Giving and Becoming

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 2008 conference.

We are still dealing with the aftermath of our son's death in the form of going through his belongings and deciding what to do with them. It is a slow, raw emotions process. He is the fourth of my family that I've been part of the disposal of their things. My younger sister died in September 2011, my mom in May 2012, my father in March 2018, and our son April 2023. Each time I tell myself that I won't leave my children with so much to go through, and I hope they won't say, "Mom, what were you thinking? What were you saving this for?" Letting go is hard for me--I might need it. It represents precious memories. And so on.

Elder Lance B. Wickman of the Seventy spoke of living today in preparation for tomorrow. "Of all the challenges we face, perhaps the greatest is a misguided sense that mortality goes on forever and its corollary, that we can postpone until tomorrow the seeking and offering of forgiveness, which as the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches, are among mortality's central purposes."

I wonder if overcoming this "misguided sense" is part of overcoming the natural man, since we all seem to be born with that feeling. We get into the habit of thinking, childlike, that the days and years are long and there will be time for everything, later. I've been working on conquering my bad habit of procrastination for almost two decades. I know I've made progress, but it still is a challenge. 

I love what Elder Wickman says. "This life is not so much a time of getting and accumulating as it is a time for giving and becoming." What a wonderfully inspiring insight. I want to put it up on my mirror and fridge so I can see it everyday! I need constant reminding of the mindset I should have in relation to things because I have too many, and too much. And when I graduate from this mortal boarding school they'll all remain here for my children to sort through and dispose of. And wonder what Mom was thinking, planning, and hoping for.

I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ to guide my life with an eternal perspective. I know that my best treasures are the ones that will last through eternity--my relationships, my character, my knowledge, and my memories. 

5 August 2022, the last time we were all together as a family

True Religion

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 2008 conference.

Listening to Elder Uchtdorf's talk reminded me of an experience I had as a missionary. We met an older gentleman who invited us into his lovely home. We learned that he was a Polish immigrant who had served in World War II as an agent for the US forces. He came to the US after the war, met and married his wife, etc. We taught him several lessons and he seemed interested and seemed to know it was true. I had a dream in which I saw this brother dressed in white in the temple. But he couldn't get past his promise to his mother that he would never leave the Catholic church, nor his promise to his wife that he would be a faithful Methodist. I prayed that those good ladies would visit him and tell him that it was okay to join the church, and please do so quick so they could get temple work done. That prayer went unanswered. I was transferred and never heard what happened to Brother Csikos. 

Elder Uchtdorf said, "True religion should not originate from what pleases men or the traditions of ancestors, but rather from what pleases God, our Eternal Father."

We invite everyone on this beautiful planet to taste of His doctrine and see if it is not sweet and good and precious. We ask those of sincere heart to learn of this doctrine and ask their Father in Heaven if it is not true. And by so doing, all can discover, embrace, and walk in the true faith of the Father, which faith will make them whole.

 Influencing family in the other direction, our living families, we can show them by our actions how important the Gospel and church activity is by putting obedience to God and His commandments and work first in our lives. Jesus Christ can give us an eternal family, but our family can never give us salvation and exaltation.

 

Give Heed unto the Prophet's Words

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the April 2008 conference.

No one talk completely captured my attention so I'll share just a quote or two from several. 

Elder Quentin L. Cook - My purpose this evening is to reemphasize to priesthood holders [and anyone else who reads or listens] the importance of heeding the words of the prophets.

Bishop H. David Burton - The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things that you do for others remains as your legacy.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf - On that day, the prophet Samuel recognized a critical weakness in Saul's character. When pressured by outside influences, Saul did not have the self-discipline to stay on course, trust the Lord and His prophet, and follow the pattern God had established. . . . It is therefore of critical importance that we become self-disciplined enough to make early and decisive corrections to get back on the right track and not wait or hope that errors will somehow correct themselves.

President Thomas S. Monson -We live in a complex world with currents of conflict everywhere to be found. Political machinations ruin the stability of nations, despots grasp for power, and segments of society seem forever downtrodden, deprived of opportunity, and left with a feeling of failure. . . . If we are on the Lord's errand, . . . we are entitled to the Lord's help. . . . The face of sin today often wears the mask of tolerance. Do not be deceived; behind that facade is heartache, unhappiness, and pain. . . . what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with the confidence that you are worthy to do so. . . . To the sophistry of Satan, Jesus turned His back. To the duty designated by His Father, He turned His face, pledged His heart, and gave His life. . . . let us all determine to prepare for our time of opportunity and to honor the priesthood we bear through the service we render, the lives we bless, and the souls we are privileged to help save.

I so enjoy hearing the encouraging words of the prophets to the men of the church, the holders of the priesthood. I have a husband and four sons (three living), and two grandsons. Men are important in my life! The Lord loves men and boys. They do the hard work of administrating the Lord's church and serving the entire membership. They need strong spiritual backs and shoulders to carry the burdens of leadership and service. Most are wonderful, many are really special.

A Clear and True Picture

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2008 conference.

Many years ago I had an experience in the temple that changed the way I looked at my life. I was given a glimpse of what I could have in eternity and what I would be doing. The amazing thing about this glimpse is that it took about one second in time but gave me a huge understanding, as if it were a big transfer or download of information. It left me excited and eager for those particular blessings.

Elder L. Tom Perry explained, "I believe that if we could create in our minds a clear and true picture of eternal life, we would start behaving differently. We would not need to be prodded to do many things involved with enduring to the end, like doing our home teaching or visiting teaching, attending our meetings, going to the temple, living moral lives, saying our prayers, or reading the scriptures. We would want to do all these things and more because we realize they will prepare us to go somewhere we yearn to go." 

My "glimpse" has done that for me. I want to be faithful so that I qualify for the blessings I saw. And I'm so grateful for daily repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I need Him everyday! Because as Elder Perry said, "Enduring to the end is definitely not a do-it-yourself project."  That needs to be embroidered on a pillow, or cross-stitched for a wall hanging!

New Years' Joy

Rose and Nana Rozann (aka Rozy)

Please welcome Rose, born January 1 at 1:26 AM. Yes, she has red hair like the Nana she was named for. I'm overwhelmed at such a sweet blessing! I was named for my Nana - Rose Hansen, and now my newest grandchild is named Rose after me. We've come full circle.