a principle with a promise

The Lord will bless you in your search for obedience. I know this may sound silly, but just hear me out. :) Since this semester has started it has been a struggle in finding parking close to campus. I only live about a couple of miles from the buildings my classes are in on campus, but I didn't feel it was safe to walk all the way home in the dark after class and my bike has been out of commission. So, I opted to park close to the church and walk the rest of the way to campus, which is about a half a mile. I don't have any parking passes this semester nor am I enrolled in an institute class (with my schedule) to get parking at the church or institute lot. I COULD park in those lots illegally and take the chance of getting booted or ticketed, but I don't like dealing like that. I feel there is always a way to be honest in all things. So, I do-and I feel the Lord blesses me every time to find what a spot. (this is where you may think it sounds silly) If you have a desire to do what is right, to be obedient-in this case to the laws of the land-you will be blessed. In this case with the parking, I feel it is on a small scale what the Lord can do for us in great ways. If we have a desire to follow the commandments NO MATTER WHAT, the Lord will bless us-far greater than we could EVER imagine and in ways that we never dreamed of!!
I was thinking about this today as I slid into my parking spot (legal :) ) and silently thanked Heavenly Father for blessing me to find a spot were I could park and keep the laws of the land. Truth is truth no matter what shape it comes in. No matter how small and insignificant it may seem, it is still truth. A principle with a promise.

Sunday April 27, 2008

I wanted to post a little about yesterday, and I can't believe I didn't do this yesterday. I had lots of down time as I usually do on Sundays, which is VERY nice. We had ward conference yesterday that was fantastic!! I was worried about my state of mind and spirit because I had been up until 2 the night before doing work and school work (so I could keep my personal rule of not studying on sundays). I don't usually like staying up so late on Saturdays so that I am refreshed and alert in my meetings to understand all that I need to through the Spirit. Heavenly Father blessed me tremendously with an outpouring of His Spirit yesterday, a tender mercy for which I am grateful.
Our Bishop and his wife spoke. His wife shared a story about a young man from India, I believe. (whether it was true or not, I am not sure. The message is true, though, regardless) He was investigating the church and asked the missionaries "what do your people do for one another?" And one of the missionaries replied, "We love one another." And that really stuck with the young man. She talked about love being one of the chief characteristics of Diety. She shared a quote from Elder Neal A Maxwell (that I have been trying search for it's origin) about the love of God for us, and 'the same being who placed that star in the heavens....illuminates the landscape of our lives." (there was much more to the quote, but that is all I wrote down, hoping I could find it in it's entirety.)

She then talked about redwood trees and their stature and size. She talked about the size of these trees and how amazingly shallow their root systems are for trees of that size. Yet, their roots are all intertwined, supporting each other and keeping each other strong.
Bishop spoke about the many voices we hear, bombarding us daily for our attention.
"The adversary tries to smother this voice (of the Spirit) with a multitude of loud, persistent, persuasive, and appealing voices: murmuring voices that conjure up perceived injustices, whining voices that abhor challenge and work, seductive voices offering sensual enticements, soothing voices that lull us into carnal security, intellectual voices that profess sophistication and superiority, proud voices that urge us to rely on the arm of the flesh, flattering voices that puff us up with pride, cynical voices that destroy hope, entertaining voices that promote pleasure seeking, commercial voices that tempt us to “spend money for that which is of no worth” and our “labor for that which cannot satisfy” (2 Ne. 9:51), and delirious voices that spawn the desire for a “high.”
I refer not only to a drug- or alcohol-induced high, but to pursuing dangerous, death-defying experiences for nothing more than a thrill. Life, even our own, is so precious that we are accountable to the Lord for it, and we should not trifle with it. (The voice of the Spirit, President Faust, Liahona, September 1995) Bishop also added the voice of doubt to the list. He talked of the 100's of satan's followers that are working on us daily. He said "You are only chosen IF you live righteously." He also said, "It's not easy to be a member of the Church. It's easy to quit."

Then our choir sang Joseph Smith's First Prayer, one of my favorite hymns.

We ended with hearing from our Stake President, President Jenkins. What an amazing man. I have continued to be impressed with him and his devotion to God each time I have had the privilege of hearing him speak-in stake conference recently, at the baptism of Daniel (who left to go back to China), and now. He spoke of his gratitude in being able to have the restored gospel in his life. He said "I carry the message Joseph died for." He challenged us to find out if it is true, and to live to share it with those around us. He asked us if we were happy. If we were, what did we attribute it to? If we were not, then what were we waiting for?! He encouraged us to pray for direction. He then proceeded to talk of how to find joy, which is a step up from happiness. He then listed some vital truths to know and lead us to find this joy.
-Know that God lives and knows who you are
-Know that Jesus Christ lives and the power of Atonement to cleanse AND strengthen us
-Know that Joseph Smith lives-the restoration of the gospel through him

He talked about happiness and success not coming through worldly means, but through the spiritual. Something that made me chuckle, but very appropriate for the congregation receiving it was about dating and happiness. He said "How many dates we have does not mean success. Our obedience is the measure of our success." (There is great power in obedience, that can and will bring us the greatest joys) "Happiness comes from LIVING the gospel."

It was a great meeting, filled with the Spirit that gave understanding as only the Spirit can do, of the things of God. We are SO blessed to have the restored gospel here on the earth. We have been given all the means necessary to find true joy and happiness in this life if we seek it.

Never TOO late

I was listening to talks from this last conference as part of my spiritual preparation for today and I listened again to Elder Rasband, Sister Lant, Elder Johnson and Elder Joseph B Wirthlin's words. I am so grateful for modern technology, that I can sit here in my home and review the words of these men and women called of God-that I might better understand my purpose here and draw closer to my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful to have ALL of the gospel of Jesus Christ, restored to it's fullest. These truths bring me such comfort and peace. Some words of Elder Wirthlin touched me and helped me remember how good my Father in Heaven has been to me; how merciful He is. I have grown up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints-my parents raised me with the truths of the Gospel as guidelines in my life, in making decisions. I experienced what I feel everyone does at some point in their life, whenever they find the gospel: they have to ifnd out for themselves. It may be that they grew up, saturated in gospel truths; or they found the gospel later in life through trusted friends or family. Whatever the case may be-we come to know that these things are true for ourselves. We have to in order to continue to grow in understanding. I feel as though, even though I grew up with these truths, that I was slow to take heed to them and let them become an integral part of my life. Elder Wirthlin said something that brings me great comfort.

“Remember, sometimes those who start out the slowest end up going the farthest.” Elder Joseph B Wirthlin, General Conference, April 2008, Saturday Morning Session

Hearing this reminded me of an account I heard years ago when I was struggling with feelings of regret in the tardiness of my true devotion to God. I heard an account of Joseph F Smith's, from when he was serving a mission in Hawaii.

He recorded: "I was very much oppressed [when I was] on a mission. I was almost naked and entirely friendless, except [for] the friendship of a poor, benighted … people. I felt as if I was so debased in my condition of poverty, lack of intelligence and knowledge, just a boy, that I hardly dared look a … man in the face. “While in that condition I dreamed [one night] that I was on a journey, and I was impressed that I ought to hurry—hurry with all my might, for fear I might be too late. I rushed on my way as fast as I possibly could, and I was only conscious of having just a little bundle, a handkerchief with a small bundle wrapped in it. I did not realize … what it was, when I was hurrying as fast as I could; but finally I came to a wonderful mansion. … I thought I knew that was my destination. As I passed towards it, as fast as I could, I saw a notice [which read B-A-T-H], ‘Bath.’ I turned aside quickly and went into the bath and washed myself clean. I opened up this little bundle that I had, and there was [some] white, clean [clothing], a thing I had not seen for a long time, because the people I was with did not think very much of making things exceedingly clean. But my [clothing was] clean, and I put [it] on. Then I rushed to what appeared to be a great opening, or door. I knocked and the door opened, and the man who stood there was the Prophet Joseph Smith. He looked at me a little reprovingly, and the first words he said: ‘Joseph, you are late.’ Yet I took confidence and [replied]: “ ‘Yes, but I am clean—I am clean!’ " I cannot express in words the peace and comfort these words bring me, can bring to those who feel they struggle to stay on the path. It is NEVER too late.

Friday

Well, it is 11:30 pm and here I sit. I am swimming in paperwork from work as we had a deadline today that I don't feel ready for. I am trying to organize everything so it will be ready for monday. We have a series of checkpoints throughout the year that we have to have anectdotal notes for each child (about 8-10 each) for each area of development we focus on; and the final cut-off date is today. No more for until the end of the year are REQUIRED, but they would still like for us to do them. This is an area I have been lacking, it is difficult to be there interacting with the children AND to be able to write notes on each of the children, in each of the areas needed.

It is my roomate's birthday today and I made her cake for her. It was fun to do. She loves frogs, so I made one that suit her fancy. She loved it.

We went out to dinner for Trina's (my roomate's) birthday. We went to this restaurant 'Andrades' as she was in the mood for Mexican food. It was really good. I have seen this place as I drive to work each day and have wondered about the food. It was very authentic. I had Chicken Mole that tasted just like I had eaten on my mission. I kept sharing stories from my mission, I think the girls were tired of it by the end of the meal. We practiced our spanish with our waiter and the owner of the restaurant came and spoke with us. They were both very nice.

We came home and sang happy birthday and lit 25 candles. AFter Trina blew out her candles, we had to open some windows as we feared our super safe smoke alarm would sound if we didn't from all the smoke from the candles. :)

It was a good day and am fighting to keep my eyes open any longer. It is now 12:30 a.m. and I am on my way to bed. Tomorrow is a busy day and will need all the strength I can muster to accomplish everything.

just breathe

I am lying in bed under the covers with my computer in hand, getting ready to fade into a deep sleep. I love modern technology that I can be laying in bed with my computer. Good thing computers aren't flammable. (insert laugh here)

I wanted to write at least a short note, even though my eyes feel like they are aflame and are starting to water from exhaustion. They have been open a long time today. Today was a good day: in preschool we had our field trip to 'Planet Kid', which was a huge large motor activities place for kids. It was fun. There were tunnels, slides and rope bridges, ball pits, a zip line-lots of padding for everyone. The kids had fun. I put there love to the test today by saying that we needed to get our shoes on and head back to school. All with their heads down, they filed out the door to the bus. I'll post a few pictures here once we download them.

I came home right after work and started in on my homework for class tonight. I didn't get as much accomplished lastnight I would have liked, so I wanted to get some things done today. I read a few articles and wrote a few outlines for class, did some journal entries and worked on a few math problems. It was a most productive day. We have 3 exams in my sociology class and we just barely turned in our 2nd and our hitting the ground running with our third as it is due in about 3 weeks at the end of the semester. AAAAAAAAHH!!!!!! I am excited for it to be over, but I don't feel ready for it AT ALL. It is also crazy at work as we have to do one last home visit for the end of the year and I am just trying to figure out where in the world I am going to find the time to do that on top of finals and my regular class time.

I know it will all work out, even though in my limited understanding I am not sure how. :) I know the Lord is mindful of me and will help me find a way to do what is important that I accomplish.

Well, my eyes cannot stay open much longer, so I will sign off for now. Buenas Noches.

Time Flies

Wow! It is Wednesday and I haven't written a THING!! I attempted a few days in a row, but wasn't able to write all I wanted to in the time I had. So, I will briefly re-cap my weekend and what has happened until now.

So Saturday I went to make 72-hour kits in the student union building with my roomate Katie. We ended up making 13 of them and we looked hilarious as we walked out of the building weighed down with backpacks on our backs, fronts and 3 or so on each arm. One guy saw us and just stared at us with his eyes wide open. I was waiting for his jaw to drop.

I then went to meet my friend Julie who was in town from Pullman, WA where she is going to grad school. We went to the open market (similar to a farmer's market) here in Boise, stopped and got something to eat at a local cafe then headed home. I needed to write a paper and Julie wasn't going to meet another friend of hers that lives here until later, so she came back with me to do homework until her she met up with her friend. We ended up talking alot and didn't get much of my paper accomplished. :)

Sunday I had a great day at church and received direction in my life and was reminded how much my Heavenly Father loves me. It was my turn to teach sunday school and I feel like I was able to share what I felt directed to teach. I am always humbled at the opportunity to be able to be an instrument: to let the Spirit work through me to know what the Lord's will is for that situation. I find it challenging to know what to say when people thank me for the lesson, as I don't want to boast of my own ability, as I know that I am nothing on my own and every word I was directed to say was a gift and expression of the love Heavenly Father has for them. So, I say thank you and try to comment how blessed we are to have the Holy Ghost to guide us and help us understand ALL things. (what they felt was the Spirit that helped them to understand what they did-not me) I haven't quite figured out what the best response is that adequately recognizes who is responsible for what they feel, but I am working on it. :)

After church, I read Elder Eyring't talk from the Young Women's broadcast and took a nap. I talked to my brother and called a friend for his birthday. I also had my first cello lesson!! Another roomate is an accomplished cellist and she taught me how to play 'Twinkle twinkle little star' on her cello. I was in heaven-I had the opportunity to play my favorite instrument. It makes me want to take lessons, although cellos are super expensive. (I found out you can rent them as well.) I had big plans to go to bed early so I could get up early Monday and study for school in the morning (since I don't study on sundays), but I ended up talking to my friend later and ended up in bed later. I still was able to get up early and do a little studying and work on my lesson plans for work, so that was good. It was a productive morning.

Monday after work I had big plans to sit down and work on my paper (that was due yesterday), finish it up and fine tune it to turn in the next day. I got home and was relaxing a little bit before I started working on my paper. I wasn't going to go to Family Home Evening so I could just focus on my paper, but my newest roomate finally wanted to go, so I went for a little bit and introduced her to the ward. She hasn't been to our ward as she has been at other wards or working. So, it was good. I ended up staying up until 2 am after that trying to finish. I had a few things to fix, so I went to bed so I would get SOME sleep before my alarm went off. I was suprisingly awake until 2, which I know was a blessing from my Heavenly Father since I usually struggle to stay alert until after 10-even though I had pushed it to the last minute. :) I got up (TUESDAY) and went to work, came home and finished up my paper and went off to school to work on some math homework before class. Again, I was suprisingly awake throughout the evening as I attended my classes. I thought it would be my worst nightmare if we turned in our papers and made us sit and watch a video-that I would for sure fall asleep then!! That was EXACTLY what he did! I laughed to myself and thought for sure I would be asleep, but I didn't. I stayed awake and alert. That was a real blessing I know was a power beyond my own.
I worked today and had a fun morning making caterpillars and cocoons for our art show next week, in correlation with our learning about them in our class.

That is what has been going on these past few days. I only wish I would have had the time to write it out each day to give it more than just a run down. We shall see what tomorrow brings. :)

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2008

I can't believe I didn't post yesterday. I arrived home after work and started right up with laundry and other work that it completely left me to stop and post something. Isn't that so how we are as mortals? Not always consistent in our actions? When God is ALWAYS there for us: rain or shine, good times and bad? Yet we struggle in our humanity to ALWAYS remember Him as He does for us. This is part of our quest for perfection: that we become more like our Father; more like our Savior-sluffing off the natural man. I feel far from ever being like either of them days like this were I wish I could just be consistent. :)
I did have a great day yesterday, filled with peaceful direction and accomplishing tasks I needed to accomplish. As I studied it out, I received direction concerning my sunday school lesson for tomorrow. I am learning so much from the example of Enos in the Book of Mormon. I love the powerful words he uses to explain how he came to receive a 'remission of his sins' and how the Spirit can teach us the truth of ALL things, IF we but ask. There is so much to be learned from these verses, so much truth concentrated in this one chapter. http://scriptures.lds.org/en/enos/1 (you can read the chapter right online!)

I broke a nail

So I was thinking about an injury I acquired a few weeks ago and the life's lessons I gleaned from it. I have had these thoughts in my head all day today, so I pray that the Spirit will be with me to put it to words. A few weeks back I went to put a little extra air in my bike tire, using one of the pumps at a gas station. I was pushing the handle down to pump the air in and somehow managed to bend my thumbnail back somewhere in the middle of my nail bed. It hurt in that moment, but I was so busy putting air in my tire (since it is one where you had a limited time before it ran out) that I didn't even look at it until I got on my back to head back home. By then, it was bleeding pretty good and I could see where the nail had snagged and the crease in my nail all the way across. I had never experienced that before, so I was semi fascinated with it and in shock at what a day it had been (a series of unusual events occured throughout the day, this being one of them that was the icing on the cake). I thought FOR SURE I would lose my nail and I even had nightmares afterwards about this nasty, broken nail with the exposed portion black and encrusted with blood where my nail had been-while it was healing. I was waiting for the day that my nail would fall off and my dream would become reality, I was even afraid to trim the nail (partly because of the pain) where it had snagged (hadn't ripped of any nail) that it would snowball and turn into me trimming my nail down to nothing. So I left it, but a few band-aids on it and went on about my business trying to use my thumb as normally as possible. I realized how much I used my thumb for and how grateful I was for it.

You know I waited for the day that my nail would fall off...but it never did. The sensitivity subsided and I was able to use my nail normally. The nail continued to grow enough that yesterday I was finally able to trim the nail across completely where it was uneven from the snag without having to go deep into the nail bed. I never had to cut it off, and the worst I imagined was far from the reality that happened. I was so grateful. I was grateful that my vision that was limited was not what occured.

So, what does this have to do with anything, you might ask? Well, it reminded me of some pretty profound truths that I will try to share here-as much as the Spirit will allow anyway. I mentioned a few days ago about how I have been feeling lately and how I have felt broken trying to make sense of certain events that have happened over this past year that have really tried my faith. I had kind of been in a grove of growth, if you will, where I felt I knew how to overcome each obstacle that I had in front of me. These that happened over this past year were ones that I wasn't sure how to deal with, that caused me to be in a position that I hadn't been in before. I had been praying for understanding and healing so that it would not be a series of stumbling blocks for me in my life-that I would not become as those recorded of in the book of Alma-who after a very long war and continued affliction had become hard in their hearts-bitter-because of their afflictions and the duration of them.
As I was walking today to school, the Spirit whispered truth to my mind and heart in the reflective time I had without the noise of the world. (How VITAL that time is!! In order to understand the things of God, we NEED it!!) I wasn't consciously looking for symbolism or understanding through what happened with my finger, it just came in the quiet. I won't go into all the details as some I hold sacred and personal, but I will share a few. Just as it was a new thing for me to have my nail broken like that, so was something that happened this last year to me that left me dumbfounded. It broke my heart and left me thinking a lot of things, but mostly left me feeling a little hopeless and not sure how I was going to overcome or how things would work out, I thought FOR SURE that I knew how things would turn out from all of this, imagining the worst. Just as I didn't have to cut off my nail and expose a black blood encrusted mess, I know the worst I imagined is my own lack of vision for my future. I cannot see what God sees, that is why I need Him so desperately: to help me to have ears to hear and eyes to see. God can see the end and knows why I need to experience what I do and when I do. He knows what I need, as He does for each of us, that will cause us to stretch and grow as we never have experienced before-to stretch us to new heights. How grateful I am for such a Father and for this knowledge that brings me hope and peace that surpasses ALL mortal understanding and vision. When we tend to lose perspective, we are yoked to the ONLY source of complete understanding, that can guide us to gain understanding to ALL life's quandaries...AND their joys. Suddenly I see and am beginning to realize WHY I needed to go through what I did and am currently going through. For that I am grateful. I know the healing will continue to come, just as it did with my nail, and I will be more like our Savior-like our Heavenly Father-if I let this trial pass through me.

Missionaries

We had the missionaries over for dinner tonight. We made sweet and sour chicken with some vegetables over rice. It turned out pretty good, except I should have made more. :) I am not very good at getting portions right, and I should have taken into account that there were 5 guys who would be there who don't eat bird portions. Everyone was very kind and said they were full when all the food ran out, but it was a lesson learned on my part. That's what it's all about, right? You take life's lessons and try to find application in your life and learn so you don't have to go through it again. Even in the simplicity of making a meal these lessons can be learned.

I always love having the missionaries in our home. It has been a month or so since we had them over last, so it was nice to have them there and feel of the spirit so strongly that is with them. They both shared a thought with us and offered a prayer before they left for their next appointment. Turns out our Elders were companions in the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, Utah and now were companions at this point in their missions. I didn't ask them how long they had been out, it is one of those questions I don't like asking-to be respectful of their position and not try to focus on the time they have left but to focus on the experience itself. Worrying about how much time you have out or left can sometimes distract you from your true purpose, I feel. In hearing that they were companions in the MTC, it caused me to reflect on my experience there and in the mission field we were put together again after a season. It was a very sweet experience as we had both grown tremendously in that time and were allowed a second chance if you will to work in a corner of the Lord's vineyard. It was nice to reflect on that this evening and to be able to spend a little time in the presence of the Lord's servants, hard at work in His vineyard.

A Good Day

Today has been such a busy day again, I am trying to collect my thoughts to write them down. I had the day off today from work, which is rare occasion. I have 2 personal days and I hadn't used them yet. We were scheduled to have a day of training, and I don't like missing ANY time with my kids, so after talking with my supervisor and she recommended I do it today. So I did. I got up early as usual since I wanted to make best use of my extra time. I worked on my lesson for Sunday, I did homework and I was able to help a friend finish up her taxes since today is the big scary deadline of April 15th!! That was nice to be able to help her. We always say we want to sincerely help people with something that they truly need, even make it a matter of prayer, and today that was answered. This friend has been a great source of consolation and comfort, it was nice to be able to do something small for her in return. (Thanks to all the years of assistance from Hank and his patience in helping me with my taxes-this year I was able to help someone else.) I did some math homework and made waffles. :) It was very nice. I even got a little power nap in today. Today was a really good day, actually. I feel strengthened and I KNOW it is because of the prayers of my family that I feel this extra strength and peace that only God could bestow. I have been focusing my study on Enos this week in preparation for the sunday school lesson and my understanding has deepened of prayer and the powerful words Enos uses in describing his 'wrestle' he had before God, the wrestles we have at times before the Lord as we struggle in our humanity to become more like Him. I know He hears my prayers and those of my family who are watching out for me. I am very grateful to have such a supportive family-I would be nothing without their examples and their support.

Guided by the Spirit

I just returned home from an amazing fireside that our stake relief society put together for us. It was a beautiful meeting filled with testimonies born of the Spirit. Each of the sisters, under the direction of our Stake President-President Jenkins, didn't have a topic assign-they prayed for the direction of the Spirit to know what they should share. I feel their prayers were answered. As each sister shared, the messages were all about the same things, confirming that the Lord knows us and knew what we needed to hear tonight. I am so grateful for the Gift of the Spirit and that we can commune with our Heavenly Father to receive direct revelation from Him. Heavenly Father KNEW what we would have to face here in mortality and gave us the light and direction of His Spirit to help us along the way.

Although the meeting was a powerful one filled with the Spirit, I felt a little numb. I have felt that way for the past 8 months, with certain events that have happened in my life that I have left me broken and feeling lost-that have even had me doubting what I KNOW to be true. I know it shall pass, but nevertheless it is disturbing to feel still-like I am still not quite myself. Why am I sharing this you might ask? :) Even though I felt numb, I still know God knows me and is mindful of me-even if I can't feel it as strongly as I have been able to in the past. I am in my own personal crucible, being refined into what I need to be. One of the sisters tonight spoke of trying to understand when different trials come into our lives that we are asked to pass through and we may search for understanding as to why. She said, 'Though we may not understand why, we WILL know someday. We may be asked to go through something even more challenging that we will reflect back on and be able to draw from our past experience to help us get through the current.' I look forward to that day and know God will help me find that understanding as to why things are the way they are-and that the atoning blood of Christ will heal this wound and cause it to be a source of strength for me. Of this I am sure, even if I struggle to feel it completely. God knows me, knows what I need and when I need it.

Endure to the end

Today was filled with the usual Saturday routine of homework and shopping-getting everything ready before Sunday. I had the opportunity for my workout today to go to a cycle class at the rec center on campus. Occassionally they have what they call an 'endurance ride' for the class where the class is an hour and a half, as opposed to the normal hour class-hence the name 'endurance'-only the strong survive. :) So we started out our ride and were having a great workout doing several hills and 'jumping' as our instructor called it, which invovled alot of out of the saddle work. At about the 45 minute mark, we slowed down to a flat road, taking off most of the resistence and preparing for the last half hour or so. At the hour mark, the instructor shouted out, "Let's quit now and go get a Big Mac!" I laughed at his comment, but also the thought came to me as it does often with life experiences of it's deeper significance. I thought of the scripture in 2 Nephi 31 that talks about the baptism of the Savior and the ordinace of baptism and the importance of 'enduring to the end' as it says in verse 20. "...ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." A vital part of taking the step of being baptized is that it is the gateway to eternal life-but there is SO much more. It would have been so easy to give up today at any point in the ride, as in our own personal journey's of life. At those times is when it is crucial to call on the being who created us for the strength to continue forward. This vital piece of doctrine was brought up this evening at a baptism this evening of the newest member of our ward. One of the members of the high council said "Faith is important, but Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is crucial." Especially to 'endure'. I know Cheryl (the girl who was baptized this evening) has a challenging road ahead of her, but she is not alone. None of us are. We have THE greatest source of power and strength on earth or in the heavens. What more do we need?!

Take Heed

I can't believe it has been since Monday that I have written, this week has been a blur or business-GOOD things-but busy. :) The Lord has blessed me tremendously this week and I am sorry I didn't take the time to write it all down here. I have been reading in the Book of Mormon lately, starting in the book of Enos-continuing on with Jarom, Omni, and Mormon. In my study of it, I have been saddened that they did not write more-taken the time to chisel out more of their doings. I better understand why they might not have written more than they did (a few short pages each). I don't want my words here OR in my journal to be so brief and empty of all that happened in my life-what I learned from life's experiences.

I just began today to dive into the Priesthood Session of General Conference, I have been waiting all week for the transcripts to be available to read, along with the other words given from all of the sessions of Conference. I was very impressed with Elder Quentin L Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve about heeding the words of the Prophet. He said, "Prophets are inspired to provide us with prophetic priorities to protect us from danger." Elder Cook gave a few examples of this, including one of President David O McKay, former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Elder Cook said of him

"President David O. McKay was the prophet from 1951 to 1970. One area of
significant focus was his emphasis on the family. He taught that no success in
life can compensate for failure in the home.
He encouraged members to strengthen families by increasing religious observance.
His teachings were a protection from the disintegration of the institution of
marriage that came after his death.
Because of President McKay’s teaching, the Latter-day Saints strengthened their
commitment to family and eternal marriage."

I thought of the Proclamation to the World' that was published in September 1995 on the family-the most sacred institution that has been under attack, and continues to be under attack by the world's standards. Those who studied it and hold fast to it's teachings are strengthened and continue to hold sacred their responsibilites as mother or father in rearing children in righteousness-and by so doing, are protected from the wiles of the adversary. If you 'heed' the counsel of our current Prophet, President Thomas S Monson, counsel that comes directly from our Heavenly Father, pay careful attention to what he says and what you feel-you will know what you need to do to live in the world and not of it. You will know what you need to do to stand steadfast and unmoveable. You will know what you need to do to find peace in a world full of chaos and turmoil. What greater blessing is there??

(below is the link for the sustaining of our church leaders and our newest prophet, 16th President of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson.)

http://broadcast.lds.org/genconf/2008/04/10/GC_2008_04_11_UchtdorfDF__09487_eng_1M.wmv

I will go and do

Well, another day has flown by and I am not quite sure what happened-it has been a most interesting day to say the least. :) 'Interesting' might lead one to believe that it would increase the difficulty in being able to see how the Lord has blessed me, but it hasn't. It has only spiced it up!! Alot has happened today, but I will share the most recent occurance. I had my car in the shop and was unable to pick it up before the shop closed, so one of the guys at the shop and I worked out a plan how I could pick my car up later this evening. I had him lock the key in the car and I would just use one of the spares I had at home. I had a feeling when I said that, that I shouldn't do it-but I did it, thinking it was the safe thing to do. I arranged for my roomate to take me to the shop after Family Home Evening, with my spare keys in hand ready to go. We got up there and my roomate dropped me off. As she was getting back on the main street from the shop, I was trying my keys. NEITHER of them worked. I kept turning them, flipping them, thinking they just must be upside down or something. I tried every lock possible on the car-even the trunk, thinking if worse comes to worse, I could climb through to the inside of the car. I felt awful-I felt earlier NOT to have him lock it in, but did it anyway-thinking I knew better than Heavenly Father. How foolish I was. One thing I realized is how merciful God is-no matter how many times we mess up and fall short, is there to help us out-help us learn from our mistakes and get where we need to be-in every sense of the word.
So, after trying the keys and being unsuccessful-we went back home and grabbed the other spare I had at the house. I wondered if I had left all the spares in Utah, but I remembered standing at the key rack at my parents house gathering up spares before I made my move here to Boise 8 mnths ago. I also compared the spares I had already tried on the car with the one that I grabbed at the house and they were identical: leading to the impending doom that I had ZERO keys that would help me in this situation. I had been praying and started calling locksmiths in the area to find out what they charged and find out if they would even open my car, seeing as how it was sitting in the parking lot of a auto repair shop in the middle of the night. A bit suspicious to say the least. :) As we were getting ready to venture out again with the doomed key, Trina had a spark of inspiration: she remember a guy in our ward and thought he was a locksmith, but couldn't remember what he did for work. So, she called his roomate and eventually talked to him and found out he was one!! He dropped what he was doing and came to help us, it was so amazing!! I am so grateful Trina was listening to the Spirit to remember that fact. He came and helped us unlock the car (my other two roomates: Katie and Erica, joined us on the adventure back. We all stopped and got something to eat on the way home as part of the adventure. :) ) I was so grateful for his skill and his willingness to go and do what needed to be done. I was reading earlier today in the Church News about President Monson and his experiences in his life, including those of when he had promptings to go and visit someone or go and do something-whatever form the inspiration came.

He said "I don't know what prompts others, but I know what prompts me. When I get a feeling that I need to be somewhere and be doing something, whether it sounds plausible to me or not, I GO. And I find that the thought came because the Lord kenew that He didnt' need to give Brother Monson a lot of advance notice. It makes me feel so good inside to think that I would get the call, or the inspiration, that the Lord knows who I am and that He knows that I will go."

Our friend who came to the rescue may have not felt that prompting to come and help in the form of the still small voice, but he heeded the call when it came-when someone was in need. And for that, I know the Lord is pleased. I am forever grateful for His kindness and willingness to go and do, even when he could have been doing other things.

The ninety and nine

What an amazing weekend this has been. I feel as Elder D. Todd Christofferson put it today in having difficulty in finding the words to express what I feel, felt in the heart. It said much more eloquently than that, but the message is the same. Wanting to post my thoughts on Conference but feeling overwhelmed that whatever I posted would be inadequate to what I felt, I have been waiting. This is my feeble attempt.

I have felt over the course of conference, as I listened to the different speakers, an overwhelming feeling of honor-honored that my Heavenly Father has given me such a blessing of growing up knowing the truth and to be able to sit at His feet this weekend and hear His word through His servants. I was moved beyond expression to be a part of the solemn assembly Saturday morning: to stand and give my sustaining vote for these men that I KNOW God has called. I had already accepted President Monson as the new Prophet because of my faith the Priesthood and in the order and affairs of the church-how God has organized the church-but I received a greater witness this weekend of President Monson's calling and that he is who the Lord has chosen at this time to guide us. I also, as Elder Holland discussed, witness the mantel come upon him-the change that has come over him as the Lord's mouthpiece on the earth at this time. I was reminded how President Monson does watch out for the one, just as is written in the Bible:

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine
the wilderness, and go after that which
is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it,
he layeth it on his shoulders,
rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. (Luke 15:4-6)

http://www.evergreeninternational.org/OlsenLost&Found200.jpg (I didn't have access to get a copy of this print onto the blog, so here is the link)

I had the thought a few times throughout conference of how overwhelmed President Monson must feel at the size of us: as he is such a caring person and focuses on each of us as individuals, how overwhelmed he must feel at all 13, 193, 999 of us-wanting to sit down and visit with us individually.

You know, I just realized something. Even though I didn't sit down with him one on one today: I have felt of his love, overwhelmingly so, as IF I WAS SITTING DOWN WITH HIM FACE TO FACE and I know that he is concerned for my well being. Just as I know my Heavenly Father is.

I will have to write more about my feelings on each of the talks as I re-read them and share their words as I continue to reflect on them daily. I know that this is God's work and I am forever endebted to my Father in Heaven for allowing me to be a part of it.

Hunger and Thirst

I feel this hunger and thirst to hear the words of the Lord’s servants this weekend with General Conference and I am eagerly awaiting the beginning of it all in an hour. I think of the promises to those who DO hunger and thirst. In a talk by Elder Hales in General Conference of October 2004, he spoke of Faith and referred to Enos in the Book of Mormon and his ‘hunger’ and thirst after that which was good and true-after righteousness. Elder Hales gives the reference in 3 Nephi 12:6 when Christ was here in the Americas “Blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
Elder Hales continues in this talk of a pattern, a pattern to find Faith in Jesus Christ as one ‘hungers and thirsts’ after righteousness. He says, “Remember the pattern: (1) hear the word of God, spoken and written by His servants; (2) let that word sink deep into your heart; (3) hunger in your soul for righteousness; (4) obediently follow gospel laws, ordinances, and covenants; and (5) raise your voice in mighty prayer and supplication, asking in faith to know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I promise that if you do these things sincerely and unceasingly, the words Christ spoke to His disciples will be fulfilled in your life: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” “ (Matthew 7:7)

I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has a plan for each of his children. I know that He has called men and women on the earth at this time to be instruments in His hands and help the building of His Kingdom to roll forth. I know President Monson is called of God and I am eager to hear the message that Heavenly Father has impressed him to share with us, as His mouthpiece. How blessed we are to have the COMPLETE and FULLNESS of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today!!

How Firm a Foundation

I was just listening to President Henry B. Eyring's words again from the General Young Women's Broadcast this past weekend. What a powerful message, giving through the Holy Ghost by a servant of the Lord. It makes me eager to receive the direction we are blessed to hear this weekend for General Conference. I just wanted to close with a quote from President Eyring here from this powerful address and hopefull a working link to the audio of this meeting. If you have not heard the words spoken, I challenge you to take the time to listen to it. (The link is for the entire meeting, President Eyring was the final speaker)

"Because you are valuable, your trials may be severe. NEVER be
discouraged or be afraid. The way through difficulties has ALWAYS been
prepared for you, and you will find it IF you exercise faith. You must
have faith to pray, you must have faith to ponder the word of God. You
must have faith to do those things and go to those places which invite the
Spirit of Christ and the Holy Ghost."

He concluded with a beautiful promise-I encourage you to listen to the talk in it's entirety. Well worth the sacrifice of whatever it may be. http://broadcast.lds.org/genconf/2008/04/60/GYWM_2008_04_60__CompleteGeneralYoungWomen_10027_eng_.mp3

(they don't have the individual talks available yet, just the conference in it's entirety.)

The hymn that was sung in this meeting right before President Eyring's speech was 'How firm a foundation', number 85. I was very moved by this rendition and the words of the final verse (7) that hardly gets sung in our meetings was sang by this beautiful choir of girls. They continue to ring in my ears as I think about them:

‘The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot,
desert
to thy foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to
shake,
I’ll
never, no never, I’ll never, no never,
I’ll NEVER, NO
NEVER, NO NEVER
FORSAKE!

May we NEVER forget who we are and why we are here, and keep this promise to our Heavenly Father that no matter what comes to shake our foundation-we will NEVER forsake.

"This isn't a math class, it's a lesson on humility"

Have you ever had one of those moments where you KNOW that the only reason something happened was because of divine intervention? Today I had one of those experiences in Math class. Our professor, prior to spring break, had informed us (FORwarned us :) ) that upon our return we would be having a quiz. This quiz would consist of him giving each of us a specific problem to solve, having a few minutes to look over our notes and discuss it with our partners if we needed the help, then go up in front of the class and present our problem with its solution. I had been feeling a hint of anxiety over it during the break and especially today-it's amazing how many ways you can think to get out of something that you don't want to do. (if you need any help thinking of one, let me know. I think I went through every possible scenario today. :))

Satan was very aware of what this experience would mean to me and for me in my growth. For me, it was one of those experiences: where you have climbed this GREAT mountain and are now at the pinnacle looking out, you are on the brink of something PHENOMINAL-yet something keeps you from taking that next step on your path: fear, pride, whatever it may be. You experience spiritual paralysis, where if you only took that one step in the right direction-I felt like that today with this math quiz. I have a very strong conviction that every experience we have here in mortality, however it is disguised with work, school-whatever-it is all part of our mortal tutorial. Heavenly Father wants to see how we choose, what we choose. I feel like this semester in general is a very 'character building' experience and is causing me to stretch to greater heights, IF I take those opportunities which Heavenly Father blesses me with.

So, I stop the flood of thoughts of how I can escape from math class and go. I had been praying for the past few days that I would be at peace and learn what I needed to learn from this experience. I also prayed for the Spirit to be with me to help me to recall to my mind the information I had studied. Our teacher passed out our questions and immediately upon seeing the question, there came to my mind the notes I had taken (that we were allowed to refer to) from this particular lesson and so I flipped right to them and figured out what I needed to write down. The minute I looked at the problem, I also had the feeling in my heart that this was a direct answer to my prayers-and how the Spirit helped recall the information necessary...I sat there amazed. Amazed at HOW Heavenly Father watches over us in EVERY detail-with so much going on in the world, He takes the time for us individually to let us know He is there and is watching out for us.

I was joking with my group that this wasn't a math class, it was a less on humility. We laughed about it as we prepared our presentations, but I had a reassurance through the Holy Ghost that it was true.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught: “We soon discover in the quietude of our
ponderings and our thinkings upon the Lord that he is a tutorial and activist
God. He is not a passive being somewhere in space. He is active in the tutoring
of each of us…. Let us not misread God’s tutoring love. He would not be a loving
Father if He ignored our imperfections. We must not forget that. He would not be
a true Father if he were content with you and me just as we
now are.” (“If Thou Endure Well,” 9, 6, emphasis added.)