Swing!

Today we went to see the film The Boys in the Boat, about the 1936 Olympic winners from Washington State. It was wonderful.

I first heard about this team when Sharon Eubank, 1st Counselor Relief Society General Presidency spoke of them in her talk titled By Union of Feeling We Obtain Power With God. I was intrigued by the story, love good non-fiction and when I came across a copy of the book at a thrift store I purchased and read the book. Wow! It is one of the most well written stories I've read. I couldn't put the book down! I highly recommend it. The film is good too. Even Noble, who isn't drawn to those stories enjoyed it. I think you will too.

Individual Responsibility

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the October 2003 conference.

Even though then Elder Russell M. Nelson's talk was to the priesthood I think what he said was, and is, appropriate for all members of the church. ". . . the strength of the faith within each of us is developed individually, not as a group."

Through the parable of the ten virgins Jesus taught us that we each need to be prepared and can't rely on the supply of others to get us through. Elder Nelson said, ". . . the responsibility to develop power in the priesthood is personal. Only as an individual can you develop a firm faith in God and a passion for personal prayer. Only as an individual can you keep the commandments of God. Only as an individual can you repent. Only as an individual can you qualify for the ordinances of salvation and exaltation." 

Even the phrase "power in the priesthood" echos what we are taught in the temple about our relationship with God and it applies to both men and women. And Elder Nelson says, "Now is the time to prepare for your own ultimate interview." 

Elder Nelson talks a lot about responsibility, which is the opposite of what we hear in the news and on social media, where the clamoring is for "rights" without any personal responsibility or consequences. Elder Nelson says, "You cannot exercise agency and escape accountability and responsibility for each choice." What a message for today!

The Standard of Truth

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the October 2003 conference.

Opening up my November 2003 Ensign I was surprised to find that I had written something about Elder Boyd K. Packer's talk and left the pages in the magazine. I didn't date the pages but I suspect that it was early 2004.

"I finally watched the film 'Lord of the Rings'. I liked it so much I bought the books and have been reading them. They are fascinating and so well written. In the preface the author states that he did not write the story as an allegory. He wrote it simply as a story that had welled up from within him.

"I believe the reason many would think it allegorical is because the theme of good versus evil is an eternal one, and many elements of the story are applicable to our day and circumstances. He tells of the shadow which is spreading over the land, which is a tangible evidence of the evil designs and domination of Sauron, the Lord of the Ring, the one who made the ring so he could rule all of Middle Earth. It reminds me of the shadow of immorality that is spreading over the earth.

"When my sister was here in August we talked about her experiences at school and work and how she answers questions about her beliefs. On the topic of abortion she's never had trouble explaining her beliefs and positions; but when the subject of homosexual marriage comes up, she didn't know how to respond so she would try to stay out of any discussion of that topic.

"I thought of her when I heard Elder Packer's talk about standards. What a blessing to have prophets to speak the truth. 

"Hugh B. Brown's famous talk 'Profile of a Prophet' outlines several characteristics distinguishing a true prophet.

C. Any man claiming to be a prophet of God would declare his message without fear and without making any weak concessions to public opinions.

D. If he were speaking for God he could not make concessions although what he taught would be new and contrary to the accepted teachings of the day. A prophet bears witness to what he has seen and heard and seldom tried to make a case by argument. His message and not himself is important.

I. Such a man would denounce wickedness fearlessly. He would generally be rejected or persecuted by the people of his time, but later generations, the descendants of his persecutors, would build monuments in his honor. 

Elder Packer said, "We do not set the Standards, but we are commanded to teach them and maintain them. . . . However out of step we may seem, however much the standards are belittled, however much others yield, we will not yield, we cannot yield."

I think this next paragraph is as relevant today as when Elder Packer said it in Conference. 

Now words can be used as weapons against you. If they throw the word diversity at you, grab hold of it and say, "I am already diverse, and I intend to stay diverse." If the word is tolerance, grab that one too, saying, "I expect you to be tolerant of my lifestyle--obedience, integrity, abstinence, repentance." If the word is choice, tell them you choose good, old-fashioned morality, You choose to be a worthy husband or wife, a worthy parent.

I love the strength of his testimony! Some thought him too harsh, but he was doing exactly what an apostle is supposed to do--preach truth! 

I can tell how closely I'm aligned with the prophets and apostles by what I feel when they speak. If their subject brings feelings of contentment and peace I know I doing well in that area. If I start to squirm and feel uncomfortable I know I'd better pay attention and do some repenting.

 

Marilyn at light-in-leaves also blogs weekly about General Conference.

 

Today's Talk in Sacrament Meeting

 Christmas Gifts

Christmas time! The most wonderful time of the year, according to one song. Do you have the Christmas spirit? You know, feelings of love and generosity, joy and happiness, laughter and good times with family and friends,? That Christmas spirit? Sometimes I feel more like old Ebenezer Scrooge. Curmudgeony, wanting to be left alone and not bothered with all the work of preparations for a few minutes of a gift opening frenzy, a huge meal consumed in ten minutes, only to be left with all the clean-up. It's not really like that, only sometimes do those negative thoughts and feelings well up. Mostly Christmas is a happy time of good cheer with family and friends.

But speaking of Ebenezer, he is the main character in my favorite Christmas book and movie. His transformation represents the real gifts we are given at Christmas from Our Father in Heaven through His son Jesus Christ, and the gifts that we can give back to Him.

Christmas is the celebration of a birthday. Generally in our culture we give gifts to the person whose birthday we're celebrating. But Jesus isn't physically present today so it's rather difficult to give Him physical gifts. To explain this concept to our children I used to tell them that Jesus taught that, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt 25:40) And, ". . . when you are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) For almost thirty years now we have used a manger with a baby Jesus doll to help us remember just whose birthday we're celebrating. The gifts are piled around the manger as if we're giving them to Him. I found that the large, visual reminder helped our children focus more on who and why we were celebrating.

We usually give birthday or other gifts because we love the person and want to please him or her. I like to listen for clues all year long as to what my loved ones need or want so I can give just the perfect thing. One year I heard my sister say in casual conversation that Emily Dickinson was her favorite poet. I surprised her that year with a book of her complete works. It moved my sister to tears; she asked, "How did you know?" I don't tell you this to brag--I've given my share of complete flops over the years. I tell you this because of the principle involved, that listening with ears to hear can lead to more meaningful gifts. 

What clues has Jesus given us about the gifts he would like to receive? 

To the ancient prophet Malachi He said, "Prove me now herewith. . . " and asked us to pay tithing. (Malachi 3:10)  The first recorded words of Jesus after He was baptized are, "Repent ye!" (Matt. 4:17) He called His disciples saying, "Follow me!" And at the last supper with them He said, "If any man serve me, let him follow me;" (John 12:26) After washing their feet, performing that lowly act of service in a loving manner, He instructed them, ". . . I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." (John 13:15) And "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:17) Later that evening He told His apostles, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) and "Love one another" (John 15:12) After His resurrection He asked His chief Apostle, Peter, to feed His sheep and lambs. (John 21:15-17) And to the Nephites gathered at the temple in Bountiful He said, ". . . will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted that I may heal you? . . . And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit." (3 Nephi 9:13, 20) These are just some of the many clues He gave us.

Now back to my friend Ebenezer. As a fictional character, he could represent any of us, going about our days without any thought of eternity, just trying to slog our way through this mortal life the best we can, accumulating worldly treasure of one kind or another. God was merciful to old Scrooge though, and sent Spirits to open his eyes to the purpose of life, and the law of the harvest, that what we sow in life we will reap. 

Our current prophet, Russell M. Nelson reminds us to "think celestial"! Make decisions based on where we want to live in eternity and with whom.

 

Each spirit that visited Ebenezer opens his eyes further in understanding until at last he realizes his predicament, begs for mercy, and believing that he will die before the next Christmas pleads: "Spirit! Hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this if I am past all hope? . . . Good Spirit, Your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me by an altered life!" He pledges to the Spirit of Christmas Future saying "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach." When he awakes in the morning he realizes that he did not die and he has been given a second chance. "I don't know what to do! . . . I'm as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. . . . A merry Christmas to Everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!"

Ebenezer's fictional experience is similar to that of Alma the Younger in The Book of Mormon. After being visited by an angel of the Lord and in a coma for a time he was revived and began to speak to his father and the priests gathered around him. Alma bid "them to be of good comfort, for, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit. And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures!" (Mosiah 27:24-26)

At another telling of his story, Alma said, 

And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul. And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy. (Alma 36:18-21)

The amazing thing in both of these stories is that neither of these men were forced to change. They were given the opportunity to choose to change.

Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door. and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Rev. 3:20)

Elder W. Craig Zwick of the Seventy said, "The Lord will provide sustenance and support if we are willing to open the door and receive His hand of divine assistance." (Oct 2003)

Charles Dickens wrote of Ebenezer, "Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; . . . He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew. . . . Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; . . . His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him. . . . and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge."

Alma spent the rest of his life preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and keeping the sacred records. Some of the best sermons in the Book of Mormon were given by Alma. Think of his sermons on Faith, the Atonement, Judgement, Resurrection, and more. It is from Alma that we get the best explanation of why evil deeds are allowed to happen. After his conversion he was a mighty father, prophet and leader.

We are celebrating the birth of the One who would grow up to accomplish the mission of the Great Atoning Sacrifice. Jesus is our Brother, our Spiritual Father, our Exemplar, our Healer, our Lord and Savior. We celebrate his mortal birth in gratitude for his love and mercy in coming to save us from the bonds of death and sin. His gifts to us of repentance and resurrection mean that we can be cleansed from our sin and be spiritually born again, and then instead of mortal death being the end of our existence, we will be reunited body and spirit to live eternally.

I think His gifts to us far outweigh any we can give to Him. But let's not let that discourage us. He asks us to repent!

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, then of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said, "Repenting means giving up all your practices--personal, family, ethnic, and national--that are contrary to the commandments of God." (Oct. 2003)

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "For some, to think of repentance as the pathway to joy might seem contradictory. Repentance, at times, can be painful and difficult. It requires admitting that some of our thoughts and actions—even some of our beliefs—have been wrong. Repentance also requires change, which, at times, can be uncomfortable. But joy and comfort are not the same thing. Sin—including the sin of complacency—limits our joy." (April 2023)

The spirits who visited Ebenezer Scrooge used his own words to help him see the error of his ways. 

Alma taught, "For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence. But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his might, majesty and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgements are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance." (Alma 12:14-15)

Do you think Alma knew what he was talking about? Do you think his experience built his testimony? It sure sounds like it to me.

Jesus asks us to love and serve others. Often the "others" are as close as our own family. The family is the heavenly pattern; we prepare to live in a Zion society, and in the Celestial Kingdom by practicing in our own imperfect earthly families. 

Jesus taught, "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) We are not left to try to figure things out by ourselves. We who have been baptized and confirmed have the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide us. We have a prophet and apostles, seventies and other church leaders who regularly give us instructions and guidance. We have scripture, ancient and modern. We have the vast resources of the church and the miracles of technology to access them. We can repent and follow Jesus! We can receive the gifts He has to offer us.

This Christmas season, may we invite the Spirit of the Lord into our homes and lives by repenting, obeying the commandments, loving and serving others, and sharing the Light of the Savior near and far.

I know that God, Our Heavenly Father lives and loves us enough to send His Son, our eldest brother, Jesus, to be Our Savior and Redeemer. I know that Jesus Christ restored His church through the prophet Joseph Smith and gave him the power to translate the Book of Mormon, Another testament of Jesus Christ. I know that Russell M. Nelson is the Lord's authorized prophet on earth today. We have so many gifts from God! May we acknowledge and appreciate them each day.

My Other Blog

On my other blog, PFCMom, I've begun a Christmas ABC's series. Hop on over and give it a look.

Steadfast and Immovable

Our beautiful Northern Pin Oak

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Young Womens session of the April 2003 conference.

The theme for this meeting was taken from the Mutual theme for the year, 2 Nephi 31:20, Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.

I'll share some of my favorite quotes from each talk.

Susan W. Tanner:  

Speaking of Abraham, "He did not know the outcome of that test as we know it from a historical perspective. He was walking into the unknown. Still he was steadfast. He was living on promises that the Lord would bless him. Whatever nervousness he may have felt didn't deter him from pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ."

Isn't that how every life is? We can't see the outcome, only where we are now, hoping that the outcome will be what we want. That is why life takes trusting the Lord and following Him because of His omniscience. 

"But when you keep your covenants, you will learn to more fully love those to whom you are eternally bound. Then you will also be able to extend your love beyond that circle to others."

I want to explore the connection between keeping covenants and love. I'm not very good at loving others. I tolerate others, but don't feel unconditional love for most people. I know I have to do better in this area because while I think I'm keeping my covenants, I must not be in the right way, because I'm not experiencing this particular fruit.

Julie B. Beck: "My mother has stayed in the Savior's path with unshaken faith in Him (see 2 Nephi 31:19) all the days of her life. She wakes up every day looking forward to new adventures. For her, life is so interesting, and she still has so much to learn."

I know a little bit about Sister Beck's mother and the challenges she faced in life. Oh how I want to be more like her in her attitude! I often wonder what it would be like to be equally yoked in marriage and if that would make a difference in my spiritual and emotional strength. Too often I feel so beaten down and exhausted by the consequences of who I chose to marry and the draining struggles of our differences. 

Elaine B. Dalton: "Nephi not only had a vision of how to return to his heavenly home, but he also had a vision of what he wanted in his earthly home. The Savior will help you see and understand the vision He has for you."

My mission president told us that God's will for us could be achieved only with our full cooperation. Which I believe with all my soul. But after I'd been married for a decade I realized that now I was in a "love triangle" and it would take the cooperation of another to realize God's vision. That old unequally yoked business. But I keep working on myself so that I know I've done all I can.

President James E. Faust: "I can say without hesitation that you can have a 'perfect brightness of hope' for your future and endless joy if you 'press forward' as righteous daughters of God."

I hope he means it is never too late!

"A person who is humble is teachable."

That's what I strive to be.

"The character thus formed from self-discipline will rise with you in the Resurrection."

Good to know! It helps me keep going.

"Remember that you and the Church will be judged in part by your cleanliness and neatness in appearance."

In the Doctrine and Covenants section 42:40 is the phrase '. . . let all thy garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of thine own hands.' I believe that "plain" doesn't mean unadorned or dowdy, rather it means clear, unmistakable, obvious, as in it is plain that we are covenant people, followers of Jesus Christ. And when the fashions of the world are not compatible with our covenants, then we make our own clothing and set our own style and fashion. If we say to the world that we are virtuous followers of Jesus, but dress like the world, doesn't that make for confusion? We are called to be different from the world to attract those who are seeking purity, virtue, and relief from the evils of the world.

"Grace is a God-given virtue. It is a disposition to be kind and to do good. . . . Charm is attractiveness which comes from a feeling of personal dignity, an inner beauty that comes from a feeling of self-worth."

Too many times in my life I lack both grace and charm. Sad to admit. But I'm working on it.

"It may be that your most significant, everlasting achievements will be your righteous influence on others, that your divine feminine inner beauty and intuition will find expression in your quiet strength, gentleness, dignity, charm, graciousness, creativity, sensitivity, radiance, and spirituality. Enhance these sublime feminine gifts. They will make you appealing and even irresistible as you serve others as the handmaidens of God."

Still at age 66 (December 30), that's my goal. At my funeral I want to be remembered as a women like President Faust describes. I'd better to get work!

Follow the Instructions

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 2003 conference.

"Every person experiences many challenges in this mortal life. Each has personal agency to make choices that affect his or her progress. Good choices bring promised blessings, and bad choices always bring undesired consequences."

Wisdom from Elder D. Rex Gerratt of the Seventy.

"As in times past, we receive instructions from the Lord's living prophet. . . . After receiving instructions, we need to be obedient and hearken to the counsel we receive. We need to listen to and follow our appointed leaders."

This was a short talk with a powerful message. 

Holy Place, Sacred Space

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 2003 conference.

For years I've been saying that I want to write a book about teaching children reverence. In 2012 I wrote a blog post on that subject. I feel like the need for parental instruction has only gotten more acute as the years go by, and fewer parents understand how to teach their children to be and feel reverent. Well, I'll get to writing that book someday soon. In the meantime, I enjoyed the counsel from Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander. "Our ability to seek, recognize, and reverence the holy above the profane, and the sacred above the secular, defines our spirituality."

Learning reverence for things holy and sacred begins in the home during the spiritual times such as prayer, Family Home Evening, visits from ministering brethren (I miss the Home Teaching visits), visits from missionaries, watching General Conference, and such. Whatever behavior is tolerated at home during these times will be displayed at church during similar activities.

Elder Neuenschwander reminds us:

Holy places have always been essential to the proper worship of God. For Latter-day Saints, such holy places include venues of historic significance, our homes, sacrament meetings, and temples. Much of what we reverence, and what we teach our children to reverence as holy and sacred, is reflected in these places. The faith and reverence associated with them and the respect we have for what transpires or has transpired in them make them holy. The importance of holy places and sacred space in our worship can hardly be overestimated.

When I talk to parents of young children I remind them that reverence is best learned at home with lots and lots of practice so that the behaviors become automatic when in serious, sacred and holy places and times. (Weddings, funerals, flag ceremonies, sacrament meetings, concerts, ballet performances, or other serious events.) Feeling the Spirit takes practice, and lots of it. Children learn by having sacred experiences at home, first learning the behaviors that invite the spirit and then the good feelings that come from receiving the spirit.

The words sacred and sacrifice come from the same root. One may not have the sacred without first sacrificing something for it. There can be no sacredness without personal sacrifice. Sacrifice sanctifies the sacred. . . . The establishment of our homes as holy places reflects the depths of sacrifice we are willing to make for them.

This talk was given a year and a half after the 9/11 attacks, during the war on terror when the world was in turmoil and people were fearful. There were many talks (always, it seems) that mentioned the perilous times. Elder Neuenschwander ended with this wonderful invitation:

In holy places and in sacred spaces we find spiritual refuge, renewal, hope, and peace. Are these not worth every necessary personal sacrifice? My brethren and sisters, may each of us revere and respect the holy and sacred in our lives. May we teach our children likewise. Let us all stand in holy and sacred places of spiritual peace. 

 

 

 

 

 

Poignant Pain

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the April 2003 conference.

I have come to a greater understanding of why some women hate church on Mother's Day. It is painful to be at church on a day when the very thing you want and have been denied is celebrated. Of course, Mother's Day is on the calendar and well known ahead of time so a person can choose to make other plans for that day. I often get blindsided by Sacrament meeting talks by departing missionaries, returning missionaries, serving missionaries or parents reporting on their missionaries. It reminds me of my failures and missed blessings, all rather painful.

This particular Priesthood session was much the same, all about missionaries. When the talks were given my four boys were still young and I was still full of hope and faith that they would all serve and I would be surrounded by priesthood power. This time around was much more painful and poignant.

Elder Daryl H. Garn spoke of the example of a particular returned missionary. "Because of his example I began looking at my associates at school, including those on the basketball team, and realized that the people I most wanted to be like were those who had served missions." I have found that the youth in the rural Midwest miss out on those examples and associations because all the returned missionaries arrive, report their missions, and quickly leave again to go to school in the Utah/Idaho area. There were no examples, mentors or friends to guide or encourage our sons. I'm not sure what the answer is, but hopefully the FSY conferences will help. (We were too poor to send our children to EFY.)

Bishop H. David Burton said, "Our bishops serve as personal trainers and use their sacred priesthood keys to bless our lives." I thought, well, only if they don't work four hours away in another state and are home only on weekends. When our son needed a strong priesthood leader to guide him through the repentance process, all he got were a few texts each week, never face to face time exploring the scriptures or conference talks together, no time serving, working or playing together. Our son missed out on help at a critical time and never truly recovered. (And what seemed especially strange to us was that the branch president never spoke to us about what we could do to help our son, even when we asked.)

President James E. Faust spoke of staying out of The Devil's Throat. 

My dear young friends, there is another great truth that you young men must learn. It is that everything has a price. There is a price to pay for success, fulfillment, accomplishment, and joy. There are no freebies. If you don't pay the price that is needed for success, you will pay the price of failure.

I can't completely blame others for the failures in our family. We all have agency and made choices without seeing the long-term effects and consequences. These are painful lessons to learn. I wonder what I would say to the me of 2003 if I could go back in time. Or the me of 1980 when I was a freshly returned missionary. 

I take hope from President Thomas S. Monson's talk in which he said, ". . . I share the observation that the seeds of testimony frequently do not immediately take root and flower. Bread cast upon the water returns, at times, only after many days. But it does return." I have hope that someday my wandering sons will return to the teachings planted in their hearts in their childhood and youth by a loving mother.

Words to Live By

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2003 conference.

Every talk in this session was, of course, wonderful. But I want to focus on two topics.

From Elder James M. Dunn of the Seventy,

We live in a world marked by great diversity: different lands, cultures, races, and languages. To some degree, at least, one must believe that this is the way God intended it to be. The gospel teaches us that, notwithstanding these differences, we are all children of the same Heavenly Father. The human race is one family, and we are all, therefore, brothers and sisters.

To remember that we all are brothers and sisters is thinking celestially. How we treat each other will be a reflection of our thinking. He explains,

As the result of . . . erroneous thinking, the world is filled with lurid and lascivious attractions. We see young men refusing to marry; young women foolishly surrendering their virtue in pursuit of lustful relationships; couples who purposefully refuse to have children or who opt for a "trophy child" because a family would interfere with plans for adventure, leisure, or maximum financial gain.

 

Elder Dunn explained that, "Successfully working our way through life, while keeping our eye on life's true purposes, blesses us both here and hereafter." 

Later in the session, Elder L. Tom Perry said, quoting Brigham Young, ". . . our families are not yet ours. The Lord has committed them to us to see how we will treat them. Only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever. What we do on earth determines whether or not we will be worthy to become heavenly parents."

Isn't it sad that so many don't quite understand the consequences of their choices, which are eternal in nature. This week I was thinking about how everything is spiritual to God; every commandment, etc., and the thought came to me that, of course, everything is spiritual to Him because He lives in a spiritual realm where time is not measured, and He can see the end from the beginning and understands all things. We live in a finite, mortal world, where sometimes we can't see past the end of our nose. We have to learn to trust Him, His sight and wisdom, and simply obey, even when we don't understand why. That is what becoming like a child means. (See Matthew 18:1-3, and Mosiah 3:19) I hope that I'm doing better the older I get.

Recently I've been thinking about missionary work. I would love to serve another mission. (I served in Florida Tallahassee Mission, 1979-1980, under LeGrand R. Curtis) I have been pondering how I can help build our small branch here in Minnesota as well. Elder Henry B. Eyring and Elder M. Russell Ballard gave great talks on missionary work, especially as done by ordinary members. 

Elder Eyring posed the question we might ask, "How could I become better at sharing my faith with those who do not yet feel what I feel?" He said, "There is no single pattern in what they do. [From the stories of people who have shared the gospel.] There is no common technique. . . . Each has prayed to know what to do. They each seem to get a different answer, suited especially to them and to the people they meet." 

One of the challenges I face is that I'm simply at home most of the time. I don't go outside to work; I'm not part of any school parent's group; I haven't taken any classes, or joined a group of any kind. I go to church, I go out for errands, (bank, post office, shopping, etc.) and that's it. Plus the fact that we live 45 minutes from the church is another detriment. (Not to mention that our branch seldom has any social activities to invite anyone to.) So opportunities for missionary moments are rare. But Elder Eyring advises,

Pray for the chance to encounter people who sense there could be something better in their lives. Pray to know what you should do to help them. Your prayers will be answered. You will meet people prepared by the Lord. You will find yourself feeling and saying things beyond your past experience. And then in time you will feel yourself drawing closer to your Heavenly Father, and you will feel the cleansing and the forgiveness the Savior promises His faithful witnesses. And you will feel His approval, knowing you have done what He asked of you, because He love you and trusts you.

 

Elder M. Russell Ballard, after speaking of raising the bar for full-time missionaries, said, ". . . we must also raise the level of expectation for the performance of all the members of the church in fulfilling our missionary duties." 

 

Remember, brothers and sisters, we're not marketing a product. We're not selling anything. We're not trying to impress anyone with our numbers or our growth. We are members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, empowered and sent forth by the Lord Himself to find, nourish, and bring safely into His Church those who are seeking to know the truth.

Elder Ballard quotes President Hinckley from 1999, "I would like to suggest that every bishop in the Church give as a motto to his people, 'Let's all work to grow the ward.'" It boggles my mind when I hear people in our branch say they don't want it to grow, they enjoy the smallness and intimacy of the branch. I'm rather tired of that smallness, and the sameness, and the lack of training and vision, and the lack of sociality. Distances are great, and most everyone is too busy with worldly pursuits to want to add any church activities to the mix. So different from when I grew up, when the church was the social center of our lives. (I miss the olden days!)     

Again from Elder Ballard, 

Happiness comes from understanding God and knowing that He has a plan for our eternal joy and peace. Happiness comes from knowing and loving the Savior and living our lives in accordance with His teachings. Happiness comes from strong family and Church relationships based on gospel values.

How can we not want to help others enjoy what we have? How can we not want our units to grow with families who will bring fresh devotion and energy? 

I remember the joy of sharing the gospel as a missionary. I want to feel that again! 

P.S. One of my favorite movies to watch on Halloween is "Coco", which is also one of the best movies to inspire us to pursue Family History.

 

Blessed by Living Waters

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday morning session of the April 2003 conference.

Throughout the fall of 2022 I had the nagging feeling that I needed to establish a better habit of daily gospel study. I put it off until the new year when I determined that I would keep up with the Come Follow Me chapters and begin reading The Book of Mormon again, as well as keep up with the General Conference Odyssey and study the current conference talks. Ambitious, I know. But I felt I needed to up my game, as the saying goes. 

I enjoyed studying the life and ministry of the Savior in the first part of the New Testament. I found a YouTube channel that gives weekly insights to the Come Follow Me lessons which helped me grow a deeper love for Jesus Christ. Through the Book of Mormon I recalled that all families have challenges. Through General Conference talks I felt instructed and nourished.

When tragedy struck our family in April I clung to my testimony of Jesus Christ, so recently nourished and strengthened by my daily habit of gospel study. 

Sister Kathleen H. Hughes, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, said, "Living water heals. It nourishes and sustains. It brings peace and joy." That sentence alone struck me with great force. Because I had acted on a prompting, I could weather the storm of losing a precious son. I was partaking of the living water, and the bread of life daily.

Sister Hughes said, "There is cause to be concerned, but there is greater reason to be at peace."

Yes, yes, there is. We have a Savior, a Redeemer, a Friend and Brother, a Spiritual Father, all in the person of Jesus Christ, whose Atoning Sacrifice will make all things right in the end. Somehow. 

The Samaritan woman looked into the face of Christ, listened to His voice, and recognized Him at a time when most others rejected all He taught. We know Him too, or we can, if we allow His healing power, His nourishing strength, His peace and joy, to flow through us like "a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

I'm so grateful for daily manna to feed my soul.  

Here Am I, Send Me

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Relief Society session of the October 2002 conference.

In April 2005 I had the privilege of being a presenter at BYU Women's Conference. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I've always wished I could do it again and again. On the day of the conference as I made my way toward the Marriot Center in Provo, I was greeted by Sister Bonnie Parkin, Relief Society General President, who gathered me into her arms for a big hug and said, "We're so glad you're here with us!" I felt I'd died and gone to heaven. She didn't know me, but her expression of love was so warm and genuine that it gave me just the boost I needed.

Sister Parkin and her counselors were sustained in April 2002 and this is their first General Relief Society meeting in October 2002. They chose the theme "Here Am I, Send Me" and each spoke in different ways on that subject. I'm just going to share the quotes that touched me the most.

Sister Parkin: 

• Making covenants is the expression of a willing heart; keeping covenants, the expression of a faithful heart.
• . . . when we obey the prophet's guidance, we are keeping a covenant.
• Women of covenant stand firm when evil is called good and good is called evil. Whether it be in the college classroom, around the water cooler, or watching TV's latest "experts", remembering our covenants keeps us from being led astray.
• Sisters, the Lord needs women who will teach children to work and learn and serve and believe.
• The spiritual integrity to keep our covenants comes from consistency in scripture study, prayer, service, and sacrifice.

Sister Kathleen H. Hughes, First Counselor

• . . . modesty is a battle worth fighting because it so often affects more serious moral issues.
• The theme of this conference is "Here am I, send me." The words are a promise to the Lord and an expression of our willingness to serve. If we keep our covenants, the promises we receive in return are great.

Sister Anne C. Pingree, Second Counselor

• We, as covenant women, have consecrated ourselves to the cause of Christ through our baptismal and temple covenants. We can alter the face of the earth one family and one home at a time through charity, our small and simple acts of pure love.
• Little by little our charitable acts change our natures, define our characters, and ultimately make us women with the courage to say to the Lord, "Here am I; send me."
• Dear sisters, what you are doing with your families matters! It matters so very, very much.
• Beloved Relief Society sisters, I know that wherever we live, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, we, as covenant women, united in righteousness, can alter the face of the earth.

President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, was the concluding speaker. He spoke for almost twenty-four minutes! It was a powerful address.

• Sisters, whatever your circumstances, you all need to have oil in your lamps. This means being prepared.
• Quoting President Spencer W. Kimball, ". . . spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant. . . . In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures--each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity--these too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps."
• My testimony, based upon 59 years of family life, is that my Ruth's participation in Relief Society has brought enriched spirituality and harmony to our home. This divinely inspired organization has not only blessed her life but also the lives of each of our family members. Involvement in Relief Society can help you replenish the oil in your lamps. It can provide for you much of the stability and stamina you will need as you weather the storms of life and journey through mortality.

(President Faust's last statement is the ideal that I'd love to see return to the Relief Society organization. We've lost much of the education and service that used to be the standard for improving women's lives and serving in the world.)

Come to Zion!

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the October 2002 conference.

This talk resonated with me because I'm striving to use my time more wisely, and I long for the day of Zion.

Bishop Keith B. McMullin, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric spoke of a "challenge that seems universal: having enough time to do everything that needs doing." He said, "The challenge is daunting because time is fixed; man can neither lengthen out the day nor extend the year."

I remember a mother of a large family saying that when she gets to be a god and creates a world, she's going to organize it with eight days in a week. On the night of the seventh day all children under the age of 18 go to sleep and sleep through the eighth day so that parents can get things done and have some time to themselves. She said this to me before I was a parent so I didn't understand her longing. After I became one I totally understood! Alas, we can't do that here and have to manage our time wisely.

Bishop McMullin said, "As the world grapples with more efficient ways of managing time, it lures us into more and more earthly pursuits. But life is not a struggle with time--it is a struggle between good and evil. . . . Use the gospel plan to set proper priorities."

I feel a bit distraught when I hear sisters in Relief Society talk about not having enough time to minister or study the gospel or hold a calling or attend functions, then hear the same women talk of the latest TV show, or shopping, or pursuing more in their career. Sounds judgmental, but I wonder if their priorities are mixed up. We each get the same twenty-four hours in a day, how we chose to use those hours reveals what we value most.

Bishop McMullin said, "The establishment of Zion should be the aim of every member of this Church. It can be safely said: As we seek with all our hearts to bring forth and establish Zion, the vexations of too little time will disappear." He went on to say, "Zion is established and flourishes because of the God-inspired lives and labors of its citizens. Zion comes not as a gift but because virtuous covenant people are drawn together and build it. President Spencer W. Kimball observed, 'As we sing together, "Come to Zion," we mean . . . come to the ward, the branch, the mission, the stake, and give assistance to build up Zion."'

I liked what Elder Gong said in the most recent conference, "For some time I have felt that, in many places in the Church, a few more ward activities, of course planned and implemented with gospel purpose, could knit us together with even greater belonging and unity." That sounds like Zion building to me.

Bishop McMullin spoke of four doctrinal principles that help us build Zion: love, work, self-reliance, and consecration. "These principles . . . are God given. Those who embrace them and govern themselves accordingly become pure in heart. Righteous unity is the hallmark of their society. Their peace and harmony become an ensign to the nations. . . . The kingdom of God is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and will become Zion in all her beauty." 

I try to do my part as best I can. I believe Zion will come about as we minister to and encourage each other in living our covenants more fully. No one can achieve Zion alone, it is a group effort. And I believe that it will grow organically rather than by assignment.

A Woman of Faith

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the October 2002 conference.

An old song suggests, "What the world needs now, is love, sweet love, . . ." and while that is always true, I want to suggest that what the world needs right now is virtuous, faithful women of God.

Sister Margaret D. Nadauld, Young Women General President (just released), said, "A Latter-day Saint woman who follows Christ's example in her daily living begins to fulfill the plan of our Heavenly Father for her. By so doing she can be a powerful influence for the good in today's world and meet the challenges of mortality. . . . She is a woman of faith who trusts God and is confident and fearless."

Our world could be so much better if the influencers on social media were women of God, full of faith in Him, confident of her identities as a daughter of God, a mother in Zion, and a light to the world.

In Relief Society this past Sunday we discussed Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk on becoming One in Christ. The doctrine in the talk is unity, becoming Zion, etc.  He said, "Unity does not require sameness, but it does require harmony." We sometimes forget (at least I do) that we don't have to chose the same path through life to be united. Each faithful woman adds to the whole. God has directed us individually to fulfill His purposes and plans. As we faithfully trust Him we will be led in the right direction and guided to our desired destination.

Sister Nadauld's description of a confident woman makes me want to be and do better. 

A woman of faith is confident because she understands the divine plan of our Heavenly Father and her role to bless lives. She is confident that any sacrifice she makes is worth something in an eternal sense. She knows about sacrifice from knowing of the life of the Savior. She knows that her sacrifice may be small by comparison, but she knows that Heavenly Father understands and values what she does to strengthen her home and her family and the world in which she lives. Her confidence grows because she is virtuous and lovely and gracious, which is even better than beautiful.

 

I never felt it was a sacrifice to give up a job to stay home with our first baby, and stay there to have four more. It was what I had wanted my whole life. Other women feel differently, but I think, and hope, that all women want to be good wives and mothers, as well as a good influence in the greater world outside our homes. 

A woman of faith is fearless. She fears no evil, for God is with her. There is no ambiguity, no uncertain trump in her life. She can live a principled life because she studies the doctrine and teachings of a perfect teacher, the Master. She is a noble example to all who know her. She is less than perfect, of course, not because she doesn't have perfect principles or the perfect example in Christ, but because she is human. She stays away from the evil influence and the unclean thing, and if it encroaches on her territory, she is a lioness protecting her cubs. . . . She has a certain style of her own that is attractive and joyful and bright and good. Our little girls and our young women can safely trust in her example.

I appreciate that she says, "She has a certain style of her own . . . ". Many years ago I did a topical study in the scriptures of everything about clothing and modesty. It was an interesting study and I learned a great deal about how the Lord feels about what we wear and how we present ourselves to the world. In the Doctrine and Covenants He says, ". . . let all thy garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of thine own hands; And let all things be done in cleanliness before me." (D&C 42:40-41) I looked up the word "plain" and found that it didn't necessarily mean unadorned, but could mean clear, evident, obvious. So I understood the verse to mean 'let it be obvious by your dress that you are a follower of Jesus, and when the fashions of the world are not appropriate for a woman of covenant, make your own! Be clean from the stain of worldly vulgarity and immodesty.' I think that's what Sister Nadauld was talking about when she said, "She has a certain style of her own".

A woman of faith loves the Lord. She wants Him to know it by the life she lives, by the words she speaks, by the service she renders to His children, by her every action. She knows that He loves her even though she is imperfect and still trying to be better. She knows that when she does her very best, that it is enough, as President Hinckley has told us.

We have to figuratively gird up our loins and fresh courage take as we continue to face the challenges of being women (and men) of faith living in a disintegrating world of evil. We can do it! Together as women of faith.