Classic Mormon Mom

Happy Valentines Day!

2012-02-14T11:31:00.001-08:00

Look what I woke up to this morning!

To my dear Joel: What a lovely surprise.

I love you very much.

Just for the record, Mormons celebrate Valentine's Day

AND eat chocolate!

Pretty cool....

You And I

2012-02-12T16:04:00.000-08:00

My daughter Shannon at a Hawaiian wedding.

Remembering those near and dear to my heart today!

"You and I in our own little circles have been placed here to light up the landscape of life for others, frail and flickering as our own flames seem at times." -Neal A. Maxwell

Sometimes the people who love and do the most for us are the ones that get swept under the rug as we clamor after the approval and social attention of others.

I am convinced the people who frequent our circles are no coincidence, whether they be from family, work, school, church, neighbors, etc. There is something to be learned from them, a reason to serve them and we know each other for a reason.

"It Is Better To Look Up"

2012-02-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

This post is a wonderful topic. It can also be used for Book of Mormon - Lesson 7 in Sunday School...

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for this week or for other weeks.

In 2 Nephi, chapter 4 - Nephi shares a personal, inside glimpse of the sufferings of his soul. I've heard these verses referred to as "Nephi's Psalm":

17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.

19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

"I know in whom I have trusted."

Priceless words and priceless direction for the rest of us. Sometimes, we LDS Saints find ourselves living a reasonably obedient life, doing the "right" things and yet not feeling that joy, that buoyancy and immense well-being the gospel brings. Sin is one cause, pride is another - but so often, it is because we have lost sight of our brightness of hope. How do we get it back? Brightness of hope comes from trusting the Lord. Not just kind of thinking about Him, and kind of believing He is there...but REALLY placing our trust in Him. We do that by actively reaching and looking up for that relationship with the Savior. And by trusting there is a method to all this madness as well as trusting you haven't fallen between some crack. Making a conscientious decision to trust Christ is the ticket back to light and well-being. Brightness of hope is also a wonderful gift to ask for through prayer. If you have lost it, get the brightness of hope back - it makes all the difference in the world.

Carl B. Cook shared a great personal story last Worldwide LDS General Conference:

At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my first week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded and my mind was preoccupied with the question “How can I possibly do this?” I left the office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Administration Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down and I stared blankly at the floor.

The door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up. As the door closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.

I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!)

But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look up!” As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple. When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, “Now, remember, it is better to look up.”

As we parted, the words of a scripture came to mind: “Believe in God; believe that he is … ; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth.”1 As I thought of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s power, my heart found the comfort I had sought in vain from the floor of that descending elevator.

Since then I have pondered this experience and the role of prophets. I was burdened and my head was down. As the prophet spoke, I looked to him. He redirected my focus to look up to God..."

Every Book of Mormon prophet and every modern LDS prophet from Joseph Smith onwards urges us to do the same thing. To look up. To get to know Christ. To establish our own connection with Him. To tap into the spiritual and learn spirituality on our own, independent from anyone else.

I find every once in a while, I need to renew my trust. Sometimes I lose sight of the big picture and get bogged down in the temporary, mortal details. Renewing my trust means added strength and the blessing of hope. Peace, hope and confidence are rare commodities anymore! They are worthwhile treasures and I've found them by finding Christ.

Warm regards.

George Albert Smith - Lesson 4

2012-02-07T22:20:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Relief Society 2012 :) Use search term George Albert Smith to view more for this week or for other weeks.

This will be the last G.A.S post for a couple of weeks.

This lesson focuses on George's thoughts about Joseph Smith. It's obvious George Albert Smith had a great love and reverence for Joseph. The way he talks about Joseph's early years is particularly moving.

For some additional insights into Joseph, and to really get you in the mood for this lesson:

A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief (different side of Jospeh).

Gaining a Testimony of Joseph Smith as a Prophet - Why it is hard sometimes...

These are my favorite six paragraphs out of the lesson book:

"We believe that our Heavenly Father has spoken in our own day … , that he heard the humble prayer of a youth in Palmyra, and answered his prayer and blessed him with a knowledge of his personality, that all people might know the Lord, if they will."

"It was a very natural thing that Joseph Smith should seek the Lord. He came of a … people who believed in our Heavenly Father, in the divine mission of the Savior, in the efficacy of prayer, and that God would hear and answer his people if they went before him with a proper spirit. It was easy for this young man to believe, because he had been born and reared in a believing household; and when he went out into the woods in response to the injunction of the scripture (James 1:5): “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him,” he believed that his prayer would be answered, and our Heavenly Father has promised his children from the beginning, that, “by faith ye may know all things.”

"His faith in God led him away from the belief, common in his day, that the Bible contained all the revelation possible for men to receive, and that the heavens were sealed over his head. He prayed to the Lord, and his prayer was answered. He beheld the Father and the Son descending to earth surrounded with glorious light. He received an indisputable knowledge that they had tabernacles like men, and that they were material personages; they spoke to him and he heard their voices."

"The result [of Joseph’s prayer] was that wonderful manifestation, unlike any other that we have ever heard of in the history of the world. We have heard of instances where our Heavenly Father has manifested himself; we have read of instances where the Redeemer of mankind has manifested himself; but we have never read of any instance where the Father and the Son before have appeared to any living being and have spoken to that individual."

"People of the world do not believe it. Men and women have been taught that the heavens are sealed … , and when this youth declared that in our day, at the very time when we needed light most of all, when men and women were running to and fro for the word of God and could not find it, as predicted by the old prophets [see Amos 8:11–12], the Lord had manifested himself, he [Joseph] was ridiculed. … His statement was rejected, and those who should have been his friends turned away from him and even said it was of the evil one. What was the boy’s testimony?"

“… I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision, and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it, at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.”

I love Joseph's own words!

Hope you enjoy chapter four.

The Mystery of Time

2012-02-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

Time is complicated.

Time is measured in precise increments, yet it's an abstract phenomenon.

We lose track of time, we keep track of time, we waste time, we make time, we spend time, we lose time, we save time, we take the time, we find time, time drags, and time flies by.

We look back through the years and ask ourselves, "where does time go anyways?"

How we spend our time tells who we really are, more than our words or our stated beliefs. It reveals our true order of priorities. How we manage our time reveals the character we have developed so far.

Love is spelled T-I-M-E.

Ian Ardern gave a fabulous talk last LDS General Conference about time. My husband Joel and I had an introspective chat about it, after reading it this morning. Brother Ardern's words got us both thinking. Here are some gems:

"Time is never for sale; time is a commodity that cannot, try as you may, be bought at any store for any price. Yet when time is wisely used, its value is immeasurable. On any given day we are all allocated, without cost, the same number of minutes and hours to use, and we soon learn, as the familiar hymn so carefully teaches, “Time flies on wings of lightning; we cannot call it back” (“Improve the Shining Moments,” Hymns, no. 226). What time we have we must use wisely. President Brigham Young said, “We are all indebted to God for the ability to use time to advantage, and he will require of us a strict account of [its] disposition..."

"With the demands made of us, we must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or risk being exposed to the winds of procrastination and being blown from one time-wasting activity to another."

Sometimes I do good things, but spend TOO LONG doing them, at the expense of better contributions to my family and the world. Things get out of balance. Brother Ardern gives a great suggestion here (bolded).

"President Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminded us that “in family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e”. I testify that when help is prayerfully and sincerely sought, our Heavenly Father will help us to give emphasis to that which deserves our time above something else."

"Let us be as quick to kneel [in prayer] as we are to text."

"The poor use of time is a close cousin of idleness. As we follow the command to “cease to be idle” (D&C 88:124), we must be sure that being busy also equates to being productive."

This morning Joel and I identified some of our own time-wasters. It really got me thinking about my inferior uses of time. And they're not necessarily bad things. However, I'm intent on replacing them with something better, something more loving, and something more considerate of God and others.

Brigham Young said every moment in this life was "meant to be learned from or improved upon."

I hope to become, as Brother Ardern put it, the master manager of my time. Trust me, it's a fantasy right now, but one I'm willing to reach for.

Cheers

My Love Letter To Those Who Wage A Self-Appointed Holy War

2012-02-05T01:15:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Relief Society 2012 :) Use search term George Albert Smith to view more for this week or for other weeks

This post is also "George Albert Smith - Lesson 3 (cont.)"

The comment below is in response to a journalist named Bethany Blankley who wrote the article "Mormonism is not Christianity" over at Huffington Post. She then proceeded to name an exhaustive list of doctrinal differences between her Christian denomination and ours. Some of those doctrinal points were positively obscure and unknown to the average Christian. Several of her "Mormon" doctrinal points were skewed and incorrect. It was with this list of differences she triumphantly "proved" her article's title. My response:

“The problem is not whether all the minutiae doctrine is the same. The problem is whether "Christian" refers to the minutiae doctrine or does it mean a follower of Christ? Most Christian people have no idea what you're talking about with half the "Christian" terms anyway. Most people identify and believe it means follower of Christ, and when you claim someone is not a Christian, you are denying them fellowship with Christ and giving the impression both to them and others they don't believe in Jesus Christ. Which is wrong on both accounts.

Does the correctness of our theology save us? Or is it the grace of Christ? If it is the latter, all the minutiae doctrine in the world won't do you any good and it hardly matters anyway.

Last I checked, no one has a monopoly on the word "Christian" nor exclusive rights to Jesus Christ. And denying Him to people and trying to act like some kind of gatekeeper won't win you too many brownie points in heaven either.

I love and revere Christ. Only the Lord knows the heart. My heart is a devoted and devout follower of the Savior, the one outlined in the New Testament. I am Christian, an LDS Christian and lucky to be one.”

My personal thanks to all those who live and let live -- who believe and let believe. Your graciousness does not go unnoticed!

George Albert Smith - Lesson 3

2012-02-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Relief Society 2012 :) Use search term George Albert Smith to view more for this week or for other weeks

What an awesome, timely topic!

Are Mormons Christian? What do they believe about Christ? This lesson has potential for some of the best class discussions ever.

Like George Albert Smith noticed, many people believe we're not Christian, or that we worship a different Christ. It's a sad play on words.

Christ is already a favorite topic on this blog. Here are some links to posts that will help with this lesson:

Light of Christ

Who Loves Christ Most?

Walking on the Sea

Are Mormons Christian?

Your biggest success will be to draw a clear path and connection for the class to the Savior. Help the class feel their own closeness and possibilities with Christ.

Book of Mormon - Week 6

2012-02-02T09:08:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for this week or for other weeks.

There are several rich topics in this week's lesson. Beautiful gospel ideas. In fact, there easily could be 5-8 blog posts from just this one lesson.

In our Stake Book of Mormon class, we average 1.5 hours of discussion for only a few paragraphs and a few verses. Fitting the depth and magnitude of everything in 2 Nephi 1-2 into 40 minutes AND do it all justice is not realistic. In fact, for a better class, it's never a great idea to push through so much. So read the chapters, prayerfully read the lesson and what jumps out at you, what you have the most feeling for - is the direction you need to take the class. You're the teacher at this time because your focus, understanding and insights are the ones needed at this time. That goes for any lesson or any talk.

Ok, opposition in all things....

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad... (2 Nephi 2:11)

Been a lot of opposition in my life lately so this theme caught my focus. We internalize some of life's deepest, most valuable lessons by opposition and opposites. Which, by the way (in case you haven't noticed) are a guaranteed, essential part of the mortal experience. Whether adversity and misfortune results in one being bitter, sullen and hopeless or leads one to strength and understanding is, in fact, a decision and a choice. Mind you, it may be a real process to end up with strength and understanding as we struggle through the worst of the mishaps and mayhem, but hindsight is a wondrous thing. Especially when we can look back and see the blessings of our worst times.

Some opposites:

Illness/Healing

Birth/Death

Guilt/Forgiveness

Hate/Love

Evil/Righteousness (both to act and be acted upon)

Rudeness/Respect

Freedom/Captivity

Darkness/Light

War/Peace

Famine/Feast

Enmity/Friendship

Debased/Esteemed

Selfishness/Charity

We learn to appreciate goodness by experiencing the opposite. We learn by comparing one experience with another. This is a great opportunity to ask a question which will lead to a lot of class participation:

What opposites have you learned from and what did you learn?

In regards to trials and heartaches, trust really helps here. Trust the Lord is truly in the here and now. Trust He is actively mindful of you and in charge. Trust He meant what he said about His circling arms of love. Trust there is a method to the madness. Trust you haven't fallen through the cracks. And trust that hardships are not signals of our worthlessness. They are either trials we attracted to ourselves or heaven allowed them for our eventual benefit. Either way we gain....yep, even the trials we encouraged ourselves. Christ extends His hand to us even when it is our own fault. His offer of partnering with us in mortality is forever open.

Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (D&C 88:63)

Finding and cultivating trust in Christ isn't about eradicating all our trials or finding smooth sailing in this life. It's about reaching up, holding God's hand and rising above the melee of this world. In other words, becoming equal to and overcoming what we face. (That's a great prayer, by the way - "grant me the strength, the grace and the fortitude to be equal to the difficulty or challenge I face. Grant me the gifts I need to make my shoulders strong and therefore my burden light...") Those are the kinds of prayers that get answered. Asking for awful people to get zapped by lightening, or for problems to disappear altogether, or for gold to fall out of the sky doesn't work. Rising to the occasion with the Lord's help does work, consistently.

Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain. (2 Nephi 2:2)

The Book of Mormon holds a lot of beautiful gospel insights. If you're not reading it now, add it to your must read list!

Warmest regards.

Gem From Elder Maxwell

2012-01-28T08:41:00.000-08:00

View of Grants Pass from my balcony.

I was at Mt. Shasta all day yesterday (attempting to snowboard) with my kids. Today, my daughter and I signed up for a cheese-making class (all day). Tomorrow our podcast group meets. Time has been swamped even more than usual and blogging has to go on the back burner for a few days.

So I was thrilled to find this gem today...it fits!

"There should be less wringing of hands and more loving arms around our families." -Elder Maxwell

We all need an occaisional re-grounding and to be reminded what's really important. The only thing we'll have 50 years from now and100 years from now are our memories of how we loved, how we acted and how we served. None of the rest will stand.

It is with great gratitude I belong to the LDS Church which keeps my worldly focus on my children and my husband and my heavenly focus on Christ. It has blessed my life immeasurably.

Book of Mormon - Week 5 (cont.)

2012-01-25T09:09:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for this week or for other weeks.

Nephi writes about Laman & Lemuel

More of Nephi's witticisms and insights into human nature. Laman and Lemuel leave us all shaking our heads, don't they? They have been given every miracle, every manifestation, every chance to believe and desire to be faithful, yet they choose blackness, sullen resentment, rebellion and cruelty as their default setting.

Nephi gives us a glimpse into their thought processes and motivations. After you finally get over the idiocy and irony of their reasoning and choices, one realizes there is a repeating pattern here which we've seen in other folk.

37 And Laman said unto Lemuel and also unto the sons of Ishmael: Behold, let us slay our father, and also our brother Nephi, who has taken it upon him to be our ruler and our teacher, who are his elder brethren.

38 Now, he says that the Lord has talked with him, and also that angels have ministered unto him. But behold, we know that he lies unto us; and he tells us these things, and he worketh many things by his cunning arts, that he may deceive our eyes, thinking, perhaps, that he may lead us away into some strange wilderness; and after he has led us away, he has thought to make himself a king and a ruler over us, that he may do with us according to his will and pleasure. And after this manner did my brother Laman stir up their hearts to anger.

39 And it came to pass that the Lord was with us, yea, even the voice of the Lord came and did speak many words unto them, and did chasten them exceedingly; and after they were chastened by the voice of the Lord they did turn away their anger... (1 Nephi 16:37-39)

Power and control make certain personalities drunk beyond reason. Precisely how it works, how it strips the soul of awareness, insight, reason, judicious thought and is able to choke out all light is beyond me. Yet it is a repeating pattern. Obsession with power and control fuels itself on rage, indignation, jealousy, hate, suspicion and bitterness. Lucifer is the original author of this lunatic behavior, for which he fell from heaven.

Though these examples are extreme, we mortals tend to get caught in lesser versions of the same process. Sheri Dew does a wonderful job describing this phenomenon for sisters. "Comparing, competing and categorizing" is the phrase she uses. Click the link for a great quote.

Doctrine & Covenants 121 warns priesthood holders (and all of us) about the same tendencies.

39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen.

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

It's worthy to note, holding the priesthood in the LDS Church means service, and lots of it. The higher the priesthood, generally, the more hours of service are expected. We do not have paid clergy. Which is in contrast to other denominations where the higher the priesthood, the higher the recognition, the status and sometimes, the perks as well. A Mormon bishop, for example, will donate 20+ hours of service a week, and many times, a lot more.

Nephi gives us a lot to think about.

Hah! We're not even past chapter 16 yet. Have fun with the Book of Mormon this week. Nephi's straightforwardness makes it easier to liken the scriptures to our own lives and our own experiences.

Book of Mormon - Week 5

2012-01-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for other weeks.

My daughter's first snowboard run yesterday (25 secs)...just posting for fun.

There's a lot of chapters with this lesson (seven) and a lot of class activity ideas. There won't be time for all the material and ideas, so you get to pick what feels the best to you to present. Do not be tempted to put your class on a march and cover every point. This is not effective teaching. People only learn and retain one or two ideas/themes at a sitting.

Nephi gives the Book of Mormon a wonderful beginning. How can anyone not love his candor? He tells the story of his life like it is, his troubling family dynamics, his difficult moments with people, his own self-doubts. I love Nephi for being so open and real with the world, and for not just telling us about his shining, better moments. Here is a list of Nephi's observations of human nature, from the first two chapters (1 Nephi 16-17). Do any of them ring true for you?

"wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center." (1 Nephi 16:2) This verse reminds me of the Shakespeare quote, "the lady doth protest too much, methinks." In other words, the madder they get, the more accurate the scolding, confrontation, or admonition is. As Wikipedia explains it: The phrase has come to mean that one can "insist so passionately about something not being true that people suspect the opposite of what one is saying." Your own life experiences will probably back this observation up.

(1 Nephi 16:5) "...I had joy and great hopes of them, that they would walk in the paths of righteousness." Nephi is referring to Laman and Lemuel. Who through it all, turned out selfish, arrogant, and cruel. The agency of others, particularly those from our own families may be one of the hardest lessons life brings us. We know the hopes and dreams we have for those near and dear to us, only to sometimes watch one or more choose self-destructive paths. They choose dark emotions, dark philosophies and dark behaviors. Most of us have been through the heaviness of this particular mortal heartbreak. Comprehending the essence of "will" and "agency" are two of life's utmost important themes. Heaven hinges upon these principles. By watching what others do with their will and agency, we learn a lot about our own will and agency. Everything we have was gifted to us, including the abilities/opportunities to act in such a way to acquire those things we have. At the end of the day, the only thing we can offer God is our will. Otherwise, naked we came, and with nothing we'll return, EXCEPT with our character, our choices, our essence of being...our will.

(1 Nephi 16:20) "...[they] did begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father began to murmur against the Lord his God; yea, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful..." Sometimes people are fair-weather "faithful" believers. As long as the sun is out, the weather is good, and our stomachs are full, we're very happy to profess our love and faith in God. What happens to some when the storms come out, when life is hard? Time after time, I see God loses some people's devotion. For sure, there is no happiness in this state of mind - blaming God and feeling resentment - instead of holding steady and true. There's no brownie points stored up in heaven either. The best blessing in life come "after the trial of your faith."

One of Neal A. Maxwell's most memorable conference addresses was given while he was completely bald from chemotherapy (leukemia) and he shared the two questions we can choose to ask during trials and troubles. 1) Why me? This question is often accompanied by resentment or a pity party. He said this question shuts the spirit, heart and mind down as one wallows in the futility of it all. The other question is "What now, Lord"? This question opens up the channels of communion with the Lord and opens up the mind and heart to solutions and possibilities. How we face our trials says far more about us than how we manage our good fortunes.

There are several more Nephi insights, and I hope to find time to include them in a post. Hope your week goes well!

Regards.

Journal of Discourses & Mormon Doctrine

2012-01-21T03:58:00.000-08:00

So you joined the conversation about Mormons online! Thank you ever so much. It's nice to have a little company.

Have you ever been hassled over ancient quotes from the Journal of Discourses or even McConkie's "Mormon Doctrine"? We Latter-day Saints are unique in that we have a thorough written history of just about every musing, impromptu sermon, opinion & the learning curve of every Mormon church leader going back 200 years. It is one of the chief tactics of anti-mormons to cite such references, and hold modern-day Mormons accountable for any obscure, 200-year-old arcane thought process they can find. Many such recorded thoughts are never claimed as revelation nor official doctrine for the LDS Chruch. The Journal of Discourses is one such common source.

Truthfully, you could go back 200 years into anyone's denomination and find plenty of odd statements by those churches' historical leaders and heckle and entertain yourself endlessly. If there is any doubt, Wikipedia "Cain's Curse."

I question the practice.

As a Mormon in the here and now, it is very important to understand what is offiical doctrine for the Church and what are speculation and opinions. If it is doctrine and revelation, it made it into the Standard Works or other official publication. Here is the official statement on doctrine from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church. With divine inspiration, the First Presidency (the prophet and his two counselors) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest governing body of the Church) counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications. This doctrine resides in the four “standard works” of scripture (the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price), official declarations and proclamations, and the Articles of Faith. Isolated statements are often taken out of context, leaving their original meaning distorted.

Here is the official Latter-day Saint statement on the Journal of Discourses specifically:

"The Journal of Discourses is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a compilation of sermons and other materials from the early years of the Church, which were transcribed and then published. It includes practical advice as well as doctrinal discussion, some of which is speculative in nature and some of which is only of historical interest. ... Questions have been raised about the accuracy of some transcriptions. Modern technology and processes were not available for verifying the accuracy of transcriptions, and some significant mistakes have been documented. The Journal of Discourses includes interesting and insightful teachings by early Church leaders; however, by itself it is not an authoritative source of Church doctrine."

What does this mean? When someone tries to challenge or even heckle with some oddball, outlier doctrinal belief from the Journal of Discourses, or any other material outside of our official doctrine, I tell them, "that's someone's opinion, never claimed as revelation nor was it ever adopted as official doctrine for the LDS Church." If they pull the "apostles and prophets have to be perfect to be believable" challenge, I simply point out the recorded learning curves and chastisements of several Bible prophets (i.e. Moses, Peter, Jonah, etc.) Prophets and apostles are not believed to be perfect nor are they robots. They are men who learn line upon line just like everyone else. What sets them apart is they are ordained to be God's spokesmen and when they get official revelation, they will declare it as such and it becomes doctrine and canon.

Short answer..."that's not an official source of doctrine nor claimed as revelation."

The absolute same goes for Bruce R. McConkie's book "Mormon Doctrine." Even McConkie included a disclaimer in the front of his book stating that he alone was responsible for the doctrinal and scriptural interpretations. This is an understatement. McConkie ended up eating humble pie on this one too.

First of all, McConkie wrote the book before he was any kind of authoritative figure. Second, he wrote it without approval nor permission. Third, it was peer-reviewed by Mark E. Petersen, an apostle, and found to have 1067 errors. David O. McKay specifically said it was "full of errors and misstatements, and it is most unfortunate that it has received such wide circulation." Fourth, it was pulled from the market and McConkie told not to publish another one. He begged and put out a 1966 version with revisions. However, that book never gained an official nod. A book review from Amazon:

Should be re-named "Mormon Speculation"

"This book is well intended but frankly a false oppinion of what LDS Doctrine is. Being so comprehensive, I can understand why some people read it, but since it's first publication it has been unauthorized and full of errors. It's one thing to write a book of opinion on religion but this so badly misrepresents the doctrines of the faith, I wouldn't represent it to anyone, whether they are Mormon or not. If you are Mormon, you will be riduculed if you quote it and if you are not Mormon, you will not get an accurate portrayal of official doctriine. If you want a good substitute that more accurately defines LDS Doctrine but still in a scholarly way, I'd suggest you check out the "Encyclopedia of Mormonism."

This is a bit harsher than how I would describe the book. I think Bruce R. McConkie had some really good points in his book. But it is essential to know and understand it is not representative of official doctrine nor of LDS Church positions. If you're going to tackle the tide of mis-information and mis-understanding that circulates about Mormons, knowing what is real doctrine and revelation for us and what is speculation or someone's singular opinion is important.

Don't let someone wrap you up in oddities which aren't official doctrine nor canon. It's a waste of your time and theirs.

Book of Mormon - Week 4

2012-01-19T07:40:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for other weeks.

How to tell if you're from the Church of the Devil

First of all, this lesson is awesome, the way it is laid out. It has two well-written class activities, the time line and group discussion, which will take a lot of class time and are useful tools for interesting talk.

The big spacious building is quite the metaphor. After dealing with anti-mormons and rabid ex-mormons over the last week, this image has become so vivid in my mind. The post from yesterday "An Ex-mormon Profile" accurately describes some of these spacious building people. In fact, trust me, such people own penthouses in the "great and spacious building."

Another powerful imagery is the description of the "great and abominable church." This doesn't represent any particular church on earth. Instead it is the "church of the devil" and either you are a member of it or you are not regardless of what denomination you claim, including the LDS Church.

10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth. (1 Nephi 14:10)

The real clincher here is what identifies a member of the church of the devil (1 Nephi 13:8-9).

8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church.

9 And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.

In other words:

Pursuit of wealth.
Vanity of Dress (Image and flaunting wealth).
Promiscuity, Infidelity, Lust, Pornography (Harlots only a mouse-click away!)
Persecution and disdain for righteous people.

Do you ever find your focus on any of these areas?

Makes you think a bit, doesn't it?

Oh yes...me too.

Last thought on this week's Book of Mormon lesson:

"And for the praise of the world they destroy the saints of God and bring them down into captivity."

Enduring persecution is part of our legacy and our lot in this world. If you are a true saint, and pass through trials of ridicule, rejection, discrimination - then you're on the right track. Sounds kind of funny, doesn't it? Do not let the hate nor the scorn of others throw you or disturb your peace. Even the Savior said:

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:18-19)

Love the Book of Mormon! It has greatly influenced my life for good, especially in regards to Christ.

An Ex-Mormon Profile

2012-01-18T08:32:00.000-08:00

They strain at a gnat and swallow a camel...

Elder Ballard asked us to get involved with the conversation about Mormons online and not let other people define us with slanted and mis-informed stories. That can be an exhausting endeavor, HOWEVER, I love the stretching and the depths it forces me to go to.

It strengthens me. It makes me get on my knees for answers and the answers come. Some of those answers have been powerful antidotes. Thank heavens for personal revelation.

I'm learning that getting wrapped up in crazy or deeply un-objective people doesn't work.

Ex-Mormons turned activist anti-mormons are the worst. Even worse than the competitive pastor who makes or protects part of his income by bashing Mormons. This is bold, however since this is a pattern which repeats so often, I'm finally going to write it up and post it.

First, these individuals get excommunicated or would be if they kept going to Church (usually for adultery or abuse) - then they get angry about being excommunicated or considered unworthy and then look for reasons why the Church is wrong in the first place. In that order.

One of the reasons they feel so compelled is ego and pride cannot exist in the same room with guilt.

Plus, there's another life-long pattern learned: Predators make the loudest, most dramatic public victims. The louder the victim, the more you should suspect implicating details are being covered up.

I've seen this ex-Mormon scenario play out numerous times now. The history the ex-Mormon recites about leaving the LDS church evolves and the LDS "fallacies" become the reason "why" they left the Church. Not the real story where they got disciplined for immorality or child/spousal abuse. That one fades into the back of their memory. Then they gain notoriety among some competitive pastors and their followers in the Christian world or the Atheist crowd for being these savvy ex-Mormons who finally saw the light and were saved from the damned or the intellectually insipid. They're cheered on with accolades and pats on the back by these folks and it goes straight to the ex-Mormon's ego. Except the ex-Mormons get obsessed with the heroic anti-mormon task and takes the whole notion too far. If you ever want to see a modern demonstration of grinding and gnashing one's teeth, try listening to one of these folks for a while. Eventually those who encouraged them get embarrassed as the "inside" information and "insights" about Mormonism prove to be false or heavily skewed. They realize they've been played. Thank heavens for the internet and the ubiquitous access to information, right? Yes, there's lots of anti-mormon sites out there, but now there are lots of Mormons exposing the falsehoods as well.

My slogan: False info, quotes taken out of context, competitive agendas...Don't be deceived, ask a practicing Mormon what they believe.

By the way, you can find live Mormons online to chat with and ask questions and clarify things you've heard.

If you press the more militant ex-Mormons or dare ask, you will mostly find the ex-communication or discipline of something equally serious happened first. In order to suppress their conscience, they have to tell themselves angry and/or victimhood stories. And they get caught in this angry, downhill spiral of having to outdo themselves. They degenerate to the point they believe and promote increasingly shoddy and poorly concocted anti-mormon theories. Even the obviously ridiculous ones. Why? Because as soon as the angry and/or victim stories stop, their conscience pipes back up. As a result, they become addicted to the angry stories in order to keep the conscience drowned out. There's a saying about ex-Mormons that you will find true to life. "They can leave the Church, but they can't leave it alone." Is it universally true? No, but so often is a repeating pattern.

I collect anti-mormon literature. It's a hobby. Please don't get into it just because it sounds fun or interesting. It is not one I would suggest for very many people unless you are a tireless fact-checker by nature. Because a lot of it sounds REALLY valid and credible at first pass, which is why a lot of good and sincere people get snagged by it. However, if you are the patient, thorough, academic type...let me tell you...it is always of excessively poor scholarship and typically employs word twists as well as smoke and mirrors. Which, quite frankly, surprised me, because I expected anti-mormonism to be more challenging intellectually. Another strategy they employ is to pick info or arguments the average person would have a hard time fact-checking like archeology or DNA.

It's been several years and I haven't met a piece of anti-Mormon literature I couldn't crush with some dedicated fact-checking and personal revelation as to how to respond.

My suggestion to those who have been persuaded by it, is to not be so eager to soak it up until you've thoroughly vetted it.

By the way, this is a great resource to help fact-check and vet any anti-mormon material:

http://en.fairmormon.org/Main_Page

Having said all this. I don't feel an enmity, disdain or an animosity towards these kind of folks. I much more feel sad for them. But I will clear up mis-information when I can and sometimes I have to get frank with a repeat offender, especially the ones I know are purposely espousing false info.

Not my favorite blog post, but after dealing with anti-mormonism so much over the past week, it felt good to share this story with the world.

Keeping it real.

Update & Grace

2012-01-18T06:33:00.000-08:00

Blogging is one of my favorite pastimes. So I really feel it by letting this blog go for a whole week.

Ever since the article got published (see last post), I have been pretty busy with the comments online at the newspaper. It's a vetting process for me to learn what works and what doesn't work.

Getting wrapped up with crazy people doesn't work.

--------

One of the biggest issues Traditional Christians have with us is our differing beliefs about grace. What I discovered is the militant, evangelical ones take it so far as to say we don't believe in grace at all. I noticed they also cherry pick certain verses out about grace while ignoring many others in an attempt to make it some huge sticking point. It made me realize that Christ's grace can be taken too far - to the point of making all of Christ's other commandments and admonitions moot. To the point of condemning anyone who tries to do good works and accusing them of doing it for the wrong reasons and therefore being sinister and going to hell. People can get so ridiculous.

I'm posting a couple of replies on the topic of grace. First my own with some scripture references and then the one from my friend Brandon who is 21 years old. He's been a member for about three years. His reply is the better one. So this might be a bit long, but if you have family or friends of other faiths, grace will ALWAYS come up. The simple answer is "Yes, I absolutely believe and depend on Christ's grace" and that will deliver the message most of the time. For the more contentious ones, I hope these replies help:

First of all, we’re not trying to claim we’re the same as Traditional Christians. We’re making the point that as followers and believers of Jesus Christ, we fall under the Christian umbrella. Put the classification or distinction you need such as LDS Christians, or Restorationist Christians or non-Trinitarian Christians. Bottom line, we worship Christ and adhere to Christ’s teachings. We revere the New Testament.

The Pharisees and Scribes were not into mercy, not from heaven above nor on the earth below. In fact they got chastised repeatedly for lack of mercy (as in the treatment of widows and the poor). They were into position and lineage, specifically believing that being the seed of Abraham was a guarantee of their salvation. Mercy was not the topic. If you're going to read Matt 5:20, make sure and include verses 17-20 and what they say about those who teach men to break and ignore the least of the commandments.

If you're going to read Ephesians 2:8-9, please do include verses 1-10 of that same chapter. Especially verse 10! By plucking out 8-9 it says one thing (grace alone) but by reading those verses in context, it clearly talks about our works before and after and what is expected of us after we come to Christ.

If we're going to read the 3rd Article of Faith, let's include the 4th Article of Faith, which outlines the principles and ordinances that are essential:

4: We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Which ones were you suggesting we leave out?

Not only do we agree and adhere to verses about grace, we believe one needs all the verses to paint the whole picture. It's easy to cherry-pick verses out of the Bible to promote a certain aspect of the gospel & ignore a whole lot of other verses that balance or add important qualifications. Here are some verses which the LDS believe are also important along with the gift of grace. Matt 5:48, Matt 7:16-20, Matt 7:21-28, Luke 13:3, Luke 13:26-27, Luke 18:18-23, Matt 25:45-46, Luke 6:46, John 15:7-15, 1 John 3:10.

As LDS, we know Christ’s grace is absolutely essential, however, we don’t cherry pick just those verses out and ignore all the others. We believe if our heart truly loves Christ, accepts Him and is truly changed, our lives and our actions and our choices will follow through and change too - and happily. That you portray that as sinister or hell-bound is not believable when one reads the Bible cover to cover. Not only do I doubt you accurately speak for all Traditional Christians, I seriously doubt too many would be comfortable to know an ex-Mormon is purporting to be a spokesman for all of them. Especially where you’re trying so hard to establish an “us vs. them” mentality. There’s a lot of us from both sides who are happy enough about the similarities & can live with the differences peacefully.

Brandon's response:

The whole definition of Christian is based off of believing in Christ. I had a conversation with 10 of the Apostolic faith the other night, based upon the trinity. At the end of the night, I was standing more resolute in the LDS faith than ever before in my life. We believe in Christ. I believe in Christ. We try to emulate the attributes that Christ demonstrated here upon the mortal plane. Those of Charity, Hope, Patience, Virtue, Diligence, and so on. This makes us Christian. Christian isn't an institution, it isn't even a belief. It is an idea, an idea that through the attributes and example of Christ, we may be able to make each other and our Father in Heaven joyful.

We can choose to help our fellow brethren by striving for perfection in those attributes. This is what makes us Christian. You as with many others are letting tradition get in the way of spirit. Spirit being a combination of both Mind and Body.

How unified is "Christian?" I have been to three or four different "Christian" churches all teaching different doctrine based upon their findings in the scriptures.

What I believe to be Christs church, may not appeal to you this makes me love you or anyone no less. As I have been to many Sermons where the punch lines originated from "Don't speak to Mormons." or "Mormonism is a cult." or even "Mormons carry on Satans work, they do not believe in god, or even in Christ."

You know better than this, however in your 50 plus years within the church, you have failed to see the main point behind all of the teachings and inner workings. It is not about getting a higher standing in the church, or any ability to arise dominate above others in Heavenly Fathers eyes. For we are all equal in his eyes. It is not about "oh we believe in the only true church."

The reason why I believe we are so blessed to be part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is that we are given all of the tools and keys to become what our godly with a lowercase g, potential allows. These moral values and demonstrations of charity are not to gain a higher standing in our church but because we allow virtue to guide our thoughts and actions, as any from any faith can. We can offer nothing more than tools to sculpt your spiritual self, as within any church. It takes motivation and hard work to sculpt this statue and those who want a higher standing, or want to look good will not make it.

For your perspective in this journey is the only one that will matter when being judged by our Lord. I hope that when I go up for my judgement, that the first thing on my resume is not to be "He was a member of The Church of Latter Day Saints, making him a Christian." But, that "Here is Brandon, my beloved son, he strove with everything he could to help his brothers and sisters in which he had true charity and love for. He was Christian. He believed in Me, my Son, and The Holy Ghost. He led others unto Me, not out of concern for his own souls salvation but out of concern for those around him. He took full advantage of this spiritually educational sojourn."

The people that I know from the church, don't wish to help themselves, or wish to be known as the definition of Christian that you have, for it is the worldly one. I wish that we be known as believes in Christ. A people who strove to help and bless every ones lives that they came into contact within. It is not about arguing the letter of the law, it is about doing the best we can do be like Christ. Forming a perfect love for Heavenly Father, Christ our brother, and our brethren. We are not meant to get hung up on the details but see the big picture.

With much love,
Brandon

Regards to all!

Blown Away

2012-01-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

Joel and I decided to walk to the local store during lunch hour on Monday and pick up a copy of the Medford Mail Tribune which ran the story about our Mysterious Mormon Moms podcast.

I had only seen it online and I had no idea what section it would be in so imagine our surprise when we walked up to the news stand and saw this:

My husband's eyes grew wide, he looked at me and said, "Whoa!"....

Just wanted to share THE MOMENT and the fun.

If interested, see the previous post below for links to the article and podcast.

We're Kind Of Famous For A Day

2012-01-09T05:20:00.000-08:00

They did a story on our podcast in the local paper. It was interesting what the reporter chose to highlight and what she left out...however the whole experience was fun. Both the reporter Teresa and photographer Bob were just great.

Link to the Medford Tribune article...

Link to the actual podcast...

Spread the word!

Our next podcast will be out early February.

George Albert Smith - Chapter 2 (cont.)

2012-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Relief Society 2012 :) Use search term George Albert Smith to view more for this week or for other weeks

My sister Andrea and my daughter Shannon

Towards the end of the chapter is one sentence that just gives me pause so I decided to give it its own post:

When our life here is ended and we return home, we will find credited to us there every good act we have performed, every kindness we have done, every effort we have put forth to benefit our fellows. …

WOW. THAT. BLOWS. MY. MIND.

Visualize stepping on the other side of the veil (LDS jargon for what happens after we die) and watching every decision and effort of your mortal life finding you and re-attaching itself to you.

The really sobering part is the same goes for the unwanted, un-repented bad stuff as well.

The Book of Mormon vividly explains this principle. It is our version of karma.

Extra reading: Book of Mormon Explains Karma

George Albert Smith goes on to say:

"… Let us evidence our appreciation of what the Lord has given us by serving Him, and we are serving Him when we do good to His children."

It's a new year! May you send out large quantities of great karma which will inevitably find you again someday.

Book of Mormon - Lesson 3 (cont.)

2012-01-07T07:22:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for this week or for other weeks.

As already noted, the vision of the Tree of Life is rich with symbolism. Which by the way, symbolism and rich language is very typical of Jewish literature. One of these symbols found in the vision is the description of the large and spacious building. This building embodies the pride and priorities of the the world. And houses a myriad people who mock and spurn the faithful. I've always understood it to be worldly wisdom and their worldly perception of the gospel and those who adhere to it. Which is its primary interpretation. However, at the end of the Book of Mormon's teacher's manual (lesson 3) is an awesome class discussion suggestion with a twist:

As class members discuss the great and spacious building, point out that the people in the building had an “attitude of mocking.” This mocking led some who had partaken of the fruit to be ashamed and fall away (1 Nephi 8:27–28).

•In what ways might our attitudes toward others lead them to fall away? (Hey, that question is directed to you and me and is about how we treat other members!)

Emphasize that accountable individuals are responsible for their own actions; however, our attitude toward others can either strengthen them in their righteous efforts or discourage them. Encourage class members to strengthen each other and to never mock or belittle others.

It's subtly suggested here, but the question I would add is:

Does the great and spacious building find its way into our own church and our ward sometimes?

This is thought provoking.

Good luck with this lesson whether you are a teacher or a contributing member of the class.

The Unlikely Hidden Arrogance

2012-01-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

Found this at my local library today. It completely profiles the small town I live in.

I told myself avoiding or ignoring offensive people were both peacemaking and being "above that."

And most of the time it is, especially when it is someone we'll never see again, or someone who doesn't generally travel in our circles of contact. Or even when it is someone who frequents our lives, but has a singular bad day and "it's not like them."

This post is about to describe one of the most important, uncomfortable lessons gifted to me for 2011.

I read these verses in the Bible several weeks ago and it dove into my heart clear back then. There was a situation with a disgruntled, embarrassed sister I had let grow, which needed to be handled. Yet, I continued to put it off, same as I had all year. But first the scripture:

Luke 17:3-4

3 ¶Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Of course we don't go around chasing every slight, every word, every look from every human we come in contact with. That's miserable. But the scripture gives a clue of when we do pursue misunderstandings and offenses. If that someone frequents your life through work, church, school, family, friends, etc. - we're advised to take care of the differences and misunderstandings that inevitably arise, directly with them. There is great wisdom in this. But unfortunately, it doesn't happen enough. Maybe because it involves effort and time and going WAY out of our comfort zones. Yet the results are far better than what we typically do - which is share our frustrations in whispers with our friends.

It might feel good, kind of, sort of to sound off and get it off our chests with others and get their validation...but it doesn't help the offensive party in any way shape or form. Instead, it creates labels, barriers, categories and lost opportunities for friendship and service. This is where the arrogance creeps in on otherwise, really nice people.

Loving our brother or our neighbor would not allow us to handle our differences in this fashion. If people are going to have half a chance, they need feedback. Especially feedback given in the most calm, diplomatic way possible. But even imperfect feedback is better than whispering behind someone's back. We've ALL been on the receiving end of the gossip mill. We know it's hell. Perhaps we feel like so-and-so deserves it because for us, that particular person is the "least of these, thy brethren."

And here is my arrogance. I put off handling it with this sister for deeper reasons than I was willing to admit to myself. I told myself previously I was being peaceful. Truth is, I wasn't doing the right thing with this situation and this sister because I dismissed or discounted her socially. I didn't want to take the time. I was treating her as "a least of these." And considering people as "least of these" is about as non-Christlike as you can get.

Extra Reading: Left-sided Goatness (fair warning...very introspective).

The problem. We only reserve the graceful "taking thy brother aside" effort for those we are interested in having a social relationship with or benefit from in some way. Others we dismiss, discount, ignore and let them make fools out of themselves, or even worse, we attempt to make fools out them through our frustrated peer talk. Which is a rationalized description of gossip and backbiting.

The advice given in those verses above is the antidote to gossip. It is the powerful, peaceful resolution (believe it or not). And when we follow that advice, we find afterwards we can set it down and quit dragging it around. Even if the other person's reaction is not favorable, which in my case it wasn't. But this sister did realize for the first time last week, I had more facts than she thought and out of self-preservation, it was worth her while to stop with the stories she had spread. She realized her real vulnerability for the first time. Had I taken the time to talk it out with her months ago, so much negative angst could have been counter-acted. I told this sister I hope to be friends with her someday. That was sincere.

Frankly, following the Savior's guidance involves humility. It requires we esteem those we may consider "the least of these" around us and recognize their importance. Important enough to pull them aside, give them feedback and listen to theirs.

I finally made the dreaded phone call the last Friday of 2011. Truthfully, the call became a necessity because my decision to "let it go" and "overlook" came around full circle to bite me in the derrière, so I couldn't ignore it any longer. A student walked into my class last week and told me she had been pulled aside and told she shouldn't come to my class because I was toxic. And a couple of days before that I was told two of the Relief Society Presidency sisters were afraid to talk to me for something along those same lines. The choice was either jump into the fray and "win" by making this sister look like a fool, or I could go straight to the source and attempt to resolve it. I told this sister I refuse to drag this into the new year with us and wanted to put it to rest.

After an extended dialogue she promised to stop telling the stories. Even if the only feedback she internalized was it would turn to bite her, it was so much better than carrying on the way we had.

I shared reasons I admired her as well. I expect sometime down the line, with either circumstance or time she will soften. Even she knew I had a choice to talk to her or talk to everyone else. This will invite at least some respect from most people.

There will always be bad chemistry. People are troubled. Lots of low self-esteems out there. Even though the Spirit and the gospel softens our hearts and makes us better fellow human beings, situations and misunderstanding do arise. The Savior gave us top-notch advice on how to deal with others. Everyone of us needs to take a brother aside at some point. May you find peace and strength this year and may you resolve and leave the old oversights and shortcomings of others behind.

Timshel

G.A.S. - Chapter 2

2012-01-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Relief Society 2012 :) Use search term George Albert Smith to view more for this week or for other weeks

Love thy neighbor as thyself...

A confession here: I am squirming.

Reading about George Albert Smith in regards to this particular topic is almost too much sunshine. His light glows so bright regarding this gospel principle, I have to squint. This is not an exaggeration.

My eyes water as I read how George was, his creed, his outlook on life and how he esteemed others in comparison with himself. Why am I squinting and squirming in my seat? Because the person he was and the person I am are SO FAR APART. I struggle NOT to be too introspective as I study this lesson. Sound a bit funny? Wait until you read this yourself..

Fair Warning: Severe Introspection Ahead

Sun breaking through clouds in Honduras

Here are some brief highlights:

"On a cold winter morning, the street cleaning crew [in Salt Lake City] was removing large chunks of ice from the street gutters. The regular crew was assisted by temporary laborers who desperately needed the work. One such wore only a lightweight sweater and was suffering from the cold. A slender man with a well-groomed beard stopped by the crew and asked the worker, ‘You need more than that sweater on a morning like this. Where is your coat?’ The man replied that he had no coat to wear. The visitor then removed his own overcoat, handed it to the man and said, ‘This coat is yours. It is heavy wool and will keep you warm. I just work across the street.’ The street was South Temple. The good Samaritan who walked into the Church Administration Building to his daily work and without his coat was President George Albert Smith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His selfless act of generosity revealed his tender heart. Surely he was his brother’s keeper.”

What a sweet moment captured in time! George says he gets it from his father:

"As I think of my regard and my affection for my Father’s family, the human family, I remember something my earthly father said, and I think probably I inherited that in part from him. He said, “I have never seen a child of God so deep in the gutter that I have not had the impulse to stoop down and lift him up and put him on his feet and start him again.” I would like to say I have never seen one of my Father’s children in my life that I have not realized he was my brother and that God loves every one of his children."

"What a happy world it would be if men everywhere recognized their fellowmen as brothers and sisters, and then followed that up by loving their neighbors as themselves."

Here's the perfect scripture reference for these thoughts:

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, this is the first and great commandment.

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37–40

President Smith sums up this principle for each one of us:

"Brethren and sisters, if the gospel of Jesus Christ, as delivered to you, has not planted that feeling of love in your hearts for your fellow men, then I want to say that you have not enjoyed the full fruition of that wonderful gift that came to earth when this Church was organized."

I am grateful for these reminders, for the chance to measure myself and come up short. It gets my heart and mind going as I think about others I could cheer and help.

Blessings!

Book of Mormon - Week 3 (Happy New Year)

2012-01-01T06:42:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for this week or for other weeks.

Tree of Life (from the LDS Conference Center - Salt Lake City, UT)

Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life is rich! Full of symbolism and three-dimensional meaning our two-dimensional language often struggles to touch...

The vision includes several parts but the following six verses remarkably sum up the repeating pattern of our life. Not only does this part of the dream represent finding the gospel for the first time (which is all I ever assumed until today), it represents finding it over and over as we slip and then re-new and resolve ourselves towards what we already know is true and good. Life is a cycle of ups and downs, though hopefully we can develop more of an upward spiral.

7 ...I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste. (Oh yes, been there I don't know how many times!)

8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.

10 And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.

11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.

12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.

The dark and dreary waste is a repeated experience for everyone I know, no matter how long or how successfully the gospel has been in our lives. The dark and the dreary can be emotions, circumstances, disappointments, tragedies or simply a state we find ourselves in after we've let the good and spiritual habits slide. For me, my bad attitudes and negative perspectives can put me there in a hurry.

Don't we need to reestablish better gospel habits from time to time? It's a new year. I love the motivation we have to start fresh, pull ourselves back up and relive the peace, the highs and the happiness that comes from aligning ourselves with the heavens.

Once we find our state of happiness dwindling, it's time to feel our way back to strength and peace. If it needs to involve a confession to a bishop, so be it. As we re-incorporate kneeling prayer, regular scripture study, service, and deliberate love for others - we open up the conduits to heaven and allow the joyful moments. Fulfilling sweetness made up of confidence, direction, strength, and well-being becomes our back drop once again.

Happy New Year. May you find and retain the spiritual formulas which personally bring you enduring happiness.

Holding Hands With Christ

2011-12-30T09:19:00.000-08:00

This Christmas tree appeared overnight at our cabin :)

Learning from opposites is a repeating pattern in our lives. It's the contrast between the good and the bad that often drives the point home. For example, when we have to go without, we keenly realize how much someone else or some privilege is worth to us.

Or perhaps at some point we decided that some of those boundaries and morals "imposed" by our parents or our church were shackles and no fun. Only to wake up one day at the end of that "freedom" road loaded with baggage and consequences. It's a rite of emotional and spiritual maturity to realize what seemed liberating and sophisticated was a lie. There's a perfect line from the novel 'Jane Eyre' when Mr. Rochester makes a distinction between happiness and pleasure.

"Besides, since happiness is irrevocably denied me, I have a right to get pleasure out of life: and I will get it, cost what it may.”

“Then you will degenerate still more, sir.”

A tried and tested truth.

For me, having difficult people come into my life and having to deal with negative traits and emotions, caused me a deeper appreciation of others who are generally pleasant. But even better, it helps me look in the mirror at myself.

Opposites help us reflect, understand and internalize. Opposites are the staple of wisdom and experience. So, as unusual as it may sound, I understand Christ better by experiencing the effects of Lucifer and who he is. He is certainly opposite of Christ in intent and in consequence. Elder Uchtdorf summed it up beautifully last General Worldwide Conference when he said:

"The great deceiver knows that one of his most effective tools in leading the children of God astray is to appeal to the extremes of the paradox of man. To some, he appeals to their prideful tendencies, puffing them up and encouraging them to believe in the fantasy of their own self-importance and invincibility. He tells them they have transcended the ordinary and that because of ability, birthright, or social status, they are set apart from the common measure of all that surrounds them. He leads them to conclude that they are therefore not subject to anyone else’s rules and not to be bothered by anyone else’s problems."

"...Another way Satan deceives is through discouragement. He attempts to focus our sight on our own insignificance until we begin to doubt that we have much worth. He tells us that we are too small for anyone to take notice, that we are forgotten—especially by God."

Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf then adds:

"The Lord doesn’t care at all if we spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use—in His own way and for His holy purposes—those who incline their hearts to Him."

"God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good."

The whole talk "You Matter to Him" is fabulous. If you ever needed a pick-me-up, this comes highly recommended. Here is a link to read or to watch to all of it. There are a couple of more great stories and tie-ins. Can't say enough about it.

Last night, our family read Helaman 5 (Book of Mormon) together and these two verses (awesome enough to fit into the attention span of teenagers) sparked today's blog post:

11 And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. (Helaman 5:11-12)

And there it is. These two great entities contrasted to each other in a single verse. The one, a sure foundation. The other, shafts in the whirlwind and the gulf of misery. Between Christ and Lucifer are opposing purposes and opposing outcomes.

Hold Christ's hand. A curious phrase. It means to have a heart inclined towards Christ. It means frequently dropping to our knees in prayer to the Father through the power of Christ. It means learning of Christ through scriptures and prophets and apostles and steering our lives by their admonitions. It means trusting when brightness of hope isn't immediately visible. It means a leap of faith.

It's a new year! What are your goals, your intentions, your plans, and your aspirations for 2012? Mine are to hold Christ's hand more, especially in regards to formal kneeling prayers. I love the effect of steady prayer habits on my life and I definitely feel the loss of benefits as I let those opportunities slip away (another opposite learned from). So the coming of a new yer brings for me, a renewed emphasis for this humble, quiet, soul-riveting, powerful, personal custom.

What Manner of Men?

2011-12-27T08:10:00.000-08:00

"...Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." (3 Nephi 27:27)

Sitting here and pondering "service" and more specifically the phrase "Christ-like service".

I've heard the phrase before and never stopped to think through what Christ-like service is.

Isn't all service Christ-like? After all a good deed is a good deed?

How about when a business or corporation makes a big promotional show out of their charitable endeavors?

Or how about when someone gives service with the underlying motive to ingratiate or obligate someone else to themselves?

So, I'm tempted to say no here, even though there are no regrets for any service I've ever given. Certainly there are no regrets for the service anyone else has ever given. But back to the question; could I openly claim all my service Christ-like? Looking at my own heart with some honest introspection, while contrasting it to descriptions of how Christ served, the answer is "I wish." The gap is noticeable.

Some of my service is peer-motivated or influenced by a long-standing culture within the LDS Church or even a response to my own check-it-off checklist mentality. Is it bad? Of course not. But as I read John 13, the Savior's style of serving struck my inner chord of realization.

All of us exist on different levels of consciousness and depths of awareness. I believe part of maturity and grace as an individual gains stature and ages is related to how much capacity we develop to actively regard the perspective and orientations of others around us in our thoughts, words and deeds.

Christ makes a profound statement about service:

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (John 13:12-17)

Washing someone's feet is a most personable, welcoming, custom of hospitality among the ancient Jews. How soon would you forget someone taking the time to wash your feet? The act is laced with intimacy and respect.

This is the question that makes my eyes water.

Do I serve with intimacy, respect and personableness?

How would it feel to myself and others if I took the time to make sure these elements were present?

The Savior took off his formal clothes, rolled up his sleeves as it were, bent down and performed a task reserved for the lower servants. It was sweet. It was love. It was Christ-like.

Book of Mormon - Week 2 (cont.)

2011-12-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for this week or for other weeks.

Lehi from the Book of Mormon

It struck me this time around what a stalwart man Lehi was. We don't have much of his writings, experiences or his personal commentary, but his story is pretty remarkable. I tried to put myself in his shoes. Could I do what was asked of him? I cringed from the idea.

First, he was the kind of man that would pour his heart and soul out for the people of his nation. He didn't have any astounding experience prior to his prayer, he just went out and poured his heart out for people he didn't even know. Have I ever done that? How about pouring one's heart and soul into prayer and supplication over a smaller group like say, just a ward and its members? Probably something most of us have never done. So here was a man whose spiritual stature was already above average and unusual.

He then has a remarkable experience, a detailed and ultra powerful vision. And what was asked of him? To go to his local social network - his synagogue (which social connections would be like a workplace or a gym club) and tell them all out loud about how bad they were messing up, that God talked to him and sent him with a message. How much would any of us personally listen to someone who waltzed in and started talking like that? Yeah right, I'm sure Lehi knew he wouldn't be well received. That took solid backbone. Can you imagine walking into your workplace or your local PTA and telling them all how wicked they are, that they're going to be destroyed unless they change and that the Lord now speaks to you? Especially given Lehi was not the local church hierarchy, he was a successful merchant.

Now Lehi's life is in danger and he's told to pick up and run and leave everything he has built up behind. His home, his riches, his life. And not only to run to the next town, but instead told to dwell in the wilderness, as in roughing it. Not just himself, but Lehi also had to convince spoiled, unwilling family members to go along with it. In essence, Lehi went through hell. And Lehi was a chosen, favored one.

And then there's Nephi's heroic adventures and hardships...but that's the rest of the story. (1 Nephi 1-7)

Book of Mormon - Week 2

2011-12-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for this week or for other weeks.

Nephi - first author in the Book of Mormon

I love Nephi.

I love who he is.

I love his struggles.

I love his depth of understanding.

I especially love his CANDOR.

He doesn't pretend like everything is holy and good and straightforward all the time with his family. He chronicles how hard it was sometimes.

In fact, his family (or certain members of his family) are quite dysfunctional. I realize that may seem disrespectful. It's not. I love how Nephi gave us a glimpse into his family's true struggles. How his parents get mad and blame each other. How stressed out they all get when they can't find food. How ridiculous his two brothers Laman and Lemuel are. (As in the equivalent of bi-polar personality disorders who refuse to take their meds.) And how nitty, gritty hard it is to live with people like that.

Yet despite all those difficulties, Nephi describes himself as "highly favored" of the Lord.

"and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days..." 1 Nephi 1:1

We deal with economic hardships, relationships that don't work, family members or peers who are cruel, or any number of life's misfortunes. What I draw from Nephi's account is these are not signs the Lord doesn't love us, nor care about us nor is He oblivious to us. In fact, it doesn't indicate we are out of His favor at all.

Instead I've come to the conclusion we're experiencing mortal misfortunes for deliberate reasons. Mortality is a means of developing character, strength and a solid core - invaluable to us for all eternity. Of course we can choose bitterness, resentment, anger and fear instead. However for each of us exists the golden opportunity to conquer life. Not necessarily so much to change our fortunes, but rather to temper and conquer ourselves and our responses to what mortality is. Herein lies the path to happiness and personal power. Life is more about how we respond to it, than what actually happens to us. (hat tip to Colleen Harrison)

Nephi's frankness is a blessing to us all.

Oregon Stake Dispels Local Myths About Mormons

2011-12-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

Suburban legends about our LDS faith proliferate here in our otherwise, serene vale. Some of the hearsay that circulates in our community, located in an isolated, quaint township of about 33,000, sounds something like this: "Mormons don't send flowers." "Mormons can't dance." "Mormons don't wear perfume." The list goes on. So I was intrigued when noted author Jason Wright related an encounter with a fan who asked him why he wrote a book about Christmas ("Christmas Jars") when he, being Mormon, didn't celebrate Christmas at all?

The tale that Mormons don't celebrate Christmas swings in tandem with the insinuation that Mormons don't believe in Jesus Christ. Or the equivalent whisper that Mormons aren't Christian. To any active Latter-Day Saint, no insult digs deeper.

Here enters the story of the Grants Pass Stake's annual creche festival, held in early December. Creche festivals, which depict a Nativity scene, are a common tradition among LDS people, so what makes Grants Pass Stake's creche festival distinctive? The sheer numbers they pull in one single Friday evening are high. Last year they counted almost 700 visitors in four hours with at least half being members of other faiths. That's approximately one out of every fifty citizen in this community.

My girlfriend Jenny :)

The Stake public relations committee got the word out to the community by utilizing the customary newspaper ads, a banner across the main street and homemade pass-along cards. But the pivotal piece of PR that helped event attendance turn the corner was soliciting Grants Pass City to include the creche festival as a major "First Friday Art Night" event. They're even listed in the city's "First Friday" guide. And of course, the committee made sure the event coincided with the date and time of the city's downtown celebration.

Once citizens arrived at the creche festival, they were greeted with a high caliber, live nativity scene as they migrated from the front door to the cultural hall. Inside they found not only numerous nativity sets and myriad poinsettias, but lively Christmas entertainment that ran most of the night. The music and performances were given by LDS members and those of other faiths as well. Barb Sharp, who has served on the Public Relations Committe in years past remembers the transition to coordinating with the city's "First Friday" celebration. When asked if that move made a difference she responded, "Oh yes, definately see a much larger crowd now. And they come, and they sit, and they stay for a lot of the evening and just watch the entertainment all night long..."

So many different Nativity scenes!

Terry Hauser, a brand new member of only a week was thrilled with the festival. She had also heard that Mormons weren't Christian before she took the missionary discussions. As Hauser watched over her little ones in the children's activity area, she described the evening "as the most beautiful ever".

JoAnne Shields, who is not a member of the LDS faith, was visiting for the first time. She learned about the event from a friend of hers at lunchtime and decided to stop by. We struck up a conversation while she was admiring nativity scenes and I asked her if she had ever heard that Mormons didn't celebrate Christmas or were not Christians? She answered with an accentuated, affirmative nod, "Oh yes, but you couldn't believe that after being here tonight."

Shields' perspective was a defining moment for me. Having grown up with creche festivals, I had long since written them off as an unoriginal evening. Now I understand it is an ingenious event, an accepted platform to mingle with the community and stage our beliefs. Without contention or disputation, the creche festival dispels the "not Christian" myth while offering warmth and hospitality. During a time when our LDS religion is frequently misinterpreted and even slandered, this traditional outreach to the community is proving itself worthy of our time and best talents.

Next year, my nativity set will be there.

A Real Gospel Makes Real Men

2011-12-17T08:59:00.000-08:00

Moroni burying the plates.

Real men are hard to find any more.

Sometimes I am discouraged by the balance of hard-working, take-care-of-others, make-things-happen men to the increasing numbers of whiny, offended, self-focused men who are proliferating from unattended, undisciplined, abandoned childhoods.

Helaman 3 has some of my favorite Book of Mormon verses of all time. It's about strong gospel and strong men. We happened to read this chapter during the past week in family scripture study. I had us read it twice. If there is anything I could wish for my sons, it would be to understand and embrace these few verses:

27 Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.

28 Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.

29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—

30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.

Last but not least:

35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

This is one of my greatest hopes for my children...that they realize the value of and pursue these attributes.

These principles make men with backbone and woman of great worth.

Did You Know?

2011-12-15T06:47:00.000-08:00

I found the information on this blog fascinating. It's about LDS temples and the seemingly peculiar ceremonies we have there. Apparently the Dead Sea Scrolls tell us they're not so peculiar.

"Writings from the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Codices show that for two centuries before and after Jesus Christ, certain religious groups practiced rituals that included anointing patrons and the receiving of celestial robes. Teaching about the use of secret names and tokens took place along with passing through the temple veil into the presence of God. Revelations of the secrets of creation and the exaltation and deification of individuals were presented. Ascension into various levels of heaven representing different degrees of glory was a part of the ceremony. The need for moral purity was taught, and Eternal Marriages were performed." Mormons Are Christian

The blog also has references and links if you would like to read more.

I'm totally jazzed by this!

Book of Mormon - Week 1 (cont.)

2011-12-13T06:58:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for this week or for other weeks.

Ottoman we gather round for family prayer.

There's no denying it, the post title sounds a mite dry. Hopefully anyone who teaches or studies for Book of Mormon class or Relief Society (George Albert Smith) can find these posts quickly.

I love this promise...it's one of those lovely quotes with significance to any parent with TEENAGERS.

Marion G. Romney, a former apostle, extends a cherished hope which comes from utilizing the Book of Mormon in our lives:

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1980, 90)

One can only dream, right? I currently have a 13 year-old daughter and a 14 year-old son...yes, I feel the wave of sympathy flooding my way. Although they are the youngest of six and even though you'd think I'd have it figured out, the mystery of the chaos of this particular age is still not solved. My husband and I need all the help we can get. So Book of Mormon study it is!

The study guide suggests:

Talk about the blessings that will come to your family as you follow this counsel. Make a plan to meet as a family daily to study the Book of Mormon. Encourage each family member to take responsibility to follow the plan.

Is it time to renew your commitment to Book of Mormon study? Both for yourself and for your family? I love how going to church reminds me and strengthens me to be a better person. Some people would find this habit old-fashioned, less sophisticated or restrictive. Not so. It's one of life's best kept secrets. Through the process of going to church every Sunday, I find those snippets here and there which seem especially tailored for my own heart and soul. Those small admonitions and reminders deepen the quality and meaning of my life. My life is 52 times better (weeks in a year) because I go to the LDS Church every Sunday. No smirk or attempt at condescension by those who would look down on that practice can remove the reality of peace and the buoyancy my life has gained.

Last thought for BOM - Week 1. Upon reading the following scripture reference, I realized I could go on and on about it. It's one of those scripture passages which fills the senses and my own soul stands up and pays attention. Moroni saw our day and he's pretty straightforward about it. Contemplate his words. I love the Book of Mormon!

Mormon 8:26-41 (It's 15 verses long so I'm providing a link.)

Book of Mormon - Week 1

2011-12-11T09:45:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Sunday School 2012. Use search term Book of Mormon to view more for this week or for other weeks.

Yay! 2012 is Book of Mormon study year in Sunday School. We're just finishing the New Testament (KJV) for 2011. 2010 we studied the Old Testament. And all of them are treasures.

If you enjoy reading the Bible, then you'll find the Book of Mormon delightful. The same wonderful Spirit is in there...and richly so.

The Book of Mormon has one specific purpose: to persuade mankind to believe in and come to Christ. This book of scripture mentions Christ in one form or another, every 2.7 verses on average.

We already have a Bible, why have another book of scripture? Well why not, what could it possibly hurt? The Bible is an ancient record of one people, the Book of Mormon is a record of another. If this idea still seems hard to accept...here's a post in depth on the topic.

These verses testify the reason behind the existence of the Book of Mormon - notice the flow and the beauty in them:

38 And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God [Bible], which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren.

39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.

40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records [Book of Mormon], which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first [Bible], which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.

41 And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth.

The Book of Mormon has special meaning to my life and is a buoyant force. The invitation is open to anyone to experience what it has to offer you.

G.A.S. - Chapter 1 (cont.)

2011-12-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Relief Society 2012 :) Use search term George Albert Smith to view more for this week or for other weeks

"I'm a Believer"

One of the characteristics of Mormons (Latter-Day Saints) is they do not loudly claim the Savior's name accompanied with waving hands, dancing, swaying or falling on the ground or any other sort of public shout-out. And all of these are fine to do, however a person chooses to worship is personal, between he, himself and God. But we don't typically choose this form of worship which makes us a bit peculiar among some in the Christian world. We've even been accused of not believing in Christ or of not making him the center of our devotion because of the absence of those kinds of public episodes or moments of being "saved". And sometimes it gets exaggerated to "Mormons don't believe we are saved by grace." Which by the way, we most definitely do.

In our culture, our preferred method of professing Christ is to manifest our love for Him in how we live. And this isn't some pious, goody two-shoes explanation of how wonderful we are. This is not the feeling or the tone behind this post. Rather, we honestly believe we honor the Savior by how we live.

Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) We adhere to this belief whole-heartedly.

All through the Bible, our actions and obedience are stressed. We believe there will be a judgment day, we believe the Bible and Christ preached those things we should strive and willingly do. We're pretty sure those instructions and admonitions found throughout the scriptures are not there just to sound holy.

Please don't be offended, but sometimes it seems to us the principle of grace is taken too far, especially when it means no matter what one does, he will be saved as long as he had that singular "saved" moment. In contrast, we believe it requires a changed heart, a striving obedient saint and Christ's grace blended together as the formula to get us to exaltation. Resurrection is free, exaltation is not. And for as many single verses anyone can cherry-pick that seem to say salvation is by grace alone, I can quote many times more verses that cite the big picture and how our actions and how we live our life goes into the equation of eternal life.

There is a judgment day. We will stand before the Savior and give an account of our deeds. We will be measured and the outcome will coincide with the results of that judgment. Please see Matthew 25:31-46.

"¶Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?" (Malichi 2:17)

OK, so here enters George Albert Smith. He was a prophet and president of the LDS church many decades ago. The man was phenomenal in how he lived his religion and he lives on in our memory. One of the kindest, most endearing personalities any of us ever knew.

Short stories about George:

"One day during his service as President of the Church, George Albert Smith was sent a photograph with a note that read, “I am sending you this picture because it is a graphic illustration of the man we believe you are.” It was a picture of President Smith visiting with a mother and her four young children. On that particular day, President Smith had been rushing to catch a train when the mother stopped him, hoping her children could have the opportunity to shake hands with a prophet of God. An observer captured the moment in the photograph.

The note continued, “The reason we treasure [this picture] so is because, as busy as you were, in spite of the fact you were being hurried into your car and then to your waiting train, you still took time out to shake the hand of each child in this family.” G.A.S. History

Certainly not the most magnanimous act anyone's ever done. Neither is this one of the more charitable stories about Brother Smith. I chose it because there was something about this simple moment caught in time which tells George's story.

Another story:

“It was reported to [President Smith] that someone had stolen from his buggy the buggy robe. Instead of being angry, he responded: ‘I wish we knew who it was, so that we could give him the blanket also, for he must have been cold; and some food also, for he must have been hungry.’”

Bryant S. Hinckley wrote of President Smith:

“His religion is not doctrine in cold storage. It is not theory. It means more to him than a beautiful plan to be admired. It is more than a philosophy of life. To one of his practical turn of mind, religion is the spirit in which a man lives, in which he does things, if it be only to say a kind word or give a cup of cold water. His religion must find expression in deeds. It must carry over into the details of daily life.”

And President George Albert Smith himself said:

"Worship in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a devoted life, a desire to be worthy of him in whose image we have been created and who has given us all … that is worth while—the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What a fine thing it is to feel that we belong to a church that is or should be composed of saints. It is not sufficient that we have our names upon the records. It is important that we live the lives that entitle us to be called Saints, and if you will do that, you will be happy. …"

And there it is for us Latter-Day Saints. "Worship...is a devoted life." That is how we are taught to profess Christ. I hope that helps explain Mormon culture.

Mysterious Mormon Moms

2011-12-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

Thought you would enjoy this link.

Are Mormons Christians?

Five mysterious Mormon moms address urban legends about Mormons using humor and real-life experiences.

Listen in on their conversation...

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Other Mormon Legends

Thanks for listening in!

G.A.S. - Chapter 1

2011-12-05T05:33:00.000-08:00

Snippets for Relief Society 2012 :) Use search term George Albert Smith to view more for this week or for other weeks

Our new lesson manual for Relief Society 2012 is "The Teachings of George Albert Smith".

I am so excited! I love George Albert Smith. Not only did he march to his own drumbeat, but he was a colorful character. Full of life and being and doing. If you ever wondered what caliber of man it takes to be a prophet, this man's life makes an entertaining, lovely read. Trust me, there is nothing mundane or cookie cutter about George Albert Smith.

I cried when I read his personal creed he made for himself when 34 yrs. old. Try measuring yourself along side of these 11 resolutions:

“I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor.

“I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed.

“I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind.

“I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life.

“I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right.

“I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy.

“I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends.

“I would not knowingly wound the feelings of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend.

“I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father.

“I would not be an enemy to any living soul.

“Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter, I feel it not only a duty but also a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth.”

There are a few here which melt away my justifications and rationalizations with tears and expose a soul which needs to grow. They're bolded because I'm kind of open that way. I love the challenge. I feel so much gratitude for an inspiring benchmark to aim for. This is a timely reminder as we start a brand new year.

Yes, George Albert Smith is one of my all-time favorites.

Deliver Me Class

2011-12-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

One of my greatest privileges is to be involved with a "He Did Deliver Me" class which meets today. He Did Deliver Me is a 12-step class based on the Book of Mormon. However it is not for substance abuse or sexual addictions per se, but rather for "life happens..." (sister style).

This group is particularly bonded to my heart, because they are friends outside of class. Last week we met for three hours because we had a hard time prying ourselves from our conversations. The material in our books has a way of really opening us up, as if good friends already needed the help with talking. We may have to resort to imposing time limits on ourselves, either that or start bringing sack lunches to class...

Today we discuss Principle Four:

"My trials and mistakes are potentially great learning opportunities, not terrible things I should try and ignore or forget".

Another phrase that comes close is "blessings in disguise."

What a fresh perspective!

Someday, the depth, the breadth and the frequency of our sorest trials will not have the meaning they have to us now. And the sooner this transformation of thought happens, the better.

I have come to the realization that the trials themselves are not so important. Even the worst ones. I know this sounds kind of glib and maybe a bit white-washed or overly optimistic. Especially since on this side of the veil - trials, mistakes and consequences are all-absorbing of our time, energy and focus. However, on the other side of the veil, their tragic effects fade away and don't reach into our next phase of existence. Instead, as we look back on our mortal life, it is our responses to those hard times that will matter more than anything else. Not the hardships themselves. Instead, our reactions become the tools used to measure our true character by and a testament of our eternal place in the heavens.

May you take strength in the temporary nature of earth life. It is a means to a better end.

Hope today is a beautiful Sabbath...

Even Christ

2011-12-02T03:55:00.000-08:00

Taylor demonstrating his relaxation technique...

This is a pretty random thought to go along with my random picture.

The book of John is rich in it's testimony of Christ and His divinity. I especially loved the part in John 10:7 where the Savior describes himself as "the door". This imagery isn't quoted as much as the "good shepherd" and other analogies. However, I couldn't help but notice that even Christ was repeatedly harassed, questioned, dismissed, challenged, accused, despised, and thought to have a devil. And this was not among only a few arrogant Pharisees. In John 10:20 it says:

"And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?"

Brigham Young said of Joseph Smith:

"He was poor, harassed, distressed, afflicted, and tormented with lawsuits upon lawsuits, persecution upon persecution, and thus it cost thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep him alive, which a few had to sustain."

"...it is directly opposite of that we saw in the days of Joseph the Prophet. He was full of sorrow, trouble, poverty, and distress..." (JD Volume 1, pgs. 75 & 78)

Perhaps popularity among the world isn't much of a badge of honor? If the greatest of all, Christ Himself, or our dearly beloved prophet passed through this kind of treatment - perhaps when we pass through the same it isn't because of God forgetting about us? Because we're out of favor? Maybe it's more because that is what mortality and being in this world is...and the darkness of it wants to snuff the light out.

I firmly believe there is a method to the madness we experience in our lives. The struggles bring growth and strength to those who hold Christ's hand and walk forward in faith. We've been promised our afflictions would be consecrated to our gain... (2 Nephi 2:2)

I saw a bumper sticker which read, "I'm a spiritual being having a mortal experience."

What a great, short explanation for life's perplexities!

May you feel comfort among the hard times.

What is "Light Of Life"?

2011-11-29T08:05:00.000-08:00

The phrase "light of life" is a delightful promise which comes from the Savior to the faithful.

But first, what does being faithful really mean?

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:31

"If" ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love... John 15:10

After studying Christ's words for the better part of this year, it is obvious that following Christ involves a lot more than merely professing belief in Him. Grace is a powerful, essential principle. However, I've heard some argue that declaring belief in His name out loud, by itself, will take care of your salvation through grace alone. According to the New Testament, especially the four gospels, this is an empty, unsupported doctrine. The only way one could come to that conclusion is to cherry-pick certain verses about grace and ignore a whole lot of others verses which clarify the whole picture of how grace, faith and obedience work together and belong together. They bring about salvation only if they are practiced together and meant to be inseparable.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

Follow is an active verb. It is more than listening and agreeing. The Savior just finished telling a woman in verse 11, (who he saved from stoning) "go and sin no more." He then invites the listeners to "follow", not to simply to believe, but to walk the walk. Christ's invitations repeatedly include actions, and the blessings promised are dependent upon those actions.

In verse 12, he promises the "light of life." What is the light of life? The Bible Dictionary describes it as:

"...enlightenment, knowledge, and an uplifting, ennobling, persevering influence that comes upon mankind because of Jesus Christ"

I would also describe it as referring to joy, happiness, hope for life, and the other more buoyant qualities and emotions that sweeten our lives. Some opposites would be: walking in heaviness, despair, glumness, negativity, fear, boredom, dissatisfaction and resentment.

I love Christ. I love being a Christian. I love when I am successful at aligning up my life with his teachings and commandments. There is true lightness of spirit and well-being, despite all, when I'm in the pursuit of a Christ-centered life.

May God bless you always!

It's Quote Day

2011-11-28T07:01:00.000-08:00

Neal A. Maxwell is one of my all-time favorite "quotable" wordsmiths. I share these quotes with you today, but they are mainly for me. I needed the prodding.

"Life in the Church means experiencing leaders who are not always wise, mature, and deft. In fact, some of us are as bumpy and uneven as a sackful of old doorknobs. Some of the polishing we experience is a result of grinding against each other. How vital submissiveness is in such circumstances, especially if the lubrication of love is not simply present."

My favorite quote from our Stake President - Ken Lathen: "We need to spend less time judging and more time loving others."

"To be passed over can be wrongly construed as being unvalued by God or by one's colleagues. Yet in the kingdom of God to be uncalled is clearly not to be unworthy or unable!"

Oh yes, that one is for me...

"When at times we encounter a situation in church service in which a pigeon seems to be supervising an eagle, we need to be accepting even if our evaluation seems accurate. Besides, humility keeps us from spending our time and talent wastefully in counting the plumage of our peers."

I've been that pigeon a number of times. It's hard to be a church leader. There are so many ways to mess up and everyone is watching. We all need to give those in leadership positions more leeway and tolerance...which is against human nature. It is a gift we give because of who we are.

Heading into the holiday season. Hoping we pace ourselves and enjoy it!

Black Friday @ Wal-Mart

2011-11-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

If you ever want to see the current state of humanity - visit Wal-Mart on Black Friday. What I saw last night made my toes curl and made me sad at the same time.

It was a snapshot of our cultural dysfunction and how far we collectively have gravitated.

What have we become?

Shoddy, chintzy, cheap materialism. "Me, me, me." Greed. Shallow. Scrappy. Pathetic.

There were relatively small quantities compared to the crowds, so the crowds compromised themselves and scrambled like kids after the piñata broke.

There I was in the middle of it all. Didn't say much for me.

Wal-Mart made a fool out of all of us.

Never, ever, ever again.

Thankful For...

2011-11-24T09:30:00.000-08:00

There are lots of cliché, politically correct things to be thankful for today. Truth is, I am deeply thankful for many of them. But today, I want to mention something a bit random and different. I am grateful to Google for setting up this blogger platform. What a privilege to enjoy the technology that makes this possible. Oh, and let's not forget the spell checkers. :)

Really.

Before blogging, there were not a lot of places for all my yearnings, spiritual discovery moments and joyful thoughts to go. These are things meant to be shared, to be rejoiced in, to cherish. Such experiences increase in value when we can give them away.

Blogging has brought a lot of satisfaction to my life, a dimension which felt missing for a long time.

Let me set the stage here.

My whole adult life I've consistently had the more public profile teaching and leadership callings in church...until I moved here, a small isolated town in Southern Oregon. Then that all abruptly stopped. It's been 9+ years and I've not had a single public teaching or presidency position.

I have spoken in our church ward (congregation) three times in nine years. Seriously, and our congregation is not that big. Those who knew me before would probably be quite surprised.

That's not to say the other callings haven't been great. In fact, I treasure and adore a couple of them. Particularly one I have currently - facilitating the 12-step program in our Stake. It's a quiet and low-key calling and only affects a few people at a time. There IS something significant and majestic in those sweet, small group and one-on-one sister moments. And I now have several endeared friendships with awesome sisters I've come to know. Wouldn't trade those opportunities or relationships away for anything. But there is a part of me that has gone unfulfilled...I thought.

This situation has required some thinking through and figuring out. I've sought counsel and understanding through prayer as it became obvious what I was experiencing would continue for a long time to come. I've been blessed with some rather significant personal revelation in regards to those soul-deep pleadings. I'll share them in a bit.

As I contemplated my situation, other souls here came to my view, who are wonderful people, capable of so much, and it's the same story for them. I sometimes wonder if they notice the same things I'm seeing about our ward and stake dynamics.

Because of recent events, I now understand more keenly why this is happening, specifically in my case, but don't dwell on it too much or the people who bring it about too often. I can now see this experience is part of a larger plan in my life. I trust God and the outcome. I do feel sorry for the few who have caused these experiences and the growth opportunities of several members of our congregation to be so out of balance through the years. I already blogged about this a couple of times, along with my big "ah-hah's.". (Leadership, Then Again, Bad Chemistry & Warriors). Like always, when we think we see a mote in someone else's eye, we hopefully figure out what is in our own. There are life lessons for all of us to learn from any situation. Any reality can become a goldmine.

After several years here, I felt notably marginalized and sidelined. I became aware of a small group of tightly-knit people, as well as their maneuverings behind the scenes which helped bring this about. Just about everyone goes through this at some point...somewhere. I turned to the Lord with those difficulties and feelings. He is wonderful to commune with! One day, I was strongly inspired to start a blog - and as hard as it is to believe now - blogging was nowhere on my horizon and held no attraction at the time when the idea first hit. Yet a year and a half later, this blog idea grew into something real. The little globe spinning to the right records 17,000+ visitors. The stat charts on the control panel, which have kept records from before the globe was added, says 32,000+ visitors. How rich is that?

It was this blog that led to a Deseret News job as a correspondent. Which led to my associations with successful and dynamic individuals. My last article had 8000+ online views. Would it be fair to say I now have a voice? All of that led to my podcasting group, whose first podcast will be available within a week. I'm confident it will have a large audience eventually.

As I partnered with Christ, and changed the question from "why me" to "what now Lord" my life has become as full as I could ever want it. Here are some precious truths I've come to realize: There is so much work out there to be done, and the Lord pours out as much inspiration as we will make room to receive and act upon. He will involve us as much as we are willing to be involved both on a small, local scale and on larger ones. On top of my other opportunities, my phone now rings a lot. My presence is asked for often enough. Almost every single week I have someone telling me how much they enjoyed my comments made in class. I now have more to do than I have time in regards to people, events and opportunities. This is all because I took it to the Lord and followed the promptings. Had I not, nothing would have changed.

One of the valuable and powerful lessons I picked up along the way is that church callings and leadership positions only open up another opportunity, another excuse to do what is already open to us at all times. To actively partner with the Lord and effect much in this world. To make many friends, to touch and bless many lives.

My conclusion: Sometimes you may find yourself in a situation where insecure people attempt to hand you the role of being inferior, sidelined, marginalized, unpopular, unwanted, less than, not good enough and may even undermine and spread false tales to fan life into their stories. It only works if you buy into all that yourself. By turning heavenward, I found out the Lord will never hand you those same labels. In fact, He will employ you as much as you can stand in His work, which is everywhere, going on continuously. He positively opens doors. At your request, He will strengthen your resolve and capacities to feel the joy of being a true instrument in His hands.

I love the truth of my life lessons and journey; as well as the hard situations it took to bring me to these understandings. I would not trade away even my harsher realities.

May God bless you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Today Is The Day

2011-11-23T08:05:00.000-08:00

Jose Alonso gave a wonderful address about service during the last LDS Worldwide General Conference. Something he said went straight into my heart chamber and ricocheted a bit uncomfortably. You see, I had promptings to talk to someone last week and started the process, but didn't follow through enough to make it effective. And my hindsight tells me I really should have.

Let me quote a few thoughts and a short story here:

"The Savior … gave us a great example about not waiting to administer relief to those who have lost a sense of happiness and joy."

"Each day we have the opportunity to give help and service—doing the right thing at the right time, without delay. Think of the many people who have a difficult time obtaining a job or who are ill, who feel lonely, who even think that they have lost everything. What can you do to help? Imagine that a neighbor, caught out in the rain with his car broken down, calls you for assistance. What is the right thing to do for him? When is the right time to do it?"

"I recall an occasion when we went as a family to downtown Mexico City to buy clothing for our two children. They were very young. Our older son was just barely two years old, and the younger son was a year old. The street was crowded with people. While we were shopping, leading our children by the hand, we stopped for a moment to look at something, and without realizing it, we lost our older son! We did not know how, but he was not with us. Without a moment’s delay, we took off running to look for him. We searched and called out for him, feeling great anguish, thinking that we might lose him forever. In our minds we were pleading for Heavenly Father to help us find him."

"After a little while we found him. There he was, innocently looking at toys through a store window. We hugged and kissed him, and we made the commitment to watch over our children diligently so that we would never lose one again. We learned that in order to go to our son’s rescue, we did not need planning meetings. We simply acted, going out in search of the one who had been lost..."

"...For many who have need of our help, it is not necessary to create new programs or take actions which are complicated or costly. They only need our determination to serve—to do the right thing at the right time, without delay."

I'm very thankful for this timely reminder. Yes, I've got a couple people to call and to love today.

Sweet blessings for all the service you do!

Jesus Is Not A Trinitarian

2011-11-21T09:14:00.000-08:00

To those who adhere to the Trinity doctrine, this post is not meant to convince you it's wrong. I have complete respect for your belief system and your freedom to follow the dictates of your own conscience.

Rather, I only wish you to consider the possibility that one may be a sincere, earnest follower of Christ, a devoted Christian, and not adopt the Trinity doctrine.

For me, perhaps one of the most ironic traditions held by some in our Christian community is the idea that one must be a Trinitarian to be considered a Christian.

Really... that logic comes across as a bit non-sequitor.

Mostly because Jesus Christ does not believe in or teach the Trinity.

!!??!

In fact, Christ is far from teaching it. So how is it one must believe in the Trinity, which is very different than what the Savior taught, to be a follower of Him? Who made this rule up? There is no seeming rationale in this requirement of believing in the Trinity to be considered "Christian" and a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Trinity doctrine is a tradition (and only a tradition) that the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are all one being. The Bible does not back this up (unless someone wants to cherry-pick out a few verses and ignore a whole lot of others). What more, the majority of credible modern-day Christian scholars from several different mainstream denominations state the Trinity doctrine can't be derived from reading the Bible. Don't take my word for it, you can Google this one.

Extra Reading: Google > Is the Trinity Doctrine in the Bible?

Whether you choose to believe the Trinity doctrine or not, I believe being a follower of Christ, esteeming Him as the one and only Savior and following his teachings is what defines one as a Christian. At least the dictionary seems to agree.

By the way, just curious, have you ever wondered who was in charge and running the Universe while Jesus was busy being a baby and a child growing up? Did the Universe go without a God in charge during this time?

Having just read Matthew, Mark and Luke, there are numerous verses in which Jesus teaches that He and the Father are two different Beings with a very close relationship. Here is a list of a few out of MANY. I'm certainly not expecting anyone to read all of them. When you get the idea - skip down to the conclusion.

But first, please read these verses just as Christ says them. After all, He is Master of His own words and He promised to teach things which had never before been revealed since the foundation of the earth. (Matt 13:35) Resist the temptation to qualify and filter Christ's words through someone else's inferior authority (i.e other prophets and kings in the Bible) or somewhere outside of the Bible, and especially not someone from Old Testament times who had a lesser knowledge and understanding common to their era:

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)

25 ¶At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (Matthew 11:25-27)

5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. (Matthew 20:23)

39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)

53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53)

36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. (Mark 9:36-37)

31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

32 ¶But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. (Mark 13:31-32)

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34)

19 ¶So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)

(When Jesus was 12 yrs. old) - And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? (Luke 2:49)

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (Luke 3:22)

12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

13 ¶And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; (Luke 6:12-13)

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26)

21 ¶In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. (Luke 10:21-22)

28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:28-30)

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:41-42)

69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. (Luke 22:69)

46 ¶And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46)

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be
full. (John 15:9)

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. (John 14:28)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And I haven't even read most of John or the rest of the New Testament yet! However, if you read John chapter 17 from beginning to end (no cherry-picking single verses here), it reveals the nature of the divine relationship between the Father and the Son as well as our potential to be included. My other favorite verse is Revelation 3:21-22.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

I believe Christ. I take Him at his word. I believe that the Savior's words should be a gateway and a test for all other prophets and biblical kings' teachings to be matched up to and measured by, not the other way around. Christ's words stand supreme for me. That's why I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, three distinct personages, each with their own divine role. Hopefully you can see why someone might have good cause to not adopt the Trinity concept and still be a sincere Christian.

I believe it is only through Christ will I be saved. I am a follower of Jesus Christ and a Christian...a non-trinitarian Christian.

Early Easter

2011-11-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

I figured out that Christmas is really every day, and today my question is, why not have an early Easter?

I just cannot help but have my own Easter today! The last three chapters of Luke engulfed my senses this morning. Luke 22-24 are the Atonement and Easter story - so poignant - so real.

The intensity of the Atonement and the Easter victory is always in the light and air around us, whether we are consciously appreciating it or not.

I've never read the New Testament like this before. It's taken me months just to work through Matthew, Mark and Luke. Perhaps the compulsion to take notes and write blog posts has something to do with the slow going, but even more is how deep it is settling into my soul. I've read the New Testament before, several times, but there is a difference between intellectual and hopeful understanding versus grasping it inner-heart-shrine deep.

Towards the end of Luke 24 Christ sums Easter up with a simple message:

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

"He is risen" is so much more than Christ coming back to life. It is the triumphant finale to the Atonement - the process which now allows us to repent, be forgiven and have our debts paid so we can enjoy eternal life. Thus Easter not only celebrates the gift of resurrection, but also the gift of repentance, remission of sins, and the Atonement. These concepts all belong together.

I love what Brigham Young said about Jesus Christ. In fact, it is one of my favorite quotes.

“The greatest and most important of all requirements of our Father in Heaven and of his Son Jesus Christ. ... is to believe in Jesus Christ, confess him, seek him, cling to him, make friends with him. Take a course to open a communication with your Elder Brother or file-leader–our Savior.” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 8:339)"

Christ is central to our success as human beings.

The Tar Baby

2011-11-15T14:44:00.000-08:00

Mortality is hard.

Mortality is very hard.

Sometimes we're tempted to say far worse things about mortality.

Sometimes we have to finally admit the road we're on is not going very well or even a disaster.

In times like these, we may feel cheated and let down by Heavenly Father. We may be tempted to shake our fist at the heavens and hold God accountable for the sorrow and the misery of our life. Or declare Him in default or even non-existant for not sending more blessings and better results our way.

Being angry, hurt or disgruntled might fix or cover up our pain for a while, but before long it becomes the next dead-end road. Which we realize at some point, heads no where but downhill. Bitterness is its own sullen hell. It's like a tar baby.

Us Throwing Tantrums At Life

Sometimes you wake up (day or night) and realize the decisions you've made all by yourself, the company you decided to keep and the road you chose to point your feet down are not where you want to be at all. This one is better because it has YOU in the equation. At some point, if we're going to come out of this OK, we have to open our eyes wide...God didn't make your decisions or anyone else's. It's us fallen mortals who fling around our choices at each other. God had nothing to do with those. Instead, God's promise is to empower, lift, enlighten, and bless us once we decide to hold His hand amidst our troubles. Holding his hand means coming to Christ in a very purposeful and singular way. It means admitting out loud to Him how much we ourselves had to do with our own demise. Though the prospect of happier times might be hard to see when the pain of our reality is hitting so hard, the introspective and truthful moments shared with Christ hold the potential for wonderful outcomes.

The golden truth about Christ is he can work with any broken-down, despairing starting point we give Him. Nothing is too messed up for Him. Remember Paul? Paul was openly persecuting the Saints and working their destruction, yet he ended up a great apostle whose immortalized words are a major contribution to the New Testament. Or how about Alma the Younger, who not only openly rebelled against the gospel but purposely sought to get as many others to follow his wicked life style as possible? He also persecuted heavily. Yet he became a great spiritual leader as well. It's nearly the same story with Alma, his father. All three of these men had something in common. Their starting points were ugly and most unflattering. Yet they all ended up as great admirable men, strong with heavenly power. All three of them are very open about how messed up they once were.

2 Nephi 2:2 "...and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain."

Yes, even the self-imposed struggles.

Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Whatever the starting point we finally conscientiously give Christ, He can redeem us from there. It doesn't mean our problems or consequences will immediately go away, instead we will be given the means to rise above them. Christ lends strength, ability and empowers those who steadily seek after Him.

If you feel like you've made a hopeless mess of things, do not let your present situation deter your hopes for the future. Mortality came with leeway built-in. It came with allowances for bad detours, wanderings, troubling experiences and falling on our faces. Life and gaining understanding is a process. Christ knew it would be. We knew it would be. Troubled pasts do not have to permanently shape the future.

Remorse and regret are potent cleansing agents. Yet they are not useful as long-term, or permanent emotions. The beautiful thing that can come from remorse and regret is resolve. Resolve is a compelling, moving force that changes how we live our life. Resolve, when partnered with repentance not only gets us back on our feet, it moves us forward with increased, effective personal power and brightness of hope.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28)

You can fly, but that tar baby has got to go.

Writer's Block

2011-11-13T09:39:00.000-08:00

I should be writing something today but when I try, the keyboard does not respond.

May your Sunday rejuvenate and refresh you.

Don't give up hope.

11-11-11

2011-11-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

I love the date today!

One of the doctrines that separates "Traditional Christians" from "LDS Christians" is the question whether we are saved by grace alone or not.

Luke 18 is one of those chapters that does not back up the "saved by grace only" doctrine. I've always wondered how anyone could read the Bible from cover to cover and come up with the "grace only" conclusion themselves? If you cherry-pick certain verses and ignore many others, you could certainly make a case for "saved by grace only" - but that evaporates quickly if you read all of the Bible together.

I've already written in depth on this topic, so I won't fully expound on it today, but if you're interested in why I think it may be faith, works and grace all working in tandem - please read "IS IT REALLY FAITH VS. WORKS?"

This is mostly a quote today, with essential parts bolded:

Luke 18:18-30

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

Christ stresses obedience and commandments quite a bit, which would mean he was spinning wheels here and in many other Bible passages if grace takes care of everything regardless of our choices.

21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

Remember, the question is how to inherit eternal life. Notice Christ didn't jump in here and say "no sweat, my grace covers everything, you don't need to do a thing." And the man went away sorrowing because the answer was not an easy "just confess my name and you're in" reply.

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Why is that, if grace covers all by itself?

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,

30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

If we are all rewarded equally in the life to come regardless of what we do (saved by grace only) then why bother even having commandments or ever mentioning works and obedience? Especially, if given that it is of no consequence?

We are judged according to our works (see post link above). That is a repeating theme in the Bible. And those who try and give more in this life are rewarded more in the life to come.

Again salvation isn't grace vs. works, it is the blending of both together that make heaven attainable.

Children of Light

2011-11-09T08:08:00.000-08:00

¶ I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11)

Several times in the Bible we find the message that worldly success is not a measure of ANYTHING significant in the eternities. Yet, sometimes it appears that nice guys finish last, especially if you're one of those nice guys. I believe one of life's greatest spiritual accomplishments, is stepping out of the race for worldly measures of success, and recognizing how shallow their value system is. When we quit the clamor after social status, and its superficial measures, but instead, put time and energy into attaining Christ-like attributes and fulfilling gospel priorities, we've turned a corner. A very powerful corner.

And that's not easy to do! Mostly because the world is very noisy about its version of success. Elevating people according to wealth, sex appeal, education, social connections is everywhere in our media and our culture. Sometimes we get caught up in that contest to win the approval of others by these standards.

Luke 16:8 "...for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light."

What a curious statement from the Savior! It sounds like praise for those who pursue the world rather than the gospel. But as we read further, he clarifies:

15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15)

Worldly people, during this mortal phase (i.e. in their generation) look more sophisticated and on top of things than the humbler, more religious folks. Which, however, is short-lived and only looks that way during this very temporary earth assignment. What is on top or "first" becomes the bottom and "last" in the kingdom of heaven. In short, looking good or appearing savvy and accomplished to those around us has no weight or bearing on the eternities. And spending time in worldly pursuits of success likewise will not help us in the end. It's taken me a life time to really get the panoramic view.

As today and everyday competes for your time and energy with a myriad choices of what to pursue, where to direct your limited resources of time - consider the impact these habits and activities have on your standing in heaven.

I tell my children, you'll spend most of your life being an adult. Make wise choices now so the majority of your life goes better. It's the same for heaven. You'll spend a majority of your life span in heaven, make wise priorities now so you'll enjoy heaven so much more.

God Speed.

Eliza R. Snow

2011-11-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

Eliza R. Snow - (1804-1887)

I am a fan of Eliza R. Snow, a poet, who wrote several beloved LDS Hymns including "O My Father".

Barbara Thompson quoted her in her October 2011 General Conference address. Eliza's mind was obviously sharp and she had the gift of wisdom. Here's a highlight:

‘Tell the sisters to go forth and discharge their duties, in humility and faithfulness and the Spirit of God will rest upon them and they will be blest in their labors. Let them seek for wisdom instead of power and they will have all the power they have wisdom to exercise.’”

This is the order of the Universe. Don't seek for power. Real power that lasts will come and find you and power rests upon whom it will. Church callings and elevated titles do not transplant stature and presence. Stature and presence and personal power do not need titles or callings to be noticed.

This also goes along with one of life's treasured lessons for me. Humility is power. At first glance, it would seem these two words oppose each other! Yet the Savior is the perfect example. He states several times everything he has, all his abilities and powers are a gift from the Father. He describes himself as meek and lowly in heart. How can such a powerful, all-knowing Being be meek and lowly of heart? It is because Christ knows everything he is able to do was gifted Him by Heavenly Father. How is this powerful? Because He knows the source of his power and understands where to turn for more.

When we figure out who we are, what our relationship to God is - we are moving in the right direction. When we find our humility and our place in the Universe and truly see our present circumstance compared to Christ and Heavenly Father; this humble awareness becomes a powerful principle because we know where to turn, where to ask when we need added strength, ability, understanding and willpower.

Do LDS women seek for power among others around them? Yes they do. Not most of them, but there's always a few in every crowd. And power seldom happens for those who seek it and strategize upon it, even if they do manage it for a while, it doesn't last long. Power more naturally rests upon those who build solid foundations, and upon those who don't seek it.

Eliza R. Snow also taught the sisters to seek guidance from the Holy Ghost. “She said that the Holy Ghost ‘satisfies and fills up every longing of the human heart, and fills up every vacuum. When I am filled with that Spirit, … my soul is satisfied.’”

Indeed, the gift of the Holy Ghost (which LDS members receive after baptism by the laying on of hands) is most precious and buoyant. It's a beautiful secret to a fulness of life, and cascades down on our souls and brings well-being despite the most adverse of circumstances.

Happiness, power and strength come freely to those who love the Lord, humbly seek his face and strive to follow his commandments. The Holy Ghost brings great swellings of sweet peace and comfort and enthusiasm for life in the most illogical of circumstances.

This gift is promised to anyone who diligently seeks for it.

May God rest you and keep you!

LIfe Goes Up And Down

2011-11-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

This cartoon says it all for me today:

I've now had three separate events this year that have left me emotionally and spiritually doubled over, falling on the floor and gasping for air. Life lessons come after all of us and I've certainly had my plow cleaned this year.

Never Give Up.

I love the way Neal A. Maxwell, an LDS apostle, summed life up:

"It is so easy to be half-haearted [or to give up] but this only produces half the growth, half the blessings, and just half a life, really, with more bud than blossom."

You were meant for better things then to give way to the weight of trials ....bloom anyway!

Prayer, scriptures, love given away to others brings the serenity and the strength to make this possible.

Timshel

General Conference Gems

2011-10-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

Some people talk better than they write. Some people write better than they talk. And of course, there are a few who can do both well...

Richard G Scott is one of those apostles whose talks I enjoy IMMENSELY once they've been printed. Yet, I don't often feel quite as stirred while he is speaking. His talks often have had the power of laser-guided missiles on my heart once I've re-read them.

This is a a couple of short quotes from his Saturday morning talk last October Conference. I relish the way Elder Scott so wonderfully wrapped words around something I've noticed myself:

"Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high."

"To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change."

He is right. I've discovered, as illogical as it sounds, scriptures have a life, light and energy of their own. They are capable of being personalized saviors, guardians and friends in our lives. How many times, only just recently, has a verse reached out and grabbed my heart, and the words perfectly fit the situation I'm dealing with, or the thought processes I'm struggling through? This happens so regularly, it's become a mystery to me. Do the scriptures mold themselves to my life or do my life experiences line themselves up to match where I am reading in the scriptures? Which ever it is, it defies conventional wisdom, the way they consistently line up.

If there is anything I've learned about life, it is: Read, read, read! "Inspiration in > inspiration out." -Shawnie Cannon

The Standard Works can be found online. Here's an invitation to read if you don't already, and an invitation to step it up if you already do.

Warm regards.

Whisper Campaigns

2011-10-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

Are you a willing player?

Our family recently experienced a disruptive event started by someone's whisper campaign. It was someone's false info passed on with an agenda attached. It accomplished its destructive designs.

When it came to light, those involved are scrambling. Some are guilty, some are asking themselves how they got sucked in.

This all blew up about a week ago, and right in the middle of the explosion I read:

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. (Luke 12:2-3)

This whole event reminded me how much our words and conversations matter. Keep them Christ-like. Two blessings come of that. First, we are judged and held accountable for every word that passes between our lips. Second, keeping it Christ-like means there are no regrets.

Regrets....who needs more of those anyways?

Look who's here!

2011-10-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

This is where I have been...

First grandchild - Angela Rose - 8 lb. 9 oz. - 21 in.
Born on October 14, 2011

Couldn't be more ecstatic.

Wayfaring Man of Grief

2011-10-10T03:40:00.000-07:00

This is really "Yank my Heart Strings #2."

This is my favorite photo of the prophet Joseph. Notice his kind, humble face.

We live in a beautiful world which God created. But Satan is here with us and it is clearly his realm and time of disappointingly successful influence. The chaos, the misery, and the deline of humanity are all traceable back to the miserable, selfish, spiteful one. Joseph got the full onslaught of all the hatefulness and fiery darts Satan's realm could throw at him. This man had a rough life, it was awful what he had to endure.

Brigham Young was a close friend to Joseph Smith.I felt sad as I read the following remarks Brigham made about him.

"He was poor, harassed, distressed, afflicted, and tormented with lawsuits upon lawsuits, persecution upon persecution, and thus it cost thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep him alive, which a few had to sustain."

"...it is directly opposite of that we saw in the days of Joseph the Prophet. He was full of sorrow, trouble, poverty, and distress..." (JD Volume 1, pgs. 75 & 78)

We don't talk too much about this aspect of Joseph's life. Through it all, he accomplished remarkable things, including the translation of the Book of Mormon. Which is why I am a member - the influence from that book is life-changing. That Joseph was able to do all he did in spite of his circumstances reminds me of an eternal principle I have discovered - a repeating pattern that holds true. Out of the most ugly, comes the most beautiful. It's a mystery why it works that way, but it does.

Joseph's favorite song is "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" which is a stirring hymn about the Savior and ourselves. It is so fitting. The link is a video of three boys with amazing voices singing the piece.

Just wanted to share my senitments this morning.

Yank My Heart Strings

2011-10-09T08:23:00.001-07:00

Every once in a while something will come along to re-align my perception of reality and set me right side up again.

This morning I read a story from April General Conference which turned on my water works at full capacity. This is a warning in case you're not in the mood to have your heart softened today. (:

From H. David Burton's talk - April 2011 General Conference:

"A moment in time from my own family history exemplifies a commitment to care for those in need. Many have heard of the Willie and Martin handcart companies and how these faithful pioneers suffered and died as they endured winter cold and debilitating conditions during their trek west. Robert Taylor Burton, one of my great-great-grandfathers, was one of those whom Brigham Young asked to ride out and rescue those dear, desperate Saints."

"Of this time Grandfather wrote in his journal: “Snow deep [and] very cold. … So cold that [we] could not move. … Thermometer 11 degrees below zero [-24°C] … ; so cold the people could not travel.”

"Life-saving supplies were distributed to the stranded Saints, but “in spite of all [the rescuers] could do many were laid to rest by the wayside.”

"As the rescued Saints were traversing a portion of the trail through Echo Canyon, several wagons pulled off to assist in the arrival of a baby girl. Robert noticed the young mother did not have enough clothing to keep her newborn infant warm. In spite of the freezing temperatures, he “took off his own homespun shirt and gave it to the mother to [wrap] the baby.” The child was given the name Echo—Echo Squires—as a remembrance of the place and circumstances of her birth."

"In later years Robert was called to the Presiding Bishopric of the Church, where he served for more than three decades. At age 86 Robert Taylor Burton fell ill. He gathered his family to his bedside to give them his final blessing. Among his last words was this simple but very profound counsel: “Be kind to the poor.”

What a contrast to the problems I have! After reading this story, I could see my foolishness for making a big deal out of the challenges I face. In general, most of the time, we have it good. But sometimes the common tendencies are: We think we have BIG problems, we feel frustrated, we feel overlooked, we feel varying degrees of burden and unhappiness for whatever reason. We put a lot of emphasis on our problems and focus them front and center.

True, sometimes our problems are BIG but in comparison, this morning I realize life could be a whole lot worse most of the time. Don't I have so much to be appreciative of and to be cheerful for?

Let my countenance reflect the luck, the joy, the blessings of life. So glad of this reminder today.

Peace.

Families are Forever

2011-10-07T03:57:00.000-07:00

Salt Lake City LDS Temple

We LDS (Mormons) may be a curious bunch since we believe in temples (as in Bible times) and temple ordinances like eternal marriages and eternal families. We have a saying that is common among our crowd:

Families are Forever

Just got a family portrait from my dearest and best friend. When I saw it, it reminded me of that phrase.

Carson family from top left: Ben, Todd, Johnny
Maury, MISSY, Aimee, Sam
Hannah and Marcia

Life isn't perfect. There are ups and downs, trials, financial setbacks, moods, teenager-dom, sibling quarrels, tempers, sadness and hurt along with the triumphs, the love, the adventures, the memories and the camaraderie. Through it all - they're still together. And they belong to each other for all eternity. That's a beautiful idea.

Forever families may not be a common concept among modern-day Christian sects, but one I love and hold dear to my heart. I love my husband Joel, I love my six children and my new son-in-law Danny and my granddaughter to be born any minute now. I love them forever and for eternity. They are my treasure.

This is a picture of Danny and Laurelle right as they came out of the Hawaiian temple after their eternal marriage sealing. It was a glorious day!

Danny & Laurelle Hafen starting their eternal family...

Anyone can be married in the temple, after first becoming a committed enough Latter-Day Saint member to take on vows of higher standards of Christian living. The temple is sacred and revered, but not secret as is sometimes rumored. Rather it is a privilege we earn and work towards by our own conduct. It is not a casual affair. When I go, I am reminded that more is expected of me than the low standards the world has gravitated to. One of the promises is service to others. Which may explain why Mormons are always there in droves, helping away, after every single natural disaster. But that's another story.

The invitation to make your family forever is open to you as well. My husband and I were sealed only five and half years ago. It is never too late.

Blessings to you and yours...for time and all eternity.

Everything???

2011-10-05T05:43:00.000-07:00

We re-played Ian Ardern's talk from General Conference about use of time for Family Home Evening last Monday night. This talk is so absolutely delightful and a great message for teenagers and the upcoming generation. My teenagers could relate to the message, Brother Ardern even referred to "Angry Birds". While I was commenting after the talk, some unexpected words came out of my mouth which even gave me pause as I said them.

"Brigham Young taught that every moment was to be learned from or improved upon. Someday we will stand before the Savior and give an account of every moment of our time - every single moment."

OH. MY. GOSH.

The reality of this truth hit me hard.

Then, if that wasn't enough, this morning I just happened to read Luke 12: 1-3:

1 ...he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

OH. MY. GOSH.

The thought of all my idle words being broadcast to every one hit me even harder.

What kind of steward am I over myself, anyways?

I have been gifted with life and a myriad moments to delegate. I decide how most of them will be spent. I decide most of my thought processes and what words I speak.

My first and repeated challenge is to ditch negativity. Period.

I can do better. Happiness and satisfaction comes from self-mastery. May Christ grant me the gift of living a more enlightened life. May He grant the power of being a conscientious steward over these precious minutes given me freely to spend how I choose.

Lots to think about today.

Perspective

2011-10-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine wrote on Facebook about how "icky and foggy" it was today. I looked out the window and saw something very different. The view literally made my heart sing. I took a picture this morning to share:

View of Grants Pass, Ore @ about 7:45am today.

It reminded me of one of life's most important lessons to me. We all create our own reality, as well as "perspective and attitude are everything."

Do we have problems? Oh yes! Do we have setbacks? Clearly! Is life beautiful? Absolutely!

I thank Christ for the gift of joy and well-being despite all.

The day after...

2011-10-03T02:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's Worldwide LDS General Conference was superb. The experience, the feelings, the insights, the motivations are overwhelming.

It felt like stepping up to a fire hose to take a drink. It will take a couple of days to absorb what I heard, and to be able to write about it.

I love being Mormon. Membership in this church makes me several times a better person than I would ever be on my own. From the outside, membership may look restrictive. From the inside, it is freedom. This religion gave me wings to fly.

The world fools you with seemingly grand adventures and its version of being happy and free. Yet before long, you find yourself bound in heartache, cumbersome troubles and pain. The worldly version of being free is a heavy, sorrowful lie. The end consequences from a "free" unrestricted life are about as unglamorous and non-liberating as is humanly possible.

The only cure I know that works, really works is coming to Christ. Christ can peel off the layers of our heartache, shame, guilt and resentment. (You can fly, but that cocoon has got to go!)

Truth and Light are liberating. Spirituality is rejuvenating and strengthening. If you are already LDS, I invite you to step it up. The joy is there, always there. It is our own selves that finally makes the decision to tap into it. If you are not yet LDS and looking for answers and direction, consider talking to the missionaries and hear what those darling boys have to offer. You can chat with a Mormon live, right now, at mormon.org as well.

Love this life, love yourself. There is more to this existence than being tossed around on the ocean of chance and confusion.

Why I am Mormon.

You're Invited

2011-10-01T04:58:00.000-07:00

Please watch LDS General Worldwide Conference with us today and tomorrow. It is being broadcast on the internet.

A modern-day prophet and apostles speak. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings. It's one of my favorite things to do twice a year.

Warm regards.

More than Conquerors

2011-09-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

This made me laugh, because I can remember myself saying the exact same thing...

"After recovering from serious health challenges, Elder Robert D. Hales shared the following in general conference: “On a few occasions, I told the Lord that I had surely learned the lessons to be taught and that it wouldn’t be necessary for me to endure any more suffering..."

Are you smiling? Guess what? The Lord probably smiled too, because we're humorous in our attempts to turn back the unwanted tide of earthly trials. However, it doesn't hurt to ask for Him to change mortal tests around, right?

I'm back again to Paul Johnson's Conference talk from last April. There were a couple more quotes which merit mentioning. Really good ones.

Why am I back to this topic? I have a dear friend currently wading through deep, deep waters. She recently discovered her spouse was carrying on a double life. The second life being built around unusually bizarre perversions and bordering on crazy land. Can't say much more than that, but her shock and the sorrow is profound. So was mine. I cried for several days. It was like a friend had died. And in a way, he did.

These are the last days, when all things are in chaos and commotion, including families and their family lines. I see her kind of suffering increasing in frequency. When the scriptures say "and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail them...'(D&C 45:26) - I'm fairly sure this verse isn't referring to heart attacks, but rather to the heart as the soul center of man. I believe this verse is perhaps more pointing to men's inner character, backbone, convictions, morality, internal strength failing.

Short quotes from Brother Johnson's talk - I hope they add perspective to the commotion you pass through:

"A pattern in the scriptures and in life shows that many times the darkest, most dangerous tests immediately precede remarkable events and tremendous growth. “After much tribulation come the blessings...Time after time we see marvelous blessings on the heels of great trials."

"In the midst of problems, it is nearly impossible to see that the coming blessings far outweigh the pain, humiliation, or heartbreak we may be experiencing at the time..."

"We don’t seek out tests, trials, and tribulations. Our personal journey through life will provide just the right amount for our needs. Many trials are just a natural part of our mortal existence, but they play such an important role in our progress."

"Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without any struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way. We clearly understand that an athlete who resists rigorous training will never become a world-class athlete. We must be careful that we don’t resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature."

"Not one of the trials and tribulations we face is beyond our limits, because we have access to help from the Lord. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us."

For my friend, for myself, for you....don't give up. Don't interpret trials as the heavens being personally against you or unaware of you. This is how we earn our forever stars, dealing with this life's chaos. May you feel heartened and stronger regardless of what you face...I stand with you!

You will be awesome!

2011-09-27T07:01:00.000-07:00

Just copying and pasting something as a blog post rarely happens here. But Paul V. Johnson's thoughts on adversity were so good, there is simply nothing to add. Brother Johnson is an LDS Seventy who spoke at the last LDS Worldwide General Conference, which by the way, happens again this weekend. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

LDS General Conference Center - holds 21,000

"Recently a nine-year-old boy was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. The doctor explained the diagnosis and the treatment, which included months of chemotherapy and major surgery. He said it would be a very difficult time for the boy and his family but then added, “People ask me, ‘Will I be the same after this is over?’ I tell them, ‘No, you won’t be the same. You will be so much stronger. You will be awesome!’”

At times it may seem that our trials are focused on areas of our lives and parts of our souls with which we seem least able to cope. Since personal growth is an intended outcome of these challenges, it should come as no surprise that the trials can be very personal—almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses. And no one is exempt, especially not Saints striving to do what’s right. Some obedient Saints may ask, “Why me? I’m trying to be good! Why is the Lord allowing this to happen?” The furnace of affliction helps purify even the very best of Saints by burning away the dross in their lives and leaving behind pure gold.6 Even very rich ore needs refining to remove impurities. Being good is not enough. We want to become like the Savior, who learned as He suffered “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind.”

I love this life. I love the purpose of it. We are here to become knowing, informed partakers of eternal life.

Mary or Martha: Who to be?

2011-09-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

This has been bouncing around in my head for several days. The story about Mary and Martha from Luke 10 in the New Testament has me thinking...

38 ¶Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

I do feel for Martha. When you host an important guest, you know how much pressure it is to make sure the meals go well and that everyone and everything is taken care of.

What more, work is a necessary part of life. When it is missing out of our lives, we don't do well. Developing the work ethic is an essential part of our eternal character.

I'm fairly sure the Savior didn't overlook these elements, but rather, maybe Martha got a little too lost in the task at hand. Like Elder Uchtdorf mentioned about getting caught up "in the thick of thin things."

Perhaps her emphasis on what hosting the Savior was all about became out of balance and she put too much fuss on tasks and means which weren't really beneficial, especially considering the opportunity of learning at the Savior's feet. Which is the pivotal point of my thought process this Monday morning:

The balancing act between Mary and Martha.

Which one to be and when? This can be confusing sometimes, because there is a need for both. At times it is obvious which role we need to play; it's easy to see when it's Mary time on Sunday during church meetings or Monday nights during Family Home Evening. If we are employed, there's a clearly designated Martha time as well. But what about the rest of our time management?

Personally, I can be a little too Mary. This is not a self-proclaimed "look how holy I am" confession. Rather, I offer it here to be introspective and admit it is easy for me to walk too long in Mary's shoes (like writing time) to the exclusion of balancing the tasks necessary to make my family's home life and business function better. For example, I'll get so caught up in writing a blog post during the early a.m., I'll forget to wake up my boys for early morning seminary (just happened - but they're up and hustling).

My husband definitely struggles with work-a-holic Martha. This morning he snuck off and skipped our couple prayer and scripture reading, knowing I'd be too absorbed in my blog to notice him leaving. He pulled a Ninja through the back laundry room door so he didn't have to pass me by. Trust me, he's a wonderful man but on Mondays particularly, he trembles with ecstasy to get back to his beloved office (after having to be away from it for a WHOLE ENTIRE DAY). Hey hon, I love you anyways.... (Joel reads my blog everyday and is my number one fan - he's extra cool like that - but he deserves a little ribbing here.)

Can you tell this blog post is happening in real-time? Time to go spur my boys on for seminary. And spur is the right word to use here.

Jeffrey snatching breakfast.

Had to take Jeffrey first and come back for Jacob. I always have to come back for Jacob. Jacob has a different reason every morning for why he is late. On top of that, it's never his fault and he forgets we all notice a continuous stream of lateness day in and day out for which it is never his fault...

Mr. Lateness himself

Back to the dilemma - Mary or Martha? The only thing I have found which consistently works to sort through all the priorities competing for our time is prayer. Prayer to ask for the gift of wisdom and inspiration to know what is most important right now in the moment, who needs our attention the most and how to go about it. When I'm purposely on my knees 3x a day, it goes even better. A Christ-centered life produces serenity, confidence and daily living tends to more easily fall into place. Speaking of which, I just remembered this awesome quote from Ezra Taft Benson (former LDS prophet), in 1988:

"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 claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities."

There it is. This is so spot on! Wow, I could have just quoted this at the beginning and skipped all the musing?

Prayer is a tool and a means to sanity in this insane mortal world and a bright hope for our jam-packed, cluttered lives.

Prayer changes things...

Kindest regards.

Got published in Deseret News :)

2011-09-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

Really tired after being stranded by a canceled flight in Seattle last night. It took until almost 1am to get a hotel, only to get up at 4:30am so I could inch my way home.

But there was some fun news waiting for me when I got here....they published my article in Deseret News.

This is the most fun sharing the gospel online I've ever had. and it's simple to do.

Tweeting about General Conference

Hope you join us.

Love this article

2011-09-21T04:33:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, I come across a newspaper article about Mormons that makes me smile. This one made me smile a lot. Beautifully written and delivered, my hat's off to Katie Hawkes.

Here's the link, it will make your day.

LDS Church Ad Campaign:

Why Mormons Are on Your Billboards

Don't let the comments bother you, and if you comment yourself...keep it classy.

I left one myself.

Do I land on my feet or do a face plant?

2011-09-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

"Stuff" happens, right?

I love the way my husband Joel makes analogies and the words he chooses to philosophize on life. I have to share what he said last night.

But first let me set the background. This is one of those "pouring rain" episodes.

Melt-down

Yesterday the refrigerator in the garage quit working, despite my best efforts to revive it. Only later to discover the freezer inside the house quit working and I have melted berry juice all over the bottom of it. It's one of those sliding freezer drawers, so the bottom is hard to reach. That's on top of BOTH our water heaters going kaput a couple of weeks back. And it doesn't stop there. I just spent $2000+ getting our central heating and air fixed, our dishwasher fixed and our oven fixed about a month and a half ago.

Meanwhile my husband is quite stressed because now several of his computers at his office have gone buggy and viral. Computers are a central part of his business (online) so he's really feeling it.

Last night found me in a black cloud mood, kind of stomping around. Not really bad, but it was definitely there in my body language.

After listening to my laundry list of woes, my husband sweetly said (paraphrasing a bit), "Life will always have problems. Problems are going to happen no matter what, right? And you can either land on your feet or do a face plant."

I knew what he meant, and I also knew which part of my body was touching the ground right then. He went on to say (and he did it without being preachy in his tone), "Some people have big problems like losing their job or getting in an accident and they just take it in stride and work around it gracefully, and keep on moving. Other people fall apart and become bitter."

Truthfully, a year from now, these appliance problems will be forgotten, the effects of them completely gone. What will linger is this character and quality of spirit I'm developing or degenerating by my habits. Especially my choices of attitudes and responses to life and reactions to the "stuff" which inevitably will pass through my life.

I really want to land on my feet. The face plant thing has got to go.

This morning when my hubby and I said our prayers, I offered our gratitude for not having even worse problems right now and asked for grace to handle the ones we do have.

Ah grace! ....that's a complete topic within itself. Grace is a gift given from above. It's one we can ask for and pray for. There are several definitions of grace, the one I'm using is: "ease and suppleness of movement or bearing (life)." Sometimes I also describe it as becoming equal to our problems. I've noticed if you pray to have your problems disappear or a certain difficult person zapped by lightening, it seldom works! What does work consistently for me is to ask to be made equal to my problems so they're not so heavy. I also ask for an extra measure of fortitude and grace to rise to the occasion. Those prayers do get answered.

May you be blessed with grace and fortitude with all that comes your way.

Sometimes it's the little things...

2011-09-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

I was reminded this morning not to underestimate the value of small things. A few kind words, a plate of cookies, a smile, a simple favor. There is plainly not enough of that going around in this old world today.

D&C 64:33 "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."

Those small teaching moments and quiet chances to shed some light on this bungled-up, confusing place called mortality are valuable too...

Elder Uchtdorf from last April Conference noted, "Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone’s life for eternity."

I really appreciated that this morning, because sometimes I wonder about this innate drive of mine to blog and write about gospel topics to a world who is not all that interested. Seriously, at times I'm quite curious as to why I do it. The answer? This probably sounds odd, but it's not explainable or obvious, even to myself. It's just "there" and the words hang in front of me and won't leave until I write them down and send them off into the universe. As if they have a will and mind of their own.

That's getting off on a tangent, so I'll stop there. But still...

Back on target. Small things really count.

Timshel (thou mayest)

Not Just Sundays

2011-09-18T05:06:00.000-07:00

Shannon at the LDS Welfare Pear Farm

This is a short thought today, but one that has given me a lot of ponder about my life:

¶And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. (Luke 9 23-24)

What those verses say to me today:

"If you are going to call yourself a follower of Christ, know that means connecting with me, being mindful of me, and taking up my cause every single day. It's not a once in a while thing, or just a Sunday thing. It's everyday and always."

"If your life is all about you and your pleasure, satisfactions, wealth, status and wants - you've missed the boat on what life is really for and will not have treasures stored in heaven where you'll want them the most. Those who consistently engage in my cause, obtain a better eternal life - which is really worth having because it's forever after."

What is His cause, His cross? The first thing that comes to my mind is Jesus lived for others first. He gave his life for others, both in everyday service and eternal welfare. He modeled "deny himself." I believe his cause means we love our fellow beings, put them first, and conscientiously serve them in both temporal and spiritual ways. I believe the opposite would be things like being material, self-absorbed, lazy, or embarrassed to speak up about religious convictions.

This morning I am asking myself: Do I take up the cross EVERYDAY? What is my main purpose in life. What's in my head when I get up in the morning? Where do I spend my energies? Whom do I think about most?

Self-analysis: I've been chasing things which won't matter to me 50 years from now, 100 years from now. Things like status, wealth, social class, big home, etc.

May I be ever so fortunate to align myself with Christ, like really get His life purposes deep down inside and live them, love them...all the time. I'm happiest when I'm clear with this understanding.

My eyes water because I know I fall short. And I don't want to. The better part of me really wants to be a true follower of Christ.

Hope this Sabbath day is refreshing and re-newing.

Pornography Ruins

2011-09-15T06:21:00.000-07:00

On our family's business website, we dedicated a page to the pitfalls of pornography. Upon reading it, a prominent psychologist wrote us a note - which we published:

4scopes.com

It's been there for YEARS.

The problem has only intensified and become even more ubiquitous. It's everywhere now: on kid's cell phones, it pops out uninvited on websites, has become common fare on music videos, pop art, TV sitcoms, etc.

I was reflecting on Joseph of Egypt and his narrow escape with Potiphar's wife. He literally ran, leaving his jacket hanging in her hands. It's a famous story...his courage to do the right thing in the face of so much temptation.

It occurred to me that today's men and boys have something akin to that experience several times a day. The same type of temptations are flaunted in the workplace, at school, on seemingly unrelated websites, etc. We're surrounded by it in the various forms of media. Only the most valiant of men and women will make it through these troubled, tumultuous times with some saintliness intact. We seem to be entering the last days and Satan's unleashed grasp that goes right along with the rising chaos.

I fear for my boys - everyday.

Neal A. Maxwell (LDS apostle) said:

The spreading oil slick of pornography … carries with it terrible consequences such as bizarre and oppressive sexual behavior, child and spouse abuse, and ultimately a loss of the capacity to love. Unfortunately there is no "superfund" available to underwrite the cleanup of this destructive ooze. In fact, the funding flows in just the opposite direction, as that ancient cartel of lust and greed has significant sway once again. Meanwhile those coated in the awful ooze of pornography are effectively beached, and on filthy shores. Spiritually speaking, they can never take wing again until the ooze is finally cleaned off-"every whit"!

Unfortunately more and more of us sisters are having to face this topic, both painful and unwelcome. Fight it! Confront it! Face it head on. Do not be tempted to sweep this one under the carpet. This issue needs to be front and center with our men and our boys.

God speed your cause.

Answers to our prayers

2011-09-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

Loved what Elder Uchtdorf said about prayer during his April Conference talk "Waiting on the Road to Damascus."

Here are few highlights:

"Another reason we sometimes do not recognize the voice of the Lord in our lives is because the revelations of the Spirit may not come directly to us as the answer to our prayers."

"...We have our Heavenly Father’s assurance that He will hear and answer our prayers. The answer may come through the voice and wisdom of trusted friends and family, the scriptures, and the words of prophets."

"...President Spencer W. Kimball taught this concept when he said: “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs."

"...Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us. Selfless acts of service and consecration refine our spirits, remove the scales from our spiritual eyes, and open the windows of heaven. By becoming the answer to someone’s prayer, we often find the answer to our own."

For myself, I have more often found the answer while not on my knees. Of course prayer, is essential; it opens the portal and starts the process of needed blessings and answers. But too many times during a church talk or lesson, I've heard the admonition to stay silent on our knees for a few moments and "that's when revelation comes." I wonder how many sisters must have concluded they weren't good at getting answers or personal revelation becasue it doesn't frequently happen this way? This is the second time in recent months that I've heard an apostle tell us this is not how most revelation comes.

When I need an answer to a dilemna or even have a doctrinal question, I include those petitions in my prayers. But for me, in my mind's eye, it is as if I am laying the question on the altar, knowing that by doing so, the answer will come. And it will come in a way that I know my prayer was heard.

I have learned that my own spirituality is individual and unique to myself. I have learned that sisters have different strengths and different ways of getting revelation. All are gifts of the Spirit. Some are visionary, some are not. Some are sensitive to promptings, some are gifted with the written word, for some great joy or inspiration comes from music or art, etc.

Find and develop your own favorite ways to bring the Spirit into your life. Experiment with it. It is a process.

Shalom and many blessings to you.

Mormon Urban Legends

2011-09-12T05:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome

Most popular:

New! Six mysterious moms use humor and real-life experiences to discuss whether Mormons are Christian or not.

Mormons are not Christian.

Contradictions - The Bible vs. Book of Mormon

False prophets - Joseph Smith

Mormons do not believe in the Trinity

Mormons are a cult.

LDS Church Wealth

Other rumors and anti-mormonism

Organizations which refute Mormon urban legends and expose mis-information from notorious anti-mormon sites:

F.A.I.R

F.A.R.M.S.

(Even better, the above sites are intelligent and thorough without emotion and hyperbole).

Where can I go to chat live with a Mormon? Or view profiles of live Mormons? (Or get real info on their beliefs?)

mormon.org

lds.org

My story - Why I am a Mormon.

Update: Feel free to ask questions in the comment section.

Misleading Message

2011-09-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I come across a fake or manipulative message about the LDS (Mormons). One that plays on the misconceptions and manipulated views of others. This one appeared in the news today:

Former Mormon expresses struggles in new book

I would have re-titled it "Another book attempts to cash in on people's ignorance"

Not only does the author claim reactions from other LDS which are not common, the article goes on to say "Christians can reach out to Mormons effectively using the Bible, according to a new book by a former member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

I smiled and raised my eyebrows when I read, “The Christian really needs to prepare themselves to understand where the Mormons [are] coming from and then be able to discern the truth using the Word of God -- using Bible passages,” comments the author. “The Mormon needs to see Jesus in the Christian and to see that the Christian has a relationship with Jesus that the Mormon wants. And I guess the Christian needs to make the Mormon jealous for Jesus.”

The article adds:

"She also suggests a Christian also needs to know what questions to ask, such as why a Mormon temple does not have a cross, and use that to present the message of the cross."

Should someone follow through on this suggestion to explain the cross, they're more likely to get a quizzical look, followed by "and now tell me something I didn't already know or believe."

This book is playing off the once prevalent rumor that Mormons do not know about Christ, his message, or revere the Bible etc. For example, when she suggests one should: "present the message of the cross" as if it is a new message - plays on these misconceptions and the urban legend that Mormons aren't Christians. A rumor started and still propagated by pastors and churches with a competitive agenda.

The LDS church and its members keenly and intimately know the message of the cross. The atonement, grace and the resurrection are key, central doctrines which are commonly taught and discussed.

Maybe a better question is why do we not use the cross as an icon for our belief in the Savior?

Naturally I left a comment for this article.

"And if you believe that will be effective, she also has a bridge to sell you. The temple doesn't have a cross because Christ said "I am the resurrection and the life" not "I am the crucifixion and the death".... Mormons stress the living, active Christ, not the dead, censured one who can no longer talk to anyone. The cross was not used by the Christians for the first two centuries, it was the fish symbol. The cross was not adopted from the Catholics by the Protestants until the mid to late 1800's because it was considered morbid. It is morbid. It's a murder weapon. If it is what you choose to represent the Savior, that's fine...and it is a choice. But to pretend that using the cross symbol defines whether you're Christian or not comes from not being aware of Christian history."

The good news is more and more people are becoming aware of the fallacy of these kinds of ideas. A lot of that has to do with LDS members getting online and getting involved in the conversation. We are no longer content to let others inaccurately define who we are.

Have a great weekend!

Who loves Christ most...

2011-09-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

Who really ends up loving Christ the most?

This is wonderful short story from Luke 7. It explains a sublime principle. We love Christ more because he forgave us. And the greater or more the sins, the deeper the love takes root. The repentance cycle is also a bonding-with-Christ cycle. This may sound a bit off because it seems to say sinning is a good thing. Not really, but read these verses first.

36 ¶And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

I remember when these verses had a tremendous impact on my understanding. It was after I had some deep repenting to do, went through the process and had cleaned my act up. Even though I was disappointed in myself for ever falling that short of the mark, being able to put the burden of my guilt and sins down and walk away from them was a stellar experience. These words resonated in my heart and swelled to fill my whole soul. Yes indeed, my love grew tangibly because of the gift given to me was so much greater than it ever had been in my entire life. The intimacy with Christ grew because of the sizable gratitude for a sizable forgiveness.

I discovered for myself repentence and the ensuing forgiveness is a rich, worthy experience.

Bastrop - Texas Fire

2011-09-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

My aunt and uncle, Judy and George, live in Bastrop, Texas where the Austin wildfires have been raging out of control. They had to evacuate Sunday night. It has been a fretful couple of days wondering what would happen to their house. And if I know my Aunt Judy, a lot of love and care was woven into the interior of their home.

I've been in this situation years ago, and watched as a wildfire approached our home in Southern California. It is a sinking, pit-in-your-stomach feeling to realize your home may burn down and your whole life inside right along with it. Frantically, we watered the roof, the yard...everything, in hopes of discouraging the fire from choosing our home as it's path. We were most fortunate. The helicopters were able to drop enough water to stop the fire. It ended right in our neighbors backyard.

My aunt and uncle transferred to their daughter Catherine's home to wait it out. I can't imagine the anguish as the images from the news, Facebook and other places reported a fire which was zero percent contained, 40 mph winds. On top of that there was no real news of their street and their home for two days. Their other children Rebecca, John and Elisa were vigorously networking with Facebook friends and those of common interest to get any hint of news they could.

Lots of prayers ascended to heaven on their behalf.

Finally, a welcome post last night from their daughter Elisa (North Carolina) said:

Going to bed with a happy heart.. After two days of thinking it was gone, someone has just confirmed that my parents house still stands. (Austin wildfires) Some structural damage, the workshop is gone, and the boat and 5th wheel as well. Sources say it's the only house on their street still standing. Miracles still happen, and prayers ARE answered!

This still makes me cry.

This morning, as Joel and I said our prayers together, we asked that fortitude and strength be with George and Judy as they put their lives back together. May they be a beacon of strength and hope to those around them as it sounds like they may literally be the candle on the hill.

Love you guys!

Blind and In a Ditch

2011-09-06T04:19:00.000-07:00

Luke 6:39 "And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?"

Part of the reason is the blind are attracted to the blind.

Life is sometimes a process of discovering we are blind and in a ditch in the first place. These are moments of awakening and awareness. One of the fruits of the Spirit is candid introspection. And it isn't typically pleasant to have me, shown to myself. However, I'm deeply grateful for those moments.

One of life's hard introspective lessons, which I didn't grasp until much later in my life is we attract to ourselves many of our worst problems. Problems which are seemingly unasked for and not our fault. One example of many: this is especially true in regards to the people we bring into our lives.

An obvious example would be an enabler who is attracted to an addict. The person who enables didn't foresee the heartache and troubles of life with the addict, but addicts employ very similar social tactics which consistently attract enablers - and vice versa.

The hardest and most important obstacle I've ever hurdled was to quit playing the victim and take a hard, painful look as to why I chose to marry my first husband who wrote the book on addictions and personality disorders. Everyone around me was quite willing to hand me the victim/pity card. Had I not set that excuse down and taken a hard look at my decision-making process and my attraction to that kind of a person, I would never have experienced the growth and understanding I have today. Nor would I have likely made a wonderful choice when I got re-married. It is more probable I would have repeated the error with a seemingly different personality. The road signs to trouble were there, I just didn't know how to read them. Admitting they were there and committing them to my consciousness was invaluable.

The turning point came when I finally admitted to myself God didn't make me march down that aisle, or make me say "I do". I did that to myself. And the situation I was in, I owned it. I cried a river of apologies to my Heavenly Father for making such a poor choice, and letting Him down and my children down. The pain and regret was immense. By so doing, by taking responsibility for what I got myself into, I got my power back. I gained strength and insight and became more aware, which led to better choices. One of life's truths I also learned the hard way... we are only victims for a moment (99% of the time), how long we remain a victim is by our choice and arrangement.

My dear girlfriend explained we attract to ourselves the life lessons we need the most. I absolutely rejected that notion. I could think of several instances in my own life where difficulties and hurtful people were thrust into my life. Now, with the first grandchild on the way, 20/20 hindsight is opening my eyes.

Life is a process of discovering I am blind in the first place, that the culture and traditions I was raised with sometimes comes from blindness. That I tend to make poor choices as to situations, friends, (spouses) and larger organizations while in this blindness. And that blindness brings its life lessons with it. If we cling to the victim and martyr complex, we will likely repeat the cycle again and again. It is not until we take responsibility for ourselves and own our situations, that we find the power to break the patterns and improve the quality of our existence.

I realize some will read this and say "but, but, but..." I was there myself, those "buts" were my deceptive, dis-ingenuine friends for years.

Come back and read this in 10 years, it will probably make more sense...

Kind regards.

A lesson in humanity

2011-09-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Luke, chapter 6 is one of those chapters filled to the brim and overflowing with thought-provoking ideas. This is not a sanctimonious exaggeration or an attempt to be pious when I say I could get nearly a months worth of posts out of this one chapter alone. I've been reading it over and over myself this week and it is personally exhausting.

Exhausting because I fall short and need to be reminded of these powerful lessons in humanity from the Master himself - how to live, how to interact with others. I find myself pausing and measuring myself against these verses and sighing. It seems the trick to mastering humanity is not to give way to our human tendencies. So I'm stuck studying and pondering this chapter for a while. My great hope is that it will become a part of me, at least more than before.

The verse I want to share this morning is Luke 6:38 which touches on generosity:

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

I loved the sweetness and promise of this verse. It reminds me of a phrase I once heard, "No kind act is ever wasted."

May the uplifting power of giving lighten your heart somewhere today.

Marriage - The Pinnacle of Sainthood

2011-09-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

I've read these verses many times now throughout my life. My typical response is to wince and realize the bar for sainthood is well above my head. How many people are you acquainted with, who fit this description from Luke, chapter 6?

27 ¶But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. (Luke 6:27-31)

This describes the pinnacle of sainthood. The absolute opposite of the essence of being human with knee-jerk reactions.

Recent personal inspiration and introspection has made me more comfortable with these verses than I've ever been. And its taken me a lifetime to get this far. Epiphany is a recent post which details a thought process that STILL has me reeling about myself and my relationships. Do not read it unless you're in for a kick of an introspection session with yourself. Every friend I've described "epiphany" to does the "pause". That stunned moment where we mouth "Oh wow" and we know we've got something to think about.

The thought of those I personally think the least of, being equivalent to Christ still keeps me in check. It's my new personal project and I've turned some corner. By responding and giving away positive energy to the "least of these" people, I've set my own private enmity down and peace has filled that void.

This whole topic turned inward again as I started thinking about my husband Joel. I love my husband very much. We got into a spat comparing our irritations with each other last night. We both ended up apologizing. It occurred to me this morning that our spouses are the people we know the most about. And even though, hopefully we don't consider them enemies...we are keenly aware of their weaknesses. The very people we should be loving the most, supporting, and be the most enthused about - are the very people whose weaknesses pepper our lives on a daily basis. It isn't about having the perfect or near perfect spouse. It is how we respond to them that really determines life's happiness. We get a full-blown test and chance every single day to temper our characters and be Christ-like. I realized that in the inconvenient moment of a spouse's most irritating weaknesses lies the same challenge to treat them in a Christ-like manner. Because in that very self-same moment, they transform into "the least of these". Even when we love them and think the world of them. Letting our irritations and resentments build, as well as letting our annoyances cling to their justifications is violation of the verses cited from Luke.**

Sigh. Time to get the chisel out. I've so many interactions to refine and automatic responses to re-write on my hard drive.

Enjoy your weekend. Hope you got the time off.

**There is a caveat I feel responsible to mention. Physical and verbal abuse of spouse and children is condemned by Christ and being Christ-like does not mean repeatedly putting yourself in harm's way or enabling really dysfunctional, predatory or addictive behavior. Allowing someone to destroy themselves and others is not tolerance or love. What being Christ-like does mean is we're responsible for how we treat and respond to others. We can avoid the pits dug by others and still treat them well.

For Perfect People Only

2011-09-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

So often, the cart comes before the horse. For example, how others at church are viewed as "perfect" or "have it all together". Thus some members end up feeling exceptional and alone because they don't have it all together.

NO ONE has it all together. As in nobody. If you think you know an exception, you don't know them intimately well.

The whole point of mortality is we face what mortality is. Mortals are flawed, challenged, frail, vain, selfish, short-sighted beings. Even the most accomplished of us spend moments filling those categories. And we suffer the consequences of others in our lives as they trip and fall through these same kinds of moments (or days or years). We need help cleaning up those shortcomings.

My inactive son David once thought that he would wait until he had all his ducks in a row, until he was perfect, before he went back to church.

This certainly isn't what the Savior intended. In Luke 5 he says:

30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Joseph B. Wirthlin (an LDS apostle) summed it up beautifully when he commented on this topic:

"The church is not a place where perfect people gather to say perfect things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings. The Church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide encouragement, support, and service to each other as we press on in our journey to return to our Heavenly Father."

In April 2008 Conference Elder Wirthlin elaborated even further - and I remember the moment he said this...I was thrilled with how he expressed it.

"Some are lost because they have strayed. Except for the Lord, we have all made mistakes. The question is not whether we will trip and fall but, rather, how will we respond? Some, after making mistakes, stray from the fold. This is unfortunate. Do you not know that the Church is a place for imperfect people to gather together—even with all their mortal frailties—and become better? Every Sunday in every meetinghouse throughout the world, we find mortal, imperfect men, women, and children who meet together in brotherhood and charity, striving to become better people, to learn of the Spirit, and to lend encouragement and support to others. I am not aware of any sign on the door of our meetinghouses that reads Restricted Entrance—Perfect People Only."

Church isn't a place to go and pretend to be unflawed. Church is where we go because we are flawed.

James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed..."

The very best Relief Society lessons or Sacrament meeting talks I've ever heard are ones where people are self-disclosing and share where they've fallen and what they did to get back up. I find that many more times penetrating and inspirational.

Something to ponder...

Every Day is Christmas

2011-08-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

This post is a continuation of Christmas in August.

As I traveled, the concepts shared from that post kept growing on me and became something substantial. In fact, it was the first Christmas I've ever felt soul-deep. And it happened in the most unlikely place, driving westbound in the middle of the desert, across the Nevada I-140. All these bits and pieces of understanding came together and flowed around me and the experience was exquisite. My heart swam in it.

For several days now, I've pondered over whether to share this experience or not. I am the ultimate scrooge when it comes to the Christmas spirit. The noisy Santa Claus tradition never had any more of a place in our home than the stockings hung over the fireplace. Traditionally, I hurry through the obligatory tree decorating and gift-giving rites and breathe a sigh of relief when it is all over. My favorite holidays are Valentine's Day and Halloween, NOT Christmas. This may stem from troubling childhood memories, but Christmas traditions have been a chore. This year I gave away all my Christmas paraphernalia from Costco and decorations accumulated over the years (except my two favorite nativity scenes) and felt joy in the release. The other Relief Society sisters probably thought I was pretty random when I backed up the car to the nearest outside door and said "help yourself" after church a few months ago. There were some really nice items in there - and a lot of it. I've been wanting to change what Christmas is for our family for years. I'm setting the backdrop here so any reader can understand what an unlikely candidate this writer is for the experience shared in the post today.

Neal A. Maxwell had more to say about Christmas than the one quote found in Christmas in August from a couple of days ago. Elder Maxwell also said, "God's gifts, unlike seasonal gifts, are eternal and unperishable, constituting a continuing Christmas which is never over!"

Writing about a topic sometimes uncovers another corridor of additional doors to open and deeper understanding takes place. Maxwell's quotes, my recent Christmas post along with the Christmas story found in Luke 2 lingered in my head mid driving home on a long trip. While passing through the middle of no where on the Nevada I-140 West, the magnificence hit. Very unexpected. The following is the best description my limited words can wrap around the occasion.

I became aware that the Christmas event: Christ's birth, the shepherds, the angelic response, the original event was right there where I was. It was rising out of the landscape all around me. I felt the energy, the reality, the presence of the original Christmas, swirling and filling the space. Right there and right then as if the first nativity scene were happening now, not as a distant memory. The feeling was BIG. It filled me to overwhelming. Tears streamed. I wondered in amazement.

How could the past be felt so vividly now? Like a lot of Christians, we believe God is not subject to our concept of time. In fact, Wikipedia says for Christians "God is viewed as being outside of time and, from the divine perspective past, present and future are actualized in the now of eternity." Verses about "one eternal round" came flashing to my mind (1 Nephi 10:19, D&C 35:1 and D&C 130:7). In this moment, they made more sense than they ever have. The Savior's birth has been announced and experienced before it happened, as recorded in the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon, it was an extraordinary experience for some in the present when it took place, and when my view was opened up, it only made sense this still is an experience to be had by those of us in the future.

The past sees the future, the present sees the future and the past -- the future sees the past and our present as well. One eternal round outside of time.

The Christmas story hasn't stopped happening! This pivotal event never went anywhere. The magnitude and the vibrations of the Savior's coming still resonate in nature everywhere, as powerful as the day it happened. The benefits and effect of Jesus's birth are yet very present. The earth itself fully registers it and is echoing it. The memory of this singular experience in the middle of a barren Nevada wilderness still waters my eyes. A treasure never to be forgotten, it has become my favorite Christmas of all time.

Have other people had similar experiences to mine? I believe so, in fact, I wonder if the author of "Joy to the World" didn't have a kindred incident and later captured it in a song? I never really understood the words of this carol until in that moment, the description fits too perfectly...

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

Do I feel the intensity right now like I did last Wednesday? No. In that moment, a conduit opened up and I could "see" something that is always there. I believe this is what ponder and seek is. A step which leads to our tapping into the light, the revelation of truth and knowledge that is ever present and waiting for us. "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7)

As random as it seems...Merry Christmas.

The Atonement is more than that...

2011-08-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

The Latter-Day Saints do not have a paid minister. Instead, the members themselves take turns giving talks (short sermons) to each other. My daughter sent me a copy of her talk she is giving in Sacrament meeting today. Here is my favorite part of it:

"Christ has promised to bring us comfort whenever we experience pain, either physical or emotional. He offers healing through the presence of the Spirit and the exercise of the priesthood. And if this were all the Atonement did, bringing us forgiveness for our sins and comfort in our trials, wouldn't that be enough? The enormity of this gift is beyond comprehension. But Christ and his Atonement give us still more. These further blessings are described to us in Ether 12:27."

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

"Through God's grace—the same power that saves us “after all we can do”—we become stronger. Our weaknesses are replaced with strengths. What we cannot do by ourselves, Christ gives us the power to do, if we humble ourselves, recognize our failings, and lay them at his feet. It is our task in life to improve constantly, to become better than we were, to overcome the trials and temptations before us. Christ could have just told us, “Go out and improve yourselves.” But he doesn't. He gives us the commandment to be perfect, yes, and then he offers us as much help as we need to get there. He says “Try as hard as you can, and I will do whatever you can't. I will improve you beyond what you are capable of achieving for yourself; all you have to do is ask and have faith.”

Laurelle with her husband Danny

"Sometimes, that can be difficult. In my life, I've been faced with problems that seemed insurmountable, weaknesses and sins that I clung to in spite of how guilty and ashamed I felt. It wasn't until I truly humbled myself enough to let go and to ask sincerely for help that I was able to overcome those sins. That was not my doing alone. My strength was just not sufficient. But because of Christ's Atonement, because he holds the power not just to forgive our weaknesses but to mend them, those sins are truly in my past. They have no hold on me today. I'm free.

All the enormous blessings of the Atonement are there for the asking, beginning with the incomprehensibly great blessing of forgiveness and only getting better from there. Christ's sacrifice frees us from sin, makes us strong enough to resist temptation and to do what is right, and comforts us through every trial that life can present us with. I testify that this is a gift God wants to give us. He wants us to open up and receive these blessings, and has made the path clear for us to do so. If we are striving to keep the commandments, we need only ask to feel Christ's hand in our lives."

My daughter is only 22. Love that girl.

Death - A Simple Perspective

2011-08-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

Russell M Nelson (an LDS apostle) made a simple statement about death during the last LDS Worldwide General Conference.

He showed a picture of his 18-month old grandson watching him on TV. He outlined a simple example of the life cycle using his grandson. I don't have the picture, but Elder Nelson describes the picture enough that we can generate our own image.

"We envision your families gathered around the television or online to watch the proceedings of general conference at home. An alert mother and father sent me a copy of a picture they took at conference time. They observed the reaction of their then-18-month-old son, who recognized the features and voice of the speaker. The child started to throw kisses toward the TV. He wanted to come closer. So his thoughtful older sister quickly hoisted her little brother on her shoulders and brought him closer. Here is that photograph."

"Yes, the image on the TV is mine, and those children are our grandchildren. In a few years this boy will be an elder endowed in the temple and ready for his mission. Later he will be sealed to an eternal companion of his choice. Can you see him one day as a husband and father, with children of his own? And one day he will say farewell to his grandfathers, with a sure knowledge that death is part of life."

"It is true. We live to die, and we die to live again."

Understanding death as a means to a better end rather than an end itself brings peace and chases away fear. Gospel understanding like this increases the quality of my life.

I am grateful to be reminded of these truths.

Extra reading: Death - A Different Perspective

Christmas in August

2011-08-24T03:04:00.000-07:00

Just finished reading Luke, chapter 2 in the New Testament this morning. It's 3 a.m. (Mountain time) and I'm about to pack and take off on a 15-hour road trip to go back home. (Provo, UT to Grants Pass, OR)

I couldn't resist the warmth coming from the Christmas story, not only the birth, but the endearing account of a 12 year-old wowing the sophisticated men of the day. After reading this chapter, there is no doubt neither Luke nor Christ are Trinitarians. But that's another topic.

Do we not love Christ all the more, because of his very humble start in life? Born in an animal's stable, no room for Him at even a simple Motel 6! He ended up being born in a garage, in the parking lot. He could have easily arranged for a birth in a palace, with luxury and no material lack. There is something rich and symbolic about the circumstances of his birth. Also, the angelic announcement came to poor, simple shepherds, instead of the important, the sophisticated and the wealthy of the day. Even though the heavens sang, it was witnessed by relatively few. The wise men had to look hard to find Him.

It is still the same today. There are many claims of who and where Christ is. One has to make an effort to find Him in his truest, undiluted form - to know Him. Opening the scriptures, while opening my heart is far more effective than the best sermons. Having a connection of our very own to the Spirit is essential. I am a Mormon, a Latter-Day Saint (LDS Christian) because this is the church that captures the feeling, the understanding and the truth of Christ I find in the New Testament.

I love Christ. I feel it so profoundly and so deeply that even mentioning it through the keyboard waters my eyes. Neal A. Maxwell (an LDS apostle) said it so elegantly when he said:

The larger Christmas story is clearly not over. It is not solely about some other time, some other place, and some other people. It is still unfolding, and we are in it!

Christ is not only "the reason for the season" - he is the reason for today. We woke up today because it is His gift to even be alive. Something I take for granted more often than not. Every day His hopeful invitation "come unto me" is the same. Another chance to seek for Him and to relate to Him. Not just mention His name, but really ponder Him, really connect. Having felt Him deeply once or even a few times is not a singular, one-time accomplishment that guarantees a free ride from that point on. We need Him every hour to save us, from our mortal tendencies. On our own, we flounder. The saving comes through our continual connection and re-dedication to His guidance of our life.

Reading scriptures, saying prayers, and keeping the Sabbath Day holy (go to church) are essential ways to guide us to Him and unfold what "coming to Christ" is.

May you feel His love.

The Wordsmith

2011-08-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

Wonderful book!

Neal A. Maxwell is one of my all time favorite writers. For me, he is the ultimate wordsmith. Elder Maxwell (an LDS apostle) had a gift for packing volumes of meaning in a few words.

So when Missy (friend for life) gave me the "Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book" a couple of days ago, I was thrilled. Missy and I met in the mission field (Honduras) over 25 years ago. The bond from our companionship has endured mightily through all these years and the long distances. Who can explain why chemistry happens between two souls like ours? We're nothing alike, and yet ridiculously paralleled in our life experiences. Almost like paternal twins sometimes. We're convinced we were made to experience life together. She'll be mortified to find her picture on my blog, and since I'm visiting in her hometown right now, I'll have to be extra cautious. If the world does not hear from me again, check for any freshly mounded dirt in her backyard first. Just covering my bases.

Back to Elder Maxwell. Wonderful quote for today...

"It is so easy to be halfhearted, but this only produces half the growth, half the blessings, and just half a life, really, with more bud than blossom."

I believe this message is essential for the rising generation who unfortunately are given to an exaggerated sense of entitlement (the world will pay my way), a lack of motivation and an absence of work ethic. And the blame is not to be laid at their feet. I hold my generation responsible. We over-indulged them, we abandoned them (one-on-one time), and we raised them without a moral center or sense of duty. The recent London riots are a perfect illustration of the results of our global parenting and societal failure.

Even so, I love humanity. I have great hopes for many, that they will gravitate towards light, towards truth and knowledge and towards a higher plane of existence. May they figure the mess out and set it right. One life, and one family at a time.

Demise of Guys

2011-08-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

In less than six minutes, Philip Zimbardo makes one of the most compelling arguments for the trend of deterioration of our boys' characters and achievements. He documents the trend and why. This is a MUST SEE (in my humble opinion) for any parent with boys. Click the link below.

Philip Zimbardo: The demise of guys? | Video on TED.com

Published in Deseret News

2011-08-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

They published an article of mine in Deseret News last night, but didn't include the pictures which I believe are helpful. So I am posting the pictures here in case they might help anyone.

When's the last time you had fun in your laundry room?

MAKE YOUR OWN HIGH EFFICIENCY LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Melting in a pan on the stove.

Some of my favorite scents.

Awesome fabric softener for a song.

What it looks like the morning after.

A years' worth of laundry detergent in one small box!

Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below.