General Conference Inspiration

This past weekend I spent several hours sitting at the feet of prophets....well really I sat at the computer and listened to the prophets. I was reminded how grateful I am that I belong to a church that has inspired leaders and modern day revelation. The current prophet of the Lord is Thomas S. Monson and I was deeply touched by one of his talks on Sunday. It felt like he spoke directly to me as he said to enjoy life right now. To not worry about the piles of laundry or the finger prints that are on every newly cleaned surface. I knew this was not just an old man telling me to enjoy my kids when they are young, but these phrases seemed to be coming from my Father in Heaven, letting me know that it is OK to have "piles of laundry" it is OK that as soon as my house gets clean someone comes along and messes it up. That so long as I am choosing the right, keeping the commandments and enjoying TODAY, then the rest will be fine. In fact he said that one day I would miss it!! (I am not sure I have enough faith to believe that I will miss these things, but who knows) Although I felt spiritually uplifted by all of the talks I had a few favorite that I thought I would share with you:

1. L. Tom Perry spoke about simplifying you life. He spoke of eating nutritious food, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep (all of which I am currently trying to do better with) He also spoke of having simplified clothes and stated that what we wear lets people know who we are and that casual dress = casual manners.
2. Dallin H. Oaks gave a fabulous talk on the observances during Sacrament Meetings. He reminded me that getting there early is required for fulling preparing for the Sacrament of the Lord. He also said that amusement, light mindedness, and laughter are not appropriate for those meetings.
3.Joseph B Worthlin being to weak to stand gave his talk from his seat and I could not take my attention from it. He spoke of reacing to adversity and gave the following advice when dealing with trials: a) learn to laugh b) seek for the eternal c) understand the principle of compensation..which is that God will compensate us for every trial we endure. d) put our trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus. He also stated "Come what may..and LOVE it!"

There were MANY more talks all of which will help us to become more like Christ and bring joy and happiness into our homes. I encourage everyone to read them when they are available. (a text version will be available to read on Thursday October 9th at http://www.lds.org/ .

I know my Savior lives, and loves me. He is my rock and my salvation.

Sharing what is most important

The missionaries stopped by the other night to share a really cool video with us. It was made by some of the missionaries in the Charlotte, NC mission. It was so well put together. There were a few things in there that stuck out in my mind that I wanted to share. It was a quote from Pres Eyring that he shared a while back. He said something like, "Some day every single person will know what you know, and they will know that you knew it, and they will remember whether you tried to share it with them or not." There are so many people out there looking for the truth but just don't know where to find it. I find myself judging who will except the message of the gospel. I have come to realize this is so foolish. Just because someone appears to not be ready by smoking or having many tattoos, etc. doesn't mean that they aren't searching for the happiness and peace that the gospel brings. The message of the gospel is for EVERYONE.
Another thing they quoted from Elder Eyring was that everyone has their own technique of sharing the gospel. Some always have a Book of Mormon with them, others a pass along card, some have a list of thought provoking questions or topics that make it possible to bring the gospel up. He said no matter what your method, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ONE. I decided to make a list of some things that are easily brought up in conversation that can lead the conversation to the gospel. There are so many ways we can share our testimonies every single day. We just have to be looking for them.
In the movie they interviewed a convert to the church and he said that he had been meeting with the missionaries for months but it wasn't until a member shared their testimony with him that he decided to get baptized.
Let the gospel be such a part of your every move and thought that it is only natural for it to come up with everyone you talk to. That you cannot help but spread it to every living soul. It is when we are putting forth our best effort that our Heavenly Father lets us be an instrument in His hands.

Where would you be without the gospel?? There are many people who are there and want out. You know the way, help guide them to the light.

I have been trying to keep these things in mind and hope that I can become a better missionary.

Finding Time

Back in the day, I used to be great at reading my scriptures. I'd wake up half an hour before I needed to and use the institute manuals and other references and I'd read and study every day. I'd write my thoughts in a notebook and I always started my day out with prayer and scripture study. Somewhere along the way, I've lost that dedication. It happened gradually, as I think most fall from righteous things do. A few weeks ago it hit me that I really wasn't having personal scripture study. Ken and I read together most nights, but I wasn't studying the scriptures anymore. My first thought was, "I just don't have time". Now, how silly is that? I find time to work out deals at CVS, to read blogs everyday, to play games on DS or computer, to take walks or have playdates...but I don't have time to study? Hah. So, I re-committed myself. I made a goal that the TV or computer couldn't be turned on until I had studyed my scriptures. Which is harder than it seems. I haven't been perfect, but I am getting better. I've realized how it has improved other things too. When I wake up in the morning, I've been trying to go running before Ken leaves for work and while Abe sleeps. Then I get home and I feel energized. I put Abe in his bouncer or jumper and turn on music and clean my house right away. Then I play with Abe. I devote my time to him, without TV or computer as a distraction. He usually eats and naps around 11. As soon as he falls asleep I study my scriptures. I've been using the Book of Mormon institute manual. Then I write in my journal. If I have time after that I'll look at blogs or turn on Family Fued. I feel so much happier with these changes in my life. I feel less frustrated with my housework, with my son, and with everyone around me. I feel more energized and more willing to help others. I get so much MORE accomplished by devoting the time I should to the things that should be most important. Today I read this quote as I was studying. It is talking about being righteous in the Latter days and sharing the Gospel. "...In the midst of all these tribulations God will send fire from heaven, if necessary, to destroy our enemies while we carry forward with our work and push that stone until it fills the whole earth! Your destiny is to do that very thing., and this is the kind of protection you will have. You do not need to fear about world conditions. You do not need to fear about anybody. Just serve the Lord and keep his commandments and build the Kingdom, and as you do so you will be protected in these last days." -Mark E Peterson.

Salvation and Exaltation by Elder Nelson

So I have started reading through my conference Ensign. If you look I am already on the 1st talk! Elder Nelson talked about salvation and exaltation in a way I had never thought of before. He said that salvation was "to be saved from physical and spiritual death," while exaltation is "the highest state of happiness and glory in the celestial kingdom." He goes on to explain that "in God's eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter." The two things that struck me about this talk. One was our responsibilities as husband and wife, and the second was how to discipline our children.

The responsibilities were as follows:

1. be faithful to each other
2. esteem and treat your children as a heritage from the Lord
3. study scriptures as a family
4. pray together as a family
5. fix our focus on the temple

That is a lot of responsibility! I am working on being more steady with our scripture study (we are STILL in Ether) and trying to come up with ideas to attend the temple more often. I have realized that even though we can't go as often as I would like, we can still keep our focus fixed there (and that might help us get there more often, too!)

When disciplining children, Elder Nelson recommended it should be done "quietly, privately, lovingly, and not publicly. If a rebuke is required, show an increase of love promptly so the seeds of resentment may not remain." Through the last week I have tried to only discipline the children privately and quietly ("tried" is the magic word here) and have been surprised how well they respond! Elder Nelson also recommended trying to persuade them, but "your love must be sincere and your teachings based on divine and correct principles." Finally, he advised "Do not try to control your children. Instead, listen to them." Like I said, trying this advise has made a marked improvement for me (probably my kids, too). Instead of jumping down their throats every time, I have tried to take them aside, listen to their side of the story, and explain where they went wrong. One of the big surprises was how often I didn't have the whole story and how much better I was able to lovingly discipline them after I had listened to them. They were often still punished, but I was also able to teach them and help them understand the mistake they had made. I still have a short temper and sometimes revert to yelling and quick retribution, but I am trying to do better!

Myths vs. Reality

Where am I in my life??

This week Ken and I have been reading about Moroni. I have always been amazed at him being made captain of their armies (and not only being made captain, but doing such a dang good job of it) at age 25. Last night we read the scripture Alma 48:17 "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." This got me thinking, so Ken and I figured out that Moroni was 27 when this was written. Now, I am 27 years old. I look at my life and think about what someone might substitute there for me. Have I lived a good life thus far? Do the very powers of hell shake because I am a good person doing what I should? It continues on to say that the sons of Mosiah are just as good because of the great missionary work they did. Am I doing my best with that same missionary work? It made me really think about what I have made priorities in my life and maybe some things I can change to do better.
"If all women had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Kim behold peopld would save some money on groceries and get good deals, especially at CVS." (that is joke, by the way...hopefully not too sacreligous)

(More) Tender Mercies

It seems like every time I feel like I am at the end of my rope, Heavenly Father lifts me up by helping me be aware of my blessings. I had a pretty rough week, and just when I felt like I was going to lose it, my husband plans a wonderful, relaxing weekend for me. I was bracing myself for re-entrance to real life, when this morning I came across a scripture that gave me strength and motivation to not shirk my responsibilities and recommit myself to trying a little harder.

Alma 36:3
"...Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."

No matter what our trials, toubles, or afflictions may be, if we put the Lord's will first and trust in His love for us we can find the strength and happiness we need to keep going.

Had you ever noticed?

We were reading in Ether last night (yes, we are STILL in Ether). I had never really put it together before, but I noticed something cool. Have you ever wondered where Mosiah got the ide about the judges or where his sons found the strength to give up the kingdom? I always wondered how such a radical idea came to be. Anyway, in Ether 6 Jared and his brother ask the people what they want and they desire a king. This goes against the brothers' better judgement, but they allow them to choose from their sons. And all the sons (except the last) refuse the kingship. It occured to me that this record was found by Limhi's people and translated by King Mosiah. Could this be where the idea was planted into the minds of his sons? No matter where it came from, I have always been impressed by the strength it took to abdicate the throne, give up power and allow democracy a chance. Both in the scriptures and in our own country's time. Thank you Mosiah's sons, thank you Jared and his brother's sons, thank you George Washington.

Polygamy

This might be a wierd post, but I am curious. I had a neighbor ask me yesterday about Mormon's stand on polygamy. With the recent news frenzy over the cult in Texas, her husband told her to ask me. She said she told him that from what she'd seen and heard in the news, those people lived nothing like I lived or believed nothing like I'd told her I'd believed, but that she would ask me. I then tried the basic, "We don't practice polygamy in our religion". So, she asked me why her husband had that association....so I had to try and explain. From my understanding, when polygamy was practiced in our church, it was more out of necessity than anything else. Women and children were being left fatherless and needed someone to take care of them. It is also practiced anciently (think Abraham). Anyway, does anyone have any ideas on how to address this issue with people who ask?

FHE - Planting a Seed

I was sitting in a meeting a while ago when my mind started to wander and I found myself thinking about Family Home Evening. I firmly believe that Family Home Evening is an inspired program of the Church, however it is something that I have been struggling with. With our schedules it seems that it is always late when we get started so we rush through it, or we have so much to do that we count our errands like running to Walmart or Target. I always told myself at least we are doing it right? But it always seems that as soon as we start our Family Night, the kids start to fight, or get rowdy, or I lose my patience, or someone calls, or something goes wrong so that when the night is over I regret even trying. I almost always think, boy those are just "blessings I could do without." I felt bad though because I firmly believe that there are blessings in store for families that do FHE. So as I sat in my meeting pondering on this topic the spirit whispered a thought to me, and it was simply "FHE is like a seed."

As I thought about this concept I could visualize myself planting a seed. I am not a natural green thumb, so most of the time my plants die, even my kids "faith is like a seed" seeds never sprout. But I have seen some beautiful gardens, so I know it can be done. I started thinking that people with beautiful gardens take a lot of time to prepare them. They know which plants will grow during each season, how much water to give them, how much sun etc. I on the other hand know nothing, have not done research and spent very little time cultivating my plants. Now, If I put a seed in a pot and cover it with dirt and set it outside, it might grow. Just like with FHE. If you just do it, you will receive blessings as promised. However, I think that if I did a little more preparation, a little more research and plan my FHE better, a more beautiful flower will grow, and more blessings will present themselves. I hope that in the future, I can truly set the time apart to have a real FHE, with a sit down lesson, instead of yelling back a quick story to whomever can hear me in the car.

Does anyone have any good ideas along this line, have you tried taking more prep time for your FHE's? Does it work? Is it really possible to have FHE without the fighting and bickering? I would love to know what you think.

Conference with a Kid

This was my first year to have conference with a kid around. It made things much different. On Saturday Abe soundly slept....through the 2 hours in between sessions, of course. On Sunday he slept through the first session so I was able to really pay attention as President Monson gave his first talk as prophet. I thought that was really cool. I agree with the later apostles who said you could witness him take upon himself the mantle of prophet. I also enjoyed the talk on mothers and on family. Since conference I've tried to renew my efforts to read my scriptures on my own. Ken and I read each night before bed, but I want to study from the institute manuals on my own during one of Abe's naps each day. I haven't been perfect, but I have been able to read through a few chapters so far. I'm starting with the Book of Mormon. I know there are many things we can each do to improve our lives, so I'm excited Barlow started this blog and I'm excited to share the joy of the Gospel with everyone!!!

General Conference

Wow, what a great conference! I really enjoyed Priesthood session. I look forward to reading the talks in the Conference Issue. I have found that reading the talks helps me remember what the spirit prompted me to do when I first listened to the talk. Please, post a comment about what part of conference you enjoyed the most.

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