Put out that fire!

26 September 2010

How do I teach my family that contention is  
CONTAGIOUS...
DEADLY...
QUICKLY SPREADING...
GETS OUT OF CONTROL VERRRRRYYYY EASILY...

Prepare by giving each his/her own fuel for fire...paper towels work well.
Start a fire with one small match.
Add another match to the small fire.
Have each throw in their paper....
watch the fire grow....
this works especially well outside...in a safe area of cement where nothing else is able to catch fire...

Happy

When the baby feels cross and sounds grumpy, I'll take out a pen or water marker and draw a little "Happy" on the bottom of her foot or across the back of her hand.

This little "Happy has come a long way. Just take a look.

This is what happens when older siblings take this a notch up.

Doing Good Continually

5 June 2017

Tonight, I read this verse from the Book of Mormon.

"And (Shiblon) was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God; and also did his brother."

What did it look like, that "he did observe to do good continually?"

Perhaps, in today's time it would look like a faithful home teacher. The kind that Elder Jeffery R. Holland describes: 

"Brethren, the appeal I am making tonight is for you to lift your vision of home teaching. Please in new, better ways see yourselves as emissaries of the Lord to His children. That means leaving behind the tradition of a frantic, law of Moses-like, end-of-the month calendar in which you rush to give a scripted message Church magazines that the family has already read. We hope, rather, that you will establish an era of genuine, gospel-oriented concern for the members, watching over and caring for each other, addressing spiritual and temporal needs in any way that helps.

Now as for what 'counts' as home teaching, every good thing you do so report it all! Indeed, the report that matters most is how you have blessed and cared for those within your stewardship, which has virtually nothing to so with a specific calendar or a particular location. What matters is that you love your people and are fulfilling the commandment 'to watch over the church always.'"

Perhaps it is the good neighbor, 

Accept and Act

written 20 March 2010

This line jumped out at me: We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family...

So, first...

Accept
1 a : to receive willingly
2 : to give admittance or approval to
3 a : to endure without protest or reaction b : to regard as proper, normal, or inevitable c : to recognize as true : believe
4 a : to make a favorable response to b : to agree to undertake

Using these definitions, accept is GOOD!

Act
1 a : the doing of a thing : deed b : something done voluntarily
4 : the process of doing : action
8 : a display of affected behavior : pretense

Acting on what has been Accepted shows my Faith in Christ.

So the Values I ACCEPT as a Daughter of God are:
Faith • Divine Nature • Individual Worth • Knowledge • Choice and Accountability • Good Works • Integrity • and Virtue

And in turn they help me "be prepared to strengthen home and family".

WOW!

I SO see the fit of Y.W. and R.S.

Thoughts about thoughts

Originally started 29 Septermber 2011

So, I was in the kitchen and I started thinking some mean thoughts. Condemning kinds. The ones that stir pots and fester cankers of anger and irritation inside me. Remember the cartoons where the character is in a quandry and suddenly a lightbulb appears...an idea to resolve the quandry! Well, my lightbulb moment came, while I was talking to myself.

The light illuminated inside my mind and I realized that mean, rebellious, unkind, comparative, rumorous, murmurous, irritative, contentious...and so on and so forth...are perfected by the devil. And that he owns them and wants me to own them too. NO THANKS! The dilemma is I have been listening! Too often.

And then I thought about the scripture stories of people that lived peaceably. This scripture came to my mind.

Mosiah 4:12-13

10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.
 
11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing gsteadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
 12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.


13 And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.

Which led to this thought from 4 Nephi...

13 And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus.


And then this last connection of scriptures from  Jacob 3

2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.

So, there is a cure for this epidemic. 

*******************************************************************************

And unfortunately, this is where I ended my aha! Why I didn't finish the post, I don't know.

But, I can add what I've learned since the original draft on 29 September 2011.

The answer is Jesus Christ, ALWAYS Jesus Christ. Words of living prophets invite me to repent, to change, to love deeper, to forgive more freely, to think of Jesus always. I am taught to pray always, more often in more places, always (thank you President Holland). My temple covenants direct me to Him. He is the source of light, truth, forgiveness, healing, exaltation. Because of Him, my heart has undergne changes. He is everything to me.

Morning Prayer

This morning, when I crawled out of bed, anxiety creeped through.
Maybe more like zipped through me...like electricity running through a wire.

I'm not sure how it works, but one thought can trigger physical responses of anxiety.

It's early.
It's still dark.
The heater is on.
(peace)
The dog is whining. She probably needs to go out.
Did she wake me up?
Can Jessi hear her?
It's dark.

The meeting last night.
You didn't lead well.

It's dark.
The dog is whining.
I probably need to get up.

Reading the scriptures would be good this morning.

The meeting, where was the Spirit?
You didn't lead well.
You're presidency doesn't think you're doing all that well as a leader.
You're not real easy to follow.

(fear)

The dog is whining.
I'd better take her out.

Outside, the thoughts continued.

The meeting, where was the Spirit?
You didn't lead well. 

Worries.
Imperfection.
My back stiffens.

It is dark.
I feel cold.
Is the dog cold, too?

Back inside, I crawled back into bed;
Hoping for quiet.

More thoughts.

There is time.
Read the scriptures.

A feeling of peace.

Acting on faith, I left the warm covers and knelt on the carpet. Leaning over the couch, I began to pray.

I thank Heavenly Father for blessings I can feel and think of.

Thank thee for  my family.
Thank thee for my children.
Thank thee for Will.

Peace and love, like fast falling rain in a desert, flood my mind,
My soul.

I keep praying.

Thank thee for our home.
Thank thee for helping me find bookshelves.

With each phrase, more love washes in.

A thought...

You are not as good as...

A stronger thought:

Keep praying.
Feel.

I concentrate on my words.
I feel what is tied to the words.

Thank thee for this wonderful morning.
Thank thee for Thy love.

Peace floods out unkind thoughts.
Joy and love settle in my mind.

The power of prayer is real.
God hears and answers every prayer.
He waits for me to exercise faith in His Son.

A New Year...almost

December 31. 

My sight is set ahead for the new year. What I hope to feel, to become, to share, but not specifically in this order:

• I want to be filled God's love. 
• I want to please my Heavenly Father. 
• I want to become a true disciple of  Jesus Christ. 
• I hope to bring others to Christ. 
• I want  to help prepare the world for His return. 
• I want to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with my family, friends, and others. 

This year's goals to help accomplish this:

• Complete study of standard works.
• Daily learning from living prophets.
• Earn Personal Progress in April with my two children.
• Continue with BYU I.

After thoughts...

I am sitting, listening to silence. Just about everyone is asleep. Jotting a few thoughts before I sleep.

I know that Jesus Christ loves us.

I know that He is mindful of us.

I know that He carries us through the difficult times when we trust in Him.

I know He is the Prince of Peace. That is a big deal.

A Fresh Start

After a LONG break from the blogging world, I am back online. 

I think this will be more journaling of thoughts and feelings and questions about being a better mother, a kinder wife, and a covenant daughter of God.

So, to start.

Last week, DH and I attended the LDS Special Broadcast:The Work of Salvation for Hastening the Work of Salvation. It was AMAZING!  I felt God's perfect love. His desires for ALL His children to hear His word and Feel His love is evident. Our desires to serve a full time mission is full in our hearts. There is something wonderful when the Spirit of God lights inside. It ignites the desire to Serve Him, to spread Joy, to Teach about His Son.

I am so grateful I attended. I almost didn't. I had dropped DH off at the chapel and debated staying, but concluded that the children needed me at home and I could prepare for family council later that night. About 10 minutes before the broadcast began, I received a text from my sister asking if I was going to the broadcast. I texted DH and asked if he would like me to join him. Yes. And then the little thought that my best place is to be with him there at the broadcast. 

So, a few things my heart picked up that I needed to remember:

1. Being a mother, my first place to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, is here at home to my children (D&C 68:25-28).

2. Being a member missionary is everyday in actions and words.

3. Pray everyday for opportunities to share His restored Gospel and He will give them to me.

4. The Lord uses imperfect people to help His work go forward. If I give my best, and follow the Spirit the best I can, He makes up the difference.

5. He is hastening His work, and I get to be apart of it.

I am SO SO SO grateful to be a member of His Restored Church. I know it is true. I know that all truths in fullness are found here. I know that living prophets are on the earth again. I know that God and Christ speak to these prophets who speak to us today. I know that by the power of the Holy Ghost ANYONE and EVERYONE can know for themselves and not for another.  Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes me happy. Truly, truly HAPPY.

About EQUALITY

Now there was no law against a man’s belief; for it was strictly contrary to the commands of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds.

Now if a man desired to serve God, it was his privilege; or rather, if he believed in God it was his privilege to serve him; but if he did not believe in him there was no law to punish him.

But if he murdered he was punished unto death; and if he robbed he was also punished; and if he stole he was also punished; and if he committed adultery he was also punished; yea, for all this wickedness they were punished.

For there was a law that men should be judged according to their crimes. Nevertheless, there was no law against a man’s belief; therefore, a man was punished only for the crimes which he had done; therefore all men were on equal grounds.

I'm just saying...this is a pretty clear definition of EQUALITY...as well as FREEDOM of RELIGION.

Alma 30:7, 9-11

INEQUALITY

And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men.  
And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life.  

Alma 28:13

Christmas Carolers

Tonight, in the hustle and bustle of getting kids to bed early...okay, early and early...I got caught up in the duty of doing and forgot about en-JOY-ing them throughout the getting ready.

Even while putting our 8 year old to bed, I seemed more concerned about her going to sleep than I did listening to my other two daughters singing the Christmas carols they are practicing for the school program.

I came upstairs to get myself ready for the night, and what to my wondering ears did I hear, but my dear husband singing carlos with our children.

See how he is. He makes me smile. When I get overstrung about keeping deadlines or schedules or structure ...which seems too often ... he helps set my heart straight. The one thing that REALLY does matter. The heart thing. And hearing him sing carols with our children reset my heart.

Christmas

Tonight, our family watched The First Presidency Christmas Devotional (click here to watch).

The messages were beautiful! They redirected my heart to the living the Christmas Spirit.

Giving what really matters,

Remembering Christ by living as HE would want me to,

Remembering His gifts to us,

Giving gifts to Him that are worthy to give.

Tonight, I'll share a gift they shared with me (click here).

Merry Christmas!

Please and Thank You

I have been thinking a lot about Alma 7:23 ...more particularly the end of verse.

...asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

Thoughts that tied like feelings to my heart:

I should take ALL my needs to Heavenly Father. Whatever it is I need. Spiritual or temporal. Whatever I need. Anything. Everything. Always!

And as quickly as I receive the answers I am seeking, I need to thank Him.

This week, I have been practicing this lesson.

Last night, I felt as if I was swarmed in a flurry of demands. Children to comfort, meals to be made, places to be and I was running an hour behind. I didn't know which to tackle first. And remembering this scripture, I took my 10 year old (who was one of these people needing comfort) with me to pray to figure out the BEST part so I could DO the best part.  My answer was different than I would have done, had I GONE ON MY OWN to figure out that best part. 

It had taken me almost 15 minutes to remember that I had FORGOTTEN to thank Heavenly Father for His answer. So, my daughter and I, who were now driving down the street, pulled over to pray. I thanked Him for His help in setting my feet straight. And immediatly, LITERALLY, I was flooded with peace and calm and comfort that I had thanked Him. And so I thanked Him again.

I know that Heavenly Father loves me. He wants me to KNOW His love and FEEL His love every day. That is why He gave me some understanding of this scripture this week.

Did you know...

I was reading about Christ's second coming. He wants me to learn this lesson.

I know I have read this before...but it hadn't clicked till today.

I didn't realize how VITAL caring for the poor, the afflicted, the stranger, the helpless, the lonely was...is...until reading from Matthew 25. 

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.


34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:


35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:


36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.


37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?


38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?


39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?


40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.


41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:


42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:


43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.


44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?


45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.


46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.


I suppose the second testimony of these words are in Mosiah 4


15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.
 16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.


17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—


18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.


19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?


20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.


21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.


22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.


23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.


24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.


25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.


26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

Taking care of the poor, the afflicted, , the sick, and the lonely is Christ's way.

Early Morning Studying

My internal alarm woke me this morning.

I got up and checked the children, covered up the ones that had kicked off their covers and hopped back into my warm bed to go back to sleep. A bright thought lit up in my mind, "Get up and study the scriptures." I really wanted to try going back to sleep. And several seconds, I got up out of bed and  came upstairs to study.

In a few weeks, I will be teaching in Sunday Relief Society Meeting about the second coming of Jesus Christ.
I had some questions surrounding this subject about the New Jerusalem. And so, this is where I began my studies.

Here is something I discovered about the preparations for His second coming.

Doctrine & Covenants 84 beginning wih verse 103

103 And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, it is expedient that every man who goes forth to proclaim mine everlasting gospel, that inasmuch as they have families, and receive money by gift, that they should send it unto them or make use of it for their benefit, as the Lord shall direct them, for thus it seemeth me good.


104 And let all those who have not families, who receive money, send it up unto the bishop in Zion, or unto the bishop in Ohio, that it may be consecrated for the bringing forth of the revelations and the printing thereof, and for establishing Zion.

To me, this means that I can help build the kingdom by helping, even financially, support the missionary effort.

105 And if any man shall give unto any of you a coat, or a suit, take the old and cast it unto the poor, and go on your way rejoicing.

To me, this means that as I receive, I give to the poor my excess, and then I rejoice!


106 And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also.

To me, this means that I am to lift, love, serve, invite and continue to lead my neighbors in Christ's way, that they will have firm testimonies of Christ.

107 Therefore, take with you those who are ordained unto the lesser priesthood, and send them before you to make appointments, and to prepare the way, and to fill appointments that you yourselves are not able to fill.
108 Behold, this is the way that mine apostles, in ancient days, built up my church unto me.

This means that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same church Christ established on the earth before He died. It is the same church that Paul, and Peter, and even Stephen had testified.

109 Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand?

110 Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect.

To me, this means that where ever I am, to what ever calling I am called, I can magnify it and bless the lives of those I am called to serve. Because every calling is NEEDFUL.

111 And behold, the high priests should travel, and also the elders, and also the lesser priests; but the deacons and teachers should be appointed to watch over the church, to be standing ministers unto the church.

112 And the bishop, Newel K. Whitney, also should travel round about and among all the churches, searching after the poor to administer to their wants by humbling the rich and the proud.

To me, this means that Bishops are called of God. They serve and help members of their wards, bringing them to Christ. And I need to heed their counsel.

113 He should also employ an agent to take charge and to do his secular business as he shall direct.

114 Nevertheless, let the bishop go unto the city of New York, also to the city of Albany, and also to the city of Boston, and warn the people of those cities with the sound of the gospel, with a loud voice, of the desolation and utter abolishment which await them if they do reject these things.

115 For if they do reject these things the hour of their judgment is nigh, and their house shall be left unto them desolate.

116 Let him trust in me and he shall not be confounded; and a hair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed.

Bishops, of the church, have a great responsibility and need our prayers as they serve.

117 And verily I say unto you, the rest of my servants, go ye forth as your circumstances shall permit, in your several callings, unto the great and notable cities and villages, reproving the world in righteousness of all their unrighteous and ungodly deeds, setting forth clearly and understandingly the desolation of abomination in the last days.

We have a lot of work to do!

118 For, with you saith the Lord Almighty, I will rend their kingdoms; I will not only shake the earth, but the starry heavens shall tremble.

119 For I, the Lord, have put forth my hand to exert the powers of heaven; ye cannot see it now, yet a little while and ye shall see it, and know that I am, and that I will come and reign with my people.

120 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Amen.

The Lord ALWAYS keeps His promises.

"This is not my doctrine..."

Last week for our traveling Family Home Evening (commuting gives us a variety on where we hold FHE), we had Book of Mormon Trivia. It was AWESOME! We opened with this question:

What did Christ say was NOT his doctrine?

We heard a lot of ideas.

To steal? To lie? To be mean?

And the answer is.....

3 Nephi 11:29 - 30.

"For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away."

So this week, these verses have caused for a lot of thought. And, so, I will blog these thoughts

The devil will to stir his pot and throw families in the mix of it. And, frankly, I don't want any of it.

I can see why the Lord commands us to pray for Charity...

Moroni 7:44-48

"...he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.


And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."

because it doesn't come naturally. Even in families.

Mosiah 3:19
"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."

In Relief Society today, we discussed Elder Scott's talk from April General Conference entitled, "The Eternal Blessings of Marriage" A story (click here to read the full text) was shared about a couple wanting to marry in the temple. They went through a lot of hardships before they actually made it to the temple. The teacher posed the question:

"Why, if all these hardships happened, did they continue to try and reach that goal, to be sealed in the temple?"

Good question! So, re-wording the question:

"Why, especially with my family, do I continue to try and reach that goal, to have charity?"

Because as a mother, I can help create a place where we can love to be. And, because I believe the words penned by John Hugh McNaughton.

There is beauty all around,
When there’s love at home;
There is joy in every sound,
When there’s love at home;
Peace and plenty here abide,
Smiling sweet on every side,
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home.

In the cottage there is joy,
When there’s love at home;
Hate and envy ne’er annoy,
When there’s love at home;
Roses bloom beneath our feet,
All the earth’s a garden sweet,
Making life a bliss complete,
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Making life a bliss complete,
When there’s love at home.

Love becomes a way of life,
When there’s love at home;
Sweet, insistent end to strife,
When there’s love at home;
Glad submission each one’s gift,
Willing pledge to love and lift,
Healing balm for every rift,
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Healing balm for every rift,
When there’s love at home.

Anger cools and pressures cease,
When there’s love at home;
Children learn to live in peace,
When there’s love at home;
Courage to reach out in grace,
Meet a stranger face to face,
Find a reconciling place,
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Find a reconciling place,
When there’s love at home.

There’s no question you can’t ask,
When there’s love at home;
There is strength for any task,
When there’s love at home;
Sharing joy in work or play,
Confidence to face the day,
Knowing love will find a way,
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Knowing love will find a way,
When there’s love at home.

Kindly heaven smiles above,
When there’s love at home;
All the world is filled with love,
When there’s love at home;
Sweeter sings the brooklet by,
Brighter beams the azure sky;
Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
When there’s love at home.


So, I am commiting these verses to memory, to heart, to soul.  Hoping in the internalizing of these verses that in those moments of irritation and frusteration and disappointment, I can remember His doctrine.

Now is not the time!

A quick post.

I am reading through my email with my three year old beside me, playing with some of her toys.

My email is FULL (okay, full is an understatement)!!! It needs to be cleaned out.

I say outloud to myself as I am deleteing new emails and looking at the number of emails that need to be deleted:

Me: This sooo needs to be cleaned out. But NOT today. Now is Not the time.

Three year-old, now climbing up onto my lap: That's right. Now is NOT the time!

So, Hi ho, Hi  ho, it's off the computer I go!

Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence

Yesterday, I ran into a friend that I had not seen in a long time. I love these kinds of reunions! We met in our home ward about seven years ago. She became a part of our family. The girls saw her as an aunt figure, someone they could play with and trust. I saw her as a friend and a wonderful role model for our children. Anyway, she moved and then we moved and life carried on.

I think yesterday's reunion was a little like Ammon's with Alma. It was so good to see her.

Anyway, in our conversation, she referred me to a talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

"Cast Not Away Therefore Thy Confidence." (click here or here).

Here are some things Elder Holland teaches:

"First of all, revelation almost always comes in response to a question, usually an urgent question—not always, but usually. In that sense it does provide information, but it is urgently needed information, special information."

"Lesson number two is closely related. It is that in the process of revelation and making important decisions, fear plays a destructive, sometimes paralyzing role...That is the second lesson of the spirit of revelation. After you have gotten the message, after you have paid the price to feel His love and hear the word of the Lord, go forward. Don’t fear, don’t vacillate, don’t quibble, don’t whine. ... With the spirit of revelation, dismiss your fears and wade in with both feet. In the words of Joseph Smith, “Brethren [and sisters], shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!"

"The third lesson from the Lord’s spirit of revelation ...is that along with the illuminating revelation that points us toward a righteous purpose or duty, God will also provide the means and power to achieve that purpose. Trust in that eternal truth. If God has told you something is right, if something is indeed true for you, He will provide the way for you to accomplish it. That is true of joining the Church or raising a family, of going on a mission, or any one of a hundred other worthy tasks in life."

So, this morning, I read Elder Holland's talk. I loved it!  Reading his words gives me absolute confidence to follow the spirit's direction especially. Particularly after the spirit has given me a deifinite answer. And boy, has  anxiety and doubt crept...maybe more like stormed in after answers had come. I do not need to tvivla (This word most accurately describes what I am trying to say. It is Swedish for doubt, but it means more that the word doubt in English.) Hesitate. Vacillate. Rethink. JUST MOVE FORWARD.

I think, because anxiety and depression have been a difficult burden, and yet these two things have played a vital role in my faith and coming to know Christ, Elder Holland's words give me direction and clarity to hold to those feelings of the spirit.

HOLD ON TIGHT!

MOVE FORWARD WITH FAITH!

And then I as I do, I will SEE and FEEL the confidence of the Lord.

DO WHAT THE SPIRIT DIRECTS  and

DON'T LOOK BACK or QUESTION the feelings that came.

Because that lays weedy seeds of doubt that quickly overtake my mind and heart.

The beauty of living prophets is that THEIR WORDS ARE TRUE!  From God! I can follow them and KNOW that they will ALWAYS lead me to a happy life. NEVER to a place of unhappiness.

Standing in Holy Places

This past week I was talking with our children about the value of VIRTUE. Sis. Elaine Dalton gave an incredible talk on this.

She says: "This is a magnificent time to be on the earth and to be a young woman. Our vision remains the same. It is to be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple. This is our superlative goal! And so we will continue to lead the world in a return to virtue—a return to chastity and moral purity. We will continue to do all we can to help each other “stand … in holy places” and receive, recognize, and rely on the Holy Ghost."

I had read another talk by Sis. Dalton just a few days earlier. AWESOME!

Virtue and modesty are synonomous. As I pondered over modesty and all the why's of being modest, this scripture came to mind:

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen." (D&C 87:8)

Hmmm. Temple. Which led to the thought:

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Cor. 6:19)

So, I think maybe standing in Holy places does not just mean our homes, the church, the temple, but it very much includes our own physical bodies. WOW! And in this, virtue and modesty are paramount.