The Savior of the World grew in his mortality like all of us. He learned of His position in the pre-existence. He learned of His life's mission. He learned of His strengths and weaknesses. He learned of His Father in Heaven. Like him, his called Apostles, great men of the pre-existence, were bound in their learning by their mortality. They were already men of God and lovers of good. They were already hardworking contributors to their societies. They were already  obedient. So when the Lord called them, they left their nets and followed the Son of God the 3 year mortal journey that would culminate in moments that they could never had imagined.
In the tender days before the Savior's Gethsemane, Crucifixion and Resurrection, Jesus counseled, comforted and guided these amazing men.
11 of them were devoted to the Lord's work. The path that they walked  was froth with persecution and mortal uncertainty.Yet they stayed faithful. They asked questions. They soaked in information and worked with the torturing which sometimes included the loving chastisement of their Master.
So when I read about their struggles, knowing that these were of the greatest of the Sons of God in the pre-existence, I find a lot of comfort in my own life. I know that I am a daughter of God, saved for these last days. I know that I married a great man and have amazingly strong children with life's missions that are of the elect. Yet in all of this we struggle. We struggle in our faith. We struggle to shake the evils of the culture of the day while trying to enjoy the good around us. We struggle to prioritize our relationship with our Savior and our Father in Heaven above the perceived demands of every day. 
Jesus told his disciples that He was preparing them for what was to come so that they would not be "offended" during the events of the last 3-4 days of the Savior's mortal life. In this He meant that He didn't want them to be surprised, or mislead. In "Jesus the Christ" by Talmage we read: "These things had Jesus declared unto them that they might not 'be offended,' or in other words, thatk by surprise, misled, and caused to doubt and stumble by the unprecedented events then impending." (see page 207) He recognized their newness in their testimonies and that they had not received the Gift of the Holy Ghost yet. They were to face great persecutions themselves and would need to make in through the horrible treatment of the Son of God without getting arrested themselves. They had a great work to do. 
So when Jesus walked with them to Gethsemene and asked 8 of them to wait and watch yet they fell asleep in the late hours of the night and the very great and future presidency who went further with him would do the same, he lovingly recognized their mortality. He His role in suffering the pains of the world on His own.
Jesus Christ prayed. He suffered. His leaders slept off an on watching and later recording what they saw and heard their Master accomplish there in Gethsemane.
Likewise over the next several days, they would live through what they had been told about but found very unsettling. They struggled with their understanding. They waited, prayed and wondered at the circumstances that they found themselves in. Some even briefly went back to their trade of fishing until their resurrected Master visited them and called them out of the world.
These great men, would serve as the leaders of Christianity. They would serve our their days sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They braved travels, hunger, and persecutions all of the rest of their days and they were faithful.
So in all of this I find comfort. There is for me (and for every single person on this planet!) a life plan. We get to choose, like the disciples of old, whether we will follow our Savior. We get to choose every day the path we walk that day. If we find that we really turn to the Savior and stop debating about what we think should happen and how it is to be accomplished, we find a sureness in our soul. We find that our emotions are more in control and our strength is increased. Doubt seems to signify our weakness in faith. We all battle it as a mortal challenge having no real knowledge of our pre-existence so looking to something to guide us.
Isn't is a gift of all gifts to have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with the living ordinances to guide and protect us? Isn't it the foundation of our strength, knowing that our Savior, Jesus Christ knows us like his great disciples and works with us in like fashion? 
I know that my Savior lives. He is there at the door waiting every minute of every day for me to let Him in. He teaches me. He guides me. His comforter lifts me up. His light seeks to fill my soul. The things in my life happen and will happen just as in the Savior's life things happened that were good and hard. I know that I need to decide how I will handle those things instead of working so hard to change or control the challenging events.
These are the last days. I love them. I love being here for them. I rejoice in the great challenges of the continued battle for the souls of myself and my brothers and sisters. These are the days that try men's souls and I get to witness it all and strive to make a difference. I sure hope I'm as faithful as the great men and women of the past who faced their mortal blindness, built their testimonies and  followed the Savior of the World.

Power in one Word

So many times in my life I have heard all about how pride is the downfall of human kind-Rome, Aztecs, Old Testament Jews on several occasions, etc. etc. The cycle that I've been taught to stay away from is termed "The Pride Cycle". What seems to happen is that individuals or groups prosper, become proud, and then get so caught up in their prideful pursuits that they are eventually destroyed or conquered. Then they become humble for a while, seek for kinder more Christlike ways, prosper, become proud and then again get caught in the cycle.

Well, many years ago, I was trying to encourage a group of people to look to better ways than their prideful ways-ways that were affecting the way that their kids were acting, their marriages, the community around them, and their own individual harmful choices. I was actually praying on a regular basis about what I could do to work on this. One day I was listening to some of our church speakers and happened to be looking forward to a favorite Apostle of mine, Elder David B. Haight. As I sat listening to his humble comments, he paused and said (as I remember it), "I feel impressed to say these three words, 'Faith, Devotion, Gratitude'. " THAT WAS IT!!!

The opposite of the Pride Cycle.

It was the missing link for me, as a leader.

The Word: Gratitude

So what was it about gratitude that would make the difference, and keep us all out of a personally limiting cycle?

Gratitude is usually thought of as a random emotion that we feel at thanksgiving, our birthday, Christmas, or some other occasions when we have something positive happen.

But let's take a look at it from a serious application perspective.

First the poison of the negative.

Have you ever noticed that having pride in your heart limits you? It can be paralyzing. Are you trying to fit in with a certain social group? Are you more worried about the kind of car you drive than the impact that it's cost would would have on your family? Are you so worried about what others think that you are constantly criticizing yourself or others? Do you backbite or gossip to get into people's heads so that you look better than others? Do you worry about whether or not your kids are popular at school more than how healthy they are socially, emotionally and spiritually? If you/we let the negative prideful thoughts of our competitive world sneak in, we lose perspective of all of the good that we enjoy. We also lose the will to move beyond what we perceive as our own glass ceilings. We become our own worst nightmare. I like this quote:

" Like the leprosy of yesteryear are the plagues of today. They linger; they debilitate; they destroy. They are to be found everywhere. Their pervasiveness knows no boundaries. We know them as selfishness, greed, indulgence, cruelty, and crime, to identify but a few. Surfeited with their poison, we tend to criticize, to complain, to blame, and, slowly but surely, to abandon the positives and adopt the negatives of life." (Pres. Thomas S. Monson)

Do you remember the story of "Crabs in a Bucket"? The crabs are all in the bucket trying to get out but once one of them gets close to getting out, they pull him back down and on the process goes. Compare that to stories throughout the entire body of known history! How many times do we hear of someone in power being cheated on, plotted against, lied about, or worse, killed in order for their rival known or unknown to climb the ladder of power? Is that the kind of poisonous thinking, poisonous attitude that we really want to have our entire lives? Our society, in general, tells us to join it because that's just the way life is? Look at the tabloids, look at the news, at the movies and TV shows. Look at the "Reality" shows! It's all about keeping our fellow crabs in the bucket with us.

BREAK OUT!!

Many people who are addicted to substances or destructive patterns in their lives have been taught that in order to help overcome their addictions, they need to find something really positive and constructive to be a substitute for that addiction. So it is with Gratitude. This is the power, the real power that can not only just oppose but overcome pride.

Reflect for a moment on your worst prideful moment. Now think of the moment when you had a huge amount of gratitude. See the difference?

Let's maybe apply it and see the difference.

If you have to ask your boss for a raise. . .

Pride: demand in a posturing tone that you gain his/her attention. State your position in your best suit or tightest short business skirt. Talk about brand names or expensive items you have in common. Make sure you point out all of your worldly success. You deserve it. You have earned it.

Gratitude: Ask for the appointment or offer to take your boss to lunch. Talk about how much you enjoy certain things about your job and thank him/her for the help you've received and talk openly about the possibilities of the raise or positive options with his/her company. You would love the better opportunity and are very grateful for your current status but would like to do some things for your family so would be grateful for the raise.

You want to be friends with someone. . .

Pride: you approach this person dressed in what you think they'll like, talk down about everyone outside their circle of friends, gossip about events that you know are the talk of their group. You'll promise to buy them some upscale items to win them over. You are the one they should want to be friends with. You'll show them, too.

Gratitude: you see if this person is even someone with common interests, invite them to play tennis, walk, shop, or do something that you both like. Take the time to be yourself and complement them. You find them to be great to be with even thought they aren't exactly like you. You like that. You find value in that. You are grateful for such a nice person as a friend.

You buy your dream home and start meeting your neighbors. . .

Pride: you dress in your finest clothing and come and go wanting your neighbors to see you all decked out. You have a party to show off your house and expect gifts and complements because they should want your friendship because you have a beautiful home. You take the random welcome gifts from your genuine neighbors and if they aren't just your "type" in one way or another, you chalk them up to being your weird or loser neighbor and move on.

Gratitude: Your neighbors see you moving in and bring a loaf of bread or offer to help. You are thrilled to meet them, try to remember their names. You express your interest in this new neighborhood and are willing to participate with the nice people around you no matter what they look like, what they drive or whatever marker could be thrown out there because having such nice neighbors is a treat in this life and you are grateful.

Any of these sound familiar? I'm sure we could elaborate even further. Do we need to? We see it in our lives and in the lives of others every day. It's pretty clear with anything we throw out there that if we approach life's circumstances with gratitude, we will be able to expect a much more fulfilling, "real" life than if we chose the angst of the pride filled life.

The question is, do we really want the poison that comes with pride-the hate, the envy, the extra pressure to keep up?

Or are we willing to fight that choice by choosing to calm down and be grateful for every good thing in life thereby renduring more peace and clarity?

It takes some maturity to chose to be grateful for the good day in and day out. It takes a concerted effort to start with until gratitude becomes a way of life.

President Thomas S. Monson said, "This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.
We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."

Some very constructive ideas that I have heard of:

1) keep a simple gratitude notebook-write down 5 things every morning that you are grateful for

2) at least once a day express gratitude to someone for something that they have done

3) Serve another person showing your gratitude for them

4) Pray and every time you do take more time on the things that you are grateful for than on the list of requests and concerns

5)treat every day as if it were your last with wide open, grateful eyes for the beautiful sunshine, kind people, and opportunities around you

I am sure that there are many many ways to live with gratitude as the center power. I'd love the feedback on that.

There is an inspiring song from the Hymnal from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that says:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. …
So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged; God is over all. Count your many blessings; angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. (Hymns, 1985, no. 241.)

I hope that this is pretty clear. It's a way of life. It's a very happy way of life. There are no real limits to happiness when we walk through it with gratitude in our hearts.

Use the power!

Some great quotes:

Albert Schweitzer:
"To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude."

Denis Waitley:
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

H. U. Westermayer:
The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.Henry Ward Beecher:
Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.

Margaret Cousins:
Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.Melodie Beattie:
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

"You need an endowment, in order that you may be prepared and able to overcome all things." Joseph Smith

Faith

When we make a decision to follow the prompting or peaceful urge in our heart just to follow without understanding in completion we are making the strongest decision and setting a sure pattern for blessing to flow in our lives. That doesn't mean that east and comfort will follow but it does mean that the ever loving tutoring of our Father in Heaven, who knows us oh so well, can take place bringing us to unimagined moments of joy and accomplishment.

Your Power for Good

"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it" Proverbs 3:27

Testimony vs Conversion

OK this is really interesting to me. I have understood the difference in definition for forever! :) But after this last week, I hadn't thought about it in this way:
Testimony.
I find that I can have a testimony of many principles and many things in this life. I know that certain things are true. I have felt the Spirit tell me. I live these principles the best I can and go through life day in and day out believing that certain things will bring happiness or safety or whatever I can apply that knowledge to.

Conversion.
Until I am converted to that principle and have it written on my heart, I will have a great possibility to sway from that principle at some time. But with real conversion, I have found that I can't deny the truth of that principle.

I understood this best when we were at a RS evening event and talking about VTing:
VTing and having a testimony of it can mean that you make your visits every month and you might even have a lesson every time.
But being Converted to VTing would mean far more. You'd learn to love those you visited and talk to them often to see how they were doing and pray for their well being. You'd have them as friends not just a task to check off once a month but someone to have fun with, invite to be a part of your life.
Big difference, huh? I've done both. There is a huge difference in how well things go in either case.

I have applied this in the past to other principles like repentance, tithing, fasting, prayer, service, fulfilling callings, scripture reading, and on and on. Some of these things I just really know in my heart and can't deny their significance. Now other principles are there in fact and even in testimony for me but I really don't have a full conversion. I don't have them written on my heart like the others.

Life is a process. So I will have opportunities to work on this. Just thought that it was so obvious and so well described last Thursday night. Great job ladies!

2 Chronicles 34:31 "And the king stood in his place, and made a ^acovenant before the Lord, to ^bwalk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul. . ."

Helaman 15:7 "And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth . . . and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a ^achange of heart unto them—"

Two great quotes. My sister sent the first one and my Dad the second:

"For every complex problem there is a simple solution . . .

and it is wrong."

H. L. Mencken

"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot further the brotherhood of men by encouraging class hatred.
You cannot help the poor by discouraging the rich.
You cannot establish sound security by spending more than you earn.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves."
Rev. William J. H. Boetcker, 1916

True Religion-James in the New Testament

 "This may be interpreted as meaning that a person who is religious is thoughtful to the unfortunate, and has an inner spirit that prompts to deeds of kindness and to the leading of a blameless life; who is just, truthful; who does not, as Paul says, think more highly of himself than he ought to think; who is affectionate, patient in tribulation, diligent, cheerful, fervent in spirit, hospitable, merciful; and who abhors evil and cleaves to that which is good. The possession of such a spirit and feeling is a true sign that a person is naturally religious." (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p121)

“The world today speaks a great deal about love, 

and it is sought for by many. 

But the pure love of Christ differs greatly from what the world thinks of love. 

Charity never seeks selfish gratification. 

The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of others.” 

Ezra Taft Benson

This Year For Christmas

Author Unknown
I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving
The thrill just wasn't there
No pictures taken with Santa Claus
My decorating has no flare
His presents are shirts, shoes and ties
Two suites and socks. . . .no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I've spent more time in the temple,
Felt strength come from His words.
I've reread November's Ensign,
And my testimony stirred.
Our family prays more frequently
My tears more freely run.
Abraham seems closer
Because this year I'm giving Christ my son.
I wonder how those Lamanite Mothers
Gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion
Their sacrafice was so much more
My loss will be his presence
I'll miss his smile a ton.
For two years we will pray for him
I'm giving Christ my son.
I stare at his face when he's not looking.
I memorize his eye, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him
That makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard
His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand
This year, I'm giving him my son.
Past gifts have lost their glitter,
I think I finally understand,
Christ's birth should be celebrated
By giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns,
That all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make.
This year . . . I'm giving Christ my son.

O that thou hadst hearkened

"Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Isreal; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea;. . . . "

This scripture is found both in 1 Nephi 20 and in Isaiah 48. It's a great chapter all around. But I was reminded tonight of my constant need for evaluation, for my need to check myself against the goals that the Lord has in mind for my life's success.

First, He lets me know that His interest is in my profitting in life. He wants to see me succeed. And then he is yearning to have seen more from Isreal, and if I'm applying the scriptures to me, and from me.

Then He really wants me to know that there are real blessings that come from obeying or living in line with His ways. If I just walk the walk that is best I'll have great peace. In this life, who doesn't want that?!

I know I fall short. I sure try not to but I'm not quite all of the way there yet. I'm just very grateful for reminders like this that help me to know that the Savior is willing and merciful.

Can He Soften All Hearts?

Today we were talking about the importance of the scriptures in our lives. The discussion was wonderful. So many great thoughts. Our teacher, Emily, led off with a story from a talk by Elder D. Todd Christofferson entitled: "The Blessing of Scripture". Here is the story that he told:

"On October 6, in the year 1536, a pitiful figure was led from a dungeon in Vilvorde Castle near Brussels, Belgium. For nearly a year and a half, the man had suffered isolation in a dark, damp cell. Now outside the castle wall, the prisoner was fastened to a post. He had time to utter aloud his final prayer, “Lord! open the king of England’s eyes,” and then he was strangled. Immediately, his body was burned at the stake. Who was this man, and what was the offense for which both political and ecclesiastical authorities had condemned him? His name was William Tyndale, and his crime was to have translated and published the Bible in English.

"Tyndale, born in England about the time Columbus sailed to the new world, was educated at Oxford and Cambridge and then became a member of the Catholic clergy. He was fluent in eight languages, including Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Tyndale was a devoted student of the Bible, and the pervasive ignorance of the scriptures that he observed in both priests and lay people troubled him deeply. In a heated exchange with a cleric who argued against putting scripture in the hands of the common man, Tyndale vowed, “If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough, shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost!”

"He sought the approval of church authorities to prepare a translation of the Bible in English so that all could read and apply the word of God. It was denied—the prevailing view being that direct access to the scriptures by any but the clergy threatened the authority of the church and was tantamount to casting “pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6)."

"Tyndale nevertheless undertook the challenging work of translation. In 1524 he traveled to Germany, under an assumed name, where he lived much of the time in hiding, under constant threat of arrest. With the help of committed friends, Tyndale was able to publish English translations of the New Testament and later the Old Testament. The Bibles were smuggled into England, where they were in great demand and much prized by those who could get them. They were shared widely but in secret. The authorities burned all the copies they could find. Nevertheless, within three years of Tyndale’s death, God did indeed open King Henry VIII’s eyes, and with publication of what was called the “Great Bible,” the scriptures in English began to be publicly available. Tyndale’s work became the foundation for almost all future English translations of the Bible, most notably the King James Version.¹

William Tyndale was not the first, nor the last, of those who in many countries and languages have sacrificed, even to the point of death, to bring the word of God out of obscurity. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude. "

First does the point that King Henry the VIII was the kings whose heart was softened? Amazing.

Our discussion really took off when woman after woman spoke of her conversion story. I am amazed by the response that I get when I have religious conversations with others who love the scriptures and the gospel and the Savior but have never been told by their clergy to read and pray for their own answers! This is so shocking to me. Why wouldn't a clergy be willing to encourage anyone desiring for truth to seek it to the fullest?
These women speaking of their own gospel discoveries found that one common denominator was the opportunity to not only read the scriptures for themselves but to ask and know that they would receive answers to their prayers. It's such a liberating way to live the gospel.
Each of us is so different.-each with different personalities, life experiences, cultures, family issues, etc. So why wouldn't we be approaching the Lord in different ways needing a different take on how to maneuver in life?
Yes, many things are a constant-morality, charity, love, the Atonement, the 10 Commandments, etc. The constants are the road signs of life, the speed bumps, the lines in the road. But how we travel on the road with those that we have chosen or maybe not chosen at times to travel with takes asking and answering from someone who really knows us and those around us, no?
So when we say that we have a personal relationship with the Lord, we really need to take a look and see if we are asking Him for the answers that bring our lives to a fullness and help us to be a better person.

Two other thoughts:
If the Lord can soften the heart of a leader like King Henry the VII, then why should we be tentative about Him doing the same in our day with the many wicked or hardened men and women in leadership?

And when reading about faith:
Defin: " And now as I said concerning faith—^afaith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye ^bhope for things which are ^cnot seen, which are true."(Alma 32:21)

When we, in faith, seek for answers and get an answer we know that it's up to us to see that answer through. We act on the answer even if it shakes us a little. If we have enough faith to follow through on the answers we get we can very well come to a point each time where we gain perfect knowledge on that thing we are praying about. A great scripture for this:

"27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than ^adesire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

28 Now, we will compare the word unto a ^aseed. Now, if ye give place, that a ^bseed may be planted in your ^cheart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your ^dunbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to ^eenlighten my ^funderstanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own ^alikeness.

32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

34 And now, behold, is your ^aknowledge ^bperfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your ^cfaith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your ^dmind doth begin to expand.

35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is ^alight; and whatsoever is light, is ^bgood, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?

36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.

37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

38 But if ye ^aneglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ^aground is ^bbarren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the ^atree of life.

41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with ^apatience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree ^bspringing up unto everlasting life.

42 And because of your ^adiligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the ^bfruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall ^areap the ^brewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth ^cfruit unto you." (Alma 32)

Wonderful discussion today on the gift and blessing of having the scriptures and the things we gain from having them in our lives!

"The day obedience becomes a quest and not an irritation is the day you gain power."

Is My Line of Communication Open?

In RS today our cool teacher, Sis. P. Heilig, asked us at the end of a great lesson (of a lesson on the life of Christ) to do some word association. She said "My Beloved Son" and asked,"what does this make you think of?"
I thought of something that I've learned lately. Throughout the last 20+ years of raising our 5 children, I've noticed that when they are making really good choices, I can "feel" or receive pretty constant promptings as to what they need or how they are doing. I can understand quickly in many instances what to say or do for them to best take care of them in any area of their lives.
But sadly, when a child has made a negative or sinful enough choice to block the Spirit from their lives, it puts up a wall for me, too. I find this devastating. I love the Spirit working in our lives to teach us, build us up, protect us, and nurture us. With one child for almost 6 months I couldn't figure out why we couldn't "connect" in our communications. This son is by nature so kind and good. When on track, he's an amazingly intuitive person, hard working and social. But with his sins came this negative, argumentative, reclusive side that I couldn't work through. For a Mom who has relied with great success on the Spirit working miracles in our home, I really didn't find this fun at all! I did all of the things I could think of. I talked to him, prayed for him, fasted for him and worked to watch closely for hints of what might be wrong.
Once my son took steps to repent, that barrier lifted. I couldn't believe the difference!!! I had never felt this as a parent-the stark contrast of having and not having ability to use the power of the Spirit in our home.
Sadly I thought of a year in my life when I chose out of righteous living. At the time that I went through repentance, I felt my own distance from Heavenly Father and the struggle to enjoy the Spirit again. I felt the rush of peace when I had received forgiveness and the commitment to work from that point on to live in a way to never lose the Spirit again.
I have now felt the pain that my very good parents must have felt. I openly apologized to my Dad when he was in town last week in front of some of my siblings at the temple for creating this kind of a barrier. It pains me now to know that I was capable and selfish enough to do that to such great people (parents of 10 children). I had had no idea the pain that a parent could feel in this way.
So when I heard the words, "My Beloved Son", I immediately thought of the gratitude and overwhelming (if anything for our Father is overwhelming) or fully encompassing joy that our Heavenly Father had to have felt when His Son followed through on the plan from so long ago in the pre-existence. When He could say that everything was done completely on track with all of the covenants and events happening in line with His understanding as our Father. How much more trusting I am now of our Savior's love for us.
He did EVERYTHING "right" thereby not blocking the relationship with our Father in Heaven. We can trust everything that he did because he never lost the Spirit. By so doing, He really was one with the Father. He knew exactly what was needed and acted completely in tune with The Great Plan of Happiness.
What a glorious Brother we have. What a great example. How he loves us to be so unselfish for 33 years of mortal living as well as in the time before and after his earthly life.
It's motivating for me to try to do better and to learn from the scriptures more of what Heavenly Father would like for me to learn and be.

What Belongs to You When You Die

From my Dad:

I bought a used church book and between a couple of the pages was a clipping from what looks like a newspaper, newsprint paper anyway, that said:

"Today's Thought: Remember that what you possess in this world will be found on the day of your death to belong to somebody else. But what you are will be yours forever. Henry Van Dyke

Some of the greatest battles will be fought
within the silent chambers
of your own soul.
Ezra Taft Benson

Lifeline

I have been "reading with our daughter. She has had me tell her the stories about the life of Jesus Christ as we turn the pages of the gospel art book that I purchased. Each picture is wonderful and so artistic. One particular painting has put an indelible stamp on my mind. In the picture that I am referring to, is a water scene. The waters are choppy and the sky, stormy gray. Several men are in a boat but the central subjects of the story are not. To the right and standing on the water is the Savior. In the water is Peter reaching for the Savior. Most are familiar with this stunning recorded event. Most are aware of the soon to be Apostles seeing the Savior walk on water and Peter wanting so badly to try it out. In his efforts he succeeded, for a moment, then noticing the impossible, he sank. He asked for the Savior's assistance in his moment of failure and the Savior reached out and saved Peter(Matthew 14:22-32).

I, personally, have always loved this story. I love that the Savior could walk on water. I love that Peter was able to walk some, too. That just seemed so great and brought it to a place that made me think that I could try it out someday (with Jesus' help).

But right now for me, this story has more dimensions.

The Savior asked the disciples to head on out on the water.

They were very familiar with water having been fishermen.

The Lord took the time to go to a mountain to pray after spending the day preaching the gospel.

After quite a while (what looks like between 3 and 6am) He came down from the mountain and saw the disciples.

They were obedient and were working hard to get to where the Lord had requested that they go. He saw their struggle with the elements and walked to them.

In the pressure of dealing with the storm at sea, the disciples didn't know who the Savior was. They thought that he was a spirit on the water.

When the Savior declared that it was Him, Peter asked the Lord to essentially prove it by allowing Peter to walk on the water, too.

It was still stormy.

It was, in our mortal knowledge and experience, a very awkward and strange thing to even walk on water. Would it ever occur to you to consider doing it? No one else does this. I've never seen anyone do it. I wouldn't think it something normal to consider doing.

Yet, here was Jesus walking, for what sounds like quite a distance, to His Disciples in the storm.

How many times have we been told by the Spirit that we needed to do something and we turned away from the prompting dismissing it because it seemed so illogical, strange, out of date, uncomfortable, etc? How many times have our trials been impossible in our eyes? Isn't it in the scriptures that we read that we won't receive a trial that we can't handle? And yet we reason our way out of doing things the Lord's way in order to fit in or keep cool or not make waves with our families and friends. Were we put here to go with the flow of society? Did the Lord go with the flow of society?

now one might want to say that with the storm others wouldn't see this all happening but the Lord saw His disciples from where He was on the shore. So we might assume that others would, if awake, be able to see the whole event unfold.

Well, not only did Jesus do such a strange thing (he could have procured a boat for himself), but then Peter asked to do the same thing!

Now let's talk about Peter.

Here he is seeing something ridiculous and he says that he wants to do it, too.

This should indicate that he's pretty bold and daring in nature.

Peter indicates that he knows that if it is indeed the Savior that the Savior would have the power to make it possible for Peter to walk on water.

So Peter has a lot of faith to start with.

Peter is ok with doing this during a storm so he's not easily deterred from a challenge.

And if anyone was watching, he didn't seem to care either.

The Savior was totally fine with giving Peter this unexplainable experience of walking on water. He didn't lecture him on asking for a sign. He didn't tell Peter that Peter wasn't capable.

So there must have been a reason for the event.

Just in my mind,

I wonder if the Lord thought that it was important to let Peter and the disciples see the real power that He had over the elements.

I wonder if the Lord, knowing Peter's future roll in the church as the head after He would be gone, thought it wise to allow Peter to exercise his faith. Peter, like a child, did so well! And then. . .

Like a normal human being realized the implications of what he was doing.

Notice that I say, "what he was doing". It was Peter walking on water. He made a conscious choice. Peter was exercising his faith successfully. Peter in the midst of a storm at sea, WALKED ON WATER.

This is stunning. It is not normal for anyone to even consider it and yet Peter actually did it.

Well, like I said also, like a normal human being, Peter looked around and considered this event and faltered.

This is what really has been on my mind lately.

I face real challenges that are seemingly completely out of my control. There is a huge storm in the world. This storm is a perfect storm of lacking morality, empty of faith, destitute of personal responsibility, full of the strength of anger, lacking in hope, wavering in the characteristics of charity, and burdened with pride.

Men on every continent live to enslave humankind.

Humankind is complacent in general to the onslaught.

It's a terrible storm. There aren't many willing to fight or weather it.

There aren't many with faith to WALK ON WATER.

When Peter questioned, he began to sink. As President Thomas S. Monson said, "Your future is as bright as your faith."

Do we have the options at this point to question? Do we have time? Can we afford to sink? (well we always have the choice)

Many of us are working with all that we have (for some it's a lot and for some it's a little) to defend our God, our Families, our Freedoms and the same blessings for others. We sit in our homes, go out in public, type on the computer, get on the phones and faxes. We work really hard to educate ourselves. We are trying to walk but I'm afraid that each one of us at various times has a bad night or discouraging events. Each one of us struggles to know the next step and if it's even possible in the raging, stormy sea. Many of our friends think we're crazy. They look from the shore and shake their heads. "Give up. What you're doing is nuts!", we hear.

Some won't give up.

Some can't give up.

Some love their God and their Families and their Freedoms more than the storm.

These are those that the Lord can lift up.

The Lord said to Peter, "Oh thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt?" but he was just making a statement of fact. An evaluation for the moment. In fact the Savior knew where Peter's faith would take him and who can deny the strength we read about and are inspired by further on. Peter was labeled a rock for a reason. Peter led so many to the Savior's gospel. Peter lifted people up then and still does with his writings. Peter not only traveled and taught among the Jews, he did even more with the "Gentiles" as a free man in the Roman Empire.

If we liken the scriptures unto us, we'll be able to see that we can and should exercise our faith no matter how goofy the prompting is to us. Each of us has a life to live. Each of us is here to help another and to make a difference. All roads are a little different but can get to the same place.

We, like Peter, might "check it out" so to speak and walk for a little bit and then get bombarded by the storm. It might really worry us to the point that we think we can't make it.

But as He always will, when we cry out for Jesus Christ to save us, He will.

And not only will he save us when we make the effort to turn to Him . . .

He will calm the storm.

"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of the that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." (Alma 36:3)

Inspiration Anytime Anywhere

"Most of us, most of the time, speak of the facility at Liberty as a 'jail' or a 'prison'—and certainly it was that. But Elder Brigham H. Roberts (1857–1933) of the First Council of the Seventy, in recording the history of the Church, spoke of the facility as a temple, or, more accurately, a 'prison-temple.' Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) used the same phrasing in some of his writings. Certainly this prison-temple lacked the purity, beauty, comfort, and cleanliness of our modern temples. The speech and behavior of the guards and criminals who came there were anything but temple-like. In fact, the restricting brutality and injustice of this experience at Liberty would make it seem the very antithesis of the liberating, merciful spirit of our temples and the ordinances performed in them."So in what sense could Liberty Jail be called a 'temple,' and what does such a title tell us about God's love and teachings, including where and when that love and those teachings are made manifest? In precisely this sense: that you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in any situation you are in. Indeed, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life—in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced."

Jeffrey R. Holland, "Lessons from Liberty Jail," Ensign, Sept. 2009, 28

Provoke Not Your Children

Ephesians 6:1-4
"Children Obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother;
(which is the first commandment with promise;)
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth,
And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:
but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

I have read this passage several times and came across it accidentally about 3 years ago. It starts off familiar but notice the last 2 lines. Those are verse 4. It took me back a little and then I thought that this was a very wise finish to a very important commandment.

First let's be clear. To honour you parents means to be respectful and work hard to make a good name for them and for and through your posterity. For those who have toxic, selfish, addictive, abusive, etc. parents, you have your hands full. You still have to honour your parents but you don't have to live by them, spend time with them at your own peril, expose your family to their behavior, etc. These decisions should be made prayerfully and on behalf of you and your own family.
To honour our parents even if they've passed on or aren't near us for one reason or another really means to raise our children well and carry the family name, so-to-speak, well-doing as well or, in the worst circumstances, much better. We need to do this without vindictiveness or thoughts of obsessive revenge and such. We do this with love and with the spirit of peace. This can be so hard but it's possible.
Back to that last part. Isn't it interesting that the burden isn't all on the children. It's not really fair is it to put the honoring just on children?
Here's what's seems to be really happening here.
A chain of anger, vengence, revenge, hate is stopped when the parent behaves-to not provoking his/her children to anger. We are the examples and we are responsible for passing or not passing along bad habits. So if I have a temper about certain things, it's important for me to work on keeping that to myself as my own challenge and not enjoy watching my children get worked up about similar things. This doesn't mean that we don't share news or facts. But there is a responsibility to learn to discuss things without making a mock of others or ridiculing to raise everyone's blood pressure or cause cocky laughter about others.
I really think that my Dad is a great example of this. He usually doesn't really react to much. Smart man. He has a lot of children. We all have tempers to one degree or another. What upsets him is almost a complete mystery to me. I mean I know what sports teams he likes to watch and I know what things bring him joy or bring some sadness to him but what riles him up, not so sure. That leaves me all to myself to look at my own weaknesses and own them as my own to work on.
Look at the world around us. In cultures there are heated and dangerous beliefs that reinforce beatings and killings from father to son to daughter to grandchildren. This purpetual riling up just never allows for calm or peace.
So, yes, we children have a huge responsibility to honor our parents both living and dead with our actions and lives. And as Parents, we also have the responsibility to promote peace and the nurturing of our children in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Characteristics that will help us all in Moroni 7:45-47)

"Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God's love for you."God does not look on the outward appearance (see 1 Samuel 16:7). I believe that He doesn't care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He love us perfectly, Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 22