I Am a Woman, a Daughter of God.

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Recently, some women decided to wear pants to church as a statement against the gender inequalities they see. I did not wear pants to my church on December 16th for two reasons. One being, I don't go to church to make statements, to protest, or anything other than to worship my God, remember His Son, my Savior Jesus Christ, renew my covenants that I have made with my God, and to learn ways to be better, more like my Savior.

My other reason is: Why, on earth, would I want to protest or make some equality statement in my church where they know and teach the importance of women. My church understands the effect a righteous woman can have on society and the effect they have on their and others children. They understand that we make or break society. Our Prophet Thomas S. Monson has quoted William R. Wallace and said “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” President Spencer W. Kimball Prophet of the church from 1973 to 1985 has many great quotes speaking of women's roles and responsibilities, the best one being “To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife."

No, the only statements or protests that need to made, need to be done in the world, outside of my church, especially in Hollywood. Nothing offends me more than when I hear, in TV shows or in movies, women referred to as things. Men talk of women as an object to be used, abused, and after they've have their fun, to be discarded and tossed aside. This infuriates me. I hate the saying “hit that.” Even though this refers to a sexual conquest, hitting is an abusive term, and “that”, women aren't even referred to as people. This is what we have reduced to, daughters of God and mothers to future generations, have become objects. If we want more respect, better treatment, this is where we need to start, not in a church who loves and respects women and understands their important role in society in raising the next generation. The world has made many women come to resent and hate this role.

There is no other role that is more important than raising the next generation. All that our young women are learning from the world and women of the world are that they are objects for men to ogle, make degrading comments to, and use, and then if the those aren't bad enough, many teach that there is no real difference between men and women.  The facts are, we are not objects, we are people and important members of society and there is a difference between us and men. We are not like men, Thank Heavens. We are different with different qualities that when joined together through marriage make one complete, beautiful, companionship. Men and women complete each other. We shouldn't be fighting against this but embrace it, celebrate it. We should enjoy our differences and help each other as we raise and help our children and serve and help our neighbors.    

What a glorious blessing it is to have the knowledge that gender is eternal. We were girls or boys before this life and we will be after this life and we all have important responsibilities to perform. We all can have salvation and live with our loving Father in Heaven again and have an inheritance in His kingdom. But, not alone, together, as an eternal companionship, a husband and wife can receive a full inheritance. Many, because of circumstances out of their control do not marry in this life or have children.  While these trials are very difficult, if endured well, all of these blessings can be theirs in the life after this one.  God's love and Christ's Atoning sacrifice will make up for all these missed blessings in this life.  Hang in there, remember God loves you and has many blessings in store for all his children who miss out on these blessings because of circumstances out of their control.  God does not love His sons more or His daughters more, he loves all His children and desires them to love and serve Him and choose to live with Him again. We are all special in His eyes. Special enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for all of us that we may return to Him and live with Him forever. Please, beautiful, special, and important women, don't lose sight of what is really important because worldly views are clouding and confusing our eternal view. Embrace your gifts, your uniqueness and lets work to make a better, stronger society for the future by investing our time in our children. Let's not protest or make statements in the only institution that understands just how special and important you are. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Who's side are we on?

Lately I have been pondering some questions that have been introduced by people around me whom I respect and look up to.  But some of the things I have read and heard from them have made me question some things I believe to be true and right.  So in trying to find out if I have been wrong, I was able to go on a soul searching journey and seek answers from the source of all truth and come to cement my feelings and beliefs.  This has been a wonderful experience.  I have come to know for myself the truth of James' words in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Some of the questions are "am I wrong to support and defend traditional marriage?  Am I not being Christ like with the attitude and feeling of wanting marriage to be defined between a man and a woman?  Should we let gays and lesbians live how they want and even marry?"

The rhetoric going around is that if you are against this basic right of these people then you are closed minded and hateful.  The other voices say it is not hateful to defend traditional marriage.  So who is right? 

The scriptures teach us that marriage is between a man and a woman and the family of the world was started when God married Adam and Eve and commanded them to multiply and replenish the earth.  Christ taught that marriage is to be eternal and joined together by God in Mark 9:6- 9 "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.  What therefore God hath joined together let no man put asunder."   

We know what is true and right but the world is different now and does it really hurt anyone allowing gays and lesbians to marry?   There could be a case made that it doesn't matter and doesn't hurt anyone but the truth is that is wrong.  If laws are changed schools will teach that families can be mommy and mommy or daddy and daddy.  It will be easier for innocent children to be adopted into these "families" which are not as healthy for them as traditional families nor can they ever be sealed together, forever as a family.  Missionary efforts to bring these precious souls to Christ will be more complicated and made difficult as divorces will have to obtained before they can be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.

What does God expects us to do?  We have made sacred covenants with Him and He expects us to remember and keep those sacred covenants.  As we break questions down into their simplest form, as you would a math problem, there is a right side and a wrong side to almost if not every question.  For this question, God's side would be to support and defend His doctrine and teachings as Christ would do if he were here.  For instance, the story of the woman taken in adultery, Jesus did not condemn her but did tell her to "go thy way and sin no more".  He told her to stop.

Satan's side is to lead people to believe that "whatever a man did it was no crime." and to make those who know this is wrong to feel bad about their beliefs.  He wants to destroy the kingdom of God.  He won't ever be able to do this, but he can take down many souls along the way.

As we simplify our tough questions we can find the right answer and know which choice to make.
 
A good example of this breaking down choices to it's simplest terms can be applied to a recent happening here in Utah.  A group that is not working with or associated with the LDS church but is made up of members of the church, supported a lawsuit that the ACLU brought against Brigham City Utah because the city wouldn't allow protestors of the new temple, access to the temple goers.  They could protest across the street or around the corner but to keep peace and allow the temples goers their right to worship in peace, they were not allowed to be on the same sidewalk.  Well this made the protestors angry because they wanted to hand out their anti-mormon literature.  A lawsuit was filed and as I said this group supported it because they saw freedoms being infringed upon.  But whose freedoms do we fight for in a case like this.  Someone's freedoms are going to be infringed upon whether it be the religious freedoms of those attending, to go in peace, or the rights of those protesting.
This group chose the rights of the protestors but when you break down this choice, whose side did they choose.  Jesus would want His followers and also investigators to be able to come to His house in peace, to learn and feel the spirit.  Satan would like to interrupt this happy, spiritual event.  When this group supported the protestors lawsuit they supported Satan's plan behind the guise of protecting freedoms.  There is a right side and a wrong side.  They chose to promote and defend the wrong side.

When faced with a choice if we break things down into their simplest terms we can usually find a right or wrong side and if we can't we can always study the scriptures and words of our prophets and then pray to the source of all truth, our Heavenly Father, and the answers will come.  I testify that we can find truth and the right choice in the world today if we will seek for it and not get caught up in all the voices of the world.  In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Ephesians 6:12 (King James version)

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12.

Lately, a political blog I follow "Powerline", has had some articles about the growth of the food stamp program and also the recent changes to the welfare program. These articles have troubled me but I couldn't put my finger on exactly why.  I believe that we should do everything in our power to provide for our families. I think I got this from my dad who taught us at a young age to work for what you get. We qualified for free lunch when I attended elementary and my father worked out an arrangement with the school that we would eat lunch and then clean the lunchroom floor when we were done eating, to earn our lunch. This was very embarrassing and not fun and truthfully we barely did it. But the fact that my dad, even though free lunch was offered, would not except it without some sort of payment was a great lesson to us.

Sometimes, we work, cut out spending-give up cable and high speed internet-and cut everything we can and yet we do not have enough in the end to feed our families.  At these times outside help is necessary for our survival.  I would hope we have more options than one to turn to.  Hopefully, we have family, friends, and a church community we can go to for help in difficult times, but even the government is there if needed.

One problem with the government system today is that if you only need a little help, you don't qualify for any help.  I heard a disturbing story from a friend about a friend who needed help with her daycare payments.  She petitioned the government for help and was told she did not qualify for any funds, but if she were to quit her job, she not only could get help for daycare (which she wouldn't need anymore) but would get housing money, food stamps, and more.  She is now a stay-at-home mom dependent on taxpayers.

Is the government interested in helping people?  It seems like they are not trying to help people better their lives, but create a large dependent lower class. Why?

The more I thought about the governments interest in welfare the more troubled I became. It seemed to me there was an underlying agenda that I was missing. So I asked the question. Why? Why would the government want the welfare system to grow? We should want families to help themselves and not live off the taxes of others. So why would the president want to grow these programs? Part of the problem is the economic hardships occurring right now.  These programs are partially growing on their own because of, obviously, the poor economic times. But why is he actually pushing-advertising for more people to get on food stamps and removing the work requirement to the welfare program? Well an obvious answer is VOTES!! It is an election year and voters hit the voting booths in just a few months. That must be the answer.

My feelings, however, kept telling me there was more to this. So I asked a different question. Why does the government want so many people dependent upon them? The answer that came made me gasp. If the people are dependent on the government for financial needs and for food they don't need to depend on anyone else. That is a scary thought because the list includes: themselves, their family, their friends, their church, and last but certainly not least, THEIR GOD!! When that thought entered my mind the last 3 and 1/2 years, even longer than that, suddenly made sense. Not so subtle and sometimes very subtly the government has been making this country something it is not and never should or will be. This is a very radical thought and I will lose many readers, if I have any, but I am convinced that this president and those pulling the strings want a communist state.

Now if you are still with me let me explain. I have been doing research on this the last few days. I read a lot of the communist manifesto. Yeah, I went there. Let me share with you a little of what it is says. "The theory of communism may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property." What does that mean? The poorest of the poor have no property such as homes and cars. In order to abolish private property all together, the state takes it from the middle class and upper classes. Communism in a nutshell is the lower class, with the help of the political elites, abolishing by laws, taxes, war, and what have you the middle and upper classes. There is a little bit more I think worth noting. Communism abolishes not only private property, but families,countries, nationalities, eternal truths including religion and all morality. This is in their manifesto.

So what is the plan. His plan so far has been to 1. create a class warfare. Remember the Occupy movement. "The 1% are bad and don't pay their fair share and we should have what they have." Big business is bad (even though it is businesses that create jobs and boost the economy).  He did not create this movement, but he certainly supported the occupiers.  2. Put government in charge of more of our lives, Affordable Care act. 3. Make people dependent on government and not on a supreme being.  Religion needs to be abolished for communism or socialism to thrive.  It is very difficult to wage a full out attack on religion because there are so many religious people in this country. So the attack must occur slowly and subtly by removing the need to rely on God for help and demonizing religious persons.


So what can we do to stop it. Well to stop the current president we vote him out. What about the next communist or socialist who wants to change America, how do we put a complete stop to it?   I have a 2 fold plan. 1. Elect men who believe in God . Who speak about Him as well as feel accountable to Him.  Was it in doubt that our founding fathers believed in God? No! They might have had many names for Him, but they believed He was the power behind winning the revolutionary war and behind the creating and ratifying of the constitution. They wrote about him, spoke openly about him and lived his precepts. We need those type of men in the offices of congress and president today. 2. This part of the plan is found in 2 Nephi 25:26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophesies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."


I searched google for "religion and communism" and found some quotes I wanted to share. The quotes come from an article by Leslie Mason "The Forum: The Conflict Between Communism and Religion A reply to Baldwin" It was written in the communist review June 1924 Vol 5. no. 2. He says "...judging from the words of Christ, True Christianity and pacifism lull into inactivity the best fighting elements of the working class. Thereby leaving them entirely at the mercy of the capitalist class, without the will or the means of resisting. Would Lenin have accomplished the Revolution if he had adhered to the christian doctrine of pacifism instead of waging the class war? Will the communist parties in the various countries overthrow capitalism by the christian doctrine of love and gentle persuasion instead of by the use of force? No decidedly not! No one can be consistently both a christian and a communist. A true Christian believes in turning the other cheek, resisting not oppression, returning good for evil. It would be madness for a communist to adopt such an attitude towards the oppression of the capitalist class." Then at the end of the article he quotes Trotsky "And therefore, we adopt a ruthlessly irreconcilable attitude to anyone who utters a single word to the effect that mysticism or religious sentimentality might be combined with communism. Religiousness is irreconcilable with the Marxian standpoint. We are of the opinion that Atheism, as an inseparable element of the materialist view of life, is a necessary condition for the theoretical education of the revolution. He who believes in another world is not capable of concentrating all his passion on the transformation of this one."


So how do we combat communism? We teach the doctrine of Christ. Love your neighbor as yourself. Who is your neighbor everyone. "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you" St. Matthew 5:44.

Also we bring to remembrance the goodness and mercy of God which he bestows on all His children who keep His commandments and believe in His Son, Jesus Chris. We remember the Israelites and their afflictions in Egypt and Moses bringing plagues down in Egypt by the power of God. We remember the crossing of the red sea on dry ground and then the Egyptian army being drowned in the sea. We remember Moses smiting a rock and water coming forth to quench the thirst of the children of Israel. We remember the mana and quails that fell from Heaven to feed them. We remember how they were led by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. We remember the fiery flying serpents and the rod they were to look at for healing. We remember the battle of Jericho. We remember Elijah, the prophet being fed by ravens. We remember the widow woman that had enough food for one last meal and prepared it for the prophet Elijah and her oil and flour never ran out. We remember Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego who were saved from being consumed in the fire. we remember Daniel in the lions den. We remember Jesus feeding the 5 thousand and the 4 thousand with a few loaves and fishes. We remember Him healing the blind, the deaf, the sick. We remember Christ's sacrifice of death and suffering for us. We remember the revolutionary war and how it was won by the hand of God. We remember that we are Gods children and that He loves us and is willing to bless us according to our faith in Him. We remember that He gave us our agency in the beginning and desires His children to be free.  And we remember that Christ will return. Wickedness will be destroyed and righteousness will remain and He will be our King. We remember that this is the time to prepare to meet God to be judged of our works, desires, and the intentions of our hearts.  We remember that liberty and justice for all are not just pretty words, but what this country stands for.  In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Politics, Religion....Life

I was up at 4:30 this morning tossing and turning trying to go back to sleep but not able to turn my mind off. I couldn't sleep because of this blog post rolling around in my head. I lay there until 6:00am at which time I got out my tablet and started reading (I should have got out my scriptures but I wanted to do research on the thoughts in my head) at 7:00am I went for my Friday 5 mile run to clear my head which didn't really work because I ran the whole way thinking about this post.

I said awhile ago that I post when something is on my mind a lot or really important to me. So here I am again with something on my mind making it hard for me to sleep and something very important to me.


I read yesterday a discussion on facebook about Gay and Lesbian Marriage. I need to learn to stay off of facebook. Anyway one of the comments made during this discussion was the need to take religion out of politics. I have heard this argument before and will hear it again especially when it comes to disagreements because of beliefs. There may be many who agree with the comment. For me, it doesn't make sense. I don't know what it means or how one would do that.


My religion is not just some place I go on Sundays to do what I call worshiping my God. It is not just a belief system that I have that I can use for my benefit or discard when it is not beneficial to me. My religion is the gospel of Jesus Christ, taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which I am a member of because I performed ordinances and entered into covenants with my God only by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek priesthood. It is my life. It is my moral compass, it influences my daily interactions with my children, my husband, my friends in and out of the church. It influences the clothes I buy and wear, the way I speak, the way my children speak, what I read, what I watch, what I do and how I live. To really claim to have a religion, I believe it should be this way---- your life.


Our founding fathers when drafting the constitution and then trying to get it ratified did not take religion out of the process. It was their life. Their strong belief in God is what helped them write it and get it ratified.

Washington called religion, as the source of morality, "a necessary spring of popular government," while Adams claimed that statesmen "may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand."

Benjamin Franklin said during the constitutional convention "the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this Truth--that God governs in the Affairs of Men." "I also believe," Franklin continued, that "without his concurring Aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no better than the Builders of Babel."


So why do some want us to take our religious beliefs out of politics? Because if we can separate out the different aspects of our lives that way then we should have no problems with things like the Affordable Health Care Act which infringes upon religious freedom as the Catholic church has found with the birth control coverage. It doesn't matter if it is a firmly held religious practice and belief not to use it or support its use, they now have to provide the coverage of it for their employees and students attending THEIR schools. And what happens if the board in charge of what is covered decides to allow coverage of abortions for everyone then our premiums go to pay for abortions when we may have firmly held religious beliefs that that is wrong. That is an infringement on our religious freedom.

Gay and lesbian Marriage does the same thing. As I said before I am a member of the LDS church which strongly defends traditional marriage. It is not because of a hatred for Gay and lesbians. I do not hate gays and lesbians. We aren't opposed to them having certain rights that they are fighting for. But we can't be silent on something which interferes with our doctrines, for instance we know that marriage should be between a man and a woman and also that children have the right to be raised by a mother and father and any other situation, although there are many, are not as healthy for the children, more than this though, marriages and families are to last beyond the grave.  The only families that can last beyond the grave are those who have been sealed together by the Spirit of Promise in the temples of God.  This can be done after a couple dies or here on earth.  But, it can only be done for families living God's laws, keeping his commandments and their covenants.

The LDS church released a statement in 2008 which said

"We are not anti-gay, we are pro-marriage between a man and a woman. And there's a huge difference between those two points," Elder L. Whitney Clayton, of the Presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy told KSL News.

One day after last year's election -- in which the Church supported California's Proposition 8 -- Elder Clayton stressed the support of traditional marriage.

The Church's First Presidency also released a statement, which reads, in part, that the Church "does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights or probate rights."


Elder Ballard said in an interview during a temple open house (which is before a temple is dedicated unto the Lord people can go in and view the rooms inside the temple) when asked about our stance on gay and lesbian marriages in a room where marriages are performed and families sealed together for eternity...

"It is 'for all time and eternity,' as Ballard puts it. 'And the families are to be together forever.' It is 'not just an earthly matter,' he adds."

"'That sense of eternity is symbolized by two massive mirrors on opposite walls. Couples look in them and see cascading reflections that seem infinite.'

"Eternal marriage for Mormons always involves a man and a woman. "That's exactly as God declared it," Ballard says. "Because only between a man and a woman can children be born. And children are inheritance of the Lord."

"'There is some very careful study, very careful evaluation being made, as to what would be appropriate and what isn't doctrinally,' Ballard answers. 'But if anything interferes with the basic fundamental principle of marriage being between man and a woman, doctrinally we're locked in. We don't have the capacity to call upon God and tell him to change his mind, that he made a mistake.'"

Just like we cannot ask God to change His mind. He is the same yesterday today and forever. We cannot take our religious beliefs out of different parts of our lives especially politics. Our religions should be a big part of us and that includes the things we do and say and our political beliefs as well. It should be our lives.


Our religious freedoms are being eroded away. We can't as a people sit back and let that happen, the consequences are too great. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Happiness, Peace and Safety

Happiness, peace and safety, what a combination. Do you know anyone who does not want these three things in their life? I don't. Do we feel it difficult or even impossible to have these things in our crazy, fast paced lives here on this beautiful sphere we call earth? I think the answer to that is yes it is difficult to attain these feelings especially on a daily basis in our lives here on earth. I also want to testify that it is possible and important for us to find here. So what is the way or path or the key to achieving these? My purpose for this blog post is to share my formula for obtaining these but I must say that I do believe that this formula will work for everyone when accepted with faith and obedience. Those are actually key in attaining happiness, peace and safety.

Happiness, I will start with this one. There are many things out there that we as humans feel will make us happy such as money, independence, freedom to do as we choose without guilt, nice cars, nice house, boat, etc. These all bring pleasure and some happiness if they could actually be achieved. For example freedom to do as you choose without any guilt or regret is not possible. Eventually we will stand to be judged of our works and intents and desires of our hearts. Wickedness or going against Gods commandments will never bring happiness. So if our desire is to do whatever we like or will make us feel good at that moment, without thinking about God or others, we will never be truly happy.

True happiness comes from a knowledge of, and a relationship with the Godhead. 1.Knowing or at least believing that there is a God, a father of our spirits, a supreme all knowing being who knows us individually and loves us more than we could ever know is so important in attaining happiness.

2. Knowing or believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, creator of this earth and all things on it, and that he came down to this earth, the Son of God, to live a perfect life as an example to us, and then to suffer for the sins, pains and sicknesses of the the world that we may receive a remission (a complete forgiveness) for our sins as we repent and forsake them and comfort at His hands, and finally to die for us and take His life again overcoming death for us all.

3. Knowing or believing in the power of the Holy Ghost, a spirit being with an important job to do. In the Ensign magazine for the month of June there was an article describing the many reasons that the Holy Ghost communicates with us, I want to share those with you. They are 1. to testify, 2. To prophesy, 3. to comfort, 4. to uplift, 5. to inform, 6. to restrain and warn, 7. to confirm, and 8. to impel.

When we know God and His Son and so have a portion of the Holy spirit in our lives we find happiness. Does this come with a religion. No, anyone can know God and believe in His power and Know His Son and believe in His atoning sacrifice and have the Holy Spirit touch their lives. They who have a true relationship with the Godhead, developed through faith, prayer, a study of the Scriptures and obedience to the commandments can have this happiness and joy.


A fullness of joy and happiness comes when we know the true and living God and accept His will and plan for us and His True church.


Now I want to go on to peace and safety. I'll do these together because this is where I believe religion does enter in and make a difference. Faith and obedience is still the key to achieving these as well. My formula for these consists of performing ordinances which enter us into covenants with God. When we are baptized by the right authority and in the right manner (by immersion, as Jesus was)we enter into a covenant. Which means we make promises to God and He makes promises to us. Let's first talk about the promises we make.

In the Book of Mormon in Mosiah chapter 18:8 and 9 Alma gives us a great explanation of the promises we make at baptism. "And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; 9. Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death...." We learn in the Sacrament prayers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that we promise to keep the commandments, Remember our Savior Jesus Christ and take upon us His name which means to live as He did, follow His example. John 13:15 "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"


God's promises to us at baptism can also be found in Mosiah 18 verses 9 and 10:"...that ye may be redeemed of God, and numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life- 10. Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?" What do these scriptures tell us His promises to us are? 1. Redeemed. 2.Numbered with those of the first resurrection or the righteous 3. Eternal life (entering back in the presence of the Father, attaining all that He has, becoming like Him.) 4. Have His spirit more abundantly upon us. Now as Alma said if this is our true desire, these promises, are we not willing to make promises to Him to be able to have His promises?


We renew this covenant every week when we take the sacrament under the right authority.


After baptism are there more covenants to enter into? Yes the temple covenant. I can't explain this sacred covenant or the promises in this blog but they are real and bring greater safety and peace. If you have been to the temple but forgotten these important promises I urge you to go back and review and remember those very beautiful promises that we make and are made to us in all the different ceremonies performed in the temple. One thing I can say about the sealing ceremony and covenant is that it binds families together forever and no other authority on earth can do that.


How does covenanting with God bring peace and safety. God promises us certain things like eternal families, Eternal life, the Holy Ghost always in our lives, etc. and if we keep our promises to Him, He is bound to His promises and can not break them. It increases our faith in His love and power and in His Son's sacrifice for us unto salvation. Making covenants through the right authority gives us a knowledge and faith in the power of that authority which brings great peace and comfort and safety as well.


So what is this authority that I have discussed? It is priesthood authority, the authority given to man to act in God's name for the salvation of His children. The priesthood authority that Moses used to send plagues on Egypt so the children of Isreal could escape, the authority which he used to part the red sea, to make water come out of a rock, and to heal the people who would look at the brass serpent he raise up after they had been bitten by fiery flying serpents. It is the same authority that Elijah used to feed the widow and her son after they fed him what should have been the last of their oil and flour. It is the same authority that he used later to raise this widow woman's son from the dead. It is the same authority that Christ used to heal the sick, the deaf, and the blind, to cast out devils, to raise Jarius' daughter and Lazarus from the dead, to feed the thousands, and ultimately the power and authority to take His life back and overcome death.


It is this authority and power that separate the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from any and all other churches. It was restored to Joseph Smith by those who last held those keys even John the Baptist, and Peter, James, and John the beloved. The power to bless and heal and comfort and relieve pain and anguish is here on earth today. And even more important than those things formerly listed it is the authority to perform ordinances which enter us into sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father, covenants, if which kept, bring peace and safety.

The promise of the Holy Ghost to always be with us as we do all we can to let Him in our lives brings us peace and safety.


I testify of these truths. There is safety and peace in making and keeping sacred covenants. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

God is great, merciful and kind!! A lesson I learned at a funeral

I went to a funeral yesterday for Jon's uncle. It was his dad's sister's husband. We had not seen them in years but we felt we needed to go to support and show love to his aunt and his cousins and their kids. We went to the viewing before the funeral and because we are family, we stayed for the family prayer. They offered the prayer and prepared to close the casket. His close family, His wife and daughters and grandchildren, were having a very hard time and did not want to say goodbye and see that casket close. My heart ached for them as I had just been through this a few months ago with my own grandmother passing away.


I knew what some of these people were feeling: the granddaughter mourning for her beloved grandfather, the daughter mourning for her precious father. I had been in their shoes and tears filled my eyes especially as I understood some of the feelings that were going to come sweeping over them as that casket lid closed. I thought of how young his granddaughters were and how I was that young when I experienced my first funeral, that of another grandmother.


I remembered the feelings of finality and reality that hit me all at the same time like a slap in the face as that casket lid closed and how I completely and totally fell apart. Then I remembered the feeling of the Holy Ghost comforting me and testifying to me, at the young tender age of 12, that death is not the end. I will see my grandmother again.


As I pondered on these memories, shedding tears for these family members going through these same things and as my heart went out to these daughters saying goodbye to their father, yet not ready to let him go; I was filled with gratitude and amazement at my Heavenly Father's love and mercy for me. I was so grateful at that moment that my father's funeral was not the first funeral that I had experienced. I was in awe that my Heavenly Father would prepare me with the experiences that I had at my grandmother's funeral to help me get through the trial coming my way.


I no longer saw that experience of losing my grandmother, my father, and my grandfather as I did before. I used to think of that time as a trial that God had given me and my family. He took, in less than 2 years, time my grandmother, my father, and then my grandfather back to live with Him.


But what I didn't recognize was that with the loss and the feelings and the testimony born to me from the Holy Ghost when my grandmother died, the others were easier to bare and I'm grateful more than anything that he prepared me and not let my dad's death be the first one I experienced.


God has been merciful and kind to me and patient with me when am I so much less than He knows I can be and than He wants me to be. All my life He has been this way to me and I have been too stubborn or too prideful to see it. But today my heart is filled with gratitude for His tender mercies and for His Son, my and your Savior Jesus Christ whose atoning sacrifice saves us from temporal death (body separating from the spirit) and can save us from spiritual death (soul separated from God) as we keep His commandments.


Yes God is great, merciful, kind, patient and full of love for me and all of His children. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Great and Terrible times. Hopefully more Great than terrible

We are living in Great and Terrible times. Terrible, because of wars and rumors of wars, the mists of darkness which are covering the earth (mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil 1 Nephi 12: 17), Wickedness that destroys happiness and threatens the Kingdom of God [adultery and immorality (homosexuality, pornography and sexual relations before marriage, abortions and murder], Pestilences (diseases).

I had a dream once that a man whom the whole town was afraid of came into our home because someone unknowingly invited him in, (Satan). He wouldn't leave once he got inside and he walked over to our tape player (I had this dream before cd's had really become a thing and way before ipods and mp3 players) he put in a tape, or now a days docked an ipod, that was supposed to play subliminal messages but wasn't subliminal at all. It said over and over again drink alcoholic drinks and live immorally. (In my dream it actually just said drink and have sex over and over again). I begged someone to stop it. No one dared and then finally my dad, who was dead at the time but I thought that represented priesthood power, got up and shut off the tape player. Before he could turn it off the man (Satan) did all in his power to stop him. He didn't touch him but in my dream he screamed out threatenings and then as my dad went to turn off the tape player, blood came pouring out of it and my dad snatched back his hand for a moment and then reached through the blood and shut off the tape. As he did the man melted away. We had stood up to him and his power was gone.

I share this with you because these are the times we are living in. No subliminal messages, it is out there in full force drink and you'll have a good time and be happy. Be immoral don't save yourself for marriage don't even worry about getting married this is a happier way of life. Those are lies sent by Satan and his angels to bring us down into misery and captivity. Paul describes these times in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 1“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Whithout natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God: 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Everlearning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” These are the terrible times we are living in.

Times when the philosophies of men are everywhere. 7 “Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us. 8 there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink and be merry: nevertheless, fear God- he will justify in committing a little sin: yea lie a little, take advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God” 2 Nephi 28: 7-8. These are lies.

One of the worst philosophies of men is to worry about our own happiness to take care of ourselves in the sense that we worry about our own comforts and needs above all else, above God and His commandments and above His children, that we need to forget others and make sure we are happy. Following this does not bring happiness to us. Being self involved brings more misery than happiness.

Another one is food. There are so many different diets and cleansing fads and movies and articles about health and food safety. If we listen to all the different philosophies we would eat nothing because none of it is safe for us to eat. But modern revelation has given us a law of health, The word of wisdom found in D&C 89 that when followed brings promised blessings of “health in their navel and marrow to their bones. And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Isreal, and not slay them. Amen.” D&C 89:18-21. I also recently read a great talk on this By Elder Boyd K. Packer in 1996 called “The Word of Wisdom: The Principle and the Promises”.

Now I want to talk about the Great times we are living in.

Brothers and Sisters we are living in a time when there are Prophets and apostles again on the earth. Jesus Christ's church has been restored with all the power and rights of the priesthood that were here when He was on the Earth. Temples are again upon the earth with covenants and gifts for salvation, and power to seal families together forever and seal us to Heavenly Father so we can again live in His presence and enjoy eternal life, where the spirit is so strong revelation can flow openly there if we are ready to receive it and do what is asked of us.

Members of the church are given the Gift of the Holy Ghost which is the most precious gift God could give us, besides sending us His only begotten Son. We can have guidance and help as we live in the world. It teaches truth to our hearts and we can know if the things we read and see are true or not and gives us inspiration on what we need to do or change. It can guide us in our families and in our daily decisions.

We have the scriptures and as we study them in our homes and teach the things of Christ and teach His ways and His atoning sacrifice we make our homes sanctuaries where truth is taught by the spirit and where the spirit can dwell. We can combat the philosophies of men with scripture study, talks and teachings from prophets, temple attendance, General conference. We don't have to worry about the many things the world is worrying about. We have the tools and hopefully the faith in God and His love and power to not be fearful. We have been given so many helps to get us through these latter days the great and terrible days. I pray we use the blessings that Heavenly Father has provided for us so these days can be GREAT for us and we are not fearing and trembling because of the terribleness of the times. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Charity, I always feel I need greater charity.

Something that has been on my mind as of late is charity. The pure love of Christ. I see examples of people with charity all the time.


One example lately was the sadness felt for the family and the children of Susan Powell. I heard accounts of people crying and feeling great amounts of sadness for what the father did to his children. I started to think I was hard hearted because my reaction was more like that is so sad. I feel really bad for the grandparents who had custody of those children and I feel bad for what Josh Powell might have to face. (So glad I am not the Judge of these things). But never did I feel like shedding tears. I guess I felt that though their deaths were terrifying at the time it was very short and they are with their mother. Not only that but they were under the age of accountability which means eternal life for them and great blessings in the resurrection because of the afflictions suffered and their lives cut short because of actions of others that were out of their control. Also, I thought about how hard this life must have been for them not knowing what really happened to their mother, all they knew is that she was missing, their father telling them she left, and the custody battle between grandparents and father. I know they are in paradise now. So my feelings are not of great sadness for them. Like, I said I do feel sadness for the parents of Susan, the grandparents of the boys and their suffering and loss. I hope they know they have Jesus Christ to trust in and lean on at this time.


Anyway so this started me thinking I don't have charity like I should. There is a scripture in The Book of Mormon Mosiah 28:3 this verse describes the sons' of Mosiah feelings on preaching the gospel to the Lamanites. I was given this as a subject for a talk one time and it was so hard to give this talk because these were not my feelings. The scripture says “Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.” I wanted those to be my feelings but they weren't. I still don't think these are my feelings now. I want people to accept the gospel and Jesus Christ as their Savior and make and keep sacred covenants, because I know that these things will make them happy and bring them salvation. I want to help those I can to come to this knowledge. But I also know it's ultimately their choice and I can't make anyone do these things. So I guess I feel sad that people don't accept the gospel or do and then reject it, but it doesn't make me quake and tremble. Why doesn't it? I think it's because I do not love my fellowman like I love myself. I need more charity.


I read accounts of the Prophet and all he does for others and I want to be like that but sadly know that I am not. Here is on example that was told recently in the Leadership training meeting. This was shared by Elder D. Todd Christopherson he said “You know in our Thursday meetings in the temple, we conclude with those reports of our activities of the prior week, and it seems without fail, with everything else he may have been doing as President of the Church, there’s always something of an individual ministry and an effort to rescue. He’s visited someone in a nursing home. He’s given a blessing. He’s been at a funeral. He’s called someone he knew was lonely. All of that, I think, is a great example of what it means to have this—our participation in the redemptive work of the Lord—as central to our lives.


I am not all bad I would say. I pray daily for those ladies I visit teach, I seek for guidance on how to help and serve them. I love to help those in my ward who are in need with meals, with babysitting, or whatever else they may need, when asked. I have once or twice showed up at people's doorstep with meals because I thought they could use them or knew there was an illness in the home. I also saw a man walking with 2 boys the other day and I have no idea where they were going but I thought to myself 'Oh I hope they have a home to go to' and as I pictured them being homeless tears did come to my eyes and I so wanted to be rich at that moment so I could help them. For all I knew they were on a walk, but even just the thought of them maybe being homeless broke my heart.

One thing I know I could do better on is searching for, or praying often for chances to serve. Also, I have 5 children now and I feel like I have a lot to do in my home. But I feel selfish sometimes when I only serve in my home and don't help neighbors or friends. Even though I know that my work in the home is important, it is hard for me to find a balance between taking care of my family and helping others.

I want to be like these examples that are around me and luckily there is a way. I feel I need greater Charity and so I need to pray mightily for greater charity.

Moroni 7:48 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."

Then I also need to seek the spirit daily to teach me the things I need to do, to be better to gain that greater charity. Then I can have greater love and a greater desire to serve mankind, my brothers and sisters.

A little bit more on Agency.

I have been thinking a lot lately about agency and judgement day and planned on writing a blog about the things I was feeling but I realized I already wrote 2 on the subject so I will write just a little bit more and add my other blogs to this one.


What got me thinking about this was different accounts I've heard lately of LDS people saying that the commandments are too strict and the church needs to change it's rules. Scriptures say the way is strait (meaning narrow, notice the difference in the spelling, strait and straight) and narrow, so yes narrow and narrow. Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."


The commandments are from God Himself not from the leaders of the Church. Those who can stay on the strait and narrow path receive eternal life (return to the presence of God). Those who can't abide the laws and ordinances set forth by God and His Son Jesus Christ will receive less than this and less happiness in the next life.


It is up to us what we want to do and be. The commandments were not set forth to be a burden or hardship for us. They are to make us happy and healthy and to bring us eternal happiness and joy more so then we can comprehend and when we keep them we receive great blessings here in this life. The commandments become blessings in our lives and no longer seem like commandments but a way to a happy life. 2 Nephi 25:25 "For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments." Mosiah 2:41 "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."


This is dated July 16th 2009
I have been thinking about agency lately, not only pertaining to things on earth, but that ultimately our final destination is about choice. Many scriptures tell us that we are free to choose. Free to choose life and happiness or darkness and misery. If we desire things of the telestial world then that is where we will want to be. If we choose things of the celestial world then that is what we will strive for.

These are some of my favorite scriptures about this subject. 2 Nephi 2:27-29 "Wherefore men are free according to the flesh;.... And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the great Mediator of all men or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. "
"And now my sons, I would that ye should look to that great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.

And then 2 Nephi 10:23-25 "Therefore cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves-to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life."
"wherefore my beloved brotheren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not the will of the devil and the flesh ; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved."
"Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.


Alma chapters 12 and 13 are really good as well.
If we can overcome our own desires, through faith on Jesus Christ and repentance, and desire the things of the spirit then we will receive eternal life and happiness. May we all be able to overcome the flesh and desire all that is good and of God, that we may live with Him again. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.


This one is dated February 3rd 2010.
Last July I posted an entry called Agency. Today, while reading to my children I found some great scriptures that talk about how ultimately we choose for ourselves our final destination and though God is our judge, he uses our choices and desires to pronounce our judgment upon us and if mercy has place for us because of repentance He will use it but if our choices and desires take away mercy because of no repentance than His true justice is what we will find and deserve and it will be just.

The scriptures are Alma 41:3-7 "And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the DESIRES of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame- mortality to immortality, corruption to incorruption-raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on the one hand, the other on the other-
The one raised to happiness according to his DESIRES of happiness, or good according to his DESIRES of good; and the other to evil according to his DESIRES of evil; for as he has DESIRED to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.
And so it is on the one hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and DESIRED righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.
These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; FOR BEHOLD, THEY ARE THEIR OWN JUDGES, whether to do good or do evil."


Then verse 8 because I like it: "Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever WILL may walk therein and be saved."