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Happy Family Home Evening

Yes!

We had a Happy Family Home Evening tonight!!!

YEAH!!!

Let me clarify...it was formal...ish...kind of...but not.

It really led off like some kind of circus affair. Hmmm. Not what I had in mind for FHE.  But it was happy all through FHE.

We began with me conducting FHE tonight...and well...I was conducting a formal meeting of one (me).

So, noticing that everyone else was really in a FUN mood, I tried changing my tone  from formal to ... semi formalish but trying to be fun... (okay, truth be told...I hate admitting it...but too often I act like Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh. Ish)!.

As the opening song started, "Love at Home", oh my, I wondered about FHE for this night. 
The redition was...Something Unlike I've ever heard...truly!

I believe from the sound of the family, 
we all sang the hymn...
in our own key...
with parts...
on purpose.

Really.

I exagerate not!

It was really something else to hear. I wonder if I will get to hear a replay of this one day.

I think by at his point I figured out that what I really needed to do was smile and breathe and listen and watch...because everyone was Happy! And FHE is about happy.

When the laughter died down, we did have as quiet and reverent of a prayer as we could.

The playful mood continued and so we had some kind of move and stretch and laugh some more before we moved to scripture and motto.

Our lesson started with a brief 2 minutes of Q&A of "What makes you Happy?"

Answers that were common were: no school, playing with family, laughing, being kind, love at home. 

Then, we divided into teams. Each team picked a scripture from the Topical Guide under HAPPY, and then prepared a song with actions to sing for the family.

Team dad and daughters 2&3 read from Psalms 127:3-5. They sang a medley of "Daddy's Homecoming" and "Happy Family" and ended with a Cheer. It was AWESOME!

Team 11 year, Mom and 2 year old read a scripture from John 13:15, 17. We sang "Jesus Said Love Everyone" with actions from all three of us. It was SWEET!

By this time, we were all together in a Happy Family mood.

We rallied together and played a round of 3 five minute games that included everyone:
Build up blocks and let the youngest knock 'em down... Lots of laughter
Chase after the youngest for the missing block...More laughter
and finally....
Hide and seek!

There were no tears. It was a great night of games!

When the games ended, we joined together for a final closing of FHE and reviewed that things that make us Happy.

We agreed that how we treat each other affects us being Happy.  Being kind to each other makes a happy home.

So, for our activity this week:

Each of us drew a secret "Happy Person" out of a hat. 
For the rest of this week, we are to do something for our "Happy Person" to feel happy.

I'd say, tonight's FHE's was HAPPY!

To boot, we had fudgy yummy no bake cookies for a treat.....mmmm!

Spirit testifies Truth

I love feeling the spirit.

I love having the spirit work through me to touch others.

Today, I spoke in church, and I felt both.

Something I learned today, I need a lot of repentance. And to think I thought I was repenting enough...is there really such a thing?

This was a subject that I needed to give because I have been forgetting to Come to Him.

The Lord is very kind to remind me this way.

These are the sources I used for the talk.

Elder Neil A Anderson gave a wonderful discourse on this repentance (click here).

Elder Jeffrey R Holland talked about coming to Christ through Faith in Christ, repentance, baptism and temple covenants, and then living our covenants (click here).

The people of King Benjamin are a great example of Coming to Christ. They followed the same pattern that Elder Holland outlines (click here...see chapters 1-6).

Anyway, I felt the the spirit witness as I shared thoughts from these lovely scriptures. I felt the spirit witness as I shared my own testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. His church is restored on the earth TODAY and is led by LIVING PROPHETS. And these truths can be known by everyone...as stated in the introduction of the Book of Mormon:

"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10: 3-5.)



Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah."

The spirit is wonderful!


I know Jesus wants us all to come to Him.

               Today!

His atonement can make me/us clean, and happy.

And that is worth living for!

Happy Post

Hmmmm.

I am speaking tomorrow in church about testimony and Christ and coming to Him.
This week has been an exceptionally doozy of a week.

Sweet and sour...

So, while I am trying to "get the spirit" for this talk to come together and knowing I haven't met my own expectations for the day...for the week...for the year...

I think this is a test of the Emergency "Good-Better-Best" Broadcast System!

So, here's to tuning in so I can hear.

Sink into the Heart

I am currently reading in the book of Mosiah.

A quick summary of where I am...

Abinadi, a prophet sent to call the people and more particularly a wicked king to repentance, has been captured,  imprisoned, and now tied up, is presented to the king.

His BOLD declaration of God's call to repentance and promises for the people and the king  if they choose to repent or not to repent mulls around and hardens the hearts of the wicked priests.

They try to slay him.

But, because he has not finished delivering God's message to the king, no one can touch him.

So, bound before the king, prophet Abinadi declares redemption through Jesus Christ. Repentance and Salvation.

Okay, so for the purpose of this post...

I was struck by a couple of verses where Abinadi BOLDY tells them the condition of the their hearts...

Mosiah 12:27

"Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise..."

Mosiah 13:7
"Yea, and I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your iniquities..."

Mosiah 13:11
"And now I read unto you the remainder of the acommandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts..."

I was struck by the contrast of the condition of the heart of righteous King Benjamin and his people. 

Before he turns over his reign to his son, he too preaches repentence and redemption through Christ to his people.

Preparing them for his message he declares:

Mosiah 2:9
"My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view. "

First they are instructed to use their senses.

And they do...

And, in contrast to the wicked king and his people, we read:

Mosiah 4:2
"And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men."

Mosiah 5:2
"And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."

And this change of heart caused for outward actions...and the people covenant to follow Christ.

And again with the heart...

Mosiah 5:7
"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters."

finally...

Mosiah 5:11,12,13
"11 ... therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.

12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts...
13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"
 
There is something peaceful and enriching about letting Christ sink deep into my heart...

...something beautiful about REMEMBERING to retain HIS name in my heart

...and something POWERUL and SAFE, KNOWING HE is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIGHT.

I know that He makes the heart soft...

When I REMEMBER Him, and He is sunk into my heart, I am softer and kinder...patient and more understanding...

I am His.

So, tomorrow, I'll try again to rememember...

Knowing that when I forget...which I do too often as life busies around me...

I can trust in His perfect atonement...and repent and try again...

And when I do, I will feel His love just as King Benjamin's people did.

School and Blessings

With the beginning of school I've heard the anxieties of our children.

They are real. They have taken up a bulk of their thinking the past couple of weeks.

Some of these anxieties are familiar anxieties I had at the beginning of the school year and some are different.

Here are just a few:

Am I going to do well in school?  What if I don't? What if I am behind?

Will I make any friends? What if no one wants to play with me?

What if my friends want me to choose wrong things? If I don't do what they want me to, they might not like me.

Are there bullies?

Is my teacher nice?  What if she's not?

As a family, we have been praying for several weeks that our children will feel the Lord's love for them. That they would have the courage to make good choices in school. That they would feel confident in their learning.

Knowing that the Lord is ALWAYS aware of us and will bless us IF WE ASK HIM, we have been asking and waiting.

Today, listening to their school experiences and watching them as they did homework, I saw and felt a reassurance of the Lord's love for them. I saw His hand in their lives.

One child came home overjoyed that she found a friend.

Another child was able to concentrate and FINISH her homework. Her focus and determination was AMAZING! By the end of the night, she was reassured that she can learn...VERY WELL! She could feel the happiness that comes from growing

Our other child felt confident in understanding her studies. I could hear her excitement for learning. This same child, after several years of feeling like she has been without true friends, has extended friendship to others. 

I see the Lord's hand in these small...yet big things today.

"In the STRENGTH of the LORD, we can do hard things!"

Music Appreciation

D&C 25:12
     "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing on their heads."

I lead the music for sisters in Relief Society.

Today, the music was BEAUTIFUL!

We have a small group of sisters that attend this meeting. When we sing, the voices are few. But, today, it was enriched with Primary children's voices...and voices of testimony!

As our practice song/hymn for August, the RS president asked us to learn, "I Know that My Savior Loves Me".

So, for the past weeks, we've been learning this song (Click Here to Listen).

Today, before singing together, a sister read about how the song came to be (Click Here).

I invited the older classes in Primary to sing with us...
So, after this sister read, the children sang...
and the sisters joined in...
and the Spirit was sooooo beautiful...
testifying of Jesus Christ and His love for each of us. And our love for Him.

Music is such a powerful tool!

It can Bring us to Christ.


It can Remind us of our Divine Nature and Potential.

It can Testify that God lives and loves us and is very much aware of our needs and cares and lives.


It can Testify of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A couple of great short reads about the power of music
click here and click here and click here and finally click here.

Today, I witnessed the power of music. I felt the love that the we sisters and the children have for Jesus Christ and I felt His love for each of us.

It was BEAUTIFUL!

Book of Mormon Game

Before reading to our children tonight, we played a game that was introduced to us by the Sister Missionaries in our area.

They call it "The Scripture Search Game".

So the object of the game is to see how a randomly picked scripture applies to the subject chosen.

The first subject our 9 year-old daughter chose was baptism.

I opened the book and let the pages fan through my fingers until one of the other children shouted, "STOP!"

I asked, "Left or right"(referring to which side of the page we would read from).

Another daugher answered, "Right".

I asked, "Left or right" again (now picking the column from which we would be reading).

"Right."

Then I had them pick one of the verses (31-34 in this particular column)from that column.

So, think baptism.

And this is the verse that was randomly picked.

Moroni 10: 32
"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."

Our 11 year-old described it this way...
When we come to Christ, we have faith in Him. And when we deny ourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all our might mind and strength, we repent. And that leads to Baptism.

She talked about the steps that lead to baptism.

I thought about how having faith in Christ leads us to repentance...wanting a change of heart. Which leads us to making covenants with Him. Because we trust that His grace is sufficient for us and we can nowise deny the power of God.

The second topic was prayer.
And the scripture was 3 Nephi 11:7

"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him."

So, the answer from our daughters, "The people of Nephi were praying a lot and because they had been praying, they could hear Heavenly Father speak."

Finally, the last topic was missionary work.
We landed on Alma 11:23

Amulek is preaching to the people of Ammonihah.

"Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?"

And with this verse, there was a laugh and giggle because Amulek is preaching repentance and faith on Christ.

So, thank you, Sister Missionaries for introducing this game.

Caused for some pondering and really nice gospel discussion.

Sorry I'm reading

Sorry, I'm reading, so I'm going to take the night off (another one from blogging).
I'm reading with my daughter.

Hope to post tomorrow...

Goodnight!

Alive in Christ

Yesterday I was feeling very blue.

At some point, I curled up in bed to take a nap hoping to sleep off some

of the sleepy sadness I was feeling.

It felt familiar...depression of not too long ago.

As I lay in bed, I reached up for the scriptures and read where I had left

off the night before.

Mosiah Chapter 3

A beautiful chapter on Jesus Christ's atonement.

When I came to verse 19...which reads:

"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."

...my spirit felt the need to reach for the Atonement to heal and lift and

pull me from the place I was in.

I had been relying on my dear husband to help pull me out of the blue and

depressed state in which I felt stuck.

And when I read this verse, I knew to Whom I needed to turn.

Only in Christ can my burdens truly be lifted.

So, in that quiet moment,

I poured out my heart...

and waited...

and listened....

I felt His peaceful reassurance,

and comfort

that coming to Him is the only sure Way to find peace.

Sometime later, after sleeping for just a short while,

I woke,

my spirit lifted,

filled with hope and reassurance of God's and Christ's love for me.

Fingers and Toes

A conversation I had yesterday with my 7 year-old after clipping her fingernails and toenails and she had gathered them all into her hands.

7 year-old: Mom, do you know what I am going to do with these (fingernails and toenails)?

Mom: Um. Collect them in a jar?

7 year-old: Nope! I'm going to plant them!

Mom: Really? What do you think will grow?

7 year-old: I'm not sure.

Mom: Hmmm. Would be interesting to see what grows. Well, there are some great spots for planting out back.

7 year-old: Thanks, Mom!


Today, the conversation continued.


Mom: Well, did you plant your fingernails and toenails?

7 year-old: Yup! Out back in the dirt where that little stick tree is sticking out.

Mom: And what do you think will grow?

7 year-old: A tree with fingernails and toenails.

I am almost tempted to plant some seeds there...tee hee!

Oooo. Gospel learning!!

I was reading Elder L Tom Perry's conference address.

MAGNIFICENT!!!

It has given me better direction and a huge boost of joy and determintation in teaching my children.

"Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility. While other institutions, such as church and school, can assist parents to “train up a child in the way he [or she] should go” (Proverbs 22:6), ultimately this responsibility rests with parents. According to the great plan of happiness, it is parents who are entrusted with the care and development of our Heavenly Father’s children. Our families are an integral part of His work and glory—“to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). On God’s eternal stage, it is usually intended that parents act as the central cast members in their children’s lives. Fortunately, there are understudies involved in the production who may step in when parents can’t. It, however, is parents who have been commanded by the Lord to bring up their children in light and truth (see D&C 93:40).

Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home."

Elder Perry continues:
"The inspired document “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” states:

“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. . . .

“ . . . By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners” (Liahona, Oct. 2004, 49; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

According to “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” the principles I have taught about teaching in the home apply to both parents, but they are especially crucial to the role of a mother. Fathers most often spend much of their day away from home in their employment. That is one of the many reasons so much of the responsibility for teaching the child in the home falls on mothers. While circumstances do vary and the ideal isn’t always possible, I believe it is by divine design that the role of motherhood emphasizes the nurturing and teaching of the next generation. We see so many challenges today from distracting and destructive influences intended to mislead God’s children. We are seeing many young people who lack the deep spiritual roots necessary to remain standing in faith as storms of unbelief and despair swirl around them. Too many of our Father in Heaven’s children are being overcome by worldly desires. The onslaught of wickedness against our children is at once more subtle and more brazen than it has ever been. Teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in the home adds another layer of insulation to protect our children from worldly influences.

God bless you wonderful mothers and fathers in Zion. He has entrusted to your care His eternal children. As parents we partner, even join, with God in bringing to pass His work and glory among His children. It is our sacred duty to do our very best. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

My husband and I went to the temple last night.

Thankful for the quiet time to ponder and pray and absorb the peace in the temple.

Today is a new day.

It is sweet to be with family and in that same breath...I am ready for us to be on our feet.

In an email from a dear friend, she asked, "How [your husband] doing? Did he find his spot yet, or does GOD ask you for patience?"

Those words have brought a lot of comfort and reassurance that the Lord is so aware and mindful of us and our lives. That we are not in this alone and that there are lessons to be learned...lessons the Lord is teaching us.

So, I feel like the answer to my grasping for how do I live joyfully... while moving forward however small the steps feel...the answer is in prayer. Turning this all to the Lord. Give Him everything and listen for His calm reassurance and counsel.

Teaching

So, I'll be teaching lesson 12 in Relif Society in two weeks.
I've been preparing to teach about the Atonement.

I struggle with not knowing the sisters and hope that the spirit will lead the discussion because I don't know them or their needs...but the Lord does.

So, if I am prepared, I trust He will fill my mouth.

Anyway, while preparing, I've discovered some wonderful scriptures and conference talks about the Atonement...mmmmm!!!

I think the next couple of posts will be my running list of scriptures or talks.

"The Rock of Our Redeemer" Elder Wilford A Andersen

I loved this talk! He teaches how the Atonement strengthens us throughout life. Gives latter-day examples.

A couple of things he says that stuck out.

First, in speaking about the early saints who were driven from Nauvoo:

"These early Saints were indeed homeless, but they were not hopeless. Their hearts were broken, but their spirits were strong. They had learned a profound and important lesson. They had learned that hope, with its attendant blessings of peace and joy, does not depend upon circumstance. They had discovered that the true source of hope is faith—faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His infinite Atonement, the one sure foundation upon which to build our lives."

"Hope comes from faith in Jesus Christ. He has already overcome the world and has promised that He will wipe away our tears if we will only turn to Him and believe and follow.

Some who at this very moment feel desperate or discouraged may wonder how they can possibly regain hope. If you are one of those, remember that hope comes as a result of faith. If we would build our hope, we must build our faith.

Faith in the Savior requires more than mere belief. The Apostle James taught that even the devils believe and tremble. But true faith requires work. The difference between the devils and the faithful members of this Church is not belief but work. Faith grows by keeping the commandments. We must work at keeping the commandments. From the Bible Dictionary we read that 'miracles do not produce faith but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ; in other words, faith comes by righteousness.'

When we strive to keep the commandments of God, repenting of our sins and promising our best efforts to follow the Savior, we begin to grow in confidence that through the Atonement everything will be all right. Those feelings are confirmed by the Holy Ghost, who drives from us what our pioneer mothers and fathers called “our useless cares.” In spite of our trials, we are filled with a sense of well-being and feel to sing with them that indeed 'all is well.'"

"I speak to all who suffer, to all who mourn, to all who now face or who will yet face trials and challenges in this life. My message is to all who are worried or afraid or discouraged. My message is but an echo, a reminder of the constant comforting counsel from a loving Father to His children since the world began.

“'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.'

I testify of Him, that He has overcome the world, that He will never forget or abandon us, for He has graven us upon the palms of His hands. I testify that those who keep His commandments will grow in faith and hope. They will be given strength to overcome all of life’s trials. They will experience peace that passes all understanding."

Anyway, you can click the link for the full talk. AMAZING! Hope to post more later today and throughout the week.

Spirit of Prophecy

While reading, I came across this verse:
2 Ne. 25:4
4 Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn. (Italics added)

I know Nephi was a prophet and had this gift.

So does this mean that only prophets have this gift? Will I not understand the words of Isaiah unless they are defined and clarified by prophets?

Here are some wonderful excerpts that helped clarify:

From Elder Robert D. Hales: A testimony is the spirit of prophecy (see Rev. 19:10). It is a personal revelation from God, revealing the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A testimony comes through the Holy Ghost; it makes a deep and lasting impression on the soul.

From Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
As members of the church and kingdom of God on earth, we enjoy the gifts of the Spirit—those wonders and glories and miracles that a gracious and benevolent God always has bestowed upon his faithful saints. The first of these gifts listed in our modern revelation on spiritual gifts is the gift of testimony, the gift of revelation, the gift of knowing of the truth and divinity of the work. This gift is elsewhere described as the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy. This is my gift. I know this work is true.

I have a perfect knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God through whose instrumentality the fullness of the everlasting gospel has been restored again in our day. And I know that this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth, and that as now constituted, with President Harold B. Lee at its head, it has the approval and approbation of the Lord, is in the line of its duty, and is preparing a people for the second coming of the Son of Man.

And I know further that the Lord pours out upon his people today the same glorious and wondrous gifts enjoyed by the ancient saints. To us in this day he gives the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, even as he did to them of old. “I will tell you” the glories and wonders of the everlasting gospel, he says; “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation.” (D&C 8:2–3.)

Another by Elder McConkie:
The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. It is a gift of the Spirit. It comes in full measure only to faithful members of the Church. It is reserved for those whose right it is to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. It is the spiritual endowment which sets a man apart as a prophet in fulfillment of the prayer of Moses: “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!” (Num. 11:29.)

Also referring to the spirit of prophecy is this from a Proclamation given by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1980:
We testify that the spirit of prophecy and revelation is among us. “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (A of F 1:9). The heavens are not sealed; God continues to speak to his children through a prophet empowered to declare his word, now as he did anciently.

So I think what I am learning is that although prophets, former and living, have the gift of prophecy, and can and DO prophecy in our day, I, a member of Christ's church, am able to receive this gift if I earnestly seek and keep myself clean and pure. I will understand the scriptures as they apply to me and my family...in my own little sphere.

Wonderful!!

So, while the family sleeps, I'll post.

It is quiet...relatively.

I can hear my husband snoring, an airplane over head, the traffic rushing to and fro, and of course the clicking of the keys as I type.

I feel happy, content that everything works out.

I am a natural stresser. I don't like it. So, I search for places and moments of peace to help me hold steady when I feel like my world is swirling...or being jumbled about.

In these quiet mornings when I feel the whispers of peace from the Spirit, my mind steadies and the stress dissipates.

Anyway, time to get mentally ready for the day, before the day gets ahead of me.

Transition

So, we've been back for almost 2 1/2 weeks now.

Living in transition is really quite an experience.

I realize that leaving Texas and all that we were learning and living...and leaving so suddenly...I really felt like it had torn a hole in my heart.

You know the stages of losing a loved one? Well, in some respects, I have been dealing with similar feelings. Going through similar stages.

Grateful for supportive family around.

And grateful for the Spirit that teaches me that I can have peace and enjoy this moment...even if it not what I hoped for. Life is full of experiences and this is one I get to have now.

Lesson #8

Church was WONDERFUL!

The speakers in Sacrament spoke on the Restoration. Fabulous! One of the speakers was recently called to serve a mission...Chinese speaking. The other speaker was a stake high counciler. They both spoke so well.

A family that we have become friends with came together today! It was so good to see them both.

Our twenty month old enjoyed nursery...even after I slipped out. Big YAY!

I went to Relief Society and so enjoyed the lesson from Gospel Principles on prayer: Lesson #8.

During our discussion, one sister shared how their family prayers often were answered and not recognized till later in the day when one of her teenagers had come home from school and mentioned that by some miracle they escaped what could have been a fatal accident. That was when they recognized that their family prayer earlier that day had been answered.

It reminded me of our own family prayers and the things for we which we have been asking. And then I wondered how the Lord had answered these prayers.

I learned that His answer to our prayers did come, just not come in the form I was looking for. But it has come.

I am at peace with moving and supporting my husband in his effort to provide for our family. There is strength in knowing the Lord's will and going at it together.

An end of a chapter

How can I sum up the past nine months without feeling overcome with emotion?

I can't.

What started as a move to Texas, a new adventure in our lives, has become a pivotal point for our family. A place and time to REMEMBER the Lord's hand...continually.

Our time in Texas has come to an end.

We are returning to Utah.

And with so many mixed emotions I post this blog.

In this short time here, I connected...reconnected with people whom I will treasure in my heart forever. The thought of meeting and reuniting in Heaven again is BEAUTIFUL!

Carrie, that's right! That's what the Celestial Kingdom is all about. And I look forward to that sweet reunion if our time here doesn't cross again.

I have seen lives lived in service to God and His Kingdom. I have felt the reach of the Lord's hand so many times.

And so, as this part of our chapter comes to a close, I can't help but feel that the Lord in His goodness has given us something AMAZING in this experience. In so many ways, it has reminded me of my own mission when I would transfer to a new area. Leaving the people I grew to love and serve but with the deep sense of love for them that never leaves.

Each of us have learned the love of the Lord. These nine months were compacted spiritual learning for our family.

Heavenly Father is so kind to give us this time to learn together.

Who's your favorite sibling?

My ten year old daughter and I are both reading in the same place in the Book of Mormon. We finished 2 Ne 3 two days ago. AMAZING chapter!! This is what I learned about her.

Daughter - Mom, do you know who my is my favorite of Nephi's brothers?

Me - No. Who?

Daughter - Who do you think it is?

Me - Sam?

Daughter - Nope. Joseph!

Me - Really? Why Joseph?

Daughter - I don't know, He just is.