Faith and Hope

So, I seem to be a consistent Sunday Blogger. :) Some of my best inspiration seems to come then....or I have the time to gather my thoughts....as the dews from heaven distilling! :)

Today we had a nice lesson on faith and hope. I LOVE Elder Nelson's talk from last Conference, Face the Future with Faith. Here are two of my favorite quotes:

PRAYER:

“If we pray with an eternal perspective, we need not wonder if our most tearful and heartfelt pleadings are heard. This promise from the Lord is recorded in section 98 of the Doctrine and Covenants:

'Your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord … and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

'Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.'

The Lord chose His strongest words to reassure us! Seal! Testament! Sworn! Decreed! Immutable covenant! Brothers and Sisters, believe Him! God will heed your sincere and heartfelt prayers, and your faith will be strengthened."

RESILIENT FAITH:

"Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord 'shall suffer persecution.' That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives."

Roots and Wings

It has been a neat week of small memories. I ran into several people from my past--mission, elementary school, undergrad years. Each of these people reminded me of a different time and place in my life and that was really great! I had the chance to think of who I was at that time. :) It reminded me of some neat things I've done in the past and who I was/am. I think that sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day-ness of our lives that we can sometimes forget who we really are and want to be. :)

In some ways I miss who I used to be, but it's neat to think about how I've grown and changed as well. I'm grateful for good people in my life that have helped me learn and grow. I am grateful for memories of who I am and hope to be. I'm grateful for my roots and the people in my life that have made me who I am! :)

At the same time, I realize that life and the future is what we make it. We need to move on and use our wings. :) While thinking about these two important sides of remembering and learning from the past and moving on into the future, I also realize how important it is to live for today--don't miss opportunities right in front of you at the moment to learn, serve, teach, share, love. I think that will make for the best yesterdays and tomorrows. :)

All is Well!

I LOVED the chance to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing here in Virginia! It was a BEAUTIFUL summer night at Wolf Trap and I was inspired by their music! :)

Some of my favorite songs:

• He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
• It's a Grand Night for Singing
• Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep
• Come, Come, Ye Saints (All is Well!)
• Battle Hymn of the Republic
• Encore: God Bless America

Happy Father's Day!!! :)

I sure love my dad!!! :) He's pretty neat! He taught me a lot of great things and continues to even when he lives far away....reading, running, serving, enjoying life, learning, being kind, being humble, praying, loving, hiking, talking, working, forgiving, having fun, setting priorities, teaching, making decisions, exploring! :)

I am grateful for FAMILY! I know that it's the "fundamental unit of our society" and "ordained of God." I saw some neat reminders today of the importance and blessings of family....cute children singing for their dads, adults sharing stories of their dads and their influence, sweet drawings on the door of a home that I'm pretty sure were Father's Day notes, phone calls with dad and grandpa, a happy couple walking around the neighborhood holding hands, an adorable little family enjoying the park and being together on a Sunday evening. :) I'm grateful for these neat reminders of the importance and happiness of family!

Sunday Thoughts

So, these are actually thoughts from last Sunday, but I never finished this post and have been thinking about them through the week too...

* Song is a prayer (D&C 25). God hears our prayers....even if we can't sing well. :)

* Bible Dictionary - GRACE: "It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of the sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise wound not be able to maintain if left to their own means."

* Elder Cook gives a neat talk on the True Path to Happiness in this month's Ensign. The five main points he makes include:

• Be grateful for your heritage.
• Commit yourself to the family.
• Be involved in a positive way.
• Live and communicate your standards.
• Be a light.

I have been thinking a lot about happiness this week. I just finished another book on the topic (more on this soon). For me happiness all comes back to the teachings and blessings of the gospel and this quote that Elder Cook shares by Joseph Smith, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God."

* In the same Ensign there is another talk that I LOVED...by Elder Porter, Defending the Family in a Troubled World. This is a GREAT talk and so important today!!! Be sure to read it! Three of my main takeaways include:

• Truth is truth. It's eternal. In a world that shies away from any standards and any moral right and wrong, we must remember and be strong in our convictions of eternal truths.
• Charity is a far greater virtue than tolerance!
• While others tell us to "find ourselves" the Savior teaches, "He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

Inspired! :)

I was inspired today by being a part of the community in a special way--I volunteered for a few hours helping at one of the information booths at the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure on the National Mall! I've enjoyed several events kind of like this in the past as a runner, but this was very different. I enjoyed watching all of the people there to celebrate and support. It wasn't about winning--it was about raising money for an important cause and being there as a support for others. It was very inspiring and kind of emotional to stand there near the starting line and watch thousands and thousands of people walk together united around each other and a cause to lift and help others....and watch many people fill out cards indicating who they were remembering.

I love the sense of community and unitedness...people from all over the world and all political backgrounds and walks of life reaching out and being kind. Here is a short video of part of last year's event that shows some of the fun of the day! :)

I also enjoyed learning from others as I was volunteering. Some people are so kind and nice. They call you by name and thank you personally for the small bit of information you share. :) It made me think again about how I treat those that I don't know each day in my interactions. We really are all here together. We can be such a support and lift to someone else's day....even in very small ways. Smile. Say "Thank you." Be kind. I was inspired by the strength, courage and examples of those around me. It really is all about loving each other....and helping each other through out trials. :) It also reminded me again of the faith and strength of my wonderful mother! :)

I was reminded that I really love volunteering. I love helping people find where they need to go (especially around the National Mall). I love being a part of a community and looking for small ways to be involved and make a difference. :)

I LOVE the temple! :)

I am grateful for the peace and joy of the temple in my life! Life seems so much simpler and the vision so much clearer there! I love the peace and direction! :)

I LOVE the Book of Mormon!

I love the Book of Mormon. I know it is the word of God and brings us nearer to God (as we abide by its precepts) than any other book. I'm excited to join my family and ward from home as we start the Book of Mormon again with STOMP (Summer Trying Out Moroni's Promise). Today, as a part of my four chapters a day, I read 1 Nephi 15:8-9 and was struck by Nephi's interchange with Laman and Lemuel. When Laman and Lemuel complain that they can't understand Lehi's words Nephi asks them, "Have you inquired of the Lord?" And they respond, "We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us."

Prior to these verses are several chapters where Nephi specifically asks the Lord about the his father's teachings and is shown everything by an angel in a vision. He knows firsthand that God will answer prayers and teach His children.

I feel like I have learned A LOT this year about the importance of being proactive....and here it is again. :) I know that the Lord loves us and wants to bless us, but sometimes we just need to ask. We can't just sit back and wait for things to come to us. We must show that we want to learn and understand and grow. That's when the Lord will bless us with more understanding.

Laman and Lemuel's response here sounds so silly, but how many of us are waiting around for the Lord to show us something that we have not studied out and asked to know for ourselves? :)

John 11

It was another great Sunday School lesson today. We studied the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. This is a very personal story with tender feelings we can probably all relate to in some way. There were three neat points that stuck out to me today:

• Waiting on the Lord builds faith. Why did Jesus wait until Lazarus had been dead for four days before he came to raise him from the dead? Are there things that we wait for and pray for and hope for that haven't come quickly? Has it reached the point where we have given up believing the blessing will come? As we wait on the Lord we are reminded that He is "the resurrection, and the life" and He will heal us. It is only through waiting and trusting and exercising faith that it will grow. Miracles come AFTER our faith.

• Mourning is a part of the healing process. Jesus shows compassion and empathy as he weeps with Mary and Martha before raising Lazarus from the dead. This is an important part of the healing process. We are promised in the Sermon on the Mount that those who mourn will be comforted and we promise when we are baptized that we will mourn with those that mourn. I think this is part of having an open and loving heart and healing and helping others heal.

• We must allow others to be healed and change and move on. As Lazarus comes forth at Jesus' command and is healed others that were there were asked to "loose him, and let him go." Just as Lazarus, we need people around us that will help us move on after we are healed. While he was the President of BYU-Hawaii, Eric Shumway gave a talk called Loose Him, and Let Him Go that describes these exact ideas to help others heal.

He is the resurrection and the life! I am grateful for His love and the miracle of resurrection and healing through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful

I had an epiphany of sorts this week....and I think most of my thoughts can be summed up in this neat picture and idea from a Mormon Ad from the past:

I was sitting in an institute class this week when I started to understand more clearly this direction and reminder I needed in life right now. We were talking about Elder Holland's talk from this last General Conference, An Ensign to the Nations. It was a great lesson. We talked about ways that we are an ensign and standard and example of the gospel to the world. It was inspiring and important and specific to me. I feel like this is an important part of my calling in life and it gave me a renewed resolve to work to really find out what I need to be doing specifically now to help me become what I need to be later.

The thing that was really interesting to me was that after walking in the door I decided I was only going to stay for 10 minutes or so and then I needed to leave because I felt like I didn't belong or didn't want to belong. I ended up staying the whole time. I still didn't really feel like I fit into the group of people gathered there for the lesson, but by the end of the lesson I realized that didn't matter one bit. We talk a lot about unity and being of one heart and mind, but that does not mean that we are the same. We are all very different and have unique talents and interests and needs and goals, etc.... This is so cool! We can help and serve so much more when we have different talents and interests and roles and experiences. We need to be "true to our heart"! :) (I know that this song has a little different meaning, but it's fun.) :)

So, while this lesson helped me remember and decide to focus on finding my individual mission it also helped me really understand that I don't need to be working to fit in anywhere. I'm different than anyone else. We all are. I need to be me. :) I actually don't think I've really been myself very much the last several months and I'm grateful for this freeing feeling that I don't need to impress anyone or be anyone for someone else. I don't need to compare myself to anyone else in any way. I just need to be the best me that I can. :) I'm going to stop trying to fit in or spending so much time figuring out where I fit and just be happy and be myself.

I am grateful for God's individual love for us. I'm grateful that He's not comparing us to anyone else! :) I'm grateful for the chance to learn from many different people and experiences and let them be themselves, too. :)

A few neat reminders this week....

I have learned a lot this past week:

- "If you're scared, you shouldn't be scared because there's Jesus." - a seven-year-old's sweet testimony at Church last Sunday

- Free agency and choice is so important! We are blessed to be able to choose. We must stand up for what we believe and do what's right! It's our responsibility and an exciting time to be alive!

- I'm grateful for others and the work they do...bus drivers, VA-DoD hospitals, emergency management centers, pilots, mothers, etc...

- Be different! We are a "peculiar people" and should fear God and not man. We shouldn't worry as much about offending someone with our beliefs as we should about being true to ourselves and our beliefs.

- I love the opportunities, blessings and responsibilities of Relief Society! I am grateful to be a part of an organization who's mission is divinely inspired to lift and save those around me.

- The importance and blessing of repentance and how the Lord leaves the 99 and rejoices over the 1 (us) when we repent. :)

- The power of the Spirit to guide us, warn us and comfort us. The amazing power of prayer and blessings of safety. The nearness of our Heavenly Father and His ability to bless us.

- The importance of being honest and open, trusting, and collaborating in an effort to build partnerships and relationships by looking for shared goals and interests.

- The importance of humility and remembering that all we are and have is from God! :) "I am not my resume." That is a relieving and humbling truth that I think is really important lately for so many reasons. :)

- The importance of being prepared and generous.

- I LOVE walking around and exploring new cities....especially when tulips and parks are involved! :)

What do you want to be when you grow up?

....HAPPY! :)

I heard this at one of the talks at BYU commencement last month and I LOVE it! :) It really doesn't matter what job you have or what you do, but you can always choose to be happy or not. A particular job or status or circumstance is not what is going to make you happy. We choose to be happy! :)

"I was blind, now I see" (John 9)

I love Sunday School! :) I love the New Testament! I love the Savior! Today we had a great lesson. We studied John 9 where Jesus heals the blind man. The profound truth I was reminded of today was how dependent we are on Him who is the Light of the World! When we think about sight, we think about our eyes, but in order to see anything there must be light. He is the light! We can't see anything without Him! We must depend on him and humble ourselves to remember that everything comes from Him. I am grateful. I love the Lord and am grateful for His life and love! <3

I LOVE FAMILY!!!

I am so grateful for FAMILY! :) ...and chances to be with them and celebrate! :)

Conference Highlights

I have been so blessed this week as I have continued to ponder the messages of General Conference. I LOVE General Conference! I am so grateful for living apostles and prophets and leaders and "mortal messengers" or "angels" (as Elder Holland said) that teach us God's words today and encourage us to follow Jesus Christ. I was so uplifted and inspired by their messages last week and received some important personal comfort, inspiration, revelation and answers to prayers! :) Here are some of my favorites:

I LOVED...

• Elder Perry's reminder to "be an example of the believers" in Christ by keeping the Sabbath day holy
• Sister Stevens' sweet message about becoming as a child (meek, humble, with faith and believing hearts, obedient, loving others, and reverencing the Lord)
• Elder Richards' talk about the purpose of pain and the Atonement's healing
• Elder Cook's declaration of the importance of faithful women of the Church
• President Eyring telling us to unselfishly DO something to help those in need
• President Packer reminding us of the name of the Church, Elder Oaks talking about the importance of our desires that set our priorities,
• Elder Oaks' talk about desire and priorities!!! :)
• Elder Ballard talking about gathering the tiny flecks of gold and doing good in the small things--loving and charity
• President Uchtdorf talking about following promptings to be a missionary
• Elder Bednar encouraging us to do what we can each day to follow the Spirit of revelation in our life line upon line
• President Monson talking about the importance of temple work
• Elder Scott talking about the importance of eternal families
• Elder Christofferson's talk about seeking correction and humbly improving
• Elder Holland's talk about God's standard, message, warning, ensign and love to all the world and each of us individually as we prepare with the spirit.