With the General Women's Meeting coming up tomorrow night, my excitement and enthusiasm caused me to rearrange my study schedule to review talks from last Women's Meeting. All of those talks were wonderful as they encouraged us to prepare to make and keep covenants, to share the gospel, and to live the gospel joyfully. In anticipation for that wonderful meeting tomorrow, I wanted to share this highlight from President Uchtdorf's talk entitled " Living The Gospel Joyful".
"My dear sisters in the gospel, whether you are 8 or 108, there is one thing that I hope you truly understand and know:
You are loved.
You are dear to your heavenly parents.
The infinite and eternal Creator of light and life knows you! He is mindful of you.
Yes, God loves you this very day and always.
He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to Him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer. He knows of the times you have held onto the fading light and believed—even in the midst of growing darkness. He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you have fallen short or failed. And still He loves you.
And God knows of your successes; though they may seem small to you, He acknowledges and cherishes each one of them. He loves you for extending yourself to others. He loves you for reaching out and helping others bear their heavy burdens—even when you are struggling with your own.
He knows everything about you. He sees you clearly—He knows you as you really are. And He loves you—today and always!
Do you suppose it matters to our Heavenly Father whether your makeup, clothes, hair, and nails are perfect? Do you think your value to Him changes based on how many followers you have on Instagram or Pinterest? Do you think He wants you to worry or get depressed if some un-friend or un-follow you on Facebook or Twitter? Do you think outward attractiveness, your dress size, or popularity make the slightest difference in your worth to the One who created the universe?
He loves you not only for who you are this very day but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential and the desire to become.
More than you could ever imagine, He wants you to achieve your destiny—to return to your heavenly home in honor.
I testify that the way to accomplish this is to place selfish desires and unworthy ambitions on the altar of sacrifice and service. Sisters, trust in the saving power of Jesus Christ; keep His laws and commandments. In other words—live the gospel joyful."
Friday, March 27, 2015
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Limiting Labels
I like order and organization. I really do to a certain point. All my baking supplies are in one cabinet, my canned food (divided by kind) in another cupboard, and at one point my closet was arranged by color. But I like what Martina Navratilova said about labels- "Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people." Great for grocery stores and libraries- not so nice for humans.
What can be a handy tool to create organized space in a cupboard or closet has spilled out into our lives in nearly uncontrollable ways. When did it start? This obsessive categorization of possessions, places, and people that perhaps started to help us organize and differentiate, to prioritize and plan, can unfortunately start to box us in. While sometimes a label is merely an identifier that allows us to recognize and properly treat or address an issue, if we take it too far it becomes a sticky trap. We even hear it in our vernacular- instead of saying " I enjoy sports" we say " I'm a sports fanatic" or even more serious, " He has bipolar disorder." sometimes instead we say "He is bipolar", like it's all that person is and somehow represents the sum total of this individual.
Now before going further, let me clarify that some labels as they define us are good, inspiring even, because the label itself does not come with any limiting connotations or strings. (And that can also depend on the person) Those labels that inspire us to become who we want to be can be powerful motivators in our lives. For me, DISCIPLE, is the label that comes to mind for this. All that I am and all that I aspire to be points toward and leads to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. Any other identifier comes second to that. On the other hand, the label of "SINGLE" however true, makes me feel limited and marginalized in my experiences (though many people have the opposite association of "single" to freedom and carefree fun). While those labels mean various things to each person, the ones we hold onto and allow to define us will shape who we become.
Johnny Depp is famously quoted as saying that the only thing he has a problem with is being labeled. And Taylor Swift made her point by saying, "I leave the genre labeling to other people. I really do. If I were to think too hard about it, that would stifle you creatively. If you think too hard about who other people want you to be as an artist, it stops you from being who you want to be as an artist." On some level, I know it matters to the marketing divisions and the casting people when they look at those things. But both of these are great examples because I enjoy watching Johnny Depp in the wide range of roles from Edward Scissorhands to Captain Jack and I love T-Swift's music, both when I found it in the country section and now that it headlines over the pop music. While I can see where those labels may seemingly create limits in a professional career for the less versatile, at the end of the day those labels aren't making a statement on the character of these individuals.
It's one thing to categorize a career and I'm sure all of us have to deal with the limits or lack of limits within a chosen profession, but when we begin to define ourselves by those labels we limit our growth. Catherine Tate is a wonderfully funny and quirky British comedian and actress and I love what she added about being labeled. "I realized that if you get yourself labeled as the funny one, people don't look any further. I've used that as I've got older. It's controlling: I decide what part of my personality you're seeing. I don't want you to look at me, I really don't. I don't want you to comment on my clothes, my hair or the way I look." The sad thing is that this is happening across the board and not just with being funny. As a society we tend to pick one trait to focus on then we harp on it, make judgements based on that one little aspect or characteristic, and act as judge and jury about their entire life. Based off one thing. We dissect Natalie Portman's performance in one of her films and forget that she has a B.A. in psychology from Harvard. And lest we just lump her into a pool of Harvard grads, she's a wife and a mother and many other wonderful and great things too. Then we praise Einstein's intelligence while leaving out his reported sense of humor.
We are more than just the sum of our parts.
More than our experiences, more than a job or a career. More than interests or hobbies. And definitely more than a physical trait.
Maybe you love being tall. And being smart. Perhaps you have a health condition, a passion, or a relationship that are huge parts of your life. Our interactions and experiences with each of those parts of ourselves add to our identities, but they are not us.
Back to what I said earlier, some of these labels can be inspiring. And we have the ability to choose what to keep and what to discard. Why should society have the power to dictate who we are based on a small part? I love Max Lucado's story "You Are Special" about the little wooden people who put grey dots or gold stars on each other. You get to choose what sticks. If one label helps you identify a goal or who you want to be- keep it, stick on your forehead, make a bumper sticker if that works for you. And if another label makes you feel inferior, limited, or frustrated, take it off. Let it go. And don't allow one such label to become your lot in life, to define your potential. Most labels can change, transform into something better if we so choose.
You get to choose what sticks.
Now before going further, let me clarify that some labels as they define us are good, inspiring even, because the label itself does not come with any limiting connotations or strings. (And that can also depend on the person) Those labels that inspire us to become who we want to be can be powerful motivators in our lives. For me, DISCIPLE, is the label that comes to mind for this. All that I am and all that I aspire to be points toward and leads to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. Any other identifier comes second to that. On the other hand, the label of "SINGLE" however true, makes me feel limited and marginalized in my experiences (though many people have the opposite association of "single" to freedom and carefree fun). While those labels mean various things to each person, the ones we hold onto and allow to define us will shape who we become.
Johnny Depp is famously quoted as saying that the only thing he has a problem with is being labeled. And Taylor Swift made her point by saying, "I leave the genre labeling to other people. I really do. If I were to think too hard about it, that would stifle you creatively. If you think too hard about who other people want you to be as an artist, it stops you from being who you want to be as an artist." On some level, I know it matters to the marketing divisions and the casting people when they look at those things. But both of these are great examples because I enjoy watching Johnny Depp in the wide range of roles from Edward Scissorhands to Captain Jack and I love T-Swift's music, both when I found it in the country section and now that it headlines over the pop music. While I can see where those labels may seemingly create limits in a professional career for the less versatile, at the end of the day those labels aren't making a statement on the character of these individuals.
It's one thing to categorize a career and I'm sure all of us have to deal with the limits or lack of limits within a chosen profession, but when we begin to define ourselves by those labels we limit our growth. Catherine Tate is a wonderfully funny and quirky British comedian and actress and I love what she added about being labeled. "I realized that if you get yourself labeled as the funny one, people don't look any further. I've used that as I've got older. It's controlling: I decide what part of my personality you're seeing. I don't want you to look at me, I really don't. I don't want you to comment on my clothes, my hair or the way I look." The sad thing is that this is happening across the board and not just with being funny. As a society we tend to pick one trait to focus on then we harp on it, make judgements based on that one little aspect or characteristic, and act as judge and jury about their entire life. Based off one thing. We dissect Natalie Portman's performance in one of her films and forget that she has a B.A. in psychology from Harvard. And lest we just lump her into a pool of Harvard grads, she's a wife and a mother and many other wonderful and great things too. Then we praise Einstein's intelligence while leaving out his reported sense of humor.
We are more than just the sum of our parts.
More than our experiences, more than a job or a career. More than interests or hobbies. And definitely more than a physical trait.
Maybe you love being tall. And being smart. Perhaps you have a health condition, a passion, or a relationship that are huge parts of your life. Our interactions and experiences with each of those parts of ourselves add to our identities, but they are not us.
Back to what I said earlier, some of these labels can be inspiring. And we have the ability to choose what to keep and what to discard. Why should society have the power to dictate who we are based on a small part? I love Max Lucado's story "You Are Special" about the little wooden people who put grey dots or gold stars on each other. You get to choose what sticks. If one label helps you identify a goal or who you want to be- keep it, stick on your forehead, make a bumper sticker if that works for you. And if another label makes you feel inferior, limited, or frustrated, take it off. Let it go. And don't allow one such label to become your lot in life, to define your potential. Most labels can change, transform into something better if we so choose.
You get to choose what sticks.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Faith FHE Outline
As promised, here is my template for the Faith themed family home evening for my FHE kit.
Family Home Evening
Faith
I. Songs
- #96, “Faith”, Children’s Songbook
- #134, “I Believe in Christ”, Hymns
- #85, “How Firm A Foundation”, Hymns
II. Scriptures
- Hebrews 11:1, Ether 12
- Alma 32:28, 42-43
- 1 Nephi 7:12
- 2 Nephi 9:23, 25:23
- Moroni 7:33-34, 10:7
- James 2:17-26
- Ephesians 2:8
- D&C 130:20-21
III. Stories/Sermons
a) Bishop Edgley, “ Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today’s world, I wish to suggest a single choice—a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. Be aware that faith is not a free gift given without thought, desire, or effort. It does not come as the dew falls from heaven. The Savior said, “Come unto me” (Matthew 11:28) and “Knock, and it shall be [given] you” (Matthew 7:7). These are action verbs—come, knock. They are choices. So I say, choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism.” Oct. 2010 G.C.
b) President Hinckley, “Long ago I worked for one of the railroads whose tracks threaded the passes through these western mountains. I frequently rode the trains. It was in the days when there were steam locomotives. Those great monsters of the rails were huge and fast and dangerous. I often wondered how the engineer dared the long journey through the night. Then I came to realize that it was not one long journey, but rather a constant continuation of a short journey. The engine had a powerful headlight that made bright the way for a distance of 400 or 500 yards (350 to 450 m). The engineer saw only that distance, and that was enough, because it was constantly before him all through the night into the dawn of the new day.The Lord has spoken of this process. He said: “That which doth not edify [teach] is not of God, and is darkness. “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (D&C 50:23–24).And so it is with our eternal journey. We take one step at a time. In doing so we reach toward the unknown, but faith lights the way. If we will cultivate that faith, we shall never walk in darkness.”
c) Pres. Monson, “Wherever we may be, our Heavenly Father can hear and answer the prayer offered in faith. Many years ago, on my first visit to the village of Sauniatu in Samoa, my wife and I met with a large gathering of small children—nearly 200 in number. At the conclusion of our messages to these shy yet beautiful youngsters, I suggested to the native Samoan teacher that we go forward with the closing exercises. As he announced the final hymn, I suddenly felt compelled to greet personally each of these children. My watch revealed that the time was too short for such a privilege, for we were scheduled on a flight out of the country, so I discounted the impression. Before the benediction was to be spoken, I again felt that I should shake the hand of each child. I made the desire known to the instructor, who displayed a broad and beautiful Samoan smile. In Samoan, he announced this to the children. They beamed their approval. The instructor then revealed to me the reason for his and their joy. He said, “When we learned that a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was to visit us here in Samoa, so far away from Church headquarters, I told the children if they would earnestly and sincerely pray and exert faith like the Bible accounts of old, that the Apostle would visit our tiny village at Sauniatu and through their faith he would be impressed to greet each child with a personal handclasp.” Tears could not be restrained as the precious boys and girls walked shyly by and whispered softly to us the sweet Samoan greeting “talofa lava.” A profound expression of faith had been evidenced.”
IV. Something To Do
a) Faith “Floatie” object lesson- show a picture of a body builder and ask what they notice about him. Focus on how he had to exercise to be strong.“Faith is like the muscle of my arm. If I use it, if I nurture it, it grows strong; it will do many things. But if I put it in a sling and do nothing with it, it will grow weak and useless.” Put a swimming floatie on the arms and compare it to faith and how we need to exercise it. Ask for examples of how we can put air into our faith- obey, pray, read scriptures, go to church, etc.
b) Put two tablespoons of the vinegar into the plastic bottle and one teaspoon of the baking soda into the balloon. Show the children the bottle and tell them that it contains vinegar. Allow them to smell it. Show the children the balloon and tell them it contains baking soda. Inform the children that if you were to put the balloon on the bottle and combine the vinegar and baking soda it would produce a gas that would inflate the balloon. Ask the children if they believe you. Ask the children how they could find out for themselves if what you told them is true. (They would have to try it out to see if it works.) Allow a volunteer to try the experiment. Direct the volunteer to stretch the opening of the balloon over the opening of the bottle without spilling the contents of the balloon into the bottle. After the balloon is attached, direct the child to lift up the balloon and empty its contents into the bottle. After the balloon inflates, point out that they were able to discover the truth of what you told them by trying it out. Ask how they could use that same method to find out if a gospel principle is true? (Read Alma 32:27)
c) Faith is like a seed. Read Alma 32. Give each child a seed and ask how can we get the seed to grow into a flower or a tree? What does it need (sun, water, soil)? Compare that to prayer, scriptures, and going to church. Help them plant the seeds in cups of soil and watch them over several weeks. Follow up on if they nurture the plant or let it die.
V. Snacks- Make cookies or a cake together, explaining that if we don’t put all the ingredients together, it won’t turn out right or taste very good. OR, “seed” and “plant” cookies.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Going Through A Car Wash Backwards
Kind of a funny story...on my mission, my companion and I had been working with a family we dearly loved. They were struggling with a few things and for several weeks did not return phone calls or answer the door when we stopped by. My wonderful companion and I kept them in our prayers and when we felt prompted we would stop by. ( We would learn later that every time we stopped by and left a note, it was a reminder they needed!) Anyway, after one such attempt, we had driven out of the neighborhood and down the street when she called us! We were so excited to hear from her and even more so when she told us she didn't get to the door fast enough and wanted us to return! Excitedly we looked for a place to turn around and turned into a gas station at the corner. In our haste, we failed to realize that we had started to go around the gas station in the exit lane for the car wash. Once we realized, we couldn't really back up and so we went through the car wash backwards! Obviously very carefully and feeling incredibly guilty. No harm to the car or the car wash and we made it back and had a wonderful visit. But it makes for a funny story : )
The whole point of my humorous little tale is that somehow that very idea illustrates my struggle of the past two months. I feel like I've been trying unsuccessfully to drive through the car wash backwards. Perhaps you remember my tirade of a blog back in January about love taking hostages and my overly optimistic follow up. That first week after he obliterated my heart, I immediately went into all my coping techniques- letting myself cry, eat ice cream, workout, dance and have fun, watch favorite movies, hang out with friends, pampered myself, etc. I went through the whole list and after a week basically told myself, " Okay, time's up. What were the positive learning outcomes of the experience?" etc. I feel stupid just writing that. And while I didn't literally tell myself that, I pretty much tried to do it just like that. I tried to rush to the end of the recovery process by identifying the positive aspects and opportunities from the experience. In essence, I tried to drive through the car wash backwards.
And let me tell you--it doesn't work very well. In all my efforts to be "okay", I've been slowly falling apart. There's a quote from "It Takes Two" about love- "It's got to be that can't-eat, can't-sleep, reach-for-the-stars, over-the-fence, World Series kind of stuff, right". However great in theory, this whole can't sleep and can't eat thing is really getting to be a problem. I have trouble sleeping- even when I'm tired I stay up doing pointless things and then struggle to wake up after snoozing my alarm four times. Most days I have no appetite, doing just water and protein shakes. Then one day, I want to eat cupcakes, pizza, and any other junk food within reach. I find myself getting mad and impatient at the smallest provocation, which isn't like me. I've lost interest in doing things I actually love doing- my reading of the three books I was working on has dwindled to a snail's pace. I put on movies and just stare mindlessly at the screen before realizing I've been crying for half the film. I didn't really put all these things together until this past weekend when I had a breakdown. I cancelled almost everything I had planned and curled up in bed to cry for nearly two days. And the worst part? I didn't want to feel better- I just wanted to be miserable. Mostly because if I just stay broken, I don't have to go through the whole process of putting myself back together. If I just stay broken, I don't have to go through the whole horrible devastation of falling in love alone. Again. Part of me wonders if I really deserve to be happy.
Sure there were well-meaning friends who told me things along the lines of "He wasn't worth it anyway", " You didn't really even date. Can't you just let it go?", and "You're being a little dramatic- (wo)man up!". While I appreciated all those sentiments, I must admit that the real pressure to be "alright" was internal. As a return missionary, a covenant making and keeping disciple striving to actively live the gospel and apply the Atonement on a daily basis in my life, I have somehow gotten this idea that if I can't turn around and give a certain burden or trial to the Savior, then I'm failing as a Latter-day Saint. I've spent so much time studying and striving to understand how to apply the Atonement, and when hit by this particular trial I didn't want to give up the pain. It's not that I think He doesn't understand. He absolutely does. It's not that I think He can't heal me. I know He can and will. But I think part of me is struggling to trust in the Lord's timing. Maybe a part of me, after praying and working and trusting in going forward in this last endeavor, feels that I betrayed myself. After following spiritual promptings and counseling with the Lord, and still ending up crippled by the pain of this heartbreak, I'm disappointed in myself. Almost as if I misinterpreted feelings because I wanted it so bad. I'm not a perfect person, at all, and maybe with my mistakes and pride, I feel as if don't deserve to be happy. I know that part of that are the lies of the adversary who preys on that insecurity of mine, but the other part I really have to work on. The Atonement even covers the pain of wanting to hold onto the pain, not just the heartache of being broken but also the misery of wanting to stay that way. I'm not resolving anything in this post, just trying to be honest with myself. And the more it hurts, the more I realize that the Savior is just waiting for me to turn to Him and put my heart in His hands. I would never want someone I love to hold on so tightly to the pain, yet I'm beating myself up when I know exactly how to let it go. I don't mean to whine and complain when so many around me struggle with incredibly hard trials and worse heartaches. But this one has me flat on my back struggling to breathe even two months later and I have to acknowledge that I'm not okay. But I will be. Eventually. One day.
The whole point of my humorous little tale is that somehow that very idea illustrates my struggle of the past two months. I feel like I've been trying unsuccessfully to drive through the car wash backwards. Perhaps you remember my tirade of a blog back in January about love taking hostages and my overly optimistic follow up. That first week after he obliterated my heart, I immediately went into all my coping techniques- letting myself cry, eat ice cream, workout, dance and have fun, watch favorite movies, hang out with friends, pampered myself, etc. I went through the whole list and after a week basically told myself, " Okay, time's up. What were the positive learning outcomes of the experience?" etc. I feel stupid just writing that. And while I didn't literally tell myself that, I pretty much tried to do it just like that. I tried to rush to the end of the recovery process by identifying the positive aspects and opportunities from the experience. In essence, I tried to drive through the car wash backwards.
And let me tell you--it doesn't work very well. In all my efforts to be "okay", I've been slowly falling apart. There's a quote from "It Takes Two" about love- "It's got to be that can't-eat, can't-sleep, reach-for-the-stars, over-the-fence, World Series kind of stuff, right". However great in theory, this whole can't sleep and can't eat thing is really getting to be a problem. I have trouble sleeping- even when I'm tired I stay up doing pointless things and then struggle to wake up after snoozing my alarm four times. Most days I have no appetite, doing just water and protein shakes. Then one day, I want to eat cupcakes, pizza, and any other junk food within reach. I find myself getting mad and impatient at the smallest provocation, which isn't like me. I've lost interest in doing things I actually love doing- my reading of the three books I was working on has dwindled to a snail's pace. I put on movies and just stare mindlessly at the screen before realizing I've been crying for half the film. I didn't really put all these things together until this past weekend when I had a breakdown. I cancelled almost everything I had planned and curled up in bed to cry for nearly two days. And the worst part? I didn't want to feel better- I just wanted to be miserable. Mostly because if I just stay broken, I don't have to go through the whole process of putting myself back together. If I just stay broken, I don't have to go through the whole horrible devastation of falling in love alone. Again. Part of me wonders if I really deserve to be happy.
Sure there were well-meaning friends who told me things along the lines of "He wasn't worth it anyway", " You didn't really even date. Can't you just let it go?", and "You're being a little dramatic- (wo)man up!". While I appreciated all those sentiments, I must admit that the real pressure to be "alright" was internal. As a return missionary, a covenant making and keeping disciple striving to actively live the gospel and apply the Atonement on a daily basis in my life, I have somehow gotten this idea that if I can't turn around and give a certain burden or trial to the Savior, then I'm failing as a Latter-day Saint. I've spent so much time studying and striving to understand how to apply the Atonement, and when hit by this particular trial I didn't want to give up the pain. It's not that I think He doesn't understand. He absolutely does. It's not that I think He can't heal me. I know He can and will. But I think part of me is struggling to trust in the Lord's timing. Maybe a part of me, after praying and working and trusting in going forward in this last endeavor, feels that I betrayed myself. After following spiritual promptings and counseling with the Lord, and still ending up crippled by the pain of this heartbreak, I'm disappointed in myself. Almost as if I misinterpreted feelings because I wanted it so bad. I'm not a perfect person, at all, and maybe with my mistakes and pride, I feel as if don't deserve to be happy. I know that part of that are the lies of the adversary who preys on that insecurity of mine, but the other part I really have to work on. The Atonement even covers the pain of wanting to hold onto the pain, not just the heartache of being broken but also the misery of wanting to stay that way. I'm not resolving anything in this post, just trying to be honest with myself. And the more it hurts, the more I realize that the Savior is just waiting for me to turn to Him and put my heart in His hands. I would never want someone I love to hold on so tightly to the pain, yet I'm beating myself up when I know exactly how to let it go. I don't mean to whine and complain when so many around me struggle with incredibly hard trials and worse heartaches. But this one has me flat on my back struggling to breathe even two months later and I have to acknowledge that I'm not okay. But I will be. Eventually. One day.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
The 5 S's of Family Home Evening
It has been years since my mother shared those with us in our FHE, but I remember those stories fondly. In recent months, I have felt inspired to create a FHE kit of my own incorporating those stories and many others divided by topic accompanied with scriptures and visuals. By doing so, I've developed a little outline for my Family Home Evening lessons that include 5 S's I can prepare. The 5 S's I've identified are as follows: Songs, Scriptures, Stories/Sermons, Something To Do, and Snacks. For each one, I give a variety of options which ideally can target various age groups from toddler to teenagers.
1. Songs- Music is a powerful way to invite the Spirit into the home, to help children focus and associate a song with something they learn. With little children it can serve as the "attention-getter" at the beginning. Even before children can participate, it is a good habit to establish as part of FHE.
2. Scriptures- Whether it's just a a spiritual thought or the basis for the night, by regularly going to the scriptures we can share our love of the scriptures with the family. Then as they become familiar with stories and verses, the scriptures become a friend and a resource at every age.
3. Stories/Sermons- This will vary more widely with different age groups and can tie into the activity. For instance, for younger children a story with interactive pictures with be instructive and still short enough to keep their attention. For older children you can break it up more, add quotes from talks, etc
4. Something To Do- Like I already mentioned this can be part of the story time or an extension of it. In teaching gospel principles (just like teaching other things) you want to try and involve all the senses. Can they see something? Hear? Do something physically with their hands? By reinforcing a principle and letting them explore and discover in their own way, you will greatly increase their retention of the lesson. It can be a craft, coloring, a physical activity or experiment. Sometimes the entire FHE will be a family project like yard work or going to a child's recital, etc, but by tying in a principle (even something as simple as family unity or hard work) you allow them to form correlations in their experiences. There I go geeking out about development...Anyway, find something easy and fun to do.
5. Snacks- All joking aside about always having food at every Mormon function, food can be another way to connect to the theme. Decorating cookies in the shape of "xyz" that goes along with the lesson, making ice cream sundaes to go with a lesson on what to do on Sunday, or even choosing the best snack food after a lesson the Word of Wisdom can be a great complement to FHE. Not only is it a way to connect to another sense, it can offer a very tangible reminder/reinforcement of the lesson just taught.
Obviously, these are very fluid and should be adjusted to individual and family needs. But I love working on this because it allows me to put all my gospel studies into a form that I can share with my future family, including children at any age. I think there is a saying that if you can teach a principle clearly to a child then you truly understand it. I would love feedback on this- on what works for your family or suggestions on how to improve. I think I will try posting a few of my first outlines to see what you think. But no matter who is reading this, I'm mostly doing it for me--for the personal growth and preparation for my family.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
The Light You Face
I had an insight on the flight up to Utah this past weekend ( I always have cool thoughts when traveling). I was seated on the left of the plane as we took off early in the morning so out my window I could see some beautiful mists and the full moon. There was some light from the moon but it was still very dark. Just as I was wondering where the sun was, someone on the other side of the plane opened their window shade and sunlight streamed in as it rose in the east. We see the light we face. We can make do with a little bit of light, just enough knowledge and truth to get by. Or we can open the shade to the glorious stream of light Heavenly Father has for us. Also, the light and truth we choose to focus on is what we will see. We find what we seek.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
How Will You Spread the Good News?
It is that glorious time of year again when we get to prepare for General Conference! Of all the events and holidays over the years, this is one that I find myself consistently posting about. Perhaps that should demonstrate the level of my excitement and love for the privilege of listening to and learning from prophets of God.
I posted last October about the flood of questions I received from Conference and in the months following I have studied and pondered upon these talks over and over again. Common themes during the October 2014 conference included Jesus Christ, agency, the atonement, prayer, prophets, family and service, as well as temples and testimonies. A few quotes that have really encouraged and inspired me include:
"It is His plan and His will that we have the principal decision-making role in our own life’s drama."
-Elder Christofferson
"The gospel of Jesus Christ opens the path to what we may become. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His grace, our failures to live the celestial law perfectly and consistently in mortality can be erased and we are enabled to develop a Christlike character."- Elder Christofferson
"The Church is not just for perfect people, but it is for all to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.” The Church is for people like you and me. The Church is a place of welcoming and nurturing, not of separating or criticizing. It is a place where we reach out to encourage, uplift, and sustain one another as we pursue our individual search for divine truth."- President Uchtdorf
"When these trials come, the adversary’s minions begin broadcasting that you did something wrong, that this is a punishment, a sign that Heavenly Father does not love you. Ignore that! Instead, try to force a smile, gaze heavenward, and say, “I understand, Lord. I know what this is. A time to prove myself, isn’t it?” Then partner with Him to endure well to the end. Spiritual confidence increases when you accept that “often trials and tribulations are allowed to come into [your life] because of what [you] are doing right”- Elder Klebingat
"We must never let the noise of the world overpower and overwhelm that still, small voice."
- Elder Perry
- Elder Perry
I could go on because I love each and every one of those talks for the guidance and peace they bring me. One thing I love about conference is that just as I've had time to apply the directions for improvement in my life, it's time for more! Heavenly Father is all about progression. He allows us time to grow and apply modern revelation then gives us more to help us grow further.
So in thinking again about preparing for conference, there are a lot of potential components to that- activities for children, praying about my questions and concerns, looking for themes, and how to share what we learn. It is on the latter that my thoughts are dwelling today. In recent months, Elder Bednar counseled Latter-day Saints to "sweep the earth with a flood of goodness" inspiring the hashtag #sharegoodness as we share gospel messages on all forms of social media. On lds.org I found a link to a list of Mormon Hashtag Recommendations so we can appropriately hashtag events and quotes. However, on the other hand, I do not want to live tweet general conference and sacrifice the focus on the messages in order to share. We have been counseled to make the gospel the center of our lives, but not to shove it in other's faces--there is a call for moderation in all things. What is natural and right for me may not work for everyone. Case in point- I enjoy blogging while others shy away from it. Others love Instagram and I haven't added it to my repertoire of social media yet. I'm still new to the Twitter and hashtag realm. I would say that you should do what is comfortable, but I think it's a little more than that, because sometimes we will be asked to share beyond our comfort zones. We are asked to be bold disciples declaring the gospel far and wide. So I guess what I would say is that this year as I'm preparing for conference I am going to be prayerful about how I need to share what I learn. In what ways does Heavenly Father need me to spread the good news? I invite all of you to do the same.
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