Temple Day

"Temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service. ... Why are so many willing to give so much in order to receive the blessings of the temple? Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure. They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort."

~ Thomas S. Monson (April 2011)

A Short One

We attended sacrament meeting with my Uncle and his family. After the blessing of the sacrament, Hurricane announced in his outside voice, "That was a short one" in reference to the prayer. We smiled to ourselves that he was paying close attention. He later fell asleep.

What strikes me is that the sacrament helps me remember the covenants that I made at my baptism to always remember Jesus Christ. Even though the prayers are short, they help me to keep myself close to God and the promise given that he will forgive me as I repent and continue to keep the commandments during the week. I hope you felt God's love today in your church service to be better for the coming week.

Mother Education

How does one become a mother? I do not mean physically being a mother more so using the word mother as a verb. Phrases like "being a mother bear" communicates to protect or "kissing the hurt away" as a way to nurture. Mothering is more than just giving birth or taking a child into one's care. Mothering is teaching, tending, caring, protecting, and many other act verbs. Often love is used as an action verb. I venture to say that mothering is the most active of all verbs because "motherly teaching takes time—lots of time. It cannot be done effectively part-time. It must be done all the time in order to save and exalt your children. This is your divine calling" (Benson, E. T., To the Mothers in Zion, Feb 1987).

Knowing how to be a mother is not always common knowledge. A woman spoke in our sacrament meeting about how she learned to be a mother. She said she petitioned God in prayer, listened to the Holy Spirit, and watched how other mothers mothered. She learned from the women around her and asked questions to God and others. I am learning how to be a mother and to have "perfect" children. I feel that I fail often especially when my sons pray at night and in the morning that Mama won't be angry. (I'm working on it by the way.)

Recently a resource was provided to assist mothers in their quest to be better called Mother Education. They are lessons that were taught to Relief Society sisters in the 1990s over the course of 4 years. I have enjoyed what I have started to learn to be a better Mama. I hope you will join me in learning how to mother better with your own children, nieces or nephews, or children around you. I'd love to hear of your success!

Princes and Kings

My Grandpa had a favorite poem. He asked that we learn the poem. Over the past few weeks we have every morning at breakfast recited it.

Underfoot needed to share a talk in Junior Primary. He decided to use the poem as part of his talk. We drew and colored pictures for R. L. Sharpe's poem, "A Bag of Tools."

Isn't it strange that Princes and Kings,

And clowns that caper in sawdust rings,

And common people like you and me,

Are builders for eternity?

 Each is given a bag of tools

A shapeless mass, a book of rules

And each must make, ere his life is flown -

A stumbling block or a Stepping Stone.

 (End of Poem - Rest of Talk)

I know that Jesus will help me to build Stepping Stones.

One of the Stepping Stones is to be baptized.

When I turn 8 years old, I will choose to be baptized.

Remembering: Thompson Submachine Gun

My Grandpa served in the Navy during WWII. He went with his sons and a few of his grandsons to see the ship he served on from age 18-20. The picture below is him as a Grandpa and one as a sailor. The hair color is the same.

For his viewing, either my Dad or Brother made arrangements for the same gun to be next to the picture displayed of him. As different people would come through they were asked to heft and hold the gun. The gun weights around 10 pounds without a full clip.The truck is a Diamond T 1950 model 222 (link gives history on this actual truck for the restoration). The brakes were the last thing to be done. It is a beautiful truck.

I don't get in many pictures with my Sweetheart. When we take pictures we want to make a memory. :)

Someone said to me that you expect your Grandparents to die. I didn't. I still will have moments that I think I should call my Grandma for this recipe or to talk to my other Grandma who listened to me with complete love and kindness. I am thankful for the resurrection and the power that it gives me. I believe that I will be with my family again and continue to enjoy the same association that I had with them during mortal life.

I have been looking forward to Easter this year. I hope I can teach it well and to learn the lessons that I need to in the coming Easter season of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for all our families.

Simple and Sweet

"We realize that the purpose of our life on earth is to grow, develop, and be strengthened through our own experiences. How do we do this? The scriptures give us an answer in one simple phrase: we “wait upon the Lord.” Tests and trials are given to all of us. These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, that no matter how difficult our circumstances, “all these things shall [be for our] experience, and … [our] good.” ~ Robert D. Hales, October 2011

We have been learning about our purpose and what we can do. My boys have expressed it through paint and picture word reminders.

Be A Builder

Moving away from home was an exciting adventure. First to college. Then on a mission. And finally with my Sweetheart. Home in my heart will always be Idaho. I know that I have a family now, and our home is where we are living. Yet in my heart, Idaho is my promised land. I love how well I know the land where I came from. I love the people there. I love my growing up and the many, many memories it evokes.

Many prophets talked about how the children of Israel would one day be carried off as slaves because of their disobedience. Yet they were promised they would return to build the walls of their promised land in Jerusalem. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and started the work. The people in the land weren't too keen on him doing this work, and tried to trick him to leave his work. He answered them saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" (source) 

If the children of Israel were to return to Jerusalem before the birth of Christ, how do we prepare for the Second Coming of Christ? He is promised to return. The signs prophesied of Christ's coming surround us. Russell M. Nelson says:

Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution.”¹ That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.

How you deal with life’s trials is part of the development of your faith. Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth. The Lord has reminded you, your children, and your grandchildren that you are lawful heirs, that you have been reserved in heaven for your specific time and place to be born, to grow and become His standard bearers and covenant people. As you walk in the Lord’s path of righteousness, you will be blessed to continue in His goodness and be a light and a savior unto His people.²

(source)

(source)

 We can be builders and like Nehemiah not be tricked by what will come. We each have worth in the sight of our Savior and must follow his commandments. I am learning to hope for a home with God and have that be where my heart is at all times.

Just Stand

Have you ever felt betrayed or forgotten or hated? Have you ever had to stand up for something with your personal image on the line?

In the Old Testament, many heroes stand for events such as these. Usually they were not in the land of their inheritance. Esther did. Daniel did. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego did. Each was faced with a death sentence for what they stood. 

Consider that for just a moment. Are there things we face death for? People? Morals? I have not been threatened with physical death. I have though felt some of the sting of spiritual death. In my heart, I recognize the times I didn't want to stand up because I didn't want to look foolish. Those events are very clear in my memory. That is embarrassing to admit. I knew the truth and feared what others would say.

How can this great change occur? Howard W. Hunter gives encouragement saying,

A successful life, the good life, the righteous Christian life requires something more thaan a contribution, though every contribution is valuable. Ultimately it requires commitment—whole souled, deeply held, eternally cherished commitment to the principles we know to be true in the commandments God has given. We need such loyalty to the Church, but that must immediately be interpreted as a loyalty in our personal habits and behavior, integrity in the wider community and marketplace, and—for the future’s sake—devotion and character in our marriages and homes and families.

If we will be true and faithful to our principles, committed to a life of honesty and integrity, then no king or contest or fiery furnace will be able to compromise us. For the success of the kingdom of God on earth, may we stand as witnesses for him “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death.” (Mosiah 18:9.) (source)

Source

 As I ponder where this might begin, I am struck by how my behavior is magnified by my sons. The place to start to stand as a witness in our homes with our families.

Home is strongest and most beautiful in which we find each person sensitive to the feelings of others, striving to serve others, striving to live at home the principles we demonstrate in more public settings. We need to try harder to live the gospel in our family circles. Our homes deserve our most faithful commitments. A child has the right to feel that in his home he is safe, that there he has a place of protection from the dangers and evils of the outside world. Family unity and integrity are necessary to supply this need. A child needs parents who are happy in their relationship to each other, who are working happily toward the fulfillment of ideal family living, who love their children with a sincere and unselfish love, and who are committed to the family’s success. (source)

 With the idea that it starts at home, the parents of Esther, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego must have taught them the law, and at some point they made their decision. As I have participated in our advent this season, I have found areas in where I need to better myself as an individual, spouse, and parent. The hope for this change comes through knowing Jesus Christ better and having faith in the atonement that I can repent and change to truly stand as a witness.

The Atonement during Christmas

To celebrate Easter during Christmas might seem odd. Because of Christmas we have Easter. This post was to go up yesterday, but we spent the day as a family doing odds and ends.

The past few days have been the prophesies of Isaiah. Jesus Christ said, "Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah."

In Isaiah 53, Isaiah gives a complete description of what the crucifixion would be. As we read this, what struck me was "yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him." God the Father knew that Jesus Christ was willing and had covenanted in the counsel in heaven to follow through on "this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Heavenly Father did not take pleasure in the suffering of his son nor does he take pleasure in our suffering. He knew that it needed to happen for our happiness.

Our happiness is improve when we following the teachings of Christ such as prayer, service, scripture study, and having a Christian heart. In keeping with Christ's admonition to study Isaiah, Richard G. Scott about the power of scriptures in our lives.

Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. (source)

 I hope each of us can find Christ in our Christmas to ponder the miracle of his birth to bring about the miracle in our live to live with God again.

High on the Mountain Top

One week ago at church, the women had a social gathering. (We call this gathering an additional Relief Society meeting meaning it isn't on Sunday.) The purpose of the meeting is to bring women closer to Christ. The evening had food, conversation, and an opportunity to share a Christ-centered family tradition. Many ideas were shared of giving gifts through service organizations or to a family in need, filling a manager with hay for acts of service, each member of the family unwrapping a picture of Christ as the first present on Christmas morning, and many others.

One of our traditions is the Advent Jesse Tree. Over the past 13 days, I have shared each day of the advent by adding my own thoughts and feelings building up to the birth in Bethlehem through the Old Testament.

As we opened the "gift" today, Underfoot asked if after Christmas the picture could be put into his room for the rest of the year. I think it is sweet because the scripture we read talks about how a little child shall lead them.

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)

Isaiah prophesies of Jesus Christ's Second Coming. He sees that we will have peace on the earth after the coming of Christ. "Isaiah taught that even the animals will live in harmony: wolves, leopards, lions, and bears will no longer hunt lambs, goats, and calves" (source). Isaiah 11 is to encourage and give hope to the followers of Jesus Christ in a world where wickedness will be the same as in the days of Isaiah.

"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people" (Isaiah 11:10). An ensign is a flag, a banner, or a standard that signals to others what the beliefs are of a group of people. My Dad's favorite hymn is High on a Mountain Top. For me, this anthem says that there is a "bigger picture" in God's plan than the pinhole approach sometimes I have. Isaiah shared this vision because he knew that men and women in the winding-up-scenes before the Second Coming would need to remember the Savior's love.

I am reminded each day recently through our advent experience that God does love his children and wants to teach them of His plan so they can return to live with Him. Our day is not isolated to receive the word of the Lord. He has given it to His children throughout all time - Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses, Ruth Esther, and many more.

On Target

We are really big into weapons around here. (We have two boys that are all boy.) When a weapon is taken away, Hurricane will use his finger to shoot anyone. He will shoot at Underfoot until Underfoot says to stop it. This morning they opened up the greatest weapon - a sling.
Daddy told the story of David and Goliath. He talked about David being obedient to Heavenly Father and not being afraid of the Philistine army. It was tradition in the days of David for the two armies to get together and pick two guys - one for each team to fight it out. Whoever won the fight won the battle. Goliath was HUGE. David was a teenager.

Source

Taunting was very common. When David shows up on the field, Goliath says, "Am I a dog?" Goliath was insulted that a little boy was coming before him, but no one else would fight.

David responds by saying:
The battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.

For the advent I made this ornament, and Underfoot was super excited because he thought I was going to make a full size one for him to use. When thinking about the battle, I consider that the battle for my sons may not be to face a flesh and blood Goliath but a battle to stand for truth and to be obedient to ALL the commandments of Heavenly Father.

Russell M Nelson said:

You faithful Saints do not have to fight life’s battles alone. Think of that! The Lord declared, “I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”¹⁷ Later came this promise to His faithful people: “I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children’s children’s, … to the third and fourth generation.”¹⁸

Our beloved President Thomas S. Monson has given us his prophetic witness. He said: “I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments.”

President Monson continued: “My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”¹⁹  (Source)

Our weapons may be our testimony  in the Savior, Jesus Christ, of his birth, life, teachings, death and resurrection. I hope to keep my own testimony bright.

Pure Religion

Last Christmas we learned about the Advent Jesse Tree. The family that invited us to participate explained to me one of their Christmas family traditions. When their daughter and son were young, they would receive a lot of presents from family for Christmas. The parents wanted their children to have a more giving heart and decided that they would make Christmas special for someone else. Their inspiration was from James 1:24

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The parents with their children put together a plan. They decided they would pray through out the year for the inspiration to know of a widow who would need to feel the love of Christ at Christmastime. Usually this would be the first Christmas without their spouse. Once a widow was identified they would learn who she was and would prepare gifts with her and her children in mind.

Source

 The giving vehicle was the 12 days of Christmas. They called it their 12 Days Ministry. Instead of giving one item and building to 12 gifts, they would give specific items they knew the family would love. They would leave a note like a ransom letter out of magazine letters so the family could never identify them. They giggle as they would tell of their night time marauding and daring dashes to safety from being discovered.

Another widow sought for aid after the death of her husband. Elimelech and Naomi had two sons and decided to move to Moab because of the famine in Bethlehem. Both sons married women in the country they were living. At the death of Elimelech and his sons, Naomi decided to return to the land of her heritage. Orpah decided stay in the land, and Ruth said, "for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."

Ruth followed Naomi. Ruth supported them by gathering the left over grain in the fields. Boaz saw this and asked the gathers to leave enough to support Naomi and Ruth.

Day 9 of Advent

Naomi knew the custom of her people was that the widows would be taken care of by family members. Naomi instructed Ruth on the custom and how to have Boaz claim her as a wife. Boaz being honorable did  marry her. They were promised that through them the Savior would be born.

Source

Boaz took care of the widows in his care. He followed the example that the Savior would teach about caring for the lonely and poor in spirit.

Last Christmas the above mentioned family were directed to a widower. He in turn would write each evening about the gifts he received, but more importantly he wrote about the change he felt come over him to feel the joy of the Christmas season as he had his first Christmas without his wife. He felt the heavens were opened to him, and he was blessed.

At first he wrote, he was curious to know who his "angels" were. But as time continued, he respected their wish to remain anonymous. Each night before picking up the gift, he would offer a prayer to heaven for them. On the 12th night, he shared his manuscript with his "angels." They don't know how the 12th night turned out. This was the first detailed written response they have had. I shared this post with the family, and they responded by saying,

Since we started the 12 Days ministry, we actually haven't exchanged gifts with anyone (friends or family so the journal we received from him was on only gift but undoubtedly the best gift we've ever received from when we used to exchange Christmas gifts. I would venture to say it was the best gift any of us has ever received, regardless of the gift-giving occasion.

As this family shared this story with me, I felt the love of the Savior and his mission is being carried out by his faithful followers on this earth.

How do you plan to share the love of  Christ this season with someone?

Too Hard to Try

Have you ever been paralyzed because of fear of failure so you don't even try? Now consider for a moment an event or task that you knew would be hard, and you accomplished it. For me, I can think of many things that I am fearful in even starting because I'm not sure of the outcome like teaching my child to read. It seems overwhelming and instead of having patience that he is learning I get frustrated with my inability to teach him. I will purposely put up obstacles so I don't have to do it.

Instead of getting on my knees and asking heaven for help, I act like the children of Israel in the desert. Twelve spies were sent by Moses to look at the land of Canaan. They came back with a glowing report that the land "floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it." The fruit was of grapes that had to be carried by two men, figs, and pomegranates (Genesis 13:23). The land was ideal. Yet 10 of the 12 spies said, "We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we" (source). Caleb and Joshua (the other 2 spies) were ready to go and claim the land. The people voted in favor of fear and were left to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

Source

40 YEARS! What blessings am I delaying because of my fear? Why do I not trust in the Lord to make the pathway bright so he will help me on this journey? Joshua eventually said, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Joshua was to lead a new generation into Canaan. Only a few who left Egypt came into the promised land.

Day 9 Advent

Caleb came into the land also. He was to defeat the Anakims, the giants. He showed his faith by saying, "Give me this mountain." He said to Joshua, "as yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me [at least in the spirit of the gospel and its call and needs]: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, … both to go out, and to come in” (Josh. 14:7–8, 10–11).

Spencer W. Kimball compared our journey now to Caleb's journey,

This is my feeling for the work at this moment. There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, “Give me this mountain,” give me these challenges.

Humbly, I give this pledge to the Lord and to you, my beloved brothers and sisters, fellow workers in this sacred cause of Christ: I will go forward, with faith in the God of Israel, knowing that he will guide and direct us, and lead us, finally, to the accomplishment of his purposes and to our promised land and our promised blessings.

“And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). (Source)

With the examples of the past, I can teach my son to read. I can conquer my giants. My friend, Suzette, says often, "I can do hard things."

Source

What blessings do you want but fear to ask for because of the figurative or literal giants in your way?

Any Dream Will Do

We did something fun and watched "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." My boys sat there watching instead of eating their lunch. They listened to the music and watched the colors.

The show is a lot of fun with the musical genres presented. Joseph's dreams sent him on an adventure of a lifetime. He went and did things that only a few can dream about doing.

Day 7 of Advent

 The best part of Joseph is he kept his base of knowing who he was and knowing that there was a plan for him. He kept himself chaste and ended up in jail. He always did his best and was trusted in Potiphar's home, the prison, and eventually by Pharaoh. (Genesis 37; 39-46)

As I look as Joseph, he was prepared to be the "dreamer" to save his family from eventual famine. In my own life, I wonder what God is preparing me to do to save us from "famine" in my daily activities. I have not been hated by my family, sold as a slave, gone to jail, or met and organized a mass national effort. I do have the choice to teach my children will say "we do not doubt our mother knew" God's plan for our family and that regardless of what happens God will guide us.

How do you see God's plan in your daily journey?

A Pure Heart

My cousin, Benjamin, is a dear. He and I have had discussions about his hopes and dreams. He didn't talk much about his hurts.

Benjamin being reverent as a 2 year old.

 When Benjamin was born, he was born with truncus arteriousus. His family gave him a name and blessing the very same day as his birth before his first operation. When I was around Benjamin, he was happy to just be who he was. He had his feet planted solid - like a firm foundation. He knew who to look to for his inspiration.

Benjamin was a believer in doing the right things. He believed in making covenants with God like it says in Psalms 24:

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob.

 Jacob's ladder is referred in this psalm. Jacob had a dream on his way to find his Uncle Laban and to marry Leah and Rachel. Jacob dreamed that he sees a ladder that extends from Earth to God. On the ladder he sees ministering angels that teach the way to return to Heavenly Father (Genesis 28:10-22.) Jacob is given a vision on what he must do to return to heaven by making sacred covenants with him of baptism, confirmation, and temple covenants. After making the covenants like Job, he must "endure" to be happy.

Jacob is so affected by his vision that he names the place Bethel which is a holy place. Our home and temples can be similar in their holiness when we seek to be obedient to God.

Jacob is also promised that Jesus Christ will be born through his family in his dream. What a promise to know of the coming of the Savior and to believe that his redeeming power will happen as if it has already happened!

Benjamin, Boo (nephew), Button (niece)

Benjamin's goal was to return to the Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for his example to want to return to his Heavenly Father and how well he endured. Benjamin's physical heart in this life failed him, but his pure heart helped him continue on his mission to teach the plan of salvation. 

A Test of a Lifetime

Last night late my parents called to share some tragic news and to provide me with some encouragement in our family goals. I learned that a friend's son had been struggling with headaches for the past week or so and had sought medical help. Yesterday he had a severe headache and decided to stay home from church while his expecting wife and 3 children went. When they returned home, he was in a coma. He was pronounced brain-dead last night, and today a medical team will give life to others with the donation of his organs. My heart mourns for this sudden, tragic loss of a father, husband, brother, and son.

Now if this were the only event that my friend's family had experienced it would be tragic. Yet over the past year, a Grandmother has passed away, a newborn child has passed away, and a horrific car accident took place that broke bones but didn't take any life. Our family friend has suffered. They seek the balm of Gilead to heal and repair their hearts and wounds.

Day 5 of our Advent

Abraham passed tests throughout his lifetime. He was to be sacrificed by his father. His wife was sought by the Egyptian court. Sarai and he ached because of infertility. He lived in Canaan, a desert that was not very desirable. Abraham and Sarah's miracle son was asked to be a sacrifice. Abraham's difficulties are written (Abraham 1:7-12; Genesis 20:1-12; Genesis 15; Genesis 17:4-8; Genesis 22:2.)

Source

A miracle occurs in each of his trials because of his faith in Jesus Christ. He is saved from death. His wife is protected. They have a son. The desert produced for him and made him a wealthy man. A ram is found in the bush for the sacrifice. God talks to Abraham and teaches him that Abraham's willingness to sacrifice is similar to the God's real sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Source

Abraham showed his faith in God's plan by acting. He struggled, cried, and went forward to be obedient. Our family friend has faith in Jesus Christ also and hopefully through their trials they will cling to the promises God gives that all will be made well in the end. Through Abraham's and our friend's struggles, they know that they can trust in Jesus Christ. Barbara Thompson said:

Our testimonies fortify us and strengthen us as we face challenges in our daily lives. Some people struggle with difficult health problems; some experience financial problems; others have challenges in their marriage or with their children; some suffer from loneliness or unfulfilled hopes and dreams. It is our testimony, combined with our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and our knowledge of the plan of salvation, which helps to get us through these times of trial and hardship. Source

 I hope that each of us will take strength from Abraham and Isaac's example and go forward with faith.

As Many As the Sands of the Sea...

We all make promises. We know that God makes promises called covenants. The covenants God makes are two way. He promises a portion if we do our part. God's promise to Abram was that God "will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2).

Russell M. Nelson spoke about Abraham talking specifically about the covenants made. 

The covenant God made with Abraham¹³ and later reaffirmed with Isaac¹⁴ and Jacob¹⁵ is of transcendent significance. It contained several promises, including:

• Jesus the Christ would be born through Abraham’s lineage.
  
• Abraham’s posterity would be numerous, entitled to an eternal increase, and also entitled to bear the priesthood.
  
• Abraham would become a father of many nations.
  
• Certain lands would be inherited by his posterity.
  
• All nations of the earth would be blessed by his seed.¹⁶
  
• And that covenant would be everlasting—even through “a thousand generations.”¹⁷
   
  
  

Abraham's children have blessed the nations of the world, and God has kept his promise.

Rain, Rain Go Away....

We have had rain the last 3 days. In Arizona we get most of our rain during the monsoon season. (Our average is less than 12 inches of rainfall a year. When we lived in Pennsylvania we got just under 40 inches a year.) It has turned "cold" here (50 degrees), and we have bundled up. I know that is nothing to complain about when it is mid-30s other places.

My Gamma Rae LOVED to talk about the weather. She also loved talking about being obedient to prophets. So in honor of the rain and my Gamma Rae, we opened our advent ornament about Noah.

The rain just drips off the roof in sheets.

Noah did his best to teach the people to follow Jesus Christ, but God commanded Noah to build an ark. And Noah was obedient. The people thought evil and acted upon their evil thoughts by being violent or carnal. With the ark finished and loaded with all its animals, no rain fell for seven days. Then the heavens opened and dumped for 40 days. Then it took about 11 months for the water to go down.

God promised that he would never flood the earth again. He gave us a symbol of the rainbow. All things testify there is a God (Alma 30:44). The rainbow is a specific covenant made by God to us his children that the earth will never be flooded again.

Amos teaches that God reveals his plan to His prophets. Noah was a prophet and tried to teach the people. The people did not choose to listen and got drowned. We believe that we have a prophet who speaks today to warn us as Noah did. Thomas S. Monson recently spoke about Standing in Holy Places. He reviews the Ten Commandments and how we can be strong.

We are happy to know that God loves his children to give us prophets to lead and guide us as he has for his other children in different ages.

Straight and Narrow

Sweetheart and I had a discussion last night about being willing to sacrifice and to follow the plan that God has set for us. We talked about how sometimes the unknown will cause us to shrink from asking for God's will. It reminds me of a scriptures that says, "the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them." The he is Jesus Christ.

An example in the Bible of such a man that was willing to seek, sacrifice, and follow God's will was Josiah.

Josiah is an more unknown man in the Bible (2 Kings 22-23). His story shows his conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He showed how leadership can change a nation. He made great sacrifice to have his people AND the Northern Kingdom to return to God.

Here is a video that explains the story of Josiah. Josiah's father was an idol worshiper and participated in human sacrifice. The beginning of the video show a representation of this. This is a warning so that you will not be shocked.

Joseph B Wirthlin talked about staying on the straight and narrow.

 King Josiah was a king of Judah who reigned in righteousness. When he was only eight years old, he succeeded his father as king. Scripture tells us that although he was just a boy, Josiah “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, … and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.” (2 Kgs. 22:2.)

The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, “For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.” (D&C 3:2.)

Even though these teachings of the Savior are plain and direct, we are still at risk of getting sidetracked. Some people choose to follow the teachings of the Lord and of his living prophet only when convenient, but reject them when sacrifice or deeper commitment is required. Some fail to follow only because his divine teachings do not agree with their own preconceived notions. (Source)

 In the end of our conversation last night, Sweetheart said to me, "If you don't ask, how can you change. We already know it will be hard, but the reward is so worth it. We've been promised." The promise is when covenants are made with God the Father and Jesus Christ "then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life....unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive." And for me in parenting, this promise is to have the peace of mind of knowing that I am doing my best. Taking the first step and asking always the hardest. And last night I took the first step.

A Meme

Diapers and Divinity is hosting a post General Conference Meme.

General Conference Highlights, October 2011

1.  Who were your three favorite speakers?
  I loved Elder Richard G. Scott's about the scriptures, Barbara Thompson about personal revelation, and Elder Neil L. Anderson about family.

2.  Which talk spoke to you the most?
I really like Ian Arden about time management. I listened to priesthood meeting on Monday. I was direct and amazing!

3.  What was your favorite Hymn and why did it move you?
 I loved "I Am A Child of God" because both my boys perked up and sang. I always love a Primary choir.

4.  Which speaker was the best dressed?  (Come on, we can have a little fun.)
President Uchtdorf has stylish ties.

5.  Were there any topics that you felt like were repeated often?  Any conference “themes”?
For our family, we found a lot was spoken about prayers, scriptures especially the Book of Mormon, listening to the Holy Ghost and following his promptings, service, and that we are engaged in a war with Satan (that the battle field is not as distance as we would like to hope and believe.)

6.  Share a few of your favorite quotes from any of the talks (paraphrasing is fine).
A memorized scripture will be a friend. - Richard G. Scott
Fathers who protect virtue are heroes. - Elaine S. Dalton
Look up to cheer up! - Carl Cook
Wait upon the Lord. - Robert D. Hales
There is no fear in love. - L. Tom Perry

7.  Name something(s) that made you smile or laugh during conference.
My sons listening so hard that they could get a treat for our "designated" talk words. The words changed every talk. They did really well and started to listen for extra words.

8.  Was there any evidence that your children paid attention?
Yes. They loved to see President Monson. Hurricane would say President Monson is my favorite over and over.

9.  What doctrine did you learn as you listened to the choir(s) sing?
Endure. Endure. Endure. You can endure knowing you are a child of God.

10.  Did the music enhance your General Conference experience? How?
Yes. Music is powerful, and it gives the body something to do to recharge fore the 2nd hour of the session.

11.  What are some of your post-conference goals?
Better time management. Listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I want our home to happy. Very happy so we will do prayer, scriptures, and fight the good fight.