December is now upon us; Thanksgiving has come and gone. I've been negligent in my blog posting, but just FYI, here's the rest of my November Gratitude List:
Gratitude Day 20: I'm grateful for clean water.
Gratitude Day 21: I'm grateful for fruits and veggies!
Gratitude Day 22: I'm grateful for bread, peanut butter and milk!
Gratitude Day 23: I'm grateful for pie! What's your favorite pie? (I ended up making Pumpkin, Rhubarb, French Silk Chocolate, and Chocolate Chip. It is now all gone.)
Gratitude Day 24: I'm grateful for a day dedicated to gratitude and spending time with loved ones.
Gratitude Day 25: I'm grateful for leaves to rake to work off some of the extra pie.
Gratitude Day 26: I'm grateful for the courage and example of others. They give me strenth and hope.
Gratitude Day 27: I'm grateful for Christmas music!
Gratitude Day 28: I'm grateful for a warm home and bed.
Gratitude Day 29: I'm grateful for public education and dedicated educators.
Gratitude Day 30: I'm grateful for our source of light: the sun and The Son.
One of my facebook friends asked if I planned to continue on with my daily gratitude posts. The original plan of this blog was to regularly post about the good things in my life. Some days I have to remind myself to look for the good things in life. :) So, even though it is now December 1st:
Gratitude Day 31:I'm grateful for fresh air! (the cold wind our area is now experiencing is good for something)
What are you grateful for?
One of my favorite bloggers shared an extensive gratitude list over three posts last week. You can read it here and here and here.
It is not happy people who are thankful, it is thankful people who are happy.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Gratitude Catch Up
Gratitude Day 16: I'm grateful for hand lotion and Chapstick and Burts Bees!
Gratitude Day 17: I'm grateful for the beauties of the earth.
Gratitude Day 18: I'm grateful for wonderful, faithful, hardworking husbands, especially mine!
Gratitude Day 19: I'm grateful for books and for libraries!
What are you grateful for?
Gratitude Day 17: I'm grateful for the beauties of the earth.
Gratitude Day 18: I'm grateful for wonderful, faithful, hardworking husbands, especially mine!
Gratitude Day 19: I'm grateful for books and for libraries!
What are you grateful for?
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Gratitude Day 13
"Yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children. . . . And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; . . ."
----Moroni 8:8, 17
Today in church we had our Primary Sacrament Meeting Program where the children are the speakers and provide the music for the entire service. As usual it was excellent. I'm grateful to be a teacher of young children. They continually amaze me. They are such strong, intelligent individuals.
I miss having little children in the house. I love my children, who are my friends, and I love the wonderful people that they are becoming. But I do miss the days when they were small and I had them home with me all of the time. I know that I don’t remember all of the sameness of long days of cleaning and dishes and diapers and fighting and whining, and crying and missing adult conversation and reading the same stories again and again when I was almost asleep. I do miss their cute huggableness, the teaching moments, the singing (they all did love to sing at one time!), the piano lessons, the swimming lessons, the picnics with pinkabutter samiches and toe toe pits and yummy aide. I miss them loving to clean and wash dishes and fold clothes and plant gardens. I miss joy school and primary and nursery, and bedtime and stories. I miss tiny newborn freshness sleeping in tired arms. I even miss the legos and the barbies and the green blob. There is absolutely nothing in this world like little children.
Here are a few more of my favorite scriptures about children:
And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
3 Nephi 11:38
And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. And when he had done this he wept again; And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones. And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.
3 Nephi 17:21-24
And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people; and he loosed their tongues that they could utter.
3 Nephi 26:14
Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little bchildren, and they shall all be saved with their little children. And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins. But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!
Moroni 6:10-12
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Gratitude Day 12: My Parents
Friday, November 11, 2011
Gratitude: Day 11 Veterans
Day 11: I am grateful to my Dad, my Grandfather, Uncles
and all of the many others who have faithfully served to defend this great country.
Happy Veteran's Day!
Gratitude: Day 10
Day 10: I'm Grateful for prayer.
Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is might to save. Yea, humble yoursleves and continue in prayer unto him. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. And when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.
Amulek
The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Alma 34:18-27 (page 294)
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Gratitude Day 7
Today I'm grateful for employment and wonderful co-workers!
Scripture for the Day:
"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: . . . . bear with patience thine afflictions,
and I will give unto you success."
Ammon
(Alma 26:27)
The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Gratitude Day 5
I am grateful for The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ:
What are you grateful for?
Friday, November 4, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
A Month of Gratitude
"It is not happy people that are thankful, It is thankful people that are happy!"
--unknown
I believe that we should be grateful and look for the good things in life each and every day, but during the month of November I especially like to take the time to share my thoughts on what I am grateful for. I'm a bit slow getting started here, so I'll share several things today!
- I am grateful for a DH who fixed dinner on his day off and reminds me to go to bed.
- I'm so very grateful for my family!
- I'm grateful for rain and SNOW and for a warm home and car that runs.
What are you grateful for?
Sunday, October 30, 2011
My Family
"Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands, and their husbands and their wives love their children . . . "
Jacob 3:7
I am so grateful for my entire family. I feel that we made the choice to be a family before we were born, and I'm so happy my family felt ok to include me! I love you all! ♥♥♥The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Sunday, October 23, 2011
God Will Never Give Us More Than We Can Handle
I read a post last weekend that has kept me thinking about it this entire week. Here is the introduction to Ru’s post at And then she was like blah blah blah
“Something I do not believe: God will never give us more than we can handle.
First of all, for the religious folks out there, this sentiment isn't found in any religious text I've ever read. It's far more likely to show up on bumper stickers. In general, I am wary of things people throw around like scripture that I've never actually read in scripture. ("I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it" ring a bell for anyone?)
In fact, this sentiment is actually just a misstatement of a scripture found in Corinthians (God will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability, and let's not get into some big theological discussion about how those are two distinct ideas.)”
Ru then goes on to talk about some of the terrible things that can happen in life and concludes:
“So while half of me believes in a loving God who knows me personally and cares about my struggles, the other half believes in that old clockmaker God who put his chips down on the table and let it ride. (Ah yes, the patented Ru mixed metaphor.)
Personally, I don't find those two visions of God particularly at odds with each other -- I just think of God as the anti-helicopter parent. He cares, but there will be no swooping to my rescue.”
Ru, I agree with you that God is not always swooping down to rescue us from life's challenges and that we need to live to help others. However, I know that God loves and cares about us very much and is always aware of what we're going through. We need to have difficult experiences that will help us to learn and to grow. We need to live and act and work and serve others. Experiencing pain and illness and heartache and even death is part of life. However, I do know that through the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be strengthened to successfully “handle” anything that life has to throw at us.
There are many scriptural examples from The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ that give me comfort and help to explain this concept. The first verse that came to my mind when I read Ru’s post was this one:
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
1 Nephi 3:7
In this instance, the young man Nephi and his brothers had been given a difficult assignment from the Lord through their father, the prophet Lehi. When Nephi’s older brothers complained that it would be too hard, Nephi had the courage to lead the way. The brothers traveled to Jerusalem to obtain a sacred record from a distant relative, and even though they did experience failure at first, by seeking the guidance of the Lord, eventually they were able to complete the assignment and carry the record to their father Lehi. (you can read the entire story here at 1 Nephi chapters 3 & 4.)
Yes, bad things happen to everyone during this life time. That is actually part of God’s plan and purpose for us, to give us experience and to help us grow, and also to help us recognize and appreciate the good things in life:
For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.
2 Nephi 2:11, 12
God has granted free agency to all men, and he will not force anyone to be righteous. Therefore, mostly because of the actions of other people, and sometimes because of acts of nature, bad things do and will happen to good people. This has happened often in the history of our difficult world. One particularly troubling example is found in these Book of Mormon verses. A group of righteous saints who believed in Jesus Christ were trying to live by his teachings. These saints were being persecuted by wicked unbelievers, even to the point of death.
And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire.
And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.
And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.
But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.
Alma 14:8-11
Sometimes God will step in and save us from our problems and challenges, and sometimes he cannot. We cannot see the whole picture like he can. In this instance these innocent people needed too suffer to stand as a witness against the wicked. However, they were blessed to return to the presence of the Lord.
What does it mean to handle something? Does it mean to never have to face a difficult situation? Does it mean to always turn the other cheek? Does it mean to never become angry or depressed or even mentally ill? Does it mean never dying? No one is perfect, and I don’t believe that God expects us to be perfect, but only to strive towards perfection, one step at a time. It is because of the atonement of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we can handle anything and everything. Jesus Christ suffered for all our sins and all of our sorrows in the Garden of Gethsemane. If we repent, we need not suffer or atone for our sins. He has already paid the price. He allowed himself to be crucified. He died and was resurrected on the third day. Because he was resurrected, we can all be resurrected live again with God, our Heavenly Father.
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Mosiah 3:19
How can we take advantage of the atonement of Jesus Christ and use the power of the atonement to handle anything and everything? By developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We can study his life and teachings and his example, and try to emulate him in our own lives. We can pray to him, asking for help and strength and guidance as we encounter the challenges of our lives, knowing that he understands us and our challenges perfectly. The Savior has already experienced everything we could ever experience in this life.
I love reading about Jesus Christ and his selfless life. I wish I could always selflessly love and serve others the way that he did, and hope to become more like him each day. None of us will ever perfectly handle everything that life throws at us, but I believe that by drawing on the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can successfully handle most challenges that God gives to us.
This video shares more about how Christ's Atonement can bring peace and lift burdens:
You can learn more about The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ right here.
You can read from The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ right here.
If you would like your own personal copy of The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, please email me at marcyhowes@gmail.com and I will see that you receive a copy.
“Something I do not believe: God will never give us more than we can handle.
First of all, for the religious folks out there, this sentiment isn't found in any religious text I've ever read. It's far more likely to show up on bumper stickers. In general, I am wary of things people throw around like scripture that I've never actually read in scripture. ("I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it" ring a bell for anyone?)
In fact, this sentiment is actually just a misstatement of a scripture found in Corinthians (God will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability, and let's not get into some big theological discussion about how those are two distinct ideas.)”
Ru then goes on to talk about some of the terrible things that can happen in life and concludes:
“So while half of me believes in a loving God who knows me personally and cares about my struggles, the other half believes in that old clockmaker God who put his chips down on the table and let it ride. (Ah yes, the patented Ru mixed metaphor.)
Personally, I don't find those two visions of God particularly at odds with each other -- I just think of God as the anti-helicopter parent. He cares, but there will be no swooping to my rescue.”
Ru, I agree with you that God is not always swooping down to rescue us from life's challenges and that we need to live to help others. However, I know that God loves and cares about us very much and is always aware of what we're going through. We need to have difficult experiences that will help us to learn and to grow. We need to live and act and work and serve others. Experiencing pain and illness and heartache and even death is part of life. However, I do know that through the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be strengthened to successfully “handle” anything that life has to throw at us.
There are many scriptural examples from The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ that give me comfort and help to explain this concept. The first verse that came to my mind when I read Ru’s post was this one:
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
1 Nephi 3:7
In this instance, the young man Nephi and his brothers had been given a difficult assignment from the Lord through their father, the prophet Lehi. When Nephi’s older brothers complained that it would be too hard, Nephi had the courage to lead the way. The brothers traveled to Jerusalem to obtain a sacred record from a distant relative, and even though they did experience failure at first, by seeking the guidance of the Lord, eventually they were able to complete the assignment and carry the record to their father Lehi. (you can read the entire story here at 1 Nephi chapters 3 & 4.)
Yes, bad things happen to everyone during this life time. That is actually part of God’s plan and purpose for us, to give us experience and to help us grow, and also to help us recognize and appreciate the good things in life:
For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.
2 Nephi 2:11, 12
God has granted free agency to all men, and he will not force anyone to be righteous. Therefore, mostly because of the actions of other people, and sometimes because of acts of nature, bad things do and will happen to good people. This has happened often in the history of our difficult world. One particularly troubling example is found in these Book of Mormon verses. A group of righteous saints who believed in Jesus Christ were trying to live by his teachings. These saints were being persecuted by wicked unbelievers, even to the point of death.
And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire.
And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.
And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.
But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.
Alma 14:8-11
Sometimes God will step in and save us from our problems and challenges, and sometimes he cannot. We cannot see the whole picture like he can. In this instance these innocent people needed too suffer to stand as a witness against the wicked. However, they were blessed to return to the presence of the Lord.
What does it mean to handle something? Does it mean to never have to face a difficult situation? Does it mean to always turn the other cheek? Does it mean to never become angry or depressed or even mentally ill? Does it mean never dying? No one is perfect, and I don’t believe that God expects us to be perfect, but only to strive towards perfection, one step at a time. It is because of the atonement of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we can handle anything and everything. Jesus Christ suffered for all our sins and all of our sorrows in the Garden of Gethsemane. If we repent, we need not suffer or atone for our sins. He has already paid the price. He allowed himself to be crucified. He died and was resurrected on the third day. Because he was resurrected, we can all be resurrected live again with God, our Heavenly Father.
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Mosiah 3:19
How can we take advantage of the atonement of Jesus Christ and use the power of the atonement to handle anything and everything? By developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We can study his life and teachings and his example, and try to emulate him in our own lives. We can pray to him, asking for help and strength and guidance as we encounter the challenges of our lives, knowing that he understands us and our challenges perfectly. The Savior has already experienced everything we could ever experience in this life.
I love reading about Jesus Christ and his selfless life. I wish I could always selflessly love and serve others the way that he did, and hope to become more like him each day. None of us will ever perfectly handle everything that life throws at us, but I believe that by drawing on the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can successfully handle most challenges that God gives to us.
This video shares more about how Christ's Atonement can bring peace and lift burdens:
You can learn more about The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ right here.
You can read from The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ right here.
If you would like your own personal copy of The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, please email me at marcyhowes@gmail.com and I will see that you receive a copy.
Monday, October 10, 2011
My Favorite Book, The Book of Mormon
What is your favorite Book? Can you choose just one?
If you've happened to read my profile, you've seen that I read a lot of fiction; always have (except during college and on my eighteen month long church mission) and probably always will. I could never list all my favorite books and I keep finding new favorite authors all of the time! It started with P.D. Eastman, Dr. Suess, Esther Wilkin and Eloise Wilkin; moved on to others like Laura Lee Hope, Julie Campbell, Louise Fitzhugh, Gertrude Chandler Warner, Johanna Spry, Frances Hodgson Burnett; then to the likes of Phyllis Whitney, Mary Stewart, Shirley Sealey, James Mitchner, Robert B. Parker, Margaret Mitchell, Gerald N. Lund, Rachel Ann Nunes, Jennie Hansen, Sharon Creech, Lisa Mangum, Diane Mott Davidson, Earlene Fowler, John Grisham, and on and on etc etc. You probably get the idea. However, there is one book that stands apart from all the rest. This book is not fiction. Who introduced me to my favorite Book?
In this post from last week I talked about being read to as a child. I, Marcy was born of goodly parents who are wonderful examples to me. They read to me, bought me books, and encouraged my reading. The taught me to work hard and to do my best in school. They taught me to obey, to be kind, to help others, to not quarrel. They taught me to love Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Savior.
As part of their teaching, my parents introduced me to my favorite book The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, at a very young age.
I have known about The Book of Mormon for as long as I have known about Dr. Suess. When I was a child, we regularly read together as a family from this book along with reading from The Holy Bible. The Book of Mormon gives us important truths about God, Jesus Christ, and the meaning and purpose of this life, as taught by ancient prophets. I have learned these truths a bit at a time by reading and re-reading The Book of Mormon. I recognize these teachings as truth, just as I know that the sun will rise each morning and that if I drop a book it will fall. As I prayerfully read portions of this book daily, I continue to find help and encouragement and answers to my problems. It brings me peace. The prophet Moroni says it best here:
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will mannifest th truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may kow the truth of all things.
Moroni 10:4-5 (pg 529)
I know from experience and from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost that The Book of Mormon is the most important book in my life. It is true. If I could only keep one book and give up all of the hundreds of other books I own (which would be a true sacrifice), I would definitely keep this one. It is my very favorite book. It is a treasure.
Have you read The Book of Mormon? You can read it for yourself on-line right here. If you'd like to read about other's experiences with the book of Mormon, come along on this Blog Hop.
If you've happened to read my profile, you've seen that I read a lot of fiction; always have (except during college and on my eighteen month long church mission) and probably always will. I could never list all my favorite books and I keep finding new favorite authors all of the time! It started with P.D. Eastman, Dr. Suess, Esther Wilkin and Eloise Wilkin; moved on to others like Laura Lee Hope, Julie Campbell, Louise Fitzhugh, Gertrude Chandler Warner, Johanna Spry, Frances Hodgson Burnett; then to the likes of Phyllis Whitney, Mary Stewart, Shirley Sealey, James Mitchner, Robert B. Parker, Margaret Mitchell, Gerald N. Lund, Rachel Ann Nunes, Jennie Hansen, Sharon Creech, Lisa Mangum, Diane Mott Davidson, Earlene Fowler, John Grisham, and on and on etc etc. You probably get the idea. However, there is one book that stands apart from all the rest. This book is not fiction. Who introduced me to my favorite Book?
My Parents
( Shown with the first five of their eventual six children. I'm the little one sitting on my Mother's lap)
( Shown with the first five of their eventual six children. I'm the little one sitting on my Mother's lap)
In this post from last week I talked about being read to as a child. I, Marcy was born of goodly parents who are wonderful examples to me. They read to me, bought me books, and encouraged my reading. The taught me to work hard and to do my best in school. They taught me to obey, to be kind, to help others, to not quarrel. They taught me to love Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Savior.
As part of their teaching, my parents introduced me to my favorite book The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, at a very young age.
I have known about The Book of Mormon for as long as I have known about Dr. Suess. When I was a child, we regularly read together as a family from this book along with reading from The Holy Bible. The Book of Mormon gives us important truths about God, Jesus Christ, and the meaning and purpose of this life, as taught by ancient prophets. I have learned these truths a bit at a time by reading and re-reading The Book of Mormon. I recognize these teachings as truth, just as I know that the sun will rise each morning and that if I drop a book it will fall. As I prayerfully read portions of this book daily, I continue to find help and encouragement and answers to my problems. It brings me peace. The prophet Moroni says it best here:
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will mannifest th truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may kow the truth of all things.
Moroni 10:4-5 (pg 529)
I know from experience and from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost that The Book of Mormon is the most important book in my life. It is true. If I could only keep one book and give up all of the hundreds of other books I own (which would be a true sacrifice), I would definitely keep this one. It is my very favorite book. It is a treasure.
Have you read The Book of Mormon? You can read it for yourself on-line right here. If you'd like to read about other's experiences with the book of Mormon, come along on this Blog Hop.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
General Conference
Ok, So I know that I haven't been posting my daily favorite Book of Mormon scriptures this past week. I promise that I'm still reading and I will finish reading the Book of Mormon again this year. I'm a bit behind my schedule, but I am reading. I've also been posting quite a bit to my other blog, Creation and Compassion, and I've been including a lot of my favorite Book of Mormon scriptures there. Go and check it out if you'd like. Anyway since last weekend was General Conference, today I thought I would blog a bit about General Conference. One day this past week I was reading from Jarom:
Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffereing the people to dilligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them.
And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance.
Jarom 1:11, 12 (pgs 139 & 140)
My thought when I read this was, wow, the Nephites must have had their own version of General Conference. Can't you just see them gathering for church, sometimes in smaller groups and other times in bigger conferences? And of course we know that King Benjamin gathered the people together later on for his famous meeting and teachings to them. The prophets and the priests and the teachers were all busy exhorting the people to live the Law of Moses (remember this was before Christ was born) and to have faith in the Messiah, even though he had not yet been born. Isn't that pretty much what our General Conference was about? The Savior loves us. Read and learn about him. Keep the commandments. Follow his example. He atoned for our sins. He knows and understands us personally. This is His Church. He loves us. Our Prophet and Apostles have just witnessed and testified of Jesus Christ. I love it!
I also love the announcement of the new temples. My facebook post on Saturday afternoon was:
I served my mission in Colombia and spent 6 months in the city of Barranquilla. If I am rich when the Branquilla Temple is dedicated we will be taking a family trip!!! (not likely, but it would be my dream!) Colombia has more than it's share of problems, but it is by far one of the most beautiful places in the world. I met some fantastically wonderful people during the time that I was there during my mission. When I was there I served in the Paraiso (translation: Paradise) area, which was only a branch at the time, meeting in a small rented home. Barranquilla had the strongest, most faithful priesthood leaders of any of the cities where I served. Now this area is the Paraiso Stake. I am so happy and excited for the members there to have their own temple. I hope and pray that the temple will be built quickly and without problem and delay.
I love General Conference! I love the Temple! I love our Prophet, President Monson! I love our Savior, Jesus Christ, and am so grateful that I live in a time and place where I can enjoy these wonderful blessings.
Thanks for stopping by.
Marcy
Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffereing the people to dilligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them.
And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance.
Jarom 1:11, 12 (pgs 139 & 140)
My thought when I read this was, wow, the Nephites must have had their own version of General Conference. Can't you just see them gathering for church, sometimes in smaller groups and other times in bigger conferences? And of course we know that King Benjamin gathered the people together later on for his famous meeting and teachings to them. The prophets and the priests and the teachers were all busy exhorting the people to live the Law of Moses (remember this was before Christ was born) and to have faith in the Messiah, even though he had not yet been born. Isn't that pretty much what our General Conference was about? The Savior loves us. Read and learn about him. Keep the commandments. Follow his example. He atoned for our sins. He knows and understands us personally. This is His Church. He loves us. Our Prophet and Apostles have just witnessed and testified of Jesus Christ. I love it!
I also love the announcement of the new temples. My facebook post on Saturday afternoon was:
I served my mission in Colombia and spent 6 months in the city of Barranquilla. If I am rich when the Branquilla Temple is dedicated we will be taking a family trip!!! (not likely, but it would be my dream!) Colombia has more than it's share of problems, but it is by far one of the most beautiful places in the world. I met some fantastically wonderful people during the time that I was there during my mission. When I was there I served in the Paraiso (translation: Paradise) area, which was only a branch at the time, meeting in a small rented home. Barranquilla had the strongest, most faithful priesthood leaders of any of the cities where I served. Now this area is the Paraiso Stake. I am so happy and excited for the members there to have their own temple. I hope and pray that the temple will be built quickly and without problem and delay.
I love General Conference! I love the Temple! I love our Prophet, President Monson! I love our Savior, Jesus Christ, and am so grateful that I live in a time and place where I can enjoy these wonderful blessings.
Thanks for stopping by.
Marcy
Friday, September 30, 2011
The Book of Mormon: A Most Important Book
This week I’ve been writing a bit and reading a lot; a lot of blog posts, and even a few books. Some books can be breezed through in a few hours, but others are worth taking the time to read slowly, to savor, and to ponder. The Book of Mormon is a book to savor and to ponder. I consider The Book of Mormon to be the most important book in my life. It testifies of the divinity of Jesus Christ. It brings me peace and the strength I need to face life’s daily challenges.
On September 1st of this year I began a challenge to once again read The Book of Mormon before the end of the year. If you aren't currently reading The Book of Mormon, I challenge you to start reading along! (2 pages or 4 chapters every day will get you through the book in four months). During the next few weeks I plan to periodically share some of my favorite verses along with some of my thoughts as I read. I hope that you don't mind! :)
“And now my beloved brethren . . . believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ.”
On September 1st of this year I began a challenge to once again read The Book of Mormon before the end of the year. If you aren't currently reading The Book of Mormon, I challenge you to start reading along! (2 pages or 4 chapters every day will get you through the book in four months). During the next few weeks I plan to periodically share some of my favorite verses along with some of my thoughts as I read. I hope that you don't mind! :)
“And now my beloved brethren . . . believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ.”
2 Nephi 33:10 (pg 116-117)
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ . . ."
2 Nephi 25:26 (pg 100)
Monday, September 26, 2011
Forget Me Not
(I borrowed this lovely visual from the beinglds.blogspot.com)
Saturday night we had the marvelous priviledge of listening to very wise counsel from dear President Uchtdorf and our Relief Society General Presidency. I decided to attend the meeting with my dear Mother; I think that this was the first time I had ever attended with her, since I have been living away from home since I have been old enough to attend Relief Society. It was a short visit with her, but a wonderful evening. My mother is one of the greatest examples of the Relief Society motto, "Charity Never Faileth", and I would do well to always emulate her example.
As is usual with the annual Relief Society Broadcast I loved all of the music and all of the talks. We are so blessed to have the legacy of being members of the oldest Women's Organization, and especially one that was founded by The Lord under the direction of the Priesthood and a living Prophet. I hope that my own daughters and future granddaughters will understand and appreciate the Relief Society and will enjoy the blessings of developing true charity. I'm always grateful for the wise counsel and reminder from Elder Uchtdorf to Forget Not the many blessings we do have.
If you somehow missed the conference, you can watch and listen to it the conference, you can watch it right here.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
I Love the Lord!
I have been a tad bit discouraged and overwhelmed the last little while, but this morning I was able to take a few hours and attend the temple again. It never ceases to amaze me (you would think I'd remember?) how much love and peace I feel there! I am ok. I can do hard things. Heavenly Father loves me!
As I was waiting in the chapel I was reading from 2 Nephi 11. I love verse 9:
"For if there be no Christ, there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time."
I love the Lord! I know he loves me, and I will forever be grateful for his atoning sacrifice, his example, his teachings and his loving kindness. With his help and strength I can do hard things!
As I was waiting in the chapel I was reading from 2 Nephi 11. I love verse 9:
"For if there be no Christ, there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time."
I love the Lord! I know he loves me, and I will forever be grateful for his atoning sacrifice, his example, his teachings and his loving kindness. With his help and strength I can do hard things!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Thirty Years Ago . . .
Last month on the day of my own 28th wedding anniversary, it was so wonderful to sit in the Celestial Room with my Hunny and just feel so close to heaven. It was so peaceful and wonderful. Sometimes it gets pretty hard for me to leave when it's time to go. I just want to go out and shout out to people and beat them over the head until they understand what they are missing out on by not going to the temple more often.
I'm so grateful to my parents for making the choices they have and for setting the example for all of their family of the path to happiness. I love Randall and and am so grateful to him for caring enough for me to take me to the temple, and to live and work towards celestial goals together. I love my all of my children so much and am so grateful that they are all a part of my family. I look forward to a day when we can all be together in the temple, to days when others will join our eternal family, and then to someday when we can all be together in Heaven. I love you all so much!!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
I Know My Father Lives
I Know my Father lives and loves me too. The Spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true, and tells me it is true.
--Reid N. Nibley
It is a beautiful day. The sun is shining, the weather is perfect. A lovely day to enjoy the beauties of the world. A day made to feel the love of the Lord.
Today was CTR B Lesson 20: The Holy Ghost Helps Us Know the Truth
I love teaching the 4 and 5 year old primary class. I love helping them to understand the simple basic truths of the gospel. I love the knowledge that The Lord loves me, and that throught the Holy Ghost he can help me to know the truth of all things. If only everyone could and would truly know and act on this truth, I sincerely believe this world truly be a happy place!
That's all. The end
--Reid N. Nibley
It is a beautiful day. The sun is shining, the weather is perfect. A lovely day to enjoy the beauties of the world. A day made to feel the love of the Lord.
Today was CTR B Lesson 20: The Holy Ghost Helps Us Know the Truth
I love teaching the 4 and 5 year old primary class. I love helping them to understand the simple basic truths of the gospel. I love the knowledge that The Lord loves me, and that throught the Holy Ghost he can help me to know the truth of all things. If only everyone could and would truly know and act on this truth, I sincerely believe this world truly be a happy place!
That's all. The end
Friday, June 3, 2011
Light
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world.
Doctrine and Covenants 11:28
Doctrine and Covenants 11:28
Hopefully I can do better at bringing light into my life, and also sharing it with others. May everyone have a bright and beautiful summer!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Love Your Enemies
And whosover shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away.
And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy;
But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away.
And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy;
But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.
3 Nephi 12:41-44
I just realized the other day how blessed I am in that I really have not ever had enemies . . . at least not that I'm aware of. I do know that at times I may have offended people, and I have had others tease or taunt me at times, but no one has ever done or said anything that would make me feel that they were an enemy. Hopefully this will always be the case as I am not exactly sure how well I would handle having an enemy. Hopefully I am able to give to those who ask, and am willing to walk a mile or two with anyone who has the need. And If I have every hurt or offended you, I am truly sorry, and I hope that you will forgive me, or at least talk to me about it!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I Love the Temple
I Love the Temple!!
I am so grateful to live in a time and place where I can easily take the time to visit the House of the Lord. I am grateful to all those who have worked and sacrificed and served to bring forth this day when temples litterally cover the earth.
The Temple is a place of peace.
The Temple is a place of comfort.
The Temple is a place of instruction.
The Temple is a place of service.
The Temple is a place of joy.
If you have not been to visit or serve in an LDS Temple lately, please consider making plans to do so soon. I don't think that you will be disappointed with your visit.
The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work, Including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world. I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God. Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.
D&C 138: 53-56
(D&C 138 is a vision given to President Joseph F. Smith in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 3 October 1918. In his opening address at the 89th Semiannual General Conference of the Church, on 4 October 1918, President Smith declared that he had received several divine communications during the previous months. One of these, concerning the Savior’s visit to the spirits of the dead while his body was in the tomb, President Smith had received the previous day. It was written immediately following the close of the conference. On 31 October 1918, it was submitted to the counselors in the First Presidency, the Council of the Twelve, and the Patriarch, and it was unanimously accepted by them.)
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Wisdom for Today
And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.
D&C 89:18-21
Today one of the speakers in the meeting I was attending was commenting on how for the past several years he had made it a goal to write more regularly in his journal, especially noting blessings in his life and the lives of those around him . . .(like my goal that I have not been doing so well in). He mentioned how he had also been thinking of a scripture that really stood out to him each day, and recording it with his journal entry. It was not necessarily a scripture that he had read during the day, but one that just fit the day and what he had been dealing with or thinking of during the day. So . . . . .
Today Marissa taught our CTR class lesson in Primary on the Word of Wisdom. This is one subject that the 4 and 5 year olds in our class already seem to know quite well. Their parents have taught them to eat good healthy foods and to avoid substances that are harmful to them. It made me glad to know that at this young age they already know these truths. We talked about how having wisdom means being smart. They also had A LOT of fun feeding small pictures of healthy foods to our monkey puppet. It was a good day.
Today I am grateful for modern revelation and for prophets and parents who have taught us how to care for our bodies and our health. So . . . eat your fruits & veggies & grains, limit your meats, drink your milk and your juice and water, get plenty of sleep and rise early and excercise.
And Smile be Happy!
Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace. Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.
D&C 88:124-126
D&C 89:18-21
Today one of the speakers in the meeting I was attending was commenting on how for the past several years he had made it a goal to write more regularly in his journal, especially noting blessings in his life and the lives of those around him . . .(like my goal that I have not been doing so well in). He mentioned how he had also been thinking of a scripture that really stood out to him each day, and recording it with his journal entry. It was not necessarily a scripture that he had read during the day, but one that just fit the day and what he had been dealing with or thinking of during the day. So . . . . .
Today Marissa taught our CTR class lesson in Primary on the Word of Wisdom. This is one subject that the 4 and 5 year olds in our class already seem to know quite well. Their parents have taught them to eat good healthy foods and to avoid substances that are harmful to them. It made me glad to know that at this young age they already know these truths. We talked about how having wisdom means being smart. They also had A LOT of fun feeding small pictures of healthy foods to our monkey puppet. It was a good day.
Today I am grateful for modern revelation and for prophets and parents who have taught us how to care for our bodies and our health. So . . . eat your fruits & veggies & grains, limit your meats, drink your milk and your juice and water, get plenty of sleep and rise early and excercise.
And Smile be Happy!
Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace. Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.
D&C 88:124-126
Monday, April 4, 2011
I Love General Conference
This has been a wonderful weekend! There is no greater blessing than gathering with my loved ones to listen to the counsel of God's chosen prophet and apostles, and feeling and knowing the messages that were meant for me personally. The amount of snow was a bit of a surprise, but the love and contentment I have felt for both our church leaders and my family and even myself made for a weekend that I did not want to end. Thank you to all who were a part of it! I love all of my family! I am so grateful for a living prophet and for so many who dedicate so much time and effort to serving their fellow beings here on this earth.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Trip to Logan
When I first decided to venture into the world of blogging, I really didn't know exactly what I had in mind, other than trying to discover what blogging was all about, hense the original name of this blog: Random Thoughts. I decided to ocasionally post a few random thoughts just to see what transpired. Then in October of 2007 Elder Henry B Eyring gave a talk in General Conference that really hit me hard as something that I should be doing.
(You can read the talk here: http://lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/o-remember-remember?lang=eng&query=O+Remember,+Remember or watch a short video based on the talk here: http://lds.org/pages/o-remember-remember?lang=eng&query=henry+b+eyring)
The talk basically tells about how Elder Eyring decided one day when his children were small that he should be recording each day the ways he observed the Lord blessing the lives of his family. He wrote down a few lines every day, never missing a day. His gratitude for his blessings grew, as did his testimony. He made copies of the record for his children, which strengthened their gratitude and testimonies.
It has been over four years since I first heard this talk, but I am often reminded of it, and my desire and intent to do the same. My own father has been a wonderful example to me and others of keeping a daily journal or record of his life, and also of writing and sharing his experiences and thoughts with his family on a regular weekly basis, and has often encouraged us to do the same. Both he and my mother have written their own life stories and continue to add to them and to write regularly to their children.
At some point I realized that this blog would perhaps be a good venue for recording the daily blessings or tender mercies that I recognize in my life. It was at then that I changed the name of this blog from "Random Thoughts" to "Random Thoughts and Tender Mercies".
(another wonderful General Conference talk given by Elder Bednar on Tender Mercies can be read here:
http://lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/the-tender-mercies-of-the-lord?lang=eng&query=tender+mercies)
Anyway, even with all of the wonderful examples of friends and family members who regularly post inspiring thoughts and experiences on their blogs, I'm still not a regular blogger, and I am still procrastinating on my intent or goal of recognizing and recording the blessings of the Lord in my life. So, though it may still take some time for me to develop this habit, I can only begin if I begin.
This afternoon my daughter #1 and I drove to Logan to visit daughter #2 and attend Parent's Day in her Student/Singles Ward. (Dad had other comittments and could not come) The weather this weekend, though not terrible, has been forcast all week to be windy with rain and snow. For those of you who may not be aware, though I do enjoy driving and traveling, I do not enjoy driving in rain or snow, especially in canyons, in the dark, or in traffic where the other drivers are more confident and driving much faster than I am. This trip to Logan could have met any or all of these conditions. On the way to Logan the weather was clear except for a bit of rain through the Mantua and Sardine Canyon areas. So far, so good. In every single one of the meetings we attended, the students/single adults who offered the prayers thanked the Lord that the parents and families who had come to visit were able to do so, and asked that we would all be able to travel and return to our homes in safety. I was very grateful for their prayers. Additionally, since the meetings began at 1:30 pm, by the end of the meeting block and linger longer, at this time of year it would normally be approaching dusk. But, since Daylight Savings Time began last Sunday (I know, I know, I've been grumping about it all week . . . it's way to early to start Daylight Savings Time when I have to get up in the morning while it's still dark), even though it was raining when we left Logan there was still plenty of daylight time left. We did hit a bit of snow in the Canyon, but just before we hit Ogden it stopped raining, and we did have a safe and uneventful trip home, in the daylight. We enjoyed the meetings and music and testimonies and lunch, a nice (although short) visit with daughter #2 and her roommate, and arrived safely home in the daylight. Simple, I know, but blessings indeed.
(You can read the talk here: http://lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/o-remember-remember?lang=eng&query=O+Remember,+Remember or watch a short video based on the talk here: http://lds.org/pages/o-remember-remember?lang=eng&query=henry+b+eyring)
The talk basically tells about how Elder Eyring decided one day when his children were small that he should be recording each day the ways he observed the Lord blessing the lives of his family. He wrote down a few lines every day, never missing a day. His gratitude for his blessings grew, as did his testimony. He made copies of the record for his children, which strengthened their gratitude and testimonies.
It has been over four years since I first heard this talk, but I am often reminded of it, and my desire and intent to do the same. My own father has been a wonderful example to me and others of keeping a daily journal or record of his life, and also of writing and sharing his experiences and thoughts with his family on a regular weekly basis, and has often encouraged us to do the same. Both he and my mother have written their own life stories and continue to add to them and to write regularly to their children.
At some point I realized that this blog would perhaps be a good venue for recording the daily blessings or tender mercies that I recognize in my life. It was at then that I changed the name of this blog from "Random Thoughts" to "Random Thoughts and Tender Mercies".
(another wonderful General Conference talk given by Elder Bednar on Tender Mercies can be read here:
http://lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/the-tender-mercies-of-the-lord?lang=eng&query=tender+mercies)
Anyway, even with all of the wonderful examples of friends and family members who regularly post inspiring thoughts and experiences on their blogs, I'm still not a regular blogger, and I am still procrastinating on my intent or goal of recognizing and recording the blessings of the Lord in my life. So, though it may still take some time for me to develop this habit, I can only begin if I begin.
This afternoon my daughter #1 and I drove to Logan to visit daughter #2 and attend Parent's Day in her Student/Singles Ward. (Dad had other comittments and could not come) The weather this weekend, though not terrible, has been forcast all week to be windy with rain and snow. For those of you who may not be aware, though I do enjoy driving and traveling, I do not enjoy driving in rain or snow, especially in canyons, in the dark, or in traffic where the other drivers are more confident and driving much faster than I am. This trip to Logan could have met any or all of these conditions. On the way to Logan the weather was clear except for a bit of rain through the Mantua and Sardine Canyon areas. So far, so good. In every single one of the meetings we attended, the students/single adults who offered the prayers thanked the Lord that the parents and families who had come to visit were able to do so, and asked that we would all be able to travel and return to our homes in safety. I was very grateful for their prayers. Additionally, since the meetings began at 1:30 pm, by the end of the meeting block and linger longer, at this time of year it would normally be approaching dusk. But, since Daylight Savings Time began last Sunday (I know, I know, I've been grumping about it all week . . . it's way to early to start Daylight Savings Time when I have to get up in the morning while it's still dark), even though it was raining when we left Logan there was still plenty of daylight time left. We did hit a bit of snow in the Canyon, but just before we hit Ogden it stopped raining, and we did have a safe and uneventful trip home, in the daylight. We enjoyed the meetings and music and testimonies and lunch, a nice (although short) visit with daughter #2 and her roommate, and arrived safely home in the daylight. Simple, I know, but blessings indeed.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Creation and Compassion
I finally picked up and read a wonderful little book that my dear Hubby gave me for my birthday: "The Remarkable Soul of a Woman" by Dieter F Uchtdorf. It took me about 15 minutes, or less to read, but is full of short gems from the wonderful talks we have heard from our wonderful Elder Uchtdorf. He always makes me feel better! He knows what we need to be happy! I plan to keep this book on my nightstand with my scriptures, and hopefully I'll remember to pick it up when I start feeling down and gloomy.
Here are just a couple of my very favorite snippets:
"Heavenly Father . . . is a God of creation and compassion. Creating and being compassionate are two objectives that contribute to our Heavenly Father's perfect happiness. Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate."
"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of greater importance."
Ever since Elder Uchtdorf gave the first advice, I believe it was in a General Relief Society Broadcast, I have been trying to conciously be more creative and more compassionate. Hopefully I'm succeeding a little bit?
Here are just a couple of my very favorite snippets:
"Heavenly Father . . . is a God of creation and compassion. Creating and being compassionate are two objectives that contribute to our Heavenly Father's perfect happiness. Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate."
"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of greater importance."
Ever since Elder Uchtdorf gave the first advice, I believe it was in a General Relief Society Broadcast, I have been trying to conciously be more creative and more compassionate. Hopefully I'm succeeding a little bit?
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