Friday, February 14, 2014

My life- the War chapters

 I am reading in Alma in my gospel study.  You know- the War chapters.  As I read these, it makes me tired.  They spend so much time preparing for war and then they fight in the battles and they win.  Then they go home and continue preparation and then they have more battles.  Then it looks like peace is established and they might be able to relax a little, but no.  There is an army approaching and they have to fight.  It seems relentless.  They never get a chance to take a break!

Sometimes my life feels that way.  There always seems to be something challenging occurring.  When you think the challenge is over, you turn around and there is more to be done.  It is relentless.  You work hard all day, you go to sleep, you wake up and do it over again, and on and on it goes.

But, always, there is the help of the Lord to spur you on and encourage you.  Good luck with your "War Chapters"!

Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.
                                                                                                        Doctrine and Covenants 128:22
                                                                                         

Church Service

Years ago, I was invited to a couples shower where the gift we brought the soon-to-be married couple would reflect something in our own lives that had helped our marriage.  I brought a basket of church resources and manuals and I said that from the first day Kevin and I entered our first ward as a married couple, we introduced ourselves to the bishop and said we were ready to serve.  I feel that this attitude about serving in the church has been a great blessing in our lives.  We have served in various callings and have encouraged and helped each other in various callings and that has been a huge benefit to our marriage.  That is why this thought from Pres. Eyring's conference message  (To My Grandchildren  Nov. 2014 Ensign)  resonated with me:

I urge those I love to accept and to magnify every calling offered them in the Church. That choice is one of the great keys to family happiness. The pressures at every stage of life can tempt us to reject or neglect calls to serve the Savior. That can put us in spiritual peril for ourselves, our spouse, and our families. Some of those calls may seem unimportant, but my life, and my family, was changed for the better by my accepting a call to teach a deacons quorum.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

10 scriptures to cheer you up

This is from the LDS.org site:

10 Scriptures to Cheer Up Your Friends

Know people who are having a bad day? Sharing a scripture with them might be just the thing to brighten their day. And if they see that you believe in the scriptures, they may ask you more about your beliefs or the Church. Here are 10 scriptures that inspire with hope and provide comfort to the soul.
There are other things at the site, like 10 videos to share and 10 conversations starters.  I thought I would add the link to the whole thing so that I can find it again.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Book of Mormon page titles- pretty cool

Here is a link to a pdf of Book of Mormon page titles that is pretty neat. This is from The Red Headed Hostess who got it from A Slacker Mom. http://www.theredheadedhostess.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Book-of-Mormon-Page-Titles.pdf

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Stripped of Envy

Alma 5:29 

Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless.

This scripture really caught my eye a couple days ago when reading in Alma.  I usually concentrate on other parts of Alma 5.  Envy.  Other synonyms are: coveting, jealousy.  I can see that this is a huge problem universally among all people.  Not coveting is one of the ten commandments!  This is something I need to pay more attention to.  I really need to have faith in Heavenly Father's plan that the events that unfold in my life are the experiences I need for me to make it back to God, and also trust that experiences that others have are their needed experiences to help them make it back to God.  We all need to be happy for the good fortune and successes of others.


I feel it is interesting that this is one of the ten commandments, yet we don't hear about this as much as other gospel concepts.  Elder Holland has given two great talks about it though. 


The Other Prodigal  by Elder Holland

The Laborers in the VIneyard by Elder Holland

Charity Envieth Not  Feb. 1988 Ensign, Visiting Teaching Message

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Come Unto Me - General Conference through the years

April 2012- Elder Neil L. Andersen- What Thinks Christ of Me
We may not be at our very best every day, but if we are trying, Jesus’s bidding is full of encouragement and hope: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.


For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I have blogged about my experience with this scripture before.  This occurred in October 2006,  and I have started compiling a list of the general conference talks that have referred to this scripture (Matthew 11:28-30) and I will be watching for this message to continue in the upcoming conference next week.  I think with all this repetition, Jesus really wants us to know He loves us and will help us.


Come Unto Me in General Conferences:



April 2006- Broken Things to Mend, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/broken-things-to-mend?lang=eng


October 2006- He Heals the Heavy Laden, Elder Dallin H. Oaks

October 2006- Discipleship, Pres. James E. Faust


October 2006- Remembering the Lord’s Love, Kathleen H. Hughes


April 2007-Point of Safe Return, Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf



October 2007- Have We Not Reason to Rejoice?, Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

October 2007- Small and Simple Things, Elder Christoffel Golden Jr. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/small-and-simple-things?lang=eng&query=Matthew+11%3a28




October 2007- Mrs. Patton-the Story Continues- Pres. Thomas S. Monson  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/mrs-patton-the-story-continues?lang=eng&query=Matthew+11%3a28

April 2008- Concern For the One, Elder Joseph L. Wirthlin



April 2009- Priesthood Responsibilities, Elder Claudio R. M. Costa  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/priesthood-responsibilities?lang=eng

October 2009- What Have I Done for Someone Today?, President Thomas S. Monson


April 2010- Turn to the Lord, Elder Donald H. Hallstrom

April 2010- Helping Hands, Saving Hands, Elder Koichi Aoyagi

October 2010- Faith- The Choice is Yours, Bishop Richard C. Edgley

October 2010- Rest Unto Your Souls, Elder Per G. Malm

April 2012- What Thinks Christ of Me?, Elder Neil L. Andersen

April 2012- Only Upon the Principles of Righteousness, Elder Larry Y. Wilson  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/only-upon-the-principles-of-righteousness?lang=eng&query=Matthew+11%3a28

October 2012- Of Regrets and Resolutions, Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

October 2012- Wide Awake to our Duties, Carole M. Stephens

April 2013- Come Unto Me, President Henry B. Eyring
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/come-unto-me?lang=eng&query=Matthew+11%3a28

October 2013- Look Ahead and Believe, Elder Edward Dube
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/look-ahead-and-believe?lang=eng

October 2013- "I Will Not Forsake Thee, Nor Fail Thee"  President Thomas S. Monson
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/i-will-not-fail-thee-nor-forsake-thee?lang=eng

October 2013- Wilt Thou Be Made Whole? Elder Timothy J. Dyches
.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/wilt-thou-be-made-whole?lang=eng

April 2014
October 2014
Yes, Lord, I will Follow Thee, Elder Eduardo Gaverret
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/yes-lord-i-will-follow-thee?lang=eng







Getting personal answers in General Conference


If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance, sending a personal prophetic epistle just to you.
                              Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “An Ensign to the Nations” May 2011 Ensign



 “I invite you to listen, listen if you will by the power of the Spirit, to the speakers who will address you today and tomorrow as well as this evening. If you will do so, I do not hesitate to promise that you will be uplifted, your resolution to do what is right will be stronger, you will find solutions to your problems and your needs, and you will be led to thank the Lord for what you have heard”
(“Listen by the Power of the Spirit,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 4).