Focus

I really loved this article....Avoid Distractions by Focusing on Christ.  I think it's a key to life for the day - stay focused, don't get distracted.

Joseph Smith taught: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it. But in connection with these, we believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost, the power of faith, the enjoyment of the spiritual gifts according to the will of God, the restoration of the house of Israel, and the final triumph of truth.”

It reminded me of this song that someone talked about at church on Sunday, that I think is really sweet:
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace."

Marriage and Family

So, I started this blog post a long time ago (probably sometime in January) and a lot has happened since then regarding this important topic and so I think I better at least finish version one of my thoughts.  :)  Today seemed like a good day to look at this again because I just finished watching my cute niece and nephew and about 100 other kids from their ward sweetly teach that "Families Can Be Together Forever."

I believe in marriage!!  I believe marriage is ordained of God (see The Family: A Proclamation to the World - if you haven't read this document before or for a long time I HIGHLY recommend it!).  As such, I believe that it is a sacred commitment and God teaches us the requirements and how we can be successful.  It is an important purpose of our lives here on earth.  God wants us to be happy.  He wants us to become like Him.  I think that one of the most important ways we learn to love and progress and learn in life is through marriage and family relationships.

President Joseph Fielding Smith taught about the importance of strengthening and preserving the family.  He taught that "the family is the most important organization in time or in eternity."  No other organization or responsibility or relationship or job or time commitment in life is as important as family!  Family relationships can last eternally when we are sealed in temples by priesthood authority and when we live worthy of that covenant.

Earlier this year I was attending a very sweet family ward with unique demographics - the average age of the ward was probably at least 80, with a few newly weds scattered throughout.  I learned a lot attending church with these sweet people for a couple of years.  I learned about love and relationships, about enduring, about serving, and about what's most important.  Two images of love that I take from that ward are of all the cute newly married couples clinging to each other in sacrament meeting, but maybe even sweeter was the diligent 85-year-old brother that would faithfully bring his wife with dementia into Relief Society each Sunday and leaving her with a kiss.  One month he stood in sacrament meeting to bear her testimony for her.  :)  He talked about the privilege of being able to help her with things she can't do anymore, even sharing the beliefs that he knew she held as important.  It was very sweet and strengthened my faith in the importance of marriage and love and family.  Every week I was inspired by the love I saw.

I'm grateful for examples in my life of loving relationships, marriage, and family life.  I love my family!  I hope one day to have my own family, but until then I will still stand up for the importance of protecting and strengthening families and teach others the blessings and importance of family.  I believe that strong families and faith will save us and our country and communities.  Here are a few other resources that might be helpful places to start:

• The Divine Institution of Marriage
• Home and Family
• the beginning of a list of several General Conference talks to study 
• Eternal Marriage by Elder F. Burton Howard
• Enduring Love
• 3 Nephi 17:3

But, I think my highest recommendation right now is that you sing, listen to, play, enjoy, learn from this beautiful song, The Family Is of God (by Matthew Neeley, from the October 2008 Friend magazine):  :)

We are all a part of our Heavenly Father's family.  We are His children.  He loves us.  As we follow Him and His plan for our lives we will be happy.  I know an important part of that plan is eternal families!  For those of us still trying to figure out how to get there, I was inspired by these talks from President Benson:

• To the Single Adult Sisters of the Church
• To the Single Adult Brethren of the Church

Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire

Did you know there are eight beautiful verses to this song?  It's wonderful!  ....and my inspiration for the day:



I was reminded of this song today as a part of a book I'm reading called Face to Face.  It is a sweet book about prayer, but the author doesn't use the word prayer much in the book - instead he uses words like wrestle, pouring out our souls, being filled with desire, knocking to highlight that prayer is work and it's a relationship and such a blessing!  I feel like this song sums up many of the thoughts I had while reading today.  :)

I also happened to be reading two of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon today - 3 Nephi 18-19.  They talk about these very subjects, as Jesus teaches the Nephites to pray and they pray for that which they desired most - the Holy Ghost.  These are such sweet and special moments and there is much we can learn from their examples and humility and focus.

Family Time

It was kind of like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and everyone's birthday this past week!  :)  It was so wonderful for the whole family to be together!  Most importantly we were celebrating Kayla's eighth birthday and baptism and Hailey's first birthday, but other than that it was just really nice to be together for a few days.

A few of the highlights:

• kalua pig and pineapple
• Mason dancing to "Happy" during Hailey's first birthday video - the kid can dance!!  :)
• strawberry and donut sticks until 1:00 am
• color coordinated banners (it's a good thing my kids are missing the birthday luaus, so at least that part of their lives they don't have to compare to their cousins')
• Kayla's baptism
• the baptism video (a five-tissue event)
• being together and talking and laughing
• watching Mason and Noah play together
• watching Henri protect himself from Hailey
• family pictures
• hiking Timp 
• watching all the kids sing "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" together
• visiting the pumpkin patch
• adventures at City Creek Canyon and Temple Square
• beautiful fall leaves all along the way

It was a fun week!  Until the next time, we'll enjoy the pictures and memories....

A Worldwide Gathering #ldsconf

I love General Conference!  It is uplifting and encouraging and wonderful to hear the words of prophets and other Church leaders.  They teach of Jesus Christ and how we can find happiness and peace.  This conference I was inspired again by the chance to gather worldwide as brothers and sisters to learn.  Some of the main messages and themes that I heard, for me, were:

·         Take responsibility, make good decisions, keep the commandments.

·         Gain, strengthen, and keep your testimony and increase faith.

·         Love the Lord.

·         Sustain the prophet.

·         Strengthen families.

·         Be kind and love others.

·         Give to others, particularly the poor.

·         Find out what your mission is and do it!

·         Believe in the power of prayer!

I am always inspired by the music!  Here were some of my favorite songs:

·         High on the Mountain Top – here we shall be taught the law that will go forth!

·         Beautiful Zion, city of our God!

·         Loyal, strong and true!

·         Guide Us O, Thou Great Jehovah…hold us in thy powerful hand!

·         If I listen with my heart – I hear the Savior’s voice.

·         Arise and shine – fill the world with righteousness!

·         I Know that My Redeemer Lives – He lives to calm my troubled heart; all blessings to impart.

·         Lord, I Would Follow Thee.

·         Praise to the Man who communed with Jehovah!

·         Come, Ye Children of the Lord!

·         Softly and Tenderly Jesus is calling – calling the sinner, Come Home.  Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading?  Why should we linger?  Come home.  Find the love He has promised!

·         I Am a Child of God...His promises are sure!

These scriptures stood out to me as important:

·         2 Nephi 25:26: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”

·         2 Nephi 31:20: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

·         2 Nephi 32:5: “For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.”

·         Helaman 5:12: “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”

Here are a few of my favorite words:

·         May our hearts be touched and our faith increased.

·         Be loyal disciples of Christ – each individual is important in the war against the adversary!

·         We need to be involved!

·         Christ lives.  He is no stranger to his servants!

·         Which way do you face?  Do not fear man!

·         Remember the order of the first two commandments – Love God!

·         Courage is the root of every virtue.

·         Perfect love casteth out fear.

·         Don’t lower your standards – boldly defend them.

·         Always face the Father.  Do His will!

·         Remember whose disciples we are!

·         Prepare ahead of time so the sacrament can heal us.

·         Our wounded souls can be healed and renewed through Christ.

·         Always have His spirit to be with us.

·         Our combined faith will bless others.

·         God is a God of miracles!

·         We need to know and understand truth for ourselves!

·         God will neither compel nor abandon us!  The greatest manifestation of His love is His commandments.

·         Choose who you will become – develop a Christ-like character.

·         There is fixed truth!

·         Cultivate yours talents.  It’s God’s will that we be free to rise to our potential.

·         Exert ourselves, choose God, take responsibility, and go to work!

·         We can know the truth for ourselves.

·         He speaks to those who approach Him with real intent.

·         God cares about you and He will answer.

·         Learn to listen to His voice!

·         Personal testimony is the most important thing you can gain in this life.

·         That which is of God is light.  Continue in God and receive more light.

·         Indicate your readiness to receive now.

·         Love is the essence of the gospel and Jesus is our exemplar!

·         Love Him, keep His commandments, but don’t stir up contention.  Be humble, meek.

·         Don’t compromise or dilute the truth.

·         Our covenants cast us as a combatant in the battle between truth and error.

·         Teach the truth plainly at home.

·         In public discourse be sure to love your neighbor – be civil, listen, care.

·         Follow the Savior’s teachings more closely!

·         Be friends with non-members.

·         Be firm in the truth!

·         Be kind, live peacefully with others.

·         The internet has no truth filter. 

·         Never doubt the testimony of God’s prophets!

·         We need to be prepared and have our own testimony so that we can help others.

·         Find and share scriptures from the Book of Mormon that show that Joseph was an instrument in God’s hands.  Know Brother Joseph again!

·         Successful people read!

·         Teach children the power of prayer!

·         Spend your best time with that which is most important.

·         Honor your responsibility as parents!

·         Take responsibility for your spiritual well-being.

·         Embrace obedience.

·         Repent thoroughly and quickly.

·         Forgive and forget quickly.

·         Know His voice (the Good Shepherd) and follow Him.  Walk with Him!

·         The Savior had nowhere to lay his head – He was homeless.

·         Join Him in lifting burdens.  Look to the poor and needy and administer to their relief.

·         Christianity is not a statistical endeavor – there is joy in one soul that repenteth!

·         We’re all beggars and cry out for help and forgiveness.

·         We obtain a remission of our sins by pleading for forgiveness and we retain a remission of our sins by responding to the poor.

·         I don’t know how you should fulfill your obligation – He knows and will guide you in compassionate discipleship.

·         By living the law of the fast at least monthly we will find spiritual and temporal blessings.

·         God will be generous to you.

·         Preserve and protect the family as the basic unit of society.

·         Your most important calling is as parents.

·         Lord, is it I?

·         Continuing revelation comes to lift us above our capacities.

·         God reveals things beyond earthly education.

·         Heavenly Father loves you and knows your name!

·         The Lord’s ways are not man’s ways.

·         The Living Lord leads His living Church!

·         Sacrifice what you have to to sustain the prophet!

·         Following the prophet may be unpopular, but it is always right!

·         The Lord will feed those who trust Him!

·         Nothing but wisdom of God from the prophet’s lips will save us.

·         Choose to stand with the prophets!

·         Our Heavenly Father wants us to seek this knowledge now!

·         The wind may blow, but we will not fall if we’re founded on Christ.

·         No unclean thing can enter the kingdom of God.

·         Atonement is the most important event in time and eternity.

·         In mortality He will prove us now herewith to see if we’ll do all that the Lord commands.

·         He didn’t send us here without direction and guidance.

·         Walking as he walked is more important than physically walking where he walked.

·         Each of us can walked where He walked by letting His teachings guide our lives.

·         Strive to put Christ at the center of our lives!  Study His words.  Become His disciples.  Do His work!

·         Ponder the path of thy feet – walk the path Jesus did. 

·         Stay in the boat.  Always wear your life jacket. Always hold on with both hands.

·         God is at the helm – The Lord is here and directs.

·         Study, live, love the doctrine of Christ!

·         Don’t be distracted from the simple, clear message of the gospel.

·         We are here to be tested, tried, and stretched.

·         Take time to actively exercise faith – the power of Jesus Christ in our lives.

·         Converse with the Father often; share your thoughts, feelings; tell him everything.

·         Study the scriptures and words of living prophets to know His voice.

·         Go to the temple; seek Him there!

·         If you continue to live as you are, will the blessings in your patriarchal blessing be fulfilled?

·         How then can we ensure we are making the best decision?

·         Understand who you are and why you’re here.  What does the Lord expect?

·         Leave comfort zone to reach a better place!

·         He loves us and He has a plan for us.  He wants us to grow to our potential.

·         Qualifying for exaltation is like a spiritual passport – it’s the quest of a lifetime.

·         We don’t set the rules, but we must follow them.  God sets qualifications.

·         Family is the center of the plan of salvation.

·         Our success is determined by how we live the gospel at home.

·         Learn family history – a little bit of time on a consistent basis will bring joy and protection against the adversary.

·         Choose not to forsake what you know to be true.

·         Where do I turn for truth when questions arise?  There is a divine source!

·         Remain ever faithful!

·         We will always be valiant missionaries – we have a solemn obligation to fulfill commission to go ye therefore and teach all nations!

·         We are not selling or coercing.  We are inviting you...so that you can study, ponder and pray!

·         Sharing what’s helped us is not unusual.

·         Greatest manifestation of love of God is the Savior’s Atonement.

·         Absolute truth exists!

·         Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus is the Lord, the Only Begotten of the Father.

·         We witness He lives and His church is here!

·         Our simple desire is to share truths!  Come and see!

·         Do the right things at all times.  Be more valiant disciples!