Easter 2015

 The 'Hunt' this year was typical of past years.  The two youngest awoke at 7:00 am.

 We distracted them with breakfast and stories until a little after 8:00 when we allowed them to wake up their older siblings.  (Only one chose not to get up and join us - His loss!)

Everyone scurries around trying to find as many candy-filled eggs as possible.  Eggs were everywhere and there was plenty for all.

 There may have even been too many.  #4 quickly filled up his basket and resorted to storing the remainder of his eggs down his tucked-in shirt.

 For some reason, while inside his shirt, they all opened up and he had quite the fun time getting everything out.

 Once all the eggs have been found, everyone opens their eggs and removes the loot from inside. 

 Some of the children mix all their candy together-

Others sort and separate each individual kind.

The eggs are collected and stored until next year when we'll leave them out again for the Easter Bunny to fill and hide once more.

My favorite part of Easter isn't the candy or the eggs (although this year I wasn't even tempted to steal any treats from the children's baskets).  My favorite part of Easter is taking some time to reflect on my Savior Jesus Christ and what He did for me.  He died so that I might live.  He suffered and bled from every pore so that I could be washed clean of every sin and return again into the presence of my loving Heavenly Father.  Without Jesus Christ there would be no hope, and no peace.

(source)

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me.

I tremble to know that for me He was crucified. -That for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled, and died.

I marvel that He would descend from His throne divine to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine.

That He should extend His great love unto such as I.

Oh, it is wonderful - wonderful to me.

-Hymn 193

Angels among us-

This morning in my scripture study the reading was about the resurrection of Christ found in Matthew 28.  At the very end of that chapter, Christ says, 

"I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

Christ is always there for us.  BUT I think it is up to us to recognize and acknowledge His presence in our lives.

President Spencer W. Kimball said,

"God does notice us, and he watches over us, but its usually through another person that he meets our needs." 

A few weeks ago I was having a particularly rough morning.  I had received some devastating news.  I knew it was coming, but when it officially came, it hurt.  And it hurt bad!  I held myself together until I dropped the last of the children off to school.  As soon as I walked in the door, I immediately began to pray.  I cried and sobbed, and cried and sobbed as I told Heavenly Father how disappointed I was, how much I hurt, and how frustrated I was.  I was feeling like a failure, and a  terrible mother.  I was having myself a grand ol' pity party! 

 I kid you not, the second I ended my prayer, the doorbell rang.  No way was I going to answer the door.  I had just been crying my eyes out, and my face showed it.

A few minutes later I received a text from a friend informing me that she had left something at my door.  Sure enough, on my porch was a bucket of candy, this picture of the Savior, 

source

and a copy of the conference talk "You Can Do It Now!"by President Uchtdorf.   At the end of this talk, President Uchtdorf says, ". . . My dear friends, there will be times when you think you cannot continue on.  Trust the Savior and His love.  With faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of hope of the restored gospel, you will be able to walk tall and continue on."

 I messaged back my friend and explained what I had just been doing and why I didn't answer the door.  She told me she was led to my door.  She knew she needed to reach out to me.  

Coincidence?  No.  It wasn't at all.  The Lord sent an angel to comfort me and help me during my time of need, to remind me that He is there, He has a plan, and everything is going to be okay.  I am so grateful she chose to listen to the Spirit that day.  It was a testimony building experience for both of us.

". . .We are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

In my attempts to connect more with my Savior, I have been trying to recognize and see the hand of the Lord more in my life.  The more I become aware of Him, the more I see that He is always -always- there for me, and He is there for you too.  

I know These Things Myself

I know These Things Myself

by Elder Craig C. Christensen

This talk is all about Testimony - our testimony.  It really made me think about and measure how strong my own testimony is.  Have you ever heard the old Brad Wilcox talk Filling Your Testimony Tank.  I love Brad Wilcox.  He is so entertaining and spot on.  If you have not heard this talk, buy the download and listen to it and then have your children and spouse listen to it. 

Elder Christensen begins by quoting President Monson who said, 

"In order for us to be strong and to withstand all the forces pulling us in the wrong direction. . . .we must have our own testimony.  Whether you are 12 or 112- or anywhere in between- you can know for yourself that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true."

"In response to President Monson's statement, I would ask:

Does each of us know for ourselves that the gospel is true?  Can we say with confidence that our testimonies are truly our own?"

What is a testimony?
"It is a sacred gift from God that comes to us by the Holy Ghost.  It is the calm, unwavering certainty we receive as we study, pray, and live the gospel.  It is the feeling of the Holy Ghost bearing witness to our souls that what we are learning and doing is right."

"Now is the time and today is the day to learn or reaffirm for ourselves that the gospel is true."

 "It's up to us to fill our testimony tank."

"Some people speak of a testimony as if it were a light switch - it's either on or off; you either have a testimony or you do not.  In reality, a testimony is more like a tree that passes through various stages of growth and development.  Some of the tallest trees on earth are found in Redwood National Park in western United States.  When you stand at the base of these massive trees, it is amazing to think that each grew from a tiny seed.  So it is with our testimonies.  Although they may begin with a single spiritual experience, they grow and develop over time through constant nourishment and frequent spiritual encounters"

". . . Often. . . a testimony begins with sacred, enlightening assuring feelings that demonstrate to us that the word of God is true.  . .If we ignore or neglect these early spiritual promptings, if we do not nurture them by continuing to study the scriptures and pray and by seeking more experiences with the Spirit, our feelings will fade and our testimonies will diminish."

I love the following analogy told by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Many years ago, large packs of wolves roamed the countryside in Ukraine, making travel in that part of the world very dangerous. These wolf packs were fearless. They were not intimidated by people nor by any of the weapons available at that time. The only thing that seemed to frighten them was fire. Consequently, travelers who found themselves away from cities developed the common practice of building a large bonfire and keeping it burning through the night. As long as the fire burned brightly, the wolves stayed away. But if it were allowed to burn out and die, the wolves would move in for an attack. Travelers understood that building and maintaining a roaring bonfire was not just a matter of convenience or comfort; it was a matter of survival.

We do not have to protect ourselves from wolf packs as we travel the road of life today, but, in a spiritual sense, we do face the devious wolves of Satan in the forms of temptation, evil, and sin. We live in dangerous times when these ravenous wolves roam the spiritual countryside in search of those who may be weak in faith or feeble in their conviction. . .We are all vulnerable to attack. However, we can fortify ourselves with the protection provided by a burning testimony that, like a bonfire, has been built adequately and maintained carefully.

So, how is your testimony?  Is it a tiny sliver of light or is it a roaring bonfire?

Protect yourself from the wolves - don't let your spiritual bonfire burn out!

Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth

Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth

by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

This is the last of the Saturday morning session talks.  I always love hearing President Uchtdorf - His flying analogies and his accent.  

He begins his talk with none other than a story from his days as a pilot.  His point - It is hard for us to believe what we cannot see.

Is it possible to find (and know the) truth?

". . .God himself- the Lord of Hosts who knows all truth- has given His children the promise that they can know truth for themselves."

This talk mostly refers to gaining a truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, but I feel it can also apply to find the truth about anything.

There are a million different ideas out there.  It's sometimes hard to know which ones are true, and which ones are not.  It can get really confusing.  I'm not just talking religion here.  I'm talking everything from diet to fashion ideas, anything and everything.  We can know for ourselves if it's true, if it's right for us.  How cool is that?

How do we find out?

"God. . .will speak to those who approach Him with a sincere heart and real intent.  He will speak to them in dreams, visions, thoughts, and feelings."

"God cares about you.  He will listen, and He will answer your personal questions.  The answers to your prayers will come in His own way and in His own time, and therefore, you need to learn to listen to His voice."

THE EXPERIMENT

Moroni 10:3-5 tells us exactly what we need to do to find out if something is true.

1.  "First, you must search the word of God.  That means reading the scriptures and studying the words of the ancient as well as modern prophets. . .- not with an intent to doubt or criticize but with a sincere desire to discover truth.  Ponder upon the things you will feel, and prepare your minds to receive the truth."

2.  "Second, you must consider, ponder, fearlessly strive to believe, and be grateful for how merciful the Lord has been."

3. "Third, you must ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth. . . unto you.  Ask with a sincere heart and with real intent, having faith in Christ."

4.  ". . .When you are trying to verify the truth. . .you must first live them.  Put [them] to the test in your own life."

Lets say I wanted to lose some weight and get healthy.  Only problem is there are a million ways out there to do so.  Which one is the right way?  To find out, I would begin by reading everything in the scriptures I could find on healthy eating, diet, and exercise.  Then I would search lds.org and read anything past or present prophets have said on the subject.  After all that research, I would think about what the scriptures and prophets want me to do and which course of action I think is best. 

Now it's time to ask.  Heavenly Father, is this the right way for me to get healthy and fit?  While I am waiting for an answer, cause remember "the answers to your prayers will come in His own way and in His own time. . .", I will try it out.  I will eat and exercise the way that I think is right.  Sooner or later my answer will come, and I will know if I should continue on, or try something else.

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

The rest of President Uchtdorf's talk was also amazing.  He reminds us:

"The more we incline our hearts and minds towards God, the more heavenly light distills upon our souls.  And each time we willingly and earnestly seek that light, we indicate to God our readiness to receive more light."

DO ALL YOU CAN TO KEEP YOUR TESTIMONY BURNING BRIGHTLY

"If we remove ourselves from the light of the gospel, our own light begins to dim- not in a day or a week but gradually over time- until we look back and can't quite understand why we had ever believed the gospel was true.

"Gaining a testimony is not a task of a minute, an hour, or a day.  It is not once and done.  The process of gathering spiritual light is the quest of a lifetime."

"Your testimony. . .may not come as quickly as you desire, but I promise you this:  if you do your part, it will come.  And it will be glorious."

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a place for people with all kinds of testimonies. . .I know of no sign on the doors of our meetinghouses that says, "Your testimony must be this tall to enter."

"The Church is not just for perfect people, but it is for all to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him."

What was your favorite part of this talk?

Pure and Simple Faith

Wordless (more or less) Wednesday