 

What a wonderful, simple pathway to improvement! And the Lord has promised that if we seek we shall find. 

A Season of Opportunity

This post is part of the General Conference Odessey. This week covers the Saturday morning session of the October 1998 conference.

My husband retired in June for the second time. The first time was in 1999 after serving in the United States Marine Corps for over 25 years. This time it is from teaching technology (shop) for about 15 years. We are currently on vacation in Washington state visiting friends from 30 years ago who were part of the ward where TopDad joined the church. This is a new season for us!

Bishop H. David Burton spoke of a ". . . season of a thousand opportunities," at this session of conference. This talk had a particular lasting impression on me when I heard it the first time around. He told of grocery shopping when he was first married and seeing President and Sister Joseph Fielding Smith in the same store, far from where they lived in downtown Salt Lake City. After several sightings Bishop Burton got up the courage to ask why they were shopping so far from home at this particular store. "Looking over the tops of his glasses he emphatically said, Son! [he had my attention.] Sister Smith and I patronize establishments that keep the Sabbath day holy."

Bishop Burton went on to talk about the importance of keeping the covenant of the Sabbath day. "But I also know that remembering to keep the Sabbath day holy is one of the most important commandments we can observe in preparing us to be the recipients of the whisperings of the Spirit."

I thought this was particularly insightful because I'd never had any trouble not shopping on Sunday, or attending recreation or cultural events; but to make an effort to shop at and support others who were also keeping the Sabbath day seemed to me to be a new level of obedience. So since that time I've looked for and shopped at stores that are closed on Sunday. That is not easy, and sometimes in some areas I haven't found any. But when I do I make the most of them.

In Iowa I found a grocery chain that closed on Sunday. In researching locations on their website I looked into the history and values of the stores. 

Fareway's policy of being closed on Sunday has been in place for as long as our company has been in existence. We believe our customers, employees, and business partners deserve a day at home with their families - free from the fast-paced life we all live the other six days of the week. As a family-owned business, we understand the importance of family time and always have this in mind when operating our stores.

The idea of resting on Sunday is something our founder, Paul S. Beckwith, firmly believed in; in part because of his religious beliefs and a story told to him by his father. Paul's father was a pioneer who traveled to new territory by wagon train. Some pioneers were in a hurry, and drove on every day, leaving behind those who stopped for a day of rest and worship. As settlers continued to move westward, families who had taken Sunday off began to catch up with those who had pushed ahead; finding broken-down wagons, lame animals, and weary people. Paul's father told him he decided that the Bible was right; neither man nor beast was made to work seven days a week.

I thought that was a great story! One of the benefits I have experienced from choosing to shop at stores that honor the Sabbath is that I seem to find unadvertised sales on the very items I need that week. Or on things to put into storage. It's almost like the benefits of paying tithing; money goes further!

Bishop Burton said, "This is the season of opportunity for families to stand tall and be counted among the faithful who obey the fourth great commandment:"

Seems to me that that particular season has never ended. 

Needed Encouragement

This post is part of the General Conference Odessey. This week covers the General Young Women session of the April 1998 conference.

I grew up wanting nothing more than to be a wife, mother and homemaker. It is what I had seen my mother and grandmothers, even a great-grandmother, do with their lives. I had interests and talents, but the driving force of my soul desired a family. Looking back from the vantage point of a senior citizen I wish someone would have encouraged me to pursue one of my interests to the point of mastery and certification; I could have used the income earning potential at various times.

Each of the four speakers in this session addressed the fact that our main purpose in life as women, is to marry and raise a family. It is part of Heavenly Father's plan for His children to do so, partly as a learning laboratory, and partly as a means for other spirit children to come to earth for their mortal experience.

Sister Margaret D. Nadauld said, "You young women have an important role to play in at least three families. The first is the family you are part of now, the second is your future family, and the third is the heavenly family of which we are all part."

This is an important reminder that no matter our current marital status, we are all part of at least two families at all times; and if we think of our church unit as our family then that is three! We don't ever have to be or feel that we are alone.

"Oh, you learn a lot of things in a family, don't you? And they're important things--things like praying and sharing and laughing and working and getting along with others." Sister Nadauld explained. That certainly could describe our church unit families too. 

Sister Carol B. Thomas told several stories of young women who were learning things in their families and also from watching the women at church. "As each of you practices being a homemaker, you are doing exactly what the Lord wants you to do. In every young woman's heart is a deep yearning to someday be a wife and a mother. These feelings were nurtured in your soul long before you came to earth." 

This is exactly why Satan works so hard to confuse and discourage young women about their role in today's world. He doesn't want more spirits to come to earth to righteous parents. He doesn't want there to be a leavening influence of righteous mothers raising children to be like the stripling warriors from the Book of Mormon. He wants women to question their role and try to be like men; to limit their families and spend more time chasing dollars, position and praise in the world. It shouldn't be a hard decision at all to stay home with a baby and make home a refuge for a growing family. But Satan has distracted women who end up feeling that it is an extreme sacrifice to be a wife, mother, and homemaker.

Sister Sharon G. Larsen said, "Young women, you are like titles of liberty as you strive to protect your families from such intruders as selfishness, harshness, anger, and strife. Your banner stands for peace, love and service to your families. . . . Young women, your life is the banner that can help to protect your families from wicked intruders. We call upon you to take a stand for kindness and goodness and service to those you love most--your families."

President James E. Faust expressed his love of women and said, "I hope that each of you girls will become an individual of significant worth and a person of virtue who contributes both now and in eternity. As a woman you have been born with many unique endowments that are not common to men." 

I can vouch for that! My husband can do many things, but remembering birthdays and holidays, and preparing for the future are not among them. He can lift heavy things, but his logic, and financial choices, defy understanding at times.

"Women today are encouraged by some to have it all: money, travel, marriage, motherhood, and separate careers in the world. For women, the important ingredients for happiness are to forge an identity, serve the Lord, get an education, develop your talents, serve your family, and if possible, to have a family of your own.

"However, you cannot do all these things well at the same time. . . . You cannot be a 100-percent wife, a 100-percent mother, a 100-percent Church worker, a 100-percent career person, and a 100-percent public-service person at the same time. How can all of these roles be coordinated? I suggest that you can have it sequentially."

I've written several times about being a homemaker on my other blog. If you're interested you can read my thoughts here and here.

President Faust ends with, "Lastly, how do I think you may become great women? You should cultivate and employ generously your noble, womanly instincts of care and mercy, first to your family and then to others. May you always hunger and thirst after righteousness within the framework of the revealed gospel of Jesus Christ. May you have an eternal perspective as you go about your angelic cause of doing good so that it will not only lead you to become great women, but ultimately to become queens in the eternities."

I have several regrets in my life, but being a wife, mother and homemaker is not one of them. This session was a wonderful shot in the arm for me, affirming my life choice and helping me remember the eternal perspective.

Endure to the End (I hope I can!)

This post is part of the General Conference Odessey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 1998 conference.

I think it was when I was serving as a missionary that I began to notice lots of scriptures about enduring to the end. I marked and cross-referenced them believing they were important reminders that we have to remain obedient and active in our testimonies until the end of our lives. It also helped me get through some hard days as a missionary in the deep South with little success in finding the golden contacts.

Another season of enduring to the end was during five pregnancies, which can not be rushed or ended just because I'm tired of feeling bloated and cumbersome and weary in body and spirit. Each baby came when she or he was ready to come. I had to endure to the end!

In this particular session of conference Elder Robert D. Hales spoke about enduring to the end. "Our greatest example comes from the life of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. . . . The Savior of the World was left alone by His Father to experience, of His own free will and choice, an act of agency which allowed Him to complete His mission of the Atonement." Where would we be if He had given up, and not endured to the end? Our gratitude should be boundless for Jesus' faithfulness in completing His assigned mission.

Elder Hales also spoke of the pioneers. "They knew their purpose or goal--to not only find Zion but to establish it. Because they knew that, they were willing to endure all manner of hardships to bring it about." More gratitude here for the fortitude of those faithful and steadfast pioneers who didn't give up when the going got hard. Elder Hales counseled us saying, "We are taught in the scriptures that there must be opposition in all things (see 2 Ne. 2:11). It is not a question of if we are ready for the tests; it is a matter of when. We must prepare to be ready for tests that will present themselves without warning."

Another gem, "The Church is not built in one generation. The sound growth of the Church takes hold over three and four generations of faithful Saints. Passing the fortitude of faith to endure to the end from one generation to the next generation is a divine gift of unmeasured blessings to our progeny. Also, we cannot endure to the end alone. It is important that we help by lifting and strengthening one another."

Have you ever pondered what it actually means to "endure to the end"? Do we just grind through our days hoping that it gets better? Do we quit when things are tough, taking an easier route? Elder Hales gives some advice: "We learn to endure to the end by learning to finish our current responsibilities, and we simply continue doing it all of our lives. We cannot expect to learn endurance in our later years if we have developed the habit of quitting when things get difficult now. . . . Everyone has something they must learn to master. Some are just more obvious than others. . . . When we take an assignment, we have to think, 'I will learn how to accomplish this task by all honorable means, by doing it the Lord's way. I will study, ask questions, search and pray. I have the potential to keep learning. I am not finished until the assignment is completed.' This is enduring to the end: seeing things through to completion."

And finally, "There is nothing that we are enduring that Jesus does not understand, and He waits for us to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer."

I certainly thought life would get easier as I got older; I'd be wiser, more experienced, etc. Well, in some ways that's true, but in other ways I feel more foolish and inexperienced now than I did as a missionary. There truly is opposition in all things! And enduring to the end means staying faithful to covenants and obedient to commandments to the very end when we take our last breath.

Elder Hales says, "I testify that if we will be obedient and if we are diligent, our prayers will be answered, our problems will diminish, our fears will dissipate, light will come upon us, the darkness of despair will be dispersed, and we will be close to the Lord and feel of His love and of the comfort of the Holy Ghost." What a promise worth enduring for!

Timeless Testimonies

This post is part of the General Conference Odessey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 1998 conference.

President Thomas S. Monson began the session with a talk called "Look to God and Live". Two gems from him:

• There seems to be an unending supply of trouble for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.
• Lest we question the Lord concerning our troubles, let us remember that the wisdom of God may appear as foolishness to men; but the greatest single lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and a man obeys, that man will always be right.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks addressed the question, Have You Been Saved?

in his masterful lawyerly way. I didn't remember all the different ways and means that he talked about and it was a good refresher course to file away again for retrieval in conversations with people of other faiths.

Elder W. Eugene Hansen spoke of Children and the Family, using The Family: A Proclamation to the World as a framework. I loved the quote from his father, "There's nothing so boring as loafing, because you can't stop and rest." He also said of his parents, "And most significantly, they taught by what they did, not just by what they said." I wish I could redo some of my parenting!

Sister Margaret D. Nadauld talked about the joyful invitation to Come Unto Christ. "Surely it pleases the Lord when we, His children, reach out to one another, to give help along the way and to bring another closer to Christ." That is timely today as we strive to build a Zion people ready to receive the Savior when He returns.

Elder Henry B. Eyring also spoke of becoming one saying, "And all of us know something of the sadness and loneliness of being separate and alone." He taught, "Then, through obedience to those ordinances and covenants, their natures would be changed." We don't have to remain in a fallen state, "The Savior's Atonement . . . makes it possible for us to be sanctified. We can then live in unity, as we must to have peace in this life and to dwell with the Father and His Son in eternity."

More gems from him:

• Where people have that Spirit with them, we may expect harmony. The Spirit puts the testimony of truth in our hearts, which unifies those who share that testimony. The Spirit of God never generates contention. It never generates the feelings of distinctions between people which lead to strife. It leads to personal peace and a feeling of union with others. It unifies souls. A unified family, a unified Church, and a world at peace depend on unified souls.
• Quoting President Clark: "When we partake of the Sacrament we covenant to obey and keep his commandments. There are no exceptions. There are no distinctions, no differences." President Clark taught that just as we repent of all our sins, not a single sin, we pledge to keep all the commandments. Hard as that sounds, it is uncomplicated. We simply submit to the authority of the Savior and promise to be obedient to whatever He commands. It is our surrender to the authority of Jesus Christ which will allow us to be bound as families, as a church, and as the children of our Heavenly Father.
• We must speak no ill of anyone. We must see the good in each other speak well of each other whenever we can.
• There is a protection against pride, that sure source of disunity. It is to see the bounties which God pours upon us not only as a mark of His favor but an opportunity to join with those around us in greater service. 

President Gordon B. Hinckley ended this session with his stirring and powerful Testimony. "I would enjoy sitting in a rocker, swallowing prescriptions, listening to soft music, and contemplating the things of the universe. But such activity offers no challenge and makes no contribution. I wish to be up and doing. I wish to face each day with resolution and purpose."

His gems:

• It is the opportunity, it is the responsibility of every man and woman in this Church to obtain within himself or herself a conviction of the truth of this great latter-day work and of those who stand at its head, even the living God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• We grow in faith and knowledge as we serve, as we study, as we pray.
• It is this conviction, this quiet inward certainty of the reality of the living God, of the divinity of His Beloved Son, of the restoration of their work in this time, and of the glorious manifestations which have followed which become for each of us the foundation of our faith. This becomes our testimony.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth and it is timeless in its application, sounding as relevant today as when the talks were delivered; even going back to the beginning. What a blessing to have the technology to listen to and read the talks again and again.

Whistle While You Work

This post is part of the General Conference Odessey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the April 1998 conference.

So many powerhouse speakers in this session! I remember Elder Maxwell's address, not because I heard it, but because when I read it in the Ensign it resonated with me as something my parents had done with their five children. (They adopted a sixth, but she was handicapped and treated a bit differently.)

Oh how we need a strong work ethic today among our citizens, old and young. In the (I believe) wrongful emphasis on getting a college education we have given too much emphasis on working with minds instead of with our hands; looking down on those who do as less intelligent. WRONG!  My hero, role model for a husband was always President Hinckley, who was a scholar with a great mind, but could build or fix just about anything. He was accomplished in both ways, mind work and hand work. I have great admiration for the many craftsmen and tradesmen who keep our world running and beautiful.

Elder Maxwell said, "Young men, your individual mix of work will vary, understandably, by season and circumstances as between the hours spent on homework and family work and Church work, part-time work, and work on service projects. Each form of work can stretch your talents. . . . Whatever the mix of work, the hardest work you and I will ever do is to put off our selfishness. It is heavy lifting."

What I've learned over the years of mothering is that you can't tell the end from the beginning. The son who was the laziest has turned out to be the most disciplined and hardworking. The son with the best work ethic as a youngster has struggled to keep a job as an adult. It is amazing to see. We treated them all the same!

Elder Maxwell also gave this interesting observation: "When the time comes, young men, make your career choices. Know that whether one is a neuro-surgeon, forest ranger, mechanic, farmer, or teacher is a matter of preference, not of principle. While those career choices are clearly very important, these do not mark your real career path. Instead, brethren, you are sojourning sons of God who have been invited to take the path that leads home. There, morticians will find theirs is not the only occupation to become obsolete. But the capacity to work and work wisely will never become obsolete. And neither will the ability to learn. Meanwhile, my young brethren, I have not seen any perspiration-free shortcuts to the celestial kingdom; there is no easy escalator to take us there."

When I was a child I didn't understand my grandmother's love of doing the dishes. I do now. There is satisfaction is working to make home a clean and lovely place for myself and my family. There is joy in working, even at something that will need to be done again tomorrow!

Treasure Nuggets

I wish I could focus on only one talk--but that doesn't work. There are just too many little nuggets from each talk that can be shared.

What I really found interesting this week is the many references to the terrible, troubled times we live in. In 1998! Here's my theory about that. We each begin life at a certain point in time and as children we are innocent and don't notice the outside world too much. Only as we mature do we see the evil around us, and as we get older it really does get worse, and we, if we are striving for eternal life, see and feel the division between good and evil more acutely. Therefore, the elderly general authorities are much more aware and feel it more deeply. 

What President Hinckley said in his opening remarks certainly bears repeating. He talked about religious disagreements, such as some not understanding or thinking we are not Christians, and said, "I hope we do not argue over this matter. There is no reason to debate it. We simply, quietly, and without apology testify that God has revealed Himself and His Beloved Son in opening this full and final dispensation of His work. . . . Let us be true disciples of the Christ, observing the Golden Rule, doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us strengthen our own faith and that of our children while being gracious to those who are not of our faith. Love and respect will overcome every element of animosity. Our kindness may be the most persuasive argument for that which we believe."

Elder David B. Haight ended his address with this sweet testimony, "Brothers and sisters, live the commandments. Do what is right. Take advantage of this great opportunity in your life to live it well, to be good, to have good works, and to influence other people for good. The gospel is true. I hope that every day of my life I might be able to do some good and to encourage somebody to live a better life and to understand what has been restored to the earth."

Sister Anne G. Wirthlin of the General Primary Presidency gave us this little gem, "Pondering is more than reading words; it is searching for meanings that will help us as we relate to one another and as we make choices in our lives. It is allowing the word to move from our minds to our hearts."

Bishop Richard C. Edgley of the Presiding Bishopric also talked about being misunderstood by other Christians, but he decided that it didn't matter what others think. "So, if we, even in our weak and stumbling way, are earnestly striving to live a Christlike life, how others choose to characterize us should be of little consequence. The responsibility for our Christianity is ours. Others may characterize us as they will, but the true and righteous Judge will judge us as we are. Our discipleship is for us to determine, not someone else. . . . As a Church we are individual Christians, trying to prove our discipleship to the Savior. It is not an institutional matter, it is a personal matter." 

When I was about fourteen I had the question in my heart, 'What is the purpose of life?' One day as our family read the Book of Mormon we came to Alma 34:32, "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." It was one of those Joseph Smith moments where this verse entered into my heart with great power. 

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin spoke about this subject. I love the analogy he gave, "We might compare our eternal journey to a race of three laps around the track. We have completed the first lap successfully and have made wonderful progress. We have started on the second lap. Can you imagine a world-class runner stopping along the track at this point to pick flowers or chase a rabbit that crossed his path? Yet this is what we are doing when we occupy our time with worldly pursuits that do not move us closer to the third lap toward eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God."

Another gem from Elder Wirthlin could be called a great explanation of ministering. "Once we understand that we are all literally brothers and sisters in the family of God, we should feel an obligation for one another's welfare and show our love through deeds of kindness and concern. . . . As we progress and become more like the Savior, we can strengthen every group with whom we associate, including families and friends. The Lord places us in these communities of Saints where we can learn and apply gospel principles to our everyday lives. These groups are at the same time both a school, a proving ground, and a laboratory where we both learn and do as we practice living the gospel."

President James E. Faust spoke of ordinances and covenants. I love hearing his voice! Among other things, he said, "In our society many sacred values have been eroded in the name of freedom of expression. The vulgar and the obscene are protected in the name of freedom of speech. The mainstream of society has become more tolerant, even accepting, of conduct that Jesus, Moses, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and other prophets have warned against since the beginning of human history. We should not allow our personal values to erode, even if others think we are peculiar. We have always been regarded as a peculiar people. However, being spiritually correct is much better than being politically correct. Of course, as individuals and as a people we want to be liked and respected. But we cannot be in the mainstream of society if it means abandoning those righteous principles which thundered down from Sinai, later refined by the Savior, and subsequently taught by modern prophets. We should only fear offending God and His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the head of this Church." 

I think I appreciate these talks now more than I did then. At the time of this conference I was two months from having our fifth child. That baby boy is getting married this Friday, August 5. I have grown and matured a lot since my optimistic and hopeful days as a mother of young children. I've endured the harsh realities of life while I've clung to the iron rod and pressed forward. Life has not turned out like I thought it would, and I have shed many, many tears. I'm really grateful that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been my foundation and anchor. I don't know how others make it through life without Him.