Milk Strippings

I am not familiar with this story, but I subscribe to LDS Daily Gems, Family Gems and Church History Gems and I received this today. I LOVE it. Especially in the wake of things going on around us. On the one hand, let us always follow the counsel of the Prophet. On the other, let us not hesitate to withhold judgment and to forgive those who may not be following the priceless counsel of the Lord's mouthpiece. They will surely see the err of their ways eventually and we should be there with welcome arms, offering peace to their aching souls. I could only hope others would do the same for me as I suffer the grievances of my sins.


Milk Strippings
Posted: 12 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST
"Thomas B. Marsh was [a] favored associate of the Prophet Joseph. Over this pulpit in the April 1984 general conference, President Hinckley reminded us that Brother Marsh was serving as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve when he chose to disregard the decisions of the First Presidency and other Church leaders in a dispute between his wife and another woman over some milk strippings. "When, as did the prodigal son, he finally 'came to himself' (Luke 15:17), he wrote to Heber C. Kimball, who had been his associate in the Quorum of the Twelve, stating:" 'Having lost my wife three years since, I began to awake to a sense of my situation; . . . I know that I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight and have rendered myself unworthy of your confidence; or of a place in the family of Heaven. . . . I deserve no place among you in the church even as the lowest member; but I cannot live long so without a reconciliation with the 12 and the Church whom I have injured.' He then recited the typical lesson his years of rebellion had taught him: 'The Lord could get along very well without me and He has lost nothing by my falling out of the ranks; But O what have I lost?! Riches, greater riches than all this world or many planets like this could afford.' He pleaded with his brethren for comfort and peace and their smiles upon him. (Thomas B. Marsh to Heber C. Kimball, 5 May 1857, Brigham Young Collection, Church Historical Department; spelling and punctuation modernized.)"After being re-baptized, Thomas came to Salt Lake City, where he asked Brigham Young, the President of the Church, for forgiveness. He was invited by President Young to speak at a Sunday service where Thomas offered this advice to his listeners: 'If there are any among this people who should ever apostatize and do as I have done, prepare your backs for a good whipping, if you are such as the Lord loves. But if you will take my advice, you will stand by the authorities' (in Journal of Discourses, 5:206)."

James E. Faust, "The Prophetic Voice," Ensign, May 1996, 7

Topics: Apostasy

Getting to know Him

In reading the New Testament, I feel like I am really getting to know Jesus Christ and His life here on earth.  I love how He spoke plainly, even tried to make things easier to understand through parables.  One of the things I have found the most interesting, and yet I don't fully understand, is how with every miracle, there was only one request...not to tell anyone about it.  I would like to understand this better - maybe I am missing something. I find it so humbling.  I imagine His purpose was not to glorify Himself, saying, "Look what I can do!", but to quietly bless the lives of those who ailed.  His teaching moments were usually separate from His healing moments. It seems as if He was to teach alone during His time on earth. He only asked His disciples to go forth and spread His gospel after He was crucified.  The whole story had to be told, not just part.  His resurrection was key to inspiring the faith of the people. The miracles weren't enough.  This is evidenced by the unbelief of so many who witnessed the miracles themselves.  Hard to believe. That is my interpretation, though like I said, I am no scholar and I am sure I'm missing something.

Scripture of the day!

I recently began reading the New Testament and am in the book of Matthew. If you haven't read the New Testament or it's been a while, might I recommend that you start today? There is nothing like reading the words of Christ Himself, reading of His life as He walked the streets of Israel. It is remarkable, even a miracle, that we have this record available to us. I am deeply grateful to all those who sacrificed so much, even their lives, that we might have this record.

 I came across a scripture today that spoke deeply to my soul.  Amidst all the political turmoil; with the world spinning around us, out of control; as we are faced with important decisions that affect us personally as well as nationally, how can we know what is right?  How can we know which laws to vote for, which to vote against?  

The answer lies in this scripture, spoken by Jesus himself:

Matthew 22:36-40

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

To me, this means that all decisions, all laws, must be based on the first two commandments.  Something so simple, something we KNOW and hear often - to love.  To truly love.  God first, thy neighbor as well.  Profound.

YES on Prop 8

Why do I support this? Because I hate homosexuals?  Because I am discriminating?  Because I am an extreme right wing conservative?  

No, I do not live in California.  I grew up there and my family still lives there, but I don't live there anymore.  So I am sending out a call to all who do live there. Please support Prop 8. 

I love all people, homosexuals included.  This is a very personal and painful topic.  I have dear friends who are homosexual.  My uncle was homosexual and was my absolute hero.  His life was shortened by AIDS.  The very last thing I would ever intend to do would be to offend anyone. I am not encouraging people to vote for this Proposition to cause hurt or suffering, though I acknowledge that will likely happen. I support Prop 8 for one reason only.

I support Prop 8 because there is a prophet living on the earth and the prophet is the Lord's mouthpiece.  I know this to be true because I pray about it, seeking the truth and confirmation from the Holy Ghost. His counsel has been to support the amendment. So, out of obedience, I am asking YOU to support it as well.  Pray about it.  Ask the Lord if it is not the right thing.  He will give you the only real answer you need to know.  

If you want to support Prop 8 and to protect marriage, click here.

Beautiful Quote

“God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. In fact, He expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape the future – to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities. God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe.” – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

God's Love

At church yesterday, I was enlightened by someone who was giving a talk about a tragic event that took place in our community last week.  A local dermatoligist, his P.A. and many of his nurses and office staff travel to rural areas by private plane once a month to offer a clinic and their services to those unable to pay.  Including the pilot, there were 10 souls on that plane last week when it crashed and left no survivors, heading home from one such trip.  Why would a just God, a loving God allow this to happen to such amazing people who freely give of themselves to help others?  To establish balance in the Universe?  To try our faith?  To condemn some because of some sin?  

I don't believe any of these are valid reasons that He would allow such a thing to occur. Building upon my last post, I failed to mention, and possibly even realize, the reason God allows us our free agency and refrains from continually healing our mortal bodies. His love.  He loves us so much that He allows us to continually make our own choices, even if He knows that those choices may make us or our loved ones suffer.  Surely He knew the outcome of this flight when they took off. Surely He had angels and sentinels waiting to welcome His 10 children home. And surely He didn't cause the crash.  The Lord gave us superior intelligence, which in turn has evolved into modern technology, which is flawed, as mortal men are.  But to take away our agency, even when He knows pain and suffering may result from such divinely inspired innovation, would go against His plan. Thankfully, He continues to give us the choice and the accompanying consequence because of His deep, unconditional love.

He loves us so much that He watched His Firstborn Son, the only perfect and genuinely innocent being that has ever lived or ever will live on the face of this great earth...He watched Him suffer in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He paid the price for every sin, felt every pain, suffered every known and unknown form of anguish and torment. He saw the flesh of His perfect Son torn, then witnessed as He was hung on the cross and died there, in unspeakable pain. This redeeming and one-of-a-kind event even left the Holy Son of God pleading for relief, though never denying the Father's will. The Father did not remove that bitter cup from His perfect Son because of His vast love. For us. For you. No greater love hath any man than to lay down his life for his brother. And no greater love hath anyone than to allow this to happen for the sake of your soul.  

I encourage you to address your struggles this week, take them to the Lord.  Ask that your burdens may be lightened and see what the hand of the Lord can do in your life.  Have a little hope.  Have a little faith.  That faith will blossom as you exercise it. Discover that He loves you and try to understand that He knows that without your pain, you cannot feel of true joy.  The Savior gave His life for you, as the Father stood by and could not bear to watch.  Thank Them for the great sacrifice They have so deeply suffered and allow that great act of the Atonement to work for you in your life, to make you whole, to lighten your load. Pray for humility, that you may be taught.  Ask for guidance, that you may be drawn to the things you need to put first. Pray for others and do what you can to ease the burden of someone else.  You will feel the loving hand of the Lord, your God, and you will taste of His goodness and mercy, not His damnation and condemnation.  The Savior, Jesus Christ, knows your every sadness, understands with absolution your very soul, and wants to give you light, hope, direction and purpose.  Your purpose is greater than you will ever know.  Your life has more value than you can imagine.  He knows you and loves you.  Pray that you may feel and understand these things. I pray that I might do the same.

God's Punishments?

As I have struggled with my miscarriage the last 5+ weeks, I have really had to fight the adversary on something.  See, Satan is very real.  As real as the Lord, Jesus Christ.  And he has been trying to make his presence in my life.  He knows my weaknesses and loves to play them. I suppose it's "natural" to blame yourself and/or God when bad things happen, like losing a loved one, but rather than being "natural", I believe it is another way the evil one deceives us into thinking we are somehow unimportant, unloved and unworthy of happiness. 

My own experience has been to wonder, "What could I have done so wrong that would make Heavenly Father want to take my baby back with Him?" Did I yell too much at my kids (yes, probably)?  Am I unworthy of having more than the wonderful children I am already blessed with?  Am I too uptight, too relaxed, too much of a disciplinarian, too passive, too bipolar, too happy, too depressed?  Why would He send a baby to someone who would just kill it with abortion and at the same time leave millions of women who are desperate to be mothers childless? Why is miscarriage so prevalent?  1 out of 4 pregnancies end prematurely in miscarriage!  1 out of 4!  I found myself wondering why? why? why?  At one point, I even freaked out, dropped the groceries in the middle of the kitchen, milk spilling everywhere, fell on my bed and screamed those same words over and over, and it was directed above and nowhere else.  And then I decided to pray my heart out, looking for the answer.  

I received an answer, unexpected as it was.  In my searching and pleading and pondering over this tragedy (which was, by the way, much worse than I ever anticipated) I realized something.  We believe, as Latter-Day Saints, that we MUST have a body as well as a spirit to return to our Father in Heaven.  In that pre-mortal life, during that pre-mortal conflict, each of us chose to accept that body, and with it the experiences of mortality.  It dawned on me, no doubt through the Holy Ghost, that miscarriage is a part of accepting that mortal body.  Our bodies are not yet resurrected, therefore are not yet perfect and are subject to any and all afflictions that may be here on this Earth. God doesn't GIVE us cancer or diabetes or financial troubles or family problems.  He doesn't take our babies away. He provides a way to make it through those things!  And He allows us to make choices, which have consequences tied to each of them.  Every choice, good or bad, has a consequence. When my Grandma chose to smoke, one of the consequences was to die of lung cancer.  When I chose to get pregnant, the first consequence was Daelan, and all the great joy and occasional hardship that comes with being a stay-at-home mom. But not every choice has the same consequence.  When I chose to get pregnant for the fourth time, mortality reared its ugly face and took my child from me, but mortality also sent him home. And God gave me a way to deal with it, to overcome, and in fact He has provided many ways to heal...serving others, thinking of others over my own problems, the truthfulness of the Gospel, dear friends who have talked me through it, supportive family, a loving and ever patient husband, etc., etc.  

So my mortal experience is exactly what it should be - up and down, down and out, happy, sad, elated, lost, grateful, angry. For without the bitter, how can we taste of the sweetness that can show up every once in a while? When we become complacent, what usually promotes gratitude?  Trials! So, while I want so badly to type, "Trials! (Unfortunately, dang it!)", I will stick with the original because I know better. I wish I didn't have to go through what I'm going through. I wish I didn't have to cry every day and stress about being pregnant again, but that is not my lot in life.  My choices, along with the effects of a mortal body have determined a huge part of my life.  Now I have to choose whether to allow the Lord to work the miracle of the Atonement in my life or to allow Satan to deceive me into believing the Lord would abandon me. 

Welcome!

Welcome! Please start at the oldest post and read to the most recent. It makes more sense that way!

Freedom to choose

If we were given a choice to follow Jehovah's plan and gain a mortal experience, then it is fairly safe to say that we have always been given the freedom to choose by a loving Father, even before we made that final premortal choice.  He understands the deep value of that freedom, and that it is the only way we can learn and grow.  Therefore, shouldn't we pursue the same freedom every day? Shouldn't we allow others the same freedom - to choose for themselves rather than impose on their decisions and perhaps inhibit their personal growth by doing so? Shouldn't we, as a nation, encourage the freedom to choose for ourselves rather than govern the will and desire of every man? Of course, there must be government, laws, rules and regulations, but how can we assure ourselves free agency while enforcing necessary laws?  God is the great example of enforcing His laws with consequences for good or evil, based upon the choice we make. Those negative consequences are the very reason we have such a strong desire to take agency away - for if those we love cannot choose wrongly, we can save them from certain pain, grief, and even death.  But how can they ever learn the difference between good and bad, joy and pain, if they never choose the path that results in negative consequences?  

We have all chosen wisely, and equally as important, we have all chosen poorly, reaping the benefits or suffering the sorrow, feeling the highest of highs and the lowest of lows; the good vs. bad. It started very early, with simple choices, and progresses the rest of our lives with more complicated choices. Regardless of the choice we make, there is a natural consequence, some with spiritual consequences.  Many times we experience the consequence of someone else's choice(s), receiving great blessings in some cases, and being sent to the depths of despair in others. 

It is clear that agency, the freedom to choose, has an enormous effect on our lives and the lives of those around us. Why is it so crucial that we are able to choose? There may be a complicated answer, but to me it is simple: we must know what it feels like to choose one way so that we can experience the opposite when we choose the other way.  We must know what it feels like to get hurt, so that we know what it's like to feel loved.  We must be sick to enjoy our health; we must endure pain in order to appreciate joy; we must receive injury or we will never know what it feels like to heal. This is a great gift that we can choose to use to our advantage, or to our detriment. Many Latter-Day Saints wear rings declaring "CTR", like the shield shown at the top of this post. "CTR" is an acronym for "Choose the Right". This simple ring is given to every child who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to help them to remember to make good choices every day, in all the things they do. Many adults sport grown-up versions in gold, sterling silver, etc., to continue to remind them of their duty to choose the right way rather than the wrong way. 

Because of my countless mistakes, bad choices, uniformed decisions, and many sins, I am able to look back and choose differently based on the consequences I endured. I know not to spend too much money on needless things as well as I know not to touch a hot stove. I know that I need to spend all the quality time with my children that I can, while they are yet young, as well as I know to change the oil in my car.  How do I know?  I've not had money for basic groceries because my car payment was too high; I've burned myself on several hot stoves; I've worked too hard and missed an entire summer of fun with my kids; I've sent a perfectly good vehicle to the dump, on more occasions than one! Would you believe three?  What have I learned?  To buy an older car; NOT to touch a stove without testing it first; that I can work the rest of my life...I only have a few short years with my children; that luxuries and necessities alike require much maintenance and care, money and time, so I better be able to take care of what I have, or I may lose it. 

Unfortunately, I continue to make mistakes repeatedly.  All I can do is work on it and try to make myself better by choosing better, but I don't have to do it on my own. A greater gift has been given us.  Because we are mortal, we will continue to make mistakes, to the day we die.  Only one person has lived on this Earth in perfection - our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and because of Him, our transgressions and sins have been paid for. But does that mean we are free to sin, since He has already paid the price?  That's for another post...The Atonement.

The Great Plan of Happiness

The Plan of Salvation, or the Plan of Happiness. In our premortal realm, we decided to go with Jesus' plan.  We know it as the Plan of Salvation. This post is about the pre-earth life as well as the Plan of Salvation, which go hand in hand.  Sorry if it bounces back and forth...it is a bit of a continuation of the previous post...

How can I know that I will see my lost baby again?  I believe that we can be with our families for all of eternity, through the sealing powers set forth by the Lord. My husband and I had the opportunity and great blessing of being sealed together, along with our 2 month old son, nearly 10 years ago.  Subsequently, each child born to us thereafter was "born in the covenant", meaning they are automatically sealed to us upon being born, for time and all eternity.  I believe that babies, who are born, but later die, will return to their parents again, or rather their parents will return to them when we die, and those parents can have those babies to raise.  This belief is based on the doctrine currently available. There is no current doctrine that is 100% clear on miscarriages or stillbirths, though surely at one time, there must have existed such knowledge, which may have been lost due to wickedness or disobedience. However, I know that each spirit receives a body, though the exact moment at which the vessel receives the spirit is not known.  If a baby is born, then dies (at any time during childhood), the mother can raise that baby at a later time. If a baby is not born alive, but has received it's spirit in the womb, surely a mother can raise that baby at a later time, as well.  However, if the vessel of the body was prepared, but never received the spirit, perhaps that spirit will return to the next vessel its parents create. Either way, the parents will receive that baby.  What a miracle!  What a gift! The Lord does not take our loved ones from us - he gives them back! We are separated for what seems like forever to us, but a brief moment to those who have passed, but then we are reunited, and given the freedom to choose eternal life with our families.  

Here are a few things I found concerning this subject to explain more. Click on the link to arrive at the original link/article:


Excerpt A:
WHERE DID I COME FROM?
Your life did not begin at birth, nor will it end at death. You have a spirit body (sometimes called the soul) and a physical body. Heavenly Father created your spirit, and you lived with Him as a spirit before you received your physical body and were born on earth. This period is called pre-earth life or premortal life.
Throughout your pre-earth life, you were taught the principles and commandments that would lead to happiness, with freedom to choose to grow in intelligence and love of the truth, or not. During this pre-earth life, Jesus Christ, then known as Jehovah was chosen as the Savior and you learned that, through Him, you would be able to overcome the effects of any wrong choices.
God’s purpose—His work and His glory—is to bring to pass the immortality (resurrection) and eternal life (life with God) of His children. He desires every one of His children to find peace in this life and a fulness of joy in His presence after this life. Heavenly Father knew that you could only progress to a certain point without the experience of mortality. In order to become more like Him, you would need to:
Receive a physical body.
Thus, God our Father is the creator of our spirits, and we are created in His likeness physically.
Gain experience from overcoming trials and temptations.
Learn to walk by faith.
Learn to choose between good and evil.
Thus, your Heavenly Father instituted His plan to help you reach your divine potential.



Excerpt B:
John the Revelator speaks of that struggle:

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

“And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him”



Excerpt C, as defined in the Gospel Library:

In the premortal existence, Heavenly Father prepared a plan to enable us to become like Him and receive a fulness of joy. The scriptures refer to this plan as "the plan of salvation" (Alma 24:14; Moses 6:62), "the great plan of happiness" (Alma 42:8), "the plan of redemption" (Jacob 6:8; Alma 12:30), and "the plan of mercy" (Alma 42:15). The plan of salvation is the fulness of the gospel. It includes the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and all the laws, ordinances, and doctrines of the gospel. Moral agency, the ability to choose and act for ourselves, is also essential in Heavenly Father's plan. Because of this plan, we can be perfected through the Atonement, receive a fulness of joy, and live forever in the presence of God. Our family relationships can last throughout the eternities.

Excerpt D - from a Q&A article in the New Era, a publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints:

“A friend of mine says that there is nothing in the Bible that gives conclusive evidence one way or the other about the pre-existence. Can you clarify this?”


Eldin Ricks, “Q&A: Questions and Answers,” New Era, Feb. 1972, 35–36

Answer/ Eldin Ricks

Let me tell you what the Bible says on the subject, and then you decide whether the evidence is conclusive.

1. Jesus had a premortal existence. The apostle John, who speaks of Christ as the Word made flesh (John 1:14), opens the book that bears his name by testifying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1.) In other words, in the beginning was Christ, and Christ was with God, and Christ himself also was a God. The important thing for our purpose at the moment, however, is simply that “in the beginning” was Christ.

The apostle Paul also says that in the days of Moses—more than twelve hundred years before Jesus was born—the children of Israel “drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Cor. 10:4.)

If any more Bible evidence should be needed to establish the premortal existence of the Savior, you may wish to note a statement that Jesus himself made the night before his crucifixion. With apparent longing for the glory of his previous existence, he prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John 17:5.)

Thus we see that Jesus was in existence long before his advent into mortality. Let us now check to see whether the Bible teaches that people other than the Savior had a previous spirit life.

2. Jeremiah had a premortal existence. Through revelation the prophet Jeremiah learned something about the preexistence of his own soul. The Lord spoke to him and said, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jer. 1:5.)

Since, as this passage states, the Lord knew Jeremiah before he was born and sanctified Jeremiah before he was born and ordained Jeremiah before he was born, it must be clear that Jeremiah was in existence before his mortal birth.

3. Job had a premortal existence. On one occasion the Lord asked the prophet Job, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4, 7.)

Now although the Lord didn’t tell Job where he was before the foundations of the earth were laid, the very question implies that Job was in existence somewhere—and not only Job but “all the sons of God.” And when we recall that the Bible teaches that we are the sons of God (“the offspring of God” is the way the apostle Paul phrases it in Acts 17:29), we can’t help but conclude that we were in existence with Job (and Jeremiah and the Lord Jesus Christ) before the earth was created.

4. Jesus made no attempt to correct his apostles when they expressed a belief in man’s premortal existence. This conclusion is based on an incident narrated in the ninth chapter of John. In reference to a blind man the apostles asked Jesus, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2.) Note that their question was not simply whether the man’s parents had sinned before he was born but whether the man himself had sinned before he was born. Their query plainly shows that they believed that the man had been both alive and capable of sinning before he was born.

Jesus explained (John 9:3) that neither the man nor his parents had sinned, but the striking fact is that he made no attempt to challenge or correct or alter their basic assumption that the man had had a premortal existence.

5. Certain passages of the Bible make sense only in the light of man’s premortal existence. We as Latter-day Saints understand that during the course of man’s premortal spirit career one third of God’s children rebelled and followed Satan. (See D&C 29:36–38; Moses 4:1–4; Abr. 3:22–28.) This understanding gives meaning to a number of biblical passages bearing on the expulsion from heaven of certain disobedient beings. Consider, for example, 2 Peter 2:4 [2 Pet. 2:4], Jude 1:6, and Revelation 12:7–9 [Rev. 12:7–9].

While the several passages mentioned in the foregoing explanation may or may not offer your friend “conclusive evidence” of the premortal existence of man, I am confident, if he is sincere in his search for divine truth, that they will offer him sufficient evidence to incite an earnest, prayerful inquiry into the doctrines and claims of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Life before Life

I am going to take a turn here, and write some extremely personal stuff. This week has given me new perspective on life in general.  I don't know if a person can fully understand what a unique and incredible gift life is, unless they experience the opposite of life - death.  This week I experienced death, for the first time with such closeness and intimacy. I had a life growing inside me for nearly three months.  I saw the very essence of life...the heartbeat...many times via ultrasound.  I was told by my doctor, at the first sign of impending death nearly 6 weeks ago, that I would likely not carry this baby much longer.  But the life inside me held on, week after week, as I watched on the big screen.  I saw it form from a tiny yolk sac and fetal pole to a 5 week embryo with a beating heart to a 6 week embryo with a slowing heart.  Sadly, though my little one's heart was still beating at 10 weeks, it never grew past that 6 week phase and the life we had created was ended on July 14, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. 

So what do I know of life and death?  Even at 31, I had been fortunate not to have lost anyone in my immediate family, though I have lost loved ones, who I miss dearly.  And here I am professing to understand something about this complex, yet inevitable part of life as we know it - death. 

I know that life does not begin here, at conception.  I know that you lived before you were delivered as a newborn.  You lived in heaven, with God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and every other person that you have ever seen, met, interacted with, heard about, read about, hated or loved that has existed on this planet. We are His children, thus we are brothers and sisters, and we lived with our Heavenly Parents in a Heavenly Home. 

Now, this gets exciting to me.  I am deeply confounded by it, and want to jump for joy at the same time.  We chose to come here. Despite the perfection and promise of the Father's everlasting plan, He has always given us our agency, even before we were born.  We had the freedom to choose to be tested here on Earth, or not to come at all. We were spirits in what we call the Premortal Existence, where we attended a council with God.  We were given a couple of choices, and you chose to follow God.  Everyone born to this earth chose to follow the Savior's plan. There is much more information to be learned concerning this choice.  There are people who are ready to teach you about it, if you desire to know more or simply have it explained to you.  Click here, then click on Ask a Question.

So, if we lived before we were born, then surely it follows that we live after we die.  I believe that we do live after we die, and the scriptures teach us that the same sociality that exists here, exists when we return to the heavenly realm from which we came.  Our attitudes, personalities, convictions, perhaps even addictions, carry with us to the afterlife.  All the knowledge which we gain here will only help us there.  Of course, there are many different types of knowledge.  We learn from books, from teachers, from experience, from faith, from loss, from pain, from joy. It is imperative that we try to learn something from our trials, for greater will be our knowledge.

While my emotional pain is still fresh and my body is not yet healed, sadness and loss try to steal from me that which I hold precious - my faith.  Faith is a hope for things which are not seen, which are true. (ref. Heb. 11:1; Alma 32:21) I hope that I will see my little one again.  That hope is based on true principles of life that exists before and after this earthly experience, which makes it faith. I also hope to take many lessons from this heart wrenching time, that I might turn my weaknesses around and begin to grow and develop compassion, charity, patience, and strength.

What I do know I learned from someone else.  And I have learned since, that teaching what you have learned reinforces that knowledge and can help you grow in it. I also, as you know by now, feel it is my obligation to share vital information with others.  If someone gave you the procedure and knowledge of how to cure a disease, but you were to afraid to tell others for fear some would not believe you or would ridicule you, saying it was impossible, or arguing that surely there must be other ways, wouldn't it be a grave mistake to keep that information to yourself?  The life saving knowledge I have acquired is no different.  You may not know how it works, it may sound strange and foreign to you, as would a lengthy description in medical terms, and I may not be a scholar or religious leader, but it is real, nonetheless.  It is knowledge that is truth. And it is my job to let others know of it, for I have been instructed to do so by my Creator, through personal revelation found in the scriptures.

Who Do You Pray To?

I believe that prayer is a personal experience between myself and the Lord.  I begin my prayers, addressing my Heavenly Father, then I usually proceed to show my gratitude for different blessings I acknowledge in my own life. In my personal prayer, I ask for help, guidance, and blessings for my family, and others who are in need. I offer my confession and repentance, and ask forgiveness for my many sins and offenses. Each prayer is different - some with greater emphasis on my "request list", some focusing entirely on my deep gratitude, and some on bended knee with tears flowing, praying for forgiveness. I admit, I ask for more than I am grateful for. I repent less than I should.  I have much work to do in every aspect of my life, but the most important thing is that I recognize that I can be myself with my God.  He knows me and loves me, as He knows and loves you.  While there are some blessings that have need to be recited exactly as originally written by the Lord, I feel that personal prayer should be just that - personal. I find myself repeating the same words and phrases and getting into a funk on occasion.  I find my prayers becoming more recited and less intimate. But my trials always seem to get me back on my knees, humbly where I should be, pleading with the Lord, thanking Him, and offering my apologies, with every intent to do better. In closing a prayer, I use the words, "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen" because that is how I have been taught, and that is the way the Lord has taught us to pray. 

I am so grateful that He is available to us, whenever we need Him.  Where can we pray?  Anywhere.  Anytime.  Ideally, to show my reverence and avoid outside disturbances, it's on my knees at my bedside with the door securely closed, but I need the Lord all day, so many times it while I am driving, with my eyes wide open, while I am chasing children, a prayer in my heart for someone I know is in need, a request to know what I should do in an imminent situation, etc.  I want my children to come to me whenever they feel like it!  With good news, to show they're proud of an accomplishment, to talk about friends or problems, to ask for help.  Of course I want them to!  As does our Father in Heaven.  

Prayer is a defense.  I never thought of it that way, but I can see that it is.  It is a defense against temptation. Boy do I need that...more often than I care to admit.

I challenge you now, especially if you have gotten out of the habit of praying, have never tried to pray, or have learned to pray differently, to give it a try. Pray with all your heart, respectfully addressing your Father in Heaven, asking for the things which you stand in need of, thanking Him for the good things in your life, and talking to Him as you would a dear friend. Close your prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.  You'll try anything once, won't you?  Try this and see if your heart is not warmed.  See if you can sense that someone is listening.  I promise you, someone is. And He loves you.

So, you're Mormon?

Yes. A nickname, I guess, but yes. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, whose members are often called Mormons. Let me immediately dispel some common misunderstandings:

• My husband only has one wife...me! The Church discontinued the practice of polygamy in 1890 and has excommunicated any practicing members since that date. The Texas polygamist compound is NOT affiliated in any way with "the Mormon church"

• We do not believe we go to a pink planet when we die.  Hmmmm...where did that come from?

• We do not worship Joseph Smith.  I have never in my life prayed to Joseph Smith.  I have never worshipped him in any way.  We honor him for the righteous, worthy man he kept himself, and for his great sacrifices, but we do not worship him. 

Any other misconceptions?  Feel free to comment and ask about any questions you may have.

In fact, the organization I belong to is one of great humanitarian service, believing we should follow the Master's example of service, healing and love, though those stories are buried, if reported at all. This link is full of the Church's great mission to serve and help others, regardless of creed, color or faith. 

Not only do we serve world wide, but we start in our neighborhoods and communities.  While the Church remains neutral politically, we are encouraged by Church leaders to keep ourselves informed on politics and about all candidates within any given election.  We are encouraged to serve in civic positions and do our duty as citizens, where ever we live. Our congregations are called "wards", and within these wards, perhaps some of the greatest service and charity is given to each other.  Meals are prepared for the sick and afflicted, children are cared for, single parents are given great support.  It is a marvelous Church that amazes me day to day with its unmatched organization and example of leadership, though its members are flawed and imperfect as all people are. 

I received an e-mail today titled "Some Basic Facts About the Church":

Some Basic Facts about the Church
---------------------------------------------------

"Some facts [that] might [help others understand
Latter-day Saints] include:
"First, 'Mormon' is a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Members are often referred to as 'Mormons,' 'Latter day Saints,' or 'LDS.' The term 'Saint' means
'member.'
"Second, the Church was restored in 1830 in upstate New York with Joseph Smith as its first prophet and president.
Today it is headquartered in Salt Lake City, with President [Thomas S. Monson] as the present prophet.
"Third, there are now over 13 million members in 176 countries and territories. About 6 million of these are in the United States, making us the fourth largest Christian
denomination in America. As one of the fastest growing Christian faiths in
the world, we complete a new chapel every working day. Members pay a tithe,
which is 10 percent of their income, making this and other programs possible.
"Fourth, local congregations are led by volunteer, unpaid members. Both men and women serve in assigned leadership positions.
"And fifth, Mormons are well represented in politics and government. . . . Members also serve in high and trusted positions throughout the world in business, medicine, law, education, media, sports, and entertainment."
Topics: Church history, Church organization,
Church doctrine, knowledge

(M. Russell Ballard, "Faith, Family, Facts, and Fruits," Ensign, Nov. 2007, 25 26)

I feel privileged to be a member of the Lord's great organized, restored Church and I am proud to be called a Mormon, so long as the name carries with it facts and not rumors or misconceptions. I am one imperfect woman, of millions of people, trying to make the world a better place by letting others know of God's love. We are His children.  He has great plans for us.  He loves us. It is my responsibility to pass His word on. He has asked us to do this, even commanded it. So I will continue in my meager attempt to reach all that I am able, to proclaim to them that they are children of God, that He loves them and knows them deeply, similar to the way we parents love our own children, but with greater magnification.  I humbly testify that these are my beliefs and I invite you to come unto Him.  Click here to find out more about where you came from, what your purpose here on earth is, and where you have the potential to go...to become. It is always amazing to me, and I know it will be to you, as well. 

Baptized!

Today, my son entered the waters of baptism. It was such a special day, and I am so happy for him. Because of his choice, he received a wonderful gift...the gift of the Holy Ghost, along with a beautiful priesthood blessing given by his father. I feel so incredibly blessed to have the Holy Priesthood available to me and my family.  This power was restored to man by Peter, James and John themselves. I could not elaborate on this any better than Boyd K. Packer did in an article published in the Ensign, a magazine:

The Lord Himself set in motion this pattern of administration:

“He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

“And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.”2

Andrew had heard John speak and ran to his brother Simon and said, “We have found the Messias. …

“… He brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”3

Simon and his brother Andrew were casting nets into the sea; James and John the sons of Zebedee were mending their fishing nets; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew, a publican, or tax collector; Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus; Simon the Canaanite; Judas the brother of James; and Judas Iscariot—they made up the Quorum of the Twelve.4

He bid them all, “Come, follow me.”5

He said to Peter, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”6

And He told the Twelve, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”7

He gave His Apostles “power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick … every where.”8

And He said, “[The] Twelve hold the keys to open up the authority of my kingdom upon the four corners of the earth, and after that to send my word to every creature.”9

Jesus once asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? …

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”10

When Jesus taught in the synagogue, many disciples said, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it? …

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

“… Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”11

After the Crucifixion, the Apostles remembered He had said they should stay in Jerusalem.12 Then came the day of Pentecost, that great event when they received the Holy Ghost.13 They received “a more sure word of prophecy”14 and “spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”15 And so they were complete.

We know little of their travels and only where and how a few of them died. James was killed in Jerusalem by Herod. Peter and Paul died in Rome. Tradition holds that Philip went to the East. Much more than this we do not know.

They scattered; they taught, testified, and established the Church. And they died for their beliefs, and with their deaths came the dark centuries of apostasy.

The most precious thing lost in the Apostasy was the authority held by the Twelve—the priesthood keys. For the Church to be His Church, there must be a Quorum of the Twelve who hold the keys and confer them on others.

In time came the First Vision and the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood by Peter, James, and John.16

The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve were later told:

“Verily I say unto you, the keys of the dispensation, which ye have received, have come down from the fathers, and last of all, being sent down from heaven unto you.

“… Behold how great is your calling. Cleanse your hearts and your garments, lest the blood of this generation be required at your hands.”17

The restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was young when the First Presidency was organized, followed by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which was made up of ordinary men, and then the Quorums of the Seventy. The average age of that first Quorum of the Twelve was 28.

There has been an unbroken line of authority. The priesthood keys given to the Apostles have always been held by members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.

I feel humbled to have access to this restored authority, and testify of its power. I am so excited for my young son to have received the Holy Spirit. It has brought me great comfort in times of great trial.  It has provided clear warnings, some of which I have listened to, others which I paid the consequence of ignoring the still, small voice of caution. I have grown in testimony because of its confirmations. There is no greater gift my children could receive, and I am so proud that they have made the choice to follow God's commandments and be baptized.

A young boy with some questions

A young boy, living in New York, had been taught from his youth to value God's word and the Holy Bible. During his 14th year, his family moved to a new town where there became some "unusual excitement" between preachers and pastors as they argued concerning the differences between their religious beliefs. He was confused, and was unsure which he should join. Seeking an answer to this dilemma, he was reading from the Bible when he came across a verse in James.  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5).  The 14 year old, named Joseph, wanted to know, and now he knew how to find out.  And so, on a lovely spring morning, in the woods near his home in Manchester, New York, young Joseph knelt to pray and ask God, as the scripture counseled. In that quiet grove, something miraculous and wonderous happened. Joseph felt a light rest upon him and looked up and saw, clear as day, "two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description," standing above him in the air. One of the Personages called Joseph by name, then pointed to the other and said -- "This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him."

Struggling to compose himself, Joseph asked which of all the sects was right for him to join. 

He received an unexpected answer. 

He was answered that he must join none of them. 

Now, as the boy went on with his life after such an extraordinary event, he began to tell others of his vision. Most mocked and laughed at him and the leaders of the local churches were particularly bothered by his lofty claims.  Joseph was quite surprised at how much attention they paid to him, being so young, albeit negative attention and constant persecution.

Three years passed and as Joseph prayed for forgiveness and guidance, an angel appeared in his room.

He told Joseph of a book that was engraved upon, a book of gold plates, and that his assignment would be to translate these plates into English.  Now Joseph was a farm boy, not highly educated, and I imagine this was incredibly overwhelming. He must have felt inadequate, to say the least. After the angel left, Joseph pondered deeply on the things he had seen and heard.  The angel revisited twice more, repeating the message. The next day, Joseph went to the top of the Hill Cumorah, which he had seen in a vision, and pried open the big rock he found.

Inside the rock, he witnessed for the first time the Golden Plates of which the angel had spoken, exactly in the spot he had seen in his vision. The plates were to remain there, however, until a time to be determined by the Lord, which ended up being four years later.  Each year, Joseph would return to the location of the Golden Plates and would receive instruction from the angel, whose name was Moroni. Finally, he was bidden that he should remove them and soon after the translation of the plates began, through a spiritual gift given by the Lord. The words written on these plates are available to us, today! They have translated and published into a book called The Book of Mormon.  And this book is available to all, at no cost.  It contains the word of God and is a fascinating book of an ancient people who populated the Americas before and after Christ was born.  It tells of Christ's ministry to these people, much like the New Testament tells of His ministry in Jerusalem. Which brings me back to my question.  If the Israelites had living prophets, shouldn't we, too?  Are we lesser than the people of old and do not deserve a messenger of the Lord to help us live, learn, progress and achieve great lives? We are not lesser and we do deserve such a prophet.  The boy Joseph, through tireless prayer, pondering and study, was commanded of the Lord to be such a messenger.  He brought back to the Earth what had been lost when the last of the Apostles died.  He restored the Holy Priesthood, as administered by Jesus Christ himself.  And he organized the Kingdom of God on earth, as Jesus himself commanded him.  He did not make it up.  No man could organize such a great house of order save God himself.  He did not create the stories in the Book of Mormon.  They are true...they happened right here in the American continents and Joseph suffered much persecution, and even death, to reestablish these truths that we might receive them and inherit the great blessing of the Lord's gospel, restored.  The church he reestablished is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and it has a living prophet as it's leader, with Jesus Christ himself the head of the Church. This is my testimony and my deep belief.  How can I know?  I followed the same counsel Joseph found in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God". I have read the Book of Mormon many times and each time I finish it, I follow this counsel, as well as the exhortation given by Moroni himself, as he finished his final writings which constitute the final book in the Book of Mormon, to do the following: (Moroni 10:3-4)

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I have received confirmation that this book is true.  My intent is to share these truths with all that will listen and open their hearts, that the blessings of heaven may be poured out upon you as they have for me, by your faith in God.  If you feel like something is missing in your life.  If you feel like things just cannot go your way or that you feel that God intends something greater for you, I urge you to obtain a copy of the Book of Mormon and read it.  Then decide for yourself, by asking God, if it is true.  You may find what you have been looking for.  You may find that missing link.  If you do so with true intent and an open heart, I promise that you will.  For I know that the Savior wants all men to have His word and it is my responsibility as one who has been blessed with it, to pass it on and share it with others.

For a free copy of the Book of Mormon, click HERE and click on the Free Book Of Mormon icon at the bottom of the page.  You can also obtain a free copy of the King James version of the Holy Bible.  The two books are companions and each book is a complement to the other.  Feel free to explore the entire website as it may answer some of your questions.  

Jesus Christ, my Redeemer

First, let me start off by proclaiming that I believe in God, the Eternal Father, in His Son, Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost. I believe deeply in the Savior, Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, our Great Redeemer, the Savior of all mankind.  He was born in the most humble of circumstances, and yet is the King of Kings. He is the Firstborn Son of our Father in Heaven and His Atonement makes it possible for all of mankind, including you and I, to return, in glory, to our Heavenly home.  When Christ lived on the earth, He spent His days teaching men of God, of His great eternal plan, of charity, love, and all the great virtues that bring men closer to God. We can be worthy of the whisperings of the Holy Ghost if we follow His teachings.  In fact, the blessings of heaven will be open to us if we follow His gospel.  And we can live with Him, and our ancestors and loved ones, again. 

Have you ever wondered?

Have you ever wondered why the earth was blessed with living prophets to guide the Lord's people for thousands of years, and why we are not blessed with our own modern day Moses, Abraham or Noah?  Are the ancient accounts of the people and their prophets in the Holy Bible the only reference giving us the guidance we need to get back to our Heavenly home? I have pondered this question, and have come to the conclusion that I believe that the Lord would not leave us without modern day revelation for long.  I believe there is a living prophet on the earth today, who guides us, counsels us, and teaches us. As Moses to God's children of old, a living prophet leads and guides God's children today.  

This blog is intended to define this belief, how I have come to believe the notion that there is currently a prophet on the earth, who he is, and all of the truths and teachings that exist because of this principle.