Birthday Quote

I was over at my parents' house today and was able to take a picture of a quote that my mom shared with me cause she loved it and cause it was on my birthday. Now it is on her fridge. This is from her Mr. Roger's quote desk calendar. 

"It's not honors and the prizes and the fancy outsides of life that ultimately nourish our souls. It's the knowing that we can be trusted, that we never have to fear the truth, that the bedrock of our very being is firm."

I am so thankful to have a bedrock testimony of the Jesus Christ. I love Him, I love his gospel and I love his church so much. He knows I will follow him. I will give all my life to him. He is my firm foundation. 

Living with Contradictions

Listened to this lecture tonight as I did dishes, found it on fb page of Dr. Heward who was just interviewed on the Follow Him podcast. 

Excellent lecture!

Why Doesn't God (Fill In Blank)??

Lily and I just had a little conversation about God's justice when we read about this sweet little boy, who I think is just barely 2 years old, from the Worldwide Unified facebook page:

"My sweet baby boy is dying from a rare genetic disease and we are asking all to please pray and spread awareness so he can receive the treatment he needs. More info can be found on my personal bio. Thank you."

So Lily asked me: "Why didn't God heal every leper?" "Why does he let some people suffer and let other people control their lives?" (like mother's who choose to abort their baby - the baby didn't get to choose, their life got controlled by someone else).

It reminded me of this article that I've posted before - about winning debates against God. This time I noticed two comments, one by Janet: I remember one day when I was a teenager, in frustration I "informed" God that the world was a big mess, but I had some good ideas on how He could fix it if He'd only ask me! I distinctly heard His response, "My dear, you can't even manage yourself so what makes you think you can manage the world?" He had a good point. Since that time, I've been less inclined to judge God's ability to manage His children as a loving Father, and I try harder to take counsel from His hand.

And the author of the article added this reply in his comment: I should add that in sharing this, I recognize that some will wonder why God would help or attempt to help one individual on their journey while millions suffer, as if small miracles don't count when big problems remain unresolved. Why doesn't he solve global problems now and make everyone better off more directly? In fact, many of us are shocked that God doesn't do things our way. Some conclude that He either must not exist or is simply incompetent based on His failure to accept our arguments and comply with our logical demands. Incredibly, so far He has still failed to stop all disease, eliminate death now (not in the distant future!), ensure high wages for all, prevent climate change, stop tooth decay, provide us with more sustainable packaging materials, reduce traffic jams, redistribute wealth in our direction, and ensure that all students have above-average grades. It takes little more than a third-grade education to recognize the absurdity of God not doing everything our way and failing to distribute unlimited blessings uniformly and immediately. Instead, it seems that He only occasionally works miracles and often rather minor ones, healing a few random people long ago in Israel, for example, instead of providing cures for all globally. So unfair! Believers may opine that His purpose is not to make us as comfortable as possible on earth, but to send us here briefly to learn, grow, face trials, get a body, choose good over evil, etc., however brief the journey. The needs and purposes of each journey may differ, and God's personalized responses may differ wildly from person to person even if they seek Him in faith. For those who view God as a loving parent, some will say that the purpose of parenting is not to spoil kids with all the toys and treats they want now nor to ensure they never have to struggle, study, face consequences, or experience grief and pain, but rather to help them grow, mature, make decisions and realize their own potential, even if it means being sent away from home and facing painful trials, even the risk of failure. Believers will say that each of us are on a unique journey through mortality and that God is there with great love for us and sometimes inspiration, regardless of where our journey takes us or even if we make choices that take us far from His intended path. Some will die or suffer today by His will, others by their errors or the sins of someone else. Some will be guided to avoid a crisis such as a war or a pandemic, while others will be needed to stand in the heat of battle and play a painful role. Some He may try to guide one way or the other, but they may not listen. But many will testify that even in their darkest hours, they found His love and sometimes even tender mercies. We could complain about God allowing harmful viruses to spread at all. We could complain about why millions are trapped in Wuhan and so many are dying. The complaints are many. Answers are few. Certainly we should be concerned and pray for relief and do what we can to help, if we can do something. But whether one is trapped in a prison, a locked-down city raging with disease, or forced to leave home in an unprepared manner, when we turn to Him for guidance, there are blessings that await in our ongoing journey. There may be comfort and peace in times of trial. There may be the "tender mercies" like Nephi experienced on his painful 8-year trek through Arabia that helped shape and prepare him for great things. For some of us, there may be a second chance to get a valuable record that a stubborn soul should have brought. My journey has been a mix of trouble and joy, with many tender mercies but very few of the big miracles that I have wanted. But while His ways are not my ways, I'm gradually learning that for wise and eternal purposes, it's best for me to not criticize His ways and to endure in faith and patience. I fail frequently and am tempted to rail and moan, but am gradually learning that His ways are worth accepting and His gentle, personal whisperings are worth listening to when they come.

It reminded me of Elder Renlund's recent conference talk about Infuriating Unfairness. God has done something about all these problems. God hasn't overcome death for us now, today, but HE HAS OVERCOME it.  Another talk by Elder Hallstrom - Has The Day Of Miracles Ceased? The day of miracles has not ceased

Glory

Senator John McCain Oct 2020 - Foreword to "Devil At My Heels" book by Louis Zamperini:

"Like Louis Zamperini, I learned the truth in war: There are greater pursuits than self-seeking. Glory is not a conceit or a decoration for valor. It is not a prize for being the most clever, the strongest, or the boldest. Glory belongs to the act of being constant to something greater than yourself, to a cause, to your principles, to the people on whom you rely, and who rely on you in return. No misfortune, no injury, no humiliation can destroy it.

"Like Louis, I discovered in war that faith in myself proved to be the least formidable strength I possessed when confronting alone organized inhumanity on a greater scale than I had conceived possible. In prison, I learned that faith in myself alone, separate from other, more important allegiances, was ultimately no match for the cruelty that human beings could devise when they were entirely unencumbered by respect for the God-given dignity of man. This is the lesson many American's, including Louis, learned in prison. It is, perhaps, the most important lesson we have ever learned, 

"Through war, and in peace, Louis Zampernini found his faith."

Divine Discontent

Sister Craig: Divine Discontent: "These prophetic calls to action, coupled with our innate sense that we can do and be more, sometimes create within us what Elder Neal A. Maxwell called “divine discontent.” Divine discontent comes when we compare “what we are [to] what we have the power to become.” Each of us, if we are honest, feels a gap between where and who we are, and where and who we want to become. We yearn for greater personal capacity. We have these feelings because we are daughters and sons of God, born with the Light of Christ yet living in a fallen world. These feelings are God given and create an urgency to act.

From Elder Maxwell: Notwithstanding My Weakness - A few suggestions to help us manage our vexing feelings of inadequacy:

1. We can distinguish more clearly between divine discontent and the devil’s dissonance, between dissatisfaction with self and disdain for self. We need the first and must shun the second, remembering that when conscience calls to us from the next ridge, it is not solely to scold but also to beckon.

2. We can contemplate how far we have already come in the climb along the pathway to perfection; it is usually much farther than we acknowledge. True, we are “unprofitable servants,” but partly because when “we have done that which was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10), with every ounce of such obedience comes a bushel of blessings.

3. We can accept help as well as gladly give it. Happily, General Naaman received honest but helpful feedback, not from fellow generals, but from his orderlies. (See 2 Kgs. 5:1–14.) In the economy of heaven, God does not send thunder if a still, small voice is enough, or a prophet if a priest can do the job.

4. We can allow for the agency of others (including our children) before we assess our adequacy. Often our deliberate best is less effectual because of someone else’s worst.

5. We can write down, and act upon, more of those accumulating resolutions for self-improvement that we so often leave, unrecovered, at the edge of sleep.

6. We can admit that if we were to die today, we would be genuinely and deeply missed. Perhaps parliaments would not praise us, but no human circle is so small that it does not touch another, and another.

7. We can put our hand to the plow, looking neither back nor around, comparatively. Our gifts and opportunities differ; some are more visible and impactful. The historian Moroni felt inadequate as a writer beside the mighty Mahonri Moriancumer, who wrote overpoweringly. We all have at least one gift and an open invitation to seek “earnestly the best gifts.” (D&C 46:8.)

8. We can make quiet but more honest inventories of our strengths, since, in this connection, most of us are dishonest bookkeepers and need confirming “outside auditors.” He who was thrust down in the first estate delights to have us put ourselves down. Self-contempt is of Satan; there is none of it in heaven. We should, of course, learn from our mistakes, but without forever studying the instant replays as if these were the game of life itself.

9. We can add to each other’s storehouse of self-esteem by giving deserved, specific commendation more often, remembering, too, that those who are breathless from going the second mile need deserved praise just as the fallen need to be lifted up.

10. We can also keep moving. Only the Lord can compare crosses, but all crosses are easier to carry when we keep moving. Men finally climbed Mount Everest, not by standing at its base in consuming awe, but by shouldering their packs and by placing one foot in front of another. Feet are made to move forward—not backward!

11. We can know that when we have truly given what we have, it is like paying a full tithe; it is, in that respect, all that was asked. The widow who cast in her two mites was neither self-conscious nor searching for mortal approval.

12. We can allow for the reality that God is more concerned with growth than with geography. Thus, those who marched in Zion’s Camp were not exploring the Missouri countryside but their own possibilities.

13. We can learn that at the center of our agency is our freedom to form a healthy attitude toward whatever circumstances we are placed in! Those, for instance, who stretch themselves in service—though laced with limiting diseases—are often the healthiest among us! The Spirit can drive the flesh beyond where the body first agrees to go!

14. Finally, we can accept this stunning, irrevocable truth: Our Lord can lift us from deep despair and cradle us midst any care. We cannot tell Him anything about aloneness or nearness!

Yes, brothers and sisters, this is a gospel of grand expectations, but God’s grace is sufficient for each of us. Discouragement is not the absence of adequacy but the absence of courage, and our personal progress should be yet another way we witness to the wonder of it all!

True, there are no instant Christians, but there are constant Christians!

Build Zion In Our Lives Today

Some thoughts and notes from the Sunday School Lesson today - Doctrine and Covenants section 45

D&C 45:9 - And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me.

The EVERLASTING COVENANT is the Standard, Is the messenger, is what God has sent to be the light to the world. It is what we are to seek to! The Everlasting Covenant prepares the way before him and his return/his coming. What is the Everlasting Covenant? Maybe it's FAMILY! Sealed families, families sealed in the temples of God.

Elder Richard G. Scott - Trials are either for our progression or because of transgression

If ye are prepared ye shall not fear - Bumpy road, shock absorbers, potholes in the road

How Can We Build Zion In Our Lives and Communities Today?

5 Principles delivered by Joseph Smith:

1. Faithfully Endure Trials
2. Obey God's Law
3. Exercise Agency
4. Preach the Gospel
5. Purify our Hearts

Elder Christofferson - Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. Zion will come only as they happen. 

AND in that talk, Elder Christofferson quotes one of my favorite verses! 1 Nephi 14:14! "And so today the Lord’s people are gathering “out from among the nations” as they gather into the congregations and stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that are scattered throughout the nations. Nephi foresaw that these “dominions” would be small but that the Lord’s power would descend “upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, … who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they [would be] armed with righteousness” (see 1 Nephi 14:12–14). The Lord calls upon us to be beacons of righteousness to guide those who seek the safety and blessings of Zion: “Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations; And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth” (D&C 115:5–6).

Demand of yourself improvement, Divine Discontent by Elder Maxwell

Power of God Lesson

SO - I gave the lesson in our Relief Society zoom today. I would have preferred if we were at church and I had a bigger table in front of me to lay out all my papers on and where I could see people, but what ya gonna do. My phone's zoom screen just showed me and 3 other sisters. I've gotten a few texts that the lesson was good and that they loved it. I hope they got something out of it that that they can put to use. I know that I loved preparing for it. I spent the past 2 weeks preparing, pondering, and feasting on talks. I just put together the notes of what we actually talked about, from what I could remember, and here they are: 

Enduring Power by Elder Kelly R. Johnson (He uses the word power 37 times, Endure/enduring 2x)

Elder Johnson - FIRST PARAGRAPH - POWER: A word that President Nelson has frequently talked about: Power, specifically God's power, and how we can access is. (Power, Strength, Virtue) Virtue - VIR - Latin for "man", vertu - Old French for "force, strength, vigor"

The Living Christ "We offer our testimony of the reality of his matchless life and the infinite virtue (power and strength!) of His great atoning sacrifice"

• April 2017 - Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ Into Our Lives "God so loved the world that He sent His Only Begotten Son to help us. And His Son, Jesus Christ, gave His life for us. All so that we could have access to godly power—power sufficient to deal with the burdens, obstacles, and temptations of our day. 
• Oct 2020 - By Union of Feeling we Obtain Power with God - Sister Eubank
• Apr 2017 - Overcoming the World - Elder Neil Anderson
• Apr 1987 - Overcome... Even As I Also Overcame - Elder Neal Maxwell
• Apr 2020 - Hear Him - President Nelson
• Oct 2019 - Spiritual Treasures - President Nelson
• Oct 2015 - A Plea To My Sisters - President Nelson

1 Nephi 14:14 - And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory. 

A prophecy yet to be fulfilled in April 1987 - Overcome... Even As I Also Overcame - Elder Neal Maxwell: "One day, and why not soon, the people of the Church will fulfill this prophecy: 'The power of the Lamb of God … descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, … the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory. However, our collective light does not yet shine brightly enough to be “a standard for the nations"

Fulfilled! April 2020 General Conference - Hear Him - President Nelson "We live in the day that 'our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation.' We have front-row seats to witness live what the prophet Nephi saw only in vision, that 'the power of the Lamb of God' would descend 'upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.' You, my brothers and sisters, are among those men, women, and children whom Nephi saw. Think of that!"

Elder Johnson - FOURTH PARAGRAPH - IT IS HARD, So we need Grit to Endure! Understanding what we must to do access God's power in our lives is not easy, but I have found it is doable by studying it out in our minds and praying for the Holy Ghost to enlighten us. 

• Elder Scott - April 2013 For Peace At Home - "God's power, power to do more than we can do by ourselves"
• S. Michael Wilcox - The Fourth Watch - The Lord waits until we're on our last meal (widow of Zarephath
• Elder Holland - Cast Not Away Your Confidence - Revelation comes when we are in urgent need, life or death situations, like Moses and the children of Israel at the Red Sea
• Oct 2019 - Spiritual Treasures - President Nelson "This process is neither quick nor easy. Accessing the power of God in your life requires the same things that the Lord instructed Emma and each of you to do. ... Sometimes we speak almost casually about walking away from the world, but truly doing so requires you to examine your life meticulously and regularly. The Holy Ghost will prompt you about what is not longer needful, what is no longer worthy of your time and energy"
• Sister Eubank "By Unity of Feeling We Obtain Power With God" - Us trying to dig about in our own little vineyards, Ye shall clear away the bad as fast as the good can grow. It is messy, sometimes uncomfortable, and happens gradually when we clear away the bad, we are never alone in our efforts. Deeply wounding experiences... Jesus Christ's power reaches to the very bottom and is reliably there for us when we call on Him.
• Oct 2007 - Good, Better, Best - Elder Oaks - for faithful members, it might be more deciding between good better best instead of clearing away the bad. Choose the best!
• Apr 2017 - Overcoming the World - Elder Neil Anderson "Overcoming the world is not one defining moment in a lifetime, but a lifetime of moments that define an eternity. Overcoming the world is not a global invasion but a private, personal battle, requiring hand-to-hand combat with our own internal foes.
• Apr 1987 - Overcome... Even As I Also Overcame - Elder Neal Maxwell "Real disciples absorb the fiery darts of the adversary by holding aloft the quenching shield of faith with one hand, while holding to the iron rod with the other. There should be no mistaking, it will take both hands!"

HOW - WHAT WE CAN DO:

• April 2017 - Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ Into Our Lives "We begin by 1) learning about Him. - The more we know about the Savior’s ministry and mission—the more we understand His doctrine and what He did for us—the more we know that He can provide the power that we need for our lives. 2) Consecrate a portion of our time each week to studying everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the standard works- use Topical guide as your personal core curriculum. 3) Study "The Living Christ 4) Stand out, speak up, be different - undaunted, devoted, courageous
• Oct 2019 - Spiritual Treasures - President Nelson - study Lord's counsel to Emma in D&C 25: "You won’t find this process spelled out in any manual. The Holy Ghost will be your personal tutor as you seek to understand what the Lord would have you know and do. This process is neither quick nor easy, but it is spiritually invigorating. What could possibly be more exciting than to labor with the Spirit to understand God’s power—priesthood power? What I can tell you is that accessing the power of God in your life requires the same things that the Lord instructed Emma and each of you to do. So, I invite you to study prayerfully section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants and discover what the Holy Ghost will teach YOU."
• Talking Scriptures Podcast Episode 94, Lord's counsel to Emma at minute 33:22, especially don't murmur and don't compare
• Examine our thoughts - journal, Explore all your habits, thoughts, reasons, good better best. Read "Through His Eyes" By Virginia Hinckley Pearce
• What is your part? What are your goals, your desires? Study your patriarchal blessing
• Brad Wilcox - 5 Minute Fireside - Write 100 goals to learn about yourself and what you want from life, and write down 10 heroes and why you admire them to help you learn more about yourself
• The Practical Work of Building Zion - Troy Dougherty, BYU Idaho devotional

BONUS - Things we didn't get to today! 

A thought from Teaching with Power - A Woman's Power - like the Queen in Chess - In chess, each piece has a relative value and POWER. Pawns are not very powerful, don't carry a huge value, thus they are sacrifice for position or used to create a structure from which to protect more valuable/more important pieces of the game. The King is a critical piece, but the most powerful piece is the Queen - Most versatility, can move the fastest and the farthest in all directions. Most games are won by using the unique abilities of the queen in conjunction with other supportive pieces. Usually the Queen are at the center of the action. Putting pressure on the enemy king, rescuing pieces under attack, making captives, forcing retreat. SHE IS THE PIECE ON THE BOARD. Many players will resign the game if they inadvertently lose their queen. It's usually not even worth trying after that. King is the overall focus of attack, but he doesn't have power to work and move like the queen. She is the piece making things happen. The Chess Queen communicates the Power of Women. 

Oct 2015 - A Plea to My Sisters - President Nelson "Today, let me add that we need women who know how to make important things happen by their faith and who are courageous defenders of morality and families in a sin-sick world."  - "Sisters, do you realize the breadth and scope of your influence when you speak those things that come to your heart and mind as directed by the Spirit?" - "We know that the culminating act of all creation was the creation of woman! We need your strength!" (aka power!) If the world loses the moral rectitude of it's women, the world will never recover. We need women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ and who will use that understanding to teach and help raise a sin-resistant generation."

Sister Eubank "By Unity of Feeling We Obtain Power With God" - "The women of his Church have unlimited potential to change society. I have full spiritual confidence that, as we seek union of feeling, we will call down the power of God to make our efforts whole."

CS Lewis - "A housewife's work is the one for which all other work exists" 

President Nelson "Drawing in the Power of Jesus Christ" April 2017 - "There is nothing easy or automatic about becoming such powerful disciples. Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee.

We can live without fear - Ann Voskamp "Worry is the facade of taking action. Prayer actually is."

Elder Johnson - Story of their microwave - There was nothing on the inside to absorb the energy/fiery darts. 

Elder Gary B. Sabin "Stand Up Inside and Be All In" We stand up inside when we lift up the hands that hang down. We stand up inside when we defend the truth against a wicked and secular world that is becoming increasingly more uncomfortable with light, calling evil good and good evil and “condemning the righteous because of their righteousness.” - Standing up inside in spite of difficulties is possible because of a clear conscience, the strengthening and comforting assurance from the Holy Ghost, and an eternal perspective which surpasses mortal understanding.19 In our premortal life we shouted for joy at the opportunity to experience mortality.20 We were “all in” as we excitedly made the decision to be valiant defenders of our Heavenly Father’s plan. It is time to stand up and defend His plan again! - Our son Justin passed away at age 19 after fighting a lifelong disease. In a sacrament meeting talk he gave not long before he left us, he shared a story that must have resonated with him about a father and his young son who went into a toy store where there was an inflatable punching bag in the shape of a man. The boy punched the inflatable man, who tipped over and immediately bounced back after every punch. The father asked his young son why the man kept bouncing back up. The boy thought for a minute and then said, “I don’t know. I guess it’s because he’s standing up on the inside.” In order to be “all in,” we need to “stand up inside,” “come what may.” ("Come What May and Love It" Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin Oct 2008, "Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work and Count it All Joy" - Elder Jeremy Jaggi Oct 2020) - We stand up inside when we wait patiently upon the Lord to remove or give us strength to endure our thorns in the flesh. Such thorns may be disease, disability, mental illness, death of a loved one, and so many other issues.

HOW HAVE ANY OF YOU DONE THIS IN YOUR LIFE? Me - Oct 2017 "Worth Fighting For"