Inspirational Quotes & Notes from Summer 2011 BYU Magazine

Making a Mark by Jeffrey S. McClellan, BYU Magazine Summer 2011, p. 10.

This article features Jason Despain, a BYU economics major who received the Harry S. Truman Scholarship.  It describes his search for building confidence while maintaining humility.  He interviewed several BYU professors and coaches.

What he found:  They define success as the fulfillment of potential.  They also say “You’re more successful if you do it helping other people.”

“The surprise twist – service breeds success – coincided with another discovery: service reconciles confidence and humility. ‘When I help a person grow,’ Despain wrote in a one-page summary of the project, ‘I am both more confident and more humble.’”

Pocket Watches and Descartes an essay by Rachael A. Givens, winner of the 2011 BYU Magazine Essay Contest, BYU Magazine Summer 2011, p. 19.

“Sometimes the heart and the mind don’t learn at the same pace.”

“I had forgotten the other half of His promise – that He would ‘tell [me] in [my] mind and in [my] heart’ (D&C 8:2; emphasis added.) And so, in a moment of ultimate humility and vulnerability, I willed my mind to be still.”

“God never asked us not to have questions – only not to be afraid.”

Family Focus: Strategies for Sacred Living by M. Sue Bergin, BYU Magazine Summer 2011, p. 24.

From the article,

“[Randal D.] Day [lead researcher on the study featured in the article and professor of family life] believes that being kind is a choice we make to interpret others’ motives in a benevolent way … Day says that behaving kindly shows that we think others are valuable.  ‘Unkindness usually reflects an idea that we think others are stupid, careless, annoying, or unimportant,’ he says.

“The Sandbergs [family featured in the article] believe it’s important to make a distinction between being ‘nice,’ which they think sometimes covers for unkind feelings, and being kind, which comes from a deeper place. ‘Kindness requires much more of a transformed heart,’ says Dave [Sandberg].”

I’ve never thought of the difference between being nice and kind.  I’m going to try being more kind, rather than simply nice.

Virtue and the Abundant Life, various contributors, BYU Magazine Summer 2011, p. 45.

I highly recommend reading this article in it entirety.  A link to it can be found here: http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=2836

From Terrance D. Olson, BYU professor of family life:

“To be a person of virtue is to be for others – to act in their best interests, and to have a heart of compassion and charity turned outwards.”

“When we are being virtuous, we exhibit specific characteristics that are indicative of how we believe we should treat others.”

“ …we must be, in that moment when we are inviting others to the moral world, exactly what we are inviting them to be.”

From Emily Madsen Reynolds, assistant director of BYU’s Wheatley Institution (absolutely incredible segment that I’m going to revisit again and again.)

“We tend to talk about chastity in terms of ‘Thou Shalt Nots’ … We tend to speak of chastity as constraint or control of what would otherwise, devastatingly, happen … chastity becomes defined by what we don’t do.

“My question is, how can this be virtue? Virtue, .. is about strength, goodness, and excellence – about what we do and how we do it.”  (She then uses the woman described in Proverbs 31 as an example.)

“In order to defend virtue of any sort or chastity in particular, we will have to make a central place for moral agency and for all of the possibilities held open for us by the atonement.  We have to talk about sexuality and chastity in a better, broader, and brighter way than the way the world talks about them.

“The first step I would like to suggest is that we begin to think of and talk about sexuality as a gift rather than as a given … If we are to become like [Heavenly Father], we have to be able to be parents, and He gives us this gift … In the Father’s plan, those possibilities are defined and enabled by sacred covenants.”

“I would like to suggest that we talk about chastity as responding to sexuality {the possibilities and obligations implicit in generation) in ways that bless others … if we define chastity this way, chastity doesn’t end when sexual relations begin.”

“This kind of chastity frees us to have the close, loving relationships of the sort that scripture describes with phrases like pure in heart and  of one heart …”

“ … Chastity turns out to be charity in a particular form.”

From Lloyd D. Newell, BYU professor of Church history and doctrine.

“Inward stillness allows us time to tune out the world, even if only for a moment, so we can ponder and receive revelation – so we can learn to really hear.”

“Put simply, silence gives us the opportunity to focus more earnestly on the things in life that truly matter.”

“It is difficult to truly become our best moral selves unless we take time to evaluate our standing before God.

“Time for holiness is a precious gift, a scared offering to the Lord. Perhaps we need to simplify our lives so that there’s more room in our day to sincerely ponder the path of our feet (see Prov. 4:26, to feel the Spirit, to interact with others, and to respond with calmness.”

There’s a mistaken notion that the abundant life comes from an abundance of things, tasks, demands, or experiences.

“If we listen to the Spirit and heed the message of the gospel, we realize that the truly abundant life is spiritual … very often the best way to achieve it is to unburden ourselves of our worldly excesses.”

From Camille Fronk Olson, BYU associate professor of ancient scripture.

Story of the family of a 12-year-old Palestinian Muslim named Ahmed Khatib who was killed by Israeli soldiers who mistook his play gun for a real one.  His parents “chose to donate their son’s organs specifically to Israeli patients with the hope that their actions would advance the cause of peace between Palestinians and Israelis.”

From Robert L. Millet, Byu professor of ancient scripture.

In answer to the question, why reread our scriptures?:

“The more we immerse ourselves in the world of God, the more clearly we begin to uncover and discern the character and personality and virtue of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.”

“Scripture becomes a catalyst to divine guidance, a means to spiritual transformation and sanctification.  As a channel for divine power ,a channel for morality and virtue, scripture study becomes a kind of sacrament.”

From Richard N. Williams, director of BYU’s Wheatley Institution

“At the most profound level, at the level where the mortal test of an immortal soul is carried out, we understand that virtue is learned by apprenticeship and confirmed by the experience of the fruits of the Spirit and the witness of the Holy Ghost.”

From K. Newell Dayley, BYU emeritus professor of music

“A person must actually participate in the arts at some level to know them and to acquire those virtues found in creating and performing works of art.”

“Jesus invites us to ‘practice virtue and holiness before [Him]’ (D&C 38:24)”

From Bradley R. Agle, BYU professor of business ethics.

We don’t have a written record of how Jesus would respond to specific modern-day businesses situations, but “We have been given unique assets in that question: modern revelation and the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

He then lists five questions that can help us develop virtue in our business careers: Am I honest in my dealings with my fellow man?  Am I using others’ mistakes and weaknesses for my own personal advantage? Am I serving others through my work? Do my actions demonstrate concern, care, and lover for others?  Am I living a life of “moral discipline”

Book Nook: No Good Stopping Place, by Richard H. Cracoft, BYU Magazine Summer 2011, p. 54.

And finally, an article worth reading again and again and a gain.

http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=2841

“Silence to Silence” Poem

A couple of months ago I was talking with a few friends about writing ideas, and I thought “Silence to Silence” would make an interesting title for a book or a poem.  There’s a lot you could do with that kind of title.  At the time, I thought it’d be a good title to describe someone mourning the loss of someone they love, enduring the silence of that person, living day by day without hearing their voice.  Or perhaps it could describe a couple who didn’t talk about things that needed to be talked about .  My friends of thought of less-depressing topics like starting out with the silence of the morning and then the silence of the evening. 

Anyway, thankfully I don’t have any experience with the depressing situations I had originally envisioned.  And I didn’t want to exercise my imagination to put myself in that world.  So I didn’t feel I could give those topics justice .  But while doing my scripture study this week, I thought of something that I could write about.  I was studying the apostasy and thought of someone enduring the silence of the heavens.

So this is what I came up with.  It’s no work of art – we were only supposed to spend two hours on it.

Silence to Silence by Leticia Watson

The heavens are closed
– silenced
Prophets buried in the earth
Covenants lost and forgotten
Scriptures altered and reversed.

False prophets all around me,
Leading the sheep astray
Relishing the silence,
Itching ears turn away.

Oh, God, where is thy voice?
Where are thy precious truths?
How shall I endure the silence?
What would thou have me do?

Deep within I hear an answer,
To my quiet prayer:
One will knock and I will open
Then the silence will be broken.

After I finished the poem, I realized that I did have experience enduring another kind of silence … waiting for a baby.  I thought a haiku summed it up perfectly.

Silence to Silence #2 by Leticia Watson

No baby crying

No baby crying last year

And so I endure.

At first Ben thought it was funny and whimsical.  Then he realized how sad it was.  I was going for both.

Humming Birds and Other Thoughts from Time Out for Women

Last weekend I attended part of Time Out for Women, a seminar sponsored by Deseret Books, in Seattle, Washington.  Though I have plenty of problems with the conference, I did walk away with a few good ideas that have been helping me throughout this week.  Some of these were given as parts of quotes, but I wasn’t able to write down the source.

-Return to places where good resolutions are begotten.

-No good thought is ever wasted.  (Boyd K. Packer)

-Imagine fruits and vegetables.  What kind of person would you be if you ate those every day for a year?  Now imagine a candy bar.  What kind of person would you be if you ate that every day for a year?   We can look at the entertainment we watch in the same way.  Imagine what kind of person you’d be if you chose to put in General Conference instead of Kono 97-whatever.  The entertainment we choose to watch will determine who we are.  Avoid the wasteland. 

-Whatever you’re asked to do, and accept to do, do it with all of your heart.

-After you pray, get up and go.  Expect your prayers to be answered.

-Pray for a forgiving heart.

-There are refugees all around us, refugees of emotional trauma.

-About comparing ourselves to others, we can liken ourselves to the humming bird.  Humming birds are funny because even when there’s two bird feeders, they hardly ever go to the empty bird feeder.  They usually go to the feeder where another bird is feeding and get upset when all of the sugar water has been taken.  They just don’t realize that there’s another feeder, and that someone always always replenishing the sugar water.  There’s no need to compare.

-Ever feel upset when you’re on the road and there’s a traffic jam or there are people in line ahead of you?  I like the key phrase one of the speakers said to himself:  “You’re not in that big of a hurry.”

The Day of My Baptism, For Emma

August 9, 1986

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Dear Emma,

This is me when I was baptized. I was eight years old. The person standing next to me is my dad, your Grandpa.

A week before this picture was taken, I sat down with the bishop in my ward and he talked to me about the importance of baptism. He asked if I was willing to be baptized. I said I was.

My mom made the dress I was baptized in. A few days before this she took me to a studio so I could have my picture taken in this dress.

Many of my parents' friends gathered in a room in the church to see me baptized. Someone talked to me about the importance of baptism.

When she was done, my dad and I went into a font full of water in the room. I remember thinking the water was a little cold and my dress started to float in the water. But I knew I would be okay. I grabbed my dad's wrist. Then my dad raised his right hand and said the baptismal prayer found in Doctrine and Covenants 20: 73. Then he ducked me in the water. I was totally wet!

I got out feeling very cold but knew I had done the right thing. I went through a set of doors next to the font that led to a bathroom and I put on a dry dress that my mom had waiting for me.

Then I went back to the room where everyone was waiting for me. Someone stood up and talked to me about receiving the Holy Ghost.

Then I sat on a chair and my dad and several other men from church put their hands on my head and my dad gave me a blessing where he told me to receive the Holy Ghost.

When the meeting was over, everyone went to another room to enjoy refreshments. My mom made a beautiful cake for the occasion. She drew a blue dove on top of the cake to symbolize the Holy Ghost.

This was a special day to me for many reasons. It was the day I took upon myself the name of Christ and committed to be his disciple. It was the day I followed Jesus' example to be baptized. It was a day I was spiritually washed cleaned. I also received the right to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost if I was obedient to Heavenly Father's commandments.

Another important part of this day was that I received my first set of scriptures. There's actually a funny story associated with these scriptures. A few days before my baptism, I went with my parents to pick up my present. I didn't know what it was, but I was very intrigued. They came out of the store carrying a small brown bag and I knew my present was in it.

When we arrived home, my parents accidently left the brown bag in the front of the car. I was the last person to get out of the car and I couldn't resist taking a peek at my present. Imagine my guilt when I saw my set of scriptures in the brown bag. The irony of finding a set of scriptures in a bag that I shouldn't have been looking in wasn't lost to me as a little girl.

Anyway, I know baptism is important and it’s a very special thing.  We don’t have to know everything there is to know about Jesus’ gospel.  Baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost are the first steps to knowing more and growing closer to Heavenly Father.  And every week, by taking the sacrament in church, we can renew the covenant that we made at baptism.

Love,

Mommy

Right Before My Eyes

I was looking at myself in the mirror the other day when I started thinking about life, what it means, where we’re going, and why it even matters.  I was thinking about my spirit, how it existed before I was born, how I, as a spirit, lived with Heavenly Father before I came to this earth.  As I was looking at my face in the mirror, I contemplated the gift of my body.  This is the body Heavenly Father gave me.  This is my body, the body I was given to care for, to grow in, to experience mortality in.  This life is unique.  It’s the first time that my spirit ever took on a body.  It’s the first time that my spirit and body ever became one, and each day of this mortal life, my body and spirit are together, affecting each other for good or for bad.  This union is only temporary right now.  One day my spirit will leave my body and they will exist apart.  And some day, through the Savior’s atonement, my spirit and body will become reunited, more glorious than my little brain can imagine.

Looking at myself in the mirror, looking into my eyes, I tried to find that spirit.  I resolved to try to be better to it, to try to be better to my body so that the spirit part of me can shine more.  I resolved to try to be better to my spirit so that my body can become more of what it was meant to be.  I was reminded that I need my spirit and body to be in harmony with each other for my soul to grow.

There is so much more to us than what we see on the outside.  There is something much deeper, with a bigger purpose, something that existed long before we came to mortality and something that will exist long after.  Somehow this mortal life is the link between those two points of eternity.  I think our minds would pop if we had even a glimpse of what that really means in the whole realm of things, but I believe that at least the basic point is true: we existed before we came to earth, we still exist now, and we’re going to exist ever after.  Being reminded of that helps me remember why this life really does matter, and why I can’t ignore what’s right before my eyes when I look in the mirror: a body and a spirit, united.  A soul.

The Eight C’s

The president of my stake came to our Relief Society several months ago, and he gave us the following lesson.  I don't know where he got it from but I find it inspiring.

The four C's that can destroy unity in a group are:
Comparing
Competing
Complaining
Criticizing

The four C's can be combated with four other C's:
Combine
Cooperate
Commit to sustain
Complement

He wrote this on the chalkboard, which I found was a good way to remember this idea:

When we ...	We could instead ...
Compare	Combine
Compete	Cooperate
Complain	Commit to sustain
Criticize	Complement

Favorite Quote of the Week

I was reading Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s General Conference talk, “Reflections of a Consecrated Life.”  In it, he quotes this paragraph from the video Man’s Search for Happiness,

“Life offers you two precious gifts—one is time, the other freedom of choice, the freedom to buy with your time what you will. You are free to exchange your allotment of time for thrills. You may trade it for base desires. You may invest it in greed. …

“Yours is the freedom to choose. But these are no bargains, for in them you find no lasting satisfaction.

“Every day, every hour, every minute of your span of mortal years must sometime be accounted for. And it is in this life that you walk by faith and prove yourself able to choose good over evil, right over wrong, enduring happiness over mere amusement. And your eternal reward will be according to your choosing.

“A prophet of God has said: ‘Men are that they might have joy’—a joy that includes a fullness of life, a life dedicated to service, to love and harmony in the home, and the fruits of honest toil—an acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—of its requirements and commandments.

“Only in these will you find true happiness, the happiness which doesn’t fade with the lights and the music and the crowds.”

As Emma has been becoming more independent, I’ve been finding more time for myself, but I have not been using it wisely.  Part of the reason for this is the uncertainty of knowing how much time I will actually have during Emma’s naps, and the randomness of my day, but there is more I can do to improve how I use my time.

Walking the Temple Grounds

 

A few months after Emma was born, our bishop gave a talk in church about the temple. He mentioned several ways we can feel the spirit of the temple in our lives, and one of those is simply walking on the temple grounds. Ben and I hadn't attended the temple in several months because Emma was still very young and we were very busy caring for her. But we wanted to feel the peace that the temple can bring.

So the next weekend, we followed our bishop's advice and drove the 20 minutes to the Seattle Washington Temple. It was raining and a little cold outside, but as soon as we drove into the parking lot, I felt something different. I felt the peace that I usually feel when I'm inside the temple. We got out of the car and walked on the grounds. We walked by the fountain. We found a grove I didn't know about before. I normally feel very calm and at peace when I'm in a garden, but while I was there, I felt something even more, a peace that reminded me of the feeling I have when I'm in the temple. I was reminded of the covenants that I had made there. I was reminded about the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that through faith, repentance, obedience, and a reliance on his grace, we'll live in peace with our Heavenly Father, where we can learn from him and continue to grow. I'm so thankful for that experience that I can hold to whenever I need to be reminded about the blessings of the temple.

Physical and Spiritual Healing/Why Did Jesus Ask Those He Healed to “Tell No Man” About His Physical Miracles

This week I’m studying the miracles Jesus performed while He was on the earth and why He performed miracles. According to the gospel study manual, He performed miracles for many reasons including: to show love and compassion, to build faith, and to prove His power.

But one thing that has caught my attention over and over again is that Jesus repeatedly asked those He healed to tell no one else about it. I've been thinking about why Jesus made this request. After all, His miracles did prove His power. They did build faith and they led people to him. They showed that He was compassionate.

I wonder if Jesus was concerned that many would see him only as a physical healer and not realize His important role as a spiritual healer, or why it was important to be healed spiritually. I feel this point is made over and over again. For example, in Mark 2, the people brought Jesus a man of palsy. He first performed a spiritual miracle by forgiving the man of his sins. The scribes who were there thought it was blasphemous that Jesus could claim to heal a man spiritually. Jesus responded by saying, in verse 9, "Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and take up thy bed and walk?" And then to show His spiritual power, He commanded the man with palsy to be healed physically. And the man with palsy arose and went out. Jesus performed the spiritual miracle first, and then when He wasn't believed, He performed the physical miracle.

In that same chapter of Mark, I feel that Jesus needed to remind those around him of His power to heal spiritual infirmities. When the scribes asked him why He ate with the sinners, Jesus said, in They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." .

In Matthew 10:28, He makes a statement that makes me wonder if He thought spiritual health is much more important than physical health. He said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Jesus performed many miracles, both physical and spiritual. Both were important. I wonder how many miracles Jesus performed that Jesus performed that didn't make it into the scriptures because those He healed followed His injunction to tell no man.

I find it interesting that between the two types of miracles, physical and spiritual, His power to heal physical ailments were what spread His fame abroad. In Mark 1:45, it says that the Lepers, for example, "began to publish it much and to blaze abroad the matter," – so much so that Jesus couldn't enter the city because people came to him from every quarter. In Luke 5: 15, it says, "But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of him by their infirmities."

With so much overwhelming attention and demand for His power to heal physically, Jesus "withdrew himself into the wilderness and He prayed." He probably needed the rest and He needed the quiet moments to pray. I wonder if one of the things He prayed about were that people would seek him for spiritual healing as well as physical healing – because that's what is ultimately the most important thing.

Thoughts from this Week

I am so thankful for many things this week. 

1) I was able to attend the temple to do initiatories.  I haven’t been able to go in five months, and a friend of mine watched Emma in the lobby while I was there for an hour.  I felt strengthened from hearing those blessings again.

2) I am thankful that I was spared from a car accident on the way to the temple.

3) I’m thankful I was able to attend Relief Society meeting this week.

4) I’m thankful that all of my family is kept safe.

Notes and Quotes from Elder Lawrence’s Talk on Courageous Parenting

“Courageous Parenting,” Larry R. Lawrence," Ensign, November 2010, 98-100

-“Your bright and energetic youth are the future of the Church, and for that reason they are a prime target of the adversary.”

-“There are no perfect parents and no easy answers, but there are principles of truth that we can rely on.”

-“As we are reminded in the family proclamation, parents are responsible for the protection of their children.¹ That means spiritually as well as physically.”

-(1 Samuel 3:13). The story of Eli teaches us that parents who love their children cannot afford to be intimidated by them.  The story of Alma shows the blessings that come to parents who teach their children.

-“Several years ago at general conference, Elder Joe J. Christensen reminded us that “parenting is not a popularity contest.”² In the same spirit, Elder Robert D. Hales has observed, “Sometimes we are afraid of our children—afraid to counsel with them for fear of offending them.”^3”

-Son wanted to go on a weekend trip but for some reason Elder Lawrence didn’t feel good about it.  He wanted to say yes but the Spirit said no.  His wife said they needed to listen to that warning voice.  His son was disappointed and wanted to know.  Elder Lawrence, “answered honestly that I didn’t know why. ‘I just don’t feel good about it,’ I explained, ‘and I love you too much to ignore these feelings inside.’ I was quite surprised when he said, “That’s OK, Dad. I understand.”

“Young people understand more than we realize because they too have the gift of the Holy Ghost. They are trying to recognize the Spirit when He speaks, and they are watching our example. From us they learn to pay attention to their promptings—that if they “don’t feel good about something,” it’s best not to pursue it.”

-“It’s so important for husbands and wives to be united when making parenting decisions. If either parent doesn’t feel good about something, then permission should not be granted. If either feels uncomfortable about a movie, a television show, a video game, a party, a dress, a swimsuit, or an Internet activity, have the courage to support each other and say no.”

-If your spouse doesn’t feel good about something, show respect for those feelings.

-“Parents can prevent a lot of heartache by teaching their children to postpone romantic -relationships until the time comes when they are ready for marriage. Prematurely pairing off with a boyfriend or girlfriend is dangerous. Becoming a “couple” creates emotional intimacy, which too often leads to physical intimacy.”

-“I have always believed that nothing really good happens late at night and that young people need to know what time they are expected to come home.

“There is a great deal of wisdom displayed when parents stay up and wait for their children to return home. Young men and women make far better choices when they know their parents are waiting up to hear about their evening and to kiss them good night.”

-He warns against sleepovers.  “Peer pressure becomes more powerful” and their first exposure to many immoral things take place.

-“Courageous parenting does not always involve saying no. Parents also need courage to say yes to the counsel of modern-day prophets. Our Church leaders have counseled us to establish righteous patterns in our homes. Consider five fundamental practices that have the power to fortify our youth: family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, family dinner together, and regular one-on-one interviews with each child.”

“It takes courage to gather children from whatever they’re doing and kneel together as a family. It takes courage to turn off the television and the computer and to guide your family through the pages of the scriptures every day. It takes courage to turn down other invitations on Monday night so that you can reserve that evening for your family. It takes courage and willpower to avoid overscheduling so that your family can be home for dinner.”

-“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid” (Joshua 1:9).

Notes from Relief Society Lesson on Fasting

-Fasting is not only temporal law or physical law; it is a spiritual law.  It has both spiritual and physical benefits.

-Fast with a joyful heart. (Brown bag lunch versus nicely wrapped present.)

-Some people have the gift of fasting with a joyful heart; others must work at it.

-Fasting is completed and made more powerful through prayer.

-Guidelines in the church are to fast for two consecutive meals and to offer a generous fast offering.  Some may not be able to do that for health reasons or because they are too young.  The most important thing is the spirit in which we offer our fast.  We can find ways to fast in a way that is appropriate for our circumstances. 

-This last point reminded me a talk Elder Bednar gave in my parents’ stake.  He met a group of LDS members who lived in a place where they had only one meal a day.  They felt that they could fast by skipping this one meal, which would mean they would go a whole day and a half without food.  (I think he may have said that they skipped three days of food, but I’m not sure.)  Anyway, this changed the way he thought about fasting.

Favorite Quotes and Notes from Elder Bednar’s Talk on the Holy Ghost

“Receive the Holy Ghost,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 94-98

-What distinguishes us from other religions? The mode of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.  “All other considerations are contained in the gifts of the Holy Ghost.”

-Holy Ghost = 3rd member of the Godhead.

-He bears witness of truth.  He is the comforter, a teacher, a revelator.  He is a messenger and witness for the Father and the son.

-It is manifested as a power and a gift.  The power can come before baptism and convinces all that Jesus is the Savior.  “The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed only after proper and authorized baptism and by the laying on of hands by those holding the Melchizedek Priesthood.”

-“Baptism is a holy ordinance preparatory to the reception of the Holy Ghost.”

-“The simplicity of this ordinance may cause us to overlook its significance. These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26). The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts. “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (D&C 88:33).”

-What we should do to seek for the ongoing companionship of the Holy Ghost. 1) sincerely desire to receive the Holy Ghost, (2) appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, and (3) faithfully obey God’s commandments.

-Sincerely desiring. “And the twelve did teach the multitude; and behold, they did cause that the multitude should kneel down upon the face of the earth, and should pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus. …

“And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them” (3 Nephi 19:6, 9).

-Appropriately invite.“We cannot compel, coerce, or command the Holy Ghost. Rather, we should invite Him into our lives with the same gentleness and tenderness by which He entreats us (see D&C 42:14).

“Our invitations for the companionship of the Holy Ghost occur in many ways: through the making and keeping of covenants; by praying sincerely as individuals and families; by searching the scriptures diligently; through strengthening appropriate relationships with family members and friends; by seeking after virtuous thoughts, actions, and language; and by worshipping in our homes, in the holy temple, and at church. Conversely, casualness about or the breaking of covenants and commitments, failing to pray and study the scriptures, and inappropriate thoughts, actions, and language cause the Spirit to withdraw from or to avoid us altogether.

“As King Benjamin taught his people, “And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved” (Mosiah 2:36).”

-Faithfully Obey the commandments. Partake the sacrament.  Pray, study, worship , et cetera, “are not isolated and independent items on a lengthy gospel checklist of things to do. Rather, each of these righteous practices is an important element in the overarching spiritual question to fulfill the mandate to receive the Holy Ghost.”

“Fundamentally, all gospel teachings and activities are centered on coming unto Christ by receiving the Holy Ghost in our lives.”

-The church “is a living church because of the workings and gifts of the Holy Ghost.”

-“Several years after the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred, he appeared to President Brigham Young and shared this timeless counsel: “Tell the people to be humble and faithful and [be] sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach [you what] to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits. It will whisper peace and joy to their souls, and it will take malice, hatred, envying, strife, and all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness, and build up the kingdom of God. Tell the brethren if they will follow the Spirit of the Lord they will go right” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 98).”

Favorite Quotes from Elder Monson’s Talk on Charity

“Charity Never Faileth” by President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, November 2010, 122-125

-“Said the Savior, “Judge not.”¹ He continued, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”² Or, to paraphrase, why beholdest thou what you think is dirty laundry at your neighbor’s house but considerest not the soiled window in your own house?”

-“A woman by the name of Mary Bartels had a home directly across the street from the entrance to a hospital clinic. Her family lived on the main floor and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic.

“One evening a truly awful-looking old man came to the door asking if there was room for him to stay the night. He was stooped and shriveled, and his face was lopsided from swelling—red and raw. He said he’d been hunting for a room since noon but with no success. “I guess it’s my face,” he said. “I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says it could possibly improve after more treatments.” He indicated he’d be happy to sleep in the rocking chair on the porch. As she talked with him, Mary realized this little old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. Although her rooms were filled, she told him to wait in the chair and she’d find him a place to sleep.

“After the man passed away, Mary was visiting with a friend who had a greenhouse. As she looked at her friend’s flowers, she noticed a beautiful golden chrysanthemum but was puzzled that it was growing in a dented, old, rusty bucket. Her friend explained, “I ran short of pots, and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t mind starting in this old pail. It’s just for a little while, until I can put it out in the garden.”

“Mary smiled as she imagined just such a scene in heaven. “Here’s an especially beautiful one,” God might have said when He came to the soul of the little old man. “He won’t mind starting in this small, misshapen body.” But that was long ago, and in God’s garden how tall this lovely soul must stand!^3”

-“I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.”

-My dear sisters, each of you is unique. You are different from each other in many ways. There are those of you who are married. Some of you stay at home with your children, while others of you work outside your homes. Some of you are empty nesters. There are those of you who are married but do not have children. There are those who are divorced, those who are widowed. Many of you are single women. Some of you have college degrees; some of you do not. There are those who can afford the latest fashions and those who are lucky to have one appropriate Sunday outfit. Such differences are almost endless. Do these differences tempt us to judge one another?”

-“Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”⁵ The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”⁶ I ask: can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa: no, we cannot.”

-“The Apostle James taught, “If any … among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s [or woman’s] religion is vain.”^7”

-“I have always loved your Relief Society motto: “Charity never faileth.”⁸ What is charity? The prophet Mormon teaches us that “charity is the pure love of Christ.”⁹ In his farewell message to the Lamanites, Moroni declared, “Except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God.”^10"

-“I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.

“I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.

“There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.

“Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited. The American educator and politician Horace Mann once said, “To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is godlike.”¹¹

“Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.

“In a hundred small ways, all of you wear the mantle of charity. Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.

“Charity has been defined as “the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love,”¹² the “pure love of Christ … ; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with [her].”^13”

Notes on John the Baptist and Baptism

 

-John the Baptist immediately recognized his savior when he approached Him, as did other people who were baptized.  John 1:29 says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the ^aLamb of God, which taketh away the ^bsin of the world.”  Would I be able to recognize the savior?

-John was beginning to teach a higher law.  For example, he said, “He that hath two ^acoats, let him ^bimpart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” (Luke 3:11)

-I learned that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost. St. John 1:32:  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the ^aHoly Ghost.”

In the Bible Dictionary I learned that “the Aaronic Priesthood has the authority to baptize with water where as the Melchizedek Priesthood has the power to baptize not only with water but to confer the Holy Ghost.”

-I learned that John’s mission was to bear record of the Savior and to prepare people for the Savior.  He was only eight days old when an angel ordained him to do this.   I love these verses that describe John’s mission.  It’s his father Zacharias speaking and prophesying the role of his son.

Luke 76-79:

76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to ^aprepare his ways

77To give ^aknowledge of salvation unto his people by the ^bremission of their sins,

78Through the ^atender mercy of our God; whereby the ^bdayspring from on high hath visited us,

79To give ^alight to them that sit in ^bdarkness and in the shadow of ^cdeath, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

- Messiah means anointed in Hebrew and Christ in Greek.

My Loose Personal Scripture Study Plan

Mondays, Tuesday – Study the Gospel Doctrine New Testament manual

Wednesdays – Study Relief Society lesson

Thursday – Study General Conference talks

Friday – Read through scriptures

Saturday – Missionary manual or Personal Progress

Sunday – Read through scriptures

The Power of Baptism

(Gospel Doctrine Lesson 4:” Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”)

I’ve always known baptism was important.  It is symbolic of renewal, washing away our sins, coming unto Christ, and making covenants with our Heavenly Father.  But this lesson is giving me a deeper understanding of how powerful baptism really is.  It must be a powerful thing if:

- John the Baptist was pleading with those around him to repent and be baptized in preparation of meeting the Savior.

- It washes away our sins.

- It allows us to take upon us the name of Christ.

- It sets us on a path where we will be following in Jesus’ footsteps and coming unto Him.  It makes Jesus’ path straight (Matt 3: 3) Question:  What does that mean exactly?  Does that mean that we make the path open for Him to come to us?  Or does it mean that we make our path toward him straight?  Or neither?  Or both?

- Jesus found it necessary to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness and to be an example.

- The heavens opened when Jesus was baptized, and God spoke.

- The Holy Ghost came upon Jesus after being baptized.

- It seems to have been part of the beginning of His official ministry.  (Soon after He was baptized, Jesus went into the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days and was tempted of Satan.  It was after this fasting that He came down and began to preach more publicly, I believe.)

- One is worthy to receive the Holy Ghost after being baptized and keeping the commandments.

- We are baptized in the name of the Father, and Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. (D&C 20:71-73)

- Heavenly Father wants us to renew our covenant of baptism every week.

The Baptismal Covenant

The covenants we make at baptism are outlined in Doctrine and Covenants 20:71:

And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who ^ahumble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and ^bcontrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the ^cname of Jesus Christ, having a ^ddetermination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their ^eworks that they have received of the ^fSpirit of Christ unto the ^gremission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.

This is the prayer that is said each Sunday when I renew my baptismal covenant D&C 20:77:

“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”

There is so much packed into this one verse that I need to think about, but right now I’m focusing on the part that says if I always remember Jesus and keep his commandments, I’ll be able to have His Spirit with me.

This describes the attitude of the people who were baptized at the Waters of Mormon(Mosiah 18:8-10):

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 ^adesirous to come into the ^bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9Yea, and are ^awilling to mourn with those that ^bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as ^cwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the ^dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being ^abaptized in the ^bname of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a ^ccovenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

This week’s study of baptism has helped remind me of my own baptism in 1986.  I’ll write about that in a few blog posts…

I’m going to try to be more diligent each day about remembering the covenants I made at baptism.  I appreciate this lesson for renewing that desire in me.

Why the Shepherds?

Last week during my scripture study I wondered why the shepherds in the field were one of the first groups to hear of Jesus’ birth.  In fact, they’re the only group mentioned in the scriptures the angels went to to announce that Jesus was born.  A few of the of the comments in Sunday school class addressed this question, and I thought they were interesting ideas.

- The shepherds were probably righteous people.  The angels wouldn’t have made the announcement to those who weren’t.

- One person commented that they were “salt of the earth” people, close to nature  and perhaps that’s one reason they were closer to God.

- The shepherd’s position was a humble trade, which may also mean that they were meek and lowly. The angels would announce Jesus’ birth to those who were meek.  Jesus himself was born under humble circumstances, in a stable, but He rose to glory.

-The shepherds were chosen for symbolic reasons.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He is also the lamb of God, who offered himself as a sacrifice for all of us.  Some of those lambs under the care of these shepherds may have been given as sacrifice at the temple.

Celebrating the Birth of the Savior: Preparing for Our Savior and Sharing the Good News

This week I’m studying the Gospel Doctrine lesson that will be given on Sunday.  We’re studying the first chapters of Luke.  This lesson focuses on the people who first met Jesus, what they did to prepare for His coming and what they did after they met Him.  I’ve been taking notes, and I find that I can consolidate them into a table.

Who met Jesus	What they did to prepare	What they did after they met Jesus	What can I learn from them?
The shepherds	They were where they needed to be, watching over their flocks.  They were in the countryside where I imagine it was peaceful.  I wonder why they were chosen as one of the first audiences to know of the Savior.  Once they learned of His coming, they went to Him.	And after the shepherds saw Jesus, they “made known abroad the saying which was told them” concerning Jesus, and they also returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.”  (Luke 2: 17, 20.)	I can be where I’m supposed to be, fulfilling my responsibilities, no matter how big or small they are.  Once the shepherds learned of Jesus, they dropped everything they were doing and went to Him.  I should do the same.  And once I meet Him, I can share what I have learned with others.
Anna, the prophetess	She served God and fasted and prayed night and day.	She “spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:38.)	I need to be prepared spiritually to meet the Savior.  I can share what I’ve learned with the open-hearted.
Simeon	He was devout and was filled with the Spirit of the Lord.  He worshiped at the temple.	He praised the Lord.	Again, be prepared, and praise heaven for His coming. Worship Him.
The Wise Men	They sought after Him.	When they found Him, they fell down and worshipped Him. They offered Him gifts.	I want to search for Jesus, and as I find Him in my daily life, I worship Him.  I can offer my own gifts:  a pure and open heart, my will, my faith in Him, service to others, keeping His commandments, praying to Him, having faith in his grace and atonement.

What I learned about my Savior in His youth:

The grace of God was upon Jesus when they went into Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of the passover.

He was wise as a child, wise enough to teach wise men in the temple, but He also listened and asked questions.

He knew His mission even at a young age. 

He respected His parents.

He grew grace by grace.  He grew in “wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”  (Luke 2:51.)

A Simple Blessing

Two days ago Ben gave me a blessing, something I feel I have needed for a long time. The last time Ben gave me a blessing was before I went into labor for Emma’s birth. I totally felt the power of that blessing during labor. This time I needed a blessing of comfort, a blessing to help me find clarity and to help me have the confidence I need to be a good mother.

As Ben was giving the blessing, I had so many thoughts come to my mind. One, I was so thankful for such a righteous husband who tries to be the best person he can be, who loves Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Second, I felt as though Jesus’ hands were literally on my head. His face, or perhaps what I imagine His face to be, came to my mind, and He was smiling at me. I felt His love for me. It reminded me years ago of a dream I had. The LDS Conference Center was just about to be dedicated. In my dream, I could see the hands of the Savior gently touching the chairs at the end of the rows on the lower level of the center. I had never seen the inside of the Conference Center before, but it looked just like it. In the dream, I couldn’t see the Savior’s face, but during this blessing, I could imagine very clearly what the Savior’s face is like, and I knew that that face belonged to those hands that I had dreamed years ago.

I was holding Emma while Ben gave the blessing. Her arm relaxed a few minutes into the blessing, and I think it’s because she felt me relax too.

Now as I put Emma to sleep, I can envisage the image of the Savior as it came to me in that blessing. I get the impression that I am not alone, and that the Lord is by my side helping me out. I feel comforted knowing that I can make good decisions for my family, and that I am making good decisions. I feel sort of weak in having to admit that I needed a blessing to confirm that, but it’s hard for me to make decisions sometimes, even ones that are so obvious such as whether or not I should follow my own heart, so this blessing was very comforting to me.