Wherein I attempt to look for the good things in life and recognize and remember God’s kindness to me. Sometimes I might pontificate a bit about other subjects, but really, the most important things all relate to God, his love for each of his children, and his plan for us.
True confession. I have only read straight through the Old Testament once in my life that I remember, along with my dear husband and whatever children happened to be here at home with us at that time. I don't remember exactly when it was. We may have started back in 2018, or possibly back in 2012, and it took us over a year to finish the entire book reading one or two chapters every evening. Of course I have read and studied much of the Old Testament many times over the years in Sunday School and youth Seminary programs and also as a missionary. As some of you might be aware, the Old Testament is the current course of study for The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this year in 2026, for our members to study throughout the year both at home and at church.
In the past I have been able to appreciated many of the beautiful Psalms written by King David and others, but I don't think I've ever realized just how important these hymns and verses of praise and lament have been to so many people over the generations. These are the words and songs that our Savior learned and were part of his life and tradition while here on the earth. So many of the verses are familiar to me from previous readings and study in past years, and also from hymns that we sing on a regular basis. I hadn't remembered how many there are. These have been precious weeks as we reveiw and study the Psalms.
Here are just a few of my favorites Hymns that are based on verses from the Psalms:
Today, Sunday July 5, 2026, the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has invited all to participate in a unified fast to express gratitude of religious liberty and to pray that it be strengthened throughout the world. The 250th anniversary of the United States of America yesterday on July 4, 2026 was quietly celebrated and commemorated here in our home. I am so grateful to have enjoyed the many freedoms of citizenship here in this beautiful country throughout my life, and am sobered and reminded on a daily basis that so few people in the history of this world have enjoyed the blessings and freedoms that I enjoy.
This past week I had the privilege of accompanying my DS2 and his wife and four children on a visit and tour of the newly dedicated location of the Humanitarian Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Humanitarian Center was actually established in 1991 with a two-fold mission: provide job training for displaced people and others seeking employment skills, and to prepare charitable supplies for those in need all across the world. Every year the Humanitarian Center hires hundreds of new employees to undergo work training in such skills as production, forklift operation, food service, custodial and maintenance. Associates sort and process donations from Deseret Industries thrift stores which are then distributed across the globe for humanitarian aid, sold to other recycling buyers, or recycled when unusable. Many of the employees also attend English as a second language classes as a part of their paid work-day.
Our timing was perfect, as we arrived at the center just before most of the associates working there that day were participating in a Fourth of July Independence Day Parade and activity. Several of the supervisors were dressed in revolutionary period costumes, there was patriotic music playing, and the associates walked in the parade waiving flags. Watching this parade made up mostly of recent arrivals to our country was the highlight of my 250th Anniversary Independence Day week. I was choked up and brought to tears as I realized again how very blessed we are to live in this country, in spite of the flaws and troubles we have here. The parade ended with the presentation of the colors by several local Boy Scouts of America, and everyone singing the National Anthem.
The rest of our week as been fairly quiet, spent in activities with the children and grandchildren and without many of the traditional Independence Day fanfare and fireworks. We have been blessed with the freedom to raise and care for our family, to worship freely as we please, enjoy our abundance of hamburgers and hot dogs, root beer and other treats. And today we fast and reflect again on our blessings and pray that religious freedom and peace may be strengthened throughout this beautiful world.
On February 11th, 1526, 500 years ago, an extraordinary event happened in London. William Tyndale lived during the reformation when people were rediscovering that a person can be saved by the most famous event in history: the life, crucifiction and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The only Bibles available at that time were in Latin. In Europe he was able to translate an accurate version of the New Testament into English. Thousands of copies were printed and smuggled across the Channel into England. The Bibles were captured and taken to St Paul's Cathedral where they were burned. The seed was planted and demand grew and 100,000 copies made it into people's hands.
I am so grateful to have access to scripture any time of any day. I own multiple books of scripture and can access digital versions of scripture at any time. Aren't we blessed?
The recently ordained Prophet of the Lord and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Dallin H Oaks, gave his first public address yesterday, February 10, 2026 at the Student Devotional held at Brigham Young Unviersity in Provo Utah. I'm grateful that I was able to listen to the devotional address last night before I went to sleep. I'm grateful to know that the Lord has a living prophet to guide us in these days. There was nothing new or earth shattering in his remarks, but a kind and concerned counsel to the students at Brigham Young University and to all who will listen, as the devotional is available for all to view and listen to online.
President Oaks expressed his concern for people who are leavning the church. He counseled us to surround ourselves with people who believe. He outlined four ways for us to draw closer to our Savior: First strengthen our faith in Him. Second increase our humility. Third seek help from others. And fourth, be patient. He quoted former apostle and church leader Richard L Evans regarding science in that science is man discovering what God already knows. He counseled us to take our doubts and our concerns to the Lord, and reminded us of the words of our beloved Prophet Russell M Nelson that in coming days it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
I'm grateful to live in this time when we have a living prophet on the earth. I'm grateful to have good friends and family and neighbors who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ and strive to live by Christ's teachings and example. I'm grateful for the power of prayer. I hope I can do better each day and become a better person each day, and go about doing good and helping others as Jesus Christ did and taught. May you all have a wonderful evening or a wonderful day, and may you take the time to listen to the words of our living prophet of God.
The popular TV/Movie series The Chosen does a very good job of portraying how many of the people of Jesus's time missunderstood the mission of the Messiah. Many believed that the promised Messiah would come to save the Jewish people from the political and economic difficulties of their day. As we know, that was not the case. In his encounter with the woman from Samaria at the well near the beginning of his ministry, the Jesus instructs
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again;
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water spring up into everlasting life . . . .
The woman saith unto him, I know that messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
John Taylor, the third President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints reported: "Some years ago in Nauvoo, a gentleman in my hearing a member of the Legislature, asked Joseph Smith how it was that he was enabled to govern so many people, and to preserve such perfect order; remarking at the same time that it was impossible for them to do it anywhere else. Mr Smith remarked that it was very easy to do that. "How?" responded the gentleman; 'to us it is very difficult.'
Mr Smith replied, 'I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.'"
For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfullness, the same is damned.
D&C 58:26-29.
Some of us may be hoping for the Messiah to come and save our country and our world from the political chaos that we currently see all around us.
Some of us may be hoping that our current leaders, legislators, judges and administration will somehow figure it out and make it all right.
Some of us may be hoping that our religious leaders will speak up and that the world will listen, and somehow everything will be all right. Our religious leaders teach us correct principles and are hoping that we will do our part to stand up for what is right and good and true.
I believe that the Savior will return to the earth and reign in righteousness, but I don't believe it will happen this week. Or this month. Probably not this year. We know not the day nor the hour.
I DO believe that our nation is lost and in trouble and I believe it is up to each of us to PAY ATTENTION to what is happening and to SPEAK UP. Call and write your Senators and Representatives. Right now Senators are considering more funding for ICE and CBP as they finalize spending bills for federal agencies before the January 30th deadline. If you've never contacted your public officials before, here's where to do that:
We have been sent to live on earth during these days. It is part of our test as to how we will act and respond to what is happening in our country.
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdome for such a time as this?
It's too late to say you didn't know. This isn't just about deporting criminals and the worst of the worst. It's about agents being ordered to meet impossible quotas. It's about insufficient and inadequate training for agents and officers. It's about agents being told they don't need to follow due process and can detain anyone based on "suspicion". It's about for profit detention centers lining the pockets of the rich. It's about White Nationalism and Racial profiling and the abuse of our consitution. Fellow Americans WAKE up and SPEAK up. Call your Senators and Representatives.
This evening as I was leaving work, a bit later than most people, my path crossed with one of the cutest tiniest little people I have met quite a while. This little guy must be about 1 year old based on his size and the way he was toddling down the hallway with his mother. Our eyes met, and I smiled at him. His serious face broke out into a huge grin, and he started to follow me as I headed towards the exit. The movement and noise of the automatic doors opening startled him for a split second, and he headed back towards his mother, but not for long, and he again started to follow after me. His mother quickly intercepted him before he could speed out into the cold and dark evening, and we exchanged smiles.
Isn't the innocent and accepting curiosity and happiness of babies and young children wonderful?
