Finding A Safe Harbor

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 2000 conference.

The past five years we've seen an acceleration of changes in the church which is great; and an acceleration of the proliferation of evil in the world, which is dreadful. If we focus too much on what's happening in the world we can be overcome by the evil and feel helpless to move forward with anything positive.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin spoke of turning to the Savior, as the ancient disciples did when caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. The Savior is the one who can say, "Peace, be still" and can calm either the storms in our lives, or calm us in the midst of the storms.

Draw close to the Lord Jesus Christ. He bears a special love for those who suffer. He is the Son of God, an eternal king. In His mortal ministry He loved them and blessed them.

 To the meek and discouraged, His every word was one of compassion and encouragement. To the sick, He brought a healing balm. Those who yearned for hope, who yearned for a caring touch, received it from the hand of this King of Kings, this Creator of ocean, earth, and sky.

Today Jesus the Christ stands at the right hand of our Heavenly Father. Do you suppose that today He is any less inclined to aid those who suffer, who are sick, or who appeal to the Father in prayer for succor?

 

At one time in my life, when betrayed by a loved one, I called out to the Father to be comforted. I felt loving arms wrapped around me impressing upon my mind and heart the fact that I was loved and worthwhile. I didn't see anyone but felt more comfort than at any other time in my life. I know the Savior and His love for us is real!

 

Be of good cheer. The Man of Galilee, the Creator, the Son of the Living God will not forget nor forsake those whose hearts are drawn to Him. I testify that the Man who suffered for mankind, who committed His life to healing the sick and comforting the disconsolate, is mindful of your sufferings, doubts, and heartaches.

Elder Wirthlin uses the same analogy of learning to walk that I have used when trying to teach our children that they can do hard things.

What parent would say to a child, "Learning to walk is such a painful and difficult experience, you will likely stumble, you will most likely hurt yourself, you will cry many times when you fall. I will protect you from the struggle"? I have watched our youngest grandson, Seth, as he was learning to walk. Through this process of gaining experience, he now walks with confidence. Could I have said to him, "Out of my love for you, I will save you from this"? If so, because I could not bear to see him take a tumble at times, he may have never learned to walk. That is unthinkable for a loving parent or grandparent.

We have come to earth to learn from our experiences. The Savior is available to assist our learning process. Sometimes He will calm the storm, most times He will calm us, and give us the strength we need to make it through the storm. 

The gospel gives us that harbor of enduring safety and security. The living prophet and apostles today are as lighthouses in the storm. Steer towards the light of the restored gospel and the inspired teachings of those who represent the Lord on earth.

I've long said and taught that living the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to all the ills of the world. It is also the answer to living in a sick world. Focusing on the Savior and building His Kingdom will help us weather the storms of life. From my vantage point of 65 years I see this more clearly than ever.

 

 

Sweet Refreshment Find

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the April 2000 conference.

When the world gets to be too much, too divisive, too angry, too . . . worldly, listening to a General Conference session is truly sweet refreshment to a weary soul.

From Elder Richard G. Scott's address on The Sanctity of Women, to President Gordon B. Hinckley's address on The Stake President, each talk was wonderful. And important. And timely.

President James E. Faust addressed a subject I'm struggling with and working on. Still. At age 65! The Power of Self-Mastery. I want to overcome the world through the power of the Atonement and this talk gave me some more instruction and insight as to how to do that.

Self-mastery is essential to invoke the power of the priesthood of God. This is because this great, divine agency can only be exercised in righteousness. Self-mastery requires self-determination and strength of character. It enhances our own gifts and talents in a remarkable way. It is the power of noble manhood.

I don't want to be a man, but I believe this can be applied to all of us in a universal way. I don't hold the priesthood, but I have access to its power.

What fun to remember that President Faust was a redhead. Like me! I don't think my hair color was ever the source of my temper. That was always just the "natural man" making an appearance. 

Self-mastery is a challenge for every individual. Only we can control our appetites and passions. Self-mastery cannot be bought by money or fame. It is the ultimate test of our character. I requires climbing out of the deep valleys of our lives and scaling our own Mount Everests.

What I've found is that my self-control issues change over the years. I have mastery over some things, but there is always something more to overcome. 

Speaking of returned missionaries, President Faust says, "When they come home, some are criticized as being self-righteous for maintaining a decent appearance and keeping their hair trimmed neatly. I cannot understand why a returned missionary is considered self-righteous if he tries to live the standards and principles he has taught as a representative of the Lord to the people where he has served." 

I remember being teased while in Young Women's (called Mutual when I was that age) and called Sister Righteous or Goody Goody, because I wanted to be spiritual, modest, and refined. It was so confusing to me to be criticized for doing and being what leaders, from the ward level to General Authorities to the Scriptures, taught me I should do and be. This confusion led me to make some bad decisions over the years. It took me a long time to repent, and then not care what others thought, said or did. I made a conscious decision I would be obedient not matter what.

President Faust quotes President David O. McKay, "Spirituality is the consciousness of victory over self, and of communion with the Infinite. Spirituality impels one to conquer difficulties and acquire more and more strength. To feel one's faculties unfolding and truth expanding the soul is one of life's sublimest experiences."

He ends with his testimony that ". . . through the power of self-mastery we will inherit the blessings our Heavenly Father has for his faithful sons." (And daughters!) What could be more refreshing than that.

As I work on my own self-mastery I have to remember to be patient with and give grace to others who are still working on theirs. My husband, children, fellow saints, etc. Because we are all at different places on the path it is important to give encouragement rather than criticism. This is so hard for me. I tend to ask, "Why isn't everyone else where I am?" Until I look ahead and see those who are so much further ahead than I am. Then I swallow my pride and remember that I'm still just a worm inching my way forward.

Happy Valentines Day!
I wish it were Spring already.

Power in the Word

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2000 conference.

I'll be brief because I'm packing to go help our son and daughter-in-law in Iowa. 

I loved every talk! So many good things in each. I especially liked Elder L. Tom Perry's talk about the power of the word no matter what technology is used to give it to us.

One challenge remains the same from the time of King Benjamin to the time of President Grant to today--that is, the challenge of each individual and family, through personal and collective study, to internalize the messages of the gospel of our Lord and Savior. Salvation is not in the facilities or technology, but in the word. Only in the power of the word will it impact our lives and help us to live closer to our Father in Heaven.

It is wonderful to be in this beautiful new facility and to have new technology which carries conference sessions throughout the world. But it is the message we receive which, if we study and practice, will bring us the light of the gospel as further preparation in our great quest for eternal life.

That is the benefit I've found in participating in this review of General conference talks. I study and am encouraged in living the gospel and following the Savior more closely. It's not enough to just listen to conference and think, "Oh that was nice." And then go on our merry way until the next time. We must seek and learn, repent and improve, inch by inch along the path of mortal life until we graduate from this boarding school and return to our heavenly home. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday morning session of the April 2000 conference.

Joseph Smith was asked, "How does your religion differ from other religions?" He replied, "All other considerations are contained in the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Elder Boyd K. Packer's talk entitled The Cloven Tongues of Fire addresses this subject and contains some wonderful counsel and encouragement that is relevant to our day. (Of course it is, he was a prophet, seer, and revalator!)

He explains that this gift ". . . is awakened with prayer and cultivated 'by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.' It can be smothered through transgression and neglect. And soon we learn that the tempter--the adversary--uses those same channels of the mind and heart to inspire us to evil, to laziness, to contention, even to acts of darkness. He can take over our thoughts and lead us to mischief. But each of us has agency; ever and always light presides over darkness."

This was rather convicting to me as I read it. I am prone to laziness, especially in the depths of the dark, bitter cold winter. And I seem to neglect prayer when I'm alone, which is much of the time. So, being reminded that this comes from Satan, I can repent and renew my efforts to be more active spiritually, if not physically, during this difficult (for me) season.

I love the phrase ". . . ever and always light presides over darkness." I'm a creature of light, I crave it and struggle through the winter when the days are so short and too many are overcast and dreary. My spirit tends to be as dark as the days. What would happen if I nurtured my spirit with more spiritual light and invited the Holy Ghost to be my constant companion? Perhaps I could more gracefully endure the winters. I'm willing to try.

Elder Packer also said, "We live in troubled times--very troubled times. We hope, we pray, for better days. But that is not to be. The prophecies tell us that. We will not as a people, as families, or as individuals be exempt from the trials to come. No one will be spared the trials common to home and family, work, disappointment, grief, health, aging, ultimately death." Well, yes, thanks for that grim reminder, Elder Packer. 

But he goes on to say, "We need not live in fear of the future. We have every reason to rejoice and little reason to fear. If we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we will be safe, whatever the future holds. We will be shown what to do." 

I try, but it is often so hard to not be fearful, or at least discouraged. Perhaps the real reason it is hard is revealed in what he says next, "I fear this supernal gift is being obscured by programs and activities and schedules and so many meetings. There are so many places to go, so many things to do in this noisy world. We can be too busy to pay attention to the Spirit. The voice of the Spirit is a still, small voice--a voice that is felt rather than heard. It is a spiritual voice that comes into the mind as a thought put into your heart."

I stopped to think about the tempo of my life. And the choices I make. Am I crowding out the Spirit? Am I listening and feeling? There are changes I need to make, so I made a list and will work on those things during February to see if I can more finely tune my mind and heart to receiving the comfort and guidance I need and want from the Holy Ghost.

Near the end of his talk, Elder Packer said, "Despite opposition, the Church will flourish; and despite persecution, it will grow." That's encouraging! We have to remember that there will not be another period of general apostasy; the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the priesthood with all its powers and blessings, will never be taken from the world. We can press forward with steadfastness in Christ!

We live in terrible and exciting times. I often wonder if the Savior will return in my lifetime, or will it be in my children's or grandchildren's. As Babylon seems to grow in strength and power it appears that we are fighting a losing battle. But we're not and we can gird up our loins and fresh courage take, because, truly, our God will never forsake us. 

Listening to, and reading the General Conference talks bolsters my courage to face the trials of the last days, and helps me remember my blessings. 

Rozy with son, Paul, and grandson, Conrad

What's Your Identity?

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

In this session a new declaration of identity and purpose for the Relief Society was shared by Sister Mary Ellen Smoot, General President. Many unit Relief Societies began reciting this at the beginning of their meetings, like the Young Women. In fact, when we began attending a branch in 2016 they were still reciting it, even though it had been replaced and units had been asked to stop. (It's important to read the Conference issue of the Ensign/Liahona to get current instructions!)

Sister Virginia U. Jensen, First Counselor, introduced the new name of midweek Relief Society meeting: Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment. Most shortened it to simply Enrichment. There was to be a 15 minute spiritual lesson, followed by 60-90 minutes of learning practical skills based on the spiritual topic. The meetings were supposed to enrich and improve our lives. 

I think it is sad that some women don't ever get the vision of what Relief Society can be and all the good that could be accomplished. Some leaders are stuck in the "crafts to decorate our homes" mode, rather than helping sisters to learn skills that further our purposes of bringing sisters to Christ and serving in our communities. 

In places such as where I live, Relief Society could help raise the profile of the church in the community through service. There are many other local churches filled with good women who are doing things that make a difference. I'd like to join them in their work and let them see that we are very much like them, Christians with hearts for service. (But I'm not in the Presidency so I can't do much.)

Sister Sheri L. Dew spoke of being Women of God. "Coming unto Christ means walking away from the world. It means placing Christ and Christ only at the center of our lives." She invited ". . . each of us to identify at least one thing we can do to come out of the world and come closer to Christ." 

The world needs women who know who they are and who can be lights to guide others. Our eternal identity as children of God, followers of Jesus Christ, and members of His true church can be a firm foundation amidst the stormy confusion of false identities put forth by both Satan and those he has deceived. 

President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency was the concluding speaker. His talk was titled "What It Means to Be a Daughter of God".

"Membership in Relief Society, which is a privilege for every adult woman in the Church, provides a home away from your heavenly home, where you can fellowship with others who share your beliefs and values." 

Most of the sisters in the church today do not know that in the past membership in Relief Society was not automatic. It was something you had to join, and pay dues for. I remember my mother's work as the Secretary during the annual membership drive, contacting sisters and encouraging them to join or to renew their membership. It was in 1971 that this was changed to be every adult women a member with no dues required. Hence, President Faust referring to membership as a privilege available to every sister.

Following on the themes of the other talks, President Faust says, "As daughters of God, you cannot imagine the divine potential within each of you. Surely the secret citadel of women's inner strength is spirituality. . . . This inner spiritual sense seems to give you a certain resilience to cope with sorrow, trouble, and uncertainty. . . . I urge you to enhance the natural, God-given, feminine gifts with which you have been so richly blessed."

The words of prophets are so reassuring, especially as they seem to have been written and spoken for the times we live in in the year 2023 when so many are confused and blinded by Satan's blatant attacks.

Being a daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity. You will know who you are. This will make you free--not free from restraints, but free from doubts, anxieties, or peer pressure. . . . A conviction that you are a daughter of God gives you a feeling of comfort in your self-worth. It means you can find strength in the balm of Christ. It will help you meet the heartaches and challenges with faith and serenity.

 

He ends with this sweet hope, "May your rich womanly endowments of spiritual strength, goodness, tenderness, mercy, and kindness find full expression. This will happen as you serve the Lord, your families and your fellow beings."

I hope the women of the Relief Society will step up and show the world the blessings of following the Savior and putting Him first in our lives.