"Times change, but truth persists. When we fail to profit from the experiences of the past, we are doomed to repeat them with all their heartache, suffering, and anguish. Haven’t we the wisdom to obey Him who knows the beginning from the end—our Lord, who designed the plan of salvation—rather than that serpent, who despised its beauty?
A dictionary defines a pioneer as “one who goes before to prepare or open up the way for others to follow.” Can we somehow muster the courage and steadfastness of purpose that characterized the pioneers of a former generation? Can you and I, in actual fact, be pioneers?
I know we can be. Oh, how the world needs pioneers today!"
Nature is so amazing to watch. Every year, we do a garden in our back yard. My husband built a greenhouse out of PVC pipe and plastic. We have to plant the seeds, nurture the seeds, keep them warm and make sure that they have enough sunlight to grow. It can be so hard to look at the garden day by day and not be sure if you did it right. To not know if the seeds are going to every come up out of the soil that you have tilled and planted. We wait impatiently to see if anything is going to grow, and then what is going to make it. Nothing I do or say will speed up the process. It happens exactly how it was meant to happen. Some years, we get lots of lettuce and spinach, and some years we get more corn and beets. My first year, we got radishes and weeds. We just can't be sure what we are going to get because the weather here is so undependable, the garden doesn't always like the late cold and frosts, and we are still learning to garden at a high altitude. No matter how much I want it to hurry, so that it gets past the fragile stage, it never does. Everything depends on patience. Gardening is all about waiting. Nature has patience that ignores all my rushed intentions.
God has promised us that everything has a season and a purpose. Sometimes, in our very busy lives we would do well to remember that example. We would do better to display a patience of love; to savor each moment; to slow down in our journey; to smell the roses and to celebrate this marvelous garden that we call life.
I am watching my grandsons for a few days, so my writing will be a little sparse until they go home. I must say, that is actually because I am busy answering questions and fixing snacks. I am enjoying it all, and don't want to miss out. However, yesterday we had a rather interesting day which I thought I would share.
We were coming home from church and Jake said, "Grammy, when can I cut my pictures?"
He meant the coloring pages that he had done in my notebook during the church meeting. He wanted to cut them out of the book and give them as presents.
"After we go home and get changed. Then you can cut them." I replied to his asking.
"Actually," He said, "You need to do it. I am dangerous with scissors!"
Papa looked back at him through the rear view mirror. "That's a good thing to know." He said.
Oh yes, I can certainly imagine that this young man could be quite dangerous! (Especially with sharp items!) But I also I couldn't help thinking how wise this little boy is. He knows what areas of his life are dangerous for him. He knows to avoid them at all cost, and to let someone else help him through them. What a great lesson for each of us to learn. If we will only take the time to recognize and avoid those things that are dangerous for us. Those things that can be physically, as well as spiritually unhealthy for us. Those things that draw us away from the love of our Heavenly Father.
May we each recognize what makes us dangerous and do what we need to do to be better!
Micah 7:8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
“Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands.”
I loved that video. Partly because I love the expressiveness of dance and partly because it is a good message. It made me think and remember a time in my life when I was not so safe. A time when I did not make the right choice. A time when I put my own wants above the things that mattered most.
Many years ago, when John and I were first married, I did not like to do what I was told. There were a lot of reasons for that type of rebellion, in my own mind anyway. But the truth was that I was just a little bit rebellious. I did not like to be told what to do. I didn't mind suggestions, but I did not like to be told I have to do something. My poor husband! I am afraid that he got the poor end of that arrangement! He used to have to be very careful how he "suggested" that I do anything.
My husband believed in seat belts. I was not raised with them. I used them at work because I had to. They were bright orange, after all, and if you did not wear them, you could get written up. But I have to admit, that I did not always use them at home. They were inconvient, they pulled on my neck when I wore them, and they were uncomfortable. I hate being uncomfortable!
We had gone to the store and I had put the girls in carseats. (Funny isn't it, how you will do things for your kids that you won't do for yourself!) I was getting something for one of the girls and had unclicked the seat belt to reach back and get it for her. John saw that my seatbelt was off and told me to put it on because the traffic was bad. I told him that I would in a minute.
We were driving on Gilbert road and I had just turned around in my seat and started to put the belt on, but it hadn't clicked in place yet. A little sportscar pulled right out in front of our van. It was a busy city street, with a 45 mile per hour speed limit. John was not speeding, but we were going the speed limit. We were not doing anything wrong, but the other car did not see us and darted right out across three lanes of traffic into our lane. John did not even have time to put on the brakes. We t-boned the other car.
Just in case you need a visual, we had a seven passanger mini-van that went right into the driver's side of that little red mustang convertable. My body wasn't held down in my seat like the rest of the family. I saw everything as if it was in slow motion. My hand could not hold onto the belt. I saw the look on my husband's face as he watched me go forward into the window. I heard my little girls start crying. My head went right into the window and the glass broke all around me. My head was cut and bruised, I ended up with a monster head-ache, but surprisingly, I was not badly hurt. I should have been, but I wasn't.
For some reason Heavenly Father was watching over me. My girls were all crying because I looked hurt and was bleeding. My husband had tears in his eyes also. "I thought I lost you", he said to me. "I thought I lost you!" The tears fell down his cheeks as he hugged me tightly to him.
Obedience is a lot like wearing a spiritual seatbelt. We have commandments of things that we are supposed to be doing. Sometimes we try really hard, and sometimes we just can't seem to get the belt clicked in time. We can be so stubborn at times. We want to do something that we know in our heart is not right, but we reason it out within ourselves and go ahead and do it anyway. We were given laws and commandments in this life to keep us safe and bring us home. If we don't obey the commandments, we run the risk of behaving ourselves so far down the wrong path that we can't seem to find our way back.
Many people feel that the commandments are burdensome and that they limit freedom and personal growth. But the Savior taught that true freedom comes only from following Him:
"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31–32). God gives commandments for our benefit. They are loving instructions for our happiness and for our physical and spiritual well-being.
President Joseph F. Smith has said:
“Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Light, who is no respecter of persons, and in whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. To please him we must not only worship him with thanksgiving and praise but render willing obedience to his commandments. By so doing, he is bound to bestow his blessings; for it is upon this principle (obedience to law) that all blessings are predicated.” (Improvement Era, Dec. 1917, p. 104.)
The gospel is so very simple when we understand it properly. It is always right, it is always good, it is always uplifting. Obedience to the principles of the gospel act as a spiritual seatbelt protecting us from harm and bringing joy and happiness into our lives.
May you never be the cause of tears on a loved ones face due to your own disobedience.
There was a speaker at the youth conference in Missouri. I do not know his name, I was not there. But I want to share a story with you that my daughter shared with me of her experience. First of all, let me preface this by saying that I am not trying to offend any of you. If you don't agree with my view, that is fine. I am merely presenting this as something for each of us to think about.
This speaker spoke about obeying the Prophet of God. He talked about the time, many years ago, when Gordon B. Hinckley came out and addressed the fads of tattooing and piercing:
“Now comes the craze of tattooing one’s body. I cannot understand why any young man—or young woman, for that matter—would wish to undergo the painful process of disfiguring the skin with various multicolored representations of people, animals, and various symbols. With tattoos, the process is permanent, unless there is another painful and costly undertaking to remove it. … A tattoo is graffiti on the temple of the body.
Likewise the piercing of the body for multiple rings in the ears, in the nose, even in the tongue. Can they possibly think that is beautiful? It is a passing fancy, but its effects can be permanent. Some have gone to such extremes that the ring had to be removed by surgery. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have declared that we discourage tattoos and also ‘the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes.’ We do not, however, take any position ‘on the minimal piercing of the ears by women for one pair of earrings’ ” (Ensign, Nov. 2000, 52).
The speaker continued to speak on the importance of this principle and he talked about those whom he knew personally that had made the decision to follow the council of the Prophet. My daughter and I, when we were both much younger, had two holes in each of our ears. We both liked the practice and thought that it looked nice. I still remember when President Hinckley came out with his counsel on ear piercings. We looked at each other, and went home and removed the extra earrings. It was not a hard decision for me to remove the second earring. I did not understand "why" at that time, but if the Prophet told me to, than I was willing to follow that counsel.
Sitting next to my daughter in this Youth Conference, on the bench in that chapel, was a young girl who was not a member of the church. Partway through the talk, she left. When my daughter was telling me this, I wondered if she might have been offended, because she had several piercings in each ear. She came back to the meeting approximately ten minutes later, with her ears bleeding and all of the earrings except for the bottom hole in each ear removed. Some of the piercings were recent, so they reopened and bled when she took the earrings out. This young girl, though not a member of the church, was nevertheless, touched by the spirit to follow the words of the Prophet in these latter days. It is so amazing to me! Sometimes it is hard for us to follow the counsel and teachings even though we have a knowledge that he is a prophet of God. Yet, here was a young woman who was not even a member of the church and she went and took out her earrings.
Today, Satan is trying so hard to challenge and discourage our youth. He works constantly to try and make them want to "fit in" with the crowd. Do you remember the story of Lehi's dream? Do you remember the large and spacious building with the crowd of people who were laughing and mocking those who chose to follow the Lord? Doesn't it remind you of the things we face today? Doesn't it remind you of the world?
Now comes the harder question. What one thing, are you holding onto that you shouldn't? What one thing could you change in your life that would allow you to truly follow the prophet and be closer to your Savior?
Remember Satan? He seeks to have us be like him. Cast out of Father's presence. His nature is to lead us away. His nature is to keep us from our home.
The scorpion and the Frog
Once upon a time a scorpion wanted to cross a brook. On the bank he saw a frog and asked if the frog would give him a ride to the other side.
"Oh no," says the frog, "If I carry you on my back you will sting me."
"But why would I sting you when we would both surely perish," replied the scorpion.
The frog eventually conceded that the scorpion had a point, and agreed to the request.
Half way across, the scorpion stang the frog, and they both began to drown.
"But why did you break your word and sting me, knowing it would be certain death for us both?" cried the frog.
"Because it is in my nature." said the scorpion.
Satan, with his nature, would have you drown in the fads and fashions of the world. He would have you think that the little things don't matter. He would have you believe that it is OK if you follow some commandments and not others. If you chose to walk with him, you will surely be lost in the mansion or the mists. His nature is to lie just like the scorpion in the little story.
I have often heard people say that they would be willing to die for the gospel of Christ. That they would be willing to die for their Savior. I don't think, at this time, He needs us to die. I think He needs us to live and follow Him and be an example and a testimony to those around us who are seeking for Him.
Your task is to choose who you will follow. You have been called at this time and in this place to LIVE for your Savior. You have been asked to become more like Him. May we each seek to follow His prophets in all they do and say.
Bruce Barton has said: "Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things - I am tempted to think there are no little things".
We had the most amazing young women stake meeting last night! My daughter is 13 now, and a beehive in the young women's program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We had a new beginnings meeting at the stake center for the girls and their parents. Miracle and I went after Choir practice. The meeting progressed as usual. There were a couple of really beautiful solo's and there were several girls that each talked about personal progress and the values and the program. Everything was going along fine, (i.e. normal meeting) until President Whipple stood to talk. He is a counselor in the Stake Presidency. He started to talk about something and then changed his talk. He talked about the Stake young women's president. It was a story that touched my heart. So I wanted to share it with you. I hope it gives you the same feeling of love and peace that it gave to me. Heavenly Father really is speaking to you. It is just a question of if you are listening.
In the ward that this sister lives in, the bishop has been very ill. He has the advanced stages of kidney failure and could have died at anytime for the past year or so. To make it even worse, he has one of the rarer types of blood and so there are not many matches for him to get a transplant. He has been on the transplant list for awhile and was physically getting much worse. So, the ward had a special fast for him. As this young women's president participated in the fast, she was given a very strong impression that she was supposed to be the donor.
She fasted and prayed some more, she still felt the same way and no other donor had been found. She was given the assurance that if she was willing, she would be a perfect match for her bishop. The spirit bore witness to her that it was not his time to leave the earth yet and he still had more to do, but he needed her in order to be able to complete his mission.
She went and had the preliminary testing and was found to be a match. The process to give a kidney to someone who is not a relative is quite long. It took several months, and she said that the spirit of the devil worked on her the entire time to try and encourage her to change her mind. But whenever she prayed, she was given the same assurance that it was the right thing to do.
Finally, four weeks ago, she went into surgery and gave her kidney to the Bishop of her ward. He is doing so much better physically at this time. She was at the meeting for all the young women and their parents. After President Whipple spoke, she got up and bore her testimony of the love of our Father in Heaven and of the divine answer to prayer that she was privilaged to be a part of. She talked about how, if you let Him, He will answer your prayers. He does listen. He is there.
I saw her speak, I heard her testimony, but I felt even more than that. I saw an amazing woman who had the faith required to do her Heavenly Father's will. I saw a daughter of God who saw a need, heard the answer to many prayers and was willing to walk the hard road and follow that inspiration and see it through. Sometimes, Heavenly Father asks us to do hard things, but He is there for us if we will only trust Him. So, where is your faith today? If He asked you to do something hard, would you be ready and willing to do it?
Ether 12:4, 6, 10-16
4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
10 Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God.
11 Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.
12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
13 Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.
14 Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
15 Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.
16 Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.
Could you possibly be the miracle that someone else is waiting for? Only you will ever know. Hear Him, trust Him, Love Him and serve Him. May we stand strong and tall in the faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and may we not be moved by the stormy seas that beacon around us. And most of all, may we all be like this wonderful Young Women's President. This is my prayer tonight.
I was going through my library and found one of my favorite books. It called to me like an old friend. It reminded me how important it is to remember my standards and my values and to use them in every part of my life. My old and dear friend is titled, "Standing For Something" and it is by Gordon B. Hinckley.
I gave my older children copies of this book. I think it is time that I gave the younger ones copies too. I love this book because he tells of ten virtues that will make a difference in our lives. He talks about America and the problems that our country is having. He tells us that we (meaning the American people) have forgotten God and that we no longer obey His commandments and teachings. We no longer honor virtues that were a part of the founding of this great country. Here is a list of the ten virtues from this book:
1) Love: Love can erase difference between people and can heal bitterness. It can touch hearts and mend souls.
2) Honesty: When we are dishonest, something within us dies. Self respect vanishes and integrity dies when we are dishonest with ourselves or others.
3) Morality: Both experience and divine wisdom dictate that moral virtue and cleanliness pave the way that leads to strength of character, peace of mind and heart, and happiness in life.
4) Civility: Civility carries with it the essence of courtesy, politeness, and consideration of others. All of the education and accomplishments in the world will not count for much unless they are accompanied by respect for others, and going the extra mile.
5) Learning: No matter how old we become, we can acquire knowledge and use it. We can gather wisdom and profit from it. We can grow and progress and improve- and, in the process, strengthen the lives of those within our circle of influence.
6) The Twin Virtues of Forgiveness and Mercy: Hatred always fails and bitterness always destroys. In our days, we need to apply the virtues of forgiving, forgetting and extending mercy.
7) Thrift and Industry: The virtues of industry and thrift go hand in hand. The labor and thrift of the people make a nation, a community, or a family strong. Work and thrift make the family independent.
8) Gratitude: A Sign of Maturity: Gratitude is the beginning of civility, it is a recognition that we cannot afford to be arrogant. It is a knowledge that we will need help every step of the way.
9) Optimism in the Face of Cynicism: As we go through life, we need to "accentuate the positive." We need to look a little deeper for the good. We need to still our voices of insult and sarcasm and more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort.
10) Faith: Our Only Hope: Great buildings were never constructed on uncertain foundations. Great causes were never brought to success by vacillating leaders. Faith has always been , and always must be, at the root of any meaningful practice and endeavor.
"In leadership, in standing for principle, there is loneliness. But men and women of integrity must live with their convictions. Unless they do so, they are miserable - dreadfully miserable...
Never in the history of the world has there been a more profound need for leaders of principle to step forward". Gordon B. Hinckley
My prayer is that you will implement these ten virtues in your life and "Stand for Something" so that you do not fall for anything that the adversary sends your way. May you always have a testimony that your Heavenly Father loves you and is aware of you. That He sent His son to suffer, bleed and die for your sins. That you can be forgiven and have life eternal with Him. May you always stand as a beacon on a hill that can not be hid, and may the something that you stand for always be the Savior.
I have three girls. Well, I actually have seven, but only three of them are still home. The rest have out grown the squabbles of youth and moved on into the hurdles of adulthood.
One of the biggest challenges I face with the remaining three, is to get these sweet spirits motivated. Their favorite saying seems to be, "but mom, I caannn'ttttt!"
Why is it that they can't do the things they don't want to do? But they can manage to do the things they want to! Take the dishes. Now, they will let those dishes build up to a mountain that even I am afraid to tackle! On the other hand, if they want to go somewhere or do something, it is amazing how that mountain moves.
There are days that all I can do is shake my head and hope this too shall pass.
We went to the mall the other day and my girls went in a store to look at dishwashers! They all came to tell me how little they cost and how they wouldn't mind putting the dishes in or taking them out. I have to admit, they tried pretty hard to get a dishwasher in our kitchen. However, I also have to admit, that it would never have fit. We have a very small kitchen and until we get enough money saved to remodel, there will be no dishwasher for this house.
Sometimes, life is like that. There is something we think we want. Something that we have convinced ourselves might make our lives just a little easier. Something that we can dream about and distract ourselves from getting the job done in the first place. This something, doesn't seem like a problem. It doesn't seem like a distraction. It seems like a solution. But, if you look close, it is just an empty promise. What good would it do to put a dishwasher in a kitchen that didn't have a place for it to go? What good does it do to dream about it, plan for it, and want it, when it is not the best thing for our home.
I have decided that Satan can get to us through these small, seemingly insignificant distractions in our lives. These are the levers that he uses to get in to our hearts. He takes something that we don't need and turns it into something that we want. Than he takes those wants and uses them to keep us from getting what we really need. As long as our focus is on the distractions in our lives, it isn't on the Lord and His Son. So, what empty promises are working as distractions in your life?
I found a great talk from Elder Quentin L Cook. Here is part of it:
"When our children were small, my wife, Mary, and I decided to follow a tradition which my father taught when I was a child. He would meet with us individually to help us set goals in various aspects of our lives and then teach us how Church, school, and extracurricular activities would help us achieve those goals...Having been the beneficiary of this tradition, I had the desire to engage in this practice with my children. When our son, Larry, was five years old, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said he wanted to be a doctor like his Uncle Joe. Larry had experienced a serious operation and had acquired great respect for doctors, especially his Uncle Joe. I proceeded to tell Larry how all the worthwhile things he was doing would help prepare him to be a doctor.
"Several months later, I asked him again what he would like to be. This time he said he wanted to be an airline pilot...Almost as an afterthought I said, 'Larry, last time we talked you wanted to be a doctor. What has changed your mind?' He answered, 'I still like the idea of being a doctor, but I have noticed that Uncle Joe works on Saturday mornings, and I wouldn’t want to miss Saturday Morning Cartoons.'
"Since that time our family has labeled a distraction from a worthwhile goal as a Saturday Morning Cartoon.
What are some of the Saturday Morning Cartoons that distract us from attaining the joy that we desire? Some want to be married in the temple but only date those who do not qualify for a recommend. Others want to be a good home teacher or visiting teacher but are distracted by the constant parade of TV programs, catalogs, and other material maintenance and don’t find time to minister to those they are assigned to teach. Still others want to have family prayer but allow little matters to build into discord that make it harder for the family to kneel together. If we examine the reasons we don’t do what we ought to do, we find that the list of Saturday Morning Cartoons is almost endless.'"
It is so easy to get distracted in this life. But our Heavenly Father has also sent us guidance today. He knew that we would need the extra help in our lives. He gave us the scriptures to study. They (ancient prophets) wrote them for our time. Just think for a moment. Back during the time of ancient Israel, who was able to read the scriptures? They were not printed and pass out as they are today. They were only available for the prophets and wise men to look at and ponder. Today, they are all over the earth. You can carry them with you. You can read them many times. You can make the parts that mean the most to you. All of these things, you can do because Heavenly Father knew how much you would need their comfort and guidance today.
We also have latter-day prophets to guide us and help us in this journey. If we will listen to their words, we will make better decisions, draw closer to our Heavenly Father, strengthen our faith and have His spirit to be with us. The Prophet will not lead us astray. Don't get distracted by the things that you think you want.
An old Cherokee was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, "A battle is raging inside me ... it is a terrible fight between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The old man fixed the children with a firm stare. "This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."
They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The grandfather replied, "The one you feed".
Let us all be more aware of the "Saturday morning cartoon" distractions in our own lives so that we don't keep feeding the wrong wolf. May you remember whose side you are on in this life and above all, may you remember who is on your side!
Yesterday was fast Sunday. The girls are so good about it and rarely complain when they go without eating or drinking. One of the things that I bore testimony of is our current scripture reading project. The Stake President in our stake, (President Farr), has challenged every family to read the Book of Mormon together before the end of the year. We have taken that challenge (even though I am not sure we will complete it by the end of December) and are currently in the Book of Mosiah. I am so proud of the girls. They murmur about a lot of things sometimes, :-) but scripture study isn't ever one of them. Since we have started this, they get up every morning without complaint, get out their scriptures, snuggle under a blanket on the couch and we all take turns reading. It is such a testimony to me, that these young girls are willing to give up extra sleep and time to get ready for school, in order to read the scriptures. Sometimes, I think it is harder on me than it is on them! Every once in awhile, John has to get me up twice. Usually after I have been out for a good part of the night, but still. We never have to beg the girls to get up in the morning. They are up, ready and waiting for us to join them. I have seen some very immediate blessings from this reading time. The first is that the morning yelling festival is pretty much gone. The girls have really implemented a scheduled way to get ready and it works for them. We get up, read the scriptures, have family prayer, get dressed, eat breakfast, pack lunches and gather together school things to leave at 7:00am for the school bus. There is no more yelling to hurry, and very little frustration. This used to be our worst time of day for fighting and bickering. Now it is our best and most productive time. As well as being our happiest family time. In addition to scripture study, we have made sure that we are doing family prayer every morning and every night. I am still amazed at the difference in attitude that I see with just these few simple changes. I am excited to implement other courses of study with the girls. I bought a book at Time Out for Women on Studying the Book of Mormon. We are using that to have short lessons on the meaning of what we are reading. Today, we read Mosiah 2:17, which is one of my favorite scriptures. It states, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." We talked about service and what it means in our lives. We also talked about how Heavenly Father blesses us when we serve others and how it makes us feel. The really amazing thing is that even when we are running late because of the length of the chapters that we are reading (like this morning for instance), the girls still don't fight or bicker. They just get ready a little faster and help each other to make sure they can all get to the bus on time. They are learning service by serving each other. I am so proud of all my children. They are such an example to me. It is a great blessing to watch them make decisions and good choices. I know the gospel is true and that, if we live it, the Lord will bless us as we strive to keep the commandments in our lives.
I thought I would add a little today, as I am driving out of town until late tomorrow and won't have an opportunity to do it then. I have been reading and focusing on the story in the New Testament on the 5 loaves and 2 fishes. The Savior walked among the people and taught them all that long day. To be in His presence as part of the multitude.
I would have liked to see His face and participate in His miracles. I wonder what that would have been like? To hear His voice, and listen to His words, to watch Him as he taught. After he walked among them for the day, He turned to His disciples and asked where they could buy bread to feed the multitude. The disciples must have been surprised. I know I would have been. They did not travel with much, nor did they have much money. So they turned to a young boy who carried their stores and found that he had for them five loaves and two fishes.
Imagine, five small loaves of barley bread and two small fishes to feed 5000 people.
Now, I don't know how the people in your house eat :-), but the ones in my house would eat it all and there would be none to spare. Yet, somehow, when they finished, there were in the hands of the twelve apostles, twelve baskets full.
None of us know the answer of how the miracle happened. None of us can explain it, but we know it happened and that the people that day had an abundance of food. Enough and to spare for their needs. The dictionary defines abundance as "An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: -- strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number."
I like the phrase, an overflowing fullness. I may not have been there, to be part of those very blessed 5000 people, but I am here now and I have His teachings and influence in my life today. I can still partake of His abundance if I strive to make His teachings a part of my life. This morning we were reading in 2 Nephi and we were talking about knowing for your self through study and prayer.
One of the examples used in the scriptures is to feast upon the scriptures. We compared it to Thanksgiving dinner and feasting at the table. We asked the girls what feasting meant. One of the things that makes it possible is when we have great plenty. In short, an abundance of food. We used Thanksgiving as our example of an abundant feast. If you compare it to the scriptures and feasting on the Word of God, it puts the word abundance in an entirely new life.
I wonder, do we have an Abundance of the scriptures and the word of God in our home? Or are we simply starving ourselves by turning away from the abundance of the Lord's table. Are we partaking of the abundace of God, or are we simply nibbling at the edges?
I read a quote this morning from Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, "The acquisition of understanding and enthusiasm for the Lord comes from following simple rules. One of those rules is to read the word of the Lord. I know that with the demands of your studies there is little time to read anything else. But I promise you that if you will read the words of that writing which we call scripture, ther will come into your heart an understanding and a warmth that will be pleasing to experience. Let the Lord speak for Himself to you, and His words will come with a quiet conviction that will make the words of His critics meaningless."
That sounds like abundance to me.
