Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time

  The following video was from a talk given by Elder Quentin L. Cook. I was babysitting some boys in my neighborhood a couple weeks ago, and noticed that there were dozens of conference talks downloaded on their computer. I started listening to some of them after the kids had gone to bed.
     This video on YouTube caught my eye, because I remembered that I had heard the title somewhere... but I couldn't remember where. Then I remembered after watching it... I listened to it while babysitting. It really is a great talk. To read the full address, click here.




     This is like... my third post that focuses on trials. It takes me a lot of research and time to write these posts, but it seems like every time I'm looking for videos or other media... many, many of them are about trials.
     So why is this?
     Well... I think that trials are something that everyone can relate to. No matter how you live your life, how rich or poor you are, or what health you are in... it doesn't matter. You WILL experience great adversity in your life.
   
     One of the greatest questions that people ask in life is... why do good people suffer so much?
     This is a hard question to answer in a way that satisfies the asker, but if they were to go through a hard trial, they would understand.
     Trials make us turn to God.

     I'm not going to type it out in this post, but President Monson wrote an amazing article for the Washington Post on the ten-year anniversary of 9/11.
     PLEASE click here to read it. It is SO good. and it's not even that long.

     But if you don't... he basically points out that in this time of tragedy, a huge percentage of Americans rediscovered the need for God in their lives. He talks about a "surge of faith" that followed 9/11.
     He then talks about how the "renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed."

     You see... when things were terrible, people felt like they couldn't do it on their own, so they turned to the Lord for grace. People often forget though, the wonderful lessons that they learn through these trials, and the mercy that they felt.

     Trials teach us lessons, and bring us closer to Christ. Always. That is why people suffer.

     Something to remember though, is that your trials will not last forever. Sometimes it feels like it, but remember what we learn in D&C 121...


Joseph Smith is a prisoner in Liberty Jail at the time, while many saints are suffering greatly in Nauvoo. 


He asks in verse one, "O God, where art thou?" And then continues...

2- How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?

 3- Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?

 4- O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.

 5- Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs.

 6- Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.

And what is his answer?

 7- My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

 8- And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

 9- Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

 10- Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job.

     For some reason, I've always liked the part of verse ten that says "Thou art not yet as Job;" You might know the story of Job. He is the ultimate example of staying strong through trials. He lost his family, his property, his health, and more... but through it all, he praised God.

     "Thou are not yet as Job" reminds me that there is always someone going through a trial harder, or just as hard, as mine. It could always be worse.

     And never forget... the Savior atoned for your sins. He has truly been through everything that you will go through. He ALWAYS knows how you feel.     

     And when you are in the heavens, and say, "Hope ya know, we had a hard time..." He will understand. 

Why I'm a Mormon Part 4/4: A Royal Army

If you are just now joining us... this is the end of a 4-part series...
Please click here for the introduction,
here for part 1,
here for part 2,
and here for part 3.

     In the preface of Why I'm a Mormon, the author talks about the remarkable growth of the church. He explains how it would have been impossible to write such a book just a few decades ago... there just weren't Mormons that were well known like that...
     We hear all of the time about how our world's moral standards are declining, and the adversary is trying even harder. We can constantly see bad things all around us that are spiritually damaging.

     But here's the thing to remember... the reason the adversary is trying harder... is because we are getting stronger, and becoming more in numbers.

     In the end, God's royal army will have to fight off the adversary once and for all. We already know what side will win... so why on earth would so many people join a force that is condemned? I honestly don't understand.

Hymn #251: Behold! A Royal Army

Behold! A royal army,

With banner, sword and shield,

Is marching forth to conquer

On life's great battlefield. 

Its ranks are filled with soldiers, 

United, bold, and strong,

Who follow their Commander 

And sing their joyful song:

Victory, victory, 

Thru him that redeemed us!

Victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Victory, victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ our Lord!

And now the foe advancing,

That valiant host assails,

And yet they never falter; 

Their courage never fails.

Their Leader calls, "Be faithful!"

They pass the word along;

They see his signal flashing

And shout their joyful song:

Victory, victory, 

Thru him that redeemed us!

Victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Victory, victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ our Lord!

Oh, when the war is ended, 

When strife and conflicts cease,

When all are safely gathered 

Within the vale of peace,

Before the King eternal, 

That vast and mighty throng

Shall praise his name forever, 

And this shall be their song:

Victory, victory, 

Thru him that redeemed us!

Victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Victory, victory, victory,

Thru Jesus Christ our Lord!

D&C 5:14 - And to none else will I grant this power, to receive this same testimony among this generation, in this the beginning of the rising up and the coming forth of my church out of the wilderness—clear as the moon, and fair as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.

     The fact that we have so many members of the Church now -- whether they are well-known or not -- it's so exciting! We are becoming more and more fit for battle!

We are becoming a Royal Army of the Lord!

And can you even imagine an army more fit for battle - than one that has the Lord on their side?

Why I'm a Mormon Part 3/4: ME!!!

Here's a lovely picture for you... just me pretending that I'm
all official like those in the book. :)

     Haley B. isn't very famous, unless you count the recognition she gets for her crazy-mad-piano-skills... She likes eating anything with sugar and she also likes blogging. She also tends to be pretty outgoing and likes meeting new people.
     She has never dated and never married. She also has no children or grandchildren. (Or great-grandchildren... if you were wondering).
     She would be really excited if lots of people read and commented on her blog... just saying... :)

(Does it sound like this came from the book yet?)

* * * * *

    I was born into the Church, as most people around me were. I'm very lucky for this, as I've had the gospel and the knowledge that it brings my whole life. I never want to take this knowledge for granted, because I know that most people aren't as lucky as me.
     I don't ever want people to think, however, that I believe in the Church because I was born into it. Sure, this may be true for young kids, but as people get older, they stop trusting their parents as much. As people get older, they sometimes let the world's opinions influence them.
     If they are smart and trust the Lord, they will turn away from people who say bad things. Some people though, are not strong enough to do this. They very foolishly line up their own views and the views of the world so that they are one and the same.
     I suppose that being born into the Church is the reason that I am a Mormon, but that is NOT the reason why I believe in the Mormon Church.
     Part of the reason that I believe, is because I've been exposed to many really great examples. So many good people are around me, and so many good people have gone before me.
     You guys, we have a truly amazing heritage. So many saints, our own ancestors, gave EVERYTHING they could possibly give to follow the prophet, and to give the gospel to you and me. I don't know a lot about my family history. I'm sure that I could trace my lineage back to some pioneers somehow, but I just don't know much about that right now.

     Nevertheless, those brave, brave people that we read and learn about... they are still my ancestors. My family. That is my heritage. Without them, I would not have the gospel. I would be lost.
     The truth is... no matter what my family tree may say... I will still always see those pioneers as my family. It's kind of like a ward. My ward is my family. Those people that are my neighbors... they are the ones that I've grown up knowing. My friends in Young Women's... those are the ones I've grown up loving. These are the people who teach me life's most important lessons outside of the home. They are the ones I know best, the ones I serve with, and the ones who serve me.
     I suppose it really is true. It takes a whole community to raise a child.
     I also have a great home, with great parents, and great siblings. Even though we may fight more often than we probably should, I know from experience that my little family can pull together in times of trouble.
     When my sister died, it was scary and unexpected. It made us really sad and it was a tough trial, but my family came together and got through it.
     I believe that this experience -- more than anything else -- made my testimony the most like what it is now. I learned that the Lord will always help us, and if we just trust him, we can come through trials stronger and more motivated to choose the right.

     I know that families are forever, and even though it seems like ages before we will return to heaven, it really won't be. All of our suffering on this earth -- as hard as it may be -- will be worth it in the end. The gospel keeps me from fearing death, because we have the knowledge of a perfect plan of salvation, a promise that if we endure, we will be eternally blessed and rewarded.
     In the end, I know that the gospel is true because the Spirit has made it known to me. There have been times in my life when I have felt the Spirit so incredibly strong that it has enveloped me and made me feel amazingly wonderful. In these times, it is literally impossible to say that you don't believe in the gospel.
     It is because of the Holy Ghost... and the things I've felt... that I am a Mormon.

Why I'm a Mormon Part 2/4: Stephanie Nielson

 Remember the Beautiful Heartbreak video from this post? Well... the reason that I decided to do Stephanie Nielson as part two... is because you all saw her in it. She also has a really great blog... nieniedialogues.blogspot.com. In it, she always refers to her husband as "Mr. Nielson." Cute.

-------------------------------------

     Stephanie Nielson was born, raised, and married in Provo, Utah. She is the eighth of nine children born to Stephen and Cynthia Clark. She is a popular blogger and author of nieniedialogues.com. She began blogging in 2005 while living in New Jersey as a way to keep her and her husband's family informed about their life in the East.
     From 2005 to 2008, her blog steadily grew in popularity and readership. Her blog entries are a naturally portrayal of life as a wife, mother, Mormon, daughter, sister, and citizen. They are filled with pictures and images that represent the common joys in the roles of her life.
     In the summer of 2008 she and her husband, Christian, were involved in a serious airplane accident. A close friend perished from his injuries and Christian and Stephanie survived the crash with burns covering Stephanie's arms, legs, face, and hands.
     She has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show with Matt Lauer, and the Glenn Beck program. Recently 20/20 did a one-hour special highlighting her story and recovery process. In these interviews she explains why she believes she beat the odds of surviving their tragic accident and what life is like with her new appearance and physical limitations.
     Stephanie, age twenty-nine, lives in the "tree street" area in Provo, Utah, with her four beautiful children -- Claire, nine; Jane, eight; Oliver, five; and Nicholas, four -- and her handsome husband, Christian, with whom she is madly and relentlessly in love.
     Before the accident, Stephanie was a yoga instructor in Arizona and an avid runner. Stephanie also loves to ski and has been a ski instructor at Sundance Resort in Utah. Last winter, Stephanie began skiing for the first time since her accident. Skiing came back to her with triumphant ease!
     She and her family are frequently seen on Utah Lake on their sailboat, the AuroraMark (the name came from Stephanie's and Christian's middle names).
     Stephanie is healthier and happier than ever. She has begun doing yoga again and plans to run in races next year if all goes well. She will have frequent surgeries to release and rebuild areas on her burned skin for most of her life. She is upbeat and is thrilled to be expecting another child.
     Although reconstructive surgery is an ongoing requirement, Stephanie maintains a joyful attitude for life and living the roles she loves.

* * * * *

     

     I have always felt close to the Spirit. Ever since I was young, I remember feeling the Spirit. I felt it in my heart, which is why I cried a lot when I was young, especially when I was at church, singing hymns or listening to beautiful music. It moved me even though it was unexplainable. After my baptism I felt the Spirit in my life more than ever, and I was finally able to identify what it was. I enjoyed its constant companionship and the positive effects I felt and loved. 

     I am so happy to have felt that early in my life. It has blessed me throughout my hardships.

     When I had three small children under five years old and was pregnant with my fourth, my father called me his "pioneer girl." I have always loved that. My heritage and ancestry is enormously rich in pioneer history. It was a real honor to be likened to those pioneer ancestors, and I live each day to be just that.

     When times are tough, I think about my pioneer forebears, and that gives me immeasurable strength that keeps me moving through the hard times. I think, "If they did it, I can certainly overcome these challenges." That helps me face trial with heart and with a clear mind as to why the Lord has placed them in front of me. 

     I am who I am because of the women in my life. They have given me great strength and courage and shaped my perspective of what motherhood is all about. 

     When I received my patriarchal blessing at age sixteen, I was promised that if I learned from my mother and the women of the scriptures, motherhood for me would be a blessing. I will never forget that. It has always stuck with me. I believe it is true, and I hold those women high and would never want to do anything to disappoint them.

     I also understand the value of children, who they are, and who I am to them. Being a mother is the greatest job of all. In fact, I wouldn't call it a job; it is an opportunity, an honor to be a mother, especially in this day and age.

     I also feel that following the whispering of the Spirit in my life as a mother has helped me enjoy and feel fulfilled being the one whom the children rely on. 

     Being a Mormon means that I know who I am, I know where I am going, and I know, understand, and love the plan that has been laid out for families, particularly mine.

     The Mormon church helps us understand that living as a family is God's plan, and we are taught how to rear our children in righteousness, following the Savior's example. This knowledge has changed the way I teach my children, how serious it it to me that they know and understand good choices versus bad ones and the consequences of each.

     I also want my children to understand that it takes hard work to keep going in life sometimes, but there are sweet rewards that we will enjoy -- not just in the end, but during the pain and suffering -- that will come and give us that extra push we need to keep going. 

     My husband and I have had so many amazing experiences together that all started in the temple when we were sealed. And they have never stopped. They have blessed our life beyond words and continue to do so.

     On August 16, 2008, my husband and I, along with a good friend, were in a Cessna four-seater aircraft to travel home from a trip to our family ranch in New Mexico. On takeoff, the plane crashed and burned. My husband had a broken back along with burn injuries to 30 percent of his body. I was trapped in the airplane and was burned over 80 percent of my body, and our friend and pilot, Doug, died. I was placed in a medically induced coma for more than three months to help me try to recover and heal. 

     From the moment the airplane went up in flames, I was praying. I knew God would never leave me. I knew it then and I still know it now.

     I never lost my faith in God or blamed Him, even through my struggles to heal, my multiple surgeries, my physical changes, and the role these all play in my children's lives (and mine). In fact, I am thanking Him every day for this trial. I feel honored to carry it, and I hope I am doing it in a way that is pleasing to Him.

     I know the plan. I know what we are doing, and I understand the seriousness of rearing my children in the way the Lord has set for His children. The end, the reward, is worth doing anything and everything I can to make sure my family gets there. Without this knowledge from the Church, it would be unreachable. That is why I'm a Mormon. 

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Cannon, Joseph A. Why I'm a Mormon. Stevens Point, WI: Worzalla Publishing Co., 2012. 263-267. Print.






Oh... P.S..... Watch!!

Why I'm a Mormon Part 1/4: David Archuleta

I chose David Archuleta as the first story to share... mainly because he is very well known around here. Many of the stories in the book are of people that you might not recognize by their names... (i.e. the creator of Black & Decker or a professional golfer). But I know that you all know who David Archuleta is... so here you go. :)

And also... this is a VERY wordy post. It is like 7 pages of a book... so... yeah. Lots of words. Sorry. I usually try to avoid that.

-----------------------------------------------

     David James Archuleta was born December 28, 1990, in Miami, Florida, to Jeff, a jazz musician from Utah, and Lupe, a salsa dancer and singer from Honduras. David was exposed to diverse music genres growing up in Utah, from Latin music on his mother's side to jazz music from his father's collection. He was particularly fond of and inspired by gospel, pop, R&B, and "soulful"music, as well as Broadway musicals.
     At ten years old, David won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition, leading to other television singing appearances. He became the Junior Vocal Champion on Star Search 2 when he was twelve. In 2007, at sixteen years old, he became one of the youngest finalists on the popular television series American Idol. In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes.
     Barely after Idol, David saw massive success straight out of the gate with his first lead single, Crush, a catch pop tune, which charted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since sold two million downloads.
     David is deeply passionate about helping others, supporting numerous charities such as Rising Star Outreach, Invisible Children, Children's Miracle Network, and Stand Up to Cancer. In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, he delved into his Latino roots by lending his voice to the recording of Somos El Mundo, a Spanish version of We Are the World.
     David has toured extensively across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Asia to perform for fans. "It's amazing how one song can change someone's life," he says. "It's been done for me so many times, and I want to give to my fans the same thing those artists have given me."

*  *  *  *  *

     I was fortunate enough to be born and raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But I think everyone realizes there is a time when you really, on your own, become converted to the Church by the Spirit from your own experiences -- when you gain your own relationship with Heavenly Father. We all have challenges with our self-identity when we're teenagers, and I guess that is when most people begin to ask their own pest ions. That was the case for me. Things came up that challenged what my parents had been teaching me, and I had to find out for myself.

     I guess I was about twelve years old when I started wondering about things. I never questioned if God existed; that wasn't a problem for me. But one of my challenges was that I didn't understand a lot of things. I always had trouble comprehending things in school. Maybe that is why music is something that I connected so easily and quickly with. I didn't talk very much -- I still don't talk very much -- but there was something I felt in music that made so much sense to me. I couldn't always explain it to other people, so I just shared how I felt through my music and singing. 

     For some reason, especially when I was a child, I felt a powerful connection to the song in church, those moving songs we sang. I knew God existed because I could feel Him during the music. I could feel His Spirit so strongly through those songs.

     During my teenage years in particular, the challenge for me was to know if God cared about me individually. That was what I needed to understand for myself. I thought He had a lot more to worry about than little old me. I was a quiet, shy boy who didn't know what he wanted from life. I didn't have any sense at all of my self-worth, and my shyness made that problem even greater. It complicated things. It seemed as though everyone else was good at sports, or they could play the piano really well, or they were super singers. I loved to sing, but I didn't think I did it very well. So, as much as I loved singing, I didn't think that was what would make me successful in life.

     I didn't feel like I had any worth in the eyes of someone as great as God. I was even afraid to pray because I didn't think God would want to hear from me. I would pray sometimes, but I just didn't know if He wanted to listen to me. I would attend church and listen because I always felt it was really important to learn about God, but I didn't understand the process of gaining a relationship with God because I didn't think I could. I didn't think I was capable of it. I felt I was so small and insignificant and so lacking in skills or education or talents.

     What made that start to change was when I first really started reading my scriptures, when I was around eleven or twelve years of age. At first the scriptures didn't make a lot of sense to me, but then I began reading independently and I started understanding some things. The stories and also the character of the people I was reading about started to really strike me. I was drawn into the scriptures by how much the people seemed to love and look forward to things in life, how much they loved God, how much they loved their families. The optimism they showed for life struck me the most.

     As I was reading more and really paying attention to the Church, I would ask myself questions as to what I was supposed to accomplish, why I was here on earth. When I wondered about my self-worth, I would go into seminary class and get my answers there. Once I was old enough to ask questions and wonder, that was when things started to make more sense.

     I think I really started to believe that the Church was true when I was finishing reading the Book of Mormon for the first time. When I read the scriptures, the words about prayer really stood out to me. I could see there were people who truly had conversations with God. After I completely read through the Book of Mormon, I saw Moroni's challenge to pray and ask God yourself. His words were so convincing. Moroni already knew this was true, but he challenged people at the end of the Book of Mormon to ask for themselves if this book was true and see if God would give them an answer. It was humbling to read what he had to say and to take on that challenge. I had to get up enough courage to ask God if this was real and if it was true. And the great thing is that I did learn for myself that the Book of Mormon is true!

     The more I prayed, the more I started realizing who God was and understanding that He wasn't just some super ultra Being who acknowledges you only when you do something amazing, but He was someone I could talk to with reverence. Someone who cared about the challenges I had. Someone I could have a relationship with and who would love me, no matter what. That is how I gained my own testimony of the gospel: when I established my relationship with God. I had to pray and do something I wasn't sure about. But once I got over that hump, I knew I could pour out my respect and appreciation to Him, and I knew that I didn't have to be a king or a prophet or a bishop to pray to him. I knew I could praise Him and let Him know my thanks to Him. And when I was able to let Him know that, I could really feel His love. I could feel Him saying, "My son, I love you so much, and I care about you," and I could feel impressions from the Spirit saying, "Here is what you can do." It was just really surprising to feel something back.

     Music is a strong element in my testimony because of how present those feelings of the Spirit are when you are singing about things that matter. The feeling is so strong.

     One of the most memorable prayers that I've ever had answered was when I was in high school. I was confused. I had vocal cord paralysis. I thought that was the answer that I wasn't supposed to do music anymore. But my desire to do music never went away. When American Idol came, I was going to school and had a summer job, and I was wondering whether to audition. I didn't want to think about it because I didn't think I was good enough, but something kept urging me to go. The feeling wouldn't leave me alone, and so I decided to pray about it. I felt dumb again because I didn't think that Heavenly Father would care enough about a decision like this. But at the same time, I felt like it was important to pray about it. So I knelt beside my bed and asked Him what His opinion was about me auditioning for American Idol, if I should quit my job and do it. I immediately got a strong, strong feeling back: "Go and audition. There is something for you to learn." I was really surprised about that. It almost felt as though a big wind rushed over me. That was when I made my decision to go.

     During American Idol, I saw how my beliefs really came into play because I felt like Heavenly Father had given me that opportunity. I wouldn't be there without Him. So I made sure I gave back to Him because I didn't want to disappoint Him. I knew my relationship with music was closely tied to Him. I knew I had a responsibility to share what I had felt and learned from music. Even though each week on Idol was challenging, I worked hard to pick songs that allowed the feelings of the Spirit to be there and to make sure people understood why I was there. Especially when I sang "Imagine," I was sure I would get voted off the show, but I felt I was doing what Heavenly Father would have wanted me to do.

     I couldn't believe the response I got from the people who worked on American Idol, and then the judges, and then all the people after that. All I did was sing the songs in a way that was meaningful to me and allowed me to feel that spiritual feeling. People of all ages wrote me letters telling me what they felt. I was shocked by how direct they would be, saying they weren't sure what it was but that they had felt something powerful and strong and beautiful. So many letters were coming in, just hundreds of them. Hardly any of them were, "You are so cute"; most of them were just thank yous and people saying there was something they felt when I sang. Many said they weren't sure what they were feeling, and they asked if I could tell them what it was. I hadn't realized how people who didn't feel the Spirit often didn't know what they were feeling. I knew Heavenly Father really wanted me to be there, He had a purpose for me, and He wanted me to help people feel good and come closer to Him. It was touching for me to have that opportunity. 

     I guess that was one of the most remarkable things for me, to see how the Lord works. I didn't go on TV and say I was a Mormon. All I did was sing the songs that I felt people would be able to connect to, the same way I've been able to connect to things through the Spirit. I didn't feel like I did this incredible performance there. There was something else that was coming across to people. It is amazing how the Spirit can communicate in that way.

     I feel the Spirit when I sing, and I have learned that others can feel the Spirit as well. When I realized that the Spirit was what I was also feeling when I went to church, I learned how to serve other people better. I learned how you can love your family better and get to know God better as you try to live the commandments and be obedient. It is like the Spirit feeds you and helps you little by little. When I cone ted those two together, I understood that my Heavenly Father is also the one who allowed me to have music because I feel Him so strongly through it. 

     I know that the way we can be happy is to know that Heavenly Father loves us, and that happiness comes through having a relationship with Him. That is why I'm a Mormon. And I just want to do whatever I can to help people understand that and seek a relationship with Him for themselves.

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Citation:

Cannon, Joseph A. Why I'm a Mormon. Stevens Point, WI: Worzalla Publishing Co., 2012. 18-24. Print.

P.S. Sorry if there are any obvious typos... this took me forever to type and I was trying to go fast!!

Why I'm a Mormon... PLEASE WEIGH IN!!

Have you seen this book yet???

 
     I saw it in an ad, so I waltzed myself on over to the store and bought it. A bunch of well-known members of the church share their testimony and explain why they are a Mormon.
     They all have different stories, and some of them are very unique.

     But they are all pretty cool.

     So... I have a proposal. What do you say I make a four-part series that goes as follows:
Part 1: share someone's story from the book
Part 2: share someone else's story from the book
Part 3: share why I am a Mormon
Part 4: Talk about it. I have lots of good things to say about this book.


     Or... we could do a five-part series and share three stories from the book... what do you think?

Leave comments! I'm still undecided on this!

Expressions of Love

   
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought that this was a very appropriate video to share...



     (My favorite is the guy who says "It just has to be forever!)


"Love is what inspired our Heavenly Father to create our spirits; it is what led our Savior to the Garden of Gethsemane to make Himself a ransom for our sins. Love is the grand motive of the plan of salvation; it is the source of happiness, the ever-renewing spring of healing, the precious fountain of hope. As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit."
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

     President Howard W. Hunter said that love is the only way the world will know peace. (source) If everyone in the world showed love all of the time - to everybody, the world would be a very happy place, no matter how different we all are from each other. 

For the Spirit to dwell in our homes, we have to show love and kindness for our family. 
When everyone in your home is kind to one another, it will be more enjoyable to spend time with them. You will want to be around them more! 


I found the following quote given by David A. Bednar in this article...

“Each of us already knows we should tell the people we love that we love them. But what we know is not always reflected in what we do. We may feel unsure, awkward, or even perhaps a bit embarrassed.

“As disciples of the Savior, we are not merely striving to know more; rather, we need to consistently do more of what we know is right and become better.

“We should remember that saying ‘I love you’ is only a beginning. We need to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to show it. We need to both express and demonstrate love.”

     Show others how much they mean to you! Tell them often that you love them, and do things to show it. When you do this, they will always know that they are important and cared for. 


John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.


Never forget that one of God's commandments is to love your neighbor...


And never forget that He loves YOU unconditionally.

From Small and Simple Things...

Alma 37:6 - Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
7 -  And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.







(I have no clue why the words at the beginning of this video are not in english... :))


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Beth's Birthday Present

By Allan K. Burgess

     When Beth was ten years old, her Primary teacher taught her class that Heavenly Father would answer their prayers if they asked in faith and if what they desired was right for them. Beth was the only active member of the Church in her family, and this lesson so inspired her that, upon arriving home, she immediately went to her room and began to pray. She said, “Heavenly Father, you know my father is a good man and a good father, but he never goes to church—not even when I have a part on the program. Oh, Heavenly Father, please touch my father’s heart so he will want to go to church so we can become an eternal family.”

     Several times every day for six years Beth pleaded with the Lord in behalf of her father. Many times during these six years she would break down and cry as she poured out her soul to God. Some people may have given up after just a few months—let alone six years—but Beth’s faith never faltered.
     A few days before her sixteenth birthday, the family was sitting around the breakfast table. Her father asked her what she would like for her birthday. He was a well-to-do building contractor and had purchased Beth’s sister a new car for her sixteenth birthday just a year before. Beth’s father told her that she could have anything she wanted and that money was no problem.
     Beth was about ready to suggest a new car when the Holy Ghost spoke to her and said, “Beth, here is your chance! Here is what you have been hoping and praying for all of these years!” The Spirit then told her what to ask for.
     When I first heard this story I thought she was going to ask her dad to start attending church. But God had something much more powerful in mind.
     After pausing a few seconds, Beth said, “Dad, there is one thing I would like to have more than anything else in this world, and it won’t cost you one penny.”
     This really excited her father, and he wanted to know what this marvelous thing was that would not cost him anything. Beth said she would not tell him until he promised her that he would give it to her. Her father did not feel this was fair, and the rest of the family took his side, but she stood firm.
     Seeing that she was not going to give in, her father finally said, “All right, I promise!”
     Beth said, “Dad, the one thing I want more than anything else in this world is that we kneel down every morning together as a family in family prayer.” Her father later said it was like someone dropped a ton of bricks on him—he just sat there stunned. It was a request he had least expected but knew he must fulfill in order to maintain his integrity with Beth.
     The next morning, true to his word, the father called the family together for family prayer. He called upon Beth to give the prayer because she was the only one in the family who was active. Beth gave the prayer every morning for the first week. After about a week, her mother said that she would be willing

to take a turn, and it wasn’t long until Beth’s older sister began to pray. Soon her two little brothers were praying also. As a matter of fact, everyone in the family was praying except the father—the one who had been the focus of Beth’s prayers for six years.
     After about a month, as the family knelt for prayer one morning there was a pause for a moment, and then the father said, “I guess it’s about my turn to pray.” Beth said as her father began to pray, tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She felt that she was hearing the most humble and beautiful prayer that had ever been expressed by the lips of a mortal man. It was wonderful! It was the first time she had ever heard her father pray, and the spiritual effect it had upon the whole family was overwhelming.
     When the prayer was over, the whole family came together in one big hug of emotion and wept in gratitude for the great blessing that had come into their home.
     It wasn’t long after that that the whole family began going to church together. Beth spent her seventeenth birthday in the Salt Lake Temple, kneeling at a holy altar with her family as they made eternal covenants together. 
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     The Lord works in mysterious ways. Simple things we do and decisions we make may not always seem like they will affect our lives (or someone else's) greatly, but sometimes they do. 
     
     The kind of life we live... the kind of person we are... is evident in our small acts of service. 
     
     If you never help others, and then you one day decide that you are going to help out with some huge ward service project... just this once... don't expect people to think that you are a charitable person.


     If you are always grumpy, and you one day spend an entire hour being nothing but nice... that's great, but people still won't consider you a very nice person.


     You and your life are not defined by the big things. It is a person's little and constant actions that show you what kind of personality they have.


     If you are always helping people out, even if it is just in small ways... maybe making a sibling's bed, or holding the door open for someone, or smiling at a lonely kid... people will consider you a very kind and giving person. 


     And these simple things that you do... may mean the world to someone else. NEVER FORGET THAT!




     “I believe many, if not all, of the most satisfying and memorable accomplishments in our homes, in the Church, in our jobs and professions and in our communities will be the product of this important spiritual pattern — of small and simple things,”
      “We should find great comfort in the fact that ordinary people who faithfully, diligently and consistently do simple things that are right before God will bring forth extraordinary results.”
-Elder David A. Bednar

Scripture Marking Saturday

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Isaiah 58:9-  Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.
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     This is a really good scripture that I just recently discovered... I know that God hears our prayers and comforts us.... I know that He is sad when we are. He wants us to be happy and has given us the gospel so that we can be.
   

I love this song!! Listen!!

Every Word - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints



"I can pray for answers, and I can turn to Him for peace - or just to be heard... And He hears every word!"





     PS: How come every time I want to embed a song... I forget how to do it? I mean seriously... this is like the third one I've done, and it takes me forever to figure it out each time! It's not even that hard!

Be Strong

Okay... this is going to be a very short post, but I really liked this video and wanted to share it. I know that I saw it back during the YWs conference, but I sorta forgot about it until just recently... so enjoy!





"My young friends, be strong. You know what is right, and what is wrong, and no disguise - however appealing - can change that truth. If your so called friends urge you to do anything you know to be wrong, you be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone."
- President Thomas S. Monson