Eternally Encircled in His Love

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Relief Society session of the October 2006 conference.

When I was about nine or ten I went in to my parent's bedroom to say goodnight to them. I hugged my mother and said goodnight then walked around the bed to my father. Before I could lean toward him to give him a hug he said, "I don't want a hug from a naughty girl like you." I was so taken aback that I couldn't say anything and simply left the room with an aching heart and a vow to never give him a hug ever again. And I didn't, until I was about eighteen. I don't remember what I did to be called naughty, it was probably teasing my younger brother or something similar. My father was a good man, committed to the Gospel, but he had a hard time giving grace, being merciful and would withhold his love if he felt I wasn't worthy. That affected my life for a very long time.

Sister Bonnie D. Parkin, (who hugged me the first and only time she ever met me!) said, "Feeling His love encourages us to press forward, reassures us that we are His, and confirms to us that He cherishes us even when we stumble and experience temporary setbacks."

At a time when my marriage was on the rocks and I was struggling to meet the demands of five young children I went into my closet, knelt down and poured out my heart to God. I said I just want to feel loved. Immediately I felt the warmth and strength of His love enveloping me from head to toe. It was a sacred, phenomenal moment. 

". . . women need to feel the Lord's love in their lives daily." After my experience feeling my Heavenly Father's love once I could recall that feeling whenever I needed a renewal and reassurance. He is the only one who has never let me down, left me disappointed, or caused me pain.

"Our Heavenly Father loved us before we came to this earth. I know that He loves us, sisters, as does His Son, Jesus Christ. That love will never change--it is constant. You can rely on it. We can trust it."

The most important thing I've learned is that I don't have to be perfect to be worthy of His love. He wants me to keep improving and progressing, but He loves me every step and misstep of the way.

"We must acknowledge that perfection is a process. This is a gospel of eternal progress, and we must remember to appreciate the journey. Eternal means 'without beginning or end,' so the encircling of His love is there for us every day."

In August I had another good experience feeling my Father's love, in my journal I recorded, "Last night I paused in my prayer to listen and cry. I think the Spirit said to me, 'Give yourself grace, you've had a hard life. Don't give up now.' That felt so merciful to me."

"Do you feel the Lord's love in your life? How I feel His love may be different from how you experience it. The key is to come to understand how you feel that love. And once you've felt it, be willing to share it."

The more I study the scriptures and General Conference talks the more I feel loved. The more I notice nature around me such as the colors, sounds, smells, etc. the more I feel loved. The more obedient I am to the commandments the more I feel loved. And the more I serve others and give grace and mercy to others the more I feel loved. But even when I'm feeling disappointed and angry, feeling tired of trying, and rebellious, I STILL feel loved by a perfect, infinitely patient Father who never turns me away, welcoming me with open arms to comfort and encourage. Which in turn increases my love for Him. My goal is to share His love with others so they can feel that too.

Settle This in Your Hearts, There are Prophets in the Land Again!

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the October 2006 conference. 

The talks by Elder Larry W. Gibbons followed by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland dovetailed as if planned.  Elder Gibbons talked about the blessings of having commandments, that they are meant to draw us closer to God.

My fear is that too many of us are not fully committed to living all the commandments. These Saints are not willing to leave the world completely behind. They are holding back.

When teaching our children I would explain that just as we have rules in our family and home to keep you children safe and happy, God has commandments to keep us safe and happy. His rules are not restrictive, any more than my rule to not touch the hot stove is restrictive. You are free to touch, but you are not free from the consequences of doing so. You will be safer and happier if you obey my rules!

The closer we get to the Savior's Second Coming the more clear the choice is between the two warring sides. We are either on the Lord's side or we are choosing (or defaulting to) Satan's side.

We cannot keep one foot in the Church and one foot in the world. One reason is the world and the Church are rapidly diverging. We will lose our balance. . . . How do we lose our savor? One way is when we stop being different from the world. Many in the Church are drifting in the direction of the world and looking and becoming more and more like the world. We must stop drifting.

I think about that as I try to navigate the current culture. I want to look and act and be seen as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I don't want to look, sound or act like the world. But we don't have a distinctive dress like the Amish or Mennonites do. (Although there are times when I'd like to have a simplified wardrobe and not have to make so many choices!) I do chose to be modest, in the old-fashioned sense of being covered up and not trendy. When I was in a homeschooling group years ago we joked about being "Denimites" because we all wore denim skirts or jumpers. 

I like what Elder Gibbons says, "There are precious blessings that come only from the complete yielding of one's heart to God." Perhaps one of those blessings is that we will receive inspiration about, and confirmation of, questions we have, such as what we should wear, and any other choices we face.

Then Elder Gibbons finishes with the admonition, "Brothers and sisters, stay on the straight and narrow path. No, stay in the middle of the straight and narrow path. Don't drift; don't wander; don't dabble; be careful." Wise counsel for our day.

Elder Holland was the next speaker and he said, "It is no trivial matter for this Church to declare to the world prophecy, seership, and revelation, but we do declare it."

In today's culture where youth is worshipped and the aged are largely disregarded, Elder Holland's testimony about the leadership of the Church is thrilling:

. . . I say with all the fervor of my soul that never in my personal or professional life have I ever associated with any group who are so in touch, who know so profoundly the issues facing us, who look so deeply into the old, stay so open to the new, and weigh so carefully, thoughtfully, and prayerfully everything in between. I testify that the grasp this body of men and women have of moral and societal issues exceeds that of any think tank or brain trust of comparable endeavor of which I know anywhere on the earth.

Wow!! What a declaration. And what a blessing to have, and know that we have, prophets, seers, and revelators among us to lead and guide us on the covenant path of discipleship. I'm eager for the upcoming General Conference!

Applicable to Relief Society

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the October 2006 conference.

Rozy at Blue Mounds State Park - Prairie Flowers

Many of the principles taught by Elder Henry B. Eyring seemed to me to be equally applicable to the Relief Society.

. . . the strength of a quorum comes in large measure from how completely its members are united in righteousness. . . . [quoting Alma in the book of Mosiah] having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

The Relief Society was initially founded to give service to those working on building the temple. The Prophet Joseph Smith gave the sisters further direction to lead others to the Savior. Serving together, sharing resources and skills, enabled the sisters to serve both more effectively and more widely.

The quorum is a service unit, and the members learn in their service. A quorum can give greater service than the members could give alone. And that power is multiplied by more than their numbers. Every quorum has a leader with authority and responsibility to direct priesthood service. 

 

If you've ever been in a ward where there are cliques and partiality between members you might know the feelings of loneliness and exclusion, which should never exist in the Lord's church.

One of the hallmarks of a strong quorum is the feeling of fellowship among its members. They care for each other. They help each other. . . . so that they will lift and encourage each other to serve in righteousness with the Master in His work to offer eternal life to Heavenly Father's children.

As I listened to this talk I felt so strongly that these principles and instructions could apply equally to the Relief Society. I wondered what action I could take since I'm not in the Relief Society presidency, or any other RS calling. I have no authority, responsibility or influence over what happens in Relief Society. So I decided that all I can do is work within my small sphere of influence among the sisters I'm assigned to minister to. 

. . . He has promised us that with His help good quorums can become great quorums. He wants that for us. And I know that He needs stronger quorums to bless the children of our Heavenly Father, according to the covenants. I have faith that He will.

What a wonderful promise! 

Sunday Will Come

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the October 2006 conference.

The thing that gave me the most comfort when our son took his own life and was gone, was my belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the promise of the resurrection. I do not know how others get through life without it.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said, "The Resurrection is at the core of our beliefs as Christians. Without it our faith is meaningless."

Not only our faith, but our very lives. What meaning is there in life if this is all there is? There would be no rhyme or reason for the vicissitudes that afflict us. We would go from struggle to struggle without any hope of relief or recompense. Thankfully, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which includes His resurrection, all things can be made right, and we will see and be with our loved ones again.

". . . when Christ rose from the tomb, He did something no one had ever done. He did something no one else could do. He broke the bonds of death, not only for Himself but for all who have ever lived--the just and the unjust. 

"When Christ rose from the grave, becoming the firstfruits of the Resurrection, He made that gift available to all. And with that sublime ast, He softened the devastating, consuming sorrow that gnaws at the souls of those who have lost precious loved ones."

Amen!

"No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come. . . . The Resurrection transformed the lives of those who witnessed it. Should it not transform ours? . . . Because of the life and eternal sacrifice of the Savior of the world, we will be reunited with those we have cherished."

Elder Wirthlin's testimony is so similar to mine, "I am grateful beyond measure for the sublime true doctrines of the gospel and for the gift of the Holy Ghost, which has whispered comforting and peaceful words . . . From the depths of my sorrow I have rejoiced in the glory of the gospel. I rejoice that the Prophet Joseph Smith was chosen to restore the gospel to the earth in this last dispensation. I rejoice that we have a prophet, . . . , who directs the Lord's Church in our day. . . . That we may know that no matter how dark our Friday, Sunday will come, is my prayer, . . . ." 

The First Generation

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday morning session of the October 2006 conference.

Once when my companion and I invited a person we were teaching to be baptized the person said, "Oh, I can't join the church. I don't have any pioneer ancestors." To which I answered, "I don't either. My Grandpa Hansen joined in 1905 in Norway, and immigrated to Utah the next year. He crossed the plains on the train! And I'm so grateful that he did. Your grandchildren will be grateful to you and honor you for being the first in your family to join the Lord's church, just as I am so thankful for my Grandpa."

Elder Paul B. Pieper spoke of and to those who are the first in their family to join the church. "You add great strength to the Church when you use your testimony, talents, abilities, and energy to build the kingdom in your wards and branches. . . . You are an example to your family of a true disciple of Jesus Christ."

My husband is the first in his family to join the church. He has struggled at times to stay active and faithful. Elder Pieper's advice is helpful, "Do not be discouraged if you make a mistake. Repenting and continuing to press forward are perhaps the most important patterns to develop in the first generation. Be patient and move forward in obedience." That counsel is pertinent to all of us. Further, he says, "Be faithful, serve your fellowman, bless your family, and make proper choices."

The earliest member of the church that I can find in my family tree is a great-great grandmother named Charlotte Haynes who joined the church in 1865 in England. I'm eternally grateful for her, for my great-great grandfather James Campbell who joined in 1875 in Scotland, for great grandma Anne Marie Mathiasen, baptized in 1879 in Denmark, and Grandpa Conrad Hansen baptized 10 February 1905 in the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Norway. They were all the first generations of my ancestors, I am the fifth generation.