Changing Lanes on Life's Highway

Do you ever have one of these days?  As i was driving home from work today a woman in an SUV kept weaving in and out of lanes, often at the last moment trying to keep getting ahead, but every stoplight found her right back in the same spot..in front of me. 

I don't know why she was driving crazy, we all do it sometimes, but it made stop and think, how often do we live our lives like that: choosing anxiousness. We spend our days zigging and zagging around, either "trying to tackle" or even "avoid" our , problems and thoughts. Only to find ourselves right back where we started. And,in the end we don't solve our problems or avoid them.

 Note to self: Every day is a new chance to choose peace and calm, clarity and decisiveness over anxiety and doubt. 

Don't just keep spinning your wheels!

The Sound Of My Grandma's Voice...

Sound memories may be one of the deepest in your heart!

A few years ago, when my oldest son was leaving home to live in Taiwan for 2 years as a Missionary, my parents came to visit. They brought with them an old vhs tape they had made when my oldest son, Joshua was a few months old. in the video, it was a backyard cookout at my parents home in Idaho.

 My grandmother was there, although you couldn't see her in the video. My grandmother had since passed away and at the time I was watching that video had been gone for quite a few years. At some point in the video all of a sudden I could hear my grandmothers voice talking in the background... At that very moment, the familiarity of her voice was instantaneous to my heart My heart hurt from missing her in that moment.. Oh, Oh, how I missed that voice!!!!! I loved how I had not forgotten the sound of her voice

. I loved how our relationship carries on even as one of us has past onto the other side of Heaven.

 I still feel her presence in my life, it is a real and active,continuing relationship. I have read somewhere that what may surprise us the most when we get to the other side is how familiar our Heavenly Father's face will be to us, and how we will remember the sound of his voice. Oh, how I believe that! 

The Restoration of the Gospel: A Wonderous Flood of Light

A Wonderous Flood of Light

The  Restoration of the Gospel

If we traveled at 25, 000 miles per hour it would take us 100,000 years to reach the nearest star outside of our solar system.  And there are one hundred billion such stars organized into our galaxy.  Individual stars are so distant from each other that light itself takes several years to get from one star to the next.  Light takes only 8 minutes to get to us from our sun.  To travel clear across the galaxy, light would require more than 100,000 years.  

That is pretty interesting but I bet you are wondering what that has to do with my topic of the restoration, huh?  Well, I will tell you… in a minute.

First, Let me talk about another light. 

 At the birth of our savior, who once identified Himself as the “bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16), a new star appeared in the heavens (see Matt. 2:2; 3 Ne. 1:21). Shining brightly over Bethlehem, that star had been placed in orbit far in advance of the foretold event in order that its light could coincide in time and place with His blessed birth.  If it takes years for light from one star to reach the nearest star to it, how much careful organization do you think it took for the Savior who created the Earth and organized our very galaxy, to make sure that this  New star would  have it’s bright and wonderous flood of light reach Bethlehem  precisely on the very night he was born?

Literally, At the arrival of Him who is called “the light of the world” (John 8:12), darkness was banished as a sign of His holy birth (see 3 Ne. 1:15, 19).

Of course more than just the physical flood of light , the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ, also gave us a wonderous flood of spiritual light as well. 

The Savior taught us how to love and serve one another. Jesus spent his life serving others.  Jesus loved others with all his heart, even those who had sinned, he had great compassion. He taught them to repent and be baptized. 

The Savior organized His church.  He  chose and ordained 12 apostles to help testify of him.  They received His authority to act in His name and do the works they had seen him do.  He redeemed us from our sins, and saved us from both physical and spiritual death.



Now, Let’s fast forward  1800 years.  We have another Wonderous Flood of Light. 

As a young boy in 1820, Joseph Smith wanted to know which church was true. As he searched the Bible for help, he read that he should ask of God. Acting on this counsel, Joseph went into the woods near his home and prayed. Suddenly, a light shone above him and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. When Joseph asked which church he should join, the Savior told him to join none of the churches then in existence because they were teaching incorrect doctrines. Through this experience and many others that followed, the Lord chose Joseph to be His prophet and to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church to the earth.

Once again, the darkness was banished. Light and truth were restored on the earth.  A few of the blessings we have in place today is the knowledge that:

1)      Our Heavenly Father is a real being with a body of flesh and bones, so is Jesus Christ and that the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.

2)      We existed in premortal life as spirit children of God

3)      The priesthood or authority to act in Christs’ name is necessary to administer the ordnances of the gospel.

4)      We will be punished for our own sins and not for Adam’s transgression

5)      There are 3 kingdoms of glory in the heavens and through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, people will be rewarded according to their actions on earth and the desires of their hearts. 

6)      Family relationships can be eternal through the sealing power of the priesthood

President Faust tells us:

We receive light from the Lord.

This can happen to us when we study the scriptures and “our eyes [are] opened and our understandings [are] enlightened” (D&C 76:12). Daily scripture study turns on the light of our spiritual perception and opens our understandings to further knowledge. I try to read from the scriptures at the close of the day. It brings a remarkable peace. I sleep better by doing this.     

We receive spiritual light when we attend sacrament meeting. Partaking of the sacrament and the inspiration of the worship service weekly charges our spiritual batteries.

We receive spiritual light when we respond to calls. Serving in a calling in the Church blesses us more than it blesses others.     

We receive spiritual light when we pay our tithing, as the windows of heaven can then open up

We receive spiritual light when we sing the hymns. Singing the hymns strengthens us and brings us together spiritually.     UAdd a Note 

We receive spiritual light when we pray. As a young teenager, the Prophet Joseph Smith read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally”     UAdd a Note 

I commend to you his account of the First Vision, which followed as he determined that he would seek wisdom from God. He wrote, “When the light rested upon me I saw …” What did he see? He saw the Father and the Son. As the vision ended, he said, “When the light had departed, I had no strength”      UAdd a Note 

Obviously, we do not expect a heavenly visitation, but we are entitled to increased spiritual and intellectual enlightenment if we first seek “the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”

Ok, Time for another story.  I would like to share with you a story of a woman living on the seacoast of Ireland at the turn of the last century. This woman was quite wealthy but also very frugal. Her neighbors were surprised when she was among the first in her area to have electricity installed in her home. Several weeks after having the power installed, a man from the electric company visited her to see how things were working. She assured him that everything was working well.

“I’m wondering if you can explain something to me,” he said. “Your meter shows scarcely any usage. Are you using your power?”

“Certainly,” she answered. “Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just long enough to light my candles; then I turn them off.”2

This story helps me ponder the following question:  “To what degree am I being true to the abundance of light and knowledge made available to me through the gospel of Jesus Christ?” Specifically I ask myself, “Am I continually walking by the ‘flood of light’ made available through the restoration of the gospel by the Prophet Joseph Smith, or is the path on which I am walking lighted in ‘some other way’”

 D&C Chapter 50 we read:

19And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?     

 20If it be some other way it is not of God.     UAdd a Note 

23And that which doth not ^aedify is not of God, and is ^bdarkness.     UAdd a Note 

 24That which is of God is ^alight; and he that ^breceiveth ^clight, and ^dcontinueth in God, receiveth more ^elight; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.     UAdd a Note 

 25And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the ^atruth, that you may chase darkness from among you;

The gospel is  the glad tidings of great joy,  is the true guide to mankind; he restored the full gospel that we may have all the tools, and light necessary to chase away the darkness that befalls us.
I bear my testimony that if we will endeavor to light our lives more fully  by the light of the True Gospel, We will feel more peace and joy in our lives. We will be more mindful of serving our fellowman, and of following the Saviors example to do our part to spread the good news of the gospel.

Growing Your Testimony

The following is a talk I gave in Sacrament meeting of the Belmont Ward,  June 22, 2014

Growing Your Testimony

Do you ever occasionally feel a bit overwhelmed because you don’t think you have a super strong or large Testimony?

Sometimes it can seem hard when you listen to other people’s testimonies who have been studying the gospel for decades. It would be impossible to gain a testimony on all the principles of the gospel all at once.

When I was in about 7^th grade, suddenly in math class they started introducing letters of the alphabet into the equations. You may know this is as algebra. You may have even caught on quickly, but lets just say I did not. Still haven’t.  It was very confusing to me, at that age, and of course would be even more ridiculous if the expectation in Kindergarten would have been there.

Somehow in principles of learning outside of the gospel, we seem to instinctively understand that it takes lots of time and study to learn subjects, or life skills, yet in the gospel we often become impatient with ourselves when we don’t seem to have an absolute knowledge of all the principles of the gospel all at once.

A testimony is meant to grow slowly. In 2 Nephi it says “Line upon Line, precept upon precept. This is meant to be for your whole life.

How do we build or grow our testimony?

Lets picture your testimony like a tree. It first grows roots and a main trunk and then a couple of branches start to shoot out. More branches come later.  The foundation or roots and trunk of your testimony are based on 5 basic principles:

1)      Knowing Heavenly Father lives and that he loves each of His children (you are a Child of God)

2)      Jesus Christ lives and is the Son of God. He carried out the Atonement on our behalf.

3)      Joseph Smith is a prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel.

4)      The church is led by living prophet’s today.

5)      The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Saviors true church on the earth .

The branches of your testimony tree slowly over time can be on endless number of principles, such as Baptism, Faith, Obedience, the Creation, The Sacrament, Prayer, the Plan of Salvation, Hope, The priesthood, Temples, Tithing.  And it goes on and on.

As I talk about ways to increase or grow your testimony these things also work to continually nourish and strengthen your testimony foundation as well.

The word grow is a verb, an action word, I guess that means we need to actually do things to grow and nourish our testimonies. Let’s look to the scriptures to found out how we can grow our testimonies.

In Alma chapter 33 we are at the point in the Book of Mormon, where Alma and Amulek are prophets on a mission to teach the Zoramites who have fallen away from the gospel. Alma has just finished testifying to the people and in Chapter 33 the people ask them a question:

vs. 1:  Now after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken. Which he said must be planted in their hearts: or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.

The rest of Chapter 33 Alma answers the people with 3 things they can begin to do to plant, nourish and grow their testimonies:

1)      Prayer.

In the Doctrine and Covenants Section 8 I am going to read part of vs. 1: “I say unto you that as assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that you shall receive a knowledge of my scriptures of which has been by the manifestation of my spirit.

Let me share a story on gaining a testimony of prayer:

When my oldest child, Josh was about 10 or so it was my birthday and a good friend had taken me out to lunch at a nearby restaurant. When I reached home and got out of the car,  I went to take off my prescription sunglasses and put on my brand new glasses, but I couldn’t find them anywhere.

Josh came out to help me look in the car and in the driveway and yard, but they could not be found. I told Josh I would drive back to the restaurant and see if I dropped them there or in the parking lot and would be back shortly.

While I was gone, with Faith in his heart, Josh later told me that he knew that Heavenly Father knew where those glasses were, and he would ask him to help him find them.

He said a prayer asking for help. He then got up, went back outside to the driveway and immediately found them.

For Josh, that simple experience forever changed the principle of Prayer from having faith that prayer works, to an absolute knowledge that prayer works.

Alma 5: 45-46 it says: And this is not all. Do you not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold I testify unto you that I do know that these things where of I have spoken are true. And how do you suppose that I know of their surety?

Behold I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold I have fasted and prayed many days that I might kow these things of myself, and now I do know of myself that they are true: for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit: and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

Have you prayed with faith and asked your Heavenly Father?  You may need to  pray more times than Josh did, even many days, but if you have faith, he will manifest the truth your are seeking to your heart.

The prophet Spencer w. Kimball taught: “Each time the Lord answers a prayer, my knowledge that he does answer prayer is strengthened. This knowledge expands my faith and confidence in those times when his answers do not come as quickly or when his timing is different than my own”.

2)      The second step to grow your testimony that Alma teaches us is to read and understand the scriptures.

3)       

          Alma 33:12 he teaches : And now Alma said unto them: Do you believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old?

We can not believe, ponder or understand what we don’t read.

In the New Testament John 5:39 it says:  Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

STORY: a few years back when Josh was preparing to serve a mission in a far away land I was quite concerned. My first child leaving home, and heading somewhere I  did not see coming, so I was struggling to exercise my faith enough to let go of the worries that were in heart.

I had been praying to have peace in my heart, and it came time to take Josh through the temple prior to his leaving for his mission to Taiwan. While in the temple I had a few moments alone. Just me, my prayer, and not surprising a set of scriptures on the table beside where I was sitting.

As soon as I spotted the scriptures I instantly knew that the peace I was seeking would be found in those scriptures.

I opened them up and they fell open to D & C 31. My eyes fell upon vs. 3: Lift up your heart and rejoice. For the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy to this generation.

The peace that he would be ok, that he would learn the language, and be safe instantly filled my soul.

I realize this experience is a rare one.  Often answers don’t usually come that quickly, although they can. It is usually through having a regular habit of studying His words in the scriptures as well as our Modern day prophets that we receive a witness that what we are reading and studying are true.

4)      The final step in growing your testimony is to Believe!

  Alma 33; 22 I am reading a portion of this verse: Cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people.

Ninth article of faith: We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

How do we believe?

By putting action to our prayer and study our faith and our hope.

By acting in His name. Serve, be charitable, be healthier, shed bad habits, be honest , attend your church services and the temple, partake of the sacrament, pay your tithes and fast offerings.

In losing yourself in service to your Heavenly Father, with a believing heart, blessings will be poured upon you.   Your experiences will strengthen and grow your testimony.

Sources:

1)Grow your testimony: by Mindy Raye Friedman,  New Era Feb. 2013

2)Alma Chapter 33: Vs. 1, 12, and 22

3) Spencer W. Kimball: TSWK pg. 59

4)2 Nephi 38: 30

5) D & C 31: 3

6) John 5 39

7) Alma 5: 45-46

8) D & C: 8:1

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.