Gospel Topic Tuesday: Children of God

Today while we were reading our scriptures as a family I was thinking to myself how does this apply to me. We were reading in the Pearl of Great Price in Moses chapter 1. I started to think about how wonderful it must have felt to Moses to have God call him His son. To know that he was the son of diety. It must have made him feel very special.

Next I decided to input my name in place of Moses in a few verses to apply the scriptures to me and make it more personal. I've done this a few times before and whenever I do it I feel like that verse was written just for me.

We are all God's children and we have a divine purpose here on this earth. I am grateful for the knowledge I have that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows me by name. He knows my name and I am his daughter. He knows each of us by name and has a purpose for us here on this earth. We just have to trust in Him and lean on him for understanding, guidance and direction.

I know this to be true with all my heart.

Gospel Topic Tuesday:Loving Our Neighbor

I'm currently reading in Alma right now in my personal scripture study. I came across verse 11 from chapter 14. I found it powerful and comforting as I thought about a recent conversation at church with our youth. We were discussing with the youth about being bullied and how to deal with life when bad things happen. Specifically we were trying to get them to understand that they should speak up for themselves and each other that they deserve to be treated better. As I was reading this verse and thinking about this conversation and pondering things in my own life I just was greatly comforted. We may not always know and understand why things have to happen in our life but the Lord is mindful and watching over. He is aware when we've been slighted in any way and unless the person changes their ways they will be dealt with accordingly at that day of judgement but it is not up to us to punish them or judge them.

Our responsibility here on earth is to learn and to grow and follow the Lord's example. He also was treated unfairly and had horrible things done to him yet He did not fight fire with fire. He was meek and humble and tried to teach principles of love, forgiveness and charity. We are told that we are to love our neighbors as we should love ourselves. Do you love your neighbors? Do you love those who tease you? Annoy you? Refuse to talk to you? It's hard isn't it? I struggle with loving those who are mean to me but I am reminded of the primary song "I am a Child of God" and that we are all God's children and need to love each other. We are all of value. We all have trials that we will have to endure but our Savior is there. He is willing to help us. Though He might not take the trial away He can make it bearable.

President Dieter F. Utchdorf stated "Wherever you live on this earth and whatever your life’s situation may be, I testify to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the divine power to lift you to great heights from what appears at times to be an unbearable burden or weakness. The Lord knows your circumstances and your challenges. He said to Paul and to all of us, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” (Have We Not Reason to Rejoice? Dieter F. Uchtdorf October 2007) I know that through the gospel of Jesus Christ we can find peace, comfort and love. He is there for each of us and mindful of us. I know this to be true.

{I started this on Tuesday and then finished it today.}

{Do you have any gospel topics you wish to hear about?}

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Attitude During Trials

"How you deal with life's trials is part of the development of your faith." (Face the Future with Faith, Russell M. Nelson, April 2011) It's all a matter of perspective and attitude. Life can throw lots of hard trials our way but how we deal with them can strengthen or weaken our faith.

I've recently gone through some trials where my faith was tested and I hope that I have come out stronger. During one of the trials I had a moment where I could have become self absorbed and had a pity party for myself but I decided to trust in God and in his plan. I know that He knows me and is aware of my trials and is there to help me through it. I had to experience the sorrow for a purpose, which purpose I know not right now but I am trying to be more like my Savior and be patient in my trials.

Sometimes our patience is truly put to the test. While Jared and I were both jobless for 5 months we prayed every day for guidance and direction on what we needed to do to get a job that would bless our family. Money kept getting tighter and I started to wonder what we would do. I was starting to question that we had made the right decision to send Jared to school. Just when I thought we were only going to get more desperate I got a call out of the blue about my old job. The timing of the job was too perfect on so many ways and it met all of our needs financially and medically. We have to be patient and trust in God. His ways are not our ways and He is all knowing and all seeing.

I am so grateful to know that God is there and is aware of us and has a plan for us. We just need to trust in Him and keep strengthening our faith. As we keep a positive attitude during our trials and lean on our Savior for strength we will be able to endure any trial we have to endure.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Atonement

I've been studying the atonement of Jesus Christ, our Savior, this past week. I've been pondering it and reading scriptures and thinking it through. What a selfless act of love the atonement is. When I think about it, I wonder if I am capable of such love in only the smallest measurement. I try to love man as we are told to do but I find it so very hard. There are so many people who just irritate me or annoy me and I struggle to find anything good about them. Yet here is the example of our Savior who loved us all despite all that we would do and He bled in the Garden of Gethsemane and let Himself be crucified that we might have someone to turn to for forgiveness and a way to conquer death both physically and spiritually.

Isaiah chapter 53 is a great chapter to read about what the Savior went through and how humble and meek He was. In verse 5 it reads "he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Everything that we experience and go through in this life He understands. He endured it all and so much more. There is no feeling or pain or sin that He can't understand and comfort or take away if we turn to Him and trust in his redeeming power.

I am so thankful for my Savior and His love for me. I am thankful for His Atonement that makes it possible for me to overcome my shortcomings and find forgiveness. How through Him I am able to forgive others and find peace in my life. His life is a great example of how to live my life and try to do better.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Humility & Pride

If someone were to tell you that you were doing something wrong how would you respond? Would you take it in stride? Would you shut down? Would you ignore them? Would you get angry with them? When I am told I am doing something wrong I tend to jump to a defensive mode. I try to defend myself even if while I am defending myself I realize they are right. But I don't want them to know that so I stay in defense mode.

Why is this? I have this feeling it is because we are not humble. We are too prideful to have someone else tell us what to do or to correct us. So what if it's Heavenly Father telling us that what we are doing is wrong and that we need to repent? Do you listen? Or are you too prideful and choose to ignore him?

We need to be more humble and teachable. Our trials are ways to humble us and teach us to rely on the Lord. My thoughts are turned to the hymn "Be Thou Humble". The first verse is as follows:

"Be thou humble in thy weakness, and the Lord thy God shall lead thee,
Shall lead thee by the hand and give thee answer to thy prayers.
Be thou humble in thy pleading, and the Lord thy God shall bless thee,
Shall bless thee with a sweet and calm assurance that he cares."

Heavenly Father loves us so much and wants only to bless us but we have to trust in Him and listen humbly. If we turn our weaknesses over to God He will lift us and strengthen us and we will no longer be weak.

I am grateful for my weaknesses and the opportunities I have to be humbled to remember God and His love for me. I know that all I have is from Him and that through Him all things are possible.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Faith & Trials...Gifts

I haven't done a gospel topic Tuesday posting in forever. I keep thinking oh I will start that next week and then next week comes and goes. I was just about to let another week pass when I decided I just needed to sit down and take 5 minutes and write.

I was reading yesterday in "True to the Faith" about faith for a personal progress experience I am working on. I found a passage that stuck out to me. "Faith is a gift from God, but you must nurture your faith to keep it strong." There's a few reasons I liked this passage. One is because it says faith is a gift. It is given to us. It's a heavenly quality. I found that personally comforting. Two is because we have to nurture our faith to keep it strong. Which means we have to use it. As I was thinking about this I was thinking about trials and how if we step back and think about it our trials are opportunities to strengthen our faith. We are given the chance to use the faith we have and strengthen our testimony and come closer to God. It was kind of like an "ah ha" moment for me. Not only does God give us our faith but then He gives us opportunities to use it and develop it.

I'm thankful for my testimony of the gospel. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church. Though the trials are sometimes hard I am grateful I have them to help strengthen me and develop me into the person Heavenly Father wants me to be.

Thankful...

I wanted to wrap up my month of thankfulness with a little bit of a gospel topic Tuesday action. Unfortunately at night I am too tired to get online and do this (sleep is much more important to me) so it's a little late.

The whole reason for me writing about things I am thankful for stemmed from a General Conference talk by President Monson this past October. His talk titled "The Divine Gift of Gratitude" talks about how when we are truly thankful we are able to unlock the doors of heaven and feel more of our Father's love. I have found this true in my life. When I am thankful and focus on the countless blessings I have received I can see more clearly the love Heavenly Father has for me. And what a blessing to know that as we give thanks the doors of Heaven are opened, in these days that we are living in who couldn't afford to be a little closer to Heaven?

President Monson said, "Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings." There are moments (I did use the word moments specifically for a reason. I know that when you are in the midst of a trial it doesn't seem like a moment in time but once you have gone through it and reflect back on it, it really was only a moment) in our lives when we are feeling we are not being blessed. Those are the times we most especially need to stop and contemplate all we have and look for the blessings we have been given.

I am thankful for the gospel in my life and the knowledge and testimony I have that the gospel is true. That Joseph Smith was called of God to restore His true church back onto the earth. I am thankful for the Book of Mormon and other scriptures I am blessed to have in my life to study and learn gospel principles from and to gain further enlightenment and answers to prayers. I am thankful for the power of prayer and know that my prayers are heard and answered. I am thankful for my husband and all that he does for me and our family. I am especially thankful he is a worthy priesthood holder which blesses our lives immensely. I am thankful I was blessed with Benjamin this year and that everything went well and he is growing strong and healthy. I am thankful for this time of year to reflect on the miraculous birth of our Savior. I am so thankful for our Savior and His love for each of us and His willingness to atone for our sins. I know I can go to Him at any time and find comfort, understanding, guidance, acceptance, love and forgiveness.

The list goes on but I am going to leave it there. I've enjoyed turning my thoughts toward my blessings and thinking about things throughout the day that I am thankful for. I have felt it to be a blessing in my life. I hope that I can continue this habit of being thankful throughout the year. And anyone who reads this I challenge you to do it too.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Faith in God

How would you describe faith to someone? While sitting on my front porch with Benjamin on my lap today (10/27/10) I started to think about faith. As I was sitting there watching Benjamin experience things for the first time and wondering what he thought about all the things he was observing and feeling this lead me to think about the wind. How do you describe to a child what the wind is or to believe it is a real thing? You can’t truly see the wind or actually grab it. You can see what its actions do to leaves and branches and you can feel it in your face as it whips your hair around. I mulled this over and over while we waited for daddy to get home from work. Faith is to believe in something you can’t see. Is that not like the wind? Everyone accepts that there is wind and believes in that so therefore we are showing faith in something unseen right? So why is it so hard to accept the fact that there is a God who created this world? Even though you can’t see Him right now or physically grab Him you can see and feel His touch in your life and the world around you. I see God in the creation of life. How a child was born from me with a body that is capable of so many things. I see God in the rain that falls and replenishes the earth. I see God in friendships that are created and relied on for help and strength. I see God molding me into who He needs me to be to help do his work on the earth. I have faith that He exists and that He knows me and loves me.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Here Am I, Send Me

Our Sunday school lesson was in the book of Isaiah. There was one verse that stood out to me. Isaiah chapter 6 verse 8, "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." There was a comment made but I can't recall completely what was said. But what I took away was here was someone being like the Savior. Being willing to go forth and do God's will.

This scripture is about how God needed someone to go and prophesy and Isaiah said he was willing. There is another verse in the scriptures very similar to this. One where a council is being held and a decision made. It's found in Abraham chapter 3 verse 27, "And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, Send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first." This was Jesus Christ and Lucifer talking. Lucifer wanted to be the one to go down and make sure none of us strayed from the path and wanted all the glory to himself. Jesus Christ was willing to go down and give up His life and follow the plan that Heavenly Father had laid out. And He said the glory would be God's. He wanted to do all His Father asked of him.

Here am I, send me. Such a simple yet profound remark. I find it moving I guess because I am not always so willing to do the Lords work. I need to be better at responding "Here am I, send me." I know that I was put here on this earth for a divine reason. I have missions to carry out that no one else can do if I am willing to do them. I need to be better at responding to the Lord's call "Whom shall I send?" and do it with a glad heart.

I know that when we serve with a happy heart, faith and trust in the Lord we will be blessed. And we will be able to accomplish more with his help then if we were to try to go it on our own.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Time, A Gift From God

My to do list most days requires more time than I have available. Doesn't that seem to be how it goes for most of us?

My mom gave me this short book "All the Time You Need" by Mary Ellen Edmunds. I just finished reading it for the second time and I am looking forward to reading it again with a pen and highlighter. There are so many insightful comments and ideas about time and how we should use it. I will share a few things I have found enlightening.

"Time is a gift. It is a gift from God. We can't demand more, and we can't insist on less." (All the Time You Need, Mary Ellen Edmunds) I personally had never thought about how time was a gift given unto us. I knew from studying the scriptures and personal prayer that my life was a gift and each day I have is precious. But I had never taken it further to realize each minute of the day was a gift given to me. What am I doing with that gift? Am I discarding it? Throwing it aside? Am I using it to it's fullest? Am I sharing it with others to benefit them?

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "Most of us have more things expected of us than we can possibly do." (Dallin H. Oaks, “Good, Better, Best,” Ensign, Nov 2007) How many of us feel this way? It's true is it not? So since we have more things to do than we have time how do we decide which things to do? Which things get our attention first? "We all have a long list of things to do, whether written down or rattling around in our brains: pray; study; exercise; plant a garden, eat it; raise brilliant, cheerful, reverent children; clean a basement; write in a journal; avoid fat, calories, movie theater popcorn and evil thoughts; pray for your enemies; store a year's supply of food; say yes to everything anyone asks you to do and hunt for more things to do; plant trees; remember the pioneers..." (All the Time You Need, Mary Ellen Edmunds).

We have been told by our Prophets and apostles that if we put the Lord first everything else will fall into place. So how do we put the Lord first? What do we need to do? We need to study our scriptures, say our prayers (both alone and as a family), attend the temple and keep a prayer in our hearts throughout the day. "President Harold B. Lee taught: "Most men do not set priorities to guide them in allocating their time [maybe he meant women do?] and most men [and women] forget that the first priority should be to maintain their own spiritual and physical strength [don't forget that]; then comes their family; then the Church; and then their professions."" (All the Time you Need, Mary Ellen Edmunds). President Lee said our first priority needs to be our own spiritual and physical strength. Why is that so important? If we are to do any other good in the world we need to be strengthened first so that we can do the things we need to do and withstand temptations. "We don't put first things first to get them done and out of the way - we put them first because of the critical effect they have on everything that follows." (All the Time You Need, Mary Ellen Edmunds).

"President Ezra Taft Benson taught us that "when we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the ...demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities."" (All the Time You Need, Mary Ellen Edmunds) What a comforting statement from President Benson! If we do what we should first (and when I do I feel at my best) everything works out. We are able to accomplish the necessary things and get more done. It's kind of like how the tithing principle works. When we give the Lord the 10% He asks of us in return for all He gives us. If we use our time wisely and use it to draw closer to the Lord first we are better able to find ways to use each minute of the day. It's amazing how it happens. I have seen it happen many times in my life.

Now what about using our time to bless others? "One important thing in my life that troubles me, because I'm not good at it yet, is that I don't want to seem too busy for people, to help or just be with people." (All the Time You Need, Mary Ellen Edmunds) I had a recent experience with this. I was working on projects around the house getting things done while taking care of my son Benjamin. I got a phone call from a good friend. She asked me if I was available to go out and help her window shop for material. My first reaction was no, I was too busy getting things done around the house. As we talked for a few more minutes and she explained how her husband had the older kids and she knew it was last minute I came to realize that my household things were good to be doing but that my time would be better spent with my friend. I got myself ready and off we went to JoAnn's. When I got home that day I felt that I had chosen the better thing to do with my time. I had helped a friend in need and strengthened our friendship.

Time is a precious gift that we are given and we need to do our best to put the Lord first and with his help prioritize the things on our long to do list. I personally do so much better on the days that I start off with scripture study and prayer than the days that I skip them.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Marriage Between a Man and a Woman

I've been reading the Proclamation on the Family a lot over the last week. I found two blogs that are focusing on it for the whole month of September and I've been loving it! While cleaning and organizing on Friday I found the words my Bishop spoke at our wedding. He had it all typed up and gave us the copy. Which I am so glad he did because I was so not paying attention. I was nervous and in a hurry to get married. I read through it and was just touched by so many things he said to us. I felt it was right in line with things taught in the Family Proclamation.

The first line in the proclamation is "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children." This proclamation was given to the church and the world in 1995 years before most people questioned what a marriage was. Now there are people all over trying to say that same sex marriage is copacetic. God has made it clear from the very beginning that marriage between a man and a women is what He intended. "Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan." Heavenly Father's purpose for us here on the earth is "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Found in Moses 1:39) To make this happen He created families with a Mother and a Father to rear and raise children.

The proclamation states that "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children." I am going to focus right now specifically on the husband and wife. I find it important how it states that it is a solemn responsibility. We need to not take our relationship with our spouse lightly. In the comments from my Bishop he states "...cleave unto each other, and to none else! And then, together, cleave unto Christ and His gospel. Consider for a moment what that means...what it entails. And, it simply means this: there is no other, period. You are to be each other's best friend, period. You discuss and share emotionally sensitive issues and intimacies only with each other. You don't confide in others, only each other. You discuss and resolve conflict only with each other..." Over the years as I look back after reading this I can see and understand why this is so important. If you are not discussing and confiding things in your spouse you can start to grow apart. It is vitally important that you take time each day with your spouse to discuss your day and your thoughts and feelings.

"Love is more than simply caring for someone. Love is more than giving selflessly of oneself for the other's happiness and well being. Love is more than simply sacrificing, and more than anticipating and meeting the needs of the other. There can be no love without sacrifice, and there can be no sacrifice without discipline. Love is all of these things, combined with deep friendship, trust, concern for the well being and happiness of the other. Love is work...hard, strenuous work, at times. But work that brings an unmatchable reward!" (My Bishop's comments) Sometimes marriage can feel more like work and harder than it used to be when you first fell in love. But things in life that are worth it take hard work.

The proclamation gives guidance on how we can have successful marriages. "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." Prayer as a couple is important and should happen every day. We do it every morning and night before we have personal prayers which helps us to make sure we have our personal prayers each day. I think respect and forgiveness are both very important. We must always treat each other with respect. I don't remember where I heard it now but I remember being told that you should never bad mouth or say anything negative about your spouse to others. By not sharing your husband or wife's faults with others or complaining about what they did or didn't do you are showing you respect them. Now of course sometimes we slip and that is just one instance where forgiveness comes in. When we make mistakes we need to go to our spouse and confide in them and ask for forgiveness if we've made a mistake.

I'm very grateful for my husband. He is my best friend and I appreciate each day that I have with him. I know that the proclamation on the family is inspired. And I know that it came out in a time that it would be most needed to help families stick together and be prepared for the times ahead of them.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Scripture Study

I was reading my scriptures 3 days ago now when I was in need of some insight, direction and comfort. I am always amazed at how they pop out at you when you need it and give you the answers you need at that moment. Yet how easily it is to forget that and to let scripture study pass by for a day and then a week and then months. I have always had a hard time studying my scriptures regularly unless I had a purpose or a goal. Last year I read the Book of Mormon all the way through because I had a goal to read it by a certain date.

So since I hadn't been reading my scriptures in awhile I didn't have a place to pick up from. I fumbled around a bit and then stopped at a highlighted scripture and started reading. It was in the middle of a chapter so once I was done I went back and read the beginning. I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah chapter 23. Verses 22 and 23 were highlighted. They read as follows, "Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless -- whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people." I found these two verses to be very comforting! The Lord gives us trials to test us and to try us which sometimes is very hard. Yet He tells us that if we trust in Him that we will make it through. By trusting in Him we are showing we have faith in Him. As long as we trust in God we can make it through any trial.

The next day I decided to read the next chapter in Mosiah, chapter 24. And verses 12 - 16 stood out to me. They read as follows, "And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage." These scriptures testified to me of how the Lord is aware of us. He is aware of our trials, shortcomings, pains, joys, sorrows and needs. He knows what we need and how to help us make it through this earth life if we turn to Him and ask Him to help us. We have to have faith that He can and will help us and take that leap of faith to move forward.

As I've been pondering thoughts and feelings over the last week while watching family members I've been reminded just how important scripture study is. Daily immersion in the scriptures is necessary for our spirits to be renewed, for us to find the guidance we need in our lives and to bless us with the Holy Ghost each day. I do not disagree though that it is hard. We have so many things to do each day and the "To Do" list is always growing. So how do we make it happen? And how do we find joy in reading the scriptures?

I found a great talk by Russell M. Nelson titled "Living by Scriptural Guidance". He has some great insights into how to make scripture study happen each day and how to make the scriptures come alive for us personally. He says that "Achieving scriptural guidance is aided by posing pertinent questions.” I have found in my life that when I go to the scriptures with a question or a need that answers pop out at me and I am able to apply stories and lessons in the scriptures to my life. We then need to "begin with a determination to “liken all scriptures unto us … for our profit and learning."" Instead of just reading the scriptures to read them we need to take the time to apply them and find ways to apply them into our lives. We can put ourselves in the scriptures by inserting our names when the Lord is talking to someone and receive direction.
Now the hardest thing for me sometimes is remembering to go and study my scriptures each day. I will want to do it but I think "oh, I will go do that later." And what happens later for my scripture study never comes. Russell M. Nelson says, "Time for scripture study requires a schedule that will be honored. Otherwise, blessings that matter most will be at the mercy of things that matter least." I can attest that when I set aside a certain time each day to study my scriptures I am more likely to get make it happen then if I keep telling myself it will happen later. I like what Russell M. Nelson said at the end of that quote that the blessings we could reap won't.

I know that personal and family scripture studies are important. They are vital! Heavenly Father will bless us for doing so! Satan is doing all he can right now to tear us down and break up families. He wants nothing more than for us to stop trying and be miserable like he is. Don't let him win. Fight for your family, fight to make scripture study a part of your daily life. Make it a priority and you will reap many blessings. I know that the scriptures are true I bare you my testimony that they are. I have felt the Lord's hand guiding me in my life as I have studied them. I have received answers and comfort. I am grateful that the Book of Mormon was restored in these latter days.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Priesthood Blessings

Sunday night while saying my prayers the thought came to me that I needed to ask Jared for a blessing. After I was done with my prayers and Jared was too I asked him for a blessing. After he gave me the blessing I felt so much better. I was starting work the next day and was unsure how I was going to balance everything. Through the blessing I was given some personal direction and reassurance that I am doing the right thing and that everything will be okay. I am incredibly grateful that my husband is a worthy priesthood holder and that I can turn to him and be blessed.

I love receiving priesthood blessings even when Heavenly Father is chastening me for something. The reason why is because Heavenly Father loves me enough to tell me where I need to do better, where I need to be stronger. He has the bigger picture in view and if I trust in him and follow the guidance he gives than I know he will bless me. In a talk by Julie B. Beck she says, "Each of us is equally entitled to a priesthood blessing when we are sick or need added support from the Lord in our lives." (Julie B. Beck, “An Outpouring of Blessings,”). The Lord is there for us and willing to help and guide us if we have faith in him and ask for a blessing.

I've had many experiences in my life where someone shares that they are having a hard time in their life with me, or that they are sick and don't know what to do. My first response is asking, "Have you asked for a priesthood blessing?" So many times the answer is no, which saddens me because I know that they will receive the guidance and healing needed if they just ask.

I know the power of the priesthood is real. I've read and heard stories where the spirit testified to me that they are true. I've had many experiences in my life that have strengthened my testimony in the power of the priesthood. I will share a few experiences that stand out.

One of the first ones comes from when I was 12 or 13. I was going to have surgery to remove my tonsils and adenoids. I was really nervous. I was afraid that something bad would happen and that perhaps I would die. I've always been terrified of Dr's and hospitals. My mom suggested that I get a priesthood blessing before having the surgery. We asked the missionaries who were serving at that time if they would administer a blessing to me. They of course said yes and gave me a blessing. I was told everything would be fine and that I would be comforted. The morning of the surgery I woke up and started to panic and ask "What if...?" Every time the "what if's" came to mind a voice spoke to me and told me I would be alright. I was calmed down and able to go in for surgery and everything was fine.

Another experience was more recent a little over a year ago. I was preparing to travel to Germany to visit my brother Eddy and his beautiful family. Just before leaving I put my back out and was barely able to move. I couldn't hardly walk or get out of bed. My ticket was already purchased and I desperately wanted to go. I turned to my husband and asked for a blessing. We called on our home teachers to help administer. I was told that I would be okay and told that I would be healed. As the words came my body felt different. The pain was evaporating away. Part of me was stunned but the rest of me was grateful to Heavenly Father for blessing me with a husband that is a worthy priesthood holder and that He saw it fit to heal me at that time.

Most recently was my experience with being pregnant and bringing Benjamin into the world. Shortly after I found out I was pregnant I asked for a blessing. I was told that my pregnancy would be fine but that I would experience pain in my labor. This made me nervous to some degree. I knew there would be pain but I wondered how much. I prayed to Heavenly Father and he comforted me and a scripture came to mind about how the Lord does not give us more than we can handle. When I went into labor and had been laboring for about 24 hours already I asked Jared for another priesthood blessing. I was told several things...one thing in particular that there would be some complications but that I would be healthy and so would our son. This was a hard thing to hear for Jared and I but we were able to prepare ourselves and trust in the Lord that everything would be alright.

Priesthood blessings are an amazing blessing in our lives. There priesthood holders all around us worthy and willing to bless us if we but ask them. I love to hear what Heavenly Father has to share with me and then write it down so I don't forget it and so I can look back and see what I was told.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Judge Not

I am constantly working on something in my life. Judging! I feel like I am always judging people and then making assumptions about them. I've been praying for help for sometime now to not be so quick to judge people. I pray even harder when I realize I've been judging unfairly as I did not understand the whole situation.

I found a great article while researching the topic of judging and how we are told we should not judge. The article is from 1972 by N. Eldon Tanner. It may be old but it is amazing! It's titled "Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged". If you have time go and read it.

One of the reasons why I feel bad about when I judge is the scripture comes to mind of how we will be judged using the same judgement we dealt out. Now knowing that I am human and I judge unfairly I certainly don't want to be judged that way. The scripture is found in Matthew chapter 7 versus 1 through 5. "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” This scripture is a great reminder that when we are dealing out unfair judgements we probably have bigger faults in our own lives that we should be dealing with. And if we were taking care of our own problems then perhaps we could be there when someone else needs us to help them with theirs.

"It seems common practice for people to talk about their friends and neighbors and to criticize their seeming peculiarities and weaknesses. In fact, it is so general that one would think that gossiping about and judging others was the thing to do. How often have we heard of young men who were criticized, judged, and ridiculed because of their peculiarities and yet who eventually became leaders in their different fields of endeavor." (N. Eldon Tanner, “‘Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged’,”) How many times do we catch ourselves judging people or gossiping about them? It really is easy to do. I know that the adversary knows it is a weakness of mine and is constantly bombarding me with situations or feelings for me to fall prey to. There's been several Sundays where I will leave my home after praying for strength not to judge and then 15 minutes into the service I am judging someone. I then feel awful and have the "Doh!" moment and ask Heavenly Father to forgive me and try again.

"When we try to judge people, which we should not do, we have a great tendency to look for and take pride in finding weaknesses and faults, such as vanity, dishonesty, immorality, and intrigue. As a result, we see only the worst side of those being judged."(N. Eldon Tanner, “‘Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged’,”) It is so easy to see the worst in people. For some reason the worst is easiest to latch onto and not the good. For instance I work with the young women in my ward and there is a girl who I constantly judge. I have a very hard time finding anything good about her. I feel awful that I have these feelings about her but it makes sense now after reading this article. I let myself dwell for so long on the negative aspects of what I see in her that I can't find the good. I need to let go of those thoughts and start seeing the good she has.

In the scriptures in the book of John we find the story about a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. She was brought before the Savior for judgement and he simply said "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Then, after stooping and writing in the sand, he looked up and said, “… where are those thine accusers?” (John 8:7, 10, N. Eldon Tanner, “‘Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged’,”) The Savior made it very clear that we are not to judge. Only Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know us inside and out and understand our hearts and intentions. They have the whole story and will judge righteously.

We need to do our best to not judge and when we find ourselves judging or gossiping we need to repent quickly and ask for strength to not do it again.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Families

While sitting in Young Women's listening to the lesson it was talking about things we promised to do when we came down to earth.

1. Live a righteous life
2. Get married in the temple
3. Have a family and raise them in righteousness

These are all things I am trying to do and have done. The later is the newest one on my list of accomplishments and on my to do list. While looking at blogs yesterday I found a craft around the "The Family Proclamation". So I was trying to decide what to write on today it hit me...the Family.

Families are the central part of Heavenly Father's plan. In the book of Genesis in chapter 1 verse 28 the Lord commands Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth. It is a commandment from the very beginning to have families. We all come from a Heavenly family, we were (and are) brothers and sisters in the pre-existence. We came down to the earth and were born into families. I know and believe that if we are sealed in the temple that our families are sealed together for time and all eternity. If we live worthy and obey God's commandments we can live together again with God and Jesus Christ.

A family consists of a mother and a father who have the "solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, Jun 1996). Of course marriage is not easy but if you read the Proclamation closely it tells you how to have a happy and successful marriage and family. "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." Basically all the principles of the gospel. Now if you do these things it does not mean that your marriage and family will be trial free. We are here after all to gain experiences and be tried to see if we will follow the Lord. I find it interesting how work is close to the end of the list. Work is good and necessary but it should not be all consuming. We need to balance our lives with family at the head.

I am grateful for the Proclamation on families and the principles it outlines. I am grateful for the family I was raised in and the bonds built there. I am grateful for my budding family and look forward with faith for the Lord to help me raise it in righteousness that we might all be worthy to return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Following Promptings of the Spirit

I actually started studying my scriptures again yesterday. I'm doing it by topic and started with Faith but I am not ready to write anything about it just yet. But I have a simple thought to write about and share. It has been floating to the forefront of my mind for the last week actually. So I better write about it before I forget about it.

About 2 weeks ago I was going downstairs to clean out the litter box for my cats. I was grabbing a garbage bag from under the kitchen sink to go clean it out. As I was grabbing one the thought came to me that I should take two bags. I thought about it for a second or two and dismissed the thought. One garbage bag was always plenty. Once downstairs I emptied the whole litter box into the garbage bag and quickly tried to haul it out to the garbage can outside. I made it to the door to the garage and the bag broke at the top. I had to run upstairs to grab another garbage bag. If I had listened I would have had one on me. But I didn't. On the positive side I got more exercise.

This past Saturday Jared and I were hanging out downstairs for awhile. I grabbed Benjamin, the wipes and a diaper so I wouldn't have to run upstairs. The thought came to me to grab a second diaper. I ignored the prompting. I changed Benjamin after I thought he was done pooping and I was wrong. I had to go get another diaper.

I know these are two small examples of not following promptings. But the thought keeps coming that the Lord is trying to teach me how to listen with small and simple things. I find it comforting and amazing that he cares about my chores and diaper changing to try to help me. I wish that I had listened. It is one thing that I am trying to be better at. To be a receptacle to the promptings from the Holy Ghost and then listen and follow them. It's not always easy though. So many times I feel like they are just my own thoughts especially when it's mundane things like changing a diaper. Yet the Lord is mindful of me and willing to help me if I would but listen.

I ask Heavenly Father often to forgive me for not listening and give me another opportunity. President Thomas S. Monson said that of those who do hear the promptings of the Holy Ghost that they "do not postpone following promptings of the spirit." ("The Spirit Giveth Life", Ensign, May 1985) If you read the article The Spirit Giveth Life by President Monson at the end you will find a story about a prompting he received to go visit someone in the hospital and give them a blessing. When he got to the hospital he found his friend on the verge of throwing himself into a pool to drown as he was depressed, alone and hopeless. He says that he "learned a lesson that day: Never, never, never postpone following a prompting."

If we don't follow promptings we one lose the opportunity for more promptings. And two we miss out on a opportunity to do the Lord's work and bless the lives of those around us. We are the Lord's hands if we would but let him use and mold us. I've seen many blessings in my life from following promptings and I do try to hearken to his voice. It's not always easy to recognize his voice but if we are doing our scripture study, attending church and all of our meetings, and saying our personal and family prayers it will be easier to recognize.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

How many times have we gotten home from church on Sunday and felt “Okay I went to church and I worshipped, I am done.”? H. Aldridge Gillespie said in a talk from 2000 that the Sabbath “does not end if someone calls on the phone or knocks at our door inviting us to come out and play, go for a ride, to a ball game, or shopping; it does not end because we are on vacation or someone is visiting us, whether member or nonmember.” (H. Aldridge Gillespie, “The Blessing of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy,” Ensign, Nov 2000) We need to keep going after we get done with church. It doesn’t just end once we get home and drop the scriptures and church bags. We need to continue the mind frame and feelings we felt at church. We need to continue to draw close to the Lord.

In Exodus chapter 20 verse 8 we read “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” We are commanded to keep the Sabbath Day holy. We have six days to work and take care of things but we are asked to give one day unto the Lord and worship him. What things should we do on the Sabbath to keep it holy? Or better put how do we keep the Sabbath Day holy? We are to go to church and renew our covenants with the Lord by partaking of the sacrament. We are to abstain from working and to spend time with our families. We should be studying the scriptures and renewing our spirits. “The prophet Spencer W. Kimball counseled: “The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day to which he is expected. [Failure] to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side.”” (H. Aldridge Gillespie, “The Blessing of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy,” Ensign, Nov 2000) I remember always hearing growing up that naps on Sunday are a great way to keep the Sabbath Day holy yet here a Prophet makes it very clear that if that’s all that you do then you are doing the opposite. We need to use our time wisely and if done so we will be renewed and blessed for doing so.

I know that I am not always good at observing the Sabbath Day like I should but I try. Each week I have another Sunday to try again. I really like the quote from President Kimball as it is chalked full of ideas of things to do. And how can we not afford to do so? “Over a lifetime of observation, it is clear to me that the farmer who observes the Sabbath day seems to get more done on his farm than he would if he worked seven days. The mechanic will be able to turn out more and better products in six days than in seven. The doctor, the lawyer, the dentist, the scientist will accomplish more by trying to rest on the Sabbath than if he tries to utilize every day of the week for his professional work. I would counsel all students, if they can, to arrange their schedules so that they do not study on the Sabbath. If students and other seekers after truth will do this, their minds will be quickened and the infinite Spirit will lead them to the verities they wish to learn. This is because God has hallowed his day and blessed it as a perpetual covenant of faithfulness.” (James E. Faust, “The Lord’s Day,” Ensign, Nov 1991) When I was going to school I made a promise with the Lord that I would not study my homework on Sundays. I would abstain from all school work and by doing so I asked that he blessed me in my studies. I was blessed to have enough time to get my homework done and retain the knowledge I had gained for my exams. The Lord is aware of us and will bless us if we do what he asks of us.

Gospel Topic Tuesday (Preview): Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

So I've totally fallen off the wagon with my Gospel Topic Tuesday. Which to be honest is because I have not been studying anything like I planned. I'm still trying to get into a rhythm with my personal scripture studies. I have been devouring the Ensign's though which count as scripture.

Anyways this week Jared and I were having a conversation about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. I learned some things that he does when he has to work. He will bring a lunch (or starve), he won't accept free food from the vendors and he won't listen to his music. He tries his best to keep his thoughts on the Lord and worship that way. Last week he did not have enough gas to get home so he stopped to get gas but only bought 2 gallons to ensure he had just enough to make it home. I did not realize he did so much to try his best to keep the Sabbath Day holy when he worked. I was very impressed and moved by his actions.

We discussed how when we travel that we always try to prepare foods to eat so we don't buy anything on the road. Jared has even not played music that wasn't Sunday appropriate while driving to show reverence for the Lord's day. I know it's hard sometimes and circumstances can be unavoidable but when they do arise we must always do our best to keep the Sabbath Day holy.

Tomorrow our son Benjamin is being blessed and we are preparing to feed anyone that comes over after church. As Jared and I were discussing the menu he commented how whatever it was needed to be simple so that we weren't doing too much work. Now normally our meals on Sunday's are simple mostly out of laziness on my part but I of course want to feed people a good meal and that would require some work. So we landed on a potato bar and I worked for a few hours today on preparing everything so it is all ready to go. I appreciate Jared's comments that made me think about my actions and lead me to prepare for tomorrow. It's not only showing respect to the Lord but it is making my prep time tomorrow after church extremely minimal and less stressful.

More to come on Tuesday about keeping the Sabbath Day holy.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Tithing

Last week I missed my Gospel Topic Tuesday. I woke up early Wednesday morning and realized it was Wednesday and I had missed it. I planned on doing it that day but totally spaced it and then the week passed me by. Now here it is yet another week passed and I am late again. I had my topic picked out for last week also so it wasn't because I had nothing to write it was just because I am adjusting to my new life.

At Stake Conference one of the topics discussed was tithing. My friend Kenny was sitting next to us and commented on how it's always the same topics discussed. Now I don't disagree but the thought came to me there is a reason why. People struggle with it. If all church members faithfully paid their tithing 100% in full they would not talk to us about tithing as much.

In the Old Testament in the book of Malachi chapter 3 verses 8 - 10 it reads, "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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." We have been commanded to pay tithing which is one tenth of our income. When you step back and think about how everything is the Lord's and he is blessing our lives it really is a small thing to give one tenth of what we earn. Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi said, "The earth belongs to the Lord, and this includes our own lives. He allows us to use everything on this earth. He only asks us to return one-tenth. Tithing is a token of gratitude, obedience, and thanksgiving—a token of our willingness and dedication. Paying tithing, willingly, develops an honest and pure heart." (Will a Man Rob God?)

There is a story or an account in the New Testament found in the book of St. Mark chapter 12 verses 41-44 "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." This story tells of a woman who is very poor and gives the last of her money which I am sure was hard. Why would she do this? I believe it's because she knew that she would be blessed and the Lord would provide a way.

Back to the scripture in Malachai it states "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." The Lord wants us to prove him. If we faithfully pay our tithing and do as we are commanded we will be blessed. I've experienced this personally in my life. I am not good with money. I never have been and may never be but it is something I am working on. When I moved out on my own I was a little apprehensive. I was making a big step and taking on a lot of responsibility with getting my own place and paying for everything. Before I had only my car insurance, gas and cell bill. Money was tight for me when I was only paying those 3 bills. I knew though that if I faithfully paid my tithing I would be able to pay my bills and manage to get by each month. And it happened. There were some months that I am not sure how things worked out but they did and I know it was a direct blessing from the Lord that my money managed to go as far as it did.

President Hinckley said, “While tithing is paid with money, more importantly it is paid with faith.” (Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts Unceasingly) It does take a great deal of faith to pay our tithing especially when money becomes tight. We have to trust in the Lord and have faith that he will do what he promises he will do. Things will work out, it might not work out the way we hope or plan but the Lord will bless our lives immensely and everything will come together.

I have a strong testimony of tithing and the importance of it. I know and have experienced the blessings that come from faithfully paying that tithing. It does not mean we won't have trials but we will be blessed and strengthened through those trials.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: He Will Never Leave Us

I really want to write about the atonement but I still don’t feel I can give it justice yet. The atonement is something I hold very dear to my heart and I have learned more about it over the past week. I want to make sure I get my thoughts and feelings well documented so I will wait. While doing some research though, I found an interesting article with a point that stems from the atonement and gave me great comfort while facing trials this last week.

While the Savior was in the garden of Gethsemane he asked 3 of his disciples (Peter, James and John) to stay and pray with him. They fell asleep and Jesus came and found them multiple times asleep. It was a little thing that he asked of them and yet they could not do it. They left him in his greatest time of need which was prophesied of. Even Heavenly Father had to leave Jesus and withdraw his spirit at one point. “…the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required, indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone.” Jeffrey R. Holland, “None Were with Him”

Jesus had to experience everything that we would experience. If he did not experience he would not be able to help us in our times of need. Have you ever felt pain? Sorrow? Loneliness? Hurt? So has Jesus Christ. He suffered everything so that we might not have to but we have to turn to him and trust in him that he can help us. When we are in the midst of trials and feeling the heavy burden of the pain or loneliness we need to remember that we can turn to our Savior and find comfort. He has promised us that he will never leave us.

Sometimes it is easy to forget that he is there and will help us through it. We need to do our best to remember to turn to him for help, comfort, guidance and peace. While receiving priesthood blessings before giving birth to my son Benjamin one of the key things called out was to remember to turn to the Lord. I knew that everything would be okay as long as I remembered to turn to the Lord and rely on him. There were moments that I felt I should be scared or worried but I turned to the Lord and knew that everything would be okay. When I could no longer endure anymore I turned to the Lord for help and knew that with him I could make it through.

I am very grateful for the knowledge I have that I know I can always turn to my Savior, Jesus Christ, no matter what is happening in my life and find comfort and peace. I know that he understands all that I feel and that I do not have to experience it alone.