This is what I learned this morning in my studies as I sit here feeding my beautiful grandbaby. We have all the answers as members of The Church but the most important thing we are here on this earth to learn, we sometimes forget..... without charity, the pure love of Christ, we are nothing.
This is a post that I came across that says it all. Be sure and listen to the song at the bottom of the post. It is amazing...
http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/10/the-reason-for-the-world/
Monday, December 14, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
TEMPLES
As I am preparing to teach the Old Testament to my Sunday School class next year, I have spent my morning reading time learning about the ancient Temples. The importance of the Temple has been on my mind continuously and I want to make it a goal next year to attend the Temple much more often than I did this year. As I was reading this morning, I came across this quote which perfectly states my thoughts I have been having these last few weeks:
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, emeritus member of the Seventy, said:
The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has and will unleash every evil, every scheme, every blatant vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this dispensation is the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. We and our wives and husbands, our children, and our members must find safety. There is no safety in the world; wealth cannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership alone in this Church will not guarantee it.
As the evil night darkens upon this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. In our temples we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us… Before the Savior comes the world will darken. There will come a time when even the elect will begin to lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure through their faith in Christ and within the temple walls. I believe the Saints will come to the temples not only to do vicarious work but to find a God-given haven of peace. The true and faithful Latter-day Saints will long to bring their children to our temples for safety’s sake… There will be greater hosts of unseen beings in the temple. Joseph told the brethren, “And I beheld that the temple was filled with angels” (History of the Church, vol. 2, page 428). I believe prophets of old as well as those in this dispensation will visit the temples. Those who attend the temples will feel their strength and companionship. We will not be alone in our temples.
Endowed faithful members of the Church who keep all their covenants including the sacred coverings will be safe as protected behind temple walls.9
I am so grateful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the privilege I have been given to be sealed to my family in the Temple of the Lord. I am blessed to live within walking distance to the Temple and know that I will be held to a higher standard as to my attendance. We must become a Temple-going and Temple-loving people in these last days, as that is the only thing that will give us the power we will need to withstand the troubled times ahead.
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, emeritus member of the Seventy, said:
The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has and will unleash every evil, every scheme, every blatant vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this dispensation is the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. We and our wives and husbands, our children, and our members must find safety. There is no safety in the world; wealth cannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership alone in this Church will not guarantee it.
As the evil night darkens upon this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. In our temples we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us… Before the Savior comes the world will darken. There will come a time when even the elect will begin to lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure through their faith in Christ and within the temple walls. I believe the Saints will come to the temples not only to do vicarious work but to find a God-given haven of peace. The true and faithful Latter-day Saints will long to bring their children to our temples for safety’s sake… There will be greater hosts of unseen beings in the temple. Joseph told the brethren, “And I beheld that the temple was filled with angels” (History of the Church, vol. 2, page 428). I believe prophets of old as well as those in this dispensation will visit the temples. Those who attend the temples will feel their strength and companionship. We will not be alone in our temples.
Endowed faithful members of the Church who keep all their covenants including the sacred coverings will be safe as protected behind temple walls.9
I am so grateful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the privilege I have been given to be sealed to my family in the Temple of the Lord. I am blessed to live within walking distance to the Temple and know that I will be held to a higher standard as to my attendance. We must become a Temple-going and Temple-loving people in these last days, as that is the only thing that will give us the power we will need to withstand the troubled times ahead.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Where has two years gone?
It's really hard to believe it has been two years minus 6 days since we took this picture of Elder Sommerville. 
Can't wait to post new pics in less than a week. It will be a wonderful reunion with the family. 
Can't wait to post new pics in less than a week. It will be a wonderful reunion with the family. 
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
THINGS I'VE LEARNED ABOUT MAKING JUDGMENTS
Commenting on Christ's request that His crucifiers be forgiven )"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" -- Luke 23:34) one commentator noted:
Who are the "they" who "do not know what they are doing?"...In Luke 23:34a the "they" for whom Jesus is praying includes both the Romans and the Jews in proportion to their respective roles in Jesus's death...In [Luke's] understanding, no matter how much the evil was plotted, the perpetrators can always be said not to have known (i.e., appreciated God's goodness or plan) or else they would not have acted as they did. In opposing Jesus's followers to the point of stoning them, Paul who was allied with the chief priests said: "I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things against the name of Jesus the Nazorean" (Acts 26:9). Yet surely Luke would judge that Paul did not know what he was doing...One might sum up Luke's attitude thus: If there were those who did not know because they had not been told, there were also those who did not know because, although they had been told, they did not grasp.
In other words, just as Jesus could say, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do," it can be said of all who sin, "They know not what they do." For, which of us, having an eternal perspective restored to us, would continue to do things which we know to be contrary to God's will?
When we look upon those steeped in sin or those tempted to stray from the path, we must, with Christ, petition the Father to forgive them. We must ASSUME THE BEST of them and part of that "BEST" is recognizing that most people commit sin because "they know not what they do." It is the Lord's place to judge their hearts and their choices. It is our place to unconditionally love them as He loves them.
Who are the "they" who "do not know what they are doing?"...In Luke 23:34a the "they" for whom Jesus is praying includes both the Romans and the Jews in proportion to their respective roles in Jesus's death...In [Luke's] understanding, no matter how much the evil was plotted, the perpetrators can always be said not to have known (i.e., appreciated God's goodness or plan) or else they would not have acted as they did. In opposing Jesus's followers to the point of stoning them, Paul who was allied with the chief priests said: "I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things against the name of Jesus the Nazorean" (Acts 26:9). Yet surely Luke would judge that Paul did not know what he was doing...One might sum up Luke's attitude thus: If there were those who did not know because they had not been told, there were also those who did not know because, although they had been told, they did not grasp.
In other words, just as Jesus could say, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do," it can be said of all who sin, "They know not what they do." For, which of us, having an eternal perspective restored to us, would continue to do things which we know to be contrary to God's will?
When we look upon those steeped in sin or those tempted to stray from the path, we must, with Christ, petition the Father to forgive them. We must ASSUME THE BEST of them and part of that "BEST" is recognizing that most people commit sin because "they know not what they do." It is the Lord's place to judge their hearts and their choices. It is our place to unconditionally love them as He loves them.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
HANDBOOK 2009
HEALTH:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
PERSONALITY:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
SOCIETY:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
LIFE:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
PERSONALITY:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
SOCIETY:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
LIFE:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
LATEST INSTACARE VISIT
A couple of weeks ago I had just been thinking, wow, it's been so long since our family has had any kind of medical emergency. Medical bills had become a weekly, if not daily, part of our visit to the mailbox. From surgeries, cancer checkups, knee MRIs, feet pain checks, mouth surgeries, cysts, etc. We were just beginning to feel like we were finally catching up. Well, not to worry, last night Shad's eyebrow and the court met with a bang!! Blood all over, as you can see, and a trip to Instacare at 9:50 p.m. Luckily they close at 10:00 p.m. and to our great surprise, seven stitches later, we were in and out in about 25 minutes. I think that is a record for the time spent in Instacare!! We were very grateful we did not have to go to the emergency room, and back to the familiar, medical bills in our mailbox!! By the way, we did end up winning the game...Go Miners!! Wednesday, April 1, 2009
TEMPLES Part I
These next few posts are taken from a paper prepared by Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone May 26, 1993. Sixteen years later, I believe it is imperative that we follow this counsel:
The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has and will unleash every evil, every scheme, every blatant vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this dispensation is the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. We and our wives and husbands, our children, and our members must find safety. There is no safety in the world; wealth cannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership alone in this Church will not guarantee it. As the evil night darkens upon this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. In our temples we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us. Unseen sentinels often times watch over us. The Prophet Joseph plead with God during the dedicatory prayer at Kirtland: "And we ask Thee Holy Father that Thy servants may go forth from this house (temple) armed with Thy power and that Thy name may be upon them and Thine angels have charge over them." The Lord has promised, "For I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."(Doctrine & Covenants 84:88) Surely angelic attendants guard the temples of the most high God. It is my conviction as it was in the days of Elisha so it will be for us. "They that be with us are more than they that be with them."(2 Kings 6:16)
The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has and will unleash every evil, every scheme, every blatant vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this dispensation is the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. We and our wives and husbands, our children, and our members must find safety. There is no safety in the world; wealth cannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership alone in this Church will not guarantee it. As the evil night darkens upon this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. In our temples we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us. Unseen sentinels often times watch over us. The Prophet Joseph plead with God during the dedicatory prayer at Kirtland: "And we ask Thee Holy Father that Thy servants may go forth from this house (temple) armed with Thy power and that Thy name may be upon them and Thine angels have charge over them." The Lord has promised, "For I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."(Doctrine & Covenants 84:88) Surely angelic attendants guard the temples of the most high God. It is my conviction as it was in the days of Elisha so it will be for us. "They that be with us are more than they that be with them."(2 Kings 6:16)
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