Avoid the Great and Spacious Building

 

There has been mocking and finger pointing as of late in the church concerning the church's handbook clarification on gay/lesbian couples and the children in their home. This morning I re-listened to a talk from October Conference called Let the Clarion Trumpet Sound by Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer of the Seventy. Like all of the messages from our leaders, it is so timely.

Here is an excerpt from his remarks:

 "Over the many years that I have studied the story of Lehi’s dream in the Book of Mormon, I have always thought of the great and spacious building as a place where only the most rebellious reside. The building was filled with people mocking and pointing at the faithful who had held on to the iron rod, which represents the word of God, and had made their way to the tree of life, which represents the love of God. Some could not bear up under the pressure of the people mocking them and wandered off. Others decided to join the mockers in the building. Did they not have the courage to speak boldly against the criticisms or messages of the world?

As I watch the current world moving away from God, I think this building is growing in size. Many find themselves today wandering the halls of the great and spacious building, not realizing that they are actually becoming part of its culture. They often succumb to the temptations and the messages. We eventually find them mocking or chiming in with those who criticize or mock.

For years I thought the mocking crowd was making fun of the way the faithful live their lives, but the voices from the building today have changed their tone and approach. Those who mock often try to drown out the simple message of the gospel by attacking some aspect of the Church’s history or offering pointed criticism of a prophet or other leader. They are also attacking the very heart of our doctrine and the laws of God, given since the Creation of the earth. We, as disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His Church, must never let go of that iron rod. We must let the clarion trumpet sound from our own souls.

The simple message is that God is our loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is His Son. The gospel is restored in these latter days through living prophets, and the evidence is the Book of Mormon. The path of happiness is through the basic family unit as originally organized and revealed by our Heavenly Father. This is the familiar melody of the message that many can recognize because they have heard it from their premortal life.

It is time for us, as Latter-day Saints, to stand up and testify.

Grateful to Serve

For our November Scout Pack Meeting the scouts made craft Turkeys and assembled care packages for the single sisters in our ward. These included Christmas music, a DVD about Jesus Christ, a candle, cookies, candy kisses,  soup in a jar, and a handmade card signed by each of the young boys. The boys then went with their family to deliver the basket and visit with one sister. 

 This was a great learning experience for the boys to learn to give to others. In Primary the theme for the month is Mosiah 2:7, "When ye are in the service of your Fellow Beings, You are only in the Service of your God". 

I am grateful for parents who taught me the fulfillment and joy that comes from serving others.

Here are a few comments made from some of the sisters who received a basket:  

Joyce Kristofferson I was privileged to receive one of our scouts projects. Thank you scouts. The turkey is awesome. The gifts on the tray wonderful and so perfect for the coming holiday. 

 

Susan Clark Williams-Ashby My mother was overwhelmed by the generosity and love shown to her tonight. Thanx to all the scouts and their families and my mother's thoughtful Angel Shelly, you all really made her feel special tonight!!!

Marsha Whiting Dutson What a special surprise for me and Madi. She couldn't have been more excited. Thanks for making us feel so special

Simple....Gospel....Teachings

This is a post shared by my friend:
"Can I be in charge of the lesson for Family night tonight, Mom?"
It caught me off guard and I'm not sure why.
She made a request for scissors, fabric, a sweater, a piece of paper, and a pen. 30 minutes later she had a beautiful, accurate, and well thought out lesson about the Good Samaritan.
...

In church on Sunday we discussed the importance of the organization of stakes. What an odd lesson, I thought.
However, once we got into the meat of the lesson I was in tears. It is because of the organization of the church that my kids are being taught what they are.
I don't have all the time in the world. And I teach my kids what I can. But sometimes I can't. And sometimes I don't know the stories as well as I'd feel comfortable admitting. But because of their teachers, who were called by the bishop, who was called by the stake president...because of these volunteers, my kids are learning gospel stories. And understanding them. And loving church.
Sometimes it's hard to love going to church...sacrament meeting especially. Like when your kid decides to take a marker to the church bench, or they all simultaneously have screaming meltdowns and you have to carry 2 of the 3 out while crying yourself because you are so embarrassed, or whatever the reason may be.
But, because of the inspired organization that there is, and because of the disciples of Christ that I am surrounded by...relief comes.
Having to be the recipient of so many service opportunities isn't easy. But I'm learning to accept and appreciate them. And someday, I'll be able to repay. Someday.
Life isn't easy.
This post evolved.
The church is true.
The end.

‪

My reply:  Love you and love that your kids listened as I taught and had the kids act out the account of the good Samaritan in sharing time! The real key that I learned just a few years ago is to follow the outline that the church organization puts out. Simple...gospel...teachings!

Dan's Testimony of a Kite

Dan bore his testimony today "because it was time". He shared an analogy that he has used with the young men about kites. 

A kite is tethered and held down with a string. It may seem constraining, but if you let go of the kite string, the kite will flounder in the wind and soon fall to the ground. The kite string actually enables the kite to fly. 

Like a kite, the gospel has boundaries, rules that may seem constraining at times, but in essence allows us to be free from sin and to soar higher then we could ever imagine. We must learn to fly within the boundaries that the gospel provides. As we do, our kite will fly to its highest and greatest potential. 

Just a Pot of Dirt

Andrew was in his institute class when they were approached and were asked for volunteers to help with the St. George Temple renovation. Andrew and his friend Ryan Jones were the only ones to go volunteer. Andrew called Dan and he came over and helped. Their task was to dig crawl space tunnels under the oxen in the baptistery. They crawled around digging for three hours. 

Family friend, David Suttner, heard about it and wanted to help next time there was a need. The next time the job was to replace the light bulbs in the women's dressing room; not quite as dramatic, but good service none the less. David wanted some of the dirt that had been dug out from under the temple. He and Andrew asked and they were able to get some. Mindy wrote this poem and she and David planted pots with flowers and the temple dirt, and they took them around to their friends. Here is the poem about Andrew and his service.

Just a Pot of Dirt

Just a pot of weak red sand,

A lone spot of green

Yet so much more can be had

When you have the eyes to see.

This dirt its post many years it kept

beneath twelve oxen, from Napthali to Dan,

Until strong young men were called.

Just one heard and came.

Humble, true, his heart was sound

The nod to him was given

To take some of this hallowed ground

And share a bit with friends.

This is but dirt until you hear

The sighs of Saints from long ago

Who crossed the desert Sinai

To those who crossed the desert here,

Forsaking comfort, wealth, and ease

To follow God’s commands

To make the desert blossom as a rose

With nothing but their hands.

With blood and sweat and aching limbs

They gave this work their all

To build a beacon to the world

This temple firm and tall

Where those from round the globe

On both sides of the veil,

Come to covenant with God--

Their faith to never fail.

Just a pot of dirt you say

Until with eyes now opened

A symbol of the eternal plan

Held in one cupped hand.

                                                                                By Mindy Suttner

Andrew Flake, a descendant of James Madison Flake, was the Young Single Adult who responded to the call for volunteers to help dig out under the St. George temple baptistery to renovate the plumbing.  James Madison Flake, when he met the Prophet Joseph Smith, immediately freed all of his slaves, sold his large plantation, and dedicated his wealth to outfitting as many Saints as he could to trek west.  Andrew’s consecration to the Lord is reminiscent of the sacrifices of his forbears.

Repentance and Forgiveness

In last October conference, Elder Jorg Klebingat, gave us a list of 6 things to help us increase our Confidence with God. I’m a list maker and like to check things off so I liked his message about using the Atonement in our lives.

#4. Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly. Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out.

He compares the Atonement of Jesus Christ as a prescription from the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. We go to the Dr. for a prescription medication to fix our bodies; in comparison we have the atonement that we can fix our spirits with, if “we apply it generously, 24/7”.

(Along with Repentance of course, comes Forgiveness)

#5. Become really, really good at forgiving. “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10). Forgive everyone, everything, all the time, or at least strive to do so, thus allowing forgiveness into your own life. We shouldn’t hold grudges, or be easily offended, We need to forgive and forget quickly.

Another way to look at it: “We should forgive not because we are wrong, but because staying angry robs us of our happiness.”

The Prodigal Son is Me!

Last weekend we had a nice visit with Jon and Lesa, Darrell, Eve, Jonba, and William came down from Cedar City. I attached the pictures of Jonba and Willilam, embracing in a hug after not seeing each other for over seven years. It promted me to think about the Prodigal son and his embrace by his father when he returned. Now, neither William or Jonba are the Prodigal son; but we all are. We all have need for the atoning compassion of our Savior. 

I loved this talk by Brent H. Nielson given in 2015 April Conference Sunday morning session. Please take a few minutes and listen to it. I love the conclusion that I've highligted below in yellow. 

"Some of you, like the Nielson family, have family members who have temporarily lost their way. The Savior’s instruction to all who have 100 sheep is to leave the ninety and nine and go after and rescue the one. His instruction to those who have 10 pieces of silver and lose one is to search until you find it. When the lost one is your son or your daughter, your brother or your sister, and he or she has chosen to leave, we learned in our family that, after all we can do, we love that person with all of our hearts and we watch, we pray, and we wait for the Lord’s hand to be revealed.

Perhaps the most important lesson the Lord taught me through this process happened during our family scripture study after my sister had left the Church.Our son David was reading as we studied together Luke 15. As he read the parable of the prodigal son, I heard it differently that day than I had ever heard it before. For some reason, I had always related to the son who stayed home. As David read that morning, I realized that in some ways I was the prodigal son. All of us fall short of the glory of the Father (see Romans 3:23). All of us need the Savior’s Atonement to heal us. All of us are lost and need to be found. This revelation that day helped me know that my sister and I both needed the Savior’s love and His Atonement. Susan and I were actually on the same path back home.

The Savior’s words in the parable as He describes the father greeting his prodigal son are powerful, and I believe they may be the description of the experience you and I will have with the Father when we return to our heavenly home. They teach us of a father who loves, waits, and watches. These are the words of the Savior: “When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

May you and I receive the revelation to know how to best approach those in our lives who are lost and, when necessary, to have the patience and love of our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, as we love, watch, and wait for the prodigal. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2015/04/waiting-for-the-prodigal?lang=en

I ask your forgiveness for anything I've done through out the years to hurt any of you. I love you all dearly and hope that we may all be more forgiving and loving to each other. 

That's it! Love you all and have a great weekend. 

Two Little Words, "I'm Sorry"

One of the first lessons that children learn in Primary, is Forgiveness. In Nursery they learn to say, "I'm sorry". May we learn to say them as quickly as our small nursery children. 

 If we are continually pressed down and kept from achieving our potential because of the wrongs that other’s have down to us; we need to do what our children would sing to us in their Disney Elsa voices, “Let it go, Let it go.” The gospel and our Savior’s atonement provide the way.

Sister Jean A. Stevens said, “The gospel is not weight. It is Wings. It carries us.” May we use the atonement to lift and carry us as we learn to forgive others.

As Christ was about to be crucified on the cross, he uttered: “Father, Forgive them”.

My challenge and homework assignment for this week: take a step to forgive someone: write a letter, leave a note, send a text or better yet, Pick up the Phone and call.

Don’t carry a misunderstanding or disagreement to the grave.

Latter Day Saints or Sinners

When we learn to accept and apply our Savior’s Atonement and Grace, we can forgive and move forward. We are, are we not Latter-Day Saints.

I Loved General Conference last weekend. I really enjoyed Elder Dale Renlund’s talk, “Latter-day Saints Keep on Trying."

He talked about Nelson Mandela’s remarkable Forgivness of those who had imprisoned him for 27 years.

Mandela received widespread acclaim and praise for this forgiveness. Mandela frequently deflected accolades by saying, “I’m no saint—that is, unless you think a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying.”

Elder Renlund remarks, “This statement—“a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying”—should reassure and encourage members of the Church. Although we are referred to as “Latter-day Saints,” we sometimes flinch at this reference. The term Saint is commonly used to designate those who have achieved an elevated state of holiness or even perfection. And we know perfectly well that we are not perfect.”

The gospel does teach us that “ we may be perfected by repeatedly “relying wholly upon” the doctrine of Christ: exercising faith in Him, repenting, partaking of the sacrament to renew the covenants and blessings of baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost as a constant companion.”

God cares a lot more about who we are and who we are becoming than about who we once were. He cares that we keep on trying. In His mercy, God promises forgiveness to us, when we repent and turn from wickedness. 

Elder Renlund pointed out that, God’s desire that Latter-day Saints keep on trying also extends beyond overcoming sin. Whether we suffer because of troubled relationships, economic challenges, or illnesses or as a consequence of someone else’s sins, the Savior’s infinite Atonement can heal even—and perhaps especially—those who have innocently suffered. Christ understands perfectly what it is like to suffer innocently as a consequence of another’s transgression.

My invitation to all of us is to evaluate our lives, repent, and keep on trying. 

Elder Renlund said: If we don’t try, we’re just latter-day sinners; if we don’t persevere, we’re latter-day quitters; and if we don’t allow others to try, we’re just latter-day hypocrites.

  As we try, persevere, and help others to do the same, we are true Latter-day Saints. As we change, we will find that God indeed cares a lot more about who we are and about who we are becoming than about who we once were. 

The Parable of the Toilet Paper

One time on social media, I read a discussion on which way the toilet paper roll should be placed in the TP holder; so the paper comes over the top or under the roll. I’d never given this much thought. I just did it how my family did it in my home growing up; with the paper coming down under the roll. I decided to give it a test and tried it both ways trying to determine which way I thought was best.

After a few weeks, my unscientific study determined that it was easier to use if it came over the top! This is different that I had down my whole, entire life! I was wrong! I had an epiphany that there was another way, other than my way that was better. I needed to do some repenting and forgiving of myself and others.

Now the parable: I realized that I could be wrong about something.  I was humbled. What a blessing that I have such a patient husband who let me be right most of the time in our marriage! This experience changed my way of thinking and acting. What a great lesson for our kids to learn earlier than my older years.

It is no doubt that they will learn this lesson on their missions as they are placed with different companions, who have different ways of doing things. Hopefully, they will learn this before they get married and find out that there are two ways to do everything…and you may not always be right.

The age old advice, to never go to bed angry is still great advice! Be the first to say, you’re sorry.

I ask for your forgiveness for the many times that I may have offended anyone here today. I have a repentant heart.  I have been humbled.

Look Up!

I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real. I know that when they are at the center of our lives, things fall into place. We find direction. Worry falls away. I have a testimony of that. I'm so grateful for Dawson and Jade for pointing that out to me yesterday.

 God is real, He loves you so much and thinks so much more of you than you do. I promise. Place Him at the center of all you do and remember Him and His Son always. Life is meant to be beautiful- don't forget that. Also, remember it is always better to look up. Sometimes we are so caught up in looking down at our phones or any technology, or even just at the ground when walking or are feeling sad. Where does the adversary want us to look? He wants us to look down- to be negative, unhappy, and not hopeful. Christ wants us to look up- to see positive, to have hope through His Atonement, to feel happy because through Him, all things are possible and happiness and a joyful future can and will happen.

 Remember that where you are focusing your mind, your eyes and attention is how your life will feel and be. Put your focus on happiness and the Savior. When we look up, it physically feels better. Smile at someone, make their day, be hopefully because Christ made all things possible. He is the only source of true and lasting happiness.

--Jade Madison Jensen