The Lord's Way

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2013 General Conference.

Many years ago my husband and I disagreed about how we should spend our time on Sunday. In the heat of the argument he asked, "Why do we always have to do things your way?" To which I replied, "I don't want to do things my way, I want to do things the Lord's way." We never did resolve the issue and our children grew up confused about keeping the Sabbath holy because of the disunity in our home.

I believe that when there is disagreement about what to do in any situation we can look at scripture and the teachings of modern prophets to determine what is the Lord's way of doing things and then follow that way.

Elder Stanley G. Ellis of the Seventy spoke to this subject and it sure resonated with me.

We don't have to be lost, confused, deceived, or less effective. This is especially true in the case of our Heavenly Father, who has taught us and shown us not just a way, but the way.

I appreciate that we don't have to find the way by ourselves through trial and error, because often that's too late. We can be like Nephi who was shown how to build a ship through direct revelation. We don't have to build our lives and our families after the manner of man, but after the manner the Lord shows us. (See 1 Nephi 18:2)

In fact, God has the way to live, to love, to help, to pray, to talk, to interact with each other, to lead, to marry, to raise children, to learn, to know the truth, to share the gospel, to choose wisely what we eat, etc.

I find it comforting to know that we can look to God and His prophets for direction, for counsel, for comfort in our trials. But it doesn't do us any good if we just listen or read the words. We have to get up and go and do. We have to act on what we know to be true. And, we have to have faith and hope that by doing so we all will work out. Sometimes it's difficult to follow counsel that seems contrary to the cultural norms. I took a lot of criticism from my parents for choosing to homeschool our children. Fortunately my parents lived long enough to see the fruits of our labors and my mother apologized for having criticized me, saying that my children had turned out wonderfully. 

I appreciate what Elder Ellis says, "Brothers and sisters, our living apostles and prophets are still teaching correct principles. The question is, 'Are we using these principles to govern ourselves?'"

That is my hope, that I am being a doer of the word and not a hearer only.

 

 

A Sure Foundation

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday morning session of the April 2013 General Conference.

I often wonder if anybody else struggles with the things that I do. I have the hardest time focusing while praying unless I'm the voice and there are others listening. When it's just me I kneel down and my mind goes blank, then wanders around, then remembers one thing but not the dozens of others that I wanted to ask or give thanks for, and I get frustrated and give up after a prolonged time in silence.

Bishop Dean M. Davies' talk was just what I needed to encourage me to do better. 

Prayer is one of the most basic and important foundational building blocks of our faith and character. Through prayer we are able to express our gratitude, love and devotion to God. Through prayer we can submit our will to His and in return receive the strength to conform our lives to His teachings. Prayer is the avenue we can follow to seek His influence in our lives, even revelation. . . . Sharing our thoughts, feelings and desires with God through sincere and heartfelt prayer should become to each of us as important and natural as breathing and eating.

 

Yes, as natural as breathing and eating. I have a long way to go.

Faith in the Atonement Through Our Mortal Adversities

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Relief Society Meeting of the October 2012 General Conference.

The addresses from the three members of the General Relief Society presidency touched my heart because they spoke of things that have strengthened me through my "classes" in this mortal boarding school.

Sister Linda K. Burton spoke of having faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ written in our hearts. I can never speak of the Savior without tearing up because I love Him and am so grateful for His mercy, grace and love. What is most amazing to me is that He loves me back, especially when I'm most unloveable. He never turns me away, and more than once I have felt His warm, strong arms around me in times of despair. I'm so grateful to be yoked with Him through covenants to journey through life.

Sister Burton said, "That supreme act of love ought to send each of us to our knees in humble prayer to thank our Heavenly Father for loving us enough that He sent His Only Begotten and perfect Son to suffer for our sins, our heartaches, and all that seems unfair in our own individual lives."

And it does!

Sister Carole M. Stephens talked about being "awake to our duty and continue with faith as we draw upon the comforting, strengthening, enabling, and healing power of the Atonement." For a long time after our son's death I felt like I was asleep, just going through the motions of living. I wanted to wake up but didn't know how to jumpstart my spirit and get going again. It didn't help that I didn't have a busy calling in the branch. I had too much time to be alone and lonely. Sister Stephens asked, "Have our hearts become gradually hardened as we have allowed too much of the noise of the world to distract us from the gentle promptings that have surely come from the Spirit?" I think that challenging circumstances can distract us too. Grief is such a hard thing to navigate for the grieving as well as family and friends. Again, Sister Stephens, "Each of us has had and will continue to have adversity in our lives. This mortal life is a time of testing, and we will continue to have opportunities to use our agency to choose what we will learn from the adversity that will surely come."

One thing I have learned from my adversity is to offer to serve in specific ways. Think hard and listen to promptings, then go and do. It is frustrating to hear over and over again, "Call me if you need anything." I feel as awkward calling you to ask for a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on as you probably do asking if you can come do my dishes or laundry. But if you offer something specific I would feel more comfortable saying, well, that's not what I need, but could you do this?

Sister Linda S. Reeves closed out her talk with this testimony, "That is our charge. We must feel and see for ourselves and then help all of Heavenly Father's children to feel and see and know that our Savior has taken upon Himself not only all our sins but also our pains and our suffering and afflictions so that He can know what we feel and how to comfort us." 

Another thing I have learned from my adversity is that I ought to leave my burdens with the Savior to carry, and then do more to serve others. There is always someone who is worse off than me. Serving others truly is a way to forget our troubles. It can be as simple as expressing gratitude for the service of others to me. Expressing gratitude is so important!

I miss the Relief Society sessions. I'm thankful for the technology that allows me to hear and read them over again. They feed my soul.

Becoming a True Disciple - Converted Unto the Lord

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the October 2012 General Conference.

The talks by Elder Daniel L. Johnson of the Seventy, and Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve, seemed to me to go hand in hand. 

Elder Johnson said, "Making the covenant to be a disciple of Christ is the beginning of a lifelong process, and the path is not always easy."

Elder Bednar said, "True conversion brings a change in one's beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God (see Acts 3:19, 3 Nephi 9:20) and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ."

Elder Johnson - "Becoming like Him and being one with Him is the ultimate goal and objective--and essentially the very definition of true discipleship." He quotes his grandson Benjamin, "Being a disciple of Jesus Christ means being an example. It means being a missionary. It means to serve others. It means you read the scriptures and say your prayers. It means you keep the Sabbath day holy. It means you listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. It means going to church and going to the temple." Then he says, "I agree with Benjamin. Discipleship is all about doing and becoming."

Elder Bednar - "[T]he key characteristics associated with conversion are experiencing a mighty change in our hearts, having a disposition to do good continually, going forward in the path of duty, walking circumspectly before God, keeping the commandments, and serving with unwearied diligence. . . . For many of us conversion is an ongoing process and not a onetime event . . ." 

Having gone through some really hard challenges in recent years, and days, I've been told that I am a strong woman. I don't feel strong most of the time. As I pondered this compliment to me I realized that I'm not strong at all, but I am yoked with my Savior and He is strong! He is my strength. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, as Paul said. (Philippians 4:13) I'm trying to be a faithful disciple. Sometimes I'm just going through the motions, but my mission president taught us that we should always be where we are supposed to be, doing what we are supposed to be doing and our spirit will catch up to where our body is. I know that is true. Sometimes the catch up is quick, sometimes it is long in coming. But I must continue to press forward with steadfastness in Christ, as Nephi said (2 Nephi 31:20), because it is by doing that we become.

It's so hard to look at ourselves and determine our progress and standing, mostly because we tend to be our worst critics. Which is why I don't think of myself as a "strong woman". Until I hear it from someone else, or pray about it (my standing before the Lord) and realize that I'm on the right path and making progress toward the "promised land".

Life is hard! It's meant to be because it is a test of our faith and obedience. In my own mind I liken it to a handcart trek across the plains. When hard things happen what is the alternative to continuing? I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I can't just sit down and wait for things to get better, because they never really do. Oh, there's a pretty sunset, or maybe a wildflower to see once in a while, but the trek is fraught with trials of all kinds and I just have to pass through them to get to the other side of them. The trials won't be taken away, no matter how much I beg (which I've long ago stopped asking for), rather I pray for strength and help to make it through them, often daily! 

In recent months and through the latest trial I've asked myself if I'm becoming more like Jesus. I want to and I try, but I feel so weak and far from being the person I want to be. I'm so grateful for the Savior! He truly is the one who saves me, redeems me and succors me. My love and gratitude for Him is what keeps me going. I trust His words that the greatest gift is eternal life and I want to prove worthy of that gift.

The Basic Habits of Righteousness Never Change

 

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the October 2012 General Conference.

When I, a woman, read the talks given to the priesthood holders I try to think of how what is said applies to me as a member of the church and a member of Relief Society. This week I felt drawn to what Elder Anthony D. Perkins said in his talk Beware Concerning Yourselves.

He told a story of driving over the Rocky Mountains and noticing the guardrails and warning signs, likening them to "deep personal conversion and strong family relations to help keep us on the heavenly highway," what President Nelson called, the covenant path.

Elder Perkins reminded the brethren (and the rest of us) of six fundamental principles that deepen conversion and strengthen family.

1) Praying always opens the door for divine help to "conquer Satan."

2) Studying ancient and modern scripture connects us to God.

3) Worthily participating in ordinances prepares us to take "the Holy Spirit for [our] guide."

4) Showing genuine love is at the heart of personal conversion and family relations.

5) Obeying the law of tithing is an essential element of faith and family unity.

6) Fully living the law of chastity yields confidence to stand "in the presence of God" with the Holy Ghost as our "constant companion".

My marriage is an example of the consequences of not living these six principles. I have a holy envy of couples who do. Their lives seems to be more united, serene in the face of mortal trials, and genuinely more fun, free of the strife that accompanies disobedience and being unequally yoked.

I call those six principles the basic habits of righteousness--if we do those things we are so much further ahead and so much more blessed than if we neglect them and try to keep, as Elder Maxwell said so eloquently, a summer home in Babylon.

I hope that someday I'll be worthy of the blessing of being equally yoked with a priesthood holder who lives those six basic principles.