Rosey

Just in case there is any looking back on this time of my life with rose colored glasses, I will leave documentation to the contrary.  It may seem as if I've got it all figured out.  Wouldn't that be nice.  The reality is that I'm trying to figure it all out.  The figuring out part is messy.  Sure, there are some picture perfect moments....or I can pick out the perfect parts and focus on those.  My early years blog posts mostly consisted of the messy parts of life.  Those are the most fun to go back and read.  

So, in an effort to help myself remember reality and to give myself a good chuckle later....and to help anyone who may feel like everything looks awesome in my home all the time.....here's how FHE went last night;

It's been Christmas break.  Family scripture reading and prayer have been sparse.  There isn't a routine.  When there's no routine, we are not successful.  Sunday night we decided to have a "real" FHE because, according to my oldest, we don't have them enough.  OK.  Let's get out PMG again and have the 2 oldest give us a lesson.  I made the assignments and hoped for the best the following evening.  Monday night rolls around and I don't even want to have lessons.  I want the Christmas paraphernalia put back in the attic.  I'm actually hoping that Nate gets home too late from work to go through the formalness of FHE.  One of my children has prepared the lesson.  The other did not.  7 pm rolls around and it's time to start.  Nate made it home.  Time to suck it up.

Right out of the gate a fight breaks out because it's not fair that one of the kids didn't prepare their part of the lesson.  "Are you just going to let him get away with that?"  This was met with "you can force me to sit here, but you can't force me to participate" by the child that didn't do their part.  It was a lovely start to the night.  I decided to take over for the child that was refusing to participate.  In the meantime another of my children, who is days from 12, is rolling around the floor and shooting at people and making annoying noises.  I talked about the section I took over and finally just announced that I am done when yet another member of my family gets out the back massager and starts playing with that and getting off on a tangent involving google and reincarnation.

It's now my oldest turn for her part of the lesson.  She gives it a go and the atmosphere has deteriorated even further.  After reading over 20 verses to us and trying to get answers to questions and calling everyone stupid, she gives up. We then get into a discussion about the spirit.  Is the spirit truth or does it testify of truth.  It was a discussion like-  "That lamp is there, that's truth, therefore it's the spirit."  I couldn't take it all anymore and  I got up and walked upstairs, certain no one would notice I left and not caring because living out the rest of my days in a cave alone sounded pretty sweet.

Some days it just doesn't seem worth the trouble.  I have to remind myself about the content not being the important thing, but the consistency.  But man it's hard.  When the things we find to argue about every single day become exhausting.  When my kids are displaying every bad habit that I gave them and knowing that it's all my fault.  I've modeled the behavior for too many years and its 's not fun to know this.  What's done is hard to undo.  Old habits are hard to break.  It all just feels so hopeless sometimes.

But.  With each new sunrise comes new hope.  Nate was supposed to work a shift at the temple this morning, but they didn't need him.  So he decided that we should go together before he went into work.  We hit the 8 am session and while I was driving home I was contemplating an ongoing discussion/argument we've been having in my house lately.  It's that someone thinks that God is unfair and that he doesn't love everyone.  Why?  Because lots of people lived before the gospel was restored and lots of people are living now in countries that won't get the gospel etc....  We've talked and talked about this.  I brought it up in sunday school on Sunday.  I know all will be made right and fair.  That's why we are living in the last days.  It's the turning of the hearts the children to their fathers and the fathers to their children.  It's what I do in the temple.  I have no proof, but I believe that in the preexistence when the plan was laid out we not only had to have faith in Jesus Christ being able to fulfill his mission perfectly, but we also had to have faith in each other.  Those who came before the fulness of the gospel had to trust that those on the earth at that time would seek out their ancestors and do their work.  We promised that we wouldn't let the world get in the way of helping them.  We promised that we could be counted on.  After I made my comment, someone that I prayed into my life to help me with one of my children immediately spoke to life not being fair and it wasn't meant to be.  It's so great to have the extra help.

So.  I'm driving home today thinking about all of this and wondering how to get thru to this child.  How to keep going.  Then it hit me.  The parable of the vineyard.  The one about the laborers.  (I know, I've been getting lazy about putting references in here, sorry)   You know the one.  Some show up in the morning.  Some show up in the afternoon and some show up for the last hour of work.  When the day is complete and the master hands out the pay and everyone gets the same amount.  This is a hard parable.  The natural reaction is what?  That's not fair!  I've been here all day and he showed up for the last hour and got the same pay!  Well, it's like our friend (we refer to this in our family as our buddy in China)  that doesn't have the gospel.  Those that have the gospel are in the vineyard working hard and our buddy hasn't showed up yet.  I was so excited that I ran into the house and told this particular child about my inspiration.  He liked it and even added.  "yeah, he's (buddy in china) got his own challenges that are keeping him from making it to the vineyard sooner so it's fair."  Holy smokes.  Break thru.  But then, as always, there was more doubt because "why does he even need to come here at all then."  Ah, but you've already answered that question young grasshopper.  Why?  Because he needs to make it to get "paid" and it doesn't matter when he shows up, just so long as he does.  Depending on your paradigm you can either think the guy showing up for the last hour is the lucky one or the one who has been working all day is the lucky one.  A little sunrise to keep me going.

Life is hard with a lot of hard questions.  There are days you are going to feel like giving up.  There are days when things are going so well you are waiting for something bad to happen.  There are even a few moments of pure perfection where nothing but that moment matters.   I realized while I was at hot yoga today, in a pigeon pose, another reason I am studying forgiveness.  The instructor I had today liked to talk and it was all self affirmation stuff.....and mother earth nonsense, but it was still helpful.  The pigeon pose is the forgiveness pose.  The right side of your body represents male and the left side is female.  My body is one big ball of tension whether it's the making of male or female or chair or goat, I don't know or care.  I just need it gone.  Anyway, while you're in this pose you are supposed to think of who needs your forgiveness to get your body to open up and relax into the pose. Let it go.  Let it go.  Instead of conceal don't feel.  Haha couldn't resist.  My biggest enemy that I need to forgive?  Myself.

Forgiveness

I found an old copy of a "missionary" Book of Mormon laying around and claimed it for my next adventure.  As I mentioned in the previous post I was trying to decide what it was that I was going to focus my studies on.  Should I study the character of Christ, maybe promises the Lord made, prayer, then I thought "oh, maybe adversity - how to get thru it.  Yeah, that sounds interesting maybe that."  Then I started thinking about the character of Christ again and thought maybe that should be my focus.  Well, what do you do when you can't make a decision?  Or better yet, what do you do when you want to find out what the will of your father in heaven has for you?  You pray.  You ask.  So, I decided to take my question to my father.  What did He think my focus should be.

I will tell you a little about how I receive answers.  It's different for everyone and it doesn't even always happen in the same way for myself.  It's also very hard to discern the difference between my thoughts and His thoughts.  Did my brain just make that up or is that the answer sorta thing.  I presented each option and thought about the value of each and what I was likely to find on my journey, and feeling no real pull moved onto other things in my prayer.  While I was praying about something else a thought came to my mind.  Forgiveness.  Then I started thinking about something I've talked a lot about and thought a lot about.  That powerful sentence the Savior of the world says while hanging on the cross; "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."  Then I thought of the movie I just saw, Unbroken.  I thought of the power of forgiveness in Loui's life.

You would think I would have been excited for such an answer, but it was completely unexpected.  It wasn't something I thought I needed to spend more time on.  It also is a sister subject to pride.  They really go hand in hand.  It's hard to forgive someone when you are full of pride.  It is also hard to strip yourself of pride when you can't forgive someone because it is coaxing your pride out into the open.  I felt like I already knew that we were going to have to get really good at forgiving people to make it thru the last days.  I also wondered if I was going to find anything that spoke specifically to forgiveness in the BOM.  I thought Heavenly Father would tell me to study the character attributes of the Savior so that I could work on having those attributes myself.  I had already sought out my new colored pencil - orange - and was ready to go.

Here's what I know so far.  I started with the title page with my orange pencil in hand ready to find out what I needed to know about forgiveness.  I found something to highlight in the title page and when I did with my orange pencil I realized that I was using the wrong color.  I needed purple to represent the heart and bravery.  It takes a willing heart and bravery to forgive someone (to overlook their weaknesses) - as well as a stripping of pride.  I've read up to 3 Nephi and what I've started off marking is the point at which forgiveness enters the scene.  The opportunity for a breakdown in a relationship if forgiveness isn't applied.  Then what it is that you do to overcome the tendency to want pride to take over.  Laman and Lemuel wanted to kill their father yet he was naming places and rivers after them.  He was crying to the Lord on their behalf.  The same with Nephi - he cried unto the Lord for his brothers.

So, really I'm studying all the things I went to the Lord with.  To forgive is one of the character traits of the Savior.  Some of our most trying times in adversity will need forgiveness (sometimes that may even include forgiving our Father in Heaven when we don't understand His purposes) and prayer is an essential part of forgiveness.  Lastly there are promises attached to forgiveness.  There is additional adversity we can avoid thru forgiveness - think back to my little dwarfs and elves.  Think also of Loui and what forgiveness did for him.  I also think of my dear friend ( I think of him as a dear friend even though I don't know him, but he's helped me so much) Eli Savage and his ability to forgive.

I'm not sure what piece of the puzzle I'm missing, but I do know that forgiveness is the biggest challenge we have facing us in the last days (we are in chaos over racism and the police-just to name 1) which are quickly rolling toward us.  Let the journey begin :0)

Pride

Following Elder Bednar's suggestion for how to study the scriptures, I picked up a missionary copy of the Book of Mormon and set out to mark everything that has to do with pride.  I was looking for evidence of pride.  More specifically, what is it.  Is there good pride. What do you do about it.  What it does to people.  I started this journey while on our RV trip to Nauvoo in April.  The exact date was the 17th.  I finally finished Christmas morning at 6:41am.

I didn't think this little experiment would take me 8 months.  I was reading through the BOM much faster than that before -even while studying other books.  This time instead of it being on my iPad it was a hard copy- which I think contributed to it taking me longer.  Another factor - teaching seminary.  Ideally I wanted a quicker read through so everything flowed together and was fresh in my mind.  I could pick up major story lines and themes easier that way as well.  Regardless of how long it took, it was still a great journey and I learned a lot about pride and, most importantly, about myself.

On Christmas day we always see a movie together.  This year it was the hobbit.  It must have been because I had just finished up my study of pride that I made this observation about the movie.  One I explained to my family while we were driving back home.  It was met with laughter and sighs because a movie can't just be a movie with me - I've got to find the gospel message.  It is pretty funny that this is who I've become.  I like to think of it as enduring quality though. :0)  What was this observation?  Pride comes before the fall.  There were all manner of disputations among them (the elves and dwarfs) and there was no unity.  They were ripe for destruction and it left them vulnerable to the enemy (the orcs).  They suffered great losses because of this and what is done cannot be undone - even though you get your pride back under control.

I'm really not sure what to say about the experience.  Except that there is a big difference between pride in ones self and pride in the work and glory of God.  Look at Nephi and Ammon for examples of that.  Man gets himself into trouble every time he forgets where credit goes.  When he starts thinking too much of himself.  Uchtdorf has a great quote about humility.  "Humility is not thinking less of himself,  it's to think of himself less."  When God is giving you the strength and power to conquer all, don't you want to let others know they can have that too?  That's not pride in yourself.

Another observation.  Every problem we have -hard hearts, slow to hear the word of God, etc... comes from pride.  Relying on yourself and the arm of flesh.  Worrying more about what man thinks instead of what God thinks.  You can also start thinking too much of yourself because of your righteousness and get lazy and self righteous.  What's the objective of a prophet and missionaries?  To call people unto repentance.  Can you repent if you are full of pride?  No, because you don't think you need to.  What happens when we don't repent?  We destroy ourselves with all manner of wickedness. We bring about our own destruction because we start lusting after power, shedding of blood, costly apparel, etc.  Think back now on our elves and dwarfs...and the orcs.  You can't possess charity, which is the pure love of Christ, when consumed by pride.  Pride doesn't allow you to think of others and to think of serving God.  Pride wants you to look out for yourself and say, "what about me?"  I like how Bilbow realizes this and wants to help stop the infighting.  Pride causes us to turn inward instead of outward.  Pride cares about who gets credit for things.  Pride cares about what makes sense to the teaching of man instead of Gods ways.  We have to remember, (which pride causes us to forget instead of remembering) "God's ways are not your ways."

Bottom line.  Pride creeps into everything we do and everything we are.  We need to be aware of it- especially in ourselves.  Living in the celestial kingdom requires us to live the law of consecration.  You've got to have stripped yourself of all manner of pride to pull that off -which you need the atonement for because you can't pull this off by yourself.  You've got to be open to knowing what your weaknesses are and working on them.  That means we've got to admit that we have them.  dun dun dun.  That also means we've got to acknowledge that everyone else has the same problem we do when it comes to pride and weaknesses.  But, just as the Lord has promised, he makes weak things become strong and then the real shaping begins with our souls and the more we become like our older brother, Jesus Christ.

Next up?  I'm not sure.  Maybe the character of Christ, promises, or prayer.  I know what I wrote doesn't seem like much, but I assure you that the changes that occurred in me over this process cannot be put into words.  The goal isn't to give you the cliff notes so you don't have to take the journey yourself, but to spark enough interest that you want to take the journey.

Concerts, Concerts, and More Concerts

 Here it is.  The week the school tried to kill me.  We were at the high school 3 nights in a row for concerts.  I was thinking that I should have just brought a tent and camped out there.

The first night was Ethan's show choir concert.  I fell victim to not remembering that I had a "real" camera and only had my phone to document the adorableness of my son.  He is quite the showman.  One of our friends was just laughing after because he was so adorable.  He loves getting laughs so he works hard to get them.  It's perfect for show choir.  The funniest thing was when all the choirs came on the stage together (top right pic) and the director asked that the ones who couldn't be seen to make there way in front of a taller person.  Who popped out front and center?  That would be Ethan.  Love it!

 The next night was Jordyn's turn.  I was expecting not to have to fight my way thru hoards of people because it was just a little elementary school band performing.  Well, It was all 10 schools in the district for band and orchestra.  Look how cute my little flute player is.

 So, I had seen this guy in the red hat at the rehearsal the night before without his red hat on.  He stilled looked like Santa to me and when he showed up the next night in the red hat.....all doubt was removed ;)  I think he was checking on his naughty/nice list.

Wed night was the last night for me to take in the music scene in Rio Rancho.  Ethan had his band concert.  No mysterious guests this time.  However, there was a girl (teenage) sitting in one of the side balconies conducting each piece in the most spectacular manner.  It was making me jealous how free she was and how much fun she was having.  How many times have I wanted to do that?  Uh, lots!

Not only did I get to take in my 3rd concert for the week on Wednesday, but I awoke at 6am to snow falling.  I had to document it just in case it wasn't still there when the sun came up.  By 8am it looked like the second picture.  I was so hopeful.  So very hopeful.  Stick around snow.  Please.  Please.  But, just as I thought, it started raining and by 1 it looked like the 3rd picture.  Boo hoo.  But hey, we got to see snow for a few glorious hours.  Emma even built a snowman.  There's always tomorrow for dreams to come true.  

Student Gifts

In pondering long and hard about what to give the students for Christmas I came up with this idea.  It came to me after my own son made a remark about the Doctrine and Covenants only being about history and there was no doctrine or covenants in it really.  Are you kidding me?  What on earth have we been talking about every morning?  I'm always feeling bad that we don't have enough time to go over history more because it's more important to get the principles and applications down.  I was stunned.  

I went back over the manual for the semester and pulled out every principle that had an attached promise.  They were easy to find - the manual put them in bold print :0)  This is the application part of living the gospel.  Knowing what we need to do and what blessings are attached.

About principles Boyd K Packer said this;

"The Word of Wisdom was “given for a principle with promise” (D&C 89:3). That word principle in the revelation is a very important one. A principle is an enduring truth, a law, a rule you can adopt to guide you in making decisions. Generally principles are not spelled out in detail. That leaves you free to find your way with an enduring truth, a principle, as your anchor.

Members write in asking if this thing or that is against the Word of Wisdom. It’s well known that tea, coffee, liquor, and tobacco are against it. It has not been spelled out in more detail. Rather, we teach the principle together with the promised blessings. There are many habit-forming, addictive things that one can drink or chew or inhale or inject which injure both body and spirit which are not mentioned in the revelation"

With the new "Come Follow Me" program it's all about the "if/then."  If you do this then you will be blessed.  It's a call to action.  To become an agent who acts instead of one who is acted upon.  Every lesson should have a challenge to live the gospel.  Here's the problem.  You have to actually know if you have received a blessing by doing the if.  You've got to claim that blessing.  

When using the established pattern for going after blessings you've got to make sure of a couple of things.    Just as the Lord has made promises to us, we can in turn make some promises to him.  I'm a simple person.  A two way promise - by definition is a covenant.  However, it's a word that carries reverence and weight so in the church it isn't used except for when talking about ordinances.  Instead, we talk about principles with a promise.  Why?  Dunno.  Other than they don't want people getting confused on who sets the terms and the sacredness of them.  But, feel free to take that journey of discovery.  Here's what I do know.  

Where the topical guide will lead you;
Covenants  See also  Abrahamic Covenant ;  Priesthood, Oath and Covenant ;  Promise.
The bible dictionary;
"It's a promise where "God in His good pleasure fixes the terms, which man accepts."  
What else should you know?  
"Seek not to counsel the Lord"  is a talk by Marion G Romney 

Here's a quote from that talk;

"In my view, seeking to counsel the Lord generally means disregarding the Lord’s counsel, either knowingly or unknowingly, and in place thereof substituting our own counsel or the persuasions of men. Doing this is a very common human weakness. But until we are able to conquer it, real closeness to the Spirit of the Lord eludes us regardless of our other gifts and attainments."

That talk also talks about the 116 pages of manuscript that JS asked to give to MH 3 times.  He was given an answer, didn't like it, and kept asking until the Lord told him yes instead of no.

Ok, now a scripture and then I'll get where I'm going;

 29 Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened~ 3 Nephi 27

For me.  The Lord has set the terms to receive blessings.  They are all laid out below up to section 75 of the Doctrine and Covenants.  They are His terms, not mine.  The little asterisk disclaimer at the end of everything we ask for should be "if it be thy will" or something like "can I have this___?"   I'm in danger of counseling the Lord when I'm given my answer and I keep going back demanding a different one.  Sometimes the answer is no and we may never understand why.  Are there people who have asked to be cured from cancer that haven't?  Are they people who lost their job or couldn't get a new one?  Yes!  Are there stories where people did get what they asked for?  Yes!  You still have to have the faith to ask.  You have to have the faith to ask in specific detail.  You have to be doing your part to receive the blessing.  The Lord expects us to work out what it is that we want.  Take the brother of Jared for example and the rocks.  I'm sure the Lord was like "rocks, huh.  Alrighty then." But, the Lord told the brother of Jared to figure it out and come back to Him with the plan.  Then he didn't just pick up some pebbles, he went thru the process of making them clear before he took them to the Lord - he did his part.   

How does asking the Lord for what we want reconcile with being willing to accept whatever the will of the Lord is.  Shouldn't I just live my life accepting everything that is  thrown at me?  Throwing my hands up and saying "well, it's the will of the Lord, so...."  The trouble is, that is someone who is acted upon not an agent who acts.  I think of Neil A Maxwell who was willing to accept his fate of cancer and his wife had to remind him that the Lord absolutely expected him to ask to be healed and to go thru with treatments.  His life was spared for several more years after that.  The tricky thing is having the faith necessary to get what you asked for, but being willing to accept the will of the Lord if the answer is no or something different.  I don't think anyone ever claimed this process was an easy one and it's a journey everyone must take alone.  

My kids came home from EFY wanting to be more specific in their prayers.  They were told of a pioneer girl who had worn thru her shoes and desperately wanted a new pair while on the trail.  She was sitting on a log and prayed that the Lord would provide her with boots.  Red ones that laced all the way up but if all he could come up with was brown, she would take that.  What did she find when she leaned back on the log, nestled in a whole?  A pair of red boots that laced all the way up.  

I went to TOFW and one of the women talked about their bishop issuing a challenge to read the Book of Mormon in 90 days and they would be blessed.  They came home and got specific.  They claimed the blessing. They wanted to know for sure that they received a blessing.  The husband needed a job so they attached that blessing to the challenge.  At many different points throughout the 90 days they went back and forth between thinking it was something that would be granted and something that wouldn't.  On the 90th day they were at peace with whatever the Lord had decided and went to bed.  The next morning he had a job offer.  

My point.  When you are doing what the Lord asks you to do and tells you he will bless you for it, get specific.  You have to know how to see it.  You have to think of a way you will know that you are being blessed and then ask the Lord if it's something you can ask for.  You have to have the faith to move forward in that.  He is blessing us all the time.  This is a good way to open your eyes to it.   

20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. Doctrine and Covenants 130

So, below is the pattern set forth for blessings.  The law upon which blessings are predicated.  What you need to be doing in order to receive certain blessings.  It is kinda like amped up goal setting.  My husband's mission president had each missionary right down 3 things they wanted to see as blessings from serving their missions.  Basically, what they wanted to get out of the experience.  When he had is exit interview the president handed him back his list and to his surprise he discovered that his mission had been tailored to those specific things he had written down.  It was true of every missionary.  Some wrote things like "baptize 100 people" and they got it.  My husbands wrote skills and attributes he wanted to acquire and that's what he got.  The Lord wants us to ask for what we want and he'll give us what we need.  

At the end of Mormon he is pleading to future people of Christ to see what happens to people when they dwindle in unbelief.  He then leaves us with the list of to dos;

27 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.

 28 Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.

Thinking back now on what Boyd K Packer said about principles with their promised blessings.  The complete details aren't spelled out. You have to figure out what the principle looks like in your life (what does me living that look like because it's different for everyone) and what form the promised blessing comes in.    "That leaves you free to find your way with an enduring truth, a principle, as your anchor."

Use the principles with their promised blessings found in the D and C to take an experiment.  The kind of experiment that will change your life.  The most wonderful thing about this particular book of scripture is that it is the voice of the Lord.  You need to know.  Does he know me?  Does he hear me?  Does he love me?  Am I capable of communing with God?  Can he make me into something greater than I could have ever imagined?  There's only one way to find out.....and then what.

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3

The Principles With 

Their Promised Blessings

 In The 

Doctrine and Covenants

Part One

If we are obedient to the principles and ordinances of the gospel, we can overcome sin through the atonement of Jesus Christ

If we study the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, Then we can strengthen our testimonies of Jesus Christ

As we study the Doctrine and Covenants,  we can hear the voice of the Savior

If we pray for help in our times of need, then the Lord will give us guidance

JSH

If we pray in faith, Then God will answer our prayers

If we endure our trials well, Then God will exalt us and help us triumph over our foes

If we call upon God in times of hardship, Then He can give us peace

JSH

If we earnestly seek God’s help when Satan tries to discourage us, God can deliver us

If we diligently study God’s word and act on it in faith, then we can come to know the truths of the gospel for ourselves

JSH

As we take responsibility for and preserve that which the Lord has given us, He will extend His protection and help

D and C 3

If we are faithful to the Lord’s commandments, Then He will support us during times of trouble

If we repent of our sins, then we will receive the Lord’s mercy

D and C 4

If we serve God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength, we may stand blameless before Him at the last day

As we labor diligently to bring others unto Jesus Christ, we can also receive salvation for ourselves

D and C 5

If we will believe on the Lord’s words, He will confirm their truth through His Spirit

If we sincerely pray in humility and faith, then we can receive answers according to our righteous desires

D and C 8

If we pray with faith and an honest heart, we can receive knowledge from God

If we apply unto the spirit of revelation, we can be delivered from evil and harm

D and C 11

If we desire to do God’s work, we will be the means of doing much good

If you study the Lord’s word, then you will receive His Spirit and the power to convince others of the truth of the gospel

D and C 14

If we keep God’s commandments and endure to the end, we will receive eternal life

If we faithfully assist the Lord in His work, the Lord will bless us spiritually and temporally

D and C 17

If we obey and exercise faith in God, we can receive a witness of the truths of the gospel

D and C18

If we help others to repent and come unto the Lord, we will feel joy with them in the kingdom of God

D and C19

If we learn of Christ, listen to His words, and walk in the meekness of His Spirit, then we will have peace

If we do the will of the Lord, He will give us blessings that are of greater value than the treasures of the earth

D and C 21

If we heed the words of the prophet, we will be protected against the adversary

D and C 23

If we desire to serve the Lord, then we can receive personal guidance from Him

D and C24

If we are patient and endure our afflictions, the Lord will be with us

If we faithfully do what the Lord asks of us, then he will strengthen us

D and C 25

As we worship the Lord through righteous music, He will bless us

If we will keep God’s commandments continually, we will receive a crown of righteousness

D andC 27

If we take upon ourselves the whole armor of God, we will be able to withstand evil

D and C 29

If we do not repent, Jesus Christ’s atoning blood will not cleanse us

D and C 30

If we serve the Lord with all our soul, then He will be with us

D and C 31

If we are faithful to the end, then the Lord will be with us

D and C 33

If we open our mouths to declare the gospel, the Lord will inspire us with what to say

D and C 34

If we are faithful, the Lord will be with us

D and C 35

As we keep the commandments and honor our covenants, the Lord will help us accomplish His work

D and C 37

If we pray in faith, the Lord will answer our prayers -often through others

D and C 38

If we are not one, then we cannot be the Lord’s people

If we are prepared, then we shall not fear

D and C 39

If we receive Jesus Christ, then He will give us power to become His children

D and C 42

If we pray in faith, then we can receive the Spirit to help us teach others

If we have faith in Jesus Christ, then we can be healed according to His will

If we ask, then the Lord will give us knowledge that will bring us peace, joy, and eternal life

If we ask for wisdom, then the Lord will give to us liberally

D and C 43

If we act on the truths we learn, then we become sanctified

D and C 45

If we stand in holy places and watch for the signs, we will be ready for the Lord’s Second Coming

If we receive the truth and take the Holy Spirit to be our guide, we will abide the Savior’s Second Coming

D and C 46

If we earnestly seek the best gifts, God will grant them to us for the benefit of others

D and C 47

If we are faithful in our efforts to keep personal and family histories,  the Holy Ghost will help us

D and C 49

If we know the signs of the Second Coming, we will not be deceived by false claims

D and C 50

When we teach and learn by the spirit, we understand one another and we are edified and rejoice together

D and C 52

As we follow God’s instructions faithfully, He reveals more of His will to us

If you obey the Lord’s ordinances and live according to the revelations He has given, then you can avoid being deceived by Satan

D and C 53

If we keep our covenants and obey the Lord’s commandments, we will obtain mercy

If we seek the Lord early, then we will find rest to our souls

D and C 58

If we remain faithful in tribulation, then our eternal reward will be greater

If we wait for the Lord to tell us everything we should do, we will lose our reward

If we use our agency to do things that bring to pass righteousness, we will be rewarded

If we repent of our sins, the Lord will forgive us and remember our sins no more

D and C 59

If we keep the commandments with an eye single to the glory of God, then we will be blessed both temporally and spiritually

If we keep the Sabbath day holy, it will help us to resist temptation and overcome sin

If we do not express our gratitude to God and keep His commandments, we offend Him

D and C 60

If we do not share our testimonies, we can lose them

D and C 63

If we look upon others with lust, we will not have the Spirit and we deny the faith

If we are faithful and endure, then we will overcome the world

If we are prideful in doing the Lord’s work, the spirit is grieved

D and C 64

If we do not forgive others, we stand condemned before the Lord

If we follow the Lord’s will for us, we will not be tempted above that which we can bear

When we obey the Lord and offer sacrifices he asks of us, we are blessed

If we are diligent in doing good things, we can accomplish great things

D and C 65

If we ask, the Lord will show us the things we need to repent of

If we are faithful in doing the Lord’s will, He will be with us and will bless us so we can accomplish what He requires of us

If we continue faithfully to the end, we will receive eternal life

D and C 66

If we are faithful in doing the Lord’s will, He will be with us and will bless us so we can accomplish what He requires of us

If we continue faithfully to the end, we will receive eternal life

D and C 67

If we let fear into our hearts, then we can lose blessings

If we strip ourselves of jealousy and fear, humble ourselves, and continue in patience, we will be able to abide the presence of God

D and C 68

When the Lord’s servants are moved upon by the Holy Ghost, their words will lead people to salvation

D and C 75

If we are faithful in proclaiming the gospel, the Lord will bless us with honor, glory, and eternal life

If we are faithful in proclaiming the gospel, the Lord will be with us

“Just like the Lord instructs His early apostles so he instructs you and me, “follow thou me.”  Are we willing to obey?  The knowledge which we seek, the answers for which we yearn, and the strength for which we desire today to meet the challenges of a complex and changing world can be ours, when we willingly obey the Lords commandments.  I quote once again the words of the Lord, “He that keepeth Gods commandments, receiveth truth and light until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.”~Gordon B Hinkley

Love, Sister M

“Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but to think of ourselves less.”  ~Dieter F Uchtdorf

“Don’t let your trials own you, you own your trials.” ~unkown

Love Sister I

Christmas Potpourri

I am really behind on writing.  As such, I will just throw in a bunch of random events and give a little detail about it.  I hate catch-up posts.  But, when you've had a bout of writing laziness, you're left with no choice.

I held off until the day of Thanksgiving to decorate the house (I almost started the week before that).  If you don't get it done early enough, there just isn't any point to working that hard for such a little amount of time to enjoy your fruits.  My family made me wait because Jared was insistent that Thanksgiving was given it's proper respect and space.  BTW, That's my new green couch that was the product of compromise.

I've been going thru a bit of a trial of faith for a few weeks now and it came to a perfect crescendo this past fast Sunday.  I'm a bit of a whimp when it comes to fasting, but I was in serious need of guidance so I decided to get serious.  I display attributes of one who has hypoglycemia and so I usually like to skip dinner and breakfast so that I can eat lunch before going to church so that I don't feel like stabbing people while I'm there.  Starting your fast on Saturday night is pretty tricky business though and this time a work party was in my way.  So fasting while churching was what I was left to do.  The bible tells us that we aren't supposed to display any negative emotions about fasting so wearing a don't talk to me sign was out of the question.  

Surprisingly enough when you really need to fast, it is easier.  I ended up getting some great advice that I will share with you - because everyone is going to need it at one point or another in their life.  It's this; the world is filled with people that make you want to lose your religion.....most of which are in the church, but you can't let them because you know what's at stake.  If I've learned anything from studying the Doctrine and Covenants it's that very principle.  These times and the people we share them with will try hard to define us and we just have to have faith and trust in the plan.  Sometimes all you can do is say "I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ" over and over and over until you believe it and know it.  

What did I come home to after my soul cleansing experience?  A leaking and broken water heater.  I took it in stride because why wouldn't it be broken on a day like that. I mean seriously.  I go camping all the time, we can totally live without hot water.  It is winter and the water is a bit more frigid than I'm willing to venture into at 5am in the morning so Monday I just skipped the shower.  I asked the seminary kids to pray that I would be able to get it repaired quickly and braced myself for the ride.....and the coming bill.  Guess what?  I called the company that installed my last water heater when the house was built.  I knew I was in for trouble and expense because it's 75 gallon and they don't carry them at the local hardware store.  The company called around town and found 2 - 1 of which was badly damaged, but the other one we could have if I was ready to fork over the large sum of cash......and the best news.....he could be there by 11:30am.  Hallelujah.  I was stunned that they were coming out so quickly.  Prayer answered, thanks to the faith of my students.  

"There are 2 ways to live; you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle" ~ Albert Einstein.  Guess which way I live?  

There's my new little beauty all installed and re-piped -they were at my house for 4 hours, but I had hot water by the end of the day.  Money just slipped through my fingers like hot water thru a leaky tank.  It could have been so much worse.  My neighbors house was ruined when hers went and ended up having to move out to get all new flooring and drywall because it flooded most of her main level. 

Next we have the work party.  One of the gals had a baby a few weeks ago so Nate and I took turns trying to steal her for our Christmas present.  The most hilarious thing Nate did was take a selfie.   I think that was his first one ever.  It was totally cracking me up.  For the permeant record.  I hate.  Let me say this again.  I hate white elephant gift exchanges.  I really do.  They are a total waste of money and I don't feel like spending money on wasteful things when I'm already spending tons during Christmas.  I always buy nice gifts for these things because I don't want to come with the thing no one wants.  Why is that considered fun?   I think my "elf" glasses got passed around more than anything else....except for the mason jar mugs I had scored until they kept getting stolen from me and then I would steal them back and then I walked home with something that can only be used as a re-gift for the next time I'm sucked into one of these things.  But, I had a blast hanging out with everyone and playing a cut throat game of "left, right, center."  I was totally gambling for mint patties.

Every Christmas the schools try to kill parents.  It started with curriculum night and all the arts take turns performing in the cafeteria.  A space that is way too small to house the parents of all the students in choir, band, and orchestra.  But, it was Ethan's turn to feel loved and supported so I dove into the mosh pit and found a place to sit.  By the time show choir got it's turn most everyone had left so it wasn't too terrible.  Ethan joined show choir which is following in his sister's footsteps.  He is totally adorable.  Little Mr Showman.  

Last Monday we made gingerbread houses.  Everyone was mocking my style of putting my house together until mine was the only one left standing.  Poor Emma's fell apart so many times that she ended up taking a butter knife to it in frustration.  I was able to get everyone else's to stay standing so they could decorate them.  I think Jordyn and Nate spent the most time decorating theirs.  

Friday was the last day of seminary for the semester and our students were super sly by sending a card around during class that they signed for us.  We had the missionaries in talking about section 75, which is getting called to preach the gospel.  One of the parents also brought in a truck load of food for us so there was lots going on making it easy to sneak a card around.  I think it's funny how the card, when opened, looks like the 10 commandments.  heehee.  The mother that brought the food must also know that Kim and I teach most mornings in our slippers because we each got a pair.  Our secrets are getting out.  I think skirts and slippers are a fashion statement.  I was wearing shoes when it was warmer weather, but my little toes have been cold.

Isn't it Murphy's law that when you don't need something, you get it right away and when you do, it never comes.  Well it was that way with the 2 chairs I got to go with the new couch.  When they said it would be at least 3 weeks for the chairs, I was grateful because I had nowhere to put them with the location of the tree this year.  Wouldn't you know, they got them in early.  I put them off for nearly a week but on Friday it was time to pick them up.  I managed to get one of them in the living room, but  I soon discovered that it wasn't the chair I ordered.  The one I ordered had shorter stubbier legs and it was more modern shaped-like the couch.  This one looked like a granny chair.  I like traditional, but this was stretching even for me.  What surprised me the most is how in love the rest of the family was with them.  Jared said they looked like we were getting ready to invite the queen over for tea and Emma was ready to conduct a sherlock interview.  So I guess we are keeping the stuffy looking chairs.  One of them is in the family room and it is the chair that gets fought over.  Emma had set up camp in it yesterday with her laptop doing school work.  

This past Saturday Nate wanted to take Emma and me to the range to try out several handguns.  He wants to sell our old ones and get new ones and he needed us to pick.  I was not feeling very good at all.  I had to sit in a fold up chair and hope that I didn't toss my cookies and only get up long enough to take a couple of shots to make the hubs happy and then sit back down.  My first gun is a little too big for me, so I'm getting something easier to handle.  I am actually pretty excited about a course we are going to do as a family in January.  Interesting factoid.  I'm right handed and left eye dominant....and I'm a really good shot.   Emma was impressive with her gun handling.  She went to the weekend long course for her birthday and she's good.  Really good.  The way she drops a clip and checks the chamber and then loads.  Impressive.  

On the way home from the range I informed Nate that I would not being going out to lunch with the family and instead crawling into bed and wishing for death.  Man did I get sick.  I felt like if anyone touched me by bones would turn to ash.  Luckily I only came close to throwing up- I absolutely refuse to.  I lived on gatorade for 2 days.  You know I was sick and near dying because I was supposed to be working a shift at the temple with Nate and I couldn't go.  I wasn't sure which was hurting more, being sick or not going to the temple.  It started raining with snow sometime that evening and I awoke to a note from Jordyn.  She didn't want me to miss the snow, but she didn't want to wake me up.  The mountains were covered in white Sunday morning.  

Speaking of Sunday morning.  While everyone was at church I decided to watch "17 Miracles" while wondering if food would ever sound appetizing again.  I love that movie and I bawled like a baby and was grateful to know that I would be better in a couple of days and not going thru that.  I especially love Eli Savage.  He is my hero and he exemplifies how to not let people make you want lose your religion.  He was a humble and obedient man and I admire him greatly.  

Because I was laid up with the flu for a couple of days and Jordyn was getting impatient for Buddy the elf to start up his pranks, I enlisted the help of Emma and Jared....well, Emma mostly.  She does such a great job.  Below is the one from this morning.  Seriously cracks me up.  How cute is that?  Silly elf.  

Next post.  How the school is trying to kill me.....with choir and band concerts....and basketball.