Knowledge

The Joseph Smith manual, Chapter 22, has some beautiful statements about knowledge. That is something I have really been thirsting for lately--more knowledge in every area of life.

(p.265) "Knowledge is necessary to life and godliness...knowledge is revelation...knowledge is the power of God unto salvation...Knowledge does away with darkness, suspense and doubt...in knowledge there is power."

In our church, we believe that the knowledge we obtain here will go with us. Joseph Smith said, "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come" (p.266).

This isn't a contest to see who can become the smartest. Ideally, we would like everyone to be filled with knowledge and then use it to strengthen one another. I want to teach this to my children and help them to "add to ... faith virtue, to virtue knowlege, and seek for every good thing [see 2 Peter 1:5]."

Tender Mercies

I have always loved the scripture from 1 Nephi 1:20: "I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." Elder Bednar spoke about that verse in his talk back in April 2005.

Many times in my life, I have thought about these tender mercies. The Lord has been very sweet to us. One day, during a particularly stressful time adjusting to having a new baby, I packed Grace a juice box for school, but I forgot that the straw had fallen off that one, so she had no way to drink it (she was only in Kindergarten). When she got to school, she realized she didn't have a straw, and the girl next to her said, "Well, my mom gave me two straws accidentally." The little girl let Grace use one of her straws, and all was well. I could picture the Lord making sure that an extra straw was packed for the girl who would sit next to Grace that day. A tender mercy.

If you do a search on www.lds.org, you will find several scriptures that use the words "tender mercies." As I studied these, I came across a couple that I wanted to record here.

Psalm 145: 9 says, "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."

Psalm 69:16 reads, "Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies."

What I noticed is that the Lord doesn't have only a few tender mercies saved up for the one or two people who deserve them the most. He has a mulititude of mercies for all. As we learn to identify these and live worthy to receive more, the Lord pours out His blessings upon us. Elder Bednar's talk is one I want to go through again carefully. He talks about how we can be "chosen" to receive such mercies. It is beautiful.

Be Nice

One of the hardest things is to keep my patience all day long...every day. It takes so much discipline and seriously wears me out some days, but I just don't want to "lose it."

Ephesians 4 is a beautiful chapter that has helped me several times to improve my most cherished relationships.

Verse 31-32: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

It's amazing how being kind can make such an impact in a home. I'm not perfect at this, but when I can control my bitterness and anger (those feelings that inspire me to whine about my work and responsibilities), I feel more centered, optimistic, and peaceful. Bitterness never helped anything become sweet.

Characteristics of a Heavenly Home

Our homes are temples--the Bible Dictionary under "Temple" says, "Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness."

Kristine Manwaring's article My Home as a Temple speaks of this--our homes already are temples because of what they contain and because of what we do in them. They don't need to look perfect or be completely quiet. We are raising our children in them, and noise and mess are all part of the process. However, it is possible for our homes to feel like temples.

This morning as I studied "Preach My Gospel," I read a statement by President Spencer W. Kimball (p.4). He was talking about how missionaries are set apart, and how that is a literal separation from the world. I like to apply this same idea to my home. "The setting apart may be taken literally; it is a setting apart from sin, apart from the carnal, apart from everything which is crude, low, vicious, cheap, or vulgar; set apart from the world to a higher plane of thought and activity."

It is hard to do this sometimes--keeping out media that doesn't fit this standard, making sure we are speaking kindly, providing uplifting activities for our families, etc. However, I find that the more I try to think about the Savior, the more I feel our home becoming like this ideal.

Sometimes I get this idea that I need to "perfect" my house. Right now, with all the Christmas decor and "stuff" everywhere, I am feeling a little frustrated with the clutter, dust, and flurry of activity that is in every room. I almost got rid of the tree a couple of days ago because it is shedding like crazy. But then I thought about what was really going on in the house. My children are playing happily, they are SO excited for Christmas, our whole family snuggles up in front of the fireplace and falls asleep together at night, and we are making great memories. My house looks nowhere near ready to be featured in Better Homes and Gardens, but it is a house of love--separated from all that is low, vulgar, cude, etc. And that's something.

To Learn, To Do, To Be

This talk by President Monson at the Priesthood Session in October 2008 is simply beautiful and inspiring. I went through it this morning and thought these parts were particularly meaningful in my life right now.

"When there's a will, there's a way." (We can do things that seem to be too hard.)

"We urge all Latter-day Saints to be prudent in their planning, to be conservative in their living, and to avoid excessive or unnecessary debt."

"Let us make our homes sanctuaries of righteousness, places of prayer, and abodes of love that we might merit the blessings that can come only from our Heavenly Father. We need His guidance in our daily lives."

We can make a difference in the lives of others as we help them to understand the worth of their souls.

President Monson counseled us to "learn what we should learn...do what we should do...be what we should be." Sounds simple, but it is such a great guide. As in the talk by Elder Eyring, "Education for Real Life," the Lord has particular things He wants us to learn. We have a purpose here on earth, and we need to do what the Lord wants us to do. As we do these things, we shall become the type of person we were intended to become.

Sometimes it is a little intimidating to work on these things we know we ought to do. This counsel is wonderful: "Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that the Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it."

“Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence." (D&C 107:99)

President Monson tells the story of a couple who was assigned to prepare for Poland to become a mission of the Church. It was a large assignment, but "They knew their calling was from God. They prayed for His divine help, and they devoted themselves wholeheartedly to their work."

I love this part about how we can discover our purpose through Christ. "I would urge all of us to pray concerning our assignments and to seek divine help, that we might be successful in accomplishing that which we are called to do. Someone has said that “the recognition of power higher than man himself does not in any sense debase him.”10 He must seek, believe in, pray, and hope that he will find. No such sincere, prayerful effort will go unanswered: that is the very constitution of the philosophy of faith. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it."

Finally, he shared a story about a man in WWII who was saved from death in the ocean/rescued by his submarine when all odds were against him. It was done by the hand of the Lord and by exercising his priesthood power.

This gospel is wonderful. I am so grateful we have a prophet today.

Fulfilling Our Purposes (2)

Eric and I have been talking a lot lately about how to fulfill our purposes here on earth. We know that the Lord has given each of His children specific blessings and gifts, and He wants us to use them.

In Doctrine and Covenants 88: 25, we read about how the earth "filleth the measure of its creation." I started to ask myself how we fulfill the measure of our creations. The first and most important answer I can come up with is that we are to build families and serve the Lord, but I think there is more depth to this than I first thought.

88:32 says that those who do not go to the Celestial, Terrestial, or Telestial Kingdoms "shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received."

This is something I could think about for hours: What might I receive--if I am willing to receive it? Are there particular revelations, blessings, ideas, etc. that the Lord wants to give me, but that I choose not to receive because I am too preoccupied straightening my couch pillows or looking at my wrinkles in the mirror? I'm sure there are, and I want to get to the point where I can and will receive everything the Lord wants me to have.

The footnote from "measure of its creation" leads us to 2 Nephi 2:12--verse 11 spoke about how there is opposition in all things. If there weren't, "it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation."

What I get out of this is that each of us has specific purposes. Absolutely. Will we encounter opposition as we try to fulfill those purposes? Absolutely. But there is no way that we were created for a thing of naught. That simply is not how the Lord works. He creates for a reason. His children have more potential and power than most of us see. He doesn't want us to fail or to sit around being lukewarm--He wants us to have joy in doing what we were meant to do.

The Topical Guide has a great section on "Purpose" It led me to Ephesians 1:11. "in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." Verse 4 says "he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world." I also love verses 17 and 18: "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ...may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him...the eyes of your understanding being enlightened..."

What beautiful words! There is so much that each of us can do. I think we begin to feel discouraged and frustrated with life when we are not living according to this doctrine. Whenever I focus too much on the flab I still carry around from having four babies or the dust on my end tables or the clutter in every room, I feel tired and insignificant. However, when I think about the gospel, the love of my family, the blessings of having a mind and a spirit, and the potential I have to make a difference in the lives of my family, friends, community, etc., I feel alive.

Every prophet, every church leader, every person truly inspired of the Lord teaches this--they teach us that we are children of God, that we have potential, that the Lord will help us to reach that. I want to remember that and live accordingly.

Personal Goals:

• Focus each day on my purpose. Consider why the Lord put me here, at this time, in this place, and let the other stuff fade into the background.
• Do what I am afraid to do, but what I know I must.
• Encourage and help others to fulfill their purposes.

Education for Real Life

This is an amazing talk by Elder Eyring from a CES Fireside. It was published in October 2002 in the Ensign, and I strongly recommend that everyone read and re-read this entire talk. It can be accessed here.

I have taken several quotes from that talk (emphasis added) and put them here:

...That is because the power [of the Lord/the same power that causes the growth of the Church] has its effects inside a person. It happens when a person performs a largely private experiment. It begins as any experiment must, with the conditions being right for the person. Either through external events or by choice, he or she has become humble. That humility has allowed the person to make a place in their lives and hearts for something better.

...The change that comes is a desire to be someone even better, to reach for more light, and to give greater service to others. Those desires always lead to a hunger for education, to learn what is true, what is useful, and what is beautiful.

Let’s start with the purpose. The Lord and His Church have always encouraged education to increase our ability to serve Him and our Heavenly Father’s children. For each of us, whatever our talents, He has service for us to give. And to do it well always involves learning, not once or for a limited time, but continually.

By prayer, fasting, and hard work, with a motive to serve Him, we can expect His grace to attend us...It means that we will learn more rapidly and grow in skill beyond what we could do only with our unaided natural abilities. I know that from my own experience, as many of you do and as all of you can.

you are interested in education not for life, but for eternal life. When you see that reality clearly with spiritual sight, you will put spiritual learning first and yet not slight the secular learning. In fact, you will work harder at your secular learning than you would without that spiritual vision.

Part of the tragedy that you must avoid is to discover too late that you missed an opportunity to prepare for a future only God could see for you.

Your life is carefully watched over, as was mine. The Lord knows both what He will need you to do and what you will need to know. He is kind and He is all-knowing. So, you can with confidence expect that He has prepared opportunities for you to learn in preparation for the service you will give. You will not recognize those opportunities perfectly, as I did not. But when you put the spiritual things first in your life, you will be blessed to feel directed toward certain learning and you will be motivated to work harder. You will recognize later that your power to serve was increased, and you will be grateful.

Your service may not be in what the world would recognize as a lofty calling. When the real value of service becomes clear in the judgment of God, some people who worked in quiet anonymity will be the real heroes. Many of them, perhaps most of them, will be the underpaid and under-recognized people who nurtured others. ..I never see a mother juggling three little children who are crying while she is smiling, as she shepherds them gently, without seeing in my mind’s eye that day of honor in the presence of the only Judge whose praise will finally matter.

we too often fail to take advantage of the moments we spend waiting. Think of the last time that you sat in a barber shop or a beauty salon or the waiting room of a doctor’s office. It is so easy to spend time thumbing through any magazine that is stacked on a table there. In fact, if you think about it, you will remember how you wondered where they get those old, out-of-date magazines. There is much valuable reading you could do if you took a book with you to fill those islands of time.

You could just have a book and paper and pencil with you. That will be enough. But you need determination to capture the leisure moments you now waste.

God Can Multiply the Effectiveness of Our Time: I realize that there are some, perhaps many, for whom my urging you to capture leisure time cuts like a knife. You feel overwhelmed by the lack of time. You have left unfinished tasks in your Church calling. You’ve carried your scriptures all day but still not found a moment to open them. (This part means so much to me--I don't even take my scriptures to church anymore because Spencer needs me 100% of the time, and my scriptures end up just being something heavy in my bag!)

There is another way to look at your problem of crowded time. You can see it as an opportunity to test your faith. The Lord loves you and watches over you. He is all-powerful, and He promised you this: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

That is a true promise. When we put God’s purposes first, He will give us miracles. If we pray to know what He would have us do next, He will multiply the effects of what we do in such a way that time seems to be expanded. He may do it in different ways for each individual, but I know from long experience that He is faithful to His word.

I cannot promise academic success or perfect families. Nor can I tell you the way in which He will honor His promise of adding blessings upon you. But I can promise you that if you will go to Him in prayer and ask what He would have you do next, promising that you will put His kingdom first, He will answer your prayer and He will keep His promise to add upon your head blessings, enough and to spare. Those apparent prison walls of "not enough time" will begin to recede, even as you are called to do more.

The real life we’re preparing for is eternal life. Secular knowledge has for us eternal significance. Our conviction is that God, our Heavenly Father, wants us to live the life that He does. We learn both the spiritual things and the secular things so that we may one day create worlds and people and govern them (see The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 386).


Personal Goals:

• Trust that the Lord will help me to expand my time.
• Pray to Him and ask Him what He will have me do next--promise to put His kingdom first.
• Find new ways to take advantage of my quiet moments: great books, talks on tape, online Spanish lessons, etc.
• Build a house of learning--for me and my family
• Do all things with an eye single to the glory of God

Fulfilling Our Purposes

I have been thinking a lot lately about my purposes here on earth. Clearly, there are the most important purposes: building a family and living worthily to return to our Father, but I believe there are a few other purposes that each of us have. The Lord has given us specific talents, skills, and blessings for a reason, and as we closely identify those and prayerfully ask Him for help, He will enable us to become instruments in His hands.

The Topical Guide is where I go for guidance when I need insight on a gospel principle. Last night I was feeling a little down--comparing myself to some who are clearly fulfilling their purposes and feeling frustrated that I have been a little grumpy with my family lately (because, after all, how can I even think about other purposes if I am not giving my very best to my family?). Of course, the scriptures always bring that peace that I long for. The Lord has a beautiful way of teaching with His word so I feel motivated to do more and simultaneously forgiving of my own weaknesses.

The first thing I noticed about "Purpose" in the TG is the "see also" list. It includes Desire, End, and Will. So I headed off to look at "Desire" for a minute, and I love the teachings I found. Psalm 37:4 "he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" and D&C 18:38 "by their desires you shall know them." Then back to "purpose," and there is a beautiful scripture in D&C 76:3: "His purposes fail not."

After reading through these scriptures, I decided that the only way for me to understand my purpose is to understand the Lord's purpose for me. It is not about me. It is about Him. How would He like for me to serve Him with my life? If I listen to Him, He will tell me what my desires ought to be, and if I make His desires my desires (or His purpose my purpose), there is no way I can fail...because His purposes fail not.

This might seem like such a simple idea, but it answers every one of the questions I have been struggling with lately. Am I spending my time wisely? Should I try to do such and such? Am I going to fail big time at this? Should I plan to ________? The answers are simple. All I need to ask myself is, "Is this what the Lord desires for me right now?" If the answer is yes, then I go forth the best I can, and I don't need to fear failure. If the answer is no, then I stop.

It is such an exciting thought when I realize that the Lord is willing to bless me with His power. We all feel inadequate at times, but He is never inadequate. I am feeling much more motivated to fulfill my purposes because they are not mine alone.

Personal Goals:

(1) Seriously consider what the Lord would have me learn, do, become, etc.
(2) Plan each day so I am fulfilling those purposes...even if they do not seem grand at the time.
(3) Live with confidence...there is no reason to doubt myself if I am following what the Lord wants for me.

Worldwide Leadership Training 2008 Notes

I wanted to record some of the thoughts that stood out to me at this great meeting!

• Now is the time to raise a righteous posterity--as parents, we must be prepared.
• Within our families, we have the right to revelation from the Lord.
• The Proclamation on the Family has more revelation in it than we thought--this is a document worth careful study
• The words "we warn" are not often used by our church leaders (but it is included in the Proclamation)
• The only place the family can be protected is within the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• We need to help our young men and young women be prepared for married life.
• It is not called for for us to live in fear. We can live a happy life while we are guided by the Lord.
• The bearing and rearing of children is important and essential to God. We must use the gospel as a guide.
• When we have charity within our families, we bring heaven into the home
• In marriage, we leave our parents, cleave to one another, and become one. As we are looking to solve our problems, we ought to look first to one another.
• In choosing a companion, we ought to counsel our children to find someone they love, whom they can stand together with.
• Struggles when we are starting out are okay--they strengthen us. We will grow in love as we go through trials together.
• It is important that we do not judge others who are faithful and receiving revelation.
• We have children with faith--not because we have money. The way will be opened up as we walk by faith. Be wise in decisions--not reckless.
• Be willing to work and sacrifice--we can't expect to be applauded everytime we do what is right.
• Strengthen our families--FHE, family scripture study, family dinners..
• Pray specifically for those in need.
• One family sang "Love at Home" every week as their hymn for FHE. The children wanted to sing a different song. The father said, "When you learn lesson one, I'll teach you lesson two."
• We need to strengthen our extended families.
• As a mother, I can go to the temple for revelation.
• We need to rid ourselves of guilt. Are we too busy? Are we trying to do too much?
• In our homes, we want there to be a climate of nurturing, which means to help make grow.
• "I love my children with all my heart, but I can't love them with all my time." -Pearl S. Buck
• Teach children to work, teach them love, unselfishness, forgiveness
• There is a real lack of homemaking skills out in the world--people feel emotional homelessness.
• Baking and preparing good meals is worthwhile.
• Make a home environment that can best raise our children and lead them to exaltation.
• Housekeeping can be delegated, homemaking cannot. Homemaking can be done by both fathers and mothers.
• Purpose of ward activities is to strengthen the family--not to keep up with traditions.
• Sports, TV, extracurriculars should not take time away from the family.
• We don't always have to do more when we magnify our callings
• Reclaim the joy of the Sabbath
• Let's bring more of heaven into our homes.
• We might think other things are more exciting, but we will learn that nothing can take the place of home and family.

Personal Goals:

• I will remember that my focus is my family. It all comes down to the love we have for them.
• I will create a home that is heaven on earth.
• I will keep my schedule free as much as possible so I can spend time with my husband and children--teaching, working, and having a great time together.
• I will put more effort into my homemaking--what types of experiences we have together (great books to read, great meals to eat, fun outings...)
• I will reach out more to my extended family and allow us to be a strength to one another.

Miracles and Assurances

The world today is simply hard, but the words of Alma 58 have been unbelievably reassuring to me.

First, the armies of Helaman, Gid, and Teomner were in "difficult circumstances" for many months.

They did what most of us would hopefully think to do: "We did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us..."

They were hoping for a miracle and pleading for strength to protect their cities and their people, but their answer came quite differently than I would expect.

"The Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him."

I love that. I also love what they did with it: "We did take courage....we did go forth with all our might."

Personal Goals:

• I want to pour my whole soul out in prayer to God (no more quick prayers before I jump into bed). He deserves my best attention.
• I will trust in the assurances I receive. I will not fear or doubt Him because He has all power.
• I will take the faith and hope I receive as gifts from the Savior and go forth with all my might--taking courage in Him. Sometimes I want to just give up. It's hard to be optimistic all the time when things are falling apart around me, but when I continue to move forward, I have found that the Lord ALWAYS helps me. He is just so good.

The Ministry of Angels

This talk by Elder Holland is absolutely amazing. I read it three times yesterday and wanted to record the parts that inspired me the most.

"But God knew the challenges they [Adam and Eve] would face, and He certainly knew how lonely and troubled they would sometimes feel. So He watched over His mortal family constantly, heard their prayers always, and sent prophets to teach, counsel, and guide them. But in times of special need, He sent angels, divine messengers to bless His children, reassure them that heaven was always very close and that His help was always very near. "

"Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near."

"Often [their assignment] is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times."

"My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.” On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal."

"May we all believe more readily in, and have more gratitude for, the Lord’s promise as contained in one of President Monson’s favorite scriptures: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, . . . my Spirit shall be in your [heart], and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” In the process of praying for those angels to attend us, may we all try to be a little more angelic ourselves—with a kind word, a strong arm, a declaration of faith and “the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted.”

Personal Goals:

• I never want to forget that God is very near, and
• I want to be aware of and worthy of the help of His angels.
• At some point I hope to have a perfect faith, but until then I will keep trying to increase the faith I do have.
• Since reading this article, I envision myself moving throughout my home and community flanked with angels. I picture them on my right, on my left, before me, and behind me.
• And then, in response to Elder Holland's request that we become more angelic, I try to fit in with the angels around me.
• Additionally, I am trying to recognize the people in my life who act as my angels: the woman who brings some warm, beautiful hand-me-downs to me right before the cold weather hits, the friend who calls just to see if I am all right, my husband who sends me to go take a nap when he knows I've absolutely had it for the day, my children who hug me and tell me they love me, my family who offers their love and support, the neighbor who does an unexpected kindness...there really are angels all around me, and when I realize this, I feel peace, comfort, and love--even in this rough world.