Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2009 conference.

"In uncertain and difficult times". . . has there ever been any other kind of times on earth? Mortal life IS uncertain, and is certainly difficult. You can think of a couple of dozen circumstances and events that make for difficulty and uncertainty.

Elder Kevin W. Pearson says, "In uncertain and difficult times, faith is truly a spiritual gift worthy of our utmost efforts. We can give our children education, lessons, athletics, the arts, and material possessions, but if we do not give them faith in Christ, we have given little." I think about this often and wonder what more I could have done for our children. I tried so hard to teach them the gospel and encourage them to live the commandments but three chose to wander down the wide path of worldliness as soon as they left home. One struggled to return but gave up and ended his life too soon. The other two, while successful in life by worldly standards, have no evident desire to return to the fold of God. 

Elder Pearson explains that, "Strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. . . . If we desire more faith, we must be more obedient. . . . As patterns of obedience develop, the specific blessings associated with obedience are realized and belief emerges. Desire, hope, and belief are forms of faith, but faith as a principle of power comes from a consistent pattern of obedient behavior and attitudes."

As our children got to be teenagers they wanted more freedom so we would explain to them that obedience to the family and household rules proved trustworthiness and thus they could gain more freedom. When they cooperated and things worked smoothly they realized we were telling the truth (belief emerged) and their obedience was strengthened and reinforced. It's not a perfect analogy, but it works. Elder Pearson said, "We get what we focus on consistently." 

He goes on to explain about opposition and the influence of Satan. He calls these influences the "Six Destructive Ds--doubt, discouragement, distraction, lack of diligence, disobedience and disbelief--[which] all erode and destroy our faith. We can choose to avoid and overcome them." 

Going back to my simple analogy, teens can be really challenging to parents, and life can feel really challenging to the teens. Elder Pearson says, "Challenging times require greater spiritual power. Consider carefully the Savior's promise: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever is expedient in me." Teens need to have faith in their parents, believing that Mom and Dad want the best outcome for their child, and that Mom and Dad have the experience and wisdom to give good counsel. As a teen is obedient he/she can see that the parents were correct, and that more freedom and responsibility results from that obedience. In a similar way, we have to trust the Savior's teachings and example. As we are obedient to the commandments we gain greater spiritual freedom, responsibilities, and power to overcome challenges. "In a household of faith, there is no need to fear or doubt."

 

I trust that the Savior is working behind the scenes to lead back to the fold our two wayward sons. My patience is sorely tried, but I have faith that Jesus loves my sons even more that I do so I can trust them to Him. I'm so thankful for His tender mercies, His empowering grace and His eternal love.

Provident Living

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday morning session of the April 2009 conference.

It's hard to believe that twenty years ago I was a presenter at BYU Women's Conference. The subject was "Facing Financial Challenges through Provident Living." At the time my husband was in his last year at BYU, we had five children ages 16 to 7, and we were the proverbial starving student family. (We advised all our children to go to college while young because babies don't feel poor, but teens sure feel the pinch.) I had given a class at a Relief Society activity in our ward at which our Stake RS president also taught a class. Turns out she was on one of the BYU conference committees and when the subject of provident living was chosen she said she knew just the right sister to present on that subject. I got a letter in the mail in December inviting me to do so. I burst into tears! Then in January at our first information meeting we were told that all our names had to be cleared with the prophet and president of the church, at the time Gordon B. Hinckley, and I cried all over again. It turned out to be among the best experiences I've ever had. (I have often wished I could do it again.)

In this General Conference sessions Elder Robert D. Hales addressed the same subject. (And said many of the same things I did; so nice to be in sync with an apostle!) 

. . . for both debt and addiction, the hopeful solution is the same--we must turn to the Lord and follow His commandments. We must want more than anything else to change our lives so that we can break the cycle of debt and our uncontrolled wants. . . . you will be filled with hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and find hope in the doctrines of His restored gospel.

He talked about the challenge of overcoming temptations. "Each temptation we overcome is to strengthen us, not destroy us. . . . Our success is never measured by how strongly we are tempted but by how faithfully we respond. We must ask for help from our Heavenly Father and seek strength through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. In both temporal and spiritual things." 

Elder Hales gives examples from his own experience about lessons learned. First was being told by his wife that they couldn't afford the beautiful dress he wanted her to have. "I have learned that the three most loving words are 'I love you,' and the four most caring words for those we love are 'We can't afford it.'"

Second, later when they were more financially secure he wanted to buy his wife a lovely fur coat during a time when she was a ward Relief Society president helping to minister to needy families. She asked, "Are you buying this for me or for you?" She wanted to know if "the purpose of the gift [is] to show your love for me, or to show me that you are a good provider or to prove something to the world?"

He says "These two lessons are the essence of provident living. When faced with the choice to buy, consume, or engage in worldly things and activities, we all need to learn to say to one another, 'We can't afford it, even though we want it!' or 'We can afford it but we don't need it--and we really don't even want it.'"

Plenty of people complain today about not being able to afford a home yet are mired in debt for things they can't even remember, meals, outings, movies, drinks, clothes, and such. The shackles of student loan debt is another example of the consequences of not following the counsel of God to stay out of debt.

I invite you to come unto Him and hear His words: "Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted." (2 Nephi 9:51) 

 This was a memorable talk that has become one of the classics referred to again and again. There is even a little video made from the story about buying the dress.

I have such a strong testimony of the blessings that come from living the Lord's financial commandments. I saw it in my parent's lives, as well as good friends whom I've known for many years. I've also seen in my own marriage what happens when choices are disobedient to the commandments. It's not pleasant. Thank God we have the gifts of repentance, forgiveness and second chances.

Fulfilling the Purpose of Relief Society

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Relief Society session of the October 2008 conference.

We attend church in a small branch in Minnesota. Our branch covers a large area with members living in 25 different towns in two states. The largest of those 25 is where the church building is and has a population of just under 11,000. The smallest town where members live has 167 residents. This area is mostly rural farmland. We live in the second largest town with a population of 4,700. There are four members in our town. Previously there were a few more but an elderly couple moved to Arizona and an elderly brother died.

When we first moved here the sister half of the elderly couple, who moved to Arizona, was not really active in Relief Society. She had found another women's group who better met her needs for sociality and service. I encouraged her to come to Relief Society and she eventually did and we enjoyed attending the few activities that happened together.

After living here for almost eight years I can understand why she sought out sisterhood and service in another organization. I have too. 

For whatever reasons (and there were many given, and many excuses made) the Relief Society here rarely did anything, either social or service.  Finally, last fall, after a suggestion to the RS President two sisters were called to head up the activities, and there have been a few more socials. Attempts have been made to do something in the way of community service but so far it hasn't worked out.

The sisters are generally good for service when there is a funeral or new baby born, but not so much in continuing efforts in the community. I think it is sad that we don't do more to serve which would raise the profile of the church here and help further missionary efforts. But no one asks me, and I'm not in charge.

In 2008 Sister Julie B. Beck, General President of the Relief Society said, "It is time for Relief Society to fulfill its purpose as never before. To move forward and achieve what the Lord desires, we must clearly understand the purpose of Relief Society. . . . The purpose of Relief Society, as established by the Lord, is to organize, teach, and inspire His daughters to prepare them for the blessings of eternal life."

She goes on to talk about 1) Increase in faith and personal righteousness, 2) Strengthen families and homes, 3) Serve the Lord and His children.

"Families worldwide are being assaulted and weakened by corrupt practices and false teachings. Therefore, whether we are married or single, old or young, we have a duty to defend and practice the truths found in 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World.' . . . Children being born now are growing up in an increasingly sinful world. Our homes are to be the refuge from the daily encounters they have with evil." 

Sister Beck tells of being a young married when her mother moved far away. Her mother counseled her, "If I never come back, if you never see me again, if I'm never able to teach you another thing, you tie yourself to Relief Society. Relief Society will be your mother. . . . I began from that time to learn abundantly from women of stature and faith."

I never lived near my mother because my husband's career in the military took us far away from her. I always looked to the sisters in Relief Society as my sisters, mothers, aunts and grandmothers. I asked a lot of older women for advice and counsel and learned so much from them.

I also learned from the many, many activities (lessons, workshops, demonstrations, interest groups, etc.) we had. And in a few of the places we lived the Relief Society was involved in community service.

My testimony of the benefits and work of Relief Society began early when my father was in college and my mother worked. We lived in my grandparent's basement and I spent my days in her care. She was a member of a Relief Society presidency and a doer! We visited lots of sisters, at home, and in the hospital. I got to go to Relief Society with her each week (in the olden days when RS was on a weekday morning) and my favorite time was "work day" when they made quilts and other lovely things, and had a delicious luncheon. To my mind Relief Society was the place where things happened! It was the best place in the church. I remember as a teen being really eager to be an adult so I could attend Relief Society. (Of course, the whole program changed while I was on my mission with the advent of the "block program" with everything on Sunday. That was a huge disappointment to me and Relief Society never seemed the same.) There have been times and places in my adult life when I have felt energized by Relief Society and other times and places where it is the opposite. I totally understand why my friend sought out other opportunities to socialize and serve with another group of women. 

Oh that we could have a Relief Society revival and return to increasing our testimonies of the Savior; learning homemaking and parenting skills; and getting involved in regular community service to lift others from despair and poverty, both spiritual and physical.

Sister Beck continues to inspire me!

Life is Hard

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

This session had some memorable talks, one of which was given by apostle Elder Quentin L. Cook titled, "Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time."

As I listened to this talk I thought of our current family challenge of one of my niece's three year old son being diagnosed with leukemia just last month. This is a new challenge for us, but I believe we'll get through it as we have the many others that have come our way. 

"One of the essential doctrines illuminated by the Restoration is that there must be opposition in all things for righteousness to be brought to pass. This life is not always easy, nor was it meant to be; it is a time of testing and proving."

Going through the trial of our son's suicide has been the most difficult thing I've ever experienced. It was so final and unfixable. There was nothing I could do to change the outcome; no way for another chance to do things differently. But through it all I have felt the love of my Heavenly Father and Savior. We have experienced so many tender mercies that I know He loves us and knows our pain. It has strengthened my resolve to pass my test and be found worthy of the blessings I desire in the eternities.

Life is hard! For everyone. And all our tests are tailor made to refine us and teach us eternal truths. Fortunately it's an open book test and we can ask the headmaster all the questions we want and at the appropriate time He will help us find the answers. I know this is true!

Christian Courage

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

Frequently I listen to my husband and oldest son describe an antagonistic or argumentative exchange they've participated in online. I don't understand why they engage in such, but they are adults and get to choose for themselves. I refuse to argue with anyone online. It is unproductive and dismisses the Spirit faster than you can say, "You're wrong!" 

Christians in general, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in particular, are often under attack for our beliefs, values, and morals. Satan doesn't want us to believe or act on our beliefs so he influences his followers to attack and accuse us of anything and everything.

Elder Robert D. Hales spoke of having Christian courage to follow the Savior's example. "But when we respond to our accusers as the Savior did, we not only become more Christlike, we invite others to feel His love and follow Him as well. . . . When we do not retaliate--when we turn the other cheek and resist feelings of anger--we too stand with the Savior. We show forth His love, which is the only power that can subdue the adversary and answer our accusers without accusing them in return. That is not weakness. That is Christian courage."

I so enjoy Elder Hales' soft spoken delivery. He epitomizes his statement, "True disciples speak with quiet confidence, not boastful pride." 

There is enough stress and strife in the world today without adding our two cents to it. I should be spreading good cheer, the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and encouragement wherever I can. Lifting someone's sagging spirit is an act of service; finding the good in someone, the silver lining in a situation, are also acts of service. As President Nelson said, "Peacemakers Needed!" and that takes Christian courage. Elder Hales ended his talk with the prayer "That we may share His eternal, unconditional love with our brothers and sisters everywhere,". I think that's as needed today as it ever was.