Fathers

I've only watched this video 5 times, but it's made me choke up each time

Just beautiful.  I'm so thankful to be married to a man like this.  I'm thankful for my father and my Heavenly Father.  A righteous man is more precious than gold - Isaiah 13:12.

Visions of Glory

I read this book over the Christmas holidays when I was sick and in bed most every day.  Really excited when I got it as I ordered it before it was published on Nov. 1st, and then it was on back order and I had to wait for over a month, so sad!  I read through it quickly - I really enjoyed the first part of his first 2 near death experiences, then the last part with his vision left me a little lost, maybe lost isn't the right word, it got to be a little long and repetitive, or maybe too much details and not enough insights really on the "Therefore, what?" so I was left scratching my head a little.

So, I'd say that Visions of Glory is really two books and would prefer to briefly review separately. The first book is the Near Death Experiences of Spencer, a devout LDS living in the Salt Lake City region. The second book is his visions (or rehearsals?) for his mission at the end of days. Pontius and Spencer are careful to note that only the Church Authorities can receive revelations for the whole church, and offer the latter's visions as a soft warning of what may soon happen.  Also, I don't really know much about Spencer, but totally loved Pontius' other two books, Triumph of Zion and Following the Light of Christ into His Presence, so I do trust Spencer's experience cause I trust John's opinion.

So, as NDE, Spencer's insights are typical and ring true as to what I've read in other books - seeing spirits good and evil compete to influence, control, or use us.  I liked the part when he walked through furniture and had a complete knowledge of all the material it was made with, like knowing about the lives of the cows that had been used for the leather, and how the animals and trees were all grateful that they could be used in a way that benefited man.  Again, good stuff that all rang true.

As Prophecy book, for me it's two/three stars, mostly got me watching out and preparing mentally for an earthquake that devastates Salt Lake City during the fall, yikes, so keeping that on my mental watchlist, yet still taking all with a grain of salt, cause we don't know how much of it was symbolic or instructional, although Spencer believes (I think) that it was a vision of his future life, so again, his experience, not sure how it pertains to what I'll experience in my future if these events are the future for Utah/North America.  (Maybe we'll move back to Chile - haha)

All in all, the book is a very interesting read.  Corey read it too.  I recommend it although as Corey said when he was done, which is like me, we're not sure what to do with all the information.  Some of it I get and agree with, other parts I'm left curious and/or confused.  I perceive that I am weak (3 Nephi 17:2-3) - so, I'll keep seeking, pondering, and asking the Lord.  :)

Proof of Heaven

Corey's grandmother passed away in 2008 just a few weeks shy of her 99th birthday.  She had been anxiously awaiting her death and moving on to the next life for over a decade.  Each Christmas, to help her get more excited about what was coming, Corey got her a near death experience book.  Trying to keep her hopes up that her time would come and she hadn't been forgotten. 

Since she passed, I've been happy to take over the role of recipient of the NDE Christmas book.  So, continuing with that tradition, Corey got me another one for Christmas this past year.  Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander. It was ok, I'll give it 2.5 stars.  It wasn't among my favorites.

So Mr. Alexander wasn't much of a believer in God or the afterlife before this experience.  And I could understand how his coma helped him realize that there had to be a spirit and we weren't all physical brain and neurological activity, but I still couldn't totally relate to most of his other conclusions. I also found his whole experience to be a little weird and confusing, maybe it's just how he described things?  He kind of lost me in his talking of hell (?) or something, I'm not sure, as "the Realm of the Earthworm's-Eye View" - and calling God "Om" and describing places he visited/saw as "the Spinning Melody," "the Gateway", "The Core" - I don't know, some of it I just didn't really understand, left me a little confused.  Not sure if he was just trying to truly and purely describe what he saw in a new and/or accurate way or if it's cause of his education or previous disbelief that he was trying to describe it to non-believers by not using just normal words or descriptions typical of other NDEs.  Anyway, that's my basic/overall take away, left me a little confused and didn't really resonate with me.  One thing I did really like was on page 132:

I was the quintessential good-natured, albeit skeptical, doctor.  And as such, I can tell you that most skeptics aren't really skeptics at all.  To be truly skeptical, one must actually examine something, and take it seriously.  And I, like many doctors, had never taken time to explore NDEs.  I had simply "known" they were impossible. 

I loved that, cause it reminded me how I believe lots of skeptics of the LDS Church are - they really aren't skeptical at all, cause they never look at it and give it a chance, they just don't believe it outright. 

So, again, this book might be interesting to people unfamiliar with religion, spirituality, and life after death experiences, but for anyone who's read about these topics elsewhere - there's nothing new, profound or thought-provoking in this book. Dr. Alexander describes his experience and this book may be a starting point for scientifically-minded skeptics but it is NOT written for spiritual seekers. It does sound like a valid experience written by a previous skeptic, however.  :)

Your Potential, Your Privileges

No Respecter of Persons

"If all things operate by law, and they do; if God is no respecter of persons, and certainly he is perfectly impartial; if his course is one eternal round, never varying from age to age, and such truly is the case – then all of the gifts and graces and revelations ever given to any prophet, seer, or revelator in any age will be given again to any soul who obeys the law entitling him so to receive.  While discoursing about the Second Comforter and in setting forth that those whose callings and elections have been made sure have the privilege of seeing the face of the Lord while they yet dwell in the flesh, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: 'God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them.'"

-Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 490

Stand

I liked this video.

I like how the two people featured are up and doing in school and on missions, but the main goal and how the video ends is with them being parents, with their little family, and them together as a couple still reading the scriptures and doing what is important.  Can't do too much with these little kids at home, but I know that this is the most important work I can do.

No Victims Allowed

We had a Family Home Evening lesson tonight about victims.  Being a victim is a choice.  Some people who truly are victims by definition have chosen to not let themselves be victims.  It is a choice.  And we are free to make our choice and be what we choose to be - 2 Nephi 2. We can make ourselves victims when we really aren't or don't have to be, or we can be in the exact same circumstances as other "victims" and decide that the current unfortunate event will not define us, as taught by what Viktor Frankl witnessed and learned in a concentration camp (Man's Search for Meaning).  It's easy as you watch this video to see who of all these little people view themselves as victims and who don't (or kinda do but try to fight it):


Easy to tell, right?  Pretty much day and night.  Made us all laugh and smile, cause unfortunately we've all chosen to be victims in our lives, and as we could all plainly see in the Halloween candy video, it's not pretty.  We all know we haven't acted pretty more than once in our lives.  So, of these two choices ~ victim vs. survivors ~ who do I want to be like?  Kids, which of those kids do you want to be like?!  I love those happy kids who just roll with it, it'd make me want to give them anything/everything they want!  I admire the kids who are sad but try to control themselves and be brave.  "Be brave, even if you're not pretend to be, cause no one can tell the difference."  I laughed with understanding at the kids that cried/collapsed with sadness, and if any of my kids would have thrown things, hit me, or screamed, they would have truly lost their candy and gotten a serious talking to.  Not impressed, and it would have been a red flag for me as a parent if I saw my kid acting like that that something's gotta change.

We have to fight for joy, fight to choose to be happy despite hard/unfair/unfortunate turns of events in our lives.  I choose JOY!  I will fight for joy.  I'm still working at it, and I won't give up, cause I want happiness and joy.  Help me in this fight, dear Lord.