Yes, Mormons are Christians!

I don't watch much TV or many movies these days.  I usually only watch/listen when others in my family choose to watch them here in the living room where I have my computer, and then I am often working or reading or writing other things at the same time.   I was recently "binge" watching several popular YouTube vlogger who was answering reader/view questions.  One question that was asked was "Are you Mormon?"  to which the reply was  "No,  we're not Mormon, we are Christian."

Unfortunately, there is a fairly common misconception "out there"  that we members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, sometimes called "Mormons", are not Christians.  As an active, practicing member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I firmly say,  Yes, we are Christians.  We believe the Jesus Christ, the son of God the Father, is the Savior and Redeemer of this world.  We along with Christians everywhere celebrate his birth during the traditional Christmas season, and his atonement and resurrection during the traditional Easter season.   I love the Christmas season, in spite of often biting off a bit more than I should in the way of preparations, but I love the traditions we have of celebrating the season through service, music, scripture, and gathering and sharing gifts with family and friends.  

If you have doubts, please check out the official website of the church and see the many wonderful ways that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can help you and your family enjoy a more joyful, peaceful and meaningful Christmas this year.  Below is the annual Christmas Devotional that was broadcast earlier this evening.  May you enjoy an especially peaceful Christmas this year!

Job and Co-workers

 I'm grateful for a good job where I feel useful and appreciated, and for reliable, talented, caring, and friendly co-workers.

Heat and Blankets

 I'm grateful for central heating, car heater and defrost, and lots of nice warm blankies!

The Atonement

 

Photo Source 

I'm grateful for the Atonement of The Lord, Jesus Christ.

Extended Family

 I'm grateful for a wonderful large extended family and heritage. Love to you all.

Oatmeal and Blueberries

 I'm grateful for oatmeal and blueberries for breakfast . . . and many other yummy and nutritious things to eat.

Transportation

 I'm grateful for cars, trains, planes, buses, trucks, ships, and the many people who skillfully work to provide us with the wide variety of options we have for transporting ourselves and goods worldwide.

Sunrise

 I'm grateful for the sunrise. I don't often take the time to watch, but I love the very gradual transition from dark of night, dark blue with black silhouettes, to the lighter blues and colors of daylight.

Music

 

I'm grateful that I can listen to wonderful music that I love just about any time I like . . . . 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptk_1Dc2iPY

Keeping in Touch with Family and Friends

 I'm grateful for phone calls, text messages, cards, letters, video chats and other wonderful ways of keeping in touch with family and friends.

Primary

 I'm grateful to be a primary teacher and to share the simple gospel and testimony of Jesus Christ to such amazing young people. I miss them when they are not able to be with us!

Dear Husband

 I'm grateful for this character: my friend, partner and eternal companion. He supports and encourages me in so many ways and even cooked and brought me breakfast in bed this morning!

(photo from 1983)

Parents and Siblings

 I'm grateful for these people . . . parents kind and dear, siblings who helped to care for me, played with me, watched over me, and still have my back. I have been very blessed with a wonderful earthly home, and for a pleasant childhood with many wonderful memories.

Family Prayer

 I'm grateful for prayer, and for this artwork and these thoughts that I found today on Facebook on the Gathering Families page:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

--2 Chronicles 7:14

Imagine a world where every family prayed for their country and all those who live within its borders. Imagine mothers and fathers who carefully teach their children how to petition the Lord in faith. Our pilgrim ancestors did just that! They sang, “We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessings“. Throughout the many generations since, that song has been echoed by congregations throughout America. “We all do extol thee, our leader triumphant, and pray that thou STILL our defender wilt be!” We still sing this song today, it has become a Thanksgiving Tradition to blend our voices with those that came before us and petition the Lord to “Let Thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!”

Gathering Families firmly believes that blessings await our land as we humble ourselves and look to God for protection. Families who not only pray in faith, but study the principles of freedom and charity will add peace to our land one home at a time. Our nation was built on courageous families who came to America in search of freedom. We must choose to be courageous again and stand tall….but first, we kneel!

--Gathering Families

#GatheringFamilies #Prayer #HearHim #ComeHome

Artist unknown

Source:  found on Facebook Gathering Families page

Scriptures and The Book of Mormon

 I'm grateful for time to read from scriptures every morning, especially The Book of Mormon.

Frozen Food

 I'm grateful for a freezer full of wonderful things for a quick dinner such as Ravioli, Salisbury Steak, and assorted varieties of chicken, fish and other meats and vegetables . . . and Ice Cream for dessert!

Light

 I'm grateful for light . . . the sun, moon and stars, electricity, fire, and also for the light of truth.

Fasting and Prayer

 I'm grateful for the power of fasting and prayer. I know of so many who have seen miracles and whose lives have been forever blessed by fasting and prayer with purpose and faith.

Gardens

 I'm grateful for a day spend in the garden.    My garden wasn't the most productive this year, but it still brings me great pleasure, exercise, stress relief, and even a few good things to eat and share.  

Appliances

 I'm grateful for so many wonderful appliances that make our home and lives so much easier and pleasant.

Home and Bed

 I'm grateful for a warm, safe, and comfortable home and bed after a long day of work.

Hymns

  I'm grateful for Hymns that comfort and uplift.

When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us, And threaten our peace to destroy, There is hope smiling brightly before us, And we know that deliv’rance is nigh. We doubt not the Lord nor His goodness. We’ve proved him in days that are past. The wicked who fight against Zion Will surely be smitten at last.

--William Fowler

Children

 I'm grateful for my six wonderful children and their practically perfect spouses and partners.

Grandchildren

 I'm grateful for my four wonderful grandchildren!

Forty Years Ago Today . . . .

 I just realized a few minutes ago that forty years ago today was my first day as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.   Without looking back at my journal, there would be very few things that I remember about that day, but I'm glad I can read about the several inches of snow on the ground and covering the trees that were sparkling in the bright sunlight as my parents and I drove from our rural home to the Missionary Training Center where I would prepare for my service in the Bogota Colombia Mission.  We were an hour late in arriving, so didn't have much time for visiting and good byes to my parents,  sister, and brother and their spouses, and my new college sweetheart -- all of whom I was leaving behind for a year and a half.   The decision to devote these 18 months of my life as a missionary was a hard one for me to make and keep, but I had made a personal commitment to myself and to the Lord that I would fulfill the call that had been extended to me, and I was determined that I would do my best, in spite of my feelings of inadequacy and my newly found friendship with my future husband.  

The night before, on Wednesday October 28, 1981, my Stake President and his counselor had set me apart as a missionary and had given me a blessing filled with wonderful promises, along with some good advice.  I was counseled to learn to love the people and the culture of Colombia, to bear my testimony often, to not let fear overcome faith, to obey the rules and do what I would be asked, to use my money wisely, always, to take care of my health, eat good food and get plenty of sleep, and to write in my journal daily.   I know I wasn't perfect in all of these things, but I did try to follow this advice.  

During my training I was blessed with a good fellow missionary companion who was good for me.  She was much more outgoing than I, and had much more experience in the Spanish language than I did, but we were in similar situations as she had broken off her engagement when she felt the need or the call to be a missionary.  We were the only two missionaries in our class or our district, and spent the next two and a half months working together to improve our Spanish and learn the gospel, culture, and service lessons that we were expected to share and follow as both welfare service and proselyting missionaries.   There was a delay in our visa's for Colombia being approved, so we stayed a few extra weeks at the Missionary Training Center and learned a bit of American Sign Language before traveling to Colombia with another group of sister missionaries in January of 1982.  

There is absolutely no room in one blog post to share all of the amazing, frustrating, and even a few unnerving or scary happenings of those missionary times, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity I have had of serving as a missionary of Jesus Christ to the people of Colombia, and for all of those who helped and supported me in that decision.   I lived in several of the most beautiful areas in this world . . . Bogota, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, Ibague, and Florencia.  I met hundreds of amazing, resourceful, humble, and loving people.  I was able to bear witness many many times that Jesus Christ is our Savior, our brother, and our most loving friend.  That through the prophet Joseph Smith he has restored his church to the earth and provided us with the truth and wisdom of ancient prophets found in The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  That through Jesus Christ, each one of us can find peace and strength and know the way to return to our loving Heavenly Father.  I will forever be grateful for those months spent as a missionary that started forty years ago today.

My photos are few and faded and don't do justice at all to the beautiful country of Colombia:

Bogota'

Christmas greetings from Colombia

Outdoor market in Florencia

Family living in between Florencia and Neiva

Finding Peace This Autumn

Photo Source

Hello Friends,

So, it's been a while since I've posted here.  How are you all doing these days in the crazy days of 2021?  How has your summer been?  My days have been mainly spent working at the day job with evenings in the yard and garden and as much time as possible visiting with all of the dear sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, who have been able to visit and welcoming a new granddaughter into this marvelous and crazy world.  We take things one day at a time around here, and try to take time each day to recognize the many good things that are still a part of our lives.  I've just hung my Welcome Autumn sign on the front door, and even though Autumn often makes me feel melancholy, I am enjoying the cooler weather and the beautiful colors of the changing leaves and the clear blue autumn skies.

But yes, I recognize every single day that in spite of the blessings that my family is able to find and enjoy, there are so many in the world today who struggle in many different ways.   I don't have answers and solutions for all of the trials and turmoil, but hopefully everyone can find ways to find some measure of peace and hope in God and in Jesus Christ and his gospel.  I know that many have found peace and joy this year by turning their hearts more towards God and trusting in their faith and the promise of hope and good things to come. 

My very favorite weekend every autumn is the the first weekend every October when we can listen to the General Conference sessions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Throughout many generations of time, God has blessed the earth with prophets, men of faith who have been called by God to direct his children on this earth, and this weekend I am very much looking forward to listening to messages from living prophets and apostles of Jesus Christ.  YES!!  Jesus Christ has a living prophet and living apostles today!!  Just as he called apostles to follow him and help him in his ministry as depicted in the very popular TV Show "The Chosen", he has called living, present day apostles to minister in his church on earth today.   Please join me in listening to their messages of faith, hope, charity, and instruction on this very Saturday and Sunday,  October 2nd and 3rd of this very eventful year of 2021.  

You can watch and listen to these messages in several ways:

• Live stream at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
• On You Tube at General Conference
• On many local TV networks, depending on where you live.   

There will be three sessions on Saturday and two on Sunday, so no matter what your schedule, you most likely will be able to find at least one of the live session to enjoy, and recorded sessions to return and listen to later at your convenience.  

I invite you to join me in finding peace through Jesus Christ this weekend, and many times during the weeks to come.

Love,

Marcy ♥♥♥

Zion

 

And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

Moses 7:18

The Old Testament prophet, Enoch, the son of Jared and the father of Methuselah, was a righteous leader who led his people in righteousness.  The Lord blessed the people and their city, Zion, the City of Holiness, flourished.  In time, because of the righteousness of this people, they were taken up to heaven to abide forever.

And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Genesis 5:23, 24

Today, it is the goal of those who truly follow the Lord, Jesus Christ, to live a life that is worthy to be part of a ZION society, a place where love and charity abound.  We strive to make our homes and our neighborhoods and our communities places where we love and serve and help one another, where the gospel of Jesus Christ is taught and lived to the best of our ability.  No, none of us are perfect, but we hope to do our part to make our corner of the world, wherever it might be, a better place to live.

Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion -- THE PURE IN HEART; therefore, let Zion rejoice . . . 

Doctrine and Covenants 97:21

Youth

I'm grateful for my youth, my own time as a youngster, teenager, young adult, what have you.   We weren't wealthy, but I never lacked for what I really needed. They weren't always fun and happy times.  I had my own struggles and angst, dealing with school, grades, friends, self esteem, and finding myself and choosing my goals and dreams and direction for life.  I do have many wonderful memories in spite of the challenges and difficulties, and for the most part I feel that that time of my life was blessed and protected.  I know now that I have experienced a life and youth of privilege, and recognize that fact more and more with each passing year.

I have also been blessed with being able to know and teach and work with many youthful people from generations younger than mine.  For the most part they have been and still are amazing examples to me of their friendliness, enthusiasm for life, and courage to search out and experience new things, different things, challenging things and hard things, to stretch and reach for their goals.  I love watching them as they become adults and leaders and parents, and I love seeing the amazing things they continue to accomplish and the wonderful people they have become.

My own children and their spouses and friends, and my grandchildren are among my favorite people and blessings in the world.  I love and appreciate their help and encouragement, their friendship, and the love and support and help they continue to show to me and to each other and my dear husband.  I admire them and look up to them in so many ways.  I am grateful to the youth and the younger generations in this world and have great hopes for the great things I believe that they will be able to accomplish.

And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.  And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.

2 Nephi 2:4

And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.

Alma 36:3

O, remember my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth, yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God. 

Alma 37:35

Xfinity

 

X is one of the hardest letters to use for the A to Z challenge, but what has been on my mind this week is Xfinity, the trade name of Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, used to market Internet, Cable TV, and Telephone services.   I'm not a raving fan of Xfinity, per say, but I am a fan of the Internet, which is where I spend the majority of my waking hours these days, especially since working from home this past year.  Without the Internet, I would not be able to function working from home.  I'm very happy to say that we have only had one or two tiny glitches without service during all of my working hours the past year.

My communications with anyone outside of my Dear Husband and Dear Daughter, who lives here with us, would definitely be very sparse, with only the occasional phone calls or text messages with other family members or friends.  Yes, it has been a very solitary year for most people, but the Internet has kept us connected.  When we were under quarantine, we ordered our groceries online and had them delivered to our doorstep.  We can check our email and our Facebook and blogs on a daily basis.  We can even watch our favorite  movies and TV shows via the internet in the evenings after work.  

Are we addicted to the Internet?  Hopefully not.  I think we would tend to adapt somehow without it, but life would certainly be much different than it is today.  Probably a lot more like it was when we were children!   Do we rely on the Internet?  Very much so.  Yes, the Internet is very much a blessing that like most blessings we have can be used with wisdom and gratitude, or it can be misused and a source of trouble, and sadness of many kinds.  

Water

 

Water.  Good old H2O.  What would we do without it?  So precious and important, for drinking, cleaning, cooling, recreating, and sustaining life. Who doesn't enjoy a day at the lake or the beach or a hike along the river?

Please don't take our water for granted, or waste it.  We have rain here in our neck of the woods this week, and we are grateful.  It has been a winter with less snow and rain than we normally receive, and we are anxious for more.   I could do better myself with using water wisely; planting a more water friendly yard, with less grass to water, taking care to not let the water run too long, taking shorter showers, making sure the plumbing and faucets are all in working order.  

Please make sure you have an emergency supply of water stored in your home.  It is suggested that we store at least one gallon of water per person per day, and if possible to have a two week supply on hand in case of emergencies.  I also like to always have a case of bottled water in the trunk of my car in case of emergencies, and try to rotate it out every six months to a year.   I will never forget the painful images of seeing people who had gone without potable water for days during such disasters as the deadly flooding in New Orleans back in 2005.  

There are so many people world wide who also lack clean, safe sources of water, and one of my favorite ways to give is to donate to organizations that help to provide clean wells and other water supplies to areas of the world where people don't have the access.   I'm sure that there are many more, but here are a few:

Water Aid

Water4lifeglobal

Family Humanitarian

Vaccinations

 

Do you remember getting vaccinated as a child?  What a blessing it has been to grow up in a world where vaccines were and are a common thing, and available to most everyone, at least in my part of the world.  When we were infants, my dear mother would take us to the monthly well baby clinics sponsored by our county health department where it was made sure that we were always up to date on our immunizations and that we were vaccinated against polio and measles and mumps, and typhoid and tetanus and diphtheria.  There was never a question about it.  Vaccinations were a blessing and we took advantage of those blessings.   Every year during elementary school, and even during high school, I believe, there were the yearly "shot days" at school, where if we brought in the signed parent permission form and the minimal fee payment, we were given our recommended booster shots.  

It wasn't until this past year that I realized there was a fairly major influenza pandemic in 1968 that resulted in roughly 100,000 deaths in the US and 1,000,000 deaths world wide.  I remember being ill fairly often during the winter months when I was growing up.  Was I sick with that original strain of the H3N3 influenza virus?  I'm not certain, but I do know that my mother took us into the doctor every year for our yearly flu shot.  As I grew older, and especially after my tonsils were removed during Christmas break when I was 11 years old, I stopped getting sick quite as often.  Was it built up immunity, the flu shots, or having my tonsils removed?  I'll never know for sure, but probably it was a combination of the three.  

When I moved out on my own as a young adult, I was rarely ill with much more than a cold, and never missed a day of class during college due to illness.  I also didn't bother with regular doctor's visits or flu shots either, until my pregnancies came along, but I did make sure that my own children kept up to date on their childhood vaccinations.  Now that my workplace has a medical clinic and offers the convenience of the yearly flu shot, have have been taking advantage of that preventive medicine once again.  I understand that there are times when certain people do have serious reactions to vaccinations, and I am extremely grateful that this has never been the case for those in my family.  I'm also very grateful to have received my second dose of the moderna vaccine for the prevention of the Covid-19., and hope that safe doeses of the vaccine will soon become available for the children of this world, including my dear grandchildren. If annual Covid-19 vaccines do become available, you can be sure that my DH and I, and hopefully all of our family will make these vaccines a part of our annual traditions.  

I hope you and all of your loved ones are well, able to stay safe, and are protected from serious illness through the miracle of vaccinations.

Understanding

 

Understanding  The ability to learn, judge, make decisions.  Intelligence.  Knowledge or familiarity with a particular thing or situation. Cooperation.  A mutual agreement.  Sympathetic, tolerant, and empathetic towards another person and their situation. Wisdom from experience.

I'm grateful for a lifetime of learning opportunities and experiences with different people, places, cultures, subject matter, talents, skills and abilities.  We each have a lifetime to learn and experience new things, and  to learn to have love and charity for other people.  I'm grateful that there are always new things to learn, experience, and understand.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Proverbs 4:7

PS  I'm also grateful for umbrellas, even though I don't actually use them very often.  It doesn't rain as much here in our almost desert climate, and when it does, my umbrella is usually somewhere that I am not . . . . at home, in the car, at the office . . . it just turns out that way.  Or, the umbrella isn't working very well.  I guess I should always have several on hand in different places!

Temples

 

Temples  Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints consider temples to be the "house of the Lord" and the most sacred places of worship on the earth.  Everyone is welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at our local churches or meetinghouses, but Temples serve a different purpose.  The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the church to participate in sacred ceremonies such as marriages that unite families forever, and proxy baptisms on behalf of family members who have died without having the chance to be baptized during their lifetime.  These ordinances and ceremonies prepare us to return as eternal family units to our Heavenly Father once we pass on to the next life. 

I first attended the temple for my own ordinances just before my 21st birthday and my year and one half missionary service.  My sister and I went together for the first time, and she was married to her husband for eternity in the temple the very next day.   The photo below is of the beautiful celestial room in the Salt Lake City Temple where we first attended.  That was a very special time for our entire family.

Salt Lake Temple

I have been blessed to return to this temple many times since, and have attended many other temples around the country even more often over the years.   Before March of 2020, I tried to attend a temple session at least once a month, sometimes with family or friends, and other times on my own.  It has always been a place where I can feel very close to my Heavenly Father, and also to others in my family who have passed on from this life to the next.  It has been a place to feel peace and comfort when times are hard, and to learn and ponder on sacred and eternal gospel principles, as well as current worldly problems and challenges.  

 

In March of 2020, temples all over the world were temporarily closed due to the Covid 19 pandemic.  Many have re-opened their doors on a limited basis, by appointment only in order to limit the numbers in attendance so social distancing and other safety measures can be put into place.  I haven't had the opportunity to attend since February 2020, but am hopeful that I can soon return to the temple often, one my very most favorite places on earth to be.

On May 4, of this year, our prophet President Russell M Nelson announced plans to build 20 additional temples in different areas around the world.  The Church of Jesus Christ now has 251 temples announced, under construction, or currently open and operating in various countries and cities.  It is so exciting to see and know that the work of the Lord is expanding throughout the world.  

Jordan River Utah Temple

Washington DC Temple

Barranquilla Colombia Temple

Temple Photos Source

Have you ever visited a Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?  Where are some of your favorite sacred places?

The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven . . . 

Psalm 11:4

PS  The tulips are in bloom!  I planted quite a number of red tulips the year after we bought our home over 20 years ago, and love seeing them bloom every spring!

Sunday, the Sabbath

 

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.  Right now Sunday is my very favorite day of the week! 

There have been times in my life when Sundays were very busy and hectic.  During  missionary times, Sundays were always  filled to the brim with visiting people we were teaching and bringing them to our weekly worship services.  Often times we as the missionaries also were involved giving talks, playing and/or leading the music, or teaching classes.  After the meetings were over, there would be more visits with members and non-members, teaching and sharing family home evenings. The Sabbath was always wonderful and filled with good (mostly) experiences, but they were very busy, and we were grateful for somewhat low-key Mondays which were our preparation days and a bit more restful.

Moving right along to the years when DH and I  had our house full of our six children, Sundays were also very hectic.  Getting six children dressed up, cleaned up and to church on time was always a challenge, especially if DH had early morning meetings.  For a few years when we lived in New Jersey, our drive to church was an hour's drive each way.  Then, after church and dinner, when I was more than ready for a nap, the kids would always need some motherly one on one or one on six attention!  Once again, Mondays and back to school were always welcome days for this mother.

Thankfully, or unfortunately, whichever way you look at it, those missionary days and the days of mothering a houseful of children have come to an end.  These days our Sabbath days truly are mostly a day of rest.  We are blessed to live only two blocks away from our church, and we can walk if we like.  We are blessed to be able to partake of the Sacrament and renew our covenants and promises to always remember the sacrifices and the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ, and to keep His commandments.  For the most part the rest of the day is set aside for restful activities here at home such as reading good books, listening to sacred music, researching our family history and genealogy, writing in journals and working on photo albums and scrapbooks, and visiting with family members.  It has been especially restful this past year to hold our own worship services here at home, with my DH, who holds the Priesthood, having the authority to bless and administer the ordinance of the Sacrament here at home.  We've enjoyed regular virtual visits with our children and grandchildren, and sometimes with other family members.  Sometimes we even have time to take a nap!

What are your favorite things about the Sabbath?

Relief Society

 

When I graduated from High School, I automatically became a member of the women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or the Relief Society   Some of my earliest memories are of going to the church every Tuesday morning with my mother and my grandmother where while they attended the weekly Relief Society meeting, any of my siblings who were not old enough for school would attend the nursery class with our friends.  Once a month or so there would be a luncheon served, and we would have tuna or deviled ham sandwiches along with our stories and games.  

Relief Society has become much more to me in my adult years.   The weekly Tuesday morning meetings no longer take place, having evolved into evening meetings as more women entered the working world and meetings were consolidated to Sundays in order to save on time and travel expenses for areas of the world where members needed to travel long distances to their closest congregation, and an additional monthly evening meeting was introduced for activities that aren't really appropriate for the Sabbath day. The monthly meetings can be as diverse and inclusive as the local members desire . . . service projects, crafting projects, quilting, canning, reading groups, book clubs, exercise groups, invited speakers, dinners, musical programs, scrapbooking, card making, tole painting,  . . . you name it and a Relief Society group has probably tried it. We have created hygiene kits, school supply kits and backpacks, quilts, warm hats, 72-hour bug out emergency kits, and many other projects to give away to charities locally and across the world.

Relief Society was especially a wonderful blessing to me when my DH and I moved across the country just after our first baby was born.  There I was, a brand new mother living in a basement apartment far away from all of my friends and family.  This was before the days of cell phones and texting, and before the days of internet and email.  I had no car during the day, and my only neighbors were my landlord and his wife and adult son who lived upstairs.  The real blessing of Relief Society to me in those days was the Visiting Teaching program, now called Ministering.  Once a month two lovely ladies from our Relief Society group would come and visit me and my child (soon to be multiple children), offering friendship, advice, and even the services of their teenage children as babysitters.  I had instant friends and an instant support group.  In turn, I was assigned to be a Visiting Teacher with another woman, about 10 years older than I, and we visited others who also became my friends and support group.  On Sundays and at the monthly evening Relief Society Meetings I had my social outlet, and these ladies truly became my mentors and my sisters, since my own mother and sisters all lived far away.   When it came time for us to move (several times) my Relief Society Sisters were there to help me pack and clean, and then new Relief Society Sisters were there to help us unpack.  We truly have been blessed by sisters across this country of ours!

Recently the weekly Sunday  meetings became twice monthly Sunday meetings where gospel topics and testimonies are discussed, as well as ideas for how to meet and serve the varied needs of our local members.   Meals are often prepared and delivered to new mothers or to families who are dealing with illness or death of family members.  Babysitting can be arranged, or just visits to those who might be lonely or new to the area. Many prayers and cards and kind thoughts have been offered and shared over the years.  For the past year and a bit since Covid arrived on the scene, our local Relief Society has been holding twice monthly Sunday meetings via Zoom.  It has helped us to feel connected and less isolated as we practice social distancing.   There have been several "drive by" evening activities with treats and the chance to see a few friendly faces, and the ministering visits, though not in person, have continued via phone call or text message or cards and letters.  

Do you belong to a Relief Society?  Who have been your support group and mentors over the years?

Facebook meme source

PS:  Enjoy this video celebrating the annual Relief Society Women's Conference Service Projects held at Brigham Young University  (and many more other smaller, but just as important acts of service):

 

Quilts and Quilting

 

Quilts and Quilting are probably my very favorite "Q" word.  I haven't checked for sure, but probably half of the times that I have participated in the A to Z blogging challenge, I have blogged about quilts and/or quilting for the letter Q.  Is this cheating?  I hope not, because quilts and quilting are one of the joys of my life!  Now that definitely doesn't mean that I am an expert quilter, because that is definitely not true.  I have made or helped to make a few quilts during my life time, but quilting doesn't take up a large portion of my time either.  (Even though I sometimes wish that it did!)  There have been times in my life when I have had the time to spend sewing and creating quilts.  As a teenager and a young adult, even with the pressures of school and work, I was able to find time to help my mother and my Aunts create quilts for my siblings and cousins as they began their married lives.   I was also able to make a simple quilt to take with me when I left home for the first time and went to college, and another, larger, pieced patchwork quilt made with scraps from many of my home sewn clothes.  Though I designed and cut and pieced this quilt myself, I did have a lot of help with the hand quilting from my mother and aunties.   I have helped create many quilts with other women in the Relief Society, the women's organization of our church, that have been donated to various charities.  I have also helped my youngest daughter create a quilt to take with her when she first left home for college, have attended several quilting classes, and have begun several other quilting projects that currently reside in the sewing corner of our family room.  

The above photo is a stack of the finished quilts that I am very happy to have in my possession.  The bottom quilt a patchwork of blue/violet and red/maroon that was given to me by my mother, and probably sewn by my grandmother or one of her sisters.  The next up is a quilt that my husband used as a young man, and was created by his mother or another of his relatives.  The next up patchwork is the quilt that I created myself, mostly from fabrics left over from sewing my own clothes.  (My mother always bought just a little bit more fabric than was needed for the article of clothing,  probably to make sure we had enough left for quilts!).  The next one up, with the floral and paisley fabrics was a similar quilt made by for my by my mother for my marriage, as was the light blue Barbizon quilt and the purple and white gingham quilt.  The teal colored tricot quilt was made by my aunties and many of my cousins, and even my DH and myself at my bridal shower.  The brown and cream colored quilt was lovingly pieced and quilted by my dear mother in law, probably with some assistance from her daughters and her aunt.  The green and red picnic quilt with the strawberry fabric was made by and gifted to me by a very dear co-worker.  The pink baby quilt was one that was used by me and my sister when we were babies, and also covered many of my nieces and nephews and my own children when visiting with my parents.  And last, but not least, the top blue and white embroidered was the quilt used by my DH when he was a baby!  My hope is to do more quilting at some point, but for now I am mostly an observer and follow several quilting groups on social media.  I love seeing everyone else's creations!

Are you a quilter?   Do you have a quilt or quilts that have special meaning to you?

Patriarchal Blessing, Priesthood, Prayer

 Patriarchal Blessings are given to worthy members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and contain personal counsel from God.  They are meant to be a guide or road map for life, and are transcribed so the individual has copy to refer to and study whenever they feel a need.   I received my own Patriarchal Blessing shortly after my sixteenth birthday, and had been looking forward to the day or rather evening, somewhat anxiously, hoping that it would give me some comfort with some of my hopes and dreams for the future.  My blessing is actually quite short compared to the blessings of some of my family members, but it is perfect for me, and has promised me several important blessings, based on my faithfulness in living the gospel of Jesus Christ.   The blessing also mentions several things that I need to continually be working on, such as searching for my ancestors and doing their work in the temple, looking for the good things in life and recognizing my blessings, and searching for others who I might be able to help in some way.  It has been a source of comfort and a reminder of my greatest goals and aspirations for many years.

Patriarchal Blessings are pronounced through the power of the Priesthood, which is the authority from Jesus Christ to preach, act in the name of God, and to direct the affairs of his church on this earth.  Patriarchs and anyone else who holds the Priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can trace their authority or priesthood directly to the visitations of the resurrected beings, John the Baptist, and the apostles Peter, James and John, to Joseph Smith, where this divine priesthood authority was restored to the earth after the death of the apostles and the apostacy that was foretold by the prophets and apostles in Christ's day.  This priesthood authority also allows these worthy men to baptize, administer the ordinance of the sacrament representing the body and blood of Jesus Christ, seal families together for eternity in Holy Temples, and other sacred ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer is the act of communicating with God, our Heavenly Father.  Today most major religions involve prayer in one way or another.  I learned to pray as a young child, as we knelt together as a family each morning at the breakfast table for family prayer, and then again in the evenings before bed. My parents also taught us to pray individually each morning and evening, and my daily prayers, kneeling alone in my room are a very vital part of my life.  We also pray together daily as a family, ask a blessing on the food at mealtimes, and pray as a congregation during our weekly church meetings (which my family currently attends via zoom each Sunday.)   I also pray often throughout the day, less formal prayers in my heart and mind as I hear of friends or loved ones or even strangers in need, as I run into problems with work or other tasks at home or wherever I might be.  In my first A to Z post this year about my accident as a young child, I talked about how prayer was such as blessing to me while I was in the hospital and away from my family.  I can't imagine trying to navigate through life without prayer!

Photo Source

Outdoors

Yesterday I left the house fairly early in the morning to run an errand.  I've been debating all month which of the many tender mercies and blessings I should write about for the letter O, and I realized that one of the things I am so very grateful for is the wonderful great outdoors!  I've been working long hours at the computer most days for the past several years, and don't make it outside as often as I would like, but being outdoors among God's creations is one of the greatest pleasures of life for me.  

No, I don't enjoy being wet, or cold, or even the extreme desert heat, but most days it is pleasant to be outside.  Right now we are starting the most pleasant time of the year for me.  The recent rain this week has turned the lawns green.  The fruit trees are in bloom.  It's time to clean out the garden beds,  to begin planting.  I love the spring and working in God's green earth.

There are many wonderful activities to keep us active and provide joy in the outdoors.  Gardening of course is one of my joys. When I was much younger I did enjoy running. I've never been a big one for most sports, but I do love walking and hiking and have done plenty of hikes over the years near all of the places I've lived.  When the children were young we often headed over to the nearby river parkway trail that runs nearly the entire length of the Jordan River between Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake.  I don't do much hiking these days, due in part of course to the long hours of work and also the fact that I'm not comfortable hiking alone, nor driving by myself up many of the canyons to reach the trailheads of many of the local hiking trails.   But a daily walk should be manageable, right??  Let's get that back into the daily schedule!

So, don't do as I have been doing of late . . .missing out on the wonders and the beauties of the great outdoors.  Make time, schedule time, take the time to get outside and enjoy the sunrise, the sunset, the fresh air, the flowers, the mountains, the oceans, the lakes and rivers and streams, the fields and plains and the gardens, wildlife, the sun, the wind, the rain and even the snow, and all that is a part of the outdoors.  The earth was created for the benefit of man.  Enjoy, be grateful, and give thanks.

For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and I have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves. 

D&C 104:17

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all things which the Lord can comprehend.

Mosiah 4: 9

PS  DH suggests exploring Olives, Oranges and Orangutans.  They all grow outdoors.