Post 44 – Reflections

Dear Family and Friends

  Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks), when your whole world is shaken clear down to the very foundation and you wonder how you have messed things up so badly?  If you haven’t please stop right now and give much thanks to your Heavenly Father, for He truly does provide you with all of the blessings in your life😊 And if you have, still give thanks for your trials as well as you blessings, because we can receive many blessings through our trials.

You know, I have recently had some of those days when there seems to be nothing that I do that seems to be right☹ Or even worse yet is to figure out  through someone else, that throughout your life so far you did not do nearly as good as you thought you had done with the things in your life ---especially in the child rearing area.  Well this week has been one of those reminders --- very loud and clear!!!

Which leads me to some questions that I thought about after my prayer for some guidance. And yes, even though I may doubt myself – I have no doubt in my Father in heaven or in His glorious abilities or in His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that They love me. This knowledge has been so wonderful to have for these past years and I am so grateful for this knowledge it has been a huge blessing for me. Their love is there for me when the love of those I love do not reciprocate for one reason or another. I hope that these reflection questions are helpful to some of you as well.  I think they could be good questions to ask ourselves on a regular basis to find our if  we are still heading down the path to our heavenly home.

 

Am I living my life in such a way that the Holy Ghost can dwell with me every day?  Am I making the effort to align my life with God’s commandments in order to be directed by Him? Am I keeping the commandments of God?  Is my receiver properly tuned into heaven’s frequency? Am I obedient? Do I have the Spiritual confidence necessary to pray for and receive specific guidance from the Holy Ghost? Am I worthy to receive heaven’s signal? Are there things that I need to repent of so that I can receive clear communication again?

Are you familiar with the story of when Jesus walks on the water out to the boat where His disciples were?  Jesus had gone upon a mountain to pray after He had fed the five thousand people. His disciples went in a boat to go across the Sea of Galilee. It was night time and the waves came up as a storm came in and the water began to toss their boat about.

It was late into the night when Jesus came to them in the boat. He was walking across the water. When they see Him walking on the water they can’t believe what they are seeing. At first, they were afraid as they thought it might be an evil spirit. Jesus knew their fear and called to them: “It is I; be not afraid.” Peter asks, if can walk on the water? Jesus tells Peter to come to Him. Peter begins walking out to Jesus, I imagine just like you or I might walk across a field to a friend.

Then when the wind blows harder and realizes that he far from where Jesus is, and he looks down at the water and is afraid. He loses sight of Jesus and he begins to sink into the sea. He cries out to Jesus to save him because he is afraid he will drown in the sea.

It is when we take our focus off Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father and let something else take Their place – even for a little while that Satan sneaks those fiery darts of doubt into our minds and hearts. It is then that Satan begins to build a wedge if we do not do something to refocus ourselves back on our Savior and our Father in heaven, it is then that we begin to sink into the mist of darkness, as in Lehi’s dream or vision.

 Whenever we are feeling like we are far away from God we must ask ourselves what we are doing that has caused us to move away from Him, because He is always there with outstretched arms waiting for us to repent, to make a decision to turn our lives around and turn back to Him and our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He isn’t the one who moves away from us – we are the ones that put the distance between us. So therefore, we are the ones who, like Peter need to refocus ourselves back on our Savior and our Father in heaven and Their teachings -are wee heeding them.

 I had even more questions to ask myself in the quiet of my room. They may be helpful to you as well. Am I asking the Lord to solve my problems for me? Do I ask what I can do to be a part of the solution as the Brother of Jared did when he needed light and air in the boats? Am I seeking more proactive ways of receiving help from the Lord?

Do I commit to act according to the Spirit’s guidance? Have I received previous guidance from the Spirit often enough that I can pray with a calm assurance that I will receive the guidance that I need? Am I following a pattern that I have previously set in my life, and used many times before the storms come?

You know just as Peter needed to have the comfort of knowing that Jesus was there to rescue him, we to have His Comforter here with us – even the Holy Ghost. You know we all have the Spirit of Christ with us in our life to help us know right from wrong, but when we are baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we can receive the Holy Ghost who can be our constant companion if we live worthy of His companionship – by keeping our baptismal covenants and keeping His commandments.

When His disciples were caught in the storm Jesus was asleep on the ship. He was tired after a hard, probably long day of walking, and helping, and heling, and teaching the multitude. Even though a great storm raged all about Him and His disciples He slept peacefully on. Though Jesus slept His disciples they were afraid their boat would be swallowed up by the sea. They were deeply afraid of what might happen to them. They went and woke Him, crying out: “Master, Master, we perish.”

The disciples knew who to turn to for the help that they needed when the storm came and so must we -- each one of us must know whom to call on when we are in times of peace or in our calm waters, as well as when our storms rage all about us.  We must have enough experience when our waters are calm in calling on the Holy Ghost and listening to, and responding to and acting upon what direction He gives us so that we know without a doubt whom we should call on and hear over the raging storm even during a tempest, a terrible storm

Have I learned to seek my own direction in personal matters from the Lord? Have I really learned how to receive personal revelation? I often have days where I question myself – especially where my children are concerned. Did I teach them well enough so that they would know whom to go to on a daily basis and which voice they should listen to.

Did I teach them to pray to give thanks to God for all of their blessings? Did I teach them to pray to God for what they are in need of? Have I taught them that they are loved, not only by their father and I, but their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?  Did I reach them at all during our rather unique family home evenings? When I read the scriptures to them or when we watched the scripture stories together, did I emphasize the gospel teachings?

Do they know that their Heavenly Father loved them so much that He gave His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die to pay for their sins and for the sins of every other person who has ever lived or who will ever live upon this earth? Do they know that Jesus willingly gave His life for each of them so that they would not have to suffer even as He did? Do they know how to hear the voice of the Holy Ghost to receive direction in their lives?  Do they remember what their baptismal covenants are and are they keeping them?

For us to even begin to be spiritually self-reliant, as I have spoken of before, we need to be able to hear the voice of the Holy Ghost so well during our times of clam waters that when the storm come at us in tremendous proportions we will still be able to recognize the voice of God when He is speaking to us through the Holy Ghost – even His Spirit?

In Alma 37:37 Alma gives us this advice: ‘Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye shall  do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.’

I have struggled an awful lot to listen to the Spirit of the Lord because of having joined the church as an adult it has taken me a long while to figure things our for myself. Maybe that is why I feel like I have failed so miserably. I second guess myself too much and wonder if it is me or if it is the Lord I hear.

I have learned that the Lord speaks to each of us differently at different times and I have felt His love around me as I have been lonely and needing to know that I was loved by someone. I have also experienced the Lord’s voice in a dream when I needed to know what to do regarding my health. I have had the feeling that I have known the will of the Lord through fasting and prayer to know if we should move or not. I knew without a doubt that we should make the move – but I did not want to move. I did not want to give up the security that I had worked so hard to establish and a job I had worked at for 20 years – but I moved my family, because I knew that was the Lord’s will for us as a family at that time.

In thinking seriously about it, I guess I do know when the Holy Ghost is speaking to me!! 😊  Let’s review – the Lord speaks to us through the Holy Ghost: through a still small voice (or even what seems like a loud one) – in a dream, through a strong feeling deep in our hearts, through thought of action in our mind. At least these have been my experiences, throughout the years since I became a member of His Church. Yours may be very different from mine and that’s okay.

Heavenly Father has given us this wonderful gift of first, the Spirit of Christ, and then after being baptized into His Church upon this earth, we have a great opportunity to receive the Holy Ghost and to have Him with us always, if we are worthy and stay worthy to keep Him with us.  

When we are living worthy to have the Holy Ghost as our daily companion, is sometimes called ‘living by the Spirit’  and maybe I am doing better than I have felt lately because I feel such peace within my whole being – a sense of clam throughout this journey with cancer and the trials of being a parent, a grandparent, and a pre-school teacher, sister, and the other roles we play in this life. – you know, just normal everyday life.

In Galatians 5:22 it says: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

I was remembering the story of the Tree of Life, when Lehi describes the people coming along the path to the tree and he sees those who are holding tightly to the iron rod. And when the mists of darkness come upon them they are holding tightly to the rod when others lose their grip and fall by the wayside—they lost their way in the darkness, but those who held on firmly to the rod of iron made it safely to the tree and partook of the fruit of the tree.

1 Nephi 8:23-24

23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.

24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

Then in 1 Nephi 12:17 it explains what the mists of darkness are: And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.

 In thinking again about those following along the path to the iron rod I found more questions: Am I only following behind in other’s footsteps? Am I putting thought and effort into the path that I am taking in this life and into the next life? Am I becoming spiritually self-reliant? Am I spiritually self-reliant at this time? What do I need to do to become more spiritually self-reliant? When the storms of deception and the mists of falsehood arise without warning will I be prepared to hear the Holy Ghost to give me the guidance that my Father in heaven wants me to hear?

Do I have enough faith and am I doing enough to receive Nephi’s powerful promise found in 1 Nephi 15:24 And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.

So we need to make sure that we are not just following those in front of us along the path.

‘“Following the feet of the people in front of you on the path is not enough. We cannot just do and think what others are doing and thinking; we must lie a guided life. We must each have our own hand on the iron rod. Then we may go to the Lord with humble confidence, knowing that He “shall lead [us[ by the hand, and give [us] answer to our prayers.”’

Doctrine and Covenants 112:10 Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.

 And still more questions for me – for each of us to ponder: Do I always remember the Savior and keep His commandments?  Do I remember His sacrifice and His rising from the tomb as a resurrected being do I choose to open my heart to receive the ministrations of the Spirit over my lifetime – or the part I have left? Because you are never too old to make changes in your life!! Am I choosing to be humble before God?

Do I choose to ask of God in faith believing the God will answer my prayers? Do I obey the inspiration I receive – even when it is hard or difficult? Do I pray with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Do I obey exactly – do I move quickly when inspired? – do I prepare when inspired to do so? – do I wait with patience for further inspiration when it doesn’t come right away?” do I pray to know the needs and hearts of others and how to help them for the Lord?

Do I pray, ask for inspiration, receive direction, and then act on the direction that I receive? Do I realize when I receive direction from the Spirit? What can I do to recognize more fully when the Spirit is communicating with me? Do my concerns for others open my heart to receive inspiration? Have I qualified for the Holy Ghost as a nearly constant companion? Have I qualified for the gift of charity, which is the pure love of Christ? Do I follow it or act on those directions immediately? Or do I pass it off as something I don’t have time to do today, or I will get to that later?

John 14:14-21

14 if ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

15 If ye love me keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dewlleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will manifest myself to him.

Heavenly Father is aware of you and of me, He is aware of your feelings and of mine. He is aware of your spiritual and temporal needs, as well as mine and of those of everyone else around you. He will never force us to take His name upon us – it is up to each of us to ask Him to come into our lives.

Revelation 3:20-22

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

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

22 He [or she] that hath an ear, let him [or her] hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

You know you try hard to do your very best for each of your children as you are raising them, and when they are growing up you can usually see the good that you have taught them as it shows in their lives. Sometimes you wonder how you could have possible raised them all in the same household as they all make such different choices for their lives, which in turn makes choices for their children as well.

Is it ever too late to change or turn your life around? I tell you NO!!! You most certainly can make good changes in your life and turn yourself around at any point in your life --- you can be forgiven! Well, I have really been rambling in this post – you all have a wonderful week, keep smiling, hold your head up, and if you need to – ask yourself all of my questions, answer them truthfully and do whatever it takes to get yourself focused on God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In this very volatile world that we are living in we all need our Savior, we really do. Until my next post – know this, that it’s never too late to turn your life around to Christ😊 Remember also, that your Heavenly Father is always blessing you. Sometimes you may need to stop and think about those blessings in your life and express to Him your gratitude for them – and get in the habit of doing it often. If you make it a practice to write down the way the Lord has blessed you each day or week, you can review your journal when you are having a hard time during your difficult times.

Post # 43 – Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority

Dear Family and Friends

I wanted to continue with my thoughts from my last post and share more with you all about the Principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This week I wants to reemphasize the principle of Faith; you can view a video called Finding Faith in Christ here: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2004-01-01-finding-faith-in-christ?lang=eng  

The Apostle Paul taught that “faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Alma made a similar statement: “If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21). Faith is a principle of action and power. Whenever we work toward a worthy goal, we exercise faith. We show our hope for something that we cannot yet see.  You can find this and a lot of other resources on Faith found here:: https://www.lds.org/topics/faith?lang=eng

I am quite certain I have mentioned before that without faith in Jesus Christ I would not be able to have made it through all the challenges in my life as well as I have. I think about how my life was before I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – and I think that I have always believed in God but growing up I never really had the opportunity to learn about my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I grew up in a family with eight children and my mom barely had a sixth-grade education, so when my father passed away she needed to marry someone who would be able to provide for her five children that she already had. My first step father was not a very nice man and there was much abuse of all types in our home. My second step father was an alcoholic, but he did love us, and he taught us a lot of things. ‘Again, though we suffered abuse from this new father figure as well as from our mom when she got angry or drank too much.

As I was growing up I could not understand why my mom would marry such a man, but after I left home and started a family of my own, I began to understand that she did the best that she could.  She did not have the education or the skills to get a job to provide for herself let alone for five children. Having the gospel in my life has made such a huge difference in the way I have raised my children – the cycle of abuse and alcoholism was stopped!

It is amazing what you can do with the Lord’s help and guidance in your life! And I want to tell you that I could not have managed to accomplish this with our faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Before I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I was a drinker and a smoker. Growing up I developed these habits because it was easier to take the abuse with the alcohol and the nicotine in my system. I kind of grew up waking up with a bottle and going to bed with a bottle, especially in my teen years – never really drunk, so to speak, but never really sober either. My teen years were really tough for me, I was never good enough no matter how hard I tried to do good, so I stopped trying to do good and you can guess where that led my life.

I struggled in school because I went into junior high and high school without knowing how to read. They just passed me on and when I went to college it was really a struggle only on a much greater scale. I had to have tutors for all my classes after the first semester in college. My reading was on and other basic skills were on second and third grade levels, which did not help me very much in college. When I was in high school I just sat in the back and hoped that the teachers wouldn’t call on me to read. In college it was a different story.

I think maybe I mentioned in one of my earlier posts about how I became a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints. With my faith and trust in my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ I finally had the help I needed to give up those things and begin to live a better life. I rely a lot on my faith – I believe that if Jesus Christ could raise the dead He can help me with anything that I must face in this life. I want to share a talk from the October 2014 General Conference, called “Make the Exercise of Your Faith Your First Priority by Elder Richard G. Scott Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

I love how he speaks of prayer, faith, family home evening and temple attendance as tools that our Father in Heaven has given us to help us here throughout our mortal journey here on the earth. I hope you will learn as much as I have from the information given in this talk😊

Despite all of the negative challenges we have in life, we must take time to actively exercise our faith.

When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, all that they needed for daily sustenance was abundantly given to them. They had no difficulties, or pain. Because they had never experienced hard times, they did not know they could be happy. They had never felt turmoil, so they could not feel peace. eventually Adam and Eve transgressed the command to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. By so doing they were no longer in a state of innocence. They began to experience principles of opposition. They began to encounter sickness that weakened their health. They began to feel sadness as well as joy.

Through Adam and Eve’s partaking of the forbidden fruit, knowledge of good and evil was introduced into the world. Their choice made it possible for each of us to come to this earth to be tried and tested. We are blessed with agency, which is our ability to make decisions and to become accountable for those decisions. The Fall made possible in our lives feelings of both happiness and sadness. We are able to understand peace because we feel turmoil.

Our Father in Heaven knew this would happen to us. It is all part of His perfect plan of Happiness. He prepared a way through the life od His perfectly obedient Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, for His Atonement to overcome every difficulty that we may experience in mortality.

We live in trying times. I need not list all of the sources of evil in the world. It is not necessary to describe all of the possible challenges and heartaches that are part of mortality. Each of us is intimately aware of our own struggles with temptation, pain, and sadness.

All you have to do is turn on the news or the radio, get on the internet and you see all of the things that are coming at our children in todays world. Without faith in the Savior we may make it through this life, but we won’t make it back to live with Him and our Father in Heaven.

We were taught in the premortal world that our purpose in coming here is to be tested, tried, and stretched. We knew we would face the evils of the adversary. Sometimes we may feel more aware of the negative things of mortality than we are of the positive. The prophet Lehi taught, “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.” Despite all of the negative challenges we in life, we must take time to actively exercise our faith. Such exercise invites the positive, faith-filled power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ into our lives.

Our Father in Heaven has given us tools to help us come unto Christ and exercise faith in His Atonement. When these tools become fundamental habits, they provide the easiest way to find peace in the challenges of mortality. Today I have chosen to discuss four of these tools. As I speak, consider evaluating your personal use of each tool; then seek the guidance of the Lord to determine how you could make better use of each one of them.

Prayer

The first tool is prayer. Choose to converse with your Father in Heaven often. Make time every day to share your thoughts and feelings with Him. Tell Him everything that concerns you. He is interested in the most important as well as the most mundane facets of your life. Share with Him your full range of feelings and experiences.

Because He respects your agency, Father in Heaven will never force you to pray to Him. But as you exercise that agency and include Him in every aspect of your daily life, your heart will begin to fill with peace, buoyant peace. That peace will focus an eternal light on your struggles. It will help you to manage those challenges from an eternal perspective.

Parents, help safeguard your children by arming them morning and night with the power of family prayer. Children are bombarded every day with the evils of lust, greed, pride, and a host of other sinful behaviors. Protect your children from daily worldly influences by fortifying them with the powerful blessings that result from family prayer. Family prayer should be a nonnegotiable priority in your daily life.

Scripture Study

The second tool is to study the word of God in the scriptures and the words of the living prophets. We talk to God through prayer. He most often communicates back to us through His written word. To know what the voice of the Divine sounds and feels like, read His words, study the scriptures, and ponder them. Make them an integral part of everyday life. If you want your children to recognize, understand, and act on the promptings of the Spirit, you must study the scriptures with therm.

Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have tie to study the scriptures. Choose to take time to study them. Feasting in the word of God ach day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it!

There are any prophetic promises of the blessings of daily studying the scriptures.

I add my voice with this promise: as you dedicate time every day, personally and with your family, to the study of God’s word, peace will prevail in your life. That peace won’t come from the outside world. It will come from within your home, from within your family, from within your own heart. It will be a gift of the Spirit. It will radiate out from you to influence other in the world around you. You will be doing something very significant to add to the cumulative peace in the world.

I do not declare that your life will cease to have challenges. Remember when Adam and Eve were in the garden, they were free from challenges, yet they were unable to experience happiness, joy, and peace. Challenges are an important part of mortality. Through daily, consistent scripture study, you will find peace in the turmoil around you and strength to resist temptations. You will develop strong faith in the grace of God and know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all will be made right according to God’s timing.

Family Home Evening

While you are working to strengthen your family and cultivate peace, remember this third tool: weekly family home evening. Be cautious not to make your family home evening just an afterthought of a busy day. Decide that on Monday night your family will be together at home for the evening. Do not let employment demands, sports, extracurricular activities, homework, or anything else become more important than that time you spend at home with your family.

 While my children were growing up we held our family home evenings on Sunday after church. As my husband was not an active member of the Church it was harder to make this work for us. He was a sports fan, so Sunday and Monday were his time for ball games of one sort or another. He was usually watching a game, so he did not participate very often if at all.

We held them on Sunday’s after church to help keep the Sabbath day holy. It was hard to teach my children that the Sabbath day was for worshiping the Lord when their Dad wanted to go fishing, hunting, or camping on Sunday. So, for our family Monday nights were for Dad’s football games and on Sunday the children and I would go to church, then we would have our family home evening after church.

For our lessons we would usually review what they learned in their primary classes or we would watch a movie together and look for gospel principles we could find in the movie (with these ones their Dad would sometimes come out to join us, but most of the time it was just the children and I reading scripture together and saying prayers together. Like I said it was difficult and we did not manage it every week, but we did try.

I had to get creative, so we did not have your regular type of family home evenings. We played scripture football, we played file folder games that were scripture related. We sang songs together that the children were learning in primary, we played guess that prophet, and guess what book it is – to learn the books of the scriptures. We didn’t always have a gospel lesson per say, but we did try to spend quality time together.

The structure of your evening is not as important as the time invested. The gospel should be taught both formally and informally. Make it a meaningful experience for each member of the family. Family home evening is a precious time to bear testimony in a safe environment; to learn teaching, planning, and organizational skills; to strengthen family bonds; to develop family traditions; to talk to each other; and more important, to have a marvelous time together!

At last April’s conference, Sister Linda S. Reeves boldly declared: “I must testify of the blessings of daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening. These are the very practices that help take away the stress, give direction to our lives, and add protection to our homes.” Sister Reeves is a very wise woman, I strongly urge you to earn your own testimony of these three crucial habits.

Temple Attendance

The fourth tool is to go to the temple. We all know there is no more peaceful place on this earth than in the temples of God. If you don’t have a temple recommend, qualify to get one. When you have a recommend, use it often. Schedule a regular time to be in the temple. Don’t let anyone or anything prevent you from being there.

I love to go to the temple, I would like to go more often but it is hard to find someone to cover my class while I am gone, and it is too hard for me to drive out early in the morning and do a session then return the same day when it is five hours one way. I don’t feel like I have a clear mind when I am there trying to listen and focus on what is going on and keeping myself awake Ii like it a whole lot better when I can go out on a Thursday afternoon or evening and then send all say on Friday in the temple and then again on Saturday at the temple until they close then I drive home.

While you are in the temple, listen to the words of the ordinances, ponder them, pray about them, and seek to understand their meaning. The temple is one of the best places to come to understand the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Seek Him there. Remember that many more blessings come from providing your own family names in the temple.

If you have not tried doing your family history, maybe now is a good time to begin. You may find as I have that you enjoy seeking out your ancestors more than you thought initially. And when you run into a roadblock as I am sure that you will, don’t give up, pray and your Father in Heaven will help you to find them, just keep searching. You can go here to get started: https://www.lds.org/family-history/getting-started something else you might try is something called indexing , there is a video to check it out here: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-03-01-indexing-is-vital?lang=eng

These four tools are fundamental habits for securing your life in the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ remember our Savior is the Prince of Peace. Peace in this mortal life comes from His atoning sacrifice. When we are consistently praying morning and night, studying our scriptures daily, having weekly family home evening, and attending the temple regularly, we are actively responding to His invitation to “come unto Him.” The more we develop these habits, the more anxious is Satan to harm us but the less is his ability to do so. Through the use of these tools, we exercise our agency to accept the full gifts of His atoning sacrifice.

I am not suggesting that all of life’s struggles will disappear as you do these things. We came to mortal life precisely to grow from trials and testing. Challenges help us become more like our Father in Heaven, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible to endure those challenges. I testify that as we actively come unto Him, we can endure every temptation, every heartache, every challenge we face, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Well, here we are at the end of todays post, and as always, I hope and pray that each of you have been uplifted from what I have posted. And I do hope that you have learned a lot as well. So, until my next post, my challenge to each of you is to say your prayers, read and study your scriptures, if you haven’t had a family home evening – then give it a try, you may be surprised at what you find. And if you are a member and haven’t been to the temple, please make it a goal as soon as you can to go to the temple.

If you are a new member you can still get a special recommend so you can go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. Its worth checking on with your bishop or your stake president. I promise you will never be sorry for being worthy to receive a temple recommend and you will be blessed more than you know when you begin attending the temple on a regular basis. Use the tools the Lord has given each of us, it will only make you a better person, a better family, and you will each be blessed for your efforts😊

Post # 42 – Applying the Simple and Plain Gospel Principles in the Family

Dear Family and Friends

 I am not sure how many of you out there are familiar with the Gospel Principles, so I wanted to share a few with you. I have shared with you in some of my past posts about having faith in Jesus Christ – I speak of it often because it is so important, and it is the first principle of the gospel. I found a general conference talk that will help you understand how to apply some simple gospel principles into your lives – if you are already doing this, I don’t think it ever hurts to have a refresher course😊

Applying the Simple and Plain Gospel Principles in the Family          April 2004 General Conference       Francisco J. Viñas  Of the First Quorum of the Seventy

The plain and simple principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ … should be firmly established in our homes to ensure happiness in family life.

In the general Relief Society meeting in September of 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley declared: “I believe our problems, almost every one, arise out of the homes of the people. If there is to be reformation, if there is to be a change, if there is to be a return to old and sacred values, it must begin in the home. It is here that truth is learned, that integrity is cultivated, that self-discipline is instilled, and that love is nurtured” (“Walking in the Light of the Lord,” Liahona, Jan. 1999, 117; Ensign, Nov. 1998, 99).

Among the old and sacred values to which we should return are the plain and simple principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These should be firmly established in our homes to ensure happiness in family life.

President Wilford Woodruff declared: “The Lord has a great many principles in store for us, and the greatest principles which he has for us are the most simple and plain. The first principles of the gospel which lead us unto eternal life are the simplest and yet none are more glorious or important unto us” (“Remarks,” Deseret News, 1 Apr. 1857, 27).

It is precisely because these principles are plain and simple that many times they are not considered when there are challenges to face that affect family life. At times we have the tendency to think that the more serious the problem, the bigger and more complex the solution should be. That idea can lead us, for example, to seek help from people or institutions outside the home when in reality the most effective solution will come by applying the glorious principles of the gospel in our homes in the small actions and duties of everyday life. The scriptures remind us “that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6).

This puts me in mind of the story of Naaman, it says in the story found in  Second Kings chapter 5 verse 1 that he was the “captain of the host  king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.” The story goes on to tell that “the Syrians had gone out in companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.” She told her mistress that the prophet that of Israel would heal Naaman of his leprosy.

Then the king of Syria sent a letter to the king of Israel with money for the prophet to heal Naaman. In the course of time Naaman was sent to the Prophet Elisha’s house. When he got there “Elisha sent a message unto hi, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.”

Naaman  probably thought surely at least the prophet would have come out to him and called on God and touched him or something spectacular. Naaman thought what the prophet’s servant had told him must not be right. He wanted him to wash in the River Jordan seven times – and that was it! It was such a simple thing that he did not think it would work. Surely, he needed to wash in a better river?

“And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee to do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” it was after this that Naaman finally “went down, and dipped himself seven times Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”  Let’s not be like Naaman, let’s each one of us learn the gospel principles of Jesus Christ and teach them to those we love – family and friends. You can read the whole story here:

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/2-kgs/5.1?lang=eng#0

In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declare that “successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities” (Liahona, Oct. 1998, 24; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

By analyzing these principles, we can see that the majority of them are related to and complement each other and that the power that makes it possible for them to be incorporated into our lives comes from the atoning sacrifice of our Redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ.

These principles, once applied, will act as a light that will illuminate each member of the family and, in a progressive way, will lead us to integrate other related values and principles which will strengthen family relationships. We know that “he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (D&C 50:24). Now, isn’t this something to aspire to, to have your family members have that light of applying these principles into their lives as a light to guide their lives. The gospel principles are the best for building a solid foundation for you and your family members.

If we succeed in establishing and maintaining our families by applying these principles, we will be able to observe the powerful impact that these will have in situations that affect our homes day by day. Any hurts caused by the friction of living together will heal. Offenses will be forgiven. Pride and selfishness will be replaced by humility, compassion, and love.

I have seen this in my own family as I was raising my children as well as with my grandchildren, just by seeing an example of someone having faith has an impact on those around you – so it is very important to show and teach your children about faith in Jesus Christ. I will be truthful, you have to keep nourishing these principles to keep everyone focused on them. Revisit them and reviewing them often it an okay thing to do!

The principles that we choose to incorporate into our lives will determine the spirit that we contribute in our relationships with others. When we adopt a principle, its influence radiates from us and can be felt by others.

Read that phrase again. The principles that we choose to incorporate into our lives will determine the spirit that we contribute into our relationships with others. When we adopt a principle, it’s influence radiates from us and can be felt by others. Wow! That is something we should really strive for isn’t it? Just think how this would help our relationships?

Now more than ever, when we see that the family is at the center of attacks from the forces of evil—as in the days of the prophet Mormon, when “the power of the evil one was wrought upon all the face of the land” (Morm. 1:19)—it is necessary for us as parents to incorporate these principles into our lives in order to radiate their influence and for this influence to be perceived by our children.

I would now like to show how these principles can be put into practice, forming part of a process that will put the effects of the Atonement within the reach of individuals and families. This process begins with the first principle of the gospel, faith.

In a world of changing values where evil is called good and good evil (see Isa. 5:20), the words declared by Mormon fill us with hope and confidence by teaching us that Jesus Christ “claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing” (Moro. 7:28).

That faith that causes us to cleave unto every good thing comes by hearing the word of God (see Rom. 10:17), and this word is heard with more power in family home evening lessons and in family scripture study. There is no better place to build faith than in the home, where the lessons and practical applications are realized and lived day to day.

It is in the home that one learns that faith is intimately related to the Atonement, “this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance” (Alma 34:15).

Without the effects of the Atonement in our lives, it would be impossible to develop the type of faith necessary for repentance, and so we would remain outside the marvelous plan of mercy since “only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption” (Alma 34:16).

Repentance, that change that takes place in the heart, that is born of love for the Lord, that leads us to move away from sin and to submit to His will, can “become effective and accepted by God” “only through the atonement of Jesus Christ” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Repent, Repentance,” 206).

Once God has accepted repentance, the process that we are describing leads us to participate in ordinances and the covenants associated with them, such as baptism and confirmation. The renewal of these covenants is brought about when we regularly and worthily partake of the sacrament, and then the remission of our sins is realized.

After receiving a remission of sins and striving to retain it through obedience to the commandments, we will receive, as described in the book of Moroni, meekness and lowliness of heart, which will allow the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter will fill us with hope and perfect love, love that will be maintained by the diligence we give to the principle of prayer (see Moro. 8:26).

The person who obtains meekness and lowliness of heart and who enjoys the company of the Holy Ghost will have no desire to offend or hurt others, nor will he feel affected by any offenses received from others. He will treat his spouse and children with love and respect and will have good relationships with everyone he associates with. In occupying positions of leadership in the Church, he will apply the same principles as he does in the home, showing that there is no difference between the person he is when within the walls of his own home and the person he is in his relationship with the members of the Church.

Principles like faith, repentance, love, forgiveness, and prayer, lived in the process I just described, become the best vaccine to combat the disease of sin, which can manifest itself in families in different ways, such as immorality, pride, envy, contention, abuse, and other practices that affect family relationships and that result in pain, deception, and the breakup of family ties.

The decision to incorporate them into our lives and the opportunity to begin the process whenever it may be necessary depends solely on our agency. It is a simple process that is within the reach of all. It is based on the fundamental principles of the gospel that have been and continue to be applied successfully by all those who put their trust in the Lord.

All  of the bolded  and italicized words are bolded for you to really grasp them, the author did not have them that way in his talk😊 they are the things that struck me most as I studied this talk before I decided to share it with all of you.

It is our duty to continue teaching them to a world that needs them more all the time, because:

“Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance” (2 Ne. 26:27).

I share with you my testimony that these principles are true. I testify that the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible to incorporate them into our lives. I know this because I am striving together with my family to live in accordance with them. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I share his thoughts here that I too am striving together with my family to live in accordance with them as well. Even though my children are grown and gone from home, I am now living with my youngest daughter and I try hard to be an example and an influence on her and her family as well as my other children and grandchildren.

They do not live too far away that I can not reach them by phone or text at any given time and share a message with them to help them stay on or get back on the path that leads the to their Savior and eternal life. We must never give up hope on our family members, they are each a precious soul.

As always, I hope that what I have shared with you will ring true to your heart and soul. And lift you up in such a way that you will have a desire to follow on the path and learn of the gospel principles of Jesus Christ. I will have more posts in the future on some of the other gospel principles that you can incorporate in your lives, because honestly, they make your lives so much better – especially when the trials and difficulties come – then you and your family members know where to turn in their times of need. Until my next post you all make it a spectacular week😊

Post # 41 – Spiritual Muscles

Dear Family and Friends

During my recovery from my total knee replacement surgeries I have learned some things about myself that I want to share with you. After the first surgery I found when I was able to do my physical therapy each day as I was supposed to do then my leg felt better and was not as stiff, but when I was not able to go ride the bike or do the exercises that I was supposed to be doing – my leg hurt more and was very stiff. My leg – just as with studying music or piano, or sports – you need to practice every day as you are supposed to if you really want to get any better. Remember that old adage -Practice makes perfect!?

I found life lessons -- that if you forget or are unable to practice you do not play as well – or in my case – I felt stiff and hurt more. I found out that the more I practiced my exercises and movements the less my knee hurt when I moved it and walked on it. You need to have discipline when you are trying to learn a new skill, you need to be diligent and give the time necessary to practice every day for the right number of minutes – or for me – the number of repetitions in order for you to be better and do better with that particular skill – for me it was being able to use my leg without too much pain being involved.

I discovered that being physically strong or good at something takes discipline and diligence and being consistent practice and trust in the Lord.  I rely a lot on Priesthood blessings which are blessings from someone who holds the Priesthood and is an authorized representative of the Lord. When they lay their hands upon my head to give me a blessing it is just as if the Lord Himself were placing His hands upon my head as well. It is always an amazing experience; the Spirit is so strong.

I also discovered spiritual gems --- that this discovery also works in another area of our lives: to be spiritually strong also takes discipline and diligence consistent practice and trust in the Lord to make your weaknesses into strengths as you do your very best to do what is necessary to build your spiritual muscles.  Yes, that is right, we do have spiritual muscles! Just as we have all those other muscles in our body that we must work them in order to keep them strong and healthy. We also need to continually be working to keep our spiritual muscles strong and healthy.

What does that scripture say: we must trust the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding and He will direct thy ways. So, this means that we should not trust our own wisdom because after all we are only human but trusting in the Lord and His wisdom is the best thing that we can do. And He knows us so well and loves each of us so  much that He would never lead us astray. We need to keep our focus on our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ to keep our foundation safe and secure.

 In my studying I have notice that President Monson has often quoted this very scripture from Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. So, this is exceptionally good advice I am giving you right? I have always loved President Monson, even before I knew who he was, I loved to listen to his talks. Before I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I listened to his talks of kbyu when we lived in Utah.

Some of the things that we can do to keep our focus and stay centered on our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We can begin this by praying, studying our scriptures and learning all we can about our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We need to build our own testimony, we can only rely on that of others for a short period of time then we must develop our own testimony of our Savior and our Heavenly Father. 

Once we have our own testimony it is entirely up to us to nurture and strengthen our testimonies each day through our prayer, scripture study, listening to general conference, keeping the commandments, following the counsel of our prophets and our local leaders, going to church each week and participating in our classes, serving others and keeping our focus on the Lord.

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) taught that we can lean on the testimony of others for only so long. He said, “Eventually we must have our own strong and deeply placed foundation, or we will be unable to withstand the storms of life, which will come” (“How Firm a Foundation,” Oct. 2006 general conference).

Satan is always lurking in the offing, waiting to find our weakest places, to find a way into our thoughts and into our lives to make us be as miserable as he is. Just as we have our physical muscles to keep us physically fit, we also have our spiritual muscles to help us stay spiritually fit. We must keep our spiritual muscles strong trough prayer, scripture study and service to others, and remembering Jesus Christ always. When our spiritual foundation is strong and securely on our Savior, Satan will be unable to gain a foot hold through our weaknesses.

Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, explains that “when we physically lean toward one side or another, we move off center, we are out of balance, and we tip. When we spiritually lean to our own understanding, we lean away from our Savior.” (“Trust in the Lord and Lean Not” Apr. 2017 general conference).

You know we live in a world that constantly and consistently tries to throw us off balance, just as Satan wants to do – he wants to keep us off balance, confused, and uncertain, but by staying focused and keeping the commandments, reading and studying our scriptures, and praying we keep ourselves centered in Christ, we can put our trust the Lord and rely on Him to direct our path. Spiritual balance is needed in this world that is constantly and consistently trying to throw us off our center, to confuse us or shake our foundation. There is another scripture that says we should not lean unto our own devices, we need to trust in our Heavenly Father, as He knows what is ahead for each of us.

With my second surgery and recovery I really struggled. My leg didn’t seem to be getting better as fast as the first one. The physical therapist told me that I should not compare the legs because each one is different. I just could not understand why this second leg was not improving like it should. Then the realization came to me that when I had the first surgery done it had not been very long after that leg began to go down hill, but with the first leg it was way different.

As hard as I tried I could not get my leg to move past the hurt. My brain was telling my leg to move, but my leg didn’t seem to be listening. Every time my leg reached the part in the bend where the pain began it would stop moving. I know it sounds weird and maybe it is, but it is true. I was praying one night before therapy the next day to know what I was doing wrong or what I needed to do to get better results during my therapy session. As I was sleeping the thought came to me that my leg had been injured eight years ago. So, for the past eight years whenever my leg would begin to feel pain it would send a message to my brain and my brain would send a message back saying: “STOP!” crazy right?

Well, I asked my therapist if it was possible that my brain would be telling my leg to stop moving every time it reached the pain threshold. During our therapy that day I noticed that my leg would only move until the pain began, then I could not get it to go any more. I was praying to know what I could do to help my leg improve. A thought came to my mine to see if I would move my body to my leg to get the bend deeper. So, my therapist held my leg and I was able to scooch my bum towards my leg to get a better measure on my bend.

Wow! This was really crazy! I talked with my therapist about it again and he told me that it was entirely possible that my brain was protecting my leg as it had been for the past eight years. For all these years every time my leg had pain my brain told my leg to stop moving so it would not be in so much pain. So, I now needed to retrain my brain to stretch just a little bit past the pain each time so that I would be able to get my leg to heal and be better able to move.

 It truly has and is a continual struggle for me to get my leg to move and bend into the pain rather than stopping when the pain begins. Its kind of like when we come to an unknown or unfamiliar place in our lives. We have to trust the Lord to direct us, so we have to take a few steps into the darkness trusting Him every step of the way, for the strength we need until we are able to make it on our own strength. He will help us to develop our spiritual muscles just as He helps to develop our physical muscles – if we will ask Him and let Him.

Sometimes through our days we may notice – what we might call coincidences that happen to help us do what we needed to get done that day. When we get to thinking about it we remember that it was something that we had prayed about, so in truth it was an answer to a prayer. When we begin our day with prayerful planning it will help all things work together for our best good. I know this is how it works for me when I begin my day in this way. I have noticed that I have more patience when patience is needed. I am filled with new ideas at a moment’s notice when that is what I need, and so much more. i do have ti work on this continually though because I do get off track so easily it seems.

I believe that the Lord sends us the inspiration that we need right when we need it. We only need to be able to receive it, we need to be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost every day. I often feel that I am lacking, but I keep trying every day to continue to develop my spiritual muscles. I do this through meaningful prayers, scripture study , each day. Through attending church every week and general conference twice a year, through fasting and prayer, attending the temple as often as I can get away from work to do so.

You know I will admit that sometimes I get busy and I find occasionally that I forget a prayer at bedtime or a morning prayer now and again, prayer before a meal, or scripture study off and on. It is easy to get caught up in our lives and become forgetful – it happens. What is important is what we do when it happens. Do we think to ourselves oh its ok, Heavenly Father will understand, and I am sure that He does – time and time again. Do we begin again and work on those activities that will build our spiritual muscles, or do we let the world have their way with us?

Well I am here to say a very loud yes, to beginning again, and again, and again, if that is what it takes. We need never give upon ourselves, right? I always believe that when things are bad for you then go serve someone else, service always puts my trials into better perspective. And helps me refocus on the things that are important in my life. Even though I may be in a tough situation, I never have to look very far to find someone who is in an even tougher one than mine.

Another thing that helps me not only with my physical muscles, but with my spiritual muscles as well is found in Doctrine and Covenants 88:124

“Cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.” 

Something else that is so helpful is prayer, especially a prayer of gratitude. We need to be grateful for all the many blessings that come into our lives. This is helpful too, with all of our muscles. Prayer is a very powerful tool that we should be using every day – all day long😊 I don’t believe that there is any of us that doesn’t need it – every single day! I don’t know if I mentioned this before, but keeping a prayer journal may also be a helpful tool to use. If you write down your impressions as they come to you. 

You know those times when all those ideas come at you all at once? Write them down! I have tried this – not very successfully, but I keep at it and it is helpful because you can always go back and reread those thoughts and then things come to me while I am sleeping. Though I have to admit these days I do struggle so to sleep – it is just another side effect of the cancer, the chemo, you know and age😊

Well, here wear again at the end of this post. I hope you all are ready to get to work on your spiritual muscles and work continually and consistently so that you can keep those muscles strong and healthy. Gee, and if you have any more ideas that have worked for you, please feel free to send them my way😊 we are each responsiblefor our own gospel leaning and our spiritual growth, we need to do as it says in Doctrine and Covenants 88:118: :Seek learning, even by study and also by faith."

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles promised: “When we want [God] to speak to us, we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets. He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit” (“Holy Scriptures: The Power of God unto Our Salvation,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 26–27).

Remember that our spiritual muscles need to be exercised just as our physical muscles need to be exercised every day to keep them both healthy and strong. Just as no one can exercise our physical muscles for us, no one can exercise our spiritual muscles for us either. it is up to each of us individually to learn the gospel and strengthen our spiritual muscles. Remember we do this through prayer, scripture study, studying the words of our living prophets, service to others, loving one another, attending our church meetings, just to mention a few.

Just as I had to start off slowly with my knee after my second surgery I had to start off slowly to build up my muscles I had to push past the pain a little bit each time until I could do the exercises without any pain at all. I had to begin again and start off slowly and keep working at my prayers and scripture study and other things so that I could build up my spiritual muscles as well. just as I had to be consistent with the physical exercise of my knee I must be consistent and diligent with exercising my spiritual muscles too! it is better to workout for 20 minutes than not at all!

You knw that goes for your physical muscles as well as your spiritual muscles. Remember that you need ALL of your muscles -- so, let's work together and get them back in good shape! Be consistent, be diligent, practice, practice, practice!  If you miss a day or two, -- or even a week or three, don't give up, get back on track --  just take baby steps, put one foot in front of the other, and if you have to  retrain your brain -- remember I am living proof that it can be done! If I can do it, you can do it!!


So my challenge to you for this week is to get to work building ALL of your muscles -- both physical and spiritual, as they both will work together for your best good. So make a plan and begin with small steps, set short-term goals, set long-term goals, draw pictures for yourself -- whatever gets you going! As always, my Family and Friends, I hope that what I have shared with you all today has been helpful in some small way. So, until my next post. Have a spectacular week!!