Coming soon...

I am heading to bed now, but I will write soon of our family adventure this past weekend. :) It was a fantastic weekend I was able to spend with my parents, sister and eight of my nieces and nephews. We went to see Les Miserables down at the Tuacahn in St. George, Utah. I will write more details tomorrow....

Sealing Power

I have been filled with good intentions to post something since this weekend, but time has gotten away from me. I can't believe it's Wednesday already. I had a great weekend filled with time spent with my family!! My sister and my nieces stopped in on their way down to Utah from Washington on Friday and stayed all weekend. She stayed at a friend's house that we knew from Montana. It was fun to spend time with all of them (my sister and the girls and our family friend). Then on Saturday I took my sister and nieces to this candy store that specializes in 'vintage' candies and other such oddities. We found quite the variety of treats and doled them out accordingly. :) It was a priceless experience with my sister as we picked up treat after treat and remembered the memory related it and the person who enjoyed it. I love experiences like that, that can stir in you something deeper than with any of the five senses. This store was one of those places.

After we finished at Powell's, we went and met more family that had come into town. My parents, grandparents and one of my nephews came up for a temple sealing. My cousin, who was married a year ago civily, was sealed in the Boise, Idaho Temple. It was a beautiful experience: one where the Spirit deepens your understanding of truth and gives you back perspective that can sometimes be lost living "in the world". The sealer said something that I hadn't thought about in respects to the difference between a civil marriage and a sealing in the temple. He spoke of the civil marriage my cousin & his wife had received a year ago. He said they were married with a stipulation for divorce. After he spoke those words, I played over in my mind the words spoken when someone is married civily, trying to figure out where it talks about a divorce. He then explained it further: the divorce stipulation is at death; you marry knowing that you will be seperated when one or both of you die. In contrast to the sealing ordinance that can only be performed in the temple by someone who has the proper authority to bind in heaven what is done on earth.

President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve said "The sealing power represents the transcendent delegation of spiritual authority from God to man. The keeper of that sealing power is the Lord’s chief representative here upon the earth, the President of the Church. That is the position of consummate trust and authority.
As has been said, much of the teaching relating to the deeper spiritual things in the Church, particularly in the temple, is symbolic. We use the word keys in a symbolic way. Here the keys of priesthood authority represent the limits of the power extended from beyond the veil to mortal man to act in the name of God upon the earth. The words seal and keys and priesthood are closely linked together.
The keys of the sealing power are synonymous with the keys of the everlasting priesthood. “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? …
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:13–19).
Peter was to hold the keys. Peter was to hold the sealing power, that authority which carried the power to bind or seal on earth or to loose on earth and it would be so in the heavens. Those keys belong to the President of the Church—to the prophet, seer, and revelator. That sacred sealing power is with the Church now. Nothing is regarded with more sacred contemplation by those who know the significance of this authority. Nothing is more closely held. There are relatively few men who have been delegated this sealing power upon the earth at any given time—in each temple are brethren who have been given the sealing power. No one can get it except from the prophet, seer, and revelator and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." The Holy Temple, Boyd K. Packer, Ensign Feb 1995, 32

I made a decision a long time ago that I would accept nothing less than a temple marriage when I marry, as I know that is the way God intended our families to be. We can be bonded together where 'moth and rust doth not corrupt' (Matthew 6:19, 3 Nephi 13:19). I was reminded of another aspect of those beautiful promises at my cousin's wedding, cementing firmer my foundation of a marriage built on such foundings. I hope we all have that same goal for those who have yet to attain it, and I congradulate those of you who have made that choice. There is no greater blessing in this life.

Spreading the Gospel, that it may go forth to every nation

I was re-reading the talks that were influential in me starting this blog and I was reminded as to why I began writing here and something I had forgotten. Elder Ballard spoke of the 'new media' and the benefit we as members can be in clarifying error about the church. He spoke of the 'international influence' we can have as well for those who speak more than one language. I am going to start writing some entries including the languages I know. I am fascinated with language and plan to continue to learn more. As I do so, I will continue to add to that list and to my postings. It may be awhile until I am able to post in different languages, but that will give me something to work towards. :)

Perception and math quizzes

I wanted to share with you all my most recent quiz score from the math class I am taking this summer. It may not seem much of an accomplishment to most, but to me it is a miracle!! :) (I have ALWAYS struggled in math: with anything analytical, really) It is times like these that I am reminded that I am nothing on my own: I have YEARS of proof of this in math. :) I know I have said this numerous times, but it is true that the Spirit can help you understand the truth of ALL things. Truth is always truth no matter how many times you repeat it. :)

What I am trying to say is that I am human and struggle in my weakness, and that with God's help ALL things are possible. We also have been blessed with 'daily life experiences' that help us learn and remember who we depend on and why we are here. I have struggled with math ever since I can remember learning about it. My wonderful parents tried EVERYTHING to help me: sitting down with me, sending me to special math tutoring classes, etc. I always felt that I had to work 10 times more to understand a concept that most in my classes. Which is fine, I just have always been aware of that struggle for me. I made it through math, but I never really felt like I understood it. I have found over recent years, as I have better learned how to understand and recognize the Spirit, how it can help me in ways I never thought possible. This is just an example of how I am able to witness this.

I was reading a talk by President Faust from April 2004 General Conference titled "Did you get the right message?' He talks about the age that we live in and how we are bombarded with different messages and the importance of hearing the 'right one' of the Spirit in all the noise. He shared an experience he had as a young boy in school that made me think of my current experiences with math. He said, "I learned at a young age that inspiration can come to any of us. When I was in junior high school I was taking a difficult class where most of what was being taught went over my head. One day the teacher asked me a question. I didn't understand the question, let alone the answer. Out of nowhere a response came into my mind, which I repeated to the teacher. It was the right answer, but I knew it had not come from me." I have had to work hard in studying that the answers don't just come to me, but I better understand concepts and I know that through the workings of the Spirit I am able to understand concepts I never would on my own, just as President Faust recognizes.

So, let this simple quiz stand as a testimony on its own of what the Lord can do with us and the power of the Holy Ghost that can help us understand all of God's mysteries-even math. :)

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

I desire to wish my father and all of you who are fathers here in mortality a happy father's day today. I hope we do not wait until these days set aside for our fathers to let them know how much we love them and appreciate them, but at least one day out of the year we dedicate to them-that they may know. This is in celebration of such a sacred title.

Elder Jeffrey R Holland speaks of the sacredness of the name 'father', he says "Of all the titles He (God) has chosen for Himself, Father is the one He declares, and creation is His watchword-especially human creation, creation in His image. His glory isn't a mountain, as stunning as mountains are. It isn't in sea or sky or snow or sunrise, as beautiful as they all are. It isn't in art or technology, be that a concerto or computer. No, His glory-and His grief-is in His children. We-you and I are His prized posessions, and we are the earthly evidence, however inadequate, of what He truly is."

What an honor it is to be given such a title. No offense to any of you who read this, but I have the best father EVER for me. :) My father is a man who took his responsibility seriously in raising us in righteousness, for which I am grateful. He in word and deed taught me how to find joy in this life. I can remember a time when I was younger (about 7 or so) we were traveling on vacation as a family and we had stopped for lunch. We had stopped at a fast food restaurant and we were ordering our food at the counter. Right behind were you stood to order was a salad bar and my brother and I were anxious to eat and just picked a crouton from the salad bar and popped it in our mouth without even thinking. My dad immediately pulled us aside and told us that was not right what we did. I don't remember all that he said, but I remember him giving me a dime and coming with me up to the counter and telling the worker there that I took a crouton and that I was sorry and here was some money to pay for it. As embarrassed as I was that day in making such an error-in hindsight, not a day goes by that I don't express gratitude to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with such a father. I am forever endebted to my father for being the man that he is and instilling in me this same level of understanding of honesty and every other principle he has taught me.

Those of you who know my parents know that I have the choicest of all parents! :) No offense to your own and their greatness, I know they are tailor made just for you and your needs. I am forever endebted to my parents and what they have given me: for what they have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice on my behalf, for raising me with a knowledge of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in my life-the greatest gift of all.

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y...NIGHT!

Okay, it's not night time, but it IS Saturday-it reminded me of the song by the Bay City Rollers by the same name. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rK6BjJaAjY&NR=1 (for your viewing pleasure :) )

With my change in schedule, I am having a hard time distinguishing the days: what I used to do on the weekend I have been able to accomplish during the week with my time freed up as it has been. I used to be able to distinguish what day it was by the tasks I had to accomplish. It's not a bad thing, just an adjustment. :) This week has been a busy week, filled with job interviews and budget reviews, homework and other good things. I have had a few interviews and I feel I found a job that will be perfect for the remainder of my time at BSU. It is part-time, which is where the budget reviews have come in to see what bare minimum I can work for and still survive. :) I found it! It never ceases to amaze me how the Spirit works and how true it is what it says in the scriptures that the Spirit will tell us the truth of ALL things. (2 Nephi 32:5) It is what guided me to make the decision I did about the different jobs I interviewed for. It was so distinct, the feeling I felt in each of the interviews. One felt as if I had run into a brick wall-that there was no progression for me there; with the other I felt as though I could go for miles and miles-I could see a future. I don't know how else to explain the myriad of feelings I felt during the interviews and afterwards in weighing my options. So I went with the one that felt right. I paid attention to how I felt in the interview and how I felt in pondering my options afterwards. I was concerned about the pay offered by the job I accepted and spoke with the owner about it-that it was below what I could survive on. She was very kind and we worked out a deal. All works out as it should. I also have another interview on Monday for a job teaching Spanish in a couple of the elementary schools here in the valley a few mornings a week. This opportunity sounds great to me as well and I am excited to learn more about it and see if the two jobs could work with school and everything else in the mix.

I feel I lack the spiritual vision to see very far ahead of me or to fully understand why things happen as they do, but I do know the my Heavenly Father is mindful of me and can see the big picture and will continue to guide me to be where I need to be and do what I need to do IF I trust in Him.

SMALL AND SIMPLE

Today has been a great day. Nothing necessarily out of the ordinary-just has been filled with small witnesses of my Heavenly Father's love for me. I have learned over the years, and continue to learn the means by which God shows me His love. It is usually through the small and simple means of life.



I have started a class for the summer and I was a little nervous at first as it is a math class and I tend to not do well in math. But I must say it has been a delightful two days of math so far. I told my mom that today and she laughed and said she had never heard me use the words math and delightful together in the same sentence. :) But it really has been! It has only been two days but as I have been sitting in class I have felt an overwhelming feeling of peace and windows of understanding have been opened to my view as to why it worked out that I passed the first portion of the math class this last semester and am able to take this class now during the summer with the same professor. I know to some may not seem like much, but to me it speaks volumes.



I also had a job interview today and was able to get my car licensed. I am officially an Idahoan!! Well, in the legal sense anyway. :) It feels good to have been able to accomplish so many goals lately that I haven't had time to even look at. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of me and will continue to bless me by small and simple means. I don't know what will happen, but I do know in whom I have trusted. He can 'see' what I cannot and I know that whatever is supposed to happen-will.

Sunday Sunday

Well today was my first sunday back from a week long respite with my family in Utah. It was really nice to spend time with them and some good friends of mine. I was able to visit without any homework looming over my head or work work-my first real break since Christmas. (I will have to try to recap the week at a different time) It was so nice and I feel rejuvenated to start anew. I am taking a course over the summer-the second half of an elementary ed. math course. I took the first half of the course last semester and am fixin' to finish the second half this summer. I am excited that I will be able to take the class all by itself to be able to focus all my time on this one course. I felt that is what I was missing last semester-time. I just needed a few more hours in the week to devote to studying. Now I have it!!

Church meetings today were exceptional: the sacrament talks, the relief society lesson. Sunday school I am not so sure of. :) (I taught it this week) I really struggled with this lesson. It discussed the change to the 'reign of the judges', dealing with all the changes in government from a monarchal reign to a republic, theocratic, democracy of judges. There was a great discussion!! The spirit was there strong, giving understanding and enlightenment. I was very humbled to be a part of it. I was reminded again what the Lord can do with us in our weakest state to help Him in His work. I continue to know what to say to people when they compliment me for the lesson as I want to give the credit to its rightful owner. I know that I am nothing but tinkling brass up there speaking without the Spirit to take it to the hearts of those who are prepared to hear. I am getting better in my ability to acknowledge the power of the Spirit, but I still struggle. :) But I know in whom I have trusted.

Four score and seven years ago...

Four score and seven years ago....I wrote in my blog. :) I am still alive and will post soon...very soon.....

For your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of the Boise River Diversion Dam. I rode my bike out to it today. It was a beautiful ride. 16 miles of Cat Stevens, U2, Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams, and the Wailin' Jenny's. There was plenty more road from there on out, so I am excited to explore it. I think I finally found my place!!! I used to ride up Provo Canyon and have missed that. I have found my Provo Canyon.