Spiritual Favorites for This Week

Just one for this week:

1 Nephi 7:12 : Yea and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord can do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.

This is going to be my first scripture I am going to try to memorize. I read this the other night and it just spoke to me and answered my questions and soothed my fears. I will have faith.

This Week's Spiritual Favorites

I have not been on this blog in over a year. I recently have felt a sudden rejuvenation when it comes to my spiritual understanding and growth. I have read a few amazing articles that have opened my eyes and explained elements of the Gospel that I didn't understand before. I have decided I am going to try to write a week in review of My Spiritual Favorites from my readings to help me remember these favorites.

1) The article "An Answer for Every 'What If?' " in the Dec. 2011 Ensign.
After getting another negative on my pregnancy test I was very upset. I read this article and it really hit me how the answer to my "What if we never have any more children?" It is okay because I am blessed with a loving family. I am super happy and know God's eternal plan and as long as I do what I am supposed to not only will I be with my family forever but opportunities will be given to us in eternity that we may not have here on earth.




2) The article "His Grace is Sufficient" in the BYU January Magazine.

This article was amazing! It has been so hard for me to understand how you can love everyone and not judge people. Also how can so many people be good active members in the church but struggle with so many things. I didn't understand. This article explained it all to me. Jesus Christ saved us all. No matter how we act on this Earth we will be resurrected in our bodies. But by living the commandments we are allowing Jesus to bless us with grace everyday and allowing him to help us to work to the highest degree of glory in the eternities. We are actually showing his gratitude by obeying him. He explains how we need this time on Earth to practice so we will be ready to live an eternal life of purity and joy. If we don't practice now we wont be ready for it later.

Well this is a start. I hope you have read these articles and if you haven't please do! I really LOVE them and am so grateful to our Heavenly Father for not closing the Heavens but for loving us so much that he kept the lines of communication open with prayer and his Prophet and Apostles on the Earth today. 

General Conference April 2011

In this last Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' General Conference, which can be found here, we were encouraged to share our faith and testimonies in whatever manner than we can. As a start to this I have decided to post what stood out to me from listening to all of the wonderful talks that were given. (These are from the notes I took and in some cases are not complete.)

Saturday Morning Session:
President Monson - Contribute to the general missionary fund.
Elder Tom Perry - Make sure to wear your "Sunday Best" to church on Sunday
Elder Jean A. Stevens - Meet adversity with hope and happiness. We will only be saved if we act as children do.
Elder Walter F. (?) - The way we treat others reflects how we follow the Savior.
Elder Kent F. Richards - No experience or pain is wasted. They are all for our learning and betterment.
Elder Quentin L. Cook - Women are not less valiant is they work outside the home. Women need to do the "direct and immediate bidding of our Heavenly Father" as the "errand of Angels".
Elder Henry B. Eyring - Turn sympathy to action.

Saturday Afternoon Session:
Elder Boyd K. Packer - The husband is the head of the home, the wife is the heart of the home. Refer to the church and its members as members of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."
Elder Nelson - The only death that is premature is that of someone who is not ready to meet God. Don't let our fears displace our faith.
Elder Richard Maynes - Selfishness, greed and pornography are used by Satan to hurt the family.
Elder Cecil O. Samuelson Jr. - Do not have higher expectations and standards for others than we do for ourselves.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks - Desires dictate our priorities, our choices and our actions. What we desire determines who we will become and what we will receive eternally. Do all that you can to obtain and maintain a temple marriage.
Elder M. Russell Ballard - There is no place for gossip where charity resides. We need to develop the gift of charity.

Sunday Morning Session:
Elder Uchtdorf - The Spirit often speaks to us in ways that are only heard by our heart. Heavenly Father meets our needs through others - so serve one another. By being the answer to someone else's prayer we often find the answer to our own.
Elder (?) - We need to be careful to not resent our pains and tribulations because they are there to refine us.
Elder Burton - Be kind to the poor.
Sister Allred - Relief to the poor and needy is the purpose of Relief Society. We must give constant support to those that are struggling. Our service becomes the "Gospel in Action".
Elder Bednar - A lot of time we receive revelation without knowing how or when we received it. Put a picture of a temple in every room.

Sunday Afternoon Session:
Elder Richard G. Scott - Be an exceptional person.
Elder Todd Christofferson - Willingly accept and seek correction - this is what we need. Gentle correction to and from our spouse is good. "When a person in a position to reprove another fails to do so, he is thinking only of himself." We should become self correcting.
Elder Carl Pratt - Tithing is a matter of faith, not money. Be generous in your tithes and offerings, we are all indebted to the Lord. The payment of tithing is insurance against divorce.
Elder Lynn G. Robbins - You need to be and do good. Never let failure progress from an action to an identity. Neither professions nor possessions should define self worth. Point out and support Christlike attributes in the children.
Elder Benjamin De Hoyos - Our church was named by Heavenly Father, not man.
Elder C. Scott Grow - Jesus removes the burden of guilt, from our sins, from us.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - We are called to be a messenger and wave the Ensign to all of the world.
President Monson - Be examples of honesty and integrity no matter where we go or what we do.

I am so grateful for the messages shared with us this General Conference. I am also very grateful to the Spirit of the Lord that testified to me deep in my heart that what was said is true and from Him. I know that I am following the path that Heavenly Father wants me to and that I must work hard in order to refine myself and in turn be exalted in the eternities. I hope to everyday reflect the love and joy that I have as a result of knowing I am a daughter of our Heavenly Father and that He greatly loves me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

What Motivates Me

This past Sunday we discussed the article "When the Lord Commands" by Elder Bruce A. Carlson in Relief Society.

His talk covered the three excuses people use to explain why they do not follow the commandments, laws and ordinances outlined by God.
The three are:
1) It doesn't apply to me
2) It's not really important
3) It's too hard

Now I can honestly say I have used a few of these several times. But what motivates me whenever I am tempted to use any of these excuses is The Temple.I may not always understand why I must wear my garments all the time or why it's important to go to all three meetings of church, but I do know that in order to be worthy to enter the Temple I have to. So I do.

Elder Carlson said that "At times we may rationalize that the Lord will understand our disobedience because our special circumstances make adherence to His laws difficult, embarrassing, or even painful. However, faithful obedience, regardless of the apparent size of the task, will bring the Lord’s guidance, assistance, and peace."

This statement really captured what I think a lot of us feel. It is important to follow the Lord's Commandments, Laws and Ordinances even when it's difficult or we don't understand.

I am grateful for this talk and the new understanding that it has given me. I am not the exception to the rule ... really :)

A Woman, NOT a Baby

I am often confused about the role of women today. Some say that you shouldn't lend money to family, while the Church states that families should care for one another however they can. Some say that women should be able to work full time even though they have children, while the Church reminds us that families are the most important thing in this life. Some women judge each other viciously on how clean their homes are, how much money they spend and what designer they are wearing. I myself got so caught up in this that I was consumed by stress in thinking of decorating and creating my daughter's first birthday party several months away!

I absolutely LOVED Relief Society General President Julie B. Beck 's talk "And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit." She discusses one way of thinking that has been pushed on mother's, the need to "get away." Some women believe that every woman should get a break when stressed and not have to deal with children or responsibilities.

I have had no opportunity to do such a thing since the incredibly stressful birth and care of our daughter. I have worked ridiculous hours and had more responsibility on me than I ever though I could handle. Often when I see other's taking a vacation from it all I hear the voice of jealousy saying "Do I not deserve a break too?" Thankfully President Beck refutes this need by saying that "A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. "

She says as a mother your responsibility is to care for your children and to do so by the guidance of the Holy Ghost. And that the best way to receive this guidance is by reading the scriptures. "Insight found in scripture accumulates over time, so it is important to spend some time in the scriptures every day. " I can definitely attest to this as the stories I read have very vividly applied to my life immediately to shortly after I have studied them.

I have struggled with Relief Society for many years now. Our meetings sometimes do not have the welcoming and loving feeling that I had always envisioned Relief Society to have. While I know that such things depend a lot on me, I was very much enlightened by what Sister Beck said: "Entrance into Relief Society signifies that a woman can be trusted and relied upon to make a significant contribution in the Church. She continues to progress as an individual without receiving much outward credit or praise. " Relief Society, while it is a place to gather and feel unity, is also an individual responsibility placed on a Sister. It is my responsibility. I should stop thinking about what Relief Society should be doing for me or how it should be making me feel, but rather what I should be doing for it as a member.

She quoted Eliza R. Snow in saying "Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters?" To be honest when I heard this I felt like I had received a much deserved slap to the face. I really needed to hear that. I need to stop worrying about other's opinion's and how things make me feel. I want to be a woman, so I am going to act like a woman.

Sister Beck is truly incredible. She points out that life is life, it is difficult and a struggle. And "When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves." I have a new found outlook on life: I want to embody what it means to be a woman.

What baing a Woman means to me:
- I am dependable
- I do what is right no matter what
- I teach my children correct principles and am an example of such principles
- I do not need acceptance from others
- My self worth is not negotiable and is set by Heavenly Father
- I am full of joy
- I am selfless and patient
- I do not loose my temper
- I am a hard worker
- I am creative

What does being a woman mean to you?

Priesthood Power

From the moment I heard the talk "The Power of the Priesthood" by President Boyd K. Packer, it directly changed me. I not only felt its power but decided to make steps in my life to abide by its teachings. As a result my family has been greatly blessed and it has only been a week!


He grabbed my attention when he stated that "The priesthood does not have the strength that it should have and will not have until the power of the priesthood is firmly fixed in the families as it should be." In that statement I could see the framework of the church as a collection of families be directed by worthy Priesthood holders. I could instantly see the peril that the Church could be in as a result of the weakening of the Priesthood in families.

Quoting President Joseph F. Smith he said "The father presides at the table, at prayer, and gives general directions relating to his family life whoever may be present." This was one statement that instantly changed me. I saw deciding who should say the prayer as a entitled decision that the Priesthood holder should make, and the result of which should be gracious obedience not contention or statements like "Isn't it your turn?"

I know that sometimes my husband feels inadequate, as we all do when realizing the weight of our responsibilities. I loved how President Packer dismissed such worries with his statement that "We now must awaken in every elder and high priest, in every quorum and group, and in the father of every home the power of the priesthood of the Almighty." He continued: "We need everyone. The tired or worn out or lazy and even those who are bound down with guilt must be restored through repentance and forgiveness. Too many of our priesthood brethren are living below their privileges and the Lord’s expectations."

These statements, though intended and felt by my husband, were very influential to me as well. I need to remember, recognize, and encourage my husband's Priesthood strength. It is important not only to our family but to the Church as a whole and the Gospel as well.

After this talk my husband has been much more confident in directing our family. "There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary’s mischief will be that power. You will receive direction from the Lord by way of the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Last week after I heard news of my Grandmother's passing my husband felt strongly that our family should go visit her home and remember her. While the trip did not make sense on paper financially or work wise, he strongly pushed for it for days. His strength and persistence infected me and gave me the strength to move forward in confidence. The whole time we could feel the strong confirmation that it is what the Lord wanted. We were blessed in countless ways by my husband's Priesthood strength in just that one instance.

Side Note:

In his talk he refers to another talk he gave entitled: "What Every Elder Should Know—and Every Sister as Well: A Primer on Principles of Priesthood Government." I felt strongly that I should read it and while a long read, I now feel a greater understanding for the Priesthood as a Organization.

One specific statement that really opened my eyes was that: "The priesthood is not divisible. An elder holds as much priesthood as an Apostle. (See D&C 20:38.) When a man receives the priesthood, he receives all of it." He discerns the difference from setting apart and ordaining. Every man who has the Melchizedek priesthood has been ordained the same as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The only difference is how they are set apart and what their responsibilities entail.

To me this understanding should bring hope to all worthy Elders that they have the opportunity to live as righteous a life as the Prophet. They are not so distinctly separate as one might think.

Patience

General Conference was amazing and I only saw half of it! Due to a sick dog and a bustling grouping of family for Easter I only saw the morning sessions.

Brad has referred several times to the talk given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in the Priesthood Session "Continue in Patience." I knew that this should be the first talk that I should read when I got the chance.

Brad and I, like many people, are struggling financially with a large mortgage payment on a house that is now worth quite a bit less than we bought for it. We are also struggling with issues regarding employment decisions and child care. As a result we have spent most of our waking time the last few weeks in prayer hoping that all the pieces will eventually fall together as Heavenly Father would mean them to. Today is a day where big decisions will be made. This is why I read this talk.

President Uchtdorf carries the Spirit with him so well. Just by reading his talk I felt my heart rate slow down and my anxiety lessen. He talked of patience as being the opposite of selfishness. He described it as "the ability to put our desires on hold for a time."

He stated that he"... learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort." Patience is not something that you either have or you don't ... it is an active restraint of yourself. At this time in our decision making we are waiting for other's to determine outcomes that will directly influence us. Brad and I have decided that we will not impatiently or angrily wait, but we will be active in practicing our patience.

"Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!" Well I hope we are enduring well! Life is so complicated and I used to think that I deserved a perfect life, that everything should be as it should. I don't know where I got that idea from because that's not life at all! Life is complicated and messy, it is meant to be an active trial of faith and devotion.

Like all of the talks in General Conference. this one was amazing. If you haven't had the opportunity to read it or watch it, please take the time. It's well worth it!