Asking One Question Can Change Your Family!

Once in a while a family tradition will come to mind that might be timely to share with others. In no way is meant to offend anyone if you are not Spiritually minded. I do hope that you can find something though that you can use to remind you of all the good things in your life.

Our family has always tried to gather together to have a family prayer, separate from our prayers over our meals.  Tried being the key word. I will admit in the chaos of busy schedules, through the years we were not perfect at it. BUT, I think all of us would tell you, that the times that we did gather together in the evenings for a family prayer before the youngest went to bed, we did feel our family strengthened. Our unity and love increased as well as the peace in our home.

Have you ever found that it's the smallest things that make the biggest difference?  There was one thing we did that seems rather a small thing, but I found had a HUGE impact over time in the way our children treated each other.

What was that one thing?

Before each family prayer, whoever's turn it was to say the prayer, stopped and asked if anyone had anything special that they needed included in the prayer.

I know, such a tiny thing that one little question.

Many nights no one had anything on their minds. Other nights a spelling test or a good performance in a sporting event might get mentioned. Other nights it may be something bigger like doing well in an interview, or find a way to make friends with someone whom we were having a disagreement.  No one laughed at the request, the family prayed, and for that one moment we were "all of one mind" in praying over each others needs.

I think the unspoken long term effect that simple question had on our family was that we care about each other. We want each other to be happy, and we all will work together to try to make that happen.

It didn't mean that we were problem free and our children always got along. Umm. that would be a big fat lie!  But, I do think it made working those problems out easier. Especially when someone mentioned it in family prayer! It's hard to stay mad after you've prayed for peace and to get along!

The truth is... I have found that asking about each others unspoken needs before praying,  softens hearts, bridges the gap in misunderstandings, and restores love, peace and a sense of family unity.

If your family is a praying family, even if it's over the dinner table, what are some ways you think it has strengthened your family?

Why Did God Let This Happen?

Yesterday was a horrible day. With a mentally ill young man killing 30 people including 20 kindergartners in an elementary school, many people may be asking the question that gets asked anytime something terrible happens: Why did God let this happen?

Many people, thinking that no loving God could sit back and let this horrible thing happen to such an innocent person/people that surely there is no God at all. They use this point of view as a reason to not have or look for faith.

Let me share with you the first gift he ever gave us. It was the gift of free agency. The gift of choice.  This mortal existence was given to us as a chance to exercise that very gift.

To try to answer the  question of "how can God let terrible things happen to good people?"  in my feeble way I will tell you this. You can not ask God to take over and  be in control of only part of your life or someone elses either. Either you let him have control of all of it, with no chance for making any mistakes (which He will not do) or He gives you all of it.  He is hoping  instead that you will  strive to offer yourself to Him as His vessel for good, exercising the Atonement when you don't quite achieve perfection.  He is a God of Perfection. Perfect Love. He wants us to be perfect, but he knows we can not. by giving us the freedom to make our own choices we risk making some bad ones. (That is where He gave us the Atonement to help us overcome those mistakes).

How will you use that gift of Agency/Choice?  Like many gifts we receive in our life in which,  sometimes we squander them, sometimes we cherish them and hide them away, sometimes we use them till they can't be used anymore.  The gift of making our own choices is just like that. Sometimes we make good choices, sometimes we don't. But the one thing we can't do, is ask God to intervene  on someone else taking away their freedom to choose, while asking him to sit back and let you make your own choices both for good and for bad.

There are so many times everyday I am sure that God watches us in our little lives, and thinks, why did you say that, why did you do that, why didn't you help him/her, why didn't you smile at that stranger on the street? A million choices we didn't make the way God may have wanted us to.

We all know that from a very young age, humans don't like to be told what to do. The first thing a toddler says is NO! and looks right at his mother and breaks her heart. NO, Mama! I do it!  and even though we know a better way, a faster way, we sit back and let them struggle to do it. Resisting the urge to step in and take over requires near super human strength.

Don't you think that is just a small, tiny bit of how God must feel watching us: NO, I DO IT, and then we don't or we fall short.  By demanding to make our own choices: To be happy, to take offence, to forgive or to hold a grudge, to have this career, or go after this goal, to apologize, or to justify, to come closer to God, or to turn away; we  are really asking  God to  let us ALL make our own choices.

He loves us all, and even though it pains him more than we know to watch as we hurt each other (all brothers and sister in God) He lets us exercise that most important, first gift from God, the gift of choice.

Fortifying your Armor: A study of Alma chapter 49

The apostle Paul taught the parable of the Armor of God because there were many Roman soldiers in the land and when the people saw them they could be reminded of how to protect themselves against evil. The scripture is located in

Ephesians 6:11-17: "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

 In the battle against Satan to gain eternal life, we do not need to provide our own Armor. Heavenly Father has provided it for us. He has provided, the word of God, Truth, Righteousness, Salvation and He also provided the Preparation of the Gospel. This comes in part by participation in the youth programs of the church. Author Corrie Tenboom said: “Satan has a good secret service. The MOMENT you step out from under God’s umbrella , you are discovered and attacked by Satan. Recognition of Satan’s attack is ½ the fight. An attacking enemy who is not recognized already has half his battle won! Never knowing where, how and when Satan will attack us. We should never be unprotected. “ So, lets look at the actual Armor the Paul talked about: Shoes: Preparation of the gospel Helmet: Salvation Sword: Spirit or Word of God Breastplate and Loins: Truth and Righteousness Back….Wait… Paul did not mention any protection for the back! What’s up with that? Want to know WHY there’s no protection for the back?

He didn’t provide protection for the back, because God did not expect any deserters! He gave the armor to us not as a museum piece, to be untouched and unused. (I mean what if Batman left his suit, cape and batmobile locked up untouched?) He gave it to us for use on the battle field. If Satan is coming at you, who is behind you to help protect you.

Who’s Got your back covered? As youth we’ve got: Apostles, Bishops, Home teachers, parents, Youth Leaders. They are their to help us in our battles against Satan. The Bishop is your best advocate in this battle. Now, if we’ve gotten ourselves turned around from Christ, and we are battling Satan and our Leaders have our backs covered, and we turn our selves back around towards Christ, who is ahead of us showing us the way? Those same leaders.

 Heavenly Father has provided us with amazing Leaders to show us the way towards Christ and to help us in our battles against Satan. What happens, if you stop attending Church or activities? What if we take offense at something our leaders have asked for us to do? Our Armor weakens, and are back is not nearly as protected. Our leaders may be praying for us, but we have side stepped off of the path of their immediate protection. It is at this moment that Satan will find the unprotected and weak spots in our Armor and attack, in your undefended spot.

 In Alma chapters 48 & 49 we find a great battle plan that shows how the youth programs can prepare us for the battles we face. In Alma Chapter 49 the Lamanites are trying to attack Moroni and the nephites. They think they know all the undefended and weak spots of the Nephites. They are quite surprised to find that the nephites are so well prepared and that their weak spots have been strengthened. The Lamanites are so surprised that they actually retreated!

 The For Strength of Youth is a great way for each of us to look at our weak spots and learn how to strengthen them. Along with Seminary, and the Scriptures it helps us build our battle plan. in chapter 48 vs. 7. Building small forts or places of resort, throwing up the blanks of the earth to enclose the armies against attack: The temples, sacrament and church meetings become our Forts of security .

 In Alma Chapter 49 vs. 15 along with a few other versus we learn that Moroni recognized in advance exactly what his enemies plan of attack would be. He know exactly what and where they would attack first, second etc. He prepared for this attack and everytime he was successful against the Lamanites. We can know in advance of Satans’ attack by reading our own Patriarchal Blessings, getting Priesthood blessings, Studying the For Strength of youth, and listening to the counsel of our Leaders.

 In Vs. 16 we learn that Moroni couldn’t be in all places at once himself and he needed to appoint a chief captain . He appointed Lehi, whom the Lamanites feared exceedingly. This is just like our Bishops and Stake Presidents. Pres. Monson can’t be here with us, so he appointed leaders whom he knows Satan fears exceedingly to help us. We need to follow their counsel, seek their counsel. They have direct inspiration over the battle right here in this ward and stake. Satan fears them and their proper use of the Priesthood Power.


 In Vs 18-21 We find that the strongest men in the city formed a body that was prepared to smite down any attempt by the Lamanites to breach the security of the city. That is our Home teachers, Our youth leaders. At this point the Lamanites were getting pretty desparate. They decided to try to tear down the reserves for the Nephites. Satan tries to tear down our reserves too. By tearing down our self worth, and fill ilt with despair, discouragement. The youth programs of the church do the perfect job of reminding us of our divine nature, our individual worth, and that we are Children of God.

 In Verse 27, we see that the King over the Lamanites was very angy. He swore to kill Moroni. He actually swore to drink his blood. How must Satan feel about our Prophet today? We know how hard he worked against Joseph Smith, I'm sure he's working just as hard now. How hard is fighting against the apostles, our Stake President, Or Bishop? We need to sincerely pray for the continued strength of our leaders.

Did you leave home without your Armor today?

President Harold B. Lee said: 

“We have the four parts of the body that . . . [are] the most vulnerable to the powers of darkness. The loins, typifying virtue, chastity. The heart typifying our conduct. Our feet, our goals or objectives in life and finally our head, our thoughts. . . .


M. Russell Ballard in 2004 said: "Long before the world was formed, Satan and those who followed after him raged against the forces of good and tried to overthrow the work of God. That struggle has not ended, only shifted battlegrounds. It is ruthless and relentless, and the objective of the battle is your eternal soul and mine.


The Apostle Paul spoke of how to arm ourselves for this conflict in these very graphic terms:
“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day” (Eph. 6:10–13).




I was reading a passage from Author Corrie ten Boom and found her statement to be very powerful.  She said: 'Satan has a good secret service the MOMENT you step out from under God's umbrella of Grace you are discovered and attacked by Satan.  Recognition of Satan's attack is 1/2 the fight.  An attacking enemy who is not recognized already has half his battle won.  Never knowing where, how, or when Satan will attack us.  We should never be unprotected, we need to be clothed in the whole armor of God.  Our Armor is not meant to be a museum piece, untouched and unused.  It is given to us for use on the battlefield.  


So How do we put on the Armor of God?  I really LOVE the description of the Armor by Elder Ballard:


"I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body but more like chain mail. Chain mail consists of dozens of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the user greater flexibility without losing protection. I say that because it has been my experience that there is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil.


It is a common expression to talk about the “chinks” in a person’s armor. The definition of the word chink is “a small cleft, slit, or fissure.” ¹ Should an arrow strike exactly one of the chinks in one’s armor, a fatal wound can result."

So what ARE some ways we can add to, or strengthen our Armor?  I turn to a few of Elder Ballard's suggestions:

1. Rely on the Protective Power of Prayer
The Doctrine and Covenants teaches, “Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work” (D&C 10:5).
What a wonderful promise! In this spiritual warfare that rages over individual souls, that is what we want more than anything else—to conquer Satan and to escape the hands of evil men and women who carry out his work. I cannot stress too highly the protective power that comes into our lives through earnest, humble, consistent, yearning prayer.

You need to find a time and place where you can be alone with Heavenly Father and pour out your heart to Him, that you might add strength and power to your spiritual lives. Every honest and sincere prayer adds another piece to chain-mail armor.

2. Rely on the Protective Power of the Scriptures
When Nephi’s brothers asked him what the meaning of the rod of iron was, Nephi “said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction” (1 Ne. 15:24).
Isn’t that the protective power that we all seek? Knowledge gained through our study of the scriptures teaches us how to get protection from the devil for ourselves.

“What can I learn from this passage that will help me come unto Christ and be more like Him?”

3. Draw on the Merciful Grace of God
The Lord promised us through the prophet Moroni: “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” (Ether 12:27).
One of the most devastating effects of sin is that it weakens you, binds you, brings you down to slavery. The grace of God and of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the answer to that predicament. If you will but humble yourselves and turn to Them, then Their grace, Their enabling power, can not only help you throw off the chains of sin but actually turn your weaknesses into strengths.

4. Remember That Reverence Invites Revelation
A lack of reverence not only opens up chinks in our chain-mail armor but creates great gaps of vulnerability.
In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord declared that “your minds in times past have been darkened because … you have treated lightly the things you have received” (D&C 84:54). That is a recurring theme in the revelations. “Trifle not with sacred things,” the Lord warned Oliver Cowdery (D&C 6:12).
In a time of peril and danger, the last thing we need is to have our minds darkened. And yet we have seen a great increase in how the world treats lightly and often offensively things of deep value. The media jokes and pokes fun at even the most sacred things. Television sitcoms show people constantly engaging in crude, rude, immoral, and cruel banter.
When we speak of reverence, we are talking about much more than mere quietness at our meetings. Reverence is an attitude of mind and heart. It involves a keen sense of God’s majesty and infinite goodness and our unworthiness and our need for Him and His redeeming grace. It includes a profound sense of the sacred and a desire to honor and protect it.
President Boyd K. Packer said: “Reverence invites revelation. … No one of us can survive in the world of today, much less in what it soon will become, without personal inspiration. The spirit of reverence can and should be evident in every organization in the Church and in the lives of every member.” 

Add to Your Armor Each Day
The Lord has given us specific doctrines and principles that show us how to clothe ourselves in the armor of God so that we can stand against the powers of evil. I have suggested a few ways to incorporate gospel principles into your lives. In most cases, we are not talking about massive changes of behavior. As with chain mail, you need simply to add small, individual pieces of armor each day through prayer, scripture study, focusing on things that matter, and acting in a reverent manner.
Let us go forward, keeping the commandments of God and following the admonition of the Apostle Paul:
“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:10–11).

Gods Facebook Page

If God had a facebook page would you be on his "Friends" list?

Whom would he list as his children?

Where does he post as his work place? (your heart, home?)

What would he list as his favorite movies, music, books?

Would He be able to keep your latest decision on his wall or would He have to hit the Hide button ?

We live in a world with more evil today than at any other time.  We actually go out of our way to hardwire our homes to let it in.  TV, Internet, Music, etc.

Do we "wire" our families to the messages of the gospel?

In the old testament: Lot pitched his tent toward the city of Sodom . For us Sodom represents the world.  Abraham built an  Altar outside of his home towards the temple. 

we have the same choices.  We can have our lives facing the temple and our Heavenly Father or towards the world. 

President Harold B. Lee told us that if we would do 3 things our families will be much better protected from the evil in the world. 

1st) Create Zion in your hearts and home.

Elder David Stone  of the second quorum of the seventy said:

"We seek Zion because it is the habitation of our Lord, who is Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. In Zion, and from Zion, His luminous and incandescent light will shine forth and He will rule forever," said Elder Stone of the Seventy.
One of the greatest challenges Church members face today is to live in the world, but somehow, not be of the world, said Elder Stone.
"We should not allow ourselves to be engulfed by the culture which surrounds us. We seldom realize the extent to which we are a product of the culture of our place and times."
He said Church members need not adopt the standards, the mores and morals of Babylon. "We can create Zion in the midst of Babylon. We can have our own standards for music, and literature, and dance, and film, and language. We can have our own standards for dress and deportment, for politeness and respect. We can live in accordance with Lord's moral laws. We can limit how much of Babylon we allow into our home by the media of communication.
"We can live as a Zion people, if we wish to. Will it be hard? Of course it will; for the waves of Babylonian culture crash incessantly against our shores. Will it take courage? Of course it will."

2nd: Be a light among those we live near
Being an example to our neighbors, co-workers and friends may seem  difficult, but
small, seemingly insignificant things you do can make a big difference. I read about some small glowworms found in caves in New Zealand. Each one by itself produces only an insignificant pinpoint of light. But when millions of them light up a cave one by one, they produce enough light by which one can actually read. Likewise, each of our little deeds may share only a pinpoint of light, but added together they begin to make a significant difference.

Make your standards known to others. Your friends and collegues tend to help you keep your standards. 
As you share your light, others will find greater light too

3rd: Focus on ordinances and principles of the temple.

on Oct. 19, 2008 at our Stake Conference here in Virginia, Quentin R. Cook spoke. He said: "If I could see my children praying in their rooms or reading in the scriptures when they could do something elso I'd know they have a personal relationship with Heavenly Father."

President Benson said: The temple is an ever-present reminder that God intends the family to be eternal. How fitting it is for mothers and fathers to point to the temple and say to their children, “That is the place where we were married for eternity.” By so doing, the ideal of temple marriage can be instilled within the minds and hearts of your children while very young.
In the peace of these lovely temples, sometimes we find solutions to the serious problems of life. Under the influence of the Spirit, sometimes pure knowledge flows to us there. Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. These answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways.
Now let me say something else to all who can worthily go to the House of the Lord. When you attend the temple and perform the ordinances that pertain to the House of the Lord, certain blessings will come to you:
• You will receive the spirit of Elijah, which will turn your hearts to your spouse, to your children, and to your forebears.
• You will love your family with a deeper love than you have loved before.
• Your hearts will be turned to your fathers and theirs to you.
• You will be endowed with power from on high as the Lord has promised.
• You will receive the key of the knowledge of God. (See D&C 84:19.) You will learn how you can be like Him. Even the power of godliness will be manifest to you. (See D&C 84:20.)
• You will be doing a great service to those who have passed to the other side of the veil in order that they might be “judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (D&C 138:34.)
Such are the blessings of the temple and the blessings of frequently attending the temple.

I hope that as each of you begin your own families and establish your own homes that you will be very aware and cautious of the evil you allow in your homes and also that you will be always striving to  face your hearts and homes to the priniciples of the Gospel.  I know with all my heart it will bring you the most happiness.

When the Devil Can't Make You Bad, He Makes You Busy!

We all find times in our life, where we get so busy with the demands of life, that we start to get stressed out. If you stop to analyze all the things we are doing that are making us busy, we will usually find that they are all "good" things such as   school work, jobs, church callings, serving our family such as running our children to piano lessons, scouts, soccer practice, dance class seemingly all at the same time!

Satan loves for you to get so busy that you are too busy to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. He doesn't particularly care if everything you are doing are good things, as long as you are so busy that you step out of tune with His Spirit.

In the October 2010 General Conference, Elder Dieter L. Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk on slowing down and keeping life simple. He stated:

"Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives.

It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Over scheduling our days would certainly qualify for this. There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks.

As we turn to our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most, we learn over and over again the importance of four key relationships: with our God, with our families, with our fellowman, and with ourselves. As we evaluate our own lives with a willing mind, we will see where we have drifted from the more excellent way. The eyes of our understanding will be opened, and we will recognize what needs to be done to purify our heart and refocus our life."

My dear family, I urge you that in the times of your life where you realize that things have gotten out of balance, take the time to  take care of all 4 of the relationships that Elder Uchtdorf mentioned.  Your relationship with God, through prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, among others.  Second, your relationship with your family.  Family prayer, scripture study, family home evening, and just plain time and fun with each other!  Third, your fellowman. Look around you and see what acts of kindness you can perform.  There is nothing like service to those who need it to put your own problems into perspective.  and lastly your relationship with yourself.  Have you gotten so busy serving others or doing life's necessities that you have neglected to nurture your individual worth? taking time to exercise and meditate and the occasional date with yourself can free your mind and heal the soul.

Let us simplify our lives a little. The simplicity of the gospel is always the true source for peace and happiness in our lives. 

Gift Cards from Christ.



Since we have just celebrated Easter, our thoughts are turned toward the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement gives us the glorious gift of repentance. Repentance gives us the opportunity to clear ourselves from sin.  One of my favorite authors and someone whom I hope to meet "on the other side" is Corrie ten Boom. Besides her book "The Hiding Place" which I re-read every other year or so , she wrote many other books about Christianity as well.  In Don't Wrestle, Just Nestle she wrote about  the Atonement & repentance. I personally like to think of it like a Gift Card from Christ. We have to use it to obtain the gift. Here is what she said:

"God gave you a share in the very life of Christ, for he forgave all your sins, and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of His commandments which you had not obeyed.  He took this list of sins & destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross. In this way God took away Satan's Power to accuse you of sins."
--Corrie ten Boom

What will it be like when we stand before God and Christ to report on the life that we have lived, how did we handle the gifts and blessings,and stewardships, and  assignments He has given to us? 
Satan most likely will be there to gleefully report on any of our unrepented sins.  The sad thing is he comes armed with ammunition we gave to him!

May we all be ever grateful for the gift of repentance. May we not let this gift card issued to us by Christ, go unredeemed! It does have an expiration date on it! It is good from the moment you were baptized and expires when your time in mortality has ended.

Love you all!
Mom/Jan/Whatever