Holy Places

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Young Women session of the April 2013 General Conference.

Last week in our stake adult religion class (a free Institute class) we talked about standing in holy places in the last days in preparation for the Second Coming. Our instructor even quoted Sister Ann M. Dibb from this session of conference.

I think it's important to learn about and practice "standing in holy places" wherever you are because, unlike the Amish, we don't separate ourselves from the world so much. We live in, go to school in, and work in the world. But like Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, we can be holy people in unholy places.

However, a place can be 'a distinct condition, position, or state of mind'. This means holy places can also include moments in time--moments when the Holy Ghost testifies to us, moments when we feel Heavenly Father's love, or moments when we receive an answer to our prayers. Even more, I believe any time you have the courage to stand for what is right, especially in situations where no one else is willing to do so, you are creating a holy place.

As the conditions of the world continue to deteriorate our ability to be holy and feel the Spirit anywhere we are will be increasingly important. Especially for those times when we have to be out in the world amongst those whose beliefs and values are diametrically oppose to ours.

I tend to isolate myself at home where I can feel peace. I try to remember to pray before I leave home so I can feel peaceful and calm driving, interacting with people in stores, and any other time or place that challenges me. Sometimes I succeed. Sometimes I fail and want to retreat into a pint of ice cream. I'm a work in progress.  Sister Dibb's talk was a good reminder of the ways and means of standing in holy places.

 

Being Accepted of the Lord

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

We have lived in our new location for five months now, although it seems like a whole lot longer. My husband was called to the Elders Quorum presidency in January. The President travels for his job most of the time and needed counselors who would be here and available to serve. The new first counselor immediately had to leave for a job assignment in Arizona and my husband promptly had a massive heart attack and was in the hospital for a month and recovering at home for a few more weeks, and still not able to contribute much to his calling. We wondered at the ways of the Lord to call men to service whose circumstances turned out to be not so conducive to serving.

Now for my sour grapes whine. I haven't been called to serve. I don't understand why and my feelings are tender all the time as I wonder why I'm not acceptable to the Lord for use in His service. I have knowledge, experience, and time to offer. But no calling. I drove home from church Sunday in tears because I feel such longing for acceptance and a calling to use my talents (or build new ones!).

Elder Erich W. Kopischke, who will end his time as a general authority on August 1, gave a talk that must have resonated with me at the time he gave it because my copy of the Ensign is all marked up! It speaks to me again this time around. Does that mean I haven't changed? Or what?

I will share a simple pattern which, if applied, can help everyone of us find ultimate acceptance. . . . This pattern consists of three simple steps. 1. Know that our hearts are honest and broken. 2. Know that our spirits are contrite. 3. Be willing to observe our covenants by sacrifice, as commanded by the Lord.

 

As we sincerely and prayerfully ponder the extent to which our hearts are honest and broken, we will be taught by the Holy Ghost. We will receive a sweet confirmation or gentle conviction, inviting us to act.

A contrite spirit is manifest by our willingness and determination to act. We are willing to humble ourselves before God, willing to repent, willing to learn, and willing to change. We are willing to pray, "Not my will, but thine, be done."

Too often we think that the word sacrifice refers to something big or hard for us to do. . . but mostly it refers to living day-to-day as a true disciple of Christ. . . . Sometimes observing our covenants means nothing more than standing firmly and faithfully when the storms of life are raging all around us.

 Elder Kopischke's advice is good. His invitation and promised blessings are what touched my heart the most.

With all my heart I invite you to seek the Lord's acceptance and enjoy His promised blessings. As we follow the simple pattern the lord has laid out, we will come to know that we are accepted of Him, regardless of our position, status, or mortal limitations. His loving acceptance will motivate us, increase our faith, and help us deal with everything we face in life. Despite our challenges, we will be successful, prosper, and feel at peace.

It looks like there is some more refining work to be done in my life.  

 

 

 

General Conference Themes

 Do we hear what we need to hear, or what we're attuned to hear, in General Conference? I don't know, but what I heard were two distinct, yet complementary themes.

First, take upon us the Savior's name, follow Him, become like Him.

Second, minister to others. Family, neighbors, assignments, strangers, enemies; it doesn't matter, we are to minister to others as the Savior would.

Together these things sounded to me like an invitation to build Zion, which requires people of one heart and one mind (the mind and heart of Jesus), and taking care of each other so there are no poor among us. Poor doesn't refer only to financial matters. A person can be poor spiritually, emotionally, mentally, socially, healthwise,  familywise, and in many others ways. There must be a righteous people prepared for the Savior to return to. That's the invitation I heard. 

I enjoyed all the talks, heard answers to my questions and prayers, and loved the music! 

Now, go study and live the word. "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only." "And if ye believe these things see that ye do them."

Ministering

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

Is ministering hard? I've had a hard time with it because I miss the structure of having a message to deliver each month. That gave me a reason/excuse to contact the sisters I never saw at church. For me it was a good time to discuss the gospel and bear testimony with my visiting teachers (when they came) because that is not part of my married experience. 

Many thought of ministering as something new and different, but in reality it is what we've been doing all along, just under different names and with various emphases, ranging from collecting goods for the poor to sharing a gospel message from our leaders.

David L. Beck, Young Men General President, spoke to the young men about their "Sacred Duty to Minister" and I thought much of it is applicable to all of us today.

 To minister means to love and care for others. It means to attend to their physical and spiritual needs.

That sure sounds like what we are supposed to be doing today!  Sister Jean Bingham, General Relief Society President at the time of the announcement of the change to "Ministering" said, "It looks like going for a walk, getting together for a game night, offering service, or even serving together. It looks like visiting in person, or talking on the phone or chatting online, or texting. It looks like delivering a birthday card and cheering at a soccer game. It looks like sharing a scripture or quote from a conference talk that would be meaningful to that individual. It looks like discussing a gospel question and sharing testimony to bring clarity and peace. It looks like becoming part of someone's life and caring about him or her." 

As I said, I miss the gospel messages, because I get so few chances at home to discuss the gospel. Brother Beck said, "You edify as you teach gospel truths, share spiritual experiences, and bear testimony." Most recently I've enjoyed visits from, and going out with, the local sister missionaries. They bring such a strong spirit with them and I enjoy our discussions.

I know I need to do better at serving others. Brother Beck said, "Ministering is not just something we do--it defines who we are. Minister every day. Opportunities are all around you. Look for them. Ask the Lord to help you recognize them. You will find that most consist of small, sincere acts that help others become followers of Jesus Christ."

On our journey to the promised land, we help each other through our challenges, encourage each other when weary or discouraged, and learn to be strong together by being yoked to the Savior. That's ministering to me.

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.