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:

 Loving General Conference! So excited for the new temples!  Barranquilla Colombia . . . one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Provo Tabernacle . . . my old stomping grounds! Star Valley Wyoming. . . one of my Grandpa's favorite places! And France and Africa!

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

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!!

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
 
 

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

School is out for the summer!  I love summer! I love light!  I think that I love summer so much because I love light.  I dread the cold and dark days of winter here in this northern hemisphere, and look forward to the coming of spring each year.  This spring has had more than the usual share of dark and rainy days, so I have been grateful for the truly bright and sunny ones that have come our way.   One of my favorite writers recently shared her thoughts on light and how we can bring it into our lives on her blog that you can read here.  


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!

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Matthew 5:14