Sunday, February 23, 2014

Rejoicing

"Now let us rejoice in the Day of Salvation"

One day I attended the temple one of the workers said "Can I share with you an inspiration?" I of course said "Yes" and she proceeded to say "I feel like you came to the temple today rejoicing. Isn't that great!" Now at the time she said this I was actually fretting and worrying about things but because she said it I started counting the many many reasons I had to rejoice that day. I started to think of the gifts of the Lord to me and His promises that had been fulfilled in my life. My whole outlook changed from one of worry and doubt to one of intense gratitude and joy.

"When all that was promised the Saints will be given"

One of the promises that i had to rejoice in was the Lord had promised me that my 2nd son would be  my first missionary. When He made that promise to me I had no evidence to hold onto only the word of God and my faith that "He will fulfill all his promises which He has made unto you" Alma 37:17T
That son had very recently had a "mighty change of heart" and was at that time preparing to serve a mission. It was a mighty miracle and much prayed for. I was so grateful and happy.


"Lift up your heart Lift up your voice Rejoice again I say Rejoice"

Why don't we spend more time rejoicing? I think it is because we forget to acknowledge and be grateful for the gifts of God.

Recently I read an amazing book about one woman's quest to find gratitude in everything the Lord gave her each day. It is a miraculous story of  faith and gratitude and was a great blessing to me. It was called "One Thousand gifts" by Ann Voscamp

What can you choose to rejoice in today?? What gifts has God given you that you could feel more gratitude and joy in?




Monday, February 17, 2014

Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation






So our new family motto for 2014 is Doctrine and Covenants 108:7 Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.

And I wanted to focus on each way we are asked to strengthen our brethren and sisters :) each quarter so the first is Conversations

This amazing song by Hilary Weeks says it all right?? Say Love is the best way to strengthen our brethren.




Only failure is giving up!



We had an awesome Stake conference in January where Elder Rasband of the 70 came and spoke to us. He talked a lot about protecting our homes and also about David O Mckay's statement in a general conference. "No success can compensate for failure in the home" Apparently there was a meeting up at the U of U institute after he said that and there was a question and answer time. One student said "What constitutes failure in the home?" the room went silent because of course this is the ultimate question every parent wants to know!!   Pres McKay said "When parents and grandparents give up is failure in the home."

I loved this and then he went on to talk about Lehi blessing his grandchildren. Lamen and Lemuel's children on his death bed. See 2 Nephi 4:1-12

It was such a great image to me of the never ending prayers and striving to bring our family to Christ.

Our Stake president talked about The walls of our home are the fortress for our families. How are we protecting our families like the Nephites did under Captain Moroni  building up walls?  What work should you be doing in the walls of your home?

This reminded me of the quote from Elder Richard G Scott "The prophetic counsel to have daily personal and family prayer, daily personal and family scripture study, and weekly family home evening are the essential, weight-bearing beams in the construction of a Christ-centered home. Without these regular practices it will be difficult to find the desired and much-needed peace and refuge from the world." For Peace at Home by Elder Richard G Scott April 2013

They talked about the precious sealing power and how keeping our covenants will bless our posterity. That the sealing power will pull on our wayward children and bring them back to us. I loved this modern rendition of the Prodigal son

My special counsel and direction from the meeting was
1. Never give up- reach out to my children and my extended family forever and ever. Invite them to come unto Christ and receive of his joy and peace.

2. Make my home a place of safety and refuge from the world.
       a. Keep the internet in public places and monitor "screens"
       b. Keep my home clean and decluttered. Make time each day to clean with my children
       c. Make special effort to have meal time together to nurture and gather my family at our "family alter" the kitchen table
       d. open to others to also receive peace and refuge

3. Another quote from the conference was "We measure activity by church attendance. But our personal ministry is the true measure of our conversion and covenant keeping." We attend church to be fed and strengthened in our personal ministry.

4. Our families new family motto for the year Docterine and covenants 108:7


My life was saved at Lake Powell



Heavenly father is real and he loves and protects us. I know that is true because it
has happened to me.

"Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real.
He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father.
He is accessible to all who will seek Him."
~Gordon B. Hinckley


When I was about 18 our family went to Lake Powell a really fun recreation spot in Utah.  We had all gone into the marina to getting gas and goodies in the boat and as we were leaving it was really choppy and crowded.  I had pushed us off from the dock to get us safely away but had been unable to get all the way into the boat and was hanging off into the water off the front of the boat. My father was ttying to safely navigate the boat out of the marina and other boats without crashing amid the waves. My siblings and friend were trying to pull me into the boat but the water was sucking me down under the boat. My arms were getting tired and I was losing strength.

Suddenly I felt a push from under me push me up into the boat and although we had all been trying to get me safely back into the boat. Suddenly and miraculously we could. I know angels saved me that day and helped me get safely into the boat.

What a blessing to know we are not alone and don't have to navigate this world alone. I am so grateful for the divine help I received that day at Lake Powell to keep me safe