Recipients of Radiation

"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. It is what he is. Every man, every person radiates what he or she is. Every person is a recipient of radiation. 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.

"… 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.

"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."

President David O. McKay, Teachings

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.

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 Isaiah 32:17 has the answer:

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."

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.

Feed My Sheep, David Koch

-Elin
Who loves the story of Peter and his enthusiastic leap into the water (found here), 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.

Constantly Raining

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:

"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.

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." (Living the Gospel Joyful)

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.

Marilyn

who is loving the sunshine today

The Throne of Grace

Hebrews 4:16 says

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

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.

If I am coming to Christ for grace (which the LDS Church defines 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.

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 (Mark 2:1-12, 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.

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.

Forrest
--Who needs all the grace and mercy he can get.

Spring 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.

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.

I think I have already posted this video, but here is a short clip of one of the messages shared at conference last October.

To watch the General Women's Session that starts at 7:00 pm central time, click here.

-Elin
Who is ready for spring.

Ears to Hear

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:

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.

28 Father, glorify thy name. 

And then, this beautiful response:

Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

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:

29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. (John 12:27-29 King James Version, KJV)

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.

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?

I want to have ears to hear.

-Marilyn

Who is looking forward to listening to, and hearing, His living prophets in the next few weeks. (Click here for more information.)

He Thinks In Secret



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 Proverbs 23:7:

Mind is the master power that moulds and makes;
and Man is Mind, and evermore he takes
the tools of Thought, and, shaping what he wills,
brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills.
He thinks in secret, it comes to pass;
Environment is but his looking glass.

(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.)

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 scripture from the Book of Mormon supports this idea:

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.

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.

Forrest
--Who is thinking about an extended weekend!

Ponder the Path of Thy Feet

"Ponder the path of thy feet" (Proverbs 4:26). 

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!"

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.

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 (Luke 18:22, John 21:22, Matthew 16:24, Numbers 32:11, Omni 1:26, Moroni 10:32).

The video I posted at the beginning of this post gave me new insight into the story 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. 

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. 

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.

-elin

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....