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.”

                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)

Forget Me Not

(I borrowed this lovely visual from the beinglds.blogspot.com)

http://beinglds.blogspot.com/2011/09/forget-not-president-uchtdorf.html

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.

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!

Thirty Years Ago . . .

This past week, September 3 2011, marked thirty years since I went to the Salt Lake Temple to recieve my own endowments.  This was the day before my sister Amy got married and several weeks before I began my mission to the Colombia Bogota Mission.  I am so very blessed.  I am so very grateful to be living in these days when temples dot the earth, and very grateful for this time in my life when I can go back to the temple often.

 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!!