I made a fun discovery this morning while I was working on the Ward Bulletin. There is a 24 hour Mormon radio channel that can be heard on the web. It appears to have a wide variety of talks, news, music, and conversation. I have listened to it as I have worked on the computer for about an hour and have really enjoyed it. You can go to the Mormon Channel Home Page or I have added a link to the audio feed in my side bar. Check it out! Another radio/audio feed I like listening to is Soft Sunday Sounds. This station plays religious music with a few conversation segments thrown in. Scroll down to about the middle of the FM 100 page and click the listen link. You might like it too.
Showing posts with label church talks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church talks. Show all posts
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thoughts from Sacrament Meeting
Today we attended sacrament meeting in the Papago ward where the hubby had the opportunity to confirm his great-niece and give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. For some reason as he said to her "receive the Holy Ghost" the words really hit me. What a great blessing I have to be able to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost in my life. I wonder, do I make an effort each day to "receive" him and all the blessings that he can bring to me? Often I take this gift for granted or fail to conduct myself in the way necessary to be influenced by him. I need to make having the spirit with me a priority each day. (I thought it was interesting that one year ago today I was also pondering on the importance of the Holy Ghost).
The talks in the meeting today were on charity. Two of the speakers were young men and it was interesting to hear their thoughts on charity and the individuals in their lives who are charitable. The last talk was about gossip and how charity is the cure for gossip. As members of the church, we are in a battle with Satan. All of the other members of the church (and a lot of other individuals) are fighting on our side in this battle. When we gossip about or bash others we are weakening our own defenses. Her analogy made me think about the concept of "friendly fire". In a war sometimes people are injured or killed by weapons being fired by their own comrades. I have always thought that "friendly fire" was a bad choice of words for this situation. How can something that hurts you ever be considered friendly? I think too many of us today are involved in way too many incidents of "friendly fire". We think it is funny or harmless to make sarcastic or derogatory comments about other people in the name of entertainment. I see this a lot with today's youth, but they are definitely not the only ones who have a problem with this. I like to think that I have a quick wit. Sarcasm is one of my specialties. I like to be funny, but sometimes I find myself aiming my humor gun at people. Something that I have always taught my children not to do as in "You don't point guns at people!". I need to think about what I say, even just to be funny, and who my "friendly fire" might hit and what damage it might cause.
Today I am grateful for
opportunities for my children to give service.
a husband, son, and son-in-law who hold the priesthood and are worthy to participate in priesthood ordinances.
the gift of the Holy Ghost.
dinner as a family (minus one).
One year ago today - Potluck at the Park, An Interesting Source for Inspiration.
The talks in the meeting today were on charity. Two of the speakers were young men and it was interesting to hear their thoughts on charity and the individuals in their lives who are charitable. The last talk was about gossip and how charity is the cure for gossip. As members of the church, we are in a battle with Satan. All of the other members of the church (and a lot of other individuals) are fighting on our side in this battle. When we gossip about or bash others we are weakening our own defenses. Her analogy made me think about the concept of "friendly fire". In a war sometimes people are injured or killed by weapons being fired by their own comrades. I have always thought that "friendly fire" was a bad choice of words for this situation. How can something that hurts you ever be considered friendly? I think too many of us today are involved in way too many incidents of "friendly fire". We think it is funny or harmless to make sarcastic or derogatory comments about other people in the name of entertainment. I see this a lot with today's youth, but they are definitely not the only ones who have a problem with this. I like to think that I have a quick wit. Sarcasm is one of my specialties. I like to be funny, but sometimes I find myself aiming my humor gun at people. Something that I have always taught my children not to do as in "You don't point guns at people!". I need to think about what I say, even just to be funny, and who my "friendly fire" might hit and what damage it might cause.
Today I am grateful for
opportunities for my children to give service.
a husband, son, and son-in-law who hold the priesthood and are worthy to participate in priesthood ordinances.
the gift of the Holy Ghost.
dinner as a family (minus one).
One year ago today - Potluck at the Park, An Interesting Source for Inspiration.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day Eulogy
Whenever I go to a funeral I try to imagine what someone will say about me after I am gone. I sometimes have a hard time believing that any of my kids, or anyone else for that matter, will be able to come up with anything kind to say. A couple of years ago it was proclaimed by one of my children that the musical number at my funeral was going to be "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead". However, today I kind of felt like I was Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn hiding in the balcony of the church and listening to my own eulogy when my oldest son spoke in sacrament meeting. He should probably keep track of this talk. It might come in handy some day. I am including it here for his Grandma's benefit (she likes to hear what her grandkids have to say) but you can read it if you want to.
A mother held her new baby
and very slowly
rocked him back and forth,
back and forth,back and forth.
And while she held him,
she sang: (and yes the son sang)
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Of course, I have been asked to speak about mothers on this special day, but more specifically I was asked to speak about my own mom. This may seem like an easy topic, but I have struggled over what to say for a while. Brother Jones told me when he asked me to speak that this talk should make my mother cry. I immediately started thinking of times that I have not followed my mom's counsel and the tragedies that happened as a result, which often made her cry. Then I realized that I am probably supposed to be making her cry tears of joy. So, I have been trying to figure out what it was that I could say to my mother to portray to her the profound effect she has had on my life. Rudyard Kipling once wrote, “God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers”. I have a firm testimony that this is true. There is nobody on this earth that has influenced my life as much as my mother. I could not ask for a better example. In an article written by Thomas S. Monson, he referenced ten suggestions given to mothers by President Ezra Taft Benson. I would like to analyze these traits and how my mother has accomplished or strives to accomplish each of these things
the first is "Take time to always be at the crossroads in the lives of your children, whether they be six or sixteen." As I think back over the major events in my life, there are always familiar faces in the crowd, including my mothers, but as I think of some of the seemingly more minor events, there is still one face that stands out, that of my mother.
2. "Take time to be a real friend to your children." As hard as it is to believe, there was a time in my life, that I thought my mother's sole purpose in this world was to cause me as much embarrassment as possible, when this happens, especially around friends, you tend to take on a macho attitude of I don’t need you. Even through this phase, my mother never gave up trying to be my friend, trying to find out how she could make my life better. As I have grown older, I have tried harder to reciprocate that friendship, and now I have what I feel is a strong relationship with my mother. Are there still things I don’t want to tell her, sure, there are some things that I don’t want to share. Chalk that one up to human nature. However, I do know that I can tell her anything and she would be there with her unwavering love and support.
3. "Take time to read to your children." Remember what the poet wrote: You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be— I had a mother who read to me. The beginning of my talk came from the first story that I can remember my mother reading to me. My children at work have recently discovered this book, and every time they ask me to read it to them I can still hear my mom’s voice,
“That teenager grew.
He grew and he grew and he grew.
He grew until he was a grown-up man.
He left home and got a house across town.
But sometimes on dark nights
the mother got into her car
and drove across town.
If all the lights in her son's house were out,
she opened his bedroom window,
crawled across the floor,
and looked up over the side of his bed.
If that great big man was really asleep
she picked him up
and rocked him back and forth,
back and forth, back and forth.
And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
4. "Take time to pray with your children."
This is a tricky one mostly because there are times that children feel there are more important things to do than pray, but parents often intervene and help to teach the importance of prayer. My own mother has shown me by example the importance and power of prayer, and it is a tool that I have grown to love. Although we are older, my mother still strives to ensure that our family gathers to pray each day.
5. "Take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening." Make this one of your great family traditions. Now if you asked my mother she may say that this is one of the chinks in her motherly armor. However I would submit that I learned the importance of family home evening somewhere, I feel that it was those nights as a child when we would have a lesson. I remember very vividly some the stories that where shared and the principles that were taught. I remember simply being to spend time with my family, and occasionally use the time to play Don’t Eat Pete. I learned from my mother’s example, why it is important to take time to strengthen the bonds of the family, and as I know contemplate having my own family, I know the importance of Family Home Evening.
6. "Take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible." Growing up, it seems that we always ate dinner as a family, and then slowly but surely people got older, Jessica went off to college, our family dwindled, but we still ate with the remainder of our family. Then Janaya moved out, again our family shrunk but we that were left still ate dinner together. Now it seems that our own lives often take us to separate destinations at mealtime, but occasionally I get the joy of eating dinner with my whole family. A family that though once disintegrating now when all together requires extra space at the table, room for a brother-in-law, a fiancée, and an adopted sister, as well of all those family members that once went there own separate ways.
7. "Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family." I don’t know if any of you have had the opportunity to read scriptures with Jayce when he would rather do something else, but I guarantee you that if my mom feels that it is important enough to read scriptures together even after dealing with that, there must be something to it. I am grateful that my mother would take the time to help her family search the scriptures even with such distractions.
8. "Take time to do things together as a family." I can still remember being dragged across this great state to have day trips with my family. There were times when I loved these trips, and times that I hated them. Looking back now, I see that they were simply a way of strengthening our family. A family that I am constantly grateful for, that has a strong adhesive in large part due to our mother. I can guarantee that nobody else in our family would have ensured that these trips were taken with all the complaining the occasionally accompanied them.
9. "Take time to teach your children." My mom writes a blog, and it is by far one of the better blogs I have an opportunity to read. One day as I was perusing, I noticed an entry that I will now share, it was titled back off. We had a ward talent show tonight and it was fun to get to go and enjoy some time with the other members of the ward. The hubby and I went as a two-some since all of our family members had other plans. I like to see our nursery children in settings other than nursery and see how they respond to me. I sat on the floor of the gym and played ball with one of them, and another one enjoyed sitting on my lap and melting ice cubes in his hands all over the two of us. They make me feel loved and important. It is kind of sad though that the nursery group that moved up to Sunbeams in January don't seem to want to be bothered by me any more. I started talking to one of the little boys and he held up his hand in front of him, in a stop sign, and firmly stated, "I'm in primary now." In other words, "Back Off. I've moved on and I don't need you to hold my hand or wipe my nose or dry my tears or build block towers for me to knock down or take me potty anymore. I am bigger now." It took me back for a moment and then it just made me laugh. For the rest of the night, when I would see him, I'd say "Oh, you're in Primary now." and then the two of us would both giggle about it.Backing Off is something that I have a very difficult time with. Just ask my husband and my kids. It is hard for me to see my own children, as they grow up, raising their hands signifying stop every now and then. So many of their words and actions and gestures seem to say "I'm bigger now and I don't need you". It always takes me back for a moment and their unintentional snubs are harder to laugh off than those of the nursery kids. It is kind of funny when you think about it. This is what we work for all of our children's growing up years. To raise responsible, independent, self-assured children who are capable of taking care of themselves. Who don't need their mommy to hold their hand or wipe there nose... When they are moving forward in this endeavor I should applaud and pat myself on the back not feel sad. And yet, there is something about not being needed that is a little unnerving. I do want my children to grow up. I do want them to be independent and self-assured and responsible. I do want them to have their own lives and their own friends and their own families and their own homes and their own dreams, but every once in a while I want them to remember that they still need me, even if it is only to wipe their tears when someone knocks their tower down or to share their joy when they get it to stand up tall and steady.Message to my children - I love you. I am learning to let go, but sometimes it is hard. Please be patient with me.
This is the comment that I shared after reading this blog, Please remember that all those unintentional snubs are really just pats on the back saying what a great mother you are. It is because of you that we are able to build our own towers, and find joy in the building of those towers. Also remember that the foundation of those towers is in your home, reinforced with your love, and should those towers happen to fall, the foundation will remain. That is what you have given us:) Through the teachings of my mother, I have become, the man I am today and I am sure that many of you can tell she didn’t do too shabby a job. I am not perfect, but I am far closer than I would be without her.
10. "Take time to truly love your children." A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love. I know this to be true, there are so many times that I have made my mother’s life her own personal prison, regardless of my stupid choices, decisions that sometimes result in damage such as a hole in the wall, my mother shows over and over her love for me. Only my mother could take a hole in the wall, and turn it into a beautiful teaching opportunity.
President Hinckley shared this advice to mothers, “I hope that you will have every reason to be proud concerning your children, to have love for them, to have faith in them, to see them grow in righteousness and virtue before the Lord, to see them become useful and productive members of society. If with all you have done there is an occasional failure, you can still say, “At least I did the very best of which I was capable. I tried as hard as I knew how. I let nothing stand in the way of my role as a mother.” Failures will be few under such circumstances.” I want my mother to know how much she means to me. There are so many blessings in my life that stem directly from her being a part of it. I echo the sentiments of Abraham Lincoln who said, “All I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother.”
I’d like to close with another portion of the book I began with.
Well, that mother, she got older.
She got older and older and older.
One day she called up her son and said,
"You'd better come see me
because I'm very old and sick."
So her son came to see her.
When he came in the door
she tried to sing the song.
She sang: I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish
because she was too old and sick.
The son went to his mother.
He picked her up
and rocked her back and forth,
back and forth, back and forth.
And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my Mommy you'll be.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
And yes I cried, just like it was a funeral, but I'm glad he said those nice things while I was still here to hear them.
P.S. If you are not familiar with the book "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch you need to read it. It is one of my favorite children's books and, in my opinion, every family should have a copy of it.
A mother held her new baby
and very slowly
rocked him back and forth,
back and forth,back and forth.
And while she held him,
she sang: (and yes the son sang)
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Of course, I have been asked to speak about mothers on this special day, but more specifically I was asked to speak about my own mom. This may seem like an easy topic, but I have struggled over what to say for a while. Brother Jones told me when he asked me to speak that this talk should make my mother cry. I immediately started thinking of times that I have not followed my mom's counsel and the tragedies that happened as a result, which often made her cry. Then I realized that I am probably supposed to be making her cry tears of joy. So, I have been trying to figure out what it was that I could say to my mother to portray to her the profound effect she has had on my life. Rudyard Kipling once wrote, “God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers”. I have a firm testimony that this is true. There is nobody on this earth that has influenced my life as much as my mother. I could not ask for a better example. In an article written by Thomas S. Monson, he referenced ten suggestions given to mothers by President Ezra Taft Benson. I would like to analyze these traits and how my mother has accomplished or strives to accomplish each of these things
the first is "Take time to always be at the crossroads in the lives of your children, whether they be six or sixteen." As I think back over the major events in my life, there are always familiar faces in the crowd, including my mothers, but as I think of some of the seemingly more minor events, there is still one face that stands out, that of my mother.
2. "Take time to be a real friend to your children." As hard as it is to believe, there was a time in my life, that I thought my mother's sole purpose in this world was to cause me as much embarrassment as possible, when this happens, especially around friends, you tend to take on a macho attitude of I don’t need you. Even through this phase, my mother never gave up trying to be my friend, trying to find out how she could make my life better. As I have grown older, I have tried harder to reciprocate that friendship, and now I have what I feel is a strong relationship with my mother. Are there still things I don’t want to tell her, sure, there are some things that I don’t want to share. Chalk that one up to human nature. However, I do know that I can tell her anything and she would be there with her unwavering love and support.
3. "Take time to read to your children." Remember what the poet wrote: You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be— I had a mother who read to me. The beginning of my talk came from the first story that I can remember my mother reading to me. My children at work have recently discovered this book, and every time they ask me to read it to them I can still hear my mom’s voice,
“That teenager grew.
He grew and he grew and he grew.
He grew until he was a grown-up man.
He left home and got a house across town.
But sometimes on dark nights
the mother got into her car
and drove across town.
If all the lights in her son's house were out,
she opened his bedroom window,
crawled across the floor,
and looked up over the side of his bed.
If that great big man was really asleep
she picked him up
and rocked him back and forth,
back and forth, back and forth.
And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
4. "Take time to pray with your children."
This is a tricky one mostly because there are times that children feel there are more important things to do than pray, but parents often intervene and help to teach the importance of prayer. My own mother has shown me by example the importance and power of prayer, and it is a tool that I have grown to love. Although we are older, my mother still strives to ensure that our family gathers to pray each day.
5. "Take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening." Make this one of your great family traditions. Now if you asked my mother she may say that this is one of the chinks in her motherly armor. However I would submit that I learned the importance of family home evening somewhere, I feel that it was those nights as a child when we would have a lesson. I remember very vividly some the stories that where shared and the principles that were taught. I remember simply being to spend time with my family, and occasionally use the time to play Don’t Eat Pete. I learned from my mother’s example, why it is important to take time to strengthen the bonds of the family, and as I know contemplate having my own family, I know the importance of Family Home Evening.
6. "Take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible." Growing up, it seems that we always ate dinner as a family, and then slowly but surely people got older, Jessica went off to college, our family dwindled, but we still ate with the remainder of our family. Then Janaya moved out, again our family shrunk but we that were left still ate dinner together. Now it seems that our own lives often take us to separate destinations at mealtime, but occasionally I get the joy of eating dinner with my whole family. A family that though once disintegrating now when all together requires extra space at the table, room for a brother-in-law, a fiancée, and an adopted sister, as well of all those family members that once went there own separate ways.
7. "Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family." I don’t know if any of you have had the opportunity to read scriptures with Jayce when he would rather do something else, but I guarantee you that if my mom feels that it is important enough to read scriptures together even after dealing with that, there must be something to it. I am grateful that my mother would take the time to help her family search the scriptures even with such distractions.
8. "Take time to do things together as a family." I can still remember being dragged across this great state to have day trips with my family. There were times when I loved these trips, and times that I hated them. Looking back now, I see that they were simply a way of strengthening our family. A family that I am constantly grateful for, that has a strong adhesive in large part due to our mother. I can guarantee that nobody else in our family would have ensured that these trips were taken with all the complaining the occasionally accompanied them.
9. "Take time to teach your children." My mom writes a blog, and it is by far one of the better blogs I have an opportunity to read. One day as I was perusing, I noticed an entry that I will now share, it was titled back off. We had a ward talent show tonight and it was fun to get to go and enjoy some time with the other members of the ward. The hubby and I went as a two-some since all of our family members had other plans. I like to see our nursery children in settings other than nursery and see how they respond to me. I sat on the floor of the gym and played ball with one of them, and another one enjoyed sitting on my lap and melting ice cubes in his hands all over the two of us. They make me feel loved and important. It is kind of sad though that the nursery group that moved up to Sunbeams in January don't seem to want to be bothered by me any more. I started talking to one of the little boys and he held up his hand in front of him, in a stop sign, and firmly stated, "I'm in primary now." In other words, "Back Off. I've moved on and I don't need you to hold my hand or wipe my nose or dry my tears or build block towers for me to knock down or take me potty anymore. I am bigger now." It took me back for a moment and then it just made me laugh. For the rest of the night, when I would see him, I'd say "Oh, you're in Primary now." and then the two of us would both giggle about it.Backing Off is something that I have a very difficult time with. Just ask my husband and my kids. It is hard for me to see my own children, as they grow up, raising their hands signifying stop every now and then. So many of their words and actions and gestures seem to say "I'm bigger now and I don't need you". It always takes me back for a moment and their unintentional snubs are harder to laugh off than those of the nursery kids. It is kind of funny when you think about it. This is what we work for all of our children's growing up years. To raise responsible, independent, self-assured children who are capable of taking care of themselves. Who don't need their mommy to hold their hand or wipe there nose... When they are moving forward in this endeavor I should applaud and pat myself on the back not feel sad. And yet, there is something about not being needed that is a little unnerving. I do want my children to grow up. I do want them to be independent and self-assured and responsible. I do want them to have their own lives and their own friends and their own families and their own homes and their own dreams, but every once in a while I want them to remember that they still need me, even if it is only to wipe their tears when someone knocks their tower down or to share their joy when they get it to stand up tall and steady.Message to my children - I love you. I am learning to let go, but sometimes it is hard. Please be patient with me.
This is the comment that I shared after reading this blog, Please remember that all those unintentional snubs are really just pats on the back saying what a great mother you are. It is because of you that we are able to build our own towers, and find joy in the building of those towers. Also remember that the foundation of those towers is in your home, reinforced with your love, and should those towers happen to fall, the foundation will remain. That is what you have given us:) Through the teachings of my mother, I have become, the man I am today and I am sure that many of you can tell she didn’t do too shabby a job. I am not perfect, but I am far closer than I would be without her.
10. "Take time to truly love your children." A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love. I know this to be true, there are so many times that I have made my mother’s life her own personal prison, regardless of my stupid choices, decisions that sometimes result in damage such as a hole in the wall, my mother shows over and over her love for me. Only my mother could take a hole in the wall, and turn it into a beautiful teaching opportunity.
President Hinckley shared this advice to mothers, “I hope that you will have every reason to be proud concerning your children, to have love for them, to have faith in them, to see them grow in righteousness and virtue before the Lord, to see them become useful and productive members of society. If with all you have done there is an occasional failure, you can still say, “At least I did the very best of which I was capable. I tried as hard as I knew how. I let nothing stand in the way of my role as a mother.” Failures will be few under such circumstances.” I want my mother to know how much she means to me. There are so many blessings in my life that stem directly from her being a part of it. I echo the sentiments of Abraham Lincoln who said, “All I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother.”
I’d like to close with another portion of the book I began with.
Well, that mother, she got older.
She got older and older and older.
One day she called up her son and said,
"You'd better come see me
because I'm very old and sick."
So her son came to see her.
When he came in the door
she tried to sing the song.
She sang: I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish
because she was too old and sick.
The son went to his mother.
He picked her up
and rocked her back and forth,
back and forth, back and forth.
And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my Mommy you'll be.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
And yes I cried, just like it was a funeral, but I'm glad he said those nice things while I was still here to hear them.
P.S. If you are not familiar with the book "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch you need to read it. It is one of my favorite children's books and, in my opinion, every family should have a copy of it.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Pray For Others
Today the oldest daughter and the son-in-law spoke in their ward and we went to listen to them. Their topic was "Pray Always" and they both did a good job sharing their thoughts and insights. The daughter shared a story about a little boy whose mom encourages him to look for opportunities to pray for others during the day. They go to the library and he sees a baby crying so he silently prays for her to be happy. He sees his neighbor, who has been sick, getting out of her wheelchair and into her car and he silently prays that she will get well. The piano tuner comes to his house and he silently prays that he will be able to do his job well and make their piano sound nice. I don't very often take the opportunity to pray for people outside my usual circle. My prayers seem to focus more on myself and my needs. Recently I was reading a book that talked about taking a prayer walk. Apparently in some churches as people walk around their neighborhoods they pray for the individuals who live in the homes that they pass. At the time I thought this was a rather random idea, but the more I have thought about it the more I think that it isn't all that strange. It would probably be good for me to pray for others, even those I don't know, sometimes. I started thinking what a different person I would be if when I got frustrated with someone's driving ability instead of getting upset and yelling I said a prayer for them to arrive safely at their destination. Or when I didn't agree with the way someone was parenting their child I offered a prayer for help for them in raising their kids. Or when the college kids next door are having a wild party AGAIN that I prayed for them to be kept safe. Or when the referree in the church basketball game makes a call I don't like I offered a prayer of gratitude for their willingness to give service in the church. How would that be if every time I was given an opportunity to be unkind or upset or frustrated I chose to offer a silent prayer instead? How long do you think it would take for that to become my natural response?
Today I am thankful for
cooler temperatures.
an opportunity to hear my daughter share her testimony concerning prayer.
The chance that preparing a talk gives us to evaluate our performance in a specific area of our lives at the moment.
people who share their Kleenex.
Today I am thankful for
cooler temperatures.
an opportunity to hear my daughter share her testimony concerning prayer.
The chance that preparing a talk gives us to evaluate our performance in a specific area of our lives at the moment.
people who share their Kleenex.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Son's Talk
Today my youngest son gave a talk in church. He was asked to speak on his favorite address from the recent General Conference. As an unbiased mother I thought he did an amazing job. I was impressed that he took the points that Elder Wirthlin talked about and personalized them with his own experiences. Here is what he said.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin gave a talk I really enjoyed entitled come what may and love it. In his talk he shared a story of losing a particularly tough football game in which his team ultimately met its demise. He went home feeling very discouraged. When he arrived home his mother listened to his sad story and replied. “Joseph, come what may and love it.”
He goes on to say I think she may have meant that every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems the birds don’t sing and the bells don’t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result.
He gives four things that can help us through times of testing and trial. I would now like to share them with you. The first is to learn to laugh. Have you ever seen an angry driver who, when someone else makes a mistake, reacts as though the person has insulted his honor, his family, his dog, and his ancestors all the way back to Adam? There is an antidote for this: learn to laugh. Not too long ago my mom’s cell phone fell out of her pocket when we were changing places so I could drive home from school. I unknowingly destroyed it with the front tire of the van. She didn’t realize what had happened until we got to our house. My mom could have gotten mad at me for running over her phone or at herself for putting the phone in a pocket that she knew it had a tendency of falling out of. Instead she turned the experience into a humorous story about my hit and run accident that she was an accomplice to.
The second is to seek for the eternal. We may feel singled out when adversity enters our lives. We may shake our heads and wonder, “why me?” But the dial on the wheel eventually points to each of us. At one time or another, everyone must experience sorrow. No one is exempt. Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others. Remember the words of the savior to the prophet Joseph Smith when he suffered with his companions in liberty jail. “My son, peace be unto thy soul: thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment. And then, if you endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high: thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” With that eternal perspective, Joseph took comfort from these words, and so can we.
The third is the principle of compensation. The lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the lord will be added unto them in his own way. When I was 9 my dad lost his job. As the Christmas season rolled around my parents were very worried about how they would be able to buy any presents for us. They knew the importance of paying tithing but needed all the money we had to pay the bills and there would be none left over to buy us kids presents. They decided to pay their tithing regardless. A few days later my mom went outside and on our van was an envelope with a target gift card worth $200. They were rewarded for their commitment to keep the commandments and were able to buy us presents. Despite the fact that my dad didn’t have a permanent job for over a year our family always seemed to have money to meet our needs.
And the fourth and final thing is to trust in the father and the son. Last week at the Bishop’s youth discussion we watched a video about President Thomas S. Monson’s life. I would like to share a story from it with you. It is about a young girl named Crystal Methvin. Crystal had cancer and her parents wanted her to receive a blessing from a general authority. They showed Crystal a picture of Thomas S. Monson. She said “he looks like a nice man. I think he is the one.” They planned to take a trip to Salt Lake to receive the blessing but because of Crystal’s condition they were unable to. When Crystal’s parents told her that they couldn’t make the trip her response was “well if I can’t go to elder Monson then surely he can come to me.” President Monson did in fact make it to her stake for a stake conference but because of time would be unable to travel the 80 miles to the Methvin home. As President Monson was preparing his notes to speak a voice spoke to his spirit. “Suffer the little children to come to me, and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of god.” President Monson asked a bishop close by him to call and inform the Methvin’s that he would be in their home the next morning. When president Monson arrived at their home he knelt down by Crystal’s side and said “Crystal I’m here.” To which Crystal replied “Elder Monson I just knew you would come.” I do believe that this little girl’s faith in Heavenly Father granted her the last wish of her young life.
In closing he say’s "as we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation, and draw near to our heavenly father, we can endure hardship and trials. We can say as my mother did “come what may, and love it.”
Now if he could just learn to walk the walk as well as he talks the talk. Someone told me today that they could tell he was my son. I'm sorry that I've passed on some of my negative traits along with the positive ones, but I'm even more glad there were some positive ones to pass on.
Tonight the roommate/girlfriend spoke in the 3rd Sunday Mission President's fireside for investigators of the church. Our family all went to listen and support her. She did a wonderful job sharing her testimony about how she came to know the church was true. Her mom also came to listen to her which was really nice. She has come a long way from wanting to crash the baptism to supporting her daughter's religious choices at least to some degree. I hope her heart continues to be softened.
Today I am thankful for
a church that gives young men and women the opportunity to speak in front of large audiences.
soft hearts.
beautiful music that brings the spirit with it.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin gave a talk I really enjoyed entitled come what may and love it. In his talk he shared a story of losing a particularly tough football game in which his team ultimately met its demise. He went home feeling very discouraged. When he arrived home his mother listened to his sad story and replied. “Joseph, come what may and love it.”
He goes on to say I think she may have meant that every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems the birds don’t sing and the bells don’t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result.
He gives four things that can help us through times of testing and trial. I would now like to share them with you. The first is to learn to laugh. Have you ever seen an angry driver who, when someone else makes a mistake, reacts as though the person has insulted his honor, his family, his dog, and his ancestors all the way back to Adam? There is an antidote for this: learn to laugh. Not too long ago my mom’s cell phone fell out of her pocket when we were changing places so I could drive home from school. I unknowingly destroyed it with the front tire of the van. She didn’t realize what had happened until we got to our house. My mom could have gotten mad at me for running over her phone or at herself for putting the phone in a pocket that she knew it had a tendency of falling out of. Instead she turned the experience into a humorous story about my hit and run accident that she was an accomplice to.
The second is to seek for the eternal. We may feel singled out when adversity enters our lives. We may shake our heads and wonder, “why me?” But the dial on the wheel eventually points to each of us. At one time or another, everyone must experience sorrow. No one is exempt. Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others. Remember the words of the savior to the prophet Joseph Smith when he suffered with his companions in liberty jail. “My son, peace be unto thy soul: thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment. And then, if you endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high: thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” With that eternal perspective, Joseph took comfort from these words, and so can we.
The third is the principle of compensation. The lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the lord will be added unto them in his own way. When I was 9 my dad lost his job. As the Christmas season rolled around my parents were very worried about how they would be able to buy any presents for us. They knew the importance of paying tithing but needed all the money we had to pay the bills and there would be none left over to buy us kids presents. They decided to pay their tithing regardless. A few days later my mom went outside and on our van was an envelope with a target gift card worth $200. They were rewarded for their commitment to keep the commandments and were able to buy us presents. Despite the fact that my dad didn’t have a permanent job for over a year our family always seemed to have money to meet our needs.
And the fourth and final thing is to trust in the father and the son. Last week at the Bishop’s youth discussion we watched a video about President Thomas S. Monson’s life. I would like to share a story from it with you. It is about a young girl named Crystal Methvin. Crystal had cancer and her parents wanted her to receive a blessing from a general authority. They showed Crystal a picture of Thomas S. Monson. She said “he looks like a nice man. I think he is the one.” They planned to take a trip to Salt Lake to receive the blessing but because of Crystal’s condition they were unable to. When Crystal’s parents told her that they couldn’t make the trip her response was “well if I can’t go to elder Monson then surely he can come to me.” President Monson did in fact make it to her stake for a stake conference but because of time would be unable to travel the 80 miles to the Methvin home. As President Monson was preparing his notes to speak a voice spoke to his spirit. “Suffer the little children to come to me, and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of god.” President Monson asked a bishop close by him to call and inform the Methvin’s that he would be in their home the next morning. When president Monson arrived at their home he knelt down by Crystal’s side and said “Crystal I’m here.” To which Crystal replied “Elder Monson I just knew you would come.” I do believe that this little girl’s faith in Heavenly Father granted her the last wish of her young life.
In closing he say’s "as we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation, and draw near to our heavenly father, we can endure hardship and trials. We can say as my mother did “come what may, and love it.”
Now if he could just learn to walk the walk as well as he talks the talk. Someone told me today that they could tell he was my son. I'm sorry that I've passed on some of my negative traits along with the positive ones, but I'm even more glad there were some positive ones to pass on.
Tonight the roommate/girlfriend spoke in the 3rd Sunday Mission President's fireside for investigators of the church. Our family all went to listen and support her. She did a wonderful job sharing her testimony about how she came to know the church was true. Her mom also came to listen to her which was really nice. She has come a long way from wanting to crash the baptism to supporting her daughter's religious choices at least to some degree. I hope her heart continues to be softened.
Today I am thankful for
a church that gives young men and women the opportunity to speak in front of large audiences.
soft hearts.
beautiful music that brings the spirit with it.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Lessons from Aunt Grace
I always find myself doing
an inventory of my life
when my birthday rolls around.
It seems like this
is the time of the year
when I am the most motivated to set goals
or change unproductive habits.
I don't set very many New Year's Resolutions
but I usually come up with a few Birthday ones.
Whenever I think about setting goals
I am reminded of a story I once heard
at BYU Education Week.
It was entitled "Lessons from Aunt Grace"
and was originally published in the Reader's Digest Magazine.
Aunt Grace was a maiden aunt who
had come to live with relatives.
She felt like an imposition and
was feeling sorry for herself.
She quickly came to realize that
this was the way her life was.
There was nothing she could do
to change the circumstances
she found herself in
so she decided to change herself.
She decided to complete 6 tasks each day
in order to hold her world together
and she recorded in her journal
how she accomplished these goals.
The 6 tasks were
Do Something for Someone Else.
Do Something for Myself.
Do Something I Don't Want to Do-
that Needs Doing.
Do a Physical Exercise.
Do a Mental Exercise.
Do an Original Prayer that
always includes counting my blessings.
Whenever I feel like
I need to make some changes in my life
these 6 tasks immediately come to mind.
As I think about them
I can usually see
where I am lacking
and what I need to work on.
Often when I set goals
a few of these tasks are included.
Focusing on these simple items
each day has helped to bring my
life back into focus on numerous occasions.
I am grateful for the lessons
I learned from Aunt Grace.
You can read the complete story here.
an inventory of my life
when my birthday rolls around.
It seems like this
is the time of the year
when I am the most motivated to set goals
or change unproductive habits.
I don't set very many New Year's Resolutions
but I usually come up with a few Birthday ones.
Whenever I think about setting goals
I am reminded of a story I once heard
at BYU Education Week.
It was entitled "Lessons from Aunt Grace"
and was originally published in the Reader's Digest Magazine.
Aunt Grace was a maiden aunt who
had come to live with relatives.
She felt like an imposition and
was feeling sorry for herself.
She quickly came to realize that
this was the way her life was.
There was nothing she could do
to change the circumstances
she found herself in
so she decided to change herself.
She decided to complete 6 tasks each day
in order to hold her world together
and she recorded in her journal
how she accomplished these goals.
The 6 tasks were
Do Something for Someone Else.
Do Something for Myself.
Do Something I Don't Want to Do-
that Needs Doing.
Do a Physical Exercise.
Do a Mental Exercise.
Do an Original Prayer that
always includes counting my blessings.
Whenever I feel like
I need to make some changes in my life
these 6 tasks immediately come to mind.
As I think about them
I can usually see
where I am lacking
and what I need to work on.
Often when I set goals
a few of these tasks are included.
Focusing on these simple items
each day has helped to bring my
life back into focus on numerous occasions.
I am grateful for the lessons
I learned from Aunt Grace.
You can read the complete story here.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
I have Righteous Children
Today I gave a talk in church.
These are the thoughts I shared. I was going to only print part of it, but I'm too lazy to go through and edit so just read what you want.
I have struggled with the topic that we were given to speak on today because at first I felt that it was a reflection on me and my parenting ability.
Look at me.
Now it might surprise some of you to learn that I am not perfect. I haven’t always done what I believe and know I should do, I worry and feel guilty that, where raising my children is concerned, I have not done enough.
I could point out at least half of this congregation that I believe are more qualified to address the topic of raising righteous children than I am and the other half probably think they could do a better job because they are teenagers and think they know everything. Personally, I would be happy to let any one who would like to to come and take my place right now.
Raising Righteous Children – as I have presented this topic to family and friends, As in – “Guess what I have been asked to speak about on Sunday?” I have repeatedly heard the response “You have Righteous Children”.
How and when do we know that we have Righteous Children?
Is it when they say their first prayer without any help,
is it when they give their first talk in primary,
when they choose to be baptized,
when that receive the priesthood,
or serve in a young women presidency,
is it when they attend church every Sunday for a year
or graduate from Seminary,
is it when they go to the temple for the first time
to participate in Baptisms for the Dead,
or when they go to receive their own endowments
and go on a mission,
or when they are sealed there to an eternal companion?
Is it when we see them actually enjoying a service project,
or “catch” them reading their scriptures without being forced,
maybe when they give a family home evening lesson
that is better than we could have given,
or when they share the gospel with one of their friends
or baptize someone.
Do these milestones prove that we have Righteous Children?
Yes and no.
My belief and understanding is that all parents have Righteous Children.
Now, I’m sure some of you are thinking I know some of so and so’s children and they are not Righteous or she hasn’t met that kid that lives next door to me or what about my son …, but wait.
In this month’s visiting teaching message there is a quote from Julie B. Beck the Relief Society General President, she says
“ You are literally spirit daughters (and I add sons) of Deity, offspring of exalted parents with a divine nature and an eternal destiny. You received your first lessons in the world of spirits from your heavenly parents. You have been sent to earth to prove yourselves…”
There it is – we all have Righteous Children,
literal offspring of exalted parents,
every day, all day, from the day they are born
until the day they die,
they will always be Righteous Children.
It is their noble birthright.
It is because of who they were and are.
Even if they don’t want to be Righteous Children
and they choose to not make Righteous choices
this doesn’t change who they are.
A Righteous Child of Heavenly Parents.
Sometimes I forget this most important truth.
I, and you, do not need to produce Righteous Children –
they already exist-
we just have to help raise them
back up to their Heavenly parents.
We just need to help them remember who they are
and why they are here
and what they already know.
An LDS mother, Patty Witt, when asked by a reporter for tips on raising righteous children replied
“ I think they just came that way. However, I do believe it has a lot to do with eating dinner together every day, and going to bed by 9 or 10 -- there's no substitute for that."
Maybe that doesn’t make a big difference to any of you, but it does to me, it helps me to know that I don’t have to start from scratch and create a Righteous Child. The Righteous Child is already there.
I just have to polish it and protect it,
feed it and take care of it
teach it and remind it who it is.
I need to treat it as something of great value,
which it is
and let it fulfill the responsibilities
for which it was created.
Still not an easy responsibility,
but more doable in my way of thinking.
When we look at our children, the children in the ward, the teenager that lives next door, or any other child as Righteous Children regardless of whether or not they are making righteous choices at this given moment in their lives I think it makes a world of difference.
Now I could probably teach a yearlong class, meeting once a week for 2 hours, on Raising Righteous Children, not because I’m qualified, but because there are that many ideas and thoughts and skills that could be taught on this topic. Lucky for you I only have 15 minutes and I have already used 5 of those so I have narrowed down my 45 page talk to a few less pages.
I want to focus on one thing that has given me much help and the much hope in raising my Righteous Children (remember, I’m not boasting, we all have them).
It is something that I read when I was having a difficult time feeling adequate for the task that was placed before me. You see, each of these Righteous Children we have been blessed with have the right and the ability to make their own choices. Sometimes those choices don’t coincide with their righteous nature, they are not righteous choices, and as parents we often don’t have and shouldn’t have the power to stop them from making these choices. Sometimes we feel powerless in knowing how to help them remember who they are and why they are here.
It was during one these times in my life when I first read about it in a book entitled House of Glory by S. Michael Wilcox.
Bro. Wilcox related the following story,“When I moved to Utah ten years ago, my children were entering their teenage years. Having taught teenagers n seminary, I knew how critical the next years would be, for during these years we win or lose so many battles for the souls of men. The more I thought about the world my children were growing up in and the pressures and opposition arrayed against them, the more anxious I felt.
I went to the temple one afternoon to seek guidance about my children. The calm, loving spirit of the temple seemed to magnify my natural love for my family, and I found myself offering a deeply sincere prayer filled with desire for my children. I told the Lord I was willing to offer any sacrifice if he would protect my children from Satan’s power and bless them with his Spirit until they could come to his house and receive their own endowment. I do not think I offered a unique prayer. It is the uttered and unuttered prayer of every true Latter-day Saint parent, and I think most parents would give the Lord the sacrifice he required.
As I sat in the temple, an answer was given in which the required sacrifice was revealed to me. I thought the Lord would demand some great thing for the blessing I was asking, and had it been some great thing I believe I would have been willing to fulfill it. Often we are more willing to do the great things than the small, everyday acts of obedience of sacrifice that comprise living the gospel.
However, the spirit simply whispered: “This is the sacrifice I ask of you. Be in this house frequently, constantly, and consistently and the promised protection you seek, which this house has the power to bestow, will be extended to those you love.”
At first I thought this counsel was unique to me, but I came to realize as I read and studied the scriptures that it is a promise with much broader application. I found this promise again and again in both the scriptures and in the words of our living prophets and apostles. It was not a special request and promise to me, but one that was extended to all the saints in behalf of those they love. “
Frequently, constantly and consistently attend the temple.
Why?
What good will that do?
One of the reasons I love the temple the most is because there I am reminded of the eternal nature of life. Birth is not the beginning and Death is not the end. In the temple I can see better who I am and who my children are. Inside the temple I see myself as a Righteous Daughter of a Loving Heavenly Father and I see my children that way too.
Also I think in the temple we are reminded of the role that Jesus Christ plays in each of our lives. How important our relationship with him and our children's relationship with him is.
In 2 Nephi 25:26 we read,
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our child may know to what source thy may look for a remission of their sins."
President Ezra Taft Benson counseled us to make the temple a “sacred home away from our eternal home.” He then explained the power the temple can generate in a morally deteriorating world:
“This temple will be a standing witness that the power of God can stay the powers of evil in our midst. Many parents, in and out of the church, are concerned about protection against a cascading avalanche of wickedness that threatens to engulf Christian principles… There is power associated with the ordinances of Heaven – even the power of Godliness – which can and will thwart the forces of evil if we will be worthy of those sacred blessings. This community will be protected, our families will be protected, our children will be safeguarded as we live the gospel, visit the temple, and live close to the Lord.”
Elder Boyd K. Packer has said,
"Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people.”
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone promised that all who faithfully attend to temple work will have unseen angels watch over their loved ones when Satanic forces tempt them. Everytime a temple is built Satan's power is deminished.
I then shared the story of my son and his mistake that he "fixed" with the picture of the temple. If you don't know what I'm talking about you can read about it here.
The look on the face of one of the deacons sitting in the audience as I told that story was priceless. He is an only child and I don't think he could grasp the dynamics that exist between brothers that could escalate to that kind of experience.
In closing I testified that the temple can fix things. I have experienced that blessing in my life many times. The temple is here to bind our families together and to help us Raise Righteous Children.
I don't have perfect children,
but I do have Righteous Children,
and if you are a parent,
you do to.
These are the thoughts I shared. I was going to only print part of it, but I'm too lazy to go through and edit so just read what you want.
I have struggled with the topic that we were given to speak on today because at first I felt that it was a reflection on me and my parenting ability.
Look at me.
Now it might surprise some of you to learn that I am not perfect. I haven’t always done what I believe and know I should do, I worry and feel guilty that, where raising my children is concerned, I have not done enough.
I could point out at least half of this congregation that I believe are more qualified to address the topic of raising righteous children than I am and the other half probably think they could do a better job because they are teenagers and think they know everything. Personally, I would be happy to let any one who would like to to come and take my place right now.
Raising Righteous Children – as I have presented this topic to family and friends, As in – “Guess what I have been asked to speak about on Sunday?” I have repeatedly heard the response “You have Righteous Children”.
How and when do we know that we have Righteous Children?
Is it when they say their first prayer without any help,
is it when they give their first talk in primary,
when they choose to be baptized,
when that receive the priesthood,
or serve in a young women presidency,
is it when they attend church every Sunday for a year
or graduate from Seminary,
is it when they go to the temple for the first time
to participate in Baptisms for the Dead,
or when they go to receive their own endowments
and go on a mission,
or when they are sealed there to an eternal companion?
Is it when we see them actually enjoying a service project,
or “catch” them reading their scriptures without being forced,
maybe when they give a family home evening lesson
that is better than we could have given,
or when they share the gospel with one of their friends
or baptize someone.
Do these milestones prove that we have Righteous Children?
Yes and no.
My belief and understanding is that all parents have Righteous Children.
Now, I’m sure some of you are thinking I know some of so and so’s children and they are not Righteous or she hasn’t met that kid that lives next door to me or what about my son …, but wait.
In this month’s visiting teaching message there is a quote from Julie B. Beck the Relief Society General President, she says
“ You are literally spirit daughters (and I add sons) of Deity, offspring of exalted parents with a divine nature and an eternal destiny. You received your first lessons in the world of spirits from your heavenly parents. You have been sent to earth to prove yourselves…”
There it is – we all have Righteous Children,
literal offspring of exalted parents,
every day, all day, from the day they are born
until the day they die,
they will always be Righteous Children.
It is their noble birthright.
It is because of who they were and are.
Even if they don’t want to be Righteous Children
and they choose to not make Righteous choices
this doesn’t change who they are.
A Righteous Child of Heavenly Parents.
Sometimes I forget this most important truth.
I, and you, do not need to produce Righteous Children –
they already exist-
we just have to help raise them
back up to their Heavenly parents.
We just need to help them remember who they are
and why they are here
and what they already know.
An LDS mother, Patty Witt, when asked by a reporter for tips on raising righteous children replied
“ I think they just came that way. However, I do believe it has a lot to do with eating dinner together every day, and going to bed by 9 or 10 -- there's no substitute for that."
Maybe that doesn’t make a big difference to any of you, but it does to me, it helps me to know that I don’t have to start from scratch and create a Righteous Child. The Righteous Child is already there.
I just have to polish it and protect it,
feed it and take care of it
teach it and remind it who it is.
I need to treat it as something of great value,
which it is
and let it fulfill the responsibilities
for which it was created.
Still not an easy responsibility,
but more doable in my way of thinking.
When we look at our children, the children in the ward, the teenager that lives next door, or any other child as Righteous Children regardless of whether or not they are making righteous choices at this given moment in their lives I think it makes a world of difference.
Now I could probably teach a yearlong class, meeting once a week for 2 hours, on Raising Righteous Children, not because I’m qualified, but because there are that many ideas and thoughts and skills that could be taught on this topic. Lucky for you I only have 15 minutes and I have already used 5 of those so I have narrowed down my 45 page talk to a few less pages.
I want to focus on one thing that has given me much help and the much hope in raising my Righteous Children (remember, I’m not boasting, we all have them).
It is something that I read when I was having a difficult time feeling adequate for the task that was placed before me. You see, each of these Righteous Children we have been blessed with have the right and the ability to make their own choices. Sometimes those choices don’t coincide with their righteous nature, they are not righteous choices, and as parents we often don’t have and shouldn’t have the power to stop them from making these choices. Sometimes we feel powerless in knowing how to help them remember who they are and why they are here.
It was during one these times in my life when I first read about it in a book entitled House of Glory by S. Michael Wilcox.
Bro. Wilcox related the following story,“When I moved to Utah ten years ago, my children were entering their teenage years. Having taught teenagers n seminary, I knew how critical the next years would be, for during these years we win or lose so many battles for the souls of men. The more I thought about the world my children were growing up in and the pressures and opposition arrayed against them, the more anxious I felt.
I went to the temple one afternoon to seek guidance about my children. The calm, loving spirit of the temple seemed to magnify my natural love for my family, and I found myself offering a deeply sincere prayer filled with desire for my children. I told the Lord I was willing to offer any sacrifice if he would protect my children from Satan’s power and bless them with his Spirit until they could come to his house and receive their own endowment. I do not think I offered a unique prayer. It is the uttered and unuttered prayer of every true Latter-day Saint parent, and I think most parents would give the Lord the sacrifice he required.
As I sat in the temple, an answer was given in which the required sacrifice was revealed to me. I thought the Lord would demand some great thing for the blessing I was asking, and had it been some great thing I believe I would have been willing to fulfill it. Often we are more willing to do the great things than the small, everyday acts of obedience of sacrifice that comprise living the gospel.
However, the spirit simply whispered: “This is the sacrifice I ask of you. Be in this house frequently, constantly, and consistently and the promised protection you seek, which this house has the power to bestow, will be extended to those you love.”
At first I thought this counsel was unique to me, but I came to realize as I read and studied the scriptures that it is a promise with much broader application. I found this promise again and again in both the scriptures and in the words of our living prophets and apostles. It was not a special request and promise to me, but one that was extended to all the saints in behalf of those they love. “
Frequently, constantly and consistently attend the temple.
Why?
What good will that do?
One of the reasons I love the temple the most is because there I am reminded of the eternal nature of life. Birth is not the beginning and Death is not the end. In the temple I can see better who I am and who my children are. Inside the temple I see myself as a Righteous Daughter of a Loving Heavenly Father and I see my children that way too.
Also I think in the temple we are reminded of the role that Jesus Christ plays in each of our lives. How important our relationship with him and our children's relationship with him is.
In 2 Nephi 25:26 we read,
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our child may know to what source thy may look for a remission of their sins."
President Ezra Taft Benson counseled us to make the temple a “sacred home away from our eternal home.” He then explained the power the temple can generate in a morally deteriorating world:
“This temple will be a standing witness that the power of God can stay the powers of evil in our midst. Many parents, in and out of the church, are concerned about protection against a cascading avalanche of wickedness that threatens to engulf Christian principles… There is power associated with the ordinances of Heaven – even the power of Godliness – which can and will thwart the forces of evil if we will be worthy of those sacred blessings. This community will be protected, our families will be protected, our children will be safeguarded as we live the gospel, visit the temple, and live close to the Lord.”
Elder Boyd K. Packer has said,
"Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people.”
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone promised that all who faithfully attend to temple work will have unseen angels watch over their loved ones when Satanic forces tempt them. Everytime a temple is built Satan's power is deminished.
I then shared the story of my son and his mistake that he "fixed" with the picture of the temple. If you don't know what I'm talking about you can read about it here.
The look on the face of one of the deacons sitting in the audience as I told that story was priceless. He is an only child and I don't think he could grasp the dynamics that exist between brothers that could escalate to that kind of experience.
In closing I testified that the temple can fix things. I have experienced that blessing in my life many times. The temple is here to bind our families together and to help us Raise Righteous Children.
I don't have perfect children,
but I do have Righteous Children,
and if you are a parent,
you do to.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Time Consuming Things to do While you are Suppose to be Writing a Talk.
1. Write on your blog.
2. Do "research" so you can write better on your blog.
3. Read someone's blog.
4. Write on someone's blog.
5. Read someone else's blog that you found on someone's blog.
6. Write on someone else's blog that you found on someone's blog.
7. Repeat #5 and #6
8. Repeat #5 and #6
9. Repeat #5 and #6
10. Take a shower.
I gotta go take a shower. I'm not making any progress on what I am supposed to be doing at the moment. I am too easily distracted, but first I'll just check a couple more blogs.
Oh look.
My son has written on his blog.
What is this about - DRINKING GAMES!!
How am I suppose to write a talk about raising righteous children while those children are all playing "Drinking Games".
This is hopeless.
Woe, Woe is me.
2. Do "research" so you can write better on your blog.
3. Read someone's blog.
4. Write on someone's blog.
5. Read someone else's blog that you found on someone's blog.
6. Write on someone else's blog that you found on someone's blog.
7. Repeat #5 and #6
8. Repeat #5 and #6
9. Repeat #5 and #6
10. Take a shower.
I gotta go take a shower. I'm not making any progress on what I am supposed to be doing at the moment. I am too easily distracted, but first I'll just check a couple more blogs.
Oh look.
My son has written on his blog.
What is this about - DRINKING GAMES!!
How am I suppose to write a talk about raising righteous children while those children are all playing "Drinking Games".
This is hopeless.
Woe, Woe is me.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Day of Rest?
If Sunday is the day of rest then why am I so tired?
I am tired.
So, so tired.
Physically tired from a busy, busy day in Nursery.
We had 14 children today and they kept us all very, very busy.
So many kids.
I kept losing one of them.
He is the littlest and he seemed to just blend into the crowd.
One time he was under the table.
One time he was sitting in a chair, right where he was suppose to be, eating crayons.
Usually he was in the arms of any male who happened to be standing up or passing through.
For some reason we had a lot of people standing in nursery or passing though today.
With that many kids it was hard for me to feel like I was giving each child the attention that they deserved and demanded.
Even with 3 teachers and a visiting Great Aunt the adults were all kept very busy.
It was hard work!
One of my friends gave me a plaque that says, "Be thankful when you are tired and weary. It means you have made a difference." This friend was the nursery leader right before the hubby and I were. Perhaps she remembers that exhausted feeling that accompanies a busy day in nursery and hopefully I did make a difference in these children's lives today.
Even though it was tiring , I find that I love each one of these little children more each Sunday. They all have little things about themselves that endear them to me. I do believe that it is true that we love those we serve and nursery is definitely a service calling and I absolutely love the children in our nursery.
I'm also tired of feeling yucky.
So, so tired.
I just want to feel good and be able to accomplish something, anything, besides what absolutely has to be done.
My house is falling apart.
My attitude is falling apart.
I am falling apart.
Today during Sacrament meeting I was thinking about how tired I felt and the scripture from Matthew came into my mind.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Do I really believe that?
What does this scripture really mean and how do I tap into that rest that Jesus Christ is so willing to give?
The atonement of Jesus Christ can give me the strength, His strength, to hold on and make it through.
In October Conference in 2006 Elder Dallin H. Oaks shared this counsel:
"Commune with the Lord. … He is your best friend! He knows your pain because He has felt it for you already. He is ready to carry that burden. Trust Him enough to place it at His feet and allow Him to carry it for you. Then you can have your anguish replaced with His peace, in the very depths of your soul”
I need to be willing to let go of my problems enough to trust that my Savior will help me over come them or give me the power to endure them. I don't need to be weary if I will trust in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I can lean on him and receive the rest that I so desire to find and that he so freely offers.
This sounds simple enough. Maybe tomorrow I won't be too tired to try it out. Right now all I want to do is take a nap.
I am tired.
So, so tired.
Physically tired from a busy, busy day in Nursery.
We had 14 children today and they kept us all very, very busy.
So many kids.
I kept losing one of them.
He is the littlest and he seemed to just blend into the crowd.
One time he was under the table.
One time he was sitting in a chair, right where he was suppose to be, eating crayons.
Usually he was in the arms of any male who happened to be standing up or passing through.
For some reason we had a lot of people standing in nursery or passing though today.
With that many kids it was hard for me to feel like I was giving each child the attention that they deserved and demanded.
Even with 3 teachers and a visiting Great Aunt the adults were all kept very busy.
It was hard work!
One of my friends gave me a plaque that says, "Be thankful when you are tired and weary. It means you have made a difference." This friend was the nursery leader right before the hubby and I were. Perhaps she remembers that exhausted feeling that accompanies a busy day in nursery and hopefully I did make a difference in these children's lives today.
Even though it was tiring , I find that I love each one of these little children more each Sunday. They all have little things about themselves that endear them to me. I do believe that it is true that we love those we serve and nursery is definitely a service calling and I absolutely love the children in our nursery.
I'm also tired of feeling yucky.
So, so tired.
I just want to feel good and be able to accomplish something, anything, besides what absolutely has to be done.
My house is falling apart.
My attitude is falling apart.
I am falling apart.
Today during Sacrament meeting I was thinking about how tired I felt and the scripture from Matthew came into my mind.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Do I really believe that?
What does this scripture really mean and how do I tap into that rest that Jesus Christ is so willing to give?
The atonement of Jesus Christ can give me the strength, His strength, to hold on and make it through.
In October Conference in 2006 Elder Dallin H. Oaks shared this counsel:
"Commune with the Lord. … He is your best friend! He knows your pain because He has felt it for you already. He is ready to carry that burden. Trust Him enough to place it at His feet and allow Him to carry it for you. Then you can have your anguish replaced with His peace, in the very depths of your soul”
I need to be willing to let go of my problems enough to trust that my Savior will help me over come them or give me the power to endure them. I don't need to be weary if I will trust in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I can lean on him and receive the rest that I so desire to find and that he so freely offers.
This sounds simple enough. Maybe tomorrow I won't be too tired to try it out. Right now all I want to do is take a nap.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sunday Sermons
Today we went to listen to the daughter and the son in law speak in their sacrament meeting. They are actually in the same stake as we are, but the demographics of their ward is a little different than ours. I think almost every family there had a baby under a year old and I bet their nursery is LOTS bigger than ours. It was fun to see so many new families and remember going to the BYU Lamanite Married Ward when we were in that phase of our lives. The nice thing about that ward was that we met in an old church building in Provo that came complete with a cry room at the back of the chapel, where you could sit with your loud infant or toddler and still see and hear what was going on in Sacrament meeting without them hearing you. Evergreen Ward could use one of those. There was a dad who got up to take his toddler daughter out of the chapel. He got about 10 steps from his seat when his son (who looked about 3) started screaming "DADDY! DADDY!" and burst into tears. The dad motioned for him to come with him, but he just stood there screaming while the other son, about 4, mowed him over and took off down the aisle to the dad. By this time the dad had started back for the screaming son and the older son passed him by and then started crying too because his dad was going the wrong way. Dad grabbed the 3 year old and the 4 year old and finally made it out the door with the toddler who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying all the attention. The entire congregation was momentarily distracted from the son in law's amazing talk, but just momentarily. I think I am glad that I am past that phase of my life.
They both gave very good talks. She talked about Sharing the Gospel by doing good and focused on service and standing up for what you believe is right. He spoke about testimony and what a testimony is and how we can share testimony through music. I enjoyed both messages a lot. Unfortunately this daughter inherited the Cheever women tear ducts and got a little emotional when she was talking about one of her friends from college. Of course there were no tissues on the pulpit. She is going to have to start carrying her own or checking and requesting them ahead of time. That is what I always do now. I have learned my lesson. I firmly believe there is nothing wrong with being tender-hearted though, as long as you are equipped with lots of Kleenex. It's just the way some of us are made.
Our home teachers came to visit today and shared with us a story from this month's Ensign that really touched me. It was called something like "Lessons Learned From a Milk Jug". The woman in the story had found out that her husband was involved in Pornography and she just couldn't seem to forgive him and deal with all the emotions she had. She was embarrassed to ask for help and just kept trudging along but was not sure she could keep it up much longer. One day she and her 3 year old went to the store and when they got home the little girl was helping carry the groceries inside an item at a time. She did OK with the bread and the eggs but when she tried to move the gallon of milk,once she got it out of the car, it was just too heavy. The mom offered to help, but the typical toddler insisted on doing it herself. Finally she gave up and told her mom it was just too hard. She couldn't do it alone. When she said that, the mom thought how much she was like her stubborn little girl. Unwilling to ask her Heavenly Father for help when her burdens became to heavy to carry alone. The daughter asked the mom to carry her while she carried the milk.
So often I stubbornly refuse to accept Jesus Christ's atonement in my life and just try to struggle along, dragging my heavy, heavy burden behind me instead of admitting I need help and accepting what he has already done for me. We can all learn a lot from these noisy, stubborn little children in our lives if we just take the time to look for the lessons.
Today I am thankful for
A daughter and son in law who have testimonies and are able to share them with others.
Dedicated Home Teachers - who come every month even though they don't always get the warmest welcome from out youngest.
Kleenex - for the obvious reasons.
A funny Kleenex story - today one of the little girls in nursery needed a tissue, so I gave her one and then went back to picking up the toys. All of the sudden, something came flying at me. It was the dirty tissue delivered by the little girl who then turned her back and walked across the room. I called her name. She ignored me. I called her name again. She ignored me again. This is the same little girl who recently can't be more than 3 inches away from me without calling for me to sit by her. She continued to ignore me a few more times until finally she looked up and I asked her to come and throw the tissue away. She looked at me and at it and then went right back to ignoring me. I called her one more time and she stomped over and took the offensive item between the tips of her fingers and threw it away before running back to sit in my lap. What a stinker! Speaking of stinkers, we had 3 dirty diapers in nursery today. We haven't even had one before today. What's with that?
They both gave very good talks. She talked about Sharing the Gospel by doing good and focused on service and standing up for what you believe is right. He spoke about testimony and what a testimony is and how we can share testimony through music. I enjoyed both messages a lot. Unfortunately this daughter inherited the Cheever women tear ducts and got a little emotional when she was talking about one of her friends from college. Of course there were no tissues on the pulpit. She is going to have to start carrying her own or checking and requesting them ahead of time. That is what I always do now. I have learned my lesson. I firmly believe there is nothing wrong with being tender-hearted though, as long as you are equipped with lots of Kleenex. It's just the way some of us are made.
Our home teachers came to visit today and shared with us a story from this month's Ensign that really touched me. It was called something like "Lessons Learned From a Milk Jug". The woman in the story had found out that her husband was involved in Pornography and she just couldn't seem to forgive him and deal with all the emotions she had. She was embarrassed to ask for help and just kept trudging along but was not sure she could keep it up much longer. One day she and her 3 year old went to the store and when they got home the little girl was helping carry the groceries inside an item at a time. She did OK with the bread and the eggs but when she tried to move the gallon of milk,once she got it out of the car, it was just too heavy. The mom offered to help, but the typical toddler insisted on doing it herself. Finally she gave up and told her mom it was just too hard. She couldn't do it alone. When she said that, the mom thought how much she was like her stubborn little girl. Unwilling to ask her Heavenly Father for help when her burdens became to heavy to carry alone. The daughter asked the mom to carry her while she carried the milk.
So often I stubbornly refuse to accept Jesus Christ's atonement in my life and just try to struggle along, dragging my heavy, heavy burden behind me instead of admitting I need help and accepting what he has already done for me. We can all learn a lot from these noisy, stubborn little children in our lives if we just take the time to look for the lessons.
Today I am thankful for
A daughter and son in law who have testimonies and are able to share them with others.
Dedicated Home Teachers - who come every month even though they don't always get the warmest welcome from out youngest.
Kleenex - for the obvious reasons.
A funny Kleenex story - today one of the little girls in nursery needed a tissue, so I gave her one and then went back to picking up the toys. All of the sudden, something came flying at me. It was the dirty tissue delivered by the little girl who then turned her back and walked across the room. I called her name. She ignored me. I called her name again. She ignored me again. This is the same little girl who recently can't be more than 3 inches away from me without calling for me to sit by her. She continued to ignore me a few more times until finally she looked up and I asked her to come and throw the tissue away. She looked at me and at it and then went right back to ignoring me. I called her one more time and she stomped over and took the offensive item between the tips of her fingers and threw it away before running back to sit in my lap. What a stinker! Speaking of stinkers, we had 3 dirty diapers in nursery today. We haven't even had one before today. What's with that?
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Interesting statistics
My school teacher daughter is taking an online class this summer. She shared these statistics with me from a book she was reading and I found them very interesting.
Research indicates that when we learn something new, we will remember:
10 percent of what we read
20 percent of what we hear
30 percent of what we see
50 percent of what we see and hear
55 percent of what we see and take notes on
70 percent of what we discuss with others
80 percent of what we personally experience
85 percent of what we see, take notes on, and review within five hours
95 percent of what we teach others
I was thinking about this today as it pertains to what we get out of our church meetings. I often feel that I attend church and get all motivated and enlightened, just to go home and continue to do what I've always done. For a while I was really good at taking notes during Sacrament meeting and the classes I attended. I guess that would give me a little more than a 50/50 chance of remembering what I learned (if the teacher used visual aids). Perhaps if I took notes and then reviewed them when I got home my chances of making a real change would increase by the same amount as the statistics show my memory of the information would increase. These statistics definitely prove what I have always believed - the teacher always gets more out of the lessons than anyone else does. I guess we should all be grateful for our church teaching opportunities. I would have to say I got more out of the nursery lesson than any of the kids did today, but that could be because they were totally out of control and running around the room while I was trying to teach them. My team-teaching husband ate something that didn't agree with him and he was out in the parking lot throwing up and going home during the lesson time and somehow all the kids knew they had the advantage over me. I guess I need to use more visual aids for the seeing part of learning, but then they all climb all over me and fight to get to be the one to hold the picture. Lesson time is definitely our weak link in the nursery equation, but I'll keep trying. Every once in a while the majority of them sit down and actually listen and that is an amazing experience. I love my calling!
Research indicates that when we learn something new, we will remember:
10 percent of what we read
20 percent of what we hear
30 percent of what we see
50 percent of what we see and hear
55 percent of what we see and take notes on
70 percent of what we discuss with others
80 percent of what we personally experience
85 percent of what we see, take notes on, and review within five hours
95 percent of what we teach others
I was thinking about this today as it pertains to what we get out of our church meetings. I often feel that I attend church and get all motivated and enlightened, just to go home and continue to do what I've always done. For a while I was really good at taking notes during Sacrament meeting and the classes I attended. I guess that would give me a little more than a 50/50 chance of remembering what I learned (if the teacher used visual aids). Perhaps if I took notes and then reviewed them when I got home my chances of making a real change would increase by the same amount as the statistics show my memory of the information would increase. These statistics definitely prove what I have always believed - the teacher always gets more out of the lessons than anyone else does. I guess we should all be grateful for our church teaching opportunities. I would have to say I got more out of the nursery lesson than any of the kids did today, but that could be because they were totally out of control and running around the room while I was trying to teach them. My team-teaching husband ate something that didn't agree with him and he was out in the parking lot throwing up and going home during the lesson time and somehow all the kids knew they had the advantage over me. I guess I need to use more visual aids for the seeing part of learning, but then they all climb all over me and fight to get to be the one to hold the picture. Lesson time is definitely our weak link in the nursery equation, but I'll keep trying. Every once in a while the majority of them sit down and actually listen and that is an amazing experience. I love my calling!
Sacrament meeting
My 16 year old son blessed the sacrament for the first time today in Sacrament meeting. He was worried about doing something wrong, but he did a great job. I hope he appreciates what a priviledge it is to be allowed to participate in this very sacred ordinance. Partaking of the sacrament and renewing our baptismal covenants are the most important reasons why we attend church each Sunday. I am grateful that he is worthy to have this opportunity and pray that he will always do his best to live his life in a way that will keep him that way.
We had a wonderful meeting today. We had a young couple speak who have not always lived the kind of lives they knew they should. The wife shared her conversion story and her husband shared how he became active again. They both bore such sweet testimonies. They, along with their year old son, were recently sealed in the temple and it is so amazing to see the changes that have taken place in their lives. His mother is one of the ladies that I went to the beach with and I know that his conversion and new lifestyle have been an answer to her many prayers. I was so touched by the spirit today. A member of the Stake Presidency also bore his testimony about the atonement and the power that it has to turn lives around. I am so grateful for the atonement and for the opportunity I have to repent and to start again every time I make a mistake. I would be lost without this great gift from my Savior.
Message to my children - Never forget that your elder brother, Jesus Christ, loves you and suffered for your sins so that you can be forgiven and begin again as many times as you need to. His love and his power are real and can change your life for good.
We had a wonderful meeting today. We had a young couple speak who have not always lived the kind of lives they knew they should. The wife shared her conversion story and her husband shared how he became active again. They both bore such sweet testimonies. They, along with their year old son, were recently sealed in the temple and it is so amazing to see the changes that have taken place in their lives. His mother is one of the ladies that I went to the beach with and I know that his conversion and new lifestyle have been an answer to her many prayers. I was so touched by the spirit today. A member of the Stake Presidency also bore his testimony about the atonement and the power that it has to turn lives around. I am so grateful for the atonement and for the opportunity I have to repent and to start again every time I make a mistake. I would be lost without this great gift from my Savior.
Message to my children - Never forget that your elder brother, Jesus Christ, loves you and suffered for your sins so that you can be forgiven and begin again as many times as you need to. His love and his power are real and can change your life for good.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Information for Inquiring minds
Today we all went to church here in Carlsbad. We were a little surprised when we started reading the bulletin and learned that it was Fast Sunday, since we had all had Fast and Testimony meeting last week on the first Sunday of the month. We wondered if we had run across an apostate group of church members, but we quickly discovered that their stake had had stake conference last week so Fast Sunday had been pushed back a week. I always appreciate how similar LDS church meetings are regardless of what part of the country you are in. The important things are done the same, you recognize the personalities bearing their testimonies - they just look a little different and have different names. It's easy to feel at home. Many of the testimonies born today referred to the tragic death of a child in the ward. It was obvious that this experience had touched each of the ward members as well as the community. Of course, possessing the inquiring mind that I have I was very curious and wanted to know what more details. Apparently I passed this trait on to my daughter because as soon as we got back to the condo we both headed to the computer to google the name and get the rest of the story. It is amazing to me how easily accessible information is in today's world. In a matter of moments we found several newspaper articles and learned that the little boy was 2 years old and had run in front of his neighbor's car and been hit. It was very sad, but from what we heard at church many positive things have happened as a result of this accident. The counselor in the bishopric shared how the bishopric had been praying about some concerns they had about their ward and then tied in how this experience had helped to alleviate all of the problems that they were focusing on. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us and I am looking forward to the day when I will finally understand and see the obvious wisdom in his plan for myself and those around me. Until then I will just try to have faith and strive to learn what it is I am suppose to be learning as these members of the church seem to be doing.
Friday, June 6, 2008
National Doughnut Day!
So, how many of you knew that today was National Doughnut Day? In honor of the event my youngest son and I took a field trip to the new Krispy Kreme Doughnut shop in East Mesa (right before gas took a 10 cent jump from $4.05 to $4.15 at the QT by my house). We are happy that Arizona once again has a Krispy Kreme and I am happy that it is far enough away that I am not tempted to visit very often.
I have a thought for you to help commemorate the day. I was listening to a talk on tape by Brenton Yorgason about marriage relationships. He had been counseling a couple who were contemplating divorce. He painted them a picture of the Mesa Temple with a cactus in the foreground and on the only spike on that cactus was a glazed doughnut. When he presented the picture, the wife asked him what in the world that was on the cactus. He asked what she thought it was and she said it looked like a doughnut. He told her she was right and when she questioned why the picture included a doughnut he told her this: "The only things you ever tell me about your husband are what he isn't, what he is missing. I want you to focus on what he is. I don't want you to look at his hole. I want you to look at his doughnut. He is a good provider. He has never cheated on you... When you eat a doughnut, you don't worry about the hole, you enjoy the rest of it. I want you to try to do the same thing with your marriage." Apparently that picture changed the couple's marriage and their lives.
Message to my Children - In relationships, try to always focus on the doughnut and not on the hole.
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