Post # 8 – Grateful for the Journey

Hello Family & Friends,

Today I was thinking back on when this latest journey began for me, I must look at it as a journey or a season, gosh even an adventure of sorts. I have learned so much since the day I was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Only to find out a few weeks later that it was actually stage four because the cancer had already moved to my bones.

 I have been so blessed by the Lord that I sometimes feel a little bit guilty as I remember all the suffering and pain that my mother had to endure with her cancer. And then if you compare her suffering with what the Savior must have endured for us – wow!! What we suffer is not even a drop in the bucket, in comparison, because He suffered all of the pains, infirmities, insecurities, uncertainties, doubts, discomforts, discouragement, hurts of every kind, and so much more – way beyond my comprehension.

 I am so very grateful that the Lord has had a hand in the furthering of medical technology in this and many other areas. All the new ways they have now to find out where the cancer is at in your body and the best ways to treat it, are so much more advanced than when my Mom went through her journey. Her breast cancer took one breast and five years later took her other one, then seven years later she had to have a complete hysterectomy. 

Then several years later she came to my home and told me that she wanted to go home. I found a way to get her and all the family back to where we had lived the longest growing up.When I was there I took her to the doctor and they told her that the cancer had moved to her bones. I had to admit her to the hospital so that she could receive treatments, back then you were admitted to the hospital for treatments – to receive chemo therapy.

Everything is so much nicer now, then when my Mom went through her treatments. I go to the cancer center in the next town to receive my chemo therapy treatments, when I am done I go back to work. There has really been no inconvenience or financial stress on my children to be there for me. When I first started at the cancer center they were good to take payments and to help me find the financial help I needed to receive the treatments I have needed to help arrest this cancer and allow me more time with my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Had I not listened to my Heavenly Father when through the Holy Ghost when He made it known to me that we needed to move here all those years ago it would have been a whole lot harder on all of my children to be there and to be a good support system for me. All of this was learned and confirmed through the power of prayer and fasting. And this was a great example of how the Lord works in our lives for our good, we just need to be sure that we are listening. 

My Heavenly Father has been with me through every day and given me the strength that I needed, when I had none left. I don’t know how one would manage this type of a journey without Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in their lives. I know that I would not be able to do as well as I do with out their help each day. I also know that it is through the prayers and fasting of my friends and family that my Heavenly Father directs the strength to me through each of them.

In the beginning after I had my port put in, I thought that I would have to be off work for a few weeks, I was worried about not being able to work. What, with me being a single grandma- raising a 17 year old grand daughter, I needed to continue working. And like all of you, I have my bills that need to be paid as well. I was still paying off my orthopedic bills from hurting my left knee as I stepped out of a van one day, hurting the MCL -- very painful.

A port is put in  and they use a port because, as I understand it, the chemo would damage the smaller veins.  So, I guess the best way I can explain the port, is that it is tubes that are placed in through your neck and connected to a major artery next to your heart. it is also connected to a type of plug -- you know, a place for them to insert the needle into. It is like an IV that has a permanent place just under the skin I think. This makes it easier for the chemo nurses to administer the chemo to you for your treatments. 

And let me tell you, these nurses are amazing young ladies, they are all so loving and kind to each patient they serve. They know each of our names and the always ask us about our lives and our families. We’ve all become another little family as the patients and nurses visit with one another about their families and about their individual journeys. they always remember your name and ask about your well-being.

I guess in all my ramblings for today, I am just grateful each day for the journey. I am grateful that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me – no matter what! Who loved me so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son, to die for me – and for each of you. I am grateful for His Atonement and all the peace and happiness that it brings to my life, and for the opportunity to gain eternal life and live again with Them some day when my mortal life is done. 

I am grateful for each day that I am blessed with that I may spend with my family. And I really want to say Thank You to all of you – each of you that are a part of my life in one capacity or another, I love all of you and I am grateful to have you in my life!!!
In tomorrow's post I will talk about the next stage of my journey, Have a happy and blessed day:)

Post # 7 –  Spiritual Eclipse

Hello, Family & Friends,

Today I would like to talk with you about something we learned at church today in Relief Society. The lesson was on the General Conference talk given in October of 2017 - titled: Spiritual Eclipse -By Elder Gary E. Stevenson  Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 

He spoke of two rare events that had captured the attention of people around the world. The first being President Monson’s 90^th birthday.  He was aware of those wanting to wish him a happy birthday, he described an ideal birthday gift: “Find someone who is having a hard time or is ill or lonely and do something for them. That’s all I would ask.”

This is something that we all can do – find someway to serve someone who is sick or lonely. Yes, I think we can all do that!!! And the best thing about service that I have found is when you serve others, you get so much more out if it that whatever you are doing for them.

The other thing that he spoke of was the total solar eclipse that happened on the same day. The first time that a total eclipse had happened in 99 years. Then he went on to describe it in a little more detail, as follows:

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the earth and the sun, almost completely blocking any light from the sun’s surface. The fact that this can happen is a marvel to me. If you imagine the sun as the size of a common bicycle tire, the moon in comparison would scarcely be the size of a small pebble.

How is it possible that the very source of our warmth, light, and life could be so greatly obscured by something comparatively insignificant in size?

Although the sun is 400 times larger than the moon, it is also 400 times farther away from the earth. From earth’s perspective, this geometry makes the sun and moon appear to be the same size. When the two are aligned just right, the moon seems to obscure the entire sun. Friends and family of mine who were in the zone of total eclipse described how light was replaced by darkness, the stars appeared, and birds quit singing. The air became chilly, as temperatures in an eclipse can decrease by more than 20 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius)

They described a sense of awe, astonishment, and even anxiety, knowing an eclipse brings certain hazards. However, they all exercised care to prevent permanent eye damage or “eclipse blindness” during the eclipse event. Safety was made possible because they wore glasses equipped with special filtered lenses that protected their eyes from any potential harm.

I don’t know if any of you were able to observe the eclipse or how much you were able to see, we had a partial – about ¾ eclipse here for bout 3-5 minutes I think. I know that I was able to take all my students out to view it in front of the building. We looked through special glasses, a welder’s helmet and other protective eyewear. The children were so excited, I am not sure if they truly understood what was happening, but they sure enjoyed the experience. They talked about it for days afterwards. Then Elder Stevenson spoke of the analogy and I am going to use his exact words as I can not say them any better.

THE ANALOGY

In the same manner that the very small moon can block the magnificent sun, extinguishing its light and warmth, a spiritual eclipse can occur when we allow minor and troublesome obstructions—those we face in our daily lives—to get so close that they block out the magnitude, brightness, and warmth of the light of Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell took this analogy even further when he stated: “Even something as small as a man’s thumb, when held very near the eye, can blind him to the very large sun. Yet the sun is still there. Blindness is brought upon the man by himself. When we draw other things too close, placing them first, we obscure our vision of heaven.”

Clearly, none of us wants to purposefully obscure our vision of heaven or allow a spiritual eclipse to occur in our lives. Let me share some thoughts that may assist us in preventing spiritual eclipse from causing us permanent spiritual damage.

GOSPEL GLASSES: MAINTAIN A GOSPEL PERSPECTIVE

Do you recall my description of special eyewear used to protect those viewing a solar eclipse from eye damage or even eclipse blindness? Looking at a spiritual eclipse through the protecting and softening lens of the Spirit provides a gospel perspective, thus protecting us from spiritual blindness.

Let’s consider some examples. With the words of the prophets in our hearts and the Holy Spirit as our counselor, we can gaze at partially blocked heavenly light through “gospel glasses,” avoiding the harm of a spiritual eclipse.

So how do we put on gospel glasses? Here are some examples: Our gospel glasses inform us that the Lord desires that we partake of the sacrament each week and that He desires that we study the scriptures and have daily prayer. They also inform us that Satan will tempt us not to. We know that his agenda seeks to take away our agency through distractions and worldly temptations. Even in Job’s day, perhaps there were some experiencing a spiritual eclipse, described as: “They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.”

Brothers and sisters, when I speak of seeing through gospel glasses, please know that I am not suggesting that we do not acknowledge or discuss the challenges we face or that we walk blissfully ignorant of the traps and evils the enemy has placed before us. I am not speaking of wearing blinders—but just the opposite. I am suggesting that we look at challenges through the lens of the gospel. Elder Dallin H. Oaks observed that “perspective is the ability to see all relevant information in a meaningful relationship.” A gospel perspective expands our sight to an eternal view.

When you put on gospel glasses, you find enhanced perspective, focus, and vision in the way you think about your priorities, your problems, your temptations, and even your mistakes. You will see brighter light that you could not see without them.

This puts me in mind of whenever I need to get new eye glasses. When I first walk out into the daylight from the Doctor’s office – everything seems so much clearer, the colors are more vibrant, and everything seems to have so much more life.  I agree that when we have an eternal view of life, when we look at things through a gospel perspective - we do tend to see things from a different perspective. I know that I try to see things and people the way that Jesus Christ would see them if He were here.

Then he goes on to say how it is not just the negative things that can cause spiritual eclipse in our lives.

Ironically, it is not only the negative that can cause spiritual eclipse in our lives. Often, admirable or positive endeavors to which we dedicate ourselves can be drawn so close that they blot out gospel light and bring darkness. These dangers or distractions could include education and prosperity, power and influence, ambition, even talents and gifts.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has taught that “any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. … There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks.”

Let me share in greater detail examples that could become catalysts for avoiding our own spiritual eclipses.

SOCIAL MEDIA

A few months ago I spoke at BYU Women’s Conference. I described how technology, including social media, facilitates spreading “the knowledge of a Savior … throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.” These technologies include Church websites like LDS.org and Mormon.org; mobile apps such as Gospel Library, Mormon Channel, LDS Tools, and Family Tree; and social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. These modalities have generated hundreds of millions of likes, shares, views, retweets, and pins and have become very effective and efficient in sharing the gospel with family, friends, and associates.

All of the virtues and appropriate use of these technologies notwithstanding, there are risks associated with them that, when drawn too close, can put us in a spiritual eclipse and potentially block the brightness and warmth of the gospel.

The use of social media, mobile apps, and games can be inordinately time-consuming and can reduce face-to-face interaction. This loss of personal conversation can affect marriages, take the place of valuable spiritual practices, and stifle the development of social skills, especially among youth.

He spoke of two additional risks that are related to social media – idealized reality and debilitating comparisons. About how the pictures posted are so often unrealistic in the way that they portray life as being so perfect. And the body images are very near perfect. He goes on to say:We have all seen beautiful images of home decor, wonderful vacation spots, smiling selfies, elaborate food preparation, and seemingly unattainable body images.

He showed an example of an image you may see on someone’s social media page, but it doesn’t quite show the full picture of what is really going on in real life. The picture shows the muffins that seem to be perfectly made, but in the background is a screaming child with the mixing bowl in front of him on his highchair tray and quite a mess all over the table. Elder Stevenson said that: Comparing our own seemingly average existence with others’ well-edited, perfectly crafted lives as represented on social media may leave us with feelings of discouragement, envy, and even failure.

One person who has shared numerous posts of her own said, perhaps only partly in jest, “What’s the point of being happy if you’re not going to post it?”

As Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson reminded us this morning, success in life doesn’t come down to how many likes we get or how many social media friends or followers we have. It does, however, have something to do with meaningfully connecting with others and adding light to their lives.

Hopefully, we can learn to be more real, find more humor, and experience less discouragement when confronted with images that may portray idealized reality and that too often lead to debilitating comparisons.

Comparison apparently is not just a sign of our times but was in times past as well. The Apostle Paul warned the people of his day that “they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

With so many appropriate and inspired uses of technology, let us use it to teach, inspire, and lift ourselves and to encourage others to become their finest—rather than to portray our idealized virtual selves. Let us also teach and demonstrate the righteous use of technology to the rising generation and warn against the associated hazards and destructive use of it. Viewing social media through the lens of the gospel can prevent it from becoming a spiritual eclipse in our lives.

He then spoke of the spiritual eclipse of pride, which we can avoid by embracing the virtue of humility.

PRIDE

Let’s now address the age-old stumbling block of pride. Pride is the opposite of humility, which is a “willingness to submit to the will of the Lord.”¹⁴ When prideful, we tend to take honor to ourselves rather than giving it to others, including the Lord. Pride is often competitive; it is a tendency to seek to obtain more and presume we are better than others. Pride often results in feelings of anger and hatred; it causes one to hold grudges or to withhold forgiveness. Pride, however, can be swallowed in the Christlike attribute of humility.

Relationships, even with close family and loved ones, especially with close family and loved ones—even between husbands and wives—are fostered in humility and are stymied by pride

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, a solar eclipse is indeed a remarkable phenomenon of nature during which the beauty, warmth, and light of the sun can be completely covered by a comparatively insignificant object, causing darkness and chill.

A similar phenomenon can be replicated in a spiritual sense, when otherwise small and insignificant matters are drawn too close and block the beauty, warmth, and heavenly light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, replacing it with cold darkness.

Eyewear designed to protect the sight of those in the zone of a total solar eclipse can prevent permanent damage and even blindness. Gospel glasses comprised of a knowledge and testimony of gospel principles and ordinances provide a gospel perspective that can similarly provide greater spiritual protection and clarity for someone exposed to the hazards of a spiritual eclipse.

If you discover anything that seems to be blocking the light and joy of the gospel in your life, I invite you to place it in a gospel perspective. Look through a gospel lens and be vigilant not to allow insignificant and inconsequential matters in life to obscure your eternal view of the great plan of happiness. In short, don’t let life’s distractions eclipse heaven’s light.

I want to add my testimony to his’ that no matter the obstruction that may block our vision of gospel light, the light is still there. That source of warmth, truth, and brightness is the gospel of Jesus Christ’. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/spiritual-eclipse?lang=eng

I know that if we will strive to do our best to be humble and meek and on the lookout for anything that may be blocking the Light and joy of the gospel in our lives and if we will try to put in in a gospel perspective. Look at it through the lens of the gospel and not allow any insignificant or inconsequential matters in life to obscure our eternal view of the great plan of happiness we will stay closer to Jesus Christ – we will be developing Christ-like attributes. And this, will help us to stay on the path back to our heavenly home.

So, let us all try to be humble and meek in our daily lives. Let’s make sure that we are not allowing anything to cause us to have a spiritual eclipse. Let’s be ever on the alert – for even the good things in our life that may begin to block out the still small voice, let’s continue to do these things that will help us along our path back to our heavenly home: pray, study our scriptures, listen to and heed our prophet’s voice, keep the commandments, love and serve others, and do our best to develop Christ-like attributes.

Post # 6 – Power in the Priesthood

Hello, Family & Friends,

Today I would like to talk with you about the power that is in the priesthood – specifically priesthood blessings.

First off, for those of you who do not know what Priesthood blessings are, I found the following on lds.org:  A blessing given by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder, by the laying on of hands and by inspiration, to one who is sick or otherwise in need of special counsel, comfort, or healing. If the blessing is for the sick, consecrated oil is used 

https://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood-blessing?lang=eng

(James 5:14-15).

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

The following also comes from lds.org, I always want to be sure that I am only putting the truth in my posts, so I will always go directly to the source for the information that I share with all of you. I have only put in parts of the articles or talks to share with you, but if you want to read the entire article or talk I have tried to include the name of the talk and other pertinent information so that all you have to do is go to the website and put in the name of the talk and it should pop right up. This first talk is specifically for the women of the church.

Power in the Priesthood  By Elder Neil L. Andersen Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

My message to this faithful woman and to all is that we can live every hour “blessed by the strength of priesthood power,” whatever our circumstance.

We sometimes overly associate the power of the priesthood with men in the Church. The priesthood is the power and authority of God given for the salvation and blessing of all—men, women, and children.

We know that worthiness is central to performing and receiving priesthood ordinances. Sister Linda K. Burton, general president of the Relief Society, has said, “Righteousness is the qualifier … to invite priesthood power into our lives.”

A loving Father in Heaven has sent his sons and daughters here to mortality to gain experience and to be tested. He has provided the way back to him and has given us enough spiritual light to see our way. The priesthood of God gives light to his children in this dark and troubled world. Through priesthood power we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to lead us to truth, testimony, and revelation. This gift is available on an equal basis to men, women, and children. Through the blessings of the priesthood, we can be equipped with “the whole armour of God, that [we] may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (see Eph. 6:11–18). This protection is available to every one of us.

Through the priesthood many other blessings are also available to all of the sons and daughters of God, making it possible for us to make sacred covenants and receive holy ordinances that enable us to travel that strait and narrow way back to our Father in Heaven (see Matt. 7:13–14).

The priesthood is the power of God, which is given to man to act in His name. The priesthood of God is timeless. It “was in the beginning, [and] shall be in the end of the world also” (Moses 6:7; see also History of the Church, 3:386). Before this world was created, the premortal Council in Heaven was held under the direction of the priesthood. The formation of the universe and of the world upon which we live was brought to pass—not by chance, but through the power of the priesthood. The great Creator spoke, and the elements obeyed. The processes of nature that enable us to exist on this planet, the resources of this world that sustain life—all were set into motion and continue their course through the power of God’s magnificent priesthood. While most of the earth’s inhabitants do not recognize this priesthood power, all living creatures are its beneficiaries.

It was through the priesthood that the Son of God, the Savior, Jesus Christ, established his church—both in the Old World and in the New World. On both continents, he established sacred covenants and ordinances as a means for entering “in at the strait gate … which leadeth unto life [eternal]” (Matt. 7:13–14; 3 Ne. 14:13–14). In both places, he ordained twelve special witnesses to govern the affairs of the Church and to carry his word to the sons and daughters of God.

The creation of this earth provided a place for the sons and daughters of God to live and grow—a place where our Father could bestow the blessings of his wondrous priesthood upon us. The priesthood was first given to Adam, who held the keys from generation to generation. Adam ordained seven generations of his posterity to the priesthood, beginning with his sons Abel and Seth (see D&C 84:16; D&C 107:40–53). After the death of Adam, the priesthood continued from father to son, even until Melchizedek.

Originally, this priesthood “was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.

“But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek” (D&C 107:3–4) because “Melchizedek was such a great high priest” (D&C 107:2).

One who received the priesthood at the hands of Melchizedek was Abraham (see D&C 84:14). The Lord later covenanted with Abraham that “in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed … shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal” (Abr. 2:11).

It was through the priesthood that the Son of God, the Savior, Jesus Christ, established his church—both in the Old World and in the New World. On both continents, he established sacred covenants and ordinances as a means for entering “in at the strait gate … which leadeth unto life [eternal]” (Matt. 7:13–14; 3 Ne. 14:13–14). In both places, he ordained twelve special witnesses to govern the affairs of the Church and to carry his word to the sons and daughters of God.

Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of all who will repent and be baptized through the power of the holy priesthood. Through the Atonement, our Savior broke the bands of death and became “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:9).

Following the death of Jesus and his Apostles, the earth was enshrouded with darkness. Known as the Dark Ages, this was a period of great apostasy, when for a long period of time the priesthood blessings and ordinances were withheld from mortals on the earth (see Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., 5 vols., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957–66, 2:45).

But, as had been prophesied, the glorious priesthood of God, together with a fulness of its blessings, has been restored to the earth in our own time. The restoration of the priesthood and its blessings began in 1820, when Joseph Smith, a young boy prophet, beheld and spoke with God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, in a sacred grove of trees.

Later, additional heavenly messengers—John the Baptist; Peter, James, and John; Moses, Elias, and Elijah; and others—brought to the Prophet Joseph Smith the power, authority, and keys necessary for the salvation and exaltation of mankind. As a result, the Church of Jesus Christ was restored upon the earth, complete with the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods of old. Now, as God covenanted with Abraham, all the individuals and families of the earth may be blessed.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/power-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng

Prior to my diagnosis with breast cancer, I had received many priesthood blessings since becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in late 1988. Members of my family have also received priesthood blessings as well, though we have not really had the priesthood in our home on a regular basis as my husband was not an active member for very long during our marriage, so he wasn't able to perform his duties in the priesthood, therefore i had to ask it of others for blessings when they were needed for myself or my children.

I am so very grateful to all those men who have honorably held the priesthood and been willing to bless the members of my family throughout the years. Without those men and all those precious and sacred blessings taking place, some of us would not be here today. 

I mentioned in an earlier post about one of my sons, who was the youngest son at the time we had our car accident on the way home from visiting one of our foster daughters. During that accident he had been thrown from the car as it went airborne and the car had landed right beside where his little body had fallen. 

At the time of the accident I did not remember having ever gone unconscious, but it was entirely possible. I only remembered having my young son in my arms and thinking that I must have thrown him out of the car because my first memory was of smelling gas and realizing what had just happened and that I needed to get my children out of the car before it blew up or started on fire. I knew I could deal with any injury, but I could not handle watching my children burn up in the car and not be able to do anything to save them.  So, in trying to get the all out as quick as possible I thought that I had caused his injuries by putting him out the window of the car before I could get the door opened. 

When the car came to a stop, my oldest daughter was hanging out the back end of the car and all of our groceries were strewn all over the countryside. At that time, I had a seizure disorder and needing to focus on something  to prevent having seizures. So, after I had made sure that all of my children were as safe as I could make them, and I remembered that when a person is thrown about like she must have been to end up hanging out the back of the car that I should not move my oldest daughter. 


I knew that if I did not keep myself focused on something that I would succumb to seizures and I needed to be sure my children were safe. So, I roamed around picking up our groceries and putting them back in bags and putting them in to the car. As I went around picking up the groceries and as I did so, I would call out to my children to be sure to keep them conscious until help would come. 

I had my three littlest children sitting on the bank of the hill by the roadside, away from the car just in case it caught fire. I never went too far from the car for that reason either, so that I would be able to get my daughter out of the car if needed to protect her.

Anyway, the ambulance finally came and transported all of us to the hospital. All of my children received priesthood blessings for the sick and afflicted, but I want to talk specifically about my son that was my youngest at that time.  He received x-rays at the hospital and we were shown on the x-rays that the break was very significant and that the break went down into the growth plate, so we would need to take him out to primary children’s hospital in Salt Lake City because he needed to see a pediatric specialist. I called our home teacher, who came right to the hospital and gave him a blessing. 

The hospital had called and told them that we were headed their way with our injured son. They had prepared his arm for the journey out to the hospital. We hand carried the x-rays they had taken at our local hospital with us out to the specialist. When we arrived to see the specialist we gave him the x-rays and he put them up on the screen and showed us where the break in his arm had come down to, but not through – did you hear that? – the break came down to, but not through the growth plate, so his arm should heal just fine in a few weeks. They then casted his arm, we received medicine for the pain he was in and headed home, simply amazed at what had transpired in the past few hours. It had to be the power of that priesthood blessing! The Lord was truly mindful of my child and knew of his needs.

In 1992 we were blessed with our youngest son, he was born healthy and well…. Or that’s what they told us for a few weeks anyhow. One day I had taken the baby to his pediatrician and I told her that he was throwing up all the time and it seems as if the food had no where to go but back up. She examined him, and she said that he was doing well and not to be concerned about the throwing up as he was still gaining weight, he had gained a quarter of an ounce or so since his last visit. I wasn’t so sure that I believed her, so I prayed about it. 

A day or so later I had an appointment for my other young son, the son that was just three years older than the baby.  When I took my older son to the physician’s assistant that we called Dr. Charlie, and I felt prompted to tell him what has transpired at the pediatrician’s office with the baby. 



During his examination of my older son, he listened as I told him what had happened, he looked at me and asked if I would mind if he took a look at the baby when he was finished with his brother. I trusted Dr. Charlie and I had a good feeling about having him look at the baby. After he had examined the baby, he said he wanted me to take the baby over to the hospital and get some x-rays done.

So off we went to get the x-rays done and then we went back home. We had barely gotten into the house with the boys when the phone began to ring. It was Dr. Charlie on the phone, he had already seen the x-ray results and wondered just how soon we could get the baby out to Primary Children’s Hospital. 

I told him that the other children were all still in school, except the younger three. He said to me, “how long will it take you to go get them out of school, make some arrangements for their care and get that baby out to the hospital?’ I told him I wasn’t sure, but I would get right on it. He told me to get him out to the hospital as quickly as you can.” He had such an urgency in his voice it was scary.

I was worried for my young son, what was going to happen to him, would he be alright? I prayed in my heart to know what to do.  I picked up the phone to call the schools and was prompted to call to my visiting teacher, who made some calls and made the arrangements for the pick up and care of all of the other children – I had 10 children, all under the age of nine ( the baby was only 5 weeks old, 2 –3 year-olds, a 5,6, 2-7 year-olds, a, 8, 2-9 year-olds). 
While she was calling to find someone to care for the children, I called and my husband. She had also called our home teachers. They came to our home right away and a priesthood blessing was administered to my baby & they gave me a blessing as well. With that done and the care for the children was in place we dropped off the two younger boys at her house and my husband and I headed, out to the city with the baby.

By the time we had arrived at the hospital and the specialist had seen the baby, we found out that he was too dehydrated for them to be able to perform the surgery that he needed to save his life. They had to put him on IV’s to rehydrate him, as soon as this was accomplished they took him right into surgery. My baby had literally been starving to death. He had pyloric stenosis - this is where the bottom opening of your stomach begins to close itself off and the food really does have no where to go except back up. After two nights in the hospital we were finally taking our baby home – with a big cut across his stomach, but he was alive and that was all that mattered.

I think back on it now, and if I hadn’t taken the baby to see Dr. Charlie he would probably have died. Again, the power of the priesthood and the power of prayer had helped my family through a very hard situation. i am here to tell you that the power of the priesthood is great and priesthood blessings are something that I want everyone to know about – they can be life-saving, as I have experienced with my baby. He is a grown up now with 5 boys of his own and I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for restoring the priesthood and making priesthood blessings available to everyone whenever they need them. 

I hope that what I have shared with you today – my story and the information and talks enlightened and uplifted you in some way. And if you have gained nothing else from my experiences, remember that there is great power in the Priesthood and that power can come into your lives as it has mine.

Post #5 -- Faith in Jesus Christ

Hello family & Friends,

Today I would like to talk with you about the importance of having faith in Jesus Christ.  First, I guess I should make sure that everyone understands what faith is, it is a gift from God, it is like your heart – a muscle in your body, you must exercise it to keep it strong, if you don’t exercise it then it becomes weak and so it is with faith you must nurture it to keep it strong. 

To nurture your faith you keep the commandments, keep your covenants, you do your very best to be obedient to all that the Lord requires of you. I believe that prayer, fasting and scripture study also helps your faith grow stronger. Studying the words of our living prophets will also build your faith and help it grow stronger.

In Hebrews 11:1- says: “ Now, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” 

So, I understand this verse to mean that we hope for things that we cannot see, but they are true.  In the Book of Mormon Alma tells us in 

Alma 32:21- “If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” 

Having faith in Jesus Christ is believing that He is the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father, that He is our Savior, that He gave up His life willingly to save us all from our sins and mistakes through His Atonement.

For me, my faith in Jesus Christ is my anchor, it is what keeps me going from day to day. Let me explain a little bit here, as I said in an earlier post, I have stage four breast cancer and I was diagnosed in May of 2015. I trust my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and in my Heavenly Father and His plan of Happiness. 

Having faith in Jesus Christ helps me want to be good, to do good, to have love for everyone, as He did during His mortal ministry. I believe that the Lord is with me, strengthening me daily - through the prayers of others.

J know that He could heal me, that He has the power to do so, but I believe that either I, or someone near to me needs to learn something from this experience in some way. I also believe that as long as the Lord has a work for me to do, then I will remain here with my family. I am so very grateful to my Heavenly Father for sending His Only Begotten Son, to pay the price of my sins and mistakes through His sacrifice.

Through His Atonement I have the opportunity to repent of my sins and mistakes and begin again, and again, to return to live with Them eternally as long as I keep the commandments and my covenants and live my life worthily. No, I do not understand all the reasons for my experiences, but I do trust my Heavenly Father and my Savior, as They know the end from the beginning.  

The Savior gave us a promise in 
Moroni 7:33 “If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” 

The following is from the April 2014 Conference talk: Let Your Faith Show By Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

faith is the antidote for fear

our faith will be tested and challenged. Sometimes those tests come as we face what appear to be life-and-death encounters.

When we speak of faith—the faith that can move mountains—we are not speaking of faith in general but of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can be bolstered as we learn about Him and live our religion. The doctrine of Jesus Christ was designed by the Lord to help us increase our faith. In today’s vernacular, however, the word religion can mean different things to different people.

We might each ask ourselves, where is our faith? Is it in a team? Is it in a brand? Is it in a celebrity? Even the best teams can fail. Celebrities can fade. There is only One in whom your faith is always safe, and that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. And you need to let your faith show!

God declared in the first of His Ten Commandments, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”² He also said, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”³ Yet so many people look only to their bank balance for peace or to fellow human beings for models to follow. …

 Truth is truth! It is not divisible, and any part of it cannot be set aside. …

Whether truth emerges from a scientific laboratory or through revelation, all truth emanates from God. All truth is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. …

… living the Lord’s pure religion, which means striving to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ, is a way of life and a daily commitment that will provide divine guidance. As you practice your religion, you are exercising your faith. You are letting your faith show. …

…We can gain great knowledge from the scriptures and obtain inspiration through prayers of faith.

Doing so will help us as we make daily decisions. Especially when the laws of man are created and enforced, God’s laws must ever be our standard. In dealing with controversial issues, we should first search for God’s guidance.

Contrast the fear and faithlessness so prevalent in the world today with the faith and courage of my dearly beloved daughter Emily, who now lives on the other side of the veil. As mortal life was leaving her cancer-ridden body, she could barely speak. But with a smile on her face, she said to me, “Daddy, don’t worry about me. I know I will be all right!” Emily’s faith was showing—showing brightly—in that tender moment, right when we needed it most.

This beautiful young mother of five had full faith in her Heavenly Father, in His plan, and in the eternal welfare of her family. She was securely tied back to God. She was totally faithful to covenants made with the Lord and with her husband. She loved her children but was at peace, despite her impending separation from them. She had faith in her future, and theirs too, because she had faith in our Heavenly Father and His Son.

In 1986, President Thomas S. Monson said: “Of course we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. … Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with [faith] have courage as well.”¹²

President Monson’s counsel is timeless! So I plead with you, my dear brothers and sisters: Day after day, on your path toward your eternal destiny, increase your faith. Proclaim your faith! Let your faith show!

I hope this post has been helpful to some of you in some small way. Hopefully giving you a desire to learn more about what faith is and how to nurture it. Remember, all it takes is faith as small as a mustard seed, only a desire to believe., as told to us by Alma in
Alma 32:26-43 --

26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

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 desire 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 seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, 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 enlightenmy understanding, 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 likeness.

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 knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith 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 mind doth begin to expand.

35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, 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 neglect 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 ground is barren, 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 tree 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 patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

42 And because of your diligence 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 fruit 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 reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

There is a great video called Substance of Faith, check it out at:

https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/substance-of-faith?lang=eng

HEBREWS 11

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

So, in my ramblings for today, remember, all you need is to have a desire to believe… to have faith the size of a mustard seed… have you ever seen a mustard seed? Having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel – it is necessary!