I am grateful.....

I am grateful for family, friends, and inspiration from those around us...

This morning I have been feeling scared, tense, nervous.....as my Dad starts the process of radiation.

What a blessing to come upon the inspired words of my friend Mindy. I really needed to hear this today. Just here to say....friends bless my life as do their inspired words. Thanks Mindy! Take a read for some inspiration. Hope you don't mind Miss Mindy.

Mindy

Good Timber

Good Timber

The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.


The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.


Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees,
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.


Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

Benjamin is four years old today. Here are some highlights from this last year of our little Benjamin!








Our son Benjamin turns four years old today! I always get emotional on his birthday as his birth symbolizes so much to me. He was our greatest Christmas blessing and miracle all wrapped into one, from our Heavenly Father.

Benjamin:

The most beautiful big chocolate brown eyes I have ever seen.
Such an engaging smile.
Hard worker.
A finisher---he likes to complete and finish projects.
So smart. Brilliant.
Passionate about life. Whatever emotion he is feeling, it is 100%.
Very loving.
Social engaging, he can wrap everyone around his little finger.
Will tell you how he feels like a little adult. So cute.
He is a fast runner.
VERY strong.
An acrobat. Likes to climb up VERY high and scare me and likes to do twists and turns on the bars.
A great brother.
I am in love with this little boy and I am so grateful for him in our lives.

How Benjamin came into our family:

Four years ago was a time I was so deeply yearning for another baby to fill my arms. That longing was so strong. Only God, truly a God of miracles, could have fulfilled that longing for me. God can do amazing things that we as humans can only imagine!

At the time, we had two children, Brandon (4) and Ethan (2). I felt like there was supposed to be another baby in our family. This baby was not coming to us through conventional means. Brandon and I discussed adoption and felt good about adoption. We discussed adoption through LDS Family Services. Brandon did not feel good about adopting through LDS Family Services. I was feeling a bit frustrated as I knew that if we didn't apply and try for adoption, it probably was not going to happen. So, what to do?

Around Thanksgiving of that year, Brandon asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told him that I wanted a baby. He smiled and said he wished he could give me a baby for Christmas.

The miracle began on December 10th of 2004, with my friend Sally leaving me a voicemail asking if I wanted to adopt a baby! All my friends knew of my longing for a baby. You should have seen my excitement and happiness at getting this call. I called Sally right away and found out the details.

We immediately made arrangements to meet with birthmom. I was SOOOOOOO nervous to meet her. I knew that she would be deciding whether we would measure up as good parents to her future baby. Can I tell you what a mess of nerves I was to meet with her? We tried to look our best, and brought pictures of our other children and from our life! Despite all our concerns and fears, the meeting went well. However, she did let us know of all her options at that time, she had been working with an adoption agency, but she hadn't liked the choices of adoptive parents she had been given. She told us many special things, that I hope I will always retain in my heart.

I can't tell you how bittersweet the adoption process can be. When you long for a child, you are so grateful for the chance to be a parent once again. However, with adoption, you can truly see the pain and difficulty that this decision can be for another human being. It is hard to see someone else making a great sacrifice which is hard, but yet at the same time, it is hard to not show your happiness and excitement at the amazing gift you are recieving. It is extremely hard to be "chill" during this type of experience.

We had much contact with birthmom over those ten days.I brought a ton of pictures for her to look at of our family, etc. She really just wanted to talk. We did. A lot over the next week. At the time we met her, she was in a restricted facility. 3days before she was to give birth, she was let out.

Little Benjamin was due on Christmas day. Mom hadn't had much prenatal care, and so we got her in with our Doctor. I will always be grateful for our Dr. and all he did to help things run smoothly, and with about 3 days notice. Truly a great man. That's what was so miraculous. Around Christmas time, within 10 days, we were spending lots of time with birthmom, had to hire a lawyer, find a Dr., get housing, food, clothing, and supplies for birthMom, and get a home study done! That is NOT an easy thing to accomplish in 10 days, especially during the holiday season. Another testament to the power of God. It ran so smoothly. Heavenly Father was making sure everything worked out!!! I am so grateful for God; a loving God, who does create so many miracles in our lives!

The birth of Benjamin on December 21st was beautiful. He was a big baby, born healthy and strong. So beautiful with his big brown eyes and curly hair. Jennie allowed us to be in the hospital room as she gave birth to precious little Benjamin. Jennie's Mom was also present. Jennie and I spent several hours discussing the name and chose his name together, with a little help from my husband Brandon. Together, we chose the perfect name to fit this perfect little boy.

How hard it is to refrain from all your excitement, and how hard are those tedious hours and minutes, as you wait to see if Mom will sign the papers! Will this baby really be yours? Will it really all work out?

I am telling you, there is nothing like the stress of wondering in the adoption process.

We were present for Benjamin's birth, but left the hospital late that night. When we returned early the next morning, we saw Benjamin sleeping with his birth Mom in bed. At that moment, I was a little worried she had changed her mind. Thankfully, she hadn't. She just wanted to have that special night with the baby before saying goodbye.

It was bittersweet to watch birth Mom give her baby to us and leave the hospital. It was painful. She told us she had a very good feeling about our family adopting Benjamin. She wanted us to adopt him, and wanted him to have a father. She wanted him to have opportunities that she had never had. Adoption is a gift of love and sacrifice.

We will be eternally grateful for birthmom's decision. I know it was incredibly difficult for her. I know she had other options. I am grateful that we were chosen to be his parents! This was a time when much faith was necessary for survival!

There is not a greater joy than I experienced that Christmas Eve. Returning home with a beautiful baby boy. My heart has never been more full of joy and gratitude! Talk about awe! Amazement in the miracle of God! I am here to testify that God does work mighty miracles.

I am grateful for all the sacrifices that many women go through; agonizing in a difficult situation. I can't even imagine how difficult it would be to go through this process on the other side. I will always be grateful and indebted for the blessings we have received!

I have such great respect and love for her for the beautiful gift of Benjamin. It reminds me a bit of the atonement. Someone giving you a gift you can never repay them for.

As most of you know, Benjamin was the beginning of many miracles. 10 1/2 months after Benjamin was born, Jennie gave birth to Madison. 12 months after that, Jennie gave birth to Dylan.

Truly Jennie has given us the greatest gifts. Three beautiful babies who bring such happiness and love into our lives. I am grateful for a God who creates miracles in our lives.

James 1:17: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father..."

3 Nephi 14:7-11; Luke 11:13 : "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

I thank Heavenly Father for the blessing of family he has given us. Happy Birthday Benjamin. We love you so much!

The gift of a love letter

This holiday season, consider giving a personal gift of a love letter. We all need love, tenderness, understanding and kindness. In this day of emails, technology, we often do not give and receive letters of love. What is beautiful about words on paper, is that these words can be reviewed over and over again. I know I keep many of the special cards and letters I get. They are precious to my heart. Most precious.

I know the cards my kids give me hold a special place in my heart. Money or gifts from the store can never outdo words from the heart.

Today in church, in the "women" meeting, they quoted from some of the letters Joseph Smith wrote to his wife Emma. Beautiful, thoughtful, and inspirational. During the meeting we had the chance to write a letter to a loved one.

In the class prior to the "women" meeting, I taught Sunday school to the 14 year olds. The lesson was on honoring your father and mother. As part of the lesson, I had them write a letter of appreciation and love for their parents. I also brought envelopes for them to write their address, and then when I returned home today, I put stamps on them and put them in the mailbox. Hopefully it will be a nice early Christmas present to these parents from their kids.

So, this message kept getting reiterated to me at church today. Demonstrate, tell, express love to those you love. Write them a letter. Let them know how dear they are to your heart. You never know when you may not have the chance to express that love again. So, go for it. Write that love letter to someone you love. Send it in the mail or give it to them. Brighten someones day. Just some thoughts on a Sunday afternoon!

In 1998, my husband gave me the greatest gift. A book of love! Check it out here:
http://laurascoop.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-christmas-gift-ever.html

My thoughts on Poverty in America

My friend Bon , wrote about Blog Action Day----Addressing Poverty, on her blog.(http://bonsblogbydesign.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-action-day-2008.html . ) As a Social Worker, I could not resist sharing some of my thoughts on this topic.

Often in America, we differentiate between the non-working and the working poor. We feel that the working poor are entitled to help, but we are often conditional in our desire/efforts to help the non-working poor.

When we think that a great number of those in poverty are children, and are helpless, it is even harder to make those distinctions about the poor and who "deserves" our help. Currently , almost 40% of children are living in poverty. Clearly, children need and deserve our help.

And, let's look at the rest of the poor/homeless population. I believe that a great percentage of them are a product of deinstitutionalization, or would be institutionalized if it were a current possibility.

Ever since the grand de-institutionalization of the mentally ill in the 1960's, many of the institutionalized patients, and those who would have been patients, have ended up on the streets. Community mental health centers were created to help these patients, but most of the patients were unable to follow through with outpatient services.

The mentally ill could receive better help from governmental programs and services, if they had the mental state to be able to fill out the paperwork and follow through with the many bureaucratic processes. Sadly, they rarely are in a position to do so. They are often unable to make appointments and keep them, access the medication they are in dire need of, or take their meds on a daily basis.

I am not suggesting that institutionalization is the answer. I don't really know the answer. All I know is that it is heart-wrenching. There is a great deal of suffering that is preventable, or could be greatly alleviated through med management and community support.

That is another main problem. For the most part, people don't want to deal with the homeless/mental illness population. Our communities are not the close-knit communities of the past. In every family, mental illness exists. Who doesn't have a crazy Aunt or Uncle or family member? Mental illness is often genetic. Each time a baby is born, parents are throwing up the genetic dice, and hoping that the "crazy" gene doesn't come out. Well, like throwing up the dice, it is just a matter of time before that gene comes out somewhere once again in every family. This is an issue that does affect every family or will in the future.

In this day and age, we tend to be a 'throw away' society. If someone has mental health issues, they are considered a burden, and we really don't want to deal with it. We are happy to have some community mental health centers, as long as they are not in our back yard. The problem is that these community mental health centers are great, but only as long as you can make and keep appointments, and deal with a bureaucratic system. Think how much all of us hate filling out paperwork, etc. Imagine if you were dealing with homelessness, or mental illness---would you be able to do it?

Often these people are left to fend for themselves without familial or community support to help them deal with/overcome their illnesses. So often, they end up on the streets. They don't have the time, effort, ability to deal with the bureaucracy of getting help. Often they end up self-medicating with drugs.

Many drug users are people struggling with mental health issues who have not gotten the help they need. It is like the chicken and the egg debate---which comes first, the mental illness or the drug use? Does the drug use cause the mental health issues which often ensue? Or did a chronic mental illness lead to drug use?

My theory, is whether they are working/non-working, drug users, or non-drug users, at fault for where they are at, or not, the bottom line, is they need help. We need to find ways to help.

In Utah, for the last year, there have been ads on the television, with a phone number offered to help people who are addicted to meth. A definite scourge of our time (which has a HUGE impact on homelessness, women and children living in poverty, abuse, and neglect).

I decided to call this number to see what resources are available for meth/drug addiction in Utah . I was told that in order to receive services, a person needs to call, make an appointment for an evaluation, and then get on a waiting list.

Having worked with this population, I know that these people need a drug rehab center that they can check into on the spot. They need to be able to walk in, get evaluated, and immediately get the help they need. Many of these people are homeless, and don't have a phone number or address. Every service available asks for contact info, that often does not exist for those most in need of the service. For this population, setting an appointment, keeping an appointment, and then waiting on a waiting list is nearly impossible. They are often worrying about getting food for the day and where they are going to sleep.

When this population doesn't receive the help they need, they often delve deeper into the dark underworld of drugs and crime, which their children are also exposed to. Yes, often eventually, DCFS will get involved, and perhaps children will be taken away. By that time, they end up in an already burdened foster care system.

I have worked in many mental health environments; the prison, community mental health center with adults and children, and a drug and alcohol rehab center. These systems work well, once you can get into the systems. Sometimes that is the hardest task of all.

One of the most rewarding and heart-wrenching jobs I ever did was working at the Food & Care Coalition in Provo. I would volunteer every Sunday night with my friend Tyra during our college years. I loved how easy it was for people to get a meal there. They walked in at meal time, wrote down their name, which often was "Jesus Christ" or the names of other famous people. Then they would sit down, and we would bring them a meal. I thought it was done in such a caring way, with love, and people were able to retain their dignity.

There are many opportunities we have to serve people in our communities. There are homeless shelters, there are Big Brother/Big Sister programs, Project Read (teaching adults to read), and many other programs seeking volunteers. I haven't participated in volunteer work for a long time, and really need to do better in this regard.

Sorry, I have some strong opinions on this topic. The moral of the story: Don't ever get a Social Worker talking about poverty!!! I could go on and on and on, but I guess I have, so I will stop now. What are your thoughts on this issue?

Spiritual Thought Sunday

Each of us is of the same infinite worth to our Father in Heaven and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Each of us is a unique individual with different strengths and weaknesses.

Though we all look, sound, and act different, we are all important in the sight of God. He has given each of us a unique combination of strengths and weaknesses.

Doctrine and Covenants 46:11–12:

For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.

Why are we each given different gifts? So that we can share them and bless each other’s lives.

Doctrine and Covenants 46:13–26; here are some of the various gifts given to us:

To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful. And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the differences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men.
And again, it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every man to profit with.

In addition to the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in this scripture, we may have other strengths, gifts, and talents from our Heavenly Father.

In addition to talents and gifts, we each have weaknesses.

Ether 12:27, it reads:

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

• Why does the Lord give us weaknesses?

• What can we do to receive the Lord’s help in overcoming our weaknesses?

To illustrate the importance of working hard to overcome our weaknesses and develop our talents, meet Demosthenes:

Demosthenes [dih MAHS thuh neez], was a great orator in ancient Greece. Although Demosthenes was born with a serious speech impediment, he wanted to be a great speaker. To overcome his weakness in speaking, he would go to the beach and fill his mouth with pebbles. Then he would shout above the noise of the waves. Through constant practice he learned to speak so well that people came from long distances to hear the great speeches he gave. (See Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th ed., s.v. “Demosthenes.”)
Gordon B. Hinckley:

“The work of the world is not done by intellectual geniuses. It is done by men [and women] of ordinary capacity who use their abilities in an extraordinary manner” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1972, 107; or Ensign, Jan. 1973, 92).

What can we do to discover our gifts and talents and use them to the fullest?

Moses 1:39:

For behold, this is my work and my glory—-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

If we use our gifts and talents righteously, we can be an instrument in the Lord’s hands to help others return to him. Knowing that we are helping in the Lord’s work can increase our sense of worth.

How can we help others understand who they are and what they can contribute to their family, the Church, and the community? (Share our gifts with others; recognize or compliment others for their gifts and talents; provide opportunities for others to share their gifts and talents with others.)

Elder Marvin J. Ashton:

“As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up, our arms out, and walk with him. What a great blessing to be created in his image and know of our true potential in and through him!” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1973, 21; or Ensign, July 1973, 24).

Strive to see your own worth and the worth of others in the sight of God.

“I remember the first time Jenni walked into my seminary class and said hi to me. She had a very difficult time speaking, her words were slurred and hard to understand, and she limped and hobbled as she tried to make her legs carry her frail body toward her desk. During Jenni’s first week … in my class, she seemed content to be mostly ignored by her classmates, who appeared to be struggling to figure out how to interact with her.

“Jenni would try to speak, and very few students could understand her. … Most of them distanced themselves from her both physically and socially and, as a result, proceeded to politely ignore her.

“However, they weren’t aware that inside Jenni’s deformed body was a keen mind, a heart of gold, and an indomitable spirit crying out to be heard, to be understood, to be accepted, and to be loved. She wouldn’t be ignored, politely or otherwise.”

One day Jenni asked her teacher if she could say something in class. She asked for a friend to sit by her at lunch. The class was silent for a long moment, and then a girl named Treasure volunteered.

“ ‘I’ll be your friend, Jenni.’ … This … gave Treasure’s friend Wendy the confidence to raise her hand and tell Jenni that she would also be her friend and sit by her at lunch every day. …

“I noticed as the days turned into weeks that Treasure and Wendy began to translate Jenni’s words when we couldn’t understand her.

“As the students began to see what a beautiful, intelligent person Jenni was, they began to invite her to activities [and] help her with her difficulties. … Jenni’s classmates helped her realize what a wonderful person she is. [They] included her in their circle of friends and helped her feel like she belonged; [they] saw through her handicap to the special needs of her heart—a young woman wanting to be accepted and understood” (Victor W. Harris, “The Miracle of Jenni,” New Era, Mar. 1996, 12–14).

How can we learn to look beyond physical differences to understand each person’s worth in the sight of God?

1 Samuel 16:7:

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

This lesson and many more religious resources can be found at www.lds.org.

LDS General Conference October 2008

This last weekend, we were able to watch and listen to incredibly inspirational messages. Twice a year, the LDS church has a Conference involving incredible speakers, including our prophet. I thought it would be great to post the transcripts of the talks. You can just click on this link and choose a talk to read. Very inspirational. A talk a day keeps Satan away!!!
Inspiration at your fingertips

Spiritual Thought Sunday

Exodus 20:9–11:

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

After the Lord made “heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is” in six days, he rested on the seventh day. He hallowed the seventh day. In other words, he made it holy. Until the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Sabbath was observed on the seventh day (Saturday). Today the Sabbath is observed on Sunday in remembrance of the Savior’s Resurrection on that day (see Luke 24:1–3).

• To keep something holy is to honor it, to dedicate it to righteous use, to keep it sacred and deserving of reverence.

•Elder James E. Faust said:

“Why has God asked us to honor the Sabbath day? The reasons I think are at least threefold. The first has to do with the physical need for rest and renewing. Obviously God, who created us, would know more than we do of the limits of our physical and nervous energy and strength.”

“The second reason is, in my opinion, of far greater significance. It has to do with the need for regeneration and the strengthening of our spiritual being. God knows that left completely to our own devices without regular reminders of our spiritual needs, many would degenerate into the preoccupation of satisfying earthly desires and appetites. This need for physical, mental, and spiritual regeneration is met in large measure by faithful observance of the Sabbath day.”

“The third reason [for honoring the Sabbath day] may be the most important of the three. It has to do with obedience to commandments as an expression of our love for God. Blessed are those who need no reasons other than their love for the Savior to keep his commandments” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 46–47; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 35).

Doctrine and Covenants 59:9–12:

And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations (things we do to serve God and other people) and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.

Isaiah 58:13–14:
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

How to Make the Sabbath a Delight (as found in Isaiah above):

1. “Turn away … from doing thy pleasure.”

Isaiah was not saying that we should not enjoy the Sabbath; he was saying that the Sabbath is a day to forget our own desires and follow God’s will.

2. “Call the sabbath a delight.”

3. “Honour him.”

4. “Not doing thine own ways.”

5. “Delight thyself in the Lord.”

President Thomas S. Monson:

“The Lord has given the Sabbath day for your benefit and has commanded you to keep it holy. Many activities are appropriate for the Sabbath. Bear in mind, however, that Sunday is not a holiday. Sunday is a holy day” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1990, 61; or Ensign, Nov. 1990, 47).

THINGS TO DO ON THE SABBATH
President Spencer W. Kimball said:

“The Sabbath is a day on which to take inventory—to analyze our weaknesses, to confess our sins to our associates and our Lord. It is a day on which to fast. … It is a day on which to read good books, a day to contemplate and ponder....a day to study the scriptures and to prepare sermons, a day to nap and rest and relax, a day to visit the sick, a day to preach the gospel, a day to proselyte, a day to visit quietly with the family...a day to do good, a day to drink at the fountain of knowledge and of instruction, a day to seek forgiveness of our sins, a day for the enrichment of our spirit and our soul, a day to restore us to our spiritual stature, a day to partake of the emblems of [Jesus’] sacrifice and atonement, a day to contemplate the glories of the gospel and of the eternal realms, a day to climb high on the upward path toward our Heavenly Father” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 216).

THINGS WE SHOULD AVOID ON THE SABBATH:
Elder Ezra Taft Benson said:

Overworking and staying up late Saturday so that you are exhausted the next day.

Filling the Sabbath so full of extra meetings that there is no time for prayer, meditation, family fellowship, and counseling.

Doing gardening and odd jobs around the house.

Taking trips to canyons or resorts, visiting friends socially, joy riding, wasting time, and engaging in other amusements. …

Playing vigorously and going to movies.

Engaging in sports and hunting ‘wild animals’ which God made for the use of man only ‘in times of famine and excess of hunger.’ (See D&C 89:15.) …

Reading material that does not contribute to your spiritual uplift.

Shopping or supporting with your patronage businesses that operate on Sunday, such as grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and service stations” (“Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy,” Ensign, May 1971, 6–7).

Working on the Sabbath

Elder Earl C. Tingey of the Seventy said:
”We know that there are essential businesses that must be open on Sunday. These are emergency, medical, transportation, and some forms of protective services, such as police and fire” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 12; or Ensign, May 1996, 10–11).

Employees of such “essential businesses” can keep the Sabbath day holy even when their services are required on Sunday. For example, they can read the scriptures during breaks at work and attend Church meetings before or after work.

Personal Sabbath Survey

1. Which purposes and blessings of the Sabbath are important to you?
2. What activities seem to take away from the purpose of the Sabbath for you?
3. What activities help you feel the Spirit on the Sabbath?
4. What could you do before Sunday to make the Sabbath a more delightful day?
5. What will you do to keep the Sabbath day holy and enjoy it more?
(This can be found at lds.org --- this is a lesson I teach in Sunday School)

Love One Another

Look what Ethan (6) made at church with his Sunday School class. He may have gotten One and Love mixed up, but I thought it was precious and a great message! I am grateful for great Sunday School teachers who make great lessons for the little ones!

Spiritual Thought Sunday

Most people know Mormons don't drink alcohol or smoke. Where does this come from?

This commandment came to the Prophet Joseph Smith as he was praying. Joseph Smith received this revelation over 150 years ago, and it applies directly to our time. This revelation was recorded (among many others) in a book "The Doctrine and Covenants" which contains revelations given to Joseph Smith and others. I feel like this revelation is a great example of why having a prophet today is important. During the 1800's, the dangers of tobacco were not known. Only through revelation, was this danger revealed, and people were commanded to abstain from the use of tobacco and alcohol. Talk about inspiration. The dangers that come from alcohol and tobacco are great. I am grateful for this revelation. As a result, I have never taken a sip of alcohol, or ever used tobacco in any way. My husband often reminds me of what a blessing this is as he tells me what a lush/alchoholic I would probably be if I had ever taken a sip of alcohol. He knows me too well. Thank goodness I have never taken a sip.(He knows of my addictive personality).

Here is this revelation as found in the Doctrine and Covenants:

THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

SECTION 89

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833. As a consequence of the early brethren using tobacco in their meetings, the Prophet was led to ponder upon the matter; consequently he inquired of the Lord concerning it. This revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom, was the result. The first three verses were originally written as an inspired introduction and description by the Prophet.

1–9, Use of wine, strong drinks, tobacco, and hot drinks proscribed; 10–17, Herbs, fruits, flesh, and grain are ordained for the use of man and of animals; 18–21, Obedience to gospel law, including the Word of Wisdom, brings temporal and spiritual blessings.

1 A Word OF Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—
2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—
3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.
4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—
5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.
9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.



Blessings That Come from Obeying the Word of Wisdom
Physical health:

Your body will be more resistant to disease and weakness.


Emotional health:

You will have less stress and guilt and more peace of mind.


Health for your descendants:

Your children will be free from inherited deformities and weaknesses caused by drug abuse, smoking, and drinking.


Faith:

Your faith will be strengthened as you see that the Lord blesses those who obey.


Spiritual sensitivity:

You will be better able to receive and follow inspiration from the Holy Ghost.


Freedom:

You will not be a slave to drug abuse or other addictive habits.


Wisdom and knowledge:

You will have a clear mind, the desire to learn, and the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood; you will perform better in school and employment.


Self-discipline:

You will be in control of yourself and will strengthen your ability to say no to people or things that would harm you.


Financial advantage:

You will not spend money on cigarettes, liquor, or other harmful substances; you will not need to pay medical expenses caused by use of these substances.


Ability to serve:

You will not cause harm to others (by driving drunk, smoking around them, and so on); you will have the health and strength necessary to serve others.

I am grateful for prophets of old and new prophets who give us guidance through scriptures of the past and the scriptures of present. I am grateful to not have to battle with any issues related to drug, alcohol, or cigarette addiction. This is an example of how obedience provides greater freedom to those who obey. We all have enough to worry about in this world without having to worry about addiction. I am grateful that my children attend church every Sunday and are learning to never try alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Just following that cousel will save them so much heartbreak in this world. Can't we all live better with a little less heartbreak?

(Most of this information is taken from the Sunday School lesson I will be teaching today!)

Spiritual Thought Sunday --- Self Mastery (Denying Yourself)

It is hard to believe this is the same kid who as a seven year old, was scared to put his face in the water. The same child who was teased and considered emotionally sensitive as a child. Now he is considered one of the greatest Olympian's of all time. I would say this comes from denying oneself with incredible self-discipline. At a certain point, he had a vision of what he could be and had to deny everything that could get in the way of his dreams. By denying himself in the short-term, look what he was able to achieve in the long term:

Michael Phelps captured his eighth gold medal at these Beijing Games. The 23-year-old accomplished what many people said could never be accomplished. Phelps won five individual races, four of them in world-record times and the other, Friday's 100 butterfly, by 0.01 of a second. In doing so he established himself as the greatest medal-winner at a single Games in the 112-year history of the modern Olympics.

"When some people said it's not possible and it can't be done, I think that's when my imagination came into play," Phelps said recently. "And I thought I had a chance to do it. (Coach Bob Bowman) and I talked about it, and we were able to get here through a lot of hard work. It's been fun."

Between Athens in 2004 and Beijing, Phelps has collected 14 gold medals and a pair of bronzes. And he said he'd like to return for at least two more Olympics.

"It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he's maybe the greatest athlete of all time," Spitz said, according to the Associated Press. "He's the greatest racer who ever walked the planet."

"He defies description, in my opinion," said Pablo Morales, who won three golds as a U.S. swimmer. "There is no historical precedent for what he has accomplished, how he is accomplishing it, his body of work. You have at once a supremely gifted athlete with a willingness to endure unmatched levels of preparation. Plus, he's a fantastic competitor, mentally tough, and someone who appears to get even better in the face of a tough challenge."

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“You consist of two parts—your physical body, and your spirit which lives within your body. You may have heard the expression ‘mind over matter.’ … I would like to phrase it a little differently: ‘spirit over body.’ That is self-mastery” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1985, 38; or Ensign, Nov. 1985, 30).

Self-mastery is the ability of your spirit to control your body, the ability to do what you know you should do even if a part of you does not want to do it. You exercise self-mastery when you do God’s will instead of your own.

Self-Mastery Brings Blessings

Jesus taught us that we must be able to master ourselves if we are to be his disciples.

Matthew 16:24:

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

• Why must a person “deny himself [or herself]” to be a follower of Jesus Christ?

The Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 16:24 (see footnote d in the Latter-day Saint edition of the Bible) clarifies that we are to deny ourselves “all ungodliness.” We are to give up unrighteous actions and replace them with righteous ones. Exercising self-mastery involves using our agency to choose to live righteously.

Exercising self-mastery does not mean denying oneself everything that is enjoyable or fun. When we practice self-mastery, we give up some things or experiences in order to receive things or experiences we want more. For example, when we fast, for a time we give up eating, which is enjoyable, in order to receive spiritual strength and growth. On a larger scale, we give up sin (which may sometimes appear enjoyable) in order to have peace of mind and the opportunity to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again.

We Can Exercise Self-Mastery

Self-mastery, like other skills, is developed through practice. In some instances, we practice self-mastery simply by doing the desired action each day and thus forming a habit. Self-mastery in other areas, however, may require more effort.

• What actions can help us exercise self-mastery?

1. Work to achieve appropriate goals.

When we recognize areas in our lives that require greater self-mastery, we can set goals with clear achievable steps to help us. For example, if we need greater self-mastery in getting ready for church on time, we can plan what things need to be done on Saturday in order to achieve this goal.

2. Replace bad habits with good ones.

It is easier to break a bad habit if we replace it with a better habit or activity. For example, a person trying to increase self-mastery over procrastination can replace a habit of leaving homework until the last minute with a better habit of doing it at a specific time every day.

3. Ask friends or family members to help.

Sometimes simply telling someone else about a goal we have set or a habit we are trying to develop can motivate us to work harder. Friends and family members can also give us encouragement and assistance as we work to exercise greater self-mastery.

4. Pray and read the scriptures.

When we pray, we can ask Heavenly Father to give us the strength we need to reach our goals or change our habits. As we study the scriptures, we can be guided by the Lord’s counsel and the example of others who have exercised self-mastery, such as Daniel or Joseph of Egypt. If we are receptive to the influence of the Holy Ghost, he can also help us achieve self-mastery.

We Can Accomplish Great Things with Self-Mastery

Roger Bannister (Breaking record for four minute mile in 1954)



“Many years ago [Roger Bannister] participated in the Olympic Games as a champion in the one-mile race. He was supposed to win, but he wound up finishing in fourth place. He went home from the Olympics discouraged, disillusioned, and embarrassed.

“He had his mind set on giving up running. He was a medical student at the time, and his studies were so demanding. He decided that he’d better get on with life and devote all of his time in preparing for medicine and forget his hopes about running the world’s record in the four-minute mile. He went to his coach and told him, ‘Coach, I’m through. I’m going to devote all my time to studying.’ His coach said, ‘Roger, I think you are the man who can break the four-minute mile. I wish you’d give it one last try before you quit.’

“Roger … went home knowing not what to say or to do. But before the night was over, he had convinced himself that he would develop an iron will before he quit running. He was going to break the four-minute mile.

“He knew what this meant. He would have to set a pattern and live by it. He realized he would have to study seven, eight, or even nine hours a day to get through medical school. He would have to train for at least four hours a day. … He knew he would have to eat the best foods. He knew he would have to go to bed early every night and sleep nine or ten hours, to let his body recuperate and constantly build up for the great day. He determined within himself that he was going to follow the rigid pattern he and the coach knew was necessary for victory and achievement.

“On May 6, 1954, the four-minute-mile barrier was broken by Roger Bannister, … a man committed to a winning pattern which would bring him recognition worldwide. … Roger Bannister set the pattern many years ago and followed it with total commitment, self-discipline, and a will of iron” (Marvin J. Ashton, in Conference Report, Oct. 1990, 25–26; or Ensign, Nov. 1990, 22).

Self-mastery can require hard work, but it also brings great blessings.

Luke 22:39–46:

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

How did the Savior exercise self-mastery? (He did what Heavenly Father wanted, not what he wanted to do.)

What were the results of his self-mastery? (He suffered for our sins and made salvation possible for us when we repent.)

As we develop self-mastery, we develop a greater ability to say, as Jesus did, “Father, … not my will, but thine, be done.”

We Must Decide Now to Master Ourselves

President David O. McKay urged us to remember that “the greatest battle of life is fought out within the silent chambers of your own soul” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1969, 95; or Improvement Era, June 1969, 30).

• What is one thing you can do this week to increase your self-mastery?

Pray for help in exercising self-mastery. All the blessings promised to the faithful in the plan of salvation come to those who learn to deny themselves of all ungodliness and follow the Lord.

Proverbs 25:28:

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

How is a person who “hath no rule over his own spirit,” that is, a person without self-mastery, “like a city that is broken down, and without walls”? (Such a person has no defense against temptation and is vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.)

(This information is taken from lds.org--a lesson manual for Sunday School, except the Michael Phelps portion which is my updated inspirational example for this concept.)

A Fathers Blessing

Well, my children go back to school tomorrow, so Daddy wanted to give Brandon and Ethan fathers blessings. After Brandon and Ethan received the blessings, the rest of the children also wanted a blessing. It was sweet and cute. Even little Dylan (1 1/2) wanted his turn. He climbed up on the chair, bowed his head, and folded his little arms. I had to take a picture prior to the blessing as it was so sweet. We all had to keep a straight face as Maddie (2 1/2) repeated every word of each blessing, as she saw it as a prayer. When people give prayers, she likes to "help" them. It is very cute. Little Benjamin (3 1/2) was upset as he is wanting to go to school, but still has to wait a couple years. He sees it as quite unfair that his big brothers get to go to school and he doesn't. These are some of the moments I will miss as they grow up. Little children are so sweet and innocent. I just want to put all of it in a bottle and hold onto it as long as I can.

Obedience ---- Spiritual Thought Sunday

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin:

“The windows of heaven are open wide to the faithful and righteous; nothing closes them faster than disobedience. … "

“… Diligent, enduring obedience to God’s laws is the key that opens the windows of heaven. Obedience enables us to be receptive to the mind and will of the Lord. ‘The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient’ are those who receive the blessings of revelation through the open windows of heaven” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 101; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 75–76; see also D&C 64:34).

Every blessing we receive is based on our obedience.

(D&C 130:20–21):

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

• In a short time, Saul went from being chosen by the Lord as king to being rejected by the Lord as king. What do you think could have happened to change Saul’s standing with the Lord?

1 Samuel 13:13–14.

And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

• What was the main reason for Saul being rejected by the Lord? (He was disobedient to the Lord and His servants.)

• For Saul, disobedience made the difference between being king and not being king. What difference does our obedience or disobedience make in our lives?

What is God’s work and glory, or main purpose?

(Moses 1:39)

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

• How does our obedience play a part in Heavenly Father’s work and glory?

We will all be resurrected and receive immortality. However, we must obey Heavenly Father’s commandments to be able to receive eternal life. Heavenly Father gives us commandments because he loves us and wants us to become like him and dwell in his presence forever.

Heavenly Father has given us commandments to help us be happy.

In Mosiah 2:41 it reads:

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Right now our world is in desperate need of temporal and spiritual blessings. Truly, this is a time for us to be obedient in all things, as our world is in desperate need of the blessings of our Heavenly Father.

Obedience to the commandments does not guarantee that we will never experience difficulties or challenges. However, even when we are disappointed or sad about circumstances in our lives, we can be happy about our lives in general because of our faith in God and our assurance that he is pleased with our efforts to be obedient.

Heavenly Father showed his great love for us when he sent his Son to atone for our sins. By doing what Heavenly Father wanted him to do, Jesus Christ set a perfect example of complete obedience.

John 6:38 (Jesus is speaking in this verse):
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Luke 22:41–44:

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus asked to be spared the pain that he knew would come in the Garden of Gethsemane. However, he put Heavenly Father’s will before his own and willingly partook of the “bitter cup” the Father gave him.

3 Nephi 11:11:

And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

• What are some situations in which we might need to say, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”?

What are some reasons why people obey the commandments?

People obey because:

1. They are afraid of being punished for disobedience.

2. They want the rewards that come from obedience.

3. They want other people to see them and think that they are righteous.

4. They feel peace and joy when they are obedient.

5. They love Heavenly Father and Jesus.

John 14:15:

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

• Why do you think love for Heavenly Father and Jesus is such an important reason for obeying the commandments?

Goal for the week: Increase your obedience to one of the commandments of God.

Here are your choices (Choose one of these to work on):

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” ( Exodus 20:3).
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” ( Exodus 20:4).
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” ( Exodus 20:7).
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” ( Exodus 20:8).
“Honour thy father and thy mother” ( Exodus 20:12).
“Thou shalt not kill” ( Exodus 20:13).
“Thou shalt not commit adultery” ( Exodus 20:14).
“Thou shalt not steal” ( Exodus 20:15).
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” ( Exodus 20:16).
“Thou shalt not covet” ( Exodus 20:17).

We all know which commandment(s) we are personally struggling with and what we need to work on. By working on our obedience to the commandments, we will receive temporal and spiritual blessings!

Sign me up! We can all sign up for greater blessings by demonstrating greater obedience to the commandments of God. Jesus has shown us the way.

(These thoughts come from the lesson I am teaching to the 12-13 year olds at church.)

Spiritual Thought Sunday

Heavenly Father loved us enough to send his Son to atone for our sins.

Elder Melvin J. Ballard, on the importance of the sacrament:

“It is written in the scriptures that God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son to die for the world, that whosoever believeth on him … and keepeth his commandments, shall be saved. But this [sacrifice] did not cost us very much—freely given are all these glorious privileges. …

“… While we give nothing, perhaps, for this atonement and this sacrifice, nevertheless, it has cost someone something, and I love to contemplate what it cost our Father in heaven to give us the gift of his beloved Son, … who so loved the world that he laid his life down to redeem the world, to save us and to feed us spiritually while we walk in this life, and prepare us to go and dwell with him in the eternal worlds. …

“Our Father in heaven … loved his Son Jesus Christ, … for [he] had with him his Son, our Redeemer, in the eternal worlds, faithful and true for ages. … God heard the cry of his Son in that moment of great grief and agony, in the garden when … he cried out: ‘Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.’ …

“… He saw that Son condemned, he saw him drag the cross through the streets of Jerusalem and faint under its load. … He saw [Jesus’] body stretched out upon the wooden cross, he saw the cruel nails driven through hands and feet, and the blows that broke the skin, tore the flesh … and let out the life’s blood of his Son. …

“In that hour I think I can see our dear Father, … his great heart almost breaking for the love that he had for his Son. Oh, in that moment when he might have saved his Son, I thank him and praise him that he did not fail us, for he had not only the love of his Son in mind, but he had love for us, and I rejoice that he did not interfere, and that his love for us made it possible for him to endure to look upon the sufferings of his Son and give him finally to us, our Savior and our Redeemer. …

“… My brethren and sisters, … if I only knew how essential it was … that I should receive the spiritual life that comes from that Son, I am sure I would always be present at the sacrament table to do honor to the gift that has come unto us” (“The Sacramental Covenant,” Improvement Era, Oct. 1919, 1028–31).

When Jesus visited the Nephites after his Resurrection, he taught them about the sacrament.

In 3 Nephi 18:1–11 it says:

1 And it came to pass that Jesus commanded his Disciples that they should bring forth some bread and wine unto him.
2 And while they were gone for bread and wine, he commanded the multitude that they should sit themselves down upon the earth.
3 And when the Disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the Disciples and commanded that they should eat.
4 And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude.
5 And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the Disciples: Behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name.
6 And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you.
7 And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.
8 And it came to pass that when he said these words, he commanded his Disciples that they should take of the wine of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude that they might drink of it.
9 And it came to pass that they did so, and did drink of it and were filled; and they gave unto the multitude, and they did drink, and they were filled.
10 And when the Disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them: Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you.
11 And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my bblood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.

Notice the word "filled" is used four times.

In this day and age, how many of us are feeling content and "filled" in our lives?

The Saviour has taught us how we can feel "filled". When we follow the words of Christ and our Heavenly Father, we will be "filled" with the Holy Ghost. (3 Nephi 20:8-9)

Why did Jesus call the disciples “blessed” after they had partaken of the sacrament?

3 Nephi 18:10:
10 And when the Disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them: Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are awilling to do that which I have commanded you.

Apostle Paul talked about the importance of partaking of the sacrament worthily. Being worthy to partake of the sacrament does not mean being perfect. To partake of the sacrament worthily, we must be doing our very best to keep the covenants we have made—to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, always remember him, and keep the commandments.

1 Corinthians 11:28–30:
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Am I "sleeping" and "weak and sickly"?

We must examine our lives and repent of our sins. What a beautiful thing to feel "filled" with the Holy Ghost and feel the Spirit of God in our lives. It is right there for the taking, if we are willing to go to church, follow the commandments of God, repent of our sins, and take of the sacrament. How blessed we are to have this weekly review of our lives and a weekly remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for our sins.

This is the lesson that I will be teaching the 12-13 year olds in my church today! A great reminder for me!

Excerpts from a quote from Elder M. Russell Ballard:

“My dear young friends, I encourage you to take time each week to be by yourself, away from television and the crowd. Have your scriptures with you, and as you read, ponder, and pray, take an honest look at your life. Evaluate where you stand with the promises you have made with Heavenly Father. If you have a problem, talk it over with the Lord in earnest and humble prayer....When all is said and done, however, only you know if you are living true to your covenants made with God” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 7; or Ensign, May 1993, 8).

Something for us all to think about---not just the youth!

A Beautiful Hymn: As Now We Take the Sacrament

As now we take the sacrament,
Our thoughts are turned to thee,
Thou Son of God, who lived for us,
Then died on Calvary.
We contemplate thy lasting grace,
Thy boundless charity;
To us the gift of life was giv’n
For all eternity.

As now our minds review the past,
We know we must repent;
The way to thee is righteousness—
The way thy life was spent.
Forgiveness is a gift from thee
We seek with pure intent.
With hands now pledged to do thy work,
We take the sacrament.

As now we praise thy name with song,
The blessings of this day
Will linger in our thankful hearts,
And silently we pray
For courage to accept thy will,
To listen and obey.
We love thee, Lord; our hearts are full.
We’ll walk thy chosen way.


Text: Lee Tom Perry, b. 1951. © 1985 IRI

A Beautiful Day (Howard Tracy Hall Funeral)

Here is the link just in case you are wanting to hear the beautiful funeral talks and remarks---as recorded. (Isn't technology incredible?)

My Grandpa, Howard Tracy Hall's funeral recording

My Grandpa's funeral was beautiful, spiritual and exquisite in every way! I made a slideshow with many pictures from the funeral. However, the main purpose of my blog is my journal. Since I can't publish the slideshow, I decided to put some of my favorite pictures on here, so they can be published, when I publish this blog into a book.

Some of the gorgeous flowers

The Pallbearers






My parents at the funeral

My husband and kids watching from my other Grandpa's grave

The doves

The Flowers






Collages of my Grandpa's life







Some of my Grandpa's brothers looking at the pictures from my Grandpa's life.

Grandpa's Funeral (Howard Tracy Hall)

Here is a slideshow from my Grandpa's beautiful funeral today! An impromptu family reunion!

End of an Era (Howard Tracy Hall & Ida Rose Hall Memories)

I can get quite nostalgic---especially about homes. There is something so comforting about a place you have known for a long time. I feel this way about my Grandma and Grandpa Hall's home. They have lived there all my life. They live about 3 doors from BYU. I thought I would walk around the home and take some pictures as it may not be "their" home for much longer. It is definately a place of comfort! You can see in the pictures the greenhouse my Grandpa had made for my Grandma so she could have fun with her flower love. Romance at it's best!

I have some great childhood memories of that home. My grandparents built that home, when my Mom was still a little girl, so that home has a lot of my grandparents in it. One of my memories is running around that backyard. They have a little hill I used to love to run down in that backyard. I also will miss hearing my Grandma in her stern voice tell us grandkids to stop this or that "or I will grab you by your left leg and throw you down the stairs." She had stairs that went down to the basement, and I think most of us had a fear we would end up being flung down those stairs, although it never happened, not even when my brother broke one of their windows. My Grandma would often sound gruff, but had a most loving, kind heart underneath that! I just love that she was so down to earth. As a freshman in college, I would clean her house for some hours every week. We would talk a lot and joke around. She had an incredible sense of humor---we would laugh and joke, she was a lot of fun. I have inherited her love of plants, flowers, and greenery. I always have loved that apricot tree.

My Grandfather's funeral today was the most beautiful funeral I have ever attended. The Spirit of God was there. You could feel such a spiritual presence. The talks given by my Mom, Aunt's and Uncle were beautiful, and many of my cousins did beautiful musical numbers. (OK, it's sorta' not fair that I missed out on both the musical and genius genes!) I just realize what a beautiful legacy for so many people, my grandfather and grandmother were able to create. They have quite the posterity and have done so much to make sure we have a strong foundation in the gospel of Jesus Christ. My grandfather always emitted love, but was a humble man of few words. His eyes always had a sparkle and showed great love. I feel so blessed to have had so many great men in my life---my grandfather, father, and husband. They all have the great qualities of devotion, love, humility, Christ-like love, and just plain goodness! I hope my grandparents legacy continues through future generations (and maybe the genes skipped a generation, and my kids will be brilliant and talented in the music realm......). Hopefully, it will not be "the end" of an era.

The House my Grandparents built back in the day...

Grandma's roses

Grandma's Day-lilies

Grandma's Apricot Tree


The Greenhouse for my Grandma and her orchids

The "hill" that doesn't look much like a hill now, that I used to love to run down

It's sorta' like a secret garden. From the outside, it doesn't look like much of a yard, but once you get inside, it is a beautiful, quiet, fairly private backyard.