tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39839771430779881442024-03-05T01:36:35.228-08:00A Piece of Daily BreadThoughts from some Mormons about life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-60427008906251771392015-11-01T18:51:00.000-08:002015-11-01T18:51:33.227-08:00The Transforming Power of God's Love<br />
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"We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.</div>
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The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities.</div>
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The means of this refinement is our Christlike love. There is no pain it cannot soften, no bitterness it cannot remove, no hatred it cannot alter. The Greek playwright Sophocles wrote: “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.”<sup class="noteMarker" guid="91799543-e01f-4bf0-ba9d-867f9d14b1ef" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 10px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/the-great-commandment?lang=eng#15-" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; font-size: 9px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">15</a></sup></div>
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Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/the-great-commandment?lang=eng">The Great Commandment</a>," October 2007</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-91663527480202961072015-10-19T18:33:00.001-07:002015-10-19T18:42:01.669-07:00Rewards: What is it That I Really Want?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireuFvJUpcjP3nND-hjQmvMJtrPNps1Qegiia4kh29iAVWbzrTVcGPqqcrbLUCVv_1z4eGwqK9hmscl6toXTZUBOcZ3HBfTRa4T2IjwBMH4I4HnTAddJAcwdpJYiex4bIef2AUJxO8pOY/s1600/en08sep40_harwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireuFvJUpcjP3nND-hjQmvMJtrPNps1Qegiia4kh29iAVWbzrTVcGPqqcrbLUCVv_1z4eGwqK9hmscl6toXTZUBOcZ3HBfTRa4T2IjwBMH4I4HnTAddJAcwdpJYiex4bIef2AUJxO8pOY/s320/en08sep40_harwood.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Harvest Time in France</i>, James T. Harwood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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When I was doing my student teaching in a 7th grade classroom at a local junior high school, I decided that when I had my own classroom one day, one of the first things I wanted to do was write the word "earn" on the board and discuss what that word means.<br />
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When you look up the word these days through a simple google search, the first definition is "obtain money" either through labor or even as a prize or an event that requires no work.<br />
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That isn't the definition I want to talk about. The definition I am interested in is the one that is tied to the Old English word <i>esne,</i> which means "laborer." Connected to that root word is this definition for earn: gain or incur deservedly for one's behavior or achievements.<br />
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I would change the word "achievements" to "work."<br />
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In a classroom setting, I believe this concept is important because I think grades should be earned. Not necessarily by how many answers you get right on a piece of paper--but by the work and time you are willing to give to understanding something or someone, by participating in class and discussions, and by steady improvement throughout the year. Basically, to earn in the classroom and in life is to sincerely try. That's what I think, anyway. Hard to measure on paper? Yes.<br />
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I like this illustration from the life of Neal A. Maxwell:<br />
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"Elder Neal A. Maxwell received a very low grade on a high school English essay he wrote. He went to Miss Mason and said, “This is not fair. This is good work. I deserve a higher grade.”</div>
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She said, “Sorry, but I grade students by potential. You are capable of much better work.”</div>
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Elder Maxwell has often stated, “She made the difference in my life.” Why? Because he wanted to meet her expectations. He wanted to be the best he could, and because of that he has continued to be one of the most verbal and clear-thinking people in the Church." <a href="https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/hugh-w-pinnock_christmas-gifts-lds-style/">Hugh Pinnock</a></div>
So in life, what is it we are trying to earn? What are the rewards? Prestige? Money? Friends? Praise? Power?<br />
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Those always sound good.<br />
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That's why it is so hard to train myself to remember the things that I really should be trying to earn and which should be taking the most of my time and effort: Family. Trust. The <a href="https://www.lds.org/topics/holy-ghost?lang=eng">Spirit of God </a>. Peace of mind and conscience. [I hesitate to put love and forgiveness on this list--because I feel like those are gifts...not something we necessarily we "earn."]<br />
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I believe that these things are earned by following the pattern that God set through prophets of old (as recorded in the Old Testament and <a href="https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/book-of-mormon">Book of Mormon</a>), that <a href="https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christ">Jesus Christ</a> said and set during his life on earth (as recorded in the New Testament). And that He continues to teach us the same principles through <a href="https://www.lds.org/topics/scriptures-and-study/living-prophets-church-leaders?lang=eng">His prophets</a> and through the Spirit today. Just like earning prestige and money and friends and praise requires work and effort, these things require energy and purposeful planning and striving. And the benefits of family, trust, the Spirit, and peace of mind are far more lasting and permanent and joy-giving than the benefits of any of those other things.<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"><b>"The battle between good and evil is not new. But today a much higher percentage of people mistakenly concludes that there is not a moral, righteous standard to which all people should adhere."</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">"Lucifer has created a counterfeit or illusion of happiness that is inconsistent with righteousness and will mislead us if we are not vigilant. Many of our problems today occur because the secular world has been pursuing an incorrect definition of happiness."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">"The Lord God is indeed a sun and shield and will give grace and glory. No good thing will be withheld from them that walk uprightly (see </span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/ps/84.11?lang=eng#10" style="background: 0px 0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #0091bc; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Psalm 84:11</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">). My prayer is that you may reap the rewards of righteousness as you faithfully follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">Quentin L. Cook, <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/07/reaping-the-rewards-of-righteousness?lang=eng">Reaping the Rewards of Righteousness</a></span><br />
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-elin<br />
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Who gets tired of trying/working at least 10 times a day....maybe more. baby steps.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-84140643813976836472015-10-11T19:41:00.000-07:002015-10-11T19:50:17.666-07:00Ironing Clothes and Cleaning up Messes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the longest time, I had this aversion to ironing. I avoided ironing anything at all costs. By the time I got the ironing board and iron out and ironed the shirt or skirt or whatever wrinkled piece of clothing I wanted to wear, I was usually so frustrated that I would just throw the piece of clothing back in the laundry and vow to get it out of the dryer as soon as the cycle was done next time, to avoid it wrinkling. I tend to be really slow at doing things like ironing and chopping vegetables. So it took a lot of time. And I always ended up making more wrinkles with the iron than I eliminated. Is it just me or do other people have this problem? So my go-to method throughout high school, college, and the first few years of married life was to spray the wrinkled piece of clothing with a spray bottle and shake it out and let it hang dry. Or put the piece of clothing in the bathroom while I took a really warm shower and let the steam work its magic.<br />
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Why am I telling you all of this? Because about a month ago, I started ironing my husband's work clothes and anything else that was wrinkled. I realized awhile back, that I wanted to go out of my way a little bit more to make life better for my family. (I am a little lazy and am trying to improve in little ways.) And for my husband, the thought that came to mind was to iron his work clothes. What does this do for him? Really not a whole lot from a temporal point of view. I hope it makes him look and feel a little sharper and smarter and happier as he goes to work each day-- but it probably doesn't do that to a huge degree. (I mean, let's be honest, the most frustrating thing about ironing is that you know as soon as you put the clothes on and sit down, everything is going to get all creased and wrinkled again.) So, what's the point, eh?<br />
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The point is not that the clothes are wrinkled again by the end of the day. The point is that he starts his day as his biggest, brightest self. And I got to contribute to that in some small way. He knows it. I know it. And that feels rather fine.<br />
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It is kind of how I feel at the end of the day when I am doing the dishes and tidying the kitchen and living room for the umpteemth time, full well-knowing that in 12 hours the dishes will be dirty again and toys will once again reign triumphant all over the floor. The point isn't that it will all get dirty again. The reason I clean up at the end of the day is so that I can start fresh the next day. I can wake up to order. Order is so beautiful. So, so beautiful. Things flourish in order. And I feel like I am giving all of us our best chance for sanity and joy if we start the day with things clean and in their proper place. (Granted, sometimes cleaning at the end of the day just means putting things in piles out of the way so I don't have to see them when I get up in the morning.)<br />
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I think that is how life is, how we are. It doesn't do much for ourselves if we stop trying or stop admitting mistakes or bad habits just because we are going to mess up again at some point anyway. Or it is just too hard or too annoying to have to start over again and again and again. There came a point in my life, where I realized that I had to start owning who I was--the person I was becoming. And that meant I had to take a good long look at myself and start trying to iron out the "wrinkles" and clean out the "garbage" in me. The hateful thoughts and actions, the idle time, the selfishness. Every night. And isn't it glorious that when we do this we can wake up in the morning our best and brightest selves? When it happens, it feels really great. All this because the Savior set a <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/12.48?lang=eng#48">perfect example</a>; and He not only laid it out in perfect words, He lived what He taught perfectly. And I know that because of Him, little by little, the wrinkles and garbage can be removed from me permanently and that gives me hope and makes me feel very, very loved. It is why I try.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"The Lord will always keep His promise: “I will lead you along.”<sup class="noteMarker" noteref="6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/meeting-the-challenges-of-todays-world?lang=eng#6-13768_000_32hales" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6</a></sup> The only question is, will we let ourselves be led? Will we hear His voice and the voice of His servants?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I testify that if you are there for the Lord, He will be there for you.<sup class="noteMarker" noteref="7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/meeting-the-challenges-of-todays-world?lang=eng#7-13768_000_32hales" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7</a></sup> If you love Him and keep His commandments, you will have His Spirit to be with you and guide you. “Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good. … By this shall you know, all things … pertaining unto things of righteousness.”<sup class="noteMarker" noteref="8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/meeting-the-challenges-of-todays-world?lang=eng#8-13768_000_32hales" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">8</a> Elder Robert D. Hales, <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/meeting-the-challenges-of-todays-world?lang=eng">"Meeting the Challenges of Today's World "</a></sup></span></div>
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-elin<br />
I am going to be honest: I want to listen to Christmas music right now. I know, it isn't even Halloween yet...</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-84304465267486410792015-10-04T19:07:00.001-07:002015-10-04T19:07:07.331-07:00The Gospel of Christ, Full and CompleteI love that phrase: The Gospel of Christ, Full and Complete.<br />
<br />That is what we claim to offer as a Church, because we believe this is Christ's living church on the earth. That He continues to guide and direct the people of this world through a prophet today--just as He guided and directed them through prophets in ancient times. Just as He guided and directed the people of His day as He walked and taught and served and healed.<br />
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Yesterday and today, I listened to the prophet, President Monson and each of the Twelve Apostles as well as the leaders of the women and children's and other organizations of our Church teach about what they have learned through their own experiences, the experiences of others, through the <a href="https://www.lds.org/topics/holy-ghost?lang=eng">Holy Ghost</a>, and through their study and application of <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/scriptures">scripture</a> (which are words Jesus Christ speaking through past prophets). Their stories and messages are simple but powerful. I felt the truth of what they said. And the music--Oh the music. Take a moment and watch or listen to one or two or all of the 6 sessions of the conference <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2015/10?cid=HP_SU_10-4-2015_dPTH_fGC_xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng">here</a>. At the very least, you can <a href="https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/october-2015-general-conference-invitations-from-the-prophet?cid=HP_SU_10-4-2015_dPTH_fCNWS_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=eng">take a look or listen</a> to what President Thomas S. Monson, the prophet today said to the church and to all the world. Simple truths--but I think they make all the difference in who we are and what we can be as individuals and as society as a whole. These are the truths that would lift us as human beings and make the world a better place if we lived them more fully. If I lived them more fully.<br />
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And if you like short and to the point,<a href="https://beta.mormon.org/beliefs/prophets.php"> here</a> is a really nice 60-second video explanation of the what and why of prophets.<br />
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-elin<br />
I took a walk with my family today and it was glorious to be outside in such beautiful moderate temperatures. Autumn=blissUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-46556244889874623542015-09-26T17:00:00.000-07:002015-09-26T17:00:36.914-07:00Girl Power! LiterallyIf you have a moment to spare tonight, please check out the <a href="https://www.lds.org/church/events/april-2015-general-conference?lang=eng">women's conference</a> starting in just a few minutes. These women always have some wonderful things to say about life, friendship, family, and what it means to be daughters of a Heavenly Father. <br />
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If you can't watch it tonight, it is available to <a href="https://www.lds.org/church/events/april-2015-general-conference?lang=eng">watch online</a> after this evening as well.<br />
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Here is one of my favorite parts from the last conference:<br />
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-elin<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-36961343446805438112015-09-24T20:13:00.003-07:002015-09-24T20:13:54.720-07:00Listening to Lindsey StirlingI wanted to post this video I watched today because this is my mom's favorite hymn: <a href="https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/i-know-that-my-redeemer-lives?lang=eng">"I Know That My Redeemer Lives"</a>- and because Lindsey Stirling is playing the violin part. I actually lived almost next door to Lindsey for a couple years when we were both going to BYU and she played the violin and danced at a talent show we had while we there. I think she plugged her violin into an amp, and then played that violin like I had never heard it played before while she danced around. It was crazy amazing and she, by far, stole the show.<br />
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And I love that despite the fame and attention she has earned, she is willing to be here, in places like these, playing songs like this. I am glad I knew her then and I am glad I get to continue to be blessed by who she is and what she believes through her music.<br />
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You can watch the whole interview with Lindsey <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaztimXwiDw">here.</a></div>
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-elin</div>
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who is more than a little jealous that Lindsey got to meet Josh Groban....</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-70608129166027280742015-09-13T13:06:00.001-07:002015-09-13T13:09:29.025-07:00How To Save Your Life<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YAuqdPWTGLI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YAuqdPWTGLI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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My sister-in-law shared this video recently and it gnawed at my insides. Do you know what I mean? When you see or read or hear something that in your gut you know was meant for you--because you recognize something in yourself that shouldn't be there--something that needs to change. But it will require work. And doing things that make you uncomfortable. And giving up your time, as busy as you already are.<br />
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Well, that was me while I watched this video. And I've noticed that when God is trying to send me a message, it is usually one that begins to reoccur often. I don't know if He has been sending those messages my way repeatedly for the past 30 years and I am just now seeing them, or if He is watching me and says to Himself "You're ready for this now Elin. Here it is."<br />
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So first it was this video. Then it was a conversation with a friend. Then a couple of opportunities to serve presented themselves--opportunities that were difficult and inconvenient. Then I got to know a woman who gives all of her time and life and self to take care of her handicapped daughter.<br />
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Then my mom shared <a href="http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/still-life/">this article</a> with me.<br />
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It wasn't a wake-up call. It was an avalanche. But the message for me is crystal clear: Try to take every opportunity to help and serve that is placed in your path. Stop rationalizing. Stop making excuses. Opportunities to serve are opportunities to grow and be lifted above and beyond your own capacities. God doesn't need us to serve each other. He is perfectly capable of taking care of every one of us. He is the one who <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/10.29">knows of every sparrow that falls </a>and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OevE4olt6_I">clothes the lilies of the field</a>." He allows us to serve each other because of what it does for us. Letting us take care of each other is, I suppose, often how He takes care of us.<br />
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<div class="highlight" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(254, 251, 191); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/nt/matt/16.24">
<a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="24" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "</a><span class="verse" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">24 </span>¶<sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><marker>a</marker></sup><a class="footnote" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16.24?lang=eng#24a" id="footnote32" rel="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/footnote?lang=eng&volumeUri=nt&bookUri=matt&chapterUri=16&noteID=24a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then</a> said Jesus unto his disciples, If any <span class="clarityWord" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">man</span> will come after me, let him <sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><marker>b</marker></sup><a class="footnote" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16.24?lang=eng#24b" id="footnote33" rel="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/footnote?lang=eng&volumeUri=nt&bookUri=matt&chapterUri=16&noteID=24b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">deny</a> himself, and take up his<sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><marker>c</marker></sup><a class="footnote" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16.24?lang=eng#24c" id="footnote34" rel="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/footnote?lang=eng&volumeUri=nt&bookUri=matt&chapterUri=16&noteID=24c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">cross</a>, and <sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><marker>d</marker></sup><a class="footnote" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16.24?lang=eng#24d" id="footnote35" rel="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/footnote?lang=eng&volumeUri=nt&bookUri=matt&chapterUri=16&noteID=24d" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">follow</a> <sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><marker>e</marker></sup><a class="footnote" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16.24?lang=eng#24e" id="footnote36" rel="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/footnote?lang=eng&volumeUri=nt&bookUri=matt&chapterUri=16&noteID=24e" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">me</a>.</div>
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<a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="25" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a><span class="verse" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">25 </span>For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will <sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><marker>a</marker></sup><a class="footnote" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16.24?lang=eng#25a" id="footnote37" rel="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/footnote?lang=eng&volumeUri=nt&bookUri=matt&chapterUri=16&noteID=25a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">lose</a> his life for my sake shall <sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><marker>b</marker></sup><a class="footnote" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16.24?lang=eng#25b" id="footnote38" rel="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/footnote?lang=eng&volumeUri=nt&bookUri=matt&chapterUri=16&noteID=25b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">find</a> it." <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16.24?lang=eng#23">Matthew 16:24-25</a><br />
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I want to be like these people who so selflessly and wondrously give of themselves--and seem so much fuller and more whole because of it. Jesus Christ exemplified this perfectly. So I'm working on letting go of the things that don't really matter and trusting that His way is the only one that really does matter.<br />
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-elin<br />
Who is feeling the Autumn in the air! And who has 2 more lengthy article for you to read on the above topic if you aren't all tuckered out yet: <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/personal-strength-through-the-atonement-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng">this</a> and <a href="https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2014/01/saving-your-life?lang=eng#11-PD10051044_000_11">this</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-89837301315684647572015-08-26T19:39:00.003-07:002015-08-26T19:47:55.976-07:00Character and the Things We Do"Indeed, the power of mere activity is often overrated. It is not what the best men do, but what they are, that constitutes the truest benefaction to their fellowmen. The thing that men do get their chief value, after all, from the way in which they are able to show the existence of character which can comfort and help mankind. Among the people whom we know, it is not necessarily those who, meteor-like, are ever on the rush after some visible charge and work to whom we owe the most. It is often the lives, like the stars, which simply pour down on us the calm light of their bright and faithful being, up to which we look and out of which we gather the deepest calm and courage.<i> It is good to know that even when we can no longer do something for our fellowmen, we can still be something for them; to know, and this surely, that no man or woman of the humblest sort can really be strong, gentle, and good without the world's being better for that goodness.</i>" Phillips Brooks, <i>Sermons: The Purpose and Use of Comfort, </i>pg. 105<br />
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Does anyone else out there ever have a difficult time responding to the question, "So what did you do this week?" For some reason, whenever someone asks me that, my mind goes blank and I can't remember a single thing of note that I did in the past few days. I remember being busy, but I have no idea what I was doing. A little bit unsettling, to tell you the truth. Could be because I'm still not getting enough sleep.<br />
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But I do think part of the problem is that I want to be able to say something fantastic like, "I ran a marathon and then spent the rest of the afternoon writing my next best-seller." Because I care too much about what other people think and for some reason, I think I need to list a bunch of "interesting" things that I do to show that my life and myself are full of amazing things.<br />
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That's why I like the quote above. My little sister just sent it to me and it really grounded me. Who we are isn't a list of things we do that look good on paper or sounds good out loud to the rest of the world. We are the things we do and say that most people will never know about or maybe even care about. It is the choices we make when we are alone or with our family and friends or the door we hold open for someone or when we encourage someone as they try and try again to do something hard. It is not doing something because it looks good. It is doing something because it feels right and good. I wish I could say I lived this way more completely. (And I'm not saying that marathons are bad things or flashy. I would love to be able to accomplish something like that.)<br />
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I think the Savior was especially good at this. He sought no one's approval but His Father's--and who He was truly made the world and everyone who would ever live on it, better.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRAjVjxYz7gMmgIgEB5TaH9_1o1sc-IuME2RaKpfmCZJPvxN0Mw1c-GO0sCpkDmZdrrcgDEeqhyggKXvwJlw9toQLPYETsFFs4BgJHlJeaOgwbENQ17z_2fK-Xjy4A7_MC4FcDHEqN5s/s1600/greatest+in+the+kingdom+richards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRAjVjxYz7gMmgIgEB5TaH9_1o1sc-IuME2RaKpfmCZJPvxN0Mw1c-GO0sCpkDmZdrrcgDEeqhyggKXvwJlw9toQLPYETsFFs4BgJHlJeaOgwbENQ17z_2fK-Xjy4A7_MC4FcDHEqN5s/s1600/greatest+in+the+kingdom+richards.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greatest in the Kingdom by J. Kirk Richards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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-elin<br />
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I immediately think of the apostle Paul and of the prophet Joseph Smith when I think of people who stopped caring about what other people thought of them. I admire them for living what they knew to be true.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Joseph Smith describes Paul’s character: “He saw a light, and heard a voice; … some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad. … But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise.” Then Joseph adds his testimony regarding his own vision, revealing his own strength of character; “I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it.” (<a class="scriptureRef" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1.24-25?lang=eng#23" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">JS—H 1:24–25</a>.) Joseph Smith was a man of great, noble character that the Lord knew he could trust, no matter what the sacrifice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">President David O. McKay said: “Man’s chief concern in life should not be the acquiring of gold, or of fame, or of material possessions. It should not be the development of physical prowess, nor of intellectual strength, but his aim, the highest in life, should be the development of a Christlike character.” (McKay, <i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">True to the Faith,</i> p. 32.)" Robert E. Wells, "<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1978/10/the-cs-of-spirituality?lang=eng">The Cs of Spirituality"</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-30293953039327610392015-08-19T08:13:00.002-07:002015-08-19T08:26:35.386-07:00The Mormon Church in a GlanceThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or Mormons) in a glance. It is a work of family. It is a work of love. It is the work of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.<br />
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-elin<br />
For me, it is a <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/latter-day-saints-keep-on-trying?lang=eng">keep on trying work.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-50008465783982086812015-08-06T18:14:00.000-07:002015-08-06T18:16:20.935-07:00A Prophet Today<div class="" id="p37" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/general-conference/1995/04/hear-the-prophets-voice-and-obey.p37">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"If we listen to the prophets of this day, poverty would be replaced with loving care for the poor and needy. Many serious and deadly health problems would be avoided through compliance with the <a class="no-link-style" href="http://lds.org/study/topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng" style="background: transparent; border: none !important; color: #2f393a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: baseline;">Word of Wisdom</a> and the laws of sexual purity. Payment of <a class="no-link-style" href="http://lds.org/study/topics/tithing?lang=eng" style="background: transparent; border: none !important; color: #2f393a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: baseline;">tithing</a> would bless us, and we would have sufficient for our needs. If we follow the counsel given by the prophets, we can have a life in mortality where we do not bring upon ourselves unnecessary pain and self-destruction. This does not mean we will not have challenges. We will. This does not mean we will not be tested. We will, for this is part of our purpose on earth. But if we will listen to the counsel of our prophet, we will become stronger and be able to withstand the tests of mortality. We will have hope and joy. <b>All the words of counsel from the prophets of all generations have been given so that we may be strengthened and then be able to lift and strengthen others.<br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The desire of the prophets is to assist our Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ in bringing about the great objectives of the plan of salvation, or, as one ancient prophet called it, “the great plan of happiness” (</span><a class="scriptureRef" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/42.8?lang=eng#7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Alma 42:8</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We declare with soberness, and yet with the authority of God in us vested, we have a prophet today."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Elder Robert D. Hales, "</span><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/hear-the-prophets-voice-and-obey?lang=eng" style="font-family: inherit;">Hear the Prophet's Voice and Obey</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I grew up in a home with parents who believed that Jesus Christ's church was on the earth today and that He continued to guide His Church through the scriptures and through His current prophet on the earth. So I can't really tell you how I would feel if I grew up in a different household with a different faith or without faith at all--I can't really tell you how I would feel if someone declared to me that God still speaks to us today. That we are His children. That He has called a man to preside over the church and that you can know for yourself that all of this is right and true (see the promise in <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10.4-5?lang=eng">Moroni 10:3-5</a>). I might be cynical and skeptical. I might think it made sense. I might not care.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What I will say is that I find the doctrine of continuing revelation--of God continuing to care and converse with His children very comforting. But I don't believe in prophets because it is comforting and nice to think about. I believe in prophets because when I read their words or listen to the current prophet speak, it feels very, very different than reading and listening to anything else. And when I have lived what they teach, it has made all the difference in my life. What they say has been absolutely true for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-elin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Who really likes what <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqjYe0Reg0Q">this prophet has to say</a>.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-55491273852025097872015-07-26T12:36:00.001-07:002015-07-26T12:38:18.165-07:00Put On Your Sunday ClothesI grew up watching musicals and I always enjoyed <i>Hello. Dolly. </i>It was fun watching Barbara Streisand strutting around in fantastic clothes belting out "Before the Parade Passes By". It was even funner (I know that's not a real word) watching Walter Matthau "singing" and looking grumpy (I love that man). And I think my favorite part was watching the "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" scene at the beginning (and this was way before <i>Wall-e </i>was even dreamed of). So when I decided to write a few of my thoughts about Sunday, I immediately thought of that scene and that is what I titled this post.<br />
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Recently, I have been trying to fill my mind with positive, inspiring quotes and ideas. To fill my mind with them, I have endeavored to memorize bits and pieces from books and songs and scripture. It is slow-going, because I have never had a very strong mind for memorization. But I now have a few scriptures, a Dickinson poem, and a Dostoevsky quote under my belt. Hanging on one of my walls is another scripture that I am trying to memorize (and it has been on the wall for months--that is how slow I am):<br />
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<div class="highlight" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(254, 251, 191); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/ot/isa/58.13">
<a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="13" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a><span class="verse" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">13 </span>¶If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, <span class="clarityWord" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">from </span>doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the <span class="smallCaps" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span>, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking <span class="clarityWord" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">thine own</span> words:</div>
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<a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="14" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a><span class="verse" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">14 </span>Then shalt thou delight thyself in the <span class="smallCaps" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span>; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the <span class="smallCaps" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span> hath spoken <span class="clarityWord" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">it.</span></div>
<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/isa/58.13?lang=eng#12">Isaiah 58:13-14</a><br />
<br />
As a result, <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/sabbath?lang=eng&letter=s">the Sabbath day</a>, or Sunday, is something that I have had on my mind a lot. These days, many people grow up not seeing how or why Sunday is or should be different than any other day of the week--apart from the fact that it is part of the weekend and so many people don't have to work or go to school on Sunday.<br />
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<br />
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For me, Sunday is a reminder that a loving Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ, "rested" from their physical labors after creating this beautiful earth for us. It is a day set apart from the rest of the week, made for us, so that we can try to separate ourselves as much as we can from the daily toil of the week and focus on the things and people that matter most--focus on the Lord's work and His glory which is His children and their development and progression towards Him, the source of all true happiness and peace (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/1.39">Moses 1:39</a>).<br />
<br />
All my life I have put on Sunday clothes and attended 3 hours of church on Sunday. Only recently am I truly recognizing what a "delight" that Sunday can be. When I go to church, I am aware that the people giving the talks and reading and discussing the lessons are imperfect people, just as I am. I am aware that in proclaiming that there are eternal truths that do not change and that there are rules or commandments that we must follow if we want to experience true, lasting joy, I set myself up for looking like a hypocrite when I do not live up to those standards completely--but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't continue to strive and work towards those standards. And my own deficiencies and the deficiencies of those around me do not change the fact that I feel the truth of what is being said and shared as we meet together on Sundays and read the scriptures and the words of the prophet today.<br />
<br />
I have come to love Sundays and delight in them because they help me see myself as I really am. They help me focus on my family and on the life and mission and love of Jesus Christ, who helps us do the hard things in this life, do everything in this life-- and helps us better appreciate and love the times when life is not as difficult. Sunday reminds me that I am a child of God and so is the person standing next to me in the elevator--and I should treat them as such. Sunday reminds me that my life and my personality & talents and my happiness are important to God--and if I give them to Him, He can do some pretty marvelous things through me.<br />
<br />
I haven't got it all figured out yet. I probably won't for a long time. But I have felt these things and they are changing me into someone that I like a little bit better than before.<br />
<br />
-elin<br />
"Put on your Sunday clothes when you feel down and out. Strut down the street and have your picture took. Dressed like a dream your spirit seems to turn about...."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-71419271417526006092015-07-05T20:42:00.000-07:002015-07-05T20:45:07.954-07:00Remembering Who We Are<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We, as human beings, have this innate tendency to search for ourselves in our interaction with the world around us. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. But we do not really "find" ourselves in the sense that we find something that wasn't there or that was missing. It is a matter of becoming and nourishing who we already are: children of a loving Heavenly Father who knows us and loves us and can help us experience lasting happiness.<br />
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Who we are is ever-present- the seeds of what we can become remain inside our minds and hearts whether we acknowledge them or not. Our choices unlock or stifle our growth and potential--so yes our choices and interaction with the world around us do matter and help us reach our biggest brightest selves. But it is always frustrating to me when movies or books depict a character's triumphant self-discovery as something like breaking rules or breaking social norms. Not that all rules or social norms are healthy and should be followed. But I also don't believe that someone has truly liberated themselves or "found" their true selves simply because they jump into a swimming pool without clothes on...or something like that.<br />
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I guess, what I'm trying to say, is that the journey to self isn't so much about finding which rules should be broken or what it feels kind of nice and fun to do in the moment--it seems to be more about discovering what behaviors and rules and creative experiences bring true and lasting growth and freedom and happiness...which behaviors, rules, and creative experiences bring you closer to understanding your Creator and thus closer to understanding yourself. Because whether we like to admit it sometimes or not, He who made us, understands us in a way no one else can.<br />
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I know that there are some who don't believe we were intentionally created at all...but I still would think that for them, the same principles for self-discovery hold true: that you try to look for and find the behaviors and rules and creative experiences that bring true and lasting growth, freedom and happiness.<br />
<br />
But I will quit jabbering. Here is someone who explains my sentiments far better than I can:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"This last thought reminds me of a very beautiful song that is found in the Church’s French hymnbook—one that doesn’t exist in the hymnals of any other country. It is titled “Souviens-toi,” which means “Remember,” and is set to music from the <i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New World Symphony</i> by Antonín Dvořák. It is the song of a parent addressing a newborn child.</span></div>
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<div class="stanza" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="line" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Allow me to read the third verse to you:</span></div>
<div class="line" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Remember, my child: At the dawn of time,</i></span></div>
<div class="line" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>We were friends playing in the wind.</i></span></div>
<div class="line" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Then one day, in joy, we chose</i></span></div>
<div class="line" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>To accept the great plan of life from the Lord.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>That evening, my child, we promised,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Through love, through faith, to be reunited.</i><sup class="noteMarker" noteref="6" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2012/01/we-are-the-architects-of-our-own-happiness?lang=eng#6-PD50039056_000_001" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6</a></sup></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Remember, my child.” One of the great adventures of life is that of finding out who we really are, where we came from, and then living consistently in harmony with our identity and the purpose of our existence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brigham Young said: “The greatest lesson you can learn is to know yourselves. … You have to come here to learn this. … No being can thoroughly know himself, without understanding more or less of the things of God; neither can any being learn and understand the things of God without knowing himself: he must know himself, or he never can know God.”<sup class="noteMarker" noteref="7" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2012/01/we-are-the-architects-of-our-own-happiness?lang=eng#7-PD50039056_000_001" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7</a></sup></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently, my daughters pointed out to me that an excellent allegory of this principle is found in the film<i style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Lion King.</i> Your generation grew up to the sounds and images of this movie. You probably remember the scene where Simba receives a visit from his father, Mufasa, the deceased king. After his father died, Simba fled far from the kingdom because he felt guilty about his father’s death. He wanted to escape his responsibility as heir to the throne.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">His father appears to him and warns him: “You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the circle of life.” Then this invitation is repeated several times: “Remember who you are. … Remember who you are.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Simba, completely shaken by this experience, decides to accept his destiny. He confides in his friend, the shaman monkey, that it “looks like the winds are changing.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The monkey replies, “Change is good.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And Simba says: “But it’s not easy. I know what I have to do. But going back means I’ll have to face my past. I’ve been running from it for so long.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Where are you going?” the monkey asks him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“I’m going back!” cries Simba.<sup class="noteMarker" noteref="8" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2012/01/we-are-the-architects-of-our-own-happiness?lang=eng#8-PD50039056_000_001" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">8</a></sup></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We can all take—or take back—our place in the circle of life. Become who you really are. Your happiness and ability to find balance in your life will occur as you find, recognize, and accept your true identity as a child of our Heavenly Father and then live in accordance with this knowledge."</span></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; display: inline !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Gérald J. Caussé</div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">, </span><a href="https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2012/01/we-are-the-architects-of-our-own-happiness?lang=eng" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); font-family: inherit; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">We Are the Architects of Our Own Happiness</a><br />
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-Elin</div>
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Who thinks Dvorak's music is just wonderful.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-89576053011242765082015-06-23T08:43:00.001-07:002015-06-23T08:43:21.890-07:00What is a good education?What is a good education?<br />
<br />
I have a degree in education so I should be able to answer that question easily. But I can't. The word encompasses so much--I can't quite put a definition in words yet. Still working on my own definition for it.<br />
<br />
I remember calling my dad after I graduated for college, preening a bit because I knew he must be so proud of me for getting my degree-- ready for him to celebrate with me. And he was excited for me. But what he said, I will never forget. He said something like, "And now your real education begins."<br />
<br />
And boy was he right. No four-year instruction at a University could prepare me for the 6 years that came after my "formal education" was complete. A lot of learning has happened since I graduated from college.<br />
<br />
As I was reading Elder L. Tom Perry's biography, I came across this experience that his wife shared--and it has been on my mind ever since:<br />
<br />
"Several years ago when we were living in the state of New York, I remember attending a Relief Society Conference. President Belle S. Spafford was there. Also President Harold B. Lee--he was then Elder Lee.<br />
<br />
Sister Spafford asked for a definition of education from the audience. Several were given. I recalled a definition give by Plato. Many centuries ago, someone asked him: 'What is a good education?' And he replied: 'A good education is that which gives to the body and to the soul all the beauty and all the perfection of which they are capable.'<br />
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I was rather pleased with myself because I was able to remember the quotation, but my elation was short-lived because when President Lee arose and addressed the group, eh said; "Well, so much for Plato.'<br />
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Then President Lee said he had his own definition of education, and he liked it better. He said: <span style="color: purple;">'The best education is that which gives to the individual the strength and ability to adjust.'</span> I remembered his words and during the ensuing years I have had many occasions to ponder his words and recognize the great wisdom they contain.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Life is filled with adjustments--joys and sorrows, trials and temptations. That's what life is all about--this is the time of our schooling. We are gaining an education from the time we enter this mortal existence until we leave it. There are always adjustments to be made, and how we make them is all important. Our actions and reactions here will determine in a large measure how we spend the rest of eternity</span>. . . .<br />
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President Lee has also said: 'The all-important thing in life isn't what happens to you. The important thing is how you take it.'<br />
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As we consider the adjustments necessary in life, it may be well to remember the biblical story of Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers and sold into Egypt. . . .Always, Joseph stayed close to God and kept his values in proper perspective. He had the strength and courage to do right. He was able to make the best out of whatever happened to him. . . .<br />
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May we prepare ourselves so that we, like Joseph of old, will be armed with an inner strength--even the power and inspiration of God--so that no matter what happens to us in this life during our mortal school, we will cling to the iron rod of the gospel and stand firm in our testimony of truth and right."<br />
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Virginia Lee Perry as quoted in <i>L. Tom Perry: An Uncommon Life</i>, pages 299-300<br />
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I really liked this account, because I, like Virginia Perry, love Plato's definition of education-- and I was a bit taken aback by President Lee's response to it. And I still think Plato's definition is correct in one sense of the word "education." A loving Heavenly Father wants us to become our biggest, brightest selves. He asks us to seek perfection and even provide the perfect example for us in His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we would know what perfection spoke and acted like. (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/5.48?lang=eng#47">Matthew 5:48</a>) And filling our lives with knowledge and art and experiences that enrich and beautify our lives and the lives around us is all part of that. The scriptures provide many other insights into what learning and <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/37.35?lang=eng#34">true wisdom</a> are (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/wisdom?lang=eng#">Wisdom- Guide to the Scriptures</a>).<br />
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If wisdom and learning and seeking perfection are the end goals, then we can define education as what gets us to wisdom, learning, and eventual perfection. And in that sense, though Plato's definition is lovely, I have to say, that President Lee's definition is certainly more appropriate and applicable. Learning to adjust well to life's circumstances and not become impaired or destroyed by them, is what allows us to move forward and continue learning and growing and flourishing. The times in my life where I became hurt and angry about things that were happening to me, were the times in my life when I learned and understood the least. Once I learned to adjust and react in positive healthy ways, learning and understanding began again.<br />
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Life is the school. Learning to adjust is education. And it has been my experience that the way to adjust and learn and beautify best is through the gospel of Jesus Christ.<br />
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-elin<br />
Who is learning that educating an almost 3-year old about using the potty is more difficult than teaching 6 periods of 7th-grade English.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">"Brigham Young has said, “The person who enjoys the experience of the knowledge of the Kingdom of God on the earth, and at the same time has the love of God within him, is the happiest of any individuals on the earth. …</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">“Where is happiness, real happiness? Nowhere but in God. By possessing the spirit of our holy religion, we are happy in the morning, we are happy at noon, we are happy in the evening; for the spirit of love and union is with us, and we rejoice in the spirit because it is of God, and we rejoice in God, for he is the giver of every good thing. ... He may be in pain, in error, in poverty, or in prison, if necessity demands, still, he is joyful.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"> ...</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">“Truly happy is that man or woman, or that people, who enjoys the privileges of the Gospel of the Son of God, and who know how to appreciate his blessings.”</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"> As quoted by Elder L. Tom Perry <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1978/04/trust-in-the-lord?lang=eng&query=joseph+in+egypt">here</a></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-64580518089317016632015-06-16T19:51:00.000-07:002015-06-16T19:52:58.418-07:00See & Know For Yourself"Wherefore, we again say, search the revelations of God: study the prophecies, and rejoice that God grants unto us seers and prophets. They are they who saw the mysteries of godliness [. . .]<br />
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And, fellow sojourners upon earth, <span style="color: purple;"><b>it is your privilege to purify yourselves and come up to the same glory, and see for yourselves and know for yourselves</b></span>. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."<br />
Joseph Smith, <i><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=q4zqk3Mslx8C&pg=PA12&dq=Wherefore,+we+again+say,+search+the+revelations+of+God:+study+the+prophecies,+and+rejoice+that+God+grants+unto+us+seers+and+prophets.+They+are+they+who+saw+the+mysteries+of+godliness+%5B.+.+.%5D&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6thrVaaBHM2vogTSk4GoBw&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Wherefore%2C%20we%20again%20say%2C%20search%20the%20revelations%20of%20God%3A%20study%20the%20prophecies%2C%20and%20rejoice%20that%20God%20grants%20unto%20us%20seers%20and%20prophets.%20They%20are%20they%20who%20saw%20the%20mysteries%20of%20godliness%20%5B.%20.%20.%5D&f=false">Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith</a></i>, pg 12-13<br />
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<a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/elder-l-tom-perry-dies-at-age-92">L. Tom Perry</a>, one of the twelve apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died a few weeks ago. He was 92 years old. And he spent a large part of those years testifying that Jesus is the Christ and that His gospel is the way to peace and happiness.<br />
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I have grown up listening to Elder Perry speak at our Church's biannual conference and I have always loved him. He somehow combined big and booming with quiet and unassuming. I'm not quite sure how he did it. But he just seemed very, very real to me. And there always seemed to be a twinkle in his eye. He reminded me of my paternal grandpa.<br />
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So here is a little tribute to him-- a man that I sincerely believe was an apostle of Jesus Christ:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIYtdXFVOU32ErZDyj23sxeD26OS7bWZodbHLQJ3Ha-d6bR4YYdYCic5XOvfRKjohd4nF0cmpa8vD2nPb0SWkYqec4RoB7nhI_6tnP5JwWg37VQ0_LWYIgg_1LQcZxO3xJ2o4aW3yAow/s1600/59586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIYtdXFVOU32ErZDyj23sxeD26OS7bWZodbHLQJ3Ha-d6bR4YYdYCic5XOvfRKjohd4nF0cmpa8vD2nPb0SWkYqec4RoB7nhI_6tnP5JwWg37VQ0_LWYIgg_1LQcZxO3xJ2o4aW3yAow/s320/59586.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder L. Tom Perry, <i><a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/top/3192/12/Elder-L-Tom-Perry-21-uplifting-quotes-from-Elder-L-Tom-Perry.html">Deseret News</a></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"The scriptures teach that <a class="no-link-style" href="http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christ" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial !important; border-image-repeat: initial !important; border-image-slice: initial !important; border-image-source: initial !important; border-image-width: initial !important; border: none !important; color: #2f393a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: baseline;">Jesus Christ</a> is the Son of God. He lives and is our Redeemer and Savior. We should follow Him and show our love for Him by remembering Him and humbly keeping His commandments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through His Atonement we are able to repent and be cleansed. [. . .]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Personal, sincere involvement in the scriptures produces faith, hope, and solutions to our daily challenges." L. Tom Perry, <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2011/08/the-tradition-of-a-balanced-righteous-life?lang=eng#footnote4-09608_000_021">The Tradition of a Balanced, Righteous Life</a></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pBbg27fNF3A/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pBbg27fNF3A?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">“… The world is crying out for something, it scarce knows what. Wealth has come, … [and] the world is filled with … inventions of human skill and genius, but … we are [still] restless, unsatisfied, [and] bewildered. … [If we open] the New Testament [we are greeted by these words], ‘Come unto me and I will give you rest, I am the bread of life, I am the Light of the world, If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink, My peace I give unto you, You shall receive power, You shall rejoice’” (Charles Edward Jefferson, </span><span class="emphasis" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; line-height: 30.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Character of Jesus</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"> [1908], 7, 11, 15–16). Quoted by Elder Perry in his <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/finding-lasting-peace-and-building-eternal-families?lang=eng">October 2014 Conference Address</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">-Elin</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-16475937647934351492015-06-03T20:07:00.001-07:002015-06-03T20:08:43.957-07:00To Understand - How Rare It Is<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6a6a6a; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">To love is easy and therefore common</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6a6a6a; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> - but to understand</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> - how rare it is!” ― L.M. Montgomery</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">I could easily spend the rest of this post refuting the statement "To love is easy and therefore common"--but I'm not going to. For my purposes, I like this quote because there is an aspect or definition of love that is easy and common. For instance, I love homemade chocolate chip cookies. I love curling up on a couch and reading a good book. I love going on walks with my little girl (except when this angry, white duck attacks me...which is a whole other story). I love hiking up to a waterfall and feeling the spray from it on my face. I fell "in love" with several boys when I was between the ages of 8 and 22. I also love listening to certain people sing varying from Barry Manilow to Martina McBride to Pavarotti. So there. Most of us, in that sense, probably find that love is easy and common. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">I am not quite sure exactly when it was that I first realized how good it felt to be understood--but one time that stands out in my mind was in college. My sister and I were supposed to go to a church activity--but on a whim, we decided instead to go to the University's production of <i>Hamlet</i>. And it was amazingly good. Probably the best acting we felt like we had seen while we had been at school. After the play, we got some ice cream at a local store and walked to a nearby park where we sat in the sunshine and talked about Hamlet and us and life in general. And it just felt so good--being with someone who really knew me and really knowing somebody else. My sister and I have some very big differences in personality--but we have known each other our entire lives and few people understand me like she does. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">That is a blissful example. There are also examples that hurt. A lot. And in those times, I felt like nobody could understand. And then I met people who had been through similar "hells" and as wrong as it felt to be glad that somebody understood (because it meant that they hurt a lot too), it still was nice to have someone understand.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">And I believe that we have a Heavenly Father and a Redeemer, who truly do understand us. Every part of us. One of them understands because He is omniscient and because we are His children. A literal part of Him. The other one understands because He felt every bit of pain and struggle and weakness and temptation that we have ever felt or will feel. I don't believe this because it makes me feel better to believe in something bigger that understands me. As I've mentioned before, I have found that there are many people here already who have had similar experiences and who can understand, to a degree, who I am and what I have experienced. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">I believe in Them because everything that I have read, thought, doubted, believed, experienced has filled me with a certainty that God is our Father and Christ is His Son. "I think, therefore, I am." Yes, but also: "I am, therefore, They are." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">(<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/ex/33.17?lang=eng#16">Exodus 33:17</a>, <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/jer/1.5?lang=eng#4">Jeremiah 1:5</a>, <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/30.44?lang=eng#43">Alma 30:44</a>, <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/job/19.25?lang=eng#24">Job 19:25</a>)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96jEp_0xaQ1TUIPn_6S-IPn_YTopSBVNRaV5vV-3DkWgUfq8W7fkkv3DZxjkRhgmNCBvVCGOVPgYOOhpQNY-IZy4MtqAibRfX6gcjC1EaD_1bnBUnqZT_Pg5fXjXI-5EDKPDY6L8WWOI/s1600/stimg_greatestkingdomlarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96jEp_0xaQ1TUIPn_6S-IPn_YTopSBVNRaV5vV-3DkWgUfq8W7fkkv3DZxjkRhgmNCBvVCGOVPgYOOhpQNY-IZy4MtqAibRfX6gcjC1EaD_1bnBUnqZT_Pg5fXjXI-5EDKPDY6L8WWOI/s320/stimg_greatestkingdomlarge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Greatest in the Kingdom</i>, J. Kirk Richards</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">"There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice (see </span><a class="scriptureRef" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/34.14?lang=eng#13" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #0091bc; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 30.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Alma 34:14</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">), He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power." </span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"><i><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/bear-up-their-burdens-with-ease?lang=eng">Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease</a></i>, David A. Bednar</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">-Elin</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">Who knows she doesn't understand a whole lot of things...but is still working to understand the things that seem to matter most...</span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-74932342628103320112015-05-18T12:00:00.002-07:002015-05-18T12:00:42.170-07:00Wipe Away All TearsI read this verse today and it made my heart feel light:<br />
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"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away."<br />
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/rev/21.4?lang=eng">Revelation 21:4</a><br />
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Can you imagine a state of being without death, sorrow, and pain? For some reason, I can. Maybe because there are places I have been and moments in my life where I have been relatively free from these things. So in times where I am feeling the death, sorrow, crying, and pain, it is helpful for me to know that if I can do everything I can to live <a href="https://www.lds.org/search?q=mark+12%3a30-31&lang=eng&domains=scriptures">the way</a> our Father has asked us to live, it will be Him and His Son who will now or one day wipe away the tears from my eyes.<br />
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-elin<br />
Whose 3-year old just swallowed a dime. True story.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-11459102599641484432015-05-06T13:27:00.001-07:002015-05-06T13:27:46.062-07:00Spiders and Gossamer Threads and Reaching<br />
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<tr><td align="left"><span>A NOISELESS,</span> patient spider,</td><td align="right" valign="top"><span> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">I mark’d, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;</td><td align="right" valign="top"><span> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">Mark’d how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding,</td><td align="right" valign="top"><span> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;</td><td align="right" valign="top"><span> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">Ever unreeling them—ever tirelessly speeding them.</td><td align="right" valign="top"><span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="5"><i> 5</i></a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td align="left">And you, O my Soul, where you stand,</td><td align="right" valign="top"><span> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,</td><td align="right" valign="top"><span> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,—seeking the spheres, to connect them;</td><td align="right" valign="top"><span> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">Till the bridge you will need, be form’d—till the ductile anchor hold;</td><td align="right" valign="top"><span> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.<br /><br />Walt Whitman, <i>Leaves of Grass</i><br /><br /><br />The first time I read Whitman I wasn't a big fan...but as with many things that I initially disliked, he has grown, grown, grown on me. (This happened with avocados recently and I am so happy that avocados taste delicious to me now. Hello to the world of delicious guacamole!)<br /><br />I read this poem today and it felt right. I grew up in a family that had been members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a long time. And in my home and at church, I was taught the scriptures and gospel of Jesus Christ. And at school and with friends and going out into the rest of the world, I was taught and shown a lot of other stuff. The longer I live, the more gossamer threads I fling out, trying to grasp what is right and wrong, what is truth, and what the hey-diddle-day I am supposed to be doing with my time and my life.<br /><br />I find that I love the quest. Love the reaching. Love the longing for light. I believe that is what we are meant to feel. And in my own experience, everything keeps pointing back to these:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/eph/4.14">Ephesians 4:11-15</a><br /><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/hel/5.12">Helaman 5:12</a><br /><br />-Elin<br />Who actually is less scared of spiders than I used to be. A little.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-40298671243748536982015-04-13T20:03:00.001-07:002015-04-13T20:03:59.887-07:00Recipients of Radiation<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
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<span style="color: #222222;">"Every person who lives in this world wields an influence, whether for good or for evil. It is not what he says alone, it is not alone what he does.</span><span style="color: blue;"> It is what he is. Every man, every person radiates what he or she is. Every person is a recipient of radiation.</span><span style="color: #222222;"> The Savior was conscious of that. Whenever he came into the presence of an individual, he sensed that radiation. . . . He was conscious of the radiation from the individual. And to a degree so are you, and so am I. It is what we are and what we radiate that affects the people around us.</span></div>
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"… As individuals, we must think nobler thoughts. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. If we think noble thoughts, if we encourage and cherish noble aspirations, there will be that radiation when we meet people, especially when we associate with them.</div>
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"No matter what you are people will feel and recognize this. You radiate, you can’t hide it. You may pretend something else, but that will not affect people."</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">President David O. McKay, <a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-david-o-mckay/chapter-24?lang=eng">Teachings</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">My mother-in-law shared this quote today and I loved it so much I had to share it too. I don't really know what else to say about it--he says it so well that I don't really have anything to add. Who we are, what we say and do and choose to be matters--not only because of what it does for ourselves, but for what it can do for others. My life has been forever changed for good by individuals who radiated goodness and sincere love for the people around them. And the cases I am thinking of specifically, right now, they were people that I hardly knew. It had nothing to do with a deep knowledge of them or a wealth of shared experiences with them. It was because they practically shone, they were so full of light.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">There is still so much about me that is selfish and not quite right and I wonder sometimes how I know what exactly I am "radiating." I feel like<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/isa/32.17-18?lang=eng"> Isaiah 32:17</a> has the answer:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">"And the work of righteousness shall be </span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">peace</span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">; and the effect of righteousness quietness and </span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">assurance</span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;"> for ever."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I have decided that this is going to be my "go-to" scripture to assess if I am progressing and becoming more like these people who have so positively influenced me through their Christ-like examples. Do I feel peace? Do I feel quietness inside myself? Do I feel assurance with who I am or about the words I just spoke or the thoughts I am thinking. Quietness, peace, assurance: they are what you feel when you are doing what is right. And people who feel that quietness, peace, and assurance are radiant. I know it is a process and it takes time (ugh, more of that patience that is required.) I know it takes a lifetime and longer of work. And I know what it really is, divinity, the love of Christ, shining through us. And I also know it can't be faked.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Feed My Sheep</i>, <a href="http://davidkochartist.com/">David Koch</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">-Elin</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Who loves the story of Peter and his enthusiastic leap into the water (found <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/21.16-17?lang=eng">here</a>), depicted so perfectly above. Now that I think of it, that wasn't his first time getting out of a boat in the middle of the sea and heading towards Christ. Hmmmm., I will have to think a little bit more about the parallel between the two events...Sorry, this post is kind of disjointed and random. I need to get more sleep.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-61127927022337094122015-04-10T18:28:00.000-07:002015-04-10T18:28:18.911-07:00Constantly Raining<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">After several years of significant drought, our area has received much needed and appreciated rain this spring. It has been a joy to pull the umbrella out of the closet and use it as I dash in and out running errands. As I snapped it up the other day, I found myself thinking about a beautiful rain analogy that President Dieter F. Uchtdorf used as he spoke to the women of the Church last fall. He said:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">"Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren’t like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">His commandments are the loving instructions and the divine help for us to close the umbrella so we can receive the shower of heavenly blessings." (<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/living-the-gospel-joyful?lang=eng&query=part+of+our+challenge+is,+i+think">Living the Gospel Joyful</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">Since then, I have tried to keep my umbrella closed and be more aware of and grateful for the many wonderful blessing that my loving Heavenly Father rains down on me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">Marilyn</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">who is loving the sunshine today</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-89258668769309901862015-04-08T13:48:00.000-07:002015-04-08T13:48:42.847-07:00The Throne of Grace<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/heb/4.16?lang=eng#15" target="_blank">Hebrews 4:16</a> says <br />
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<strong>Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.</strong><br />
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I've thought on this verse a lot recently. Why does Paul say that we will receive mercy when we come to the throne of grace? It seems like we should be receiving grace. Is he just trying to pack multiple positive traits of Christ (whose throne it is) into one verse? Probably not. The following is my interpretation of this verse.<br />
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If I am coming to Christ for grace (which the LDS Church <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3983977143077988144#editor/target=post;postID=8925866876930990186" target="_blank">defines</a> as the enabling power of Christ), I am making a personal admonition that I need him, and believe he both can and will help me. And because I make that admonition, because I try to work with him rather than by myself, he not only grants me grace in time of need, but also is merciful in the long term.<br />
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A great example is when a man with the palsy is brought to Christ, and Christ both heals him of the palsy and forgives him of his sins (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/mark/2?lang=eng" target="_blank">Mark 2:1-12</a>, and video below). Seeking Christ for healing is approaching the throne of grace; having the palsy cured is receiving grace in time of need; and receiving a forgiveness of sin is mercy.<br />
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It's my belief that if I seek Christ's grace, he will help in my time of need. And additionally, he will have mercy on me through the long run because I sought him.<br />
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Forrest<br />
--Who needs all the grace and mercy he can get.Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10263759707812382394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-60979142187879814832015-03-28T16:15:00.000-07:002015-04-08T13:05:44.632-07:00Spring is Here....and so is ten hours of conference!In less than an hour, I will be watching the first session of our church's biannual conference. The first session is specifically for women--all girl's 8 years old and up. Next Saturday evening there is a session specifically for the men. The other 4 sessions next Saturday and Sunday are for everybody.<br />
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Why do I watch almost 10 hours of people talking twice a year? Because the people who speak are inspired. I relate to their words and experiences and what they say is full of truth. And the music is beautiful.<br />
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I think I have already posted this video, but here is a short clip of one of the messages shared at conference last October.<br />
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To watch the General Women's Session that starts at 7:00 pm central time, click <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/how-to-view-live?lang=eng">here</a>.<br />
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-Elin<br />
Who is ready for spring.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-71508366939753474742015-03-19T11:19:00.003-07:002015-03-19T11:21:58.436-07:00Ears to Hear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently my sister shared a scripture with me that has given me a lot to think about. Just after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Savior recognizes that the time for His atonement and the crucifixion is drawing close. In the presence of Andrew, Philip and others, Jesus prays to His Father, saying:<br />
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<i>27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.</i><br />
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<i>28 Father, glorify thy name. </i><br />
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And then, this beautiful response:<br />
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<i>Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.</i><br />
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In answer to His Beloved Son’s fervent prayer, Heavenly Father lovingly, vocally, responded. And this is what strikes me as so significant. Look at how the people who stood near the Savior reacted:<br />
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<i>29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.</i> (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/12.27,28,29,30?lang=eng#26">John 12:27-29</a> King James Version, KJV)<br />
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They were all there together—physically. Yet, spiritually, they had very different experiences. The Savior heard His Father. Some heard what they thought were angels. Still others heard only thunder.<br />
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I find myself wondering what I would have heard. Would I have had “ears to hear,” as the scriptures so often ask? And, more important, do I have ears to hear now? Do I hear the words of my loving Heavenly Father when I pray for His guidance? Do I hear His words as I read the scriptures? Or are His words too often the muddled rumble of thunder in my ears?<br />
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I want to have ears to hear.<br />
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-Marilyn<br />
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Who is looking forward to listening to, and hearing, His living prophets in the next few weeks. (Click <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/how-to-view-live?lang=eng">here</a> for more information.)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-57297487320009101952015-03-17T14:37:00.001-07:002015-04-10T09:32:59.441-07:00He Thinks In Secret<div align="center">
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Sometimes I don't know what I am going to write about, so I ask Elin. She said, "Write about that poem you always recite." I don't always recite it, but it is the only poem I have memorized at this point. And I am not sure it is a poem, exactly. Oh well. It comes from James Allen's book, "As a Man Thinketh," which is based on the scripture <a href="https://www.lds.org/search?q=proverbs+23%3A7&domains=scriptures&lang=eng" target="_blank">Proverbs 23:7</a>:<br />
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Mind is the master power that moulds and makes;<br />
and Man is Mind, and evermore he takes<br />
the tools of Thought, and, shaping what he wills,<br />
brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills.<br />
He thinks in secret, it comes to pass; <br />
Environment is but his looking glass.<br />
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(As that was from memory it might have a mistake or two. Also, I am not sure of the structure and punctuation. I just put what seemed right to me.)<br />
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This poem, or whatever, basically means that our thoughts shape our lives and world. The penultimate line is my favorite. While I don't believe in any kind of mind-reading, I do believe that our secrets become known because eventually they turn in to actions. A <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/4?lang=eng" target="_blank">scripture</a> from the Book of Mormon supports this idea:<br />
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<strong>But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.</strong><br />
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We have to watch ourselves, thoughts, words, and deeds. Thoughts eventually become words, which eventually become deeds. If I find that my actions aren't what I want them to be, then I need to go back to the source. It is tempting to say that I can't control my thoughts, but that isn't true. It may be that thoughts jump into my head upon seeing or hearing something, but I can choose to move on from them immediately. God has blessed us with that ability.<br />
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Forrest<br />
--Who is thinking about an extended weekend!Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10263759707812382394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-86635554969035738462015-03-15T14:13:00.000-07:002015-03-15T18:35:55.033-07:00Ponder the Path of Thy Feet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Ponder the path of thy feet" (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/prov/4.26?lang=eng#25">Proverbs 4:26</a>). </div>
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Do you ever have moments when everything feels surreal? And you wonder how you ever came to be where you are. And for a small moment, you feel like the you from 15 years ago, and as you look at your life it just amazes you (in a good way or bad way or both). I have those moments from time to time and they are a bit jarring for me. Sometimes it is in a loud or quiet moment at home and I look at my husband and think "I can't believe I am married...and have been married for almost a third of my life....and it just feels funny." Or I look at my children and think "when did this happen? Are these kids really mine?" Like I am looking at everything with fresh eyes. Or the other day, my friend (who is 5 or 6 six years younger than me) emailed me a picture of us she took when we were out together and I looked at myself and thought "Who is that? I look so old!"</div>
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These moments don't occur very often, but when they do, they usually lead to some reflection about where I am in my life and what I am becoming. This life is a tricky one. It is so easy to get caught up in all the everyday things that have to happen. You know what I mean: meals, sleep, school, diapers, work, cleaning ourselves, the house, the yard, the cars. And so hard sometimes to remember why we are really here and who we can become, even while doing all the necessary, everyday things.</div>
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We are reading the New Testament for our Sunday School study this year, and the phrase that keeps getting caught in my brain is this: come, follow me (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/18.22?lang=eng#21">Luke 18:22</a>, <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/21.22?lang=eng#21">John 21:22</a>, <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16.24?lang=eng#23">Matthew 16:24</a>,<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/num/32.11?lang=eng#10"> Numbers 32:11</a>, <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/omni/1.26?lang=eng#25">Omni 1:26</a>, <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10.32?lang=eng#31">Moroni 10:32</a>).</div>
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The video I posted at the beginning of this post gave me new insight into the <a href="https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/christ-and-the-rich-young-ruler?lang=eng">story</a> of the rich young ruler who "comes" to Christ and asks Him what he needs to do to have eternal life. The young man had faith enough in the Savior to come to Him. The fact that He sought Jesus out shows that he believed He had answers. But after the young man affirms that he has kept the commandments throughout his life, and is then counselled to sell what he has and follow Jesus, he cannot make the commitment. So he turns around and goes his way, and Christ and His disciples (those who follow Him physically and are attempting to follow spiritually) go another way. </div>
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That visual image of the young man turning and walking away is poignant to me. It doesn't mean that the rich young ruler was never able to give up his material wealth and follow the Savior. But in that moment, he could not commit. So he walked away from the one person who could show him what it means to reach your true potential--what it means to really love someone--what it means to know yourself and to know God. </div>
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So this week, I am going to try a little harder to "follow Him", even while I walk through the everyday necessities. I can't physically walk beside Him and watch the way He interacts with people and love them and heals them. But I can read about it and try my best to do things the way He would. Doing this, I believe, will help me know myself better and to know my Heavenly Father better.</div>
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-elin</div>
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Who is going to have a hard time "following Him" while I plan out meals for this week. I actually enjoy cooking...but I hate having to plan out meals and think of new things that are not only tasty but actually healthy...grrrrr...And I hate ironing clothes....</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3983977143077988144.post-83465102382266269472015-03-12T14:18:00.000-07:002015-03-12T14:18:39.583-07:00Some Great Thing<div align="center">
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Here is a quick summary of the story of Naaman in the Old Testament (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/2-kgs/5.13?lang=eng#12" target="_blank">2 Kings 5:1-14</a>): Naaman was the captain of the Syrian army, enemies to Israel. Pretty powerful guy. He suffered from leprosy, and was therefore slowly decaying. He sought out the prophet Elisha to be healed, and Elisha counseled him to bathe in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman was not happy with this counsel, probably for a variety of reasons, and "went away in a rage." A wise servant told him this:</div>
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My father, <span class="clarityWord">if</span> the prophet had bid thee <span class="clarityWord">do some</span> great thing, wouldest thou not have done <span class="clarityWord">it?</span> how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?</div>
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Naaman humbled himself, washed, and was healed.</div>
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So many great things to consider in this story, from the goodness of God, the role of prophets, the humility of Naaman, to the confidence of his servant. Read it yourselves and you'll see. </div>
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This passage of scripture came up in my church class a few weeks ago, and we discussed application to our own life. As we did so, it occurred to me that I had been neglecting small things while searching out great things in order to help me through a trial. I really related to Naaman. </div>
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As Naaman's servant suggested, Naaman probably was prepared to do almost anything to rid himself of his leprosy, even some great thing. So why should a simple solution upset him? (At its root is pride, I think, but that isn't what I want to get into.) From my perspective, I can see him having thoughts like these (because I have had similar thoughts myself):</div>
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I've washed a billion times! Before, during, and after getting leprosy! What difference would washing here, now, make?</div>
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My problem is way, way too big to be solved with something so simple.</div>
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Professionals (doctors, leeches, healers, whatever they would have been called) have come with better methods than this!</div>
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And so on. In the end, of course, Naaman did the simple thing and was healed. So what are simple things that I should be doing? Praying, studying scripture, obeying God's prophets, attending church meetings. Why should those things work for overcoming a trial, especially since I did them before and continue to do them during the trial? The most simple answer is because God has asked that I do them. Done in faith and humility, compliance with God's will brings His blessings. That is what healed Naaman. It certainly wasn't seven more baths. He did what God directed him to do, through the voice of a prophet, and received the sought-for blessing.</div>
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Forrest</div>
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--Who bathes at least seven times a week, (almost) always.</div>
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Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10263759707812382394noreply@blogger.com0