General Conference Study Challenge!

We just had a wonderful General Conference weekend! Amidst all the Easter activities, I felt so enlightened and uplifted. I want this feeling to last, and I truly want to get all that I can from Conference.

In the past I have been really bad at moving on with my life and not studying or focusing on conference talks after the weekend ended. I want to change this, so I am a starting a General Conference Study Challenge!  Every week we are going to study one or two talks from general conference. This way we will cover all 6 sessions of conference and review every talk. All before next conference!  

I am excited for this, as I think it will help us to remember and study the words of our living Prophet and Apostles. I hope you will join me for this challenge!  

Subscribe via email to get the weekly updates. Each Sunday I will discuss the previous week's talk, and remind everyone about the next week's conference talk. 

Please Join me on this uplifting adventure!

The schedule will be start to finish through the sessions. General Women's meeting, Saturday Morning, Saturday Afternoon, Priesthood, Sunday Morning, and Sunday Afternoon. 

So for this first week, I'm going to dive right in with the Women's General Meeting. We will start with two wonderful talks about our home and family.

Filling our Homes with Light and Truth by Cheryl A. Esplin

The Family is of God by: Carole M. Stephens

And don't forget to watch the family video that was also included in the session. 

So get to reading and studying these talks! And come back next week to read and comment about what we have studied. 

Thanks for joining me with this study challenge!

-Cherstin

Ask and Ye Shall Receive... Then What?

I've been thinking a lot lately about why we are here on earth. I know there are a lot of reasons, and one of them is for experience, and to learn to trust God.  I also know a lot of people do not understand this. The all too familiar question seems to always come up, 'Why does God allow bad things happen to good people?'

It may be hard to fully understand. A part of this is trusting that God knows what is best for us. The same way a mother of father knows what is best for their child, even if their child thinks otherwise.  But another part of understanding why bad things might happen, is for our own experience and learning to trust God.

I recently had a discussion with some missionaries about this. When we learn to really turn to God in times of trials, we will be blessed and learn to turn to Him sooner, the next time. Now this doesn't mean all our problems will be solved per se, but that we can feel calm, and peaceful even through the tribulations perhaps.

And this brings me to the title.

When we ask God for help or guidance, and receive our answer, what happens next?  Do we just forget about the assistance we received? Move on with our lives?  I think that happens much more than I know it should.

How many times have I asked for help, received it. Then with in a day or too, I forget?  It happens too much. When we receive our help, our guidance we need to focus and remember that. It will help us to turn to Him sooner and with more faith the next time we are faced with trials.

So here is my thought. When we face a trial and ask for help, and then receive that help, we need to REMEMBER what happened. If it helps, write it down in a thought journal, or put post-its on your wall or a reminder on your phone, that, 'hey, I had a hard time, and I asked Heavenly Father for help, and HE ANSWERED my prayer'   To help us remember to turn to him sooner. I know we will be blessed for it.

-Cherstin

Lets get real.

I had an epiphany a few weeks ago.  I was upset that I never seemed to be achieving my goals. And I really mean never!  I married this wonderful man who constantly sets and ACHIEVES goals! All of them! Yes, some take longer than expected but he always does them!

And he married me. Haha. The person who never successfully completes a goal.

Needless to say, I was frustrated at another goal not achieved. I had tried everything, reminders, post-its, cute worksheets, cute forms. All sorts of things to help me get motivated or keep track of the daily things to do.  None of it ever worked.

Then that epiphany came! It struck me that I was only setting goals that I had been guilted into making. All my goals had been things I knew I should be doing, I just didn't want to. You know them. Exercise, reading scriptures, making better meals for my family, playing more with kids. You know, all the things that your community thinks is important, so you do too.

Now, don't get me wrong, all of these are important goals and things to work on, and if you do GREAT! I'm proud of you, really. There just is a way to be realistic with these types of goals.

You see, they weren't what I really wanted to do. What I really want to do, is write, to sing, to play the piano, to read! And I had never set goals that I honestly really wanted to do. When you pick a goal like that the motivation is already there because you already want to do it!

So while exercise is great and important, I should not set a goal to go running every day when I HATE running! Nope. Bad idea. I will, and have, failed every time I did that. But instead do something that I am interested in. Like Kick-boxing! YES! I love kick-boxing!

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't set goals just because you feel like you should. Set goals for something that you REALLY WANT TO DO! You will have a much higher success rate, and will feel more rewarded when you achieve your goals.

-Cherstin

Ten Things I Love About Motherhood

These are in no particular order.  I guarantee that there's more than these ten.  This is just what came to my mind today.

1. Witnessing Life - I get a front row seat to watch little lives unfold before my eyes.  I get to watch my children experience things for the first time.  It's fascinating!

2. I get to watch my favorite shows and read my favorite books again and instill the love of these to my children.

3. I get to watch Joe in action as a father.  He's so wonderful and unselfish.  He knows how to handle situations in ways I never would have dreamed of.  I fall in love with him over and over again as he goes about being the best dad for our children.

4.  I get to have second chances.  There's the aspect of getting to relive my childhood through my children, but that's not what I initially thought of.  Instead I was thinking of all the mistakes I make as a mom.  My children forgive me so readily.  Over and over again they offer me a second chance to be a better mom to them.  This offering comes without hesitation.  I'm so thankful for their loving forgiveness toward me.  I hope they feel that I'm offering them the same opportunity,

5. Being a mother has offered me a special gift.  It has helped me to realize the things I used to take for granted like a full nights sleep without being interrupted.

6. Knowing that I have three best friends forever.  We may not always get along, but I know we are always there for each other.

7.  Hugs and Kisses and the newly acquired High Five that Jacob has recently adopted.  We need each other.  We love each other.  And even those of us who are entering the tween years love the affection that comes from this special bond that will last forever.

8.  Getting to tell them stories about my childhood.  Really my life as a child wasn't very fascinating at all.  But they love to listen and I love to share.  It works out perfectly.

9. Learning about things that interest them.  There are so many things that I have learned because they are interested in a certain topic or game.  My children keep me well rounded.

10.  There's never a dull moment.  I'm often tired, worn out and wondering if I'll ever get a chance to have some time all to myself - like go into the bathroom and complete my business in private. However, I know that someday when they've grown up and moved on, the house will be quiet and I will yearn for these busy, loud and jam-packed days.

Motherhood is what you make of it.  I hope I can look back and say that I've given it my heart and soul.  I'm far from perfect.  How grateful I am for this opportunity to learn and grow from my biggest blessings - my children.

-Angie Center

Japanese and Chinese folk tale

Adapted by Elisa Pearmain from a Japanese and Chinese folk tale

   Long ago there lived an old woman who had a wish. She wished more than anything to
see for herself the difference between heaven and hell. The monks in the temple agreed
to grant her request. They put a blindfold around her eyes, and said, "First you shall
see hell."

   When the blindfold was removed, the old woman was standing at the entrance to a great dining hall. The hall was full of round tables, each piled high with the most delicious foods — meats, vegetables, fruits, breads, and desserts of all kinds! The smells that reached her nose were wonderful.

   The old woman noticed that, in hell, there were people seated around those round tables. She saw that their bodies were thin, and their faces were gaunt, and creased with frustration. Each person held a spoon. The spoons must have been three feet long! They were so long that the people in hell could reach the food on those platters, but they could not get the food back to their mouths. As the old woman watched, she heard their hungry desperate cries. "I've seen enough," she cried. "Please let me see heaven." And so again the blindfold was put around her eyes, and the old woman heard, "Now
you shall see heaven."

   When the blindfold was removed, the old woman was confused. For there she stood again, at the entrance to a great dining hall, filled with round tables piled high with the same lavish feast. And again, she saw that there were people sitting just out of arm's reach of the food with those three-foot long spoons. But as the old woman looked closer, she noticed that the people in heaven were plump and had rosy, happy faces. As she watched, a joyous sound of laughter filled the air.

   The people in heaven were using those long spoons to feed each other.

   We need to be able to rely on each other. We need to serve others, and we need to be able to accept service from others. Every part of the Gospel plan revolves around this--God asks us to ask Him for help; He tells us we cannot make it without the Atonement of Christ; He tells us we cannot make it without help from those around us; He tells us we cannot make it without helping those around us. We are each given special ways to share with those around us, and we are each denied special ways so that we can ask others for help.

   Let us not forget that learning to serve others and have the capability to do so is not the only task we need in order to feast at the Heavenly Banquet. We must also be able to ask for help from others, and receive it gracefully.

-Carson

Replacing Negative Thoughts with Positive Thoughts

Have you ever found yourself replaying one scene from your day over and over again? Have you ever said something to someone, they commented back, and a few minutes of interaction becomes hours of your emotional and mental time? I am a textbook over thinker, I always have been. I am sensitive to people’s perception of me (which by the way if you are wondering is different than caring about what people think about who I actually am). I often find myself spiraling into a black hole of negative thoughts and projecting my insecurities onto other people. I think this is unkind. We should give others the benefit of not subjecting them to our doubts. The less we judge others the less judged by them we will feel. I have been thinking about the Saviors interactions with those he taught and lived with and it has always struck me that for a person who was constantly being scrutinized by others he was always very self-assured. He knew not everyone liked Him (or actively hated Him) and yet that never affected His ability to teach, heal, comfort and counsel. In this, as in all things, we should follow His example. This is one of my main goals for the New Year, along with the traditional trying to wean myself off of sugar, to not give in to negative thoughts. There are so many positive, happy things to think on and a happy confident demeanor allows others to feel comfortable with who they are as well. Think on that, it is worth your time.

-Kristin

Thanksmas

Christmas time!! Oh how I love it!! The cold air just smells like Christmas to me. When Fall has given up and everything is gray and muddy I love to see how the snow comes in and just smooth’s everything out. That is what I feel during this time of year, I feel like I am being smoothed, refined. I have heard all the “Bah Humbug” arguments against this time of year “it is too commercial nowadays” and “Shouldn’t we focus on being good ALL year round?!”  and let me tell you, I ignore them all! It is not that I don’t see the worldliness creeping in to tell us that to have a truly Merry Christmas we need to “BUY ALL THE THINGS!!!” but I see past that to something that I think rings true about this time of year. People tend to be kinder during this time of year, more generous, slower to anger and more willing to focus on family and friends. I don’t think it is a bad thing that there is a time of year when we try harder. After all do we not feel like better, kinder versions of ourselves when we go to the temple? When we are with family? When we attend baby blessings, baptisms, conference? Allowing ourselves to slow down, refocus and enjoy the change in routine is refreshing. Lest you think that I have forgotten about Thanksgiving I have not. I consider Christmas and Thanksgiving as working together (Thanksmas!) to get us to refocus on what is important.  My challenge to each of you (all 5, 10, 15… I am not sure of our circulationJ) is to not give into the stress of this time of year but allow it to smooth you, no matter how hard this past year was look at this time as the respite from the routine, an escape from whatever stress has taken away the day to day joy of living. Okay, I am off my soapbox but I am going to slip it in (hopefully I am the first to do so), have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!!

-Kristin

The first and great commandment

I've been thinking about how so often when people criticize religion they say something like, "you have so many 'thou shalt nots'". And when you start listing them that's true - there are all kinds of things we have been told to avoid. But religious or not, if you start to list all of the things that are bad ideas you will come up with a super long list! I think we get caught up in all of the "thou shalt nots" too much though, because Christ told us that there really are only 2 commandments - and neither of them is a "thou shalt not"!

Matthew 22:37-40 reads, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

If Christ could have his way he wouldn't have had to teach anything else but to love God, love ourselves, and love all we come in contact with at least as much as we love ourselves. If you're struggling with a long list of things you aren't supposed to do, just remember that the "thou shalt nots" are only there because we're just not as good as we could be at "thou shalt LOVE".

-Lisa

Care for Your Soul

"Let us imagine care of the soul, then, as an application of poetics to everyday life"
- Thomas Moore

It is an important part of our daily rituals and goals to care for our soul. We each have certain routines or purposes that help soothe and care for our soul. Whether that is calling a friend, taking a nap, hugging a child, going for a walk, eating chocolate, dreaming, fantasizing, praying, or maybe just living.

We need to remember that while it is very important to care for those around us, and help serve wherever possible, we can't forget ourselves. As we incorporate all of our many roles and responsibilities into our lives, lets not forget ourselves, our soul.  We would do well to strive to uplift ourselves as well as those around us. To strengthen our own hearts even as we strive to strengthen those near us. And to have patience and forgiveness towards our own mistakes as we also have patience for and forgive those dear to us.

Shakespeare wrote:
 "This above all: To thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man"

When we strive to be true to our-self and strengthen our soul, then we can more fully serve and strengthen those around us. Let us lift up our hearts and strive to be the best that we can, So that we can be the helping hand to those around us more fully.

-Cherstin

Stake Goals

     This year our stake goals are focused on ways to be. Let me explain;  In the past 4 years that we’ve been a part of our stake the goals have usually been about going to the temple, doing genealogy work, and paying tithing or fast offerings. All of which are righteous worthy goals. However, this year our Stake President was inspired to set goals that are more focused on looking and working inward. This year’s 4 goals are:

 1. Truly forgive one another

2. Cast out unrighteous thoughts 

3. Love and care about another person more than yourself  

4. Obey the commandments exactly for one year

     This past weekend was our stake conference. We were able to hear from our stake leaders and receive their counsel and guidance concerning our stake goals. I would like to share some of that counsel and guidance. 

   Forgiveness is a requirement in the Lord’s kingdom.  Yes, we all feel hurt or disappointed at times and yet in order to heal and move on we have to forgive others whether there was an acknowledgement of our feelings or not. We also need to remember that we cause pain to others and need to be forgiven for our sins and mistakes. So a forgiving heart will in turn receive forgiveness.  

    Because of our fallen state and none of us are perfect, we all have unrighteous thoughts from time to time. So the goal isn’t to not have unrighteous thoughts, it’s to cast them out immediately and not allow them to stay in our mind or dwell upon them. We have been taught about how to handle unrighteous thoughts-depending on what they are…we can sing a church hymn, say a prayer, leave a situation, recite a scripture, etc…but the important thing is take righteous action against the bad thought. 

   Generally speaking, I feel that mother’s do a good job on #3. Rearing and nurturing children requires many sacrifices on our part. We sacrifice our time, put ambitions or goals on hold, literally take care of someone else before we meet our needs (eating, showering, etc…) We do this because we see that our children require some priority shifting on our part. But what about that person or those people that seem to know just how to drive us crazy, push our buttons, or make us angry at the snap of a finger? It’s harder to extend love, compassion, patience, and forgiveness to those that we feel hurt or disappointed in. But to truly love and care for someone else more than our self gives us the opportunity to become a “good Samaritan.”  To embrace someone who we wouldn’t necessarily spend time, means, energy, or as much effort on truly helps us become more like Jesus Christ.  Of course this one requires a lot of prayer as you seek guidance on how best to follow this counsel, but it is an opportunity for tremendous personal growth. 

   Our Stake President spoke specifically on #4-keeping the commandments exactly for one year. Can we even name all 10 commandments? In order to keep them exactly we need to know what they are ☺ I appreciated my stake president’s talk. He explained that “exactly” does not mean, not allowed to make a mistake. There are commandments that we can be perfect in fairly easily as a faithful Latter-Day Saint. We can pay a full tithe, not commit adultery, don’t steal, not take the Lord’s name in vain. But there are times that we may fall short in keeping them or others exactly. To this he explained, that we keep trying. If we fall short or make a mistake, we don’t give up. Sometimes we quit something because we don’t think we can live up to the expectation. Rather we acknowledge the mistake, repent and pick up where we left off. The Lord understands where we’re at and just wants us to keep trying. Our president gave the analogy of becoming a good archer. The first few times you pick up a bow and arrow you will most likely not even come close to the bulls-eye. But you just keep aiming and shooting, and soon you will hit the target. So we need to do a personal inventory on where we’re at with the commandments. To those we follow naturally and more easily, great, keep going. On those that we don’t hit the bulls-eye every time, keep trying, harder, and consistently and we’ll get there. 

  As I have personally been working on these goals for almost 6 months I have had some interesting experiences because that’s how life is. When we’re trying to be obedient we’re usually given a challenge directly related that principle ☺ I’ll share one example. It’s not anything huge, but it turned out to be a family matter. One weekend a couple months ago, we had spent a Saturday celebrating my son’s 5^th birthday as a family and were going from place to place. On our way back home that evening I didn’t bother paying attention to the gas gauge- my gas light hadn’t come on and we live close to church. I also wasn’t thinking ahead to anything that had been scheduled/planned for Sunday. Well Sunday morning came and I realized that we had a very busy Sunday! We had a very special baptism to attend in another ward that was a good 25 minute drive each way and then that evening was a ward farewell get together for a family that was moving. Later as we were driving to the baptism I looked at the gas and realized that we were pretty low. I explained to the kids that if the gas light came on we would only have enough gas to get to the baptism and back home. That most likely meant no farewell party later on. My children offered prayers and kept their fingers crossed, but sure enough the gas light came on as we were driving. After the baptism we made it back home with no problems, but our gas was very low and there was no way we could make the drive out to the farewell without running out of gas. The kids were all very disappointed (I was too!) especially because the family moving were good personal friends of ours. So we had a family council about what would be the best decision. Do we go and get gas to attend the fare well and rationalize my unpreparedness or keep the Sabbath Day holy? I apologized to my family as I felt I was the one who was irresponsible. It was difficult for my children to accept that we weren’t going to the farewell, but they agreed that we shouldn’t go buy gas. We ended up staying home that night and spending it as a family. I felt really bad, and yet no one was mad at me. I’m so thankful for my children’s understanding and forgiving hearts and being willing to keep the commandments. We also had a playdate later that week with the family before they left!  From this experience I learned how important it is to be prepared for the Sabbath and that also means having gas in the car. Fortunately it was only a get together we missed out on, I would have felt much worse had someone been seriously ill or in need and I couldn’t have just jumped in my van and gotten there! 

    I’m grateful for these inspired stake goals that have given me the opportunity to do some work in my heart and hopefully allowing me to become more Christlike. I realize that you are not in the same stake as me, but I feel that goals are applicable to any disciple of Christ.  

Bodies

I’ve been hearing a lot about people who have injuries or sicknesses lately, and it got me thinking. Most people go through life with some sort of weak system; it could be a less than perfect intestinal tract, a weak immune system, a bad wrist, an imbalance of hormones, or a knee that never recovered from an accident. Some are more severe than others. Regardless of what it is, we are all battling something.  But that is what makes us humans. We were sent here to be tested and things will be hard.

Think of what a glorious day it will be when our bodies are made perfect and we no longer have these weaknesses. Have you ever injured something and had to go easy on it for a week, or a day, or a month? We don”t realize how much we use every part of our body on a regular basis, until we cant use a part of it. Think about your thumb. Minor part of your body, right? But if you had to go a day without using your thumb, you would value it so much more! Think of driving your car, or picking up a toddler, or writing a grocery list, or texting, or chopping a vegetable. Thank goodness for thumbs.

Our Heavenly Father designed our bodies to work together as a whole - to function together so that we could fulfill our life missions successfully. Sometimes our bodies struggle, but one day, they will be made perfect. What a merciful gift from God. I am grateful for the imperfect body God gave me and for the way it carries me as I try to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ.

--Jashley

A Soft Answer

I've had laryngitis since Saturday. I haven't been able to raise my voice above a whisper; finally today my voice is sort of coming back, but my neighbor said I sound like a grouchy man so I'm back to whisper for now:).

But it's taught me a lot. Things have gone so smoothly! And that's not to say my 2-year-old hasn't thrown tantrums about the same things he throws tantrums about everyday, that my 4-year-old hasn't stopped talking back, or that my 8-month-old doesn't scream between every bite since we just can't feed him fast enough. Pretty much nothing has changed except me, and that's made all the difference. I can't grouch right back at my kids when they're cranky, or yell to tell them to hurry and get their shoes and get in the car. Less than 4 days ago I'd yell because I'd start quiet and they wouldn't hear me and then I'd get louder and louder and louder and say the same thing again and again - and usually my kids still weren't listening til they finally turned around and saw that I was mad at them. Doesn't seem quite fair to anyone does it?

Without a voice, I've taken an extra second or two to consider my response, and I have seen that truly "A soft answer turneth away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1).

My Purpose

I was walking Tommy up and down the Las Vegas strip in his umbrella stroller. Hauling a diaper bag and a few M&M World gift bags, sporting a getting-biggish pregnant belly. We were determined to have some fun during Robert’s accounting conference. And despite the heat (100+!) and the smell (cigarettes and BO) and the loud music, we did manage to make friends with a dragon and try a lot of Hershey and M&M candy.
 
I was expecting the foul smells, the hot air, the almost-naked ladies posing for pictures with tourists, the big lights and fantastic buildings, alcohol and slot machines. What I wasn’t expecting was the amazing sense of purpose I felt for my life while visiting this strange city. While I wasn’t the ONLY one pushing around a stroller, I was close to the only one. And the sight of Thomas brought a smile
to every person’s face that we saw in an elevator, waiting in line, waiting at the crosswalk. And I mean a genuine, childlike, grin. We heard many stories of “ours are 18 and 20 now!” or “I remember those days,” or “If mine look like him I’ll have 10!” Here we were in the “city of fun,” and the most genuine smiles I saw were on the faces of those who looked at my child.

I looked at everyone around me in the city—there to have a good time—to go out to eat, to spend some time at the black jack tables or slot machines, see some (dirty!) shows, and have a few drinks. I looked at so many glamorous people living/working on the strip that were just looking for the next “good time.” I saw young men dressing up in superhero costumes and asking for tips from every picture or interaction, so obviously trying to find a way to make enough money to go have a good time. I looked at everyone having a good time in the city, and thought they all looked so...lost.

I have never felt so much purpose for my life than while walking that strip. I had no makeup on, looked kind of frumpy in my ill-fitting clothes, and had to constantly find a way to entertain Thomas whenever we had to wait in line. Instead of going to see a Broadway show or glamming up, or going shopping or doing something for myself, we went to look at the ducks; we spent LOTS of time looking at the dragon that growled; I spent an hour catching Tommy as he jumped into the pool. Boy, we really stuck out (especially Tommy’s high-pitched, enthusiastic little voice). And I have never been gladder. I have a Purpose in my life—and it is a real, and powerful Purpose. Although there are many other purposes in my life, my children and role as a mother is the most important and overarching I could imagine. My purpose is so much more than to have a “good time.” Working hard and making a sacrifice for something that really matters is what real fun is. My purpose is to teach my children what real fun is, and that they have a Purpose so that they don’t have to be always
looking for the next “good time” Las Vegas style.

In Las Vegas, my Purpose shone brighter than I ever noticed it before. I think it may have been the first time that it really struck me what an absolute blessing dedicating life to family can be. Maybe because it was against a backdrop of so many who seemed without Purpose. Against a city thriving on the lost.

I felt strong and confident walking down the Strip with my stroller and frumpy clothes and Divine Purpose.

...And we’ve decided we’ve seen enough of Vegas to last a lifetime! 

-Carson

Being realistic with expectations

This week I attended a seminar about LDS woman and depression. The speaker, Kris Doty a professor at UVU who specializes in woman and depression, spoke about something that she called “toxic perfectionism” and it really struck a chord with me. There is an inherent conflict in doctrinal idea of “Be ye perfect” and the social culture that pervades the church that we never can be. Doctrinally to be “perfect” is to be complete or whole. This is not achieved in our lifetime. The Savior only put himself on the same level of perfection with Heavenly Father AFTER he had been resurrected (3rd Nephi 12:48). If the Savior in his mortal life was never considered “perfect” why do we think that we can be? This idea that we have of the “perfect” Mormon woman is someone who:  reads her scriptures daily, cooks a Gourmont meal every day, sews her kids clothes, exercises daily, always looks good for her spouse, does her visiting teaching on the first of every month, bakes fresh bread, does school projects, works on the side, cuts her kids hair, gardens and keeps an immaculate house. The list could go on and on but one of the points that Prof. Doty brought up is that this woman does not exist!! And this is not a bad thing! The gospel plan is often referred to as the “Plan of Happiness” and the gospel does bring a great peace and joy into our lives, this does NOT mean however that if we go through periods of unhappiness or depression that we are somehow not living the gospel to its fullest. If we place upon ourselves the pressures of perfection we will find that we cannot maintain that pace for long without sacrificing our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Enduring to the end will be much easier if we can realistically set boundaries for ourselves concerning what we can do. This gospel makes me happy but sometimes I am sad and that is okay.

Kristin

Join the #BoldChristian Challenge

A friend of mine, Katelyn Fagan of What's Up Fagans, recently created the #BoldChristian challenge. She is encouraging Christians to participate in daily uplifting challenges, and then to share their experience on social media.

As she outlines on her blog:

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When will it start?

The challenge will begin on Monday, October 6, 2014 and run until Monday, October 20, 2014. Each day you will receive an email the night before the next day’s challenges. Each email will include the day’s “theme” and what challenge(s) go along with it. There will be applicable scriptures (from the KJV), and some ideas on how to meet the day’s challenge. I am doing my best to make them open-ended and easy to adapt to whatever your life situation may be.

Examples of Challenges:

• Ask for prayer requests and share about your testimony of prayer as you do so.
• Carry your scriptures with you all day, and read for one minute every time you sit down.
• Share your testimony and conversion stories.
• Invite others to read the Bible, go to church, or pray.
• Defend God’s name.
• Pray over your meals in public.
• Share about your favorite scripture or scripture stories
• And more!

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When I read about this #BoldChristian challenge, I immediately thought of several recent talks from General Authorities. Elder Bednar recently admonished that members of the church, "...sweep the Earth as with a flood" with uplifting, Christ-centered messages. 

I know that social media at times can be overwhelming, time-consuming, and draining even, but I also know that modern technology was created for God's purposes. He gave us the technology that we have in order to further advance the work of salvation throughout the world.

I too challenge you to join the #BoldChristian challenge HERE. I'm guessing it might put you outside of your comfort zone, might be annoying to or completely overlooked by friends, but just the thought of social media being flooded with testimonies of Christ feels so right to me. 

That's why this blog was created in the first place. 

To close in the words of Elder Bednar: "My beloved brothers and sisters, what has been accomplished thus far in this dispensation communicating gospel messages through social media channels is a good beginning—but only a small trickle. I now extend to you the invitation to help transform the trickle into a flood. Beginning at this place on this day, I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood."

Let your light so shine.

I've been thinking about this scripture recently:

Picture from eofdreams.com

"Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

"Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick.  And it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

The scriptures teach us that light comes from the presence of God (D&C 88:12), that light gives life to all things (D&C 88:13), and that Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12).  I think it is interesting that although light is often referred to when talking about Christ, here Christ is saying that we are the light.  I think it follows that the more and more we become like Christ, the more of Christ's light we possess.

Ye are the light of the world.  "Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world.  Behold, I am the light which ye shall hold up––that which ye have seen me do" (3 Nephi 18:24).  As the light of the world, we are to follow the teachings and examples of the Savior.  We are to act as He would, were He here.  We are to say what He would say, were He here.

A candle gives light to all.  It is no respecter of persons.  The light is given liberally to all, and cannot choose who to shed its light on and who to it withholds light from.

That being said, I think we should point out that we are not called to be flame throwers.  We are not to be forceful with our testimony, cannot force others to feel the spirit, and cannot force others to choose the right.  We are called to be candles.  We are small, we are quiet, and at times, our example is not noticed.  But when the thicker darkness comes, we will still be there, shining the light of Christ to warm those nearby.

Our responsibility as a candle is to shine.  It is to give.  It is to love.  It is not to hide, nor to be frustrated.  Our responsibility is not to judge.  A candle burns quietly, consistently.  A candle does not cower when laughed at.  Instead, a candle will still burn and give light to the mocker.

--Is this not following the example of Christ?  Did not Christ visit the sick and the afflicted?  Did not Christ dine with the sinners?  Did He not quietly and beautifully forgive those who had crucified him?

Christ's light never faltered. 

There are times of trial in life.  There are times of disappointment, discouragement, and darkness.  There are times of hopelessness, and they come to everybody.  In times like these it may seem that the darkness is too overwhelming; that it is too much for us to let our light shine.  In times like these we must turn to Christ to help restore our light.

There will be challenges and struggles, but there will also be times of peace, love, serenity, and deep assurance that all will be well.  We can remember that the light is stronger than the darkness.  That Christ's light will never falter.

We can let our light so shine.  We can hold fast to the iron rode.  We can turn our head and find a neighbor to bring with us to church.  We can express love to those we meet.  Because we know who we are and we know who's light we are shining.  And we can have confidence in that.

"That which is of God is light, and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day" (Doctrine & Covenants 50:24).

Add to Your Faith Virtue and to Your Virtue Knowledge, by Walter Rane.

Women and the Priesthood

I have heard several stories and even read articles about how there are LDS women who feel unequal without holding Priesthood. This makes me so sad. It makes me sad that women feel cheated when Heavenly Father has already given us such divine roles, responsibilities, and stewardships. We are equal. Yes, there are several definitions of the word "equal", some mean exactly the same in every way, but that's not what men and women are supposed to be. Just like 2+2=4, 1+3=4. Two different equations with different components, but they are exactly equal in their sum. We are different for a reason. We are physically, emotionally, and spiritually different for a reason. Equal means evenly proportioned or balanced and that's exactly how God made us. Men and women complement each other. Here is a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball that explains it perfectly.

“Men and women are complementary. I have mentioned only a few of the special blessings God gives his daughters in helping them to become like him. His sons have their own special opportunities. And in his wisdom and mercy, our Father made men and women dependent on each other for the full flowering of their potential. Because their natures are somewhat different, they can complement each other; because they are in many ways alike, they can understand each other. Let neither envy the other for their differences; let both discern what is superficial and what is beautifully basic in those differences, and act accordingly. And may the brotherhood of the priesthood and the sisterhood of the Relief Society be a blessing in the lives of all the members of this great Church, as we help each other along the path to perfection.”

Heavenly Father loves all of us. I know that. He would never, ever cheapen the mortal experience of any of His children. He knows what we each need to do, experience, and learn to return to Him. He knows the desires of our hearts, but He also knows what is best for us. Everything is according to His time and His way. That being said, it is His Priesthood. It does not belong to the current prophet, nor the Quorum of the Twelve, nor some committee whose minds can be changed by petitioning to receive the Priesthood. God owns it and will do as He wills with it. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8

I know that God loves us all as His children because He has told me. I have knelt and prayed to know His will and He has made it known to me through the power of the Holy Ghost. I know that if you seek answers that He will give them.

I would also like to refer you to these talks on womanhood:
Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor by James E. Faust
Women of the Church by Gordon B. Hinckley
Woman--Of Infinite Worth by Russell M. Nelson
Equality through Diversity by M. Russell Ballard

--Camille

"To Love another person is to see the face of God"

"To love another person is to see the face of God". This is one  of the closing lines in one of my all time favorite musicals "Les Miserables", I heard this closing line dozens of times this summer as I was in the show, I played a very memorable "Woman number 3". It was not until the last week and I realized that the show was almost over that I really started to let some of the messages sink in, this line, this closing line that had been saved for the end of such an epic show caused me to wonder. What were they thinking? Victor Hugo, Claude Michel Schonberg, Herbert Kretzmer, why did they save this for the closing moments. In a story about redemption, the balance between justice and mercy, fighting for what you believe in, survival, hope, despair, why was this simple line so moving? Of all the emotions that we can feel as human beings the closest we ever come to feeling celestial emotion is love. When we love without thought for ourselves, when we love with our whole hearts and without any expectation of gain, we are the closest that we can be on this earth to the celestial beings that our Father in Heaven would have us be. So, why would we "see" God when we love others? We have been told that we need to receive his image in our countenances', but when we look at others in love that is when we see his image in them. We can see the worth of the soul, we become more willing to sacrifice for that person, more willing to build them up and help them see what we see in them. We see God in them. We are allowed this brief opportunity to see what eternity is like. Wrapped in a compelling story and amazing showtunes is an eternal truth that our Heavenly Father loves us, that we are all allowed the chance to better ourselves with hope of redemption because of our Savior. No matter how we view ourselves when those who love us look at us they see the face of God, that is powerful, that should change our perception of ourselves. My take home message from this epic summer of musical bliss was to learn to look for my Father in Heaven in others, He is there, I just need to love others to see Him.

-Kristin

Families

Today, I would just like to testify of the importance of families. One of the main reasons we are here on this earth is to get married and have children and teach them the ways of our Heavenly Father. I have wonderful parents who did that. I was raised by a mother who was virtuous and taught me to be proud I am a woman. I was raised by a father who demonstrated righteous dominion in our home. He displayed characteristics that I wanted in a future spouse and taught me to value the priesthood. 

I grew up and got married and I married a wonderful priesthood holder who takes care of us and helps us all be better. I try my best to be a virtuous woman, like my mother. I want my children to grow up and be glad that they had righteous parents. I recognize that not everyone has that, and it breaks my heart. But whatever your background is, I challenge you to improve on it. Make your home better than the one you grew up in. Satan knows how crucial the family is and we have to be ever stronger than previous generations to keep him out of our homes. With the lack of structure in families that exist in our society, we can see that our society is headed down a dangerous path. 

People have commented to my husband and I about not wanting children. They say that they are too much work and it isn't worth it. But to those who choose not to have a family, I say "It is worth it!" There are hard days but it is worth every long night, every snotty nose, and every tantrum to see your children choose righteous paths and learn the things that you try so desperately to put in their heads. Children are a blessing from God. Families are central to His plan. I challenge everyone to create a stronger family shield against the Evil One and put in more effort to teach your children righteous ways. 

---Jashley

"Free Yourself From Unrealistic Expectations of Perfection"

Today I saw, "Free Yourself From Unrealistic Expectations of Perfection" on the LDS.org website and I immediately clicked the link. What followed was a beautiful talk reminding me about the all encompassing power of the Savior's Atonement. Below is a short excerpt:

"The Savior’s freely given atoning love helps us become more forgiving and less judgmental of others and of ourselves. This love heals our relationships and gives us opportunities to love, understand, and serve as our Savior would.

His atoning love changes our concept of perfection. We can put our trust in Him, diligently keep His commandments, and continue in the faith (seeMosiah 4:6)—even as we also feel greater humility, gratitude, and dependence on His merits, mercy, and grace (see 2 Nephi 2:8)."

Most times, my concept of perfection is completely skewed. An immaculate home, beautifully dressed children, a roast on the dinner table at exactly 5:30 when my husband arrives home, and of course my homemade apple pie for dessert (which I made 2 of to give one away, of course). While I'm typing this I realize how completely ridiculous this is, but apparently deep down, that is what I expect of myself- even if I don't neccesarily want that (I hate apple pie!)

But when I truly focus on the Savior, on what He wants for me, and on what He expects of me, I realize that perfectionism (at least my idea/the worlds perspective) is a tool of Satan. He wants us to get overwhelmed, unmotivated, depressed, & anxious over our weaknesses, to the point that we want to give up. That is not how the Savior works.

His infinite love surpasses anything we can comprehend, and as our Advocate with the Father, is fighting for our success. He loves us. He will always love us. And all He wants for us is to wake up each day, with a renewed hope that we will be better than yesterday.