Fasting

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 2001 conference.

Intermittent fasting is a practice currently gaining popularity. The benefits are touted, and the practice is explained in numerous videos, on many websites, and in plenty of books. This practice almost seems like a cure-all for different medical conditions. None of the sources though, that I know of, include the practice of fasting and prayer and giving an offering to the needy.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said, "Some look at the overwhelming need in the world and think, What can I do that could possibly make a difference?  I will tell you plainly one thing you can do. You can live the law of the fast and contribute a generous fast offering."

Having been both a giver and a receiver I know this is true.

Fasting is hard. Sometimes is it not recommended to fast from food and drink, such as during pregnancy and nursing, or with certain medical conditions. While serving in the South as a missionary our president advised us to think of something else to fast from, such as reading our mail, or recreating on preparation day, etc. so we wouldn't risk dehydration in the hot humid summers. I believe Heavenly Father understands and accepts our efforts to fast by denying ourselves of something pleasurable to show our humility and discipline. Whatever we fast from, we can still give a generous offering. 

Elder Wirthlin ends with his ". . . testimony and promise along with the great apostles that have preceded us that those who live the law of the fast will surely discover the rich blessings that attend this holy principle."

Memorial Day

 

Today is set aside as a day to remember those who gave their life to preserve our liberties. 

 

Another war is going on all around us and there are casualties every day. Yesterday we visited the grave of our son who was a casualty in the ongoing war of good and evil. Satan overpowered him in the end, but the devil will not win the war. Fortunately for us, the outcome is already known. Be sure to stay suited up in the correct jersey and fight to the very end.

Rest in peace James, you are beyond Satan's reach now.

I 'm so grateful for all the men and women who have given their lives to establish our great nation and to keep it together, and free all these years. May they be remembered and honored forever.

I also want to remember and honor all those who have given their lives in the service of God while building His kingdom. Those spiritual warriors deserve recognition too.

Faith

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 2001 conference.

I currently serve as the Stake Choir Director and we just had our stake conference at which the choir sang four numbers. They did such a great job and it is a joy for me to serve as their director. We had our first rehearsal on Sunday, April 23. On Monday, April 24 we found our son had killed himself and our world was turned upside down. I was given the opportunity to cancel the choir, but I couldn't do it. I needed to fulfill my calling, and lead the choir as my testimony of the love and mercy of the Savior. We sang "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today", "Hope of Israel", "Softly and Tenderly", and "God So Loved the World". People wondered how I could keep going in the face of tragedy. What else was I supposed to do? I have long studied the stories of pioneers and found in them a model and example of how to live. 

President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of The Miracle of Faith in this session. He said of the pioneers, "The suffering they endured, the sacrifices they made, became the cost of what they believed." He told of his grandfather ". . . burying beside the trail his wife and her brother who died on the same day. He then picked up his infant child and carried her to this valley."

Faith? There can be no doubt about it. When doubts arose, when tragedies struck, the quiet voice of faith was heard in the stillness of the night as certain and reassuring as was the place of the polar star in the heavens above. . . . The strength of this cause and kingdom is not found in its temporal assets, impressive as they may be. . . . It all comes of the gift of faith, bestowed by the Almighty upon His children who doubt not and fear not, but go forward.

 

The best way for me to handle my grief is to keep moving forward. I must pass my tests to be able to finish my course here at this mortal boarding school. I will miss James until I graduate and can see him again. But I can't sit by the side of the trail weeping and wailing in grief. I can cry and mourn as I move along, comforted by the presence of my gospel brothers and sisters who encourage me and mourn with me.

Faith is a miracle. It is trust in the Lord and showing that trust through our actions of obedience and service. Faith is a gift, the reward for obedience and service. President Hinckley said, "Faith is the basis of testimony. Faith underlies loyalty to the Church. Faith represents sacrifice, gladly given in moving forward the work of the Lord."

I loved the tender ending of his talk, "O Father, help us to be faithful unto Thee and unto our glorious Redeemer, to serve Thee in truth, to make that service an expression of our love. . . "

It is my desire to be found faithful until the end of my life here so I can be reunited with loved ones who have gone before. 

"You Can't Pet a Rattlesnake"

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the April 2001 conference.

For the past three weeks my prayers have been intense, and filled with gratitude. One time, into my head, and out of my mouth came, "I'm so thankful for the commandments!" I guess my thoughts were that if only our son had obeyed the Word of Wisdom he would still be with us. The commandments keep us safe and out of Satan's power.

Elder David E. Sorensen of the Presidency of the Seventy spoke of sin (specifically pornography) as a deeply poisonous, deceptive snake that lies coiled up [everywhere]. "Often the world makes these dangers look harmless--even exciting and interesting. But petting such snakes fills the mind with poison--poison that drives away the Holy Spirit." Some sins also can literally poison the body and allow evil in.

Whenever we sin, in whatever way, we drive away the Holy Spirit. And the more we continue in sin the harder it is to get back to worthiness to have the Spirit with us.

Our son was trying to come back, he was working with his bishop and attending AA meetings, sometimes. But the hold alcohol had on him was stronger than he could resist, and each wrong choice led to more wrong choices. He hid so much from us, and then it was too late.

Elder John H. Groberg said, "Remember, the sand castles we build on the beaches of mortality, no matter how elaborate, will eventually be washed away by the tide. Only purity of hand, heart, and mind will allow us to tap into the ultimate power of the priesthood to truly bless others and eventually be able to build eternal mansions more beautiful and lasting than we can presently imagine."

My heart is filled with gratitude for the Savior and His great plan of mercy to allow us to repent and be cleansed from sin, and rescued from death. We each are on a trek from Babylon to the Promised Land with dangers on every side. There are casualties and hardships all along the way, but we must never give up or give in. We must press forward with steadfastness in Christ, relying wholly on Him to guide and succor us along the way.