Agency

Can Christ sin? Yes he can. He has His agency. Agency is an eternal principle, a celestial principle. We will always have our agency. Christ proved himself and therefore, He will not sin. He has chosen not too and that is who He is. We have the same ability. Can we sin? Yes, we can. Will we? That is what we are here on the earth to prove. YES or NO! We decide. The possibilty is the same for all, the probabilty is determined by the everyday choices we make. As we make more and more choices in accordance with the principles taught in the gospel and keep the commandments the probability of our sinning goes down. As we continue to Come Unto Christ, we become more like him. In our imperfections, we choose to repent and turn to our Savior, we want to be more like Him so we choose not to sin. Ultimately, our goal is to have our will be His will and then we will no more desire to sin. We will be perfected, through Him and His atoning sacrifice.

All or nothing

A while back I had a conversation with a friend that has left me pondering. It was about the gospel and our, for lack of a better word, devotion to it. At times in my life I have strayed, albeit, not very far but nonetheless, I wasn't living it fully. I am sure during those times my parents and others were praying tirelessly that I would turn around and come back, that I wouldn't get so far away I couldn't find my way back. Of course in understanding the gospel and our Heavenly Fathers plan we know that there is always a way back, faith and repentance...however the farther you get the harder habits take to fall away, the harder it is to find a new group of friends, the harder it is to endure. I imagine myself in the story of the tree of life- I imagine the straight and narrow and the mirky waters that separate it from the great and spacious building. I imagine the waters flowing at such great speeds and stepping in them- off the path - I wait at the edge putting a toe in, a foot in, maybe a leg, taking a step at a time. At some point I'm wading and the waters are pulling me further out. I get to the middle and find myself fearful; getting further from the light and being pulled into the mists. I can't see ahead of me. I want to turn back but the waters are pulling me. I have to use so much more effort if I turn around and I am not sure if I can do it. For a while I was going in and coming out- maybe not doing all I could and the waters, at times seemed refreshing, a distraction from the road that seemed so strait and narrow. But now that I am in the waters and can't see the what's ahead I am lost. I only can imagine I would have others standing on the path throwing out a life saver, a rope, banding together to draw me from the waters, that at the time seemed so harmless. I would hope that no matter how far the waters drew me in that they would always be waiting for me, never giving up on me, wanting me to return to the path and join them. I know that is what our Heavenly Father and Savior are doing for us.

As I thought of this more and more I remembered when I was wading in those waters, again I wasn't far out but I was dabbling. I had great friends,leaders, home teachers, and family who didn't give up. They loved me even when I wasn't making the choices they knew would bring me the happiness I was ultimately searching for. When I finally decided to make the way back I remember thinking "I either need to live the gospel in its entirety or not at all" It was at the time my way of saying "all or nothing" To me at that time it meant reading scriptures, attending all my meetings and paying tithing. To me that was "ALL" of the gospel. At one time my idea of living the gospel was just attending sacrament- and at that time it was "ALL" Now as I have progressed in my knowledge I know that it is much more than that but should I have just given up when I was "just" attending sacrament. NO WAY! Depending on our knowledge, our experiences, our relationship with the Savior you should do "ALL" you can to stay close to the gospel. If I had stopped going to church- it would have been more difficult to start again. If I stop reading my scriptures it is easier to fill that time with other things and it gets harder to pick them up again, if I stop paying my tithing not only do I lose the blessing of peace and comfort that comes with paying it, I also will have a more difficult time starting again because I will have been using that "extra" money for other things and will have to adjust spending habits that may have arisen. We are all doing the best we can with what we have and as long as we are following the Spirit and listening to the best of our ability, in the end, we will have friends, family, leaders and most especially our Savior and Heavenly Father, waiting for us, holding out a life line and ready to encircle us about in the arms of their love. We all have different paths to follow, different experiences to be had, different ways of learning the things we need to learn. It is not for me to judge what someones else's "ALL" is. It IS my responsibility to be praying, cheering, loving, forgiving, understanding and most importantly encircling those I love now, and those I will love, in the arms of my love- in hopes that the love of the Savior will be seen and felt through my actions. My ALL now encompasses magnifying my callings, attending the temple, watching and listening to media that allows the spirit to be present, teaching my children, not judging others...the list goes on and on. Am I perfect in all these things, NO WAY! Am I trying? Absolutely! Should I stop trying because I am not perfect- Not for a second. I continue to progress, I see the Lords hand in guiding me and giving me the strength to make the changes I need to make. Does it happen all at one time? Maybe for some people, but in my life, looking back, I see how I have been prepared. The thought occurs, or I see something doing or living a certain way and I think- someday- when I am a better person- and that's where it begins. Thoughts lead to actions. Sometimes in a day, sometimes it takes years...but I keep trying and at some point it becomes a part of who I am. To someone it may look like I did it overnight but to me- it was a long process, lots of experiences, lots of trials, lots of starting again. To my Heavenly Father- I'm HIS daughter and he didn't care how long it took me- HE is just joyful that I did it and I chose to do it on my own. I gave my will up for HIS! His will is what is going give me eternal happiness and really as hard as it is- it is what gives me the happiness I am looking for even now. Keep trying, loving, and forgiving not only others, but yourself. Keep progressing- you'll become someone your Heavenly Father always knew you were.

Deeper Understanding

Lately I have been having a lot of discussions with Natalee re: her desire to have what her friends have. Not all of them material things. For instance she wants a bigger room, she wants a more organized room, she wants to write cursive like her "best friend" When she first approached me about her room and its lack of cleanliness and organization. I listened to her. I understood her plea! You see I am the one that goes in there every day and sees the mess she makes, by not putting her clothes away, not throwing garbage away, her wanting to keep every little thing. I ask her to clean her room and she says she will and then I find things stuffed under the bed, in the corners and all over her desk. So about once a month I go in there and clean it for her. She has complained she doesn't have room for her clothes, yet she doesn't want to get rid of most of them, because she wears them. She wants a place for her "hobbies" but she won't put them away properly. Anyway, point being, I do what I can to accomodate her... we have bought enough hangers for all her clothes, we have gone through and purged her drawers, hobbies, closets and everything else...It gets totally clean and she loves me for doing it. Each time I tell her, OK so now you know how to clean, where things go and how you like it. She tells me everytime that she is going to keep it this way forever. Inevitably a week goes by and it looks like it did before. I could be a nazi and make her do it, stand over her and force the issue...but I have better things to do so I don't. Well, this all came to a head when she sought me out one day and confided that she wanted a room like her friend. I carefully probed her about what it is she liked about her friends room...It was bigger, it was organized, it was clean. I understood so I asked her what we could do to make it better. As we discussed her isssues, I explained well her room is bigger because she shares with 2 siblings...I also said she has all the containers and drawers like her friend does to be organized but her friends mom makes her clean her room every day- so I asked her if she wanted me to give her a consequence like her friends mom does, if she doesn't clean her room- of course Natalee said no...as we continued the conversation Natalee was not happy with how it was going and so I asked her what I could do to help her and her answer was "You can do it for me" and then I understood she wanted to have what her friend has but she doesn't want to put in any effort to get it...she wants to have someone do everything for her. As I have thought about this conversation and few others we have had since my thoughts have turned to the scriptures or the plan of happiness. Heavenly Father has given us blessings, talents, understanding...its different from what others have and sometimes looks rather unfair but really...what am I doing with what I have. Am I developing the talents I have to the best of my ability, or am I making use of the blessings I have or am I so caught up in what someone else has that I have not noticed them or am I using the knowledge/understanding I have obtained to better my circumstances or do I just keep wishing I had more. So often we get caught up in looking at others lives and what they have that we forget how much we do have. I have a friend who is an amazing personal trainer- I want to be her- I want to have her body, I want to look like her, dress like her- However since I have been thinking about this I realize that I just covet what she has. I get so lost in my selfish desire that I forget how much she has to work to have what she has. I asked her the other day how much she works out, on her own (she teaches classes at the local gym and has clients she works with one on one) Her answer was about an average of an hour- this is in addition to what she does on the side. I was astounded and at that point I realized I am doing what Natalee is doing- I want what my friend has but I want someone to do it for me. As I ponder on this thought even more I realize this happens so often in my life and the lives of others that we don't even realize we are doing it and then I realize that we do the same thing with our Heavenly Father. We want to return home to Him--we want to do what's right- but we want someone to do it for us. We don't want to put the effort into what it truly requires from us. We give up so easily because the natural man wants to do whats easiest and when it gets even just a little hard, we complain, we murmur, we pout...the list goes on and on. The thing is we know from experience that it is the things that we have worked hardest for that we hold the most dear...the commandments are given to us not to make life difficult but to create boundaries that will keep us safe and make the road easier- yet even though we want the easiest road we often decide that we are going to throw them off to the side which in the long run is what makes our journey harder. Its kind of an oxy moron- we want the easiest path- but we choose to be disobedient and not keep the commandments so therefore the path is harder- and we did to ourselves. I love that I am coming to a greater understanding of the gospel by having these teaching moments with my children. We have since spoken, Natalee and I, and I have explained that I will do whatever it takes to get her what she wants and needs, and that we have to work together to do so, and that she has to put the effort and hard work into it also. I think that Heavenly Father wants the same from us...he will do whatever it takes to get us what we want and need but we have to be a team with him and put the effort and hard work into it with him.

Increased knowledge

These past few months I have put a lot of effort into studying the gospel. More than I have in the past. I have taught sunday school, and young women's and studied my lessons but lately I have been studying for me and what I have found is that I love the scriptures more than I ever thought I did. It is amazing how much there is out there to further enhance my scripture reading experience and I love it. I have been collecting books for years and I have read through most of them and love learning little tidbits that help me better myself and my understanding but the books I have been learning from lately have truly grasped my attention and pulled me into the depths that the gospel has to offer. For years, actually since High School I have had the desire to learn about the gospel and why it is I live the way I do. It was in college that I truly made the choice to live the principles of the gospel. It was not an easy choice- I wanted to live in the world and do what the world was telling me was easy and fun- but I also knew that I wasn't really happy. It's hard to explain but I knew what was right and I had to follow my feelings. Anyway, since then I have wanted to study but where to start was the thing that prevented me from delving into it. Well recently we have had a Sunday School teacher that has been studying for years and with his vast knowledge he has been able to point me in the right direction and my eyes have been opened to the joy of the gospel and how it all fits together into one perfect plan of happiness. I started with a book of essays written about stories, principles and understanding found within the Old Testament. Then, when those essays-some better than others- piqued my interest, we moved onto Abraham-Becoming a Zion people. Oh how my love for Abraham grew. What an amazing man! It's no wonder the covenants given him were eternal and blessed nations. Not only is he amazing but his wife- well, she is the woman behind the man for a reason. She may seem as if she was a silent partner but I beg to differ. He needed her as much as she needed him. Anyway, the next book was The Beloved Bridegroom- Finding Christ in Ancient Jewish Marriage Customs. After reading this book I was struck with how little we understand about the temple and its teachings. One things is for sure- when we go through the temple we definitely have a partner in our Savior. He is watching over us and wants what is best for us. I am now reading out of the Pseudopigrapha and reading The Lost 500 years and I know I have more learning and knowledge to gain that will take me a lifetime to grasp. But I am so excited to begin my journey. As i study and learn I am strengthened physically, spiritually and emotionally. I find joy in it. Just recently I have, along with some friends, committed to reading the Book of Mormon in a 3 month period. I purchased a new paperback Book of Mormon and I have prayed that I will gain greater insight into how to liken its teaching to my situation now as well as my children's. I want to understand how to explain the stories and use them as examples as I teach my children. I want the spirit to be felt in my home. I want the spirit to teach truth and to guide our lives. I want to help the spirit teach my kids about the gospel and help them gain their own testimonies as early in their lives as possible. I am aware of the difficulties of living the gospel in the world today and that is why it is so important to do those things that will give you strength to get you through the difficulties. I heard a quote today that resonated in my heart and mind and I wrote it down....

Stay true in the dark and humble in the spotlight.

Be that strong and consistant voice--

Your actions speak so loud- i can't hear what you're saying

Each of these saying has to do with knowing who you are and acting like it. I can't be wishy washy, I can't say one thing and do another and i can't change my mind when the going gets tough. I will make mistakes along the way and I will need to repent and improve but I do know who I am and I know for what I stand and I am not going to make excuses for it. Truth is truth- even when you don't want it to be. I am who i am and I am not going to make excuses for it. When I need to change something than I will- but I can't change it if I don't know about it. Lately I have been battling with not taking offense. Typically, I don't- in fact it is pretty difficult to offend me but recently I was offended by someone who is suppose to be part of my support system. It's a long story and I won't go into detail but I will say that as I have studied it out in my heart and mind I am learning more than ever about the fact that I don't know others the way I think I do and really in my being offended because i was judged means that I have offended others, unknowingly, because I have chosen to judge them. I am working on it and I'll keep things posted as I learn more but suffice it to say- I can no longer be offended, even though I am hurt by the words, because the person saying what they did doesn't know me or my heart the way they could and therefore is looking through "dirty windows" But I also can't judge them because I don't fully understand why they said what they did and therefore if I am angry I am looking through my own "dirty windows" and what good does that do? So I am working on the hurt part but my understanding of the atonement is being strengthened by relying on prayer and knowing that Heavenly Father loves all of His children- even in their imperfections.

Thoughtful Ramblings

I love that I know what I know. I know it is a blessing to have the knowledge that I have and that with that knowledge comes a responsibility of sorts. In the past few years I have seen some friends and some family lose that knowledge because they have chosen to not apply it. It has been so hard to watch but I have dealt with it, probably because I didn't feel like it affected me personally however, recently I have had someone very close to me make a conscious choice to walk away from the knowledge and truth she had. The sad thing is I watched it happen over the past few months and prayerfully asked what I could do to keep it from happening. The answer...nothing! It had to be the individual's choice. We are all tested on a personal level. Everyone's test is their own; meant to strengthen and give power to the spirit but if not endured or if the choice is made to give up before the test is over then the blessing that would have followed are taken away. How can you have something taken away that you haven't received yet? We have been told we can have ALL that the Father has, if we endure to the end. He has already given it to us, we just have to make it to the next "road marker." How do we make it to the next road marker? Keep on walking...some of us walk slower than others...but keep doing it having faith that there will be a marker up ahead. You find that when you keep walking, you build up strength that you never knew you had. At each road marker we receive new blessings to help us along the way, greater insights. We have tools scriptures, blessings, prayer, priesthood and most of all have faith even when you can't see what's ahead. With my friend I watched what was happening and I tried to counsel and be positive, share my testimony, my knowledge and my strength but it wasn't enough, at least for now. The world was too intriguing. It was so hard to watch happen, it still is. In fact I mentioned to David that if this is what it is like to watch my children make these kinds of choices I want nothing to do with it. I have been up at nights, not sleeping, waking up, thinking about it, constantly thinking throughout the day. At first I was angry, at myself for not doing more, at her for giving in to the adversary. But then I realized it was more sadness...my heart is aching at the loss. I am still coming to terms with what the loss entails. She is still in my life but it is not the same...I don't know if I trust her the way I used too. I can't share my thoughts the way I used too. She doesn't want to be around me and my family the way she used too. She cares more for herself than others now, at least that is what her actions show. I am not even sure she is the same person...she says she is but I know she is more than what she is and she is selling herself short. I have prayed and prayed since she made the actual choice and the answer I have received is to love her and I do, I truly love her with all my heart but now I need to figure out how much I can accept of her new lifestyle before it effects me. The other answer I have received is these choices are her own, I am not to blame, her parents are not to blame, no one is to blame...she is a responsible adult and will be accountable for her own choices. I now pray that she will be softened and not hardened. That when she decides to return to the truth she has disregarded that she will know I am here for her and that she is loved more than words can say. I pray that she will know she is stronger than what she is settling for and that she is more than what she is getting. I love her with all my heart and until she returns i wlll do my best to love her the way her Heavenly Father does and I will do my best to stay strong so i can impart some of my strength to her when she needs it. I love knowing what I know and knowing that I am a daughter of god who loves me and loves her.

Week 27

Well, I must admit it has been a long time since teaching this lesson and I had to go back and review what inspired this handout. This lesson happened to be about Zion's camp and the men who traveled over a 1000 miles to help save the saints in Independance from the mobs who wanted to kill them. When these men arrived they were told by the Lord they would not be fighting that they were going to return. Now i could go into the entire story but you can go and read the history for yourselves I am going to tell you what I got from this. Here you have these men who were ready to fight, to avenge their brothers and sisters in the gospel. the had traveled a long way and had plenty of time to become enraged and ready to fight their enemies, and of course they had every reason to feel the way they did. However, when they were told they would not fight and they needed to turn around and go home, a lot of them were angry--they wanted to fight. I can feel thier anguish. So often, i want to fight, i have had a lot of time to stew in my thoughts, to convince myself I am justified, I need to take out my frustrations and why not on my enemy, who has wronged me. (Sometimes our enemies can be our friends and family too) But then when we get there we are told, by the spirit, to let it go. That is not easy to do. In fact I believe it to be one of my greatest weaknesses. But the true test is to ask ourselves why? when we have gone through so much and have every reason to fight..why would the Lord bring us on this journey just to have us turn around or "let it go"! Well in this case, it was not about vengeance, it was about the journey. What did you learn a long the way? You were willing to stand up for the truth...they were willing to give their lives for their brothers and sisters. now of course my analogy is not nearly as pressing as people who are being killed and thrown from their homes. (an argument about who is right and who is wrong is not a justified reason for vengeance it is just pride) However we can learn the same things. We must trust in the Lord...we must realize He is the one who guides our lives. We must turn to Him and allow Him to save us and to save our enemies. We must ask ourselves what have i learned from this journey...this situation...the moment. Is the Lord a constant in our lives? Do we fear him or fear the world. I must say that the world wins a lot of battles in my life but I am consistantly reminded that the outcome is much more peaceful when the Lord wins my battles. I am striving to always ask what am i learning. Where am i going? I am not perfect but i long to be perfected in Him.

week twenty six

The priesthood is real. It blesses my life, it continues to bless it, as well as the lives of my children. To be able to participate in priesthood ordinances ordained of God, that bring me closer to Him; to enjoy the blessing that come from knowing that my Heavenly Father is in my home daily, as long as we are living worthy of the priesthood blessing brings a peace in my life I know I could get no where else. My testimony of priesthood blessing came at a time in my life when I felt as though I did not need those blessing. In fact I went out of my way to shun them. Every year my dad would use his priesthood to give us school blessings. I was in my second year of college and making choices that kept my spiritually from growing in my testimony of those blessings. When he mentioned to me about school blessings I shied away from the situation. In fact i left to go back to school without mentioning it again and felt a sigh of relief as I drove away. I must admit that was the most difficult few months of my life. The boy in which I had focused all my attention upon was pursuing other directions. i was still involved but not quite as frequently. i was struggling with life direction and was torn between this boy I loved and the choice I knew needed to be made. For his sake, as well as for mine. At my lowest i began to ask myself what made me who i was. I knew, always knew really, that it was the gospel. It was about this time that the thought occurred to me that I had never gotten a blessing. I really don't know why I changed, desire maybe, choices probably, being ready to make the right choices more specifically. I could no longer sit on the fence looking at both pastures. I immediately went to a friend who held the priesthood and got the needed blessing. i don't remember what was said, all i know is that a peace went through my soul that I had not felt for a long time. I had a bounce in my step I hadn't had for some time. I will not say that life was full of joyous times after that blessing, there were some difficulties that lay in my path that I had to deal with to show by my actions that i had made better choices. That is something we deal with on a daily basis, so our testimony will grow with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I do know that my testimony of the power of the priesthood was strengthened so much that I have made it my priority to teach my children the importance of it. My son Xander truly understands the peace that comes from having the priesthood and the knowledge that comes in knowing that he can be healed or made to feel better because his dad can give him a blessing. We just gave the kids' their school blessings last night- what a special experience to hear the words of our Heavenly Father come through the mouth of their earthly father. The Priesthood is real! It must be conferred upon a worthy male by someone in authority. In this dispensation it was given to Joseph Smith, Jr and Oliver Cowdry by John the Baptist (Aaronic) and Peter, James and John(Melchizedek). Yes, the prophets of the New Testament because they were the last to have to have the keys to ordain. they recieved those keys from our Savior. No one remained worthy enough to have those keys after they had passed on-which is why the church fell into apostacy. This is Christ's church- the only church with the fullness of His gospel. The fulness being the priesthood power with all the rights to perform in His name. What a blessing we have.

week 25

I must say that in today's world it is so easy to be deceived. There are so many paths and directions that lead us to where we want to be. Want is a good thing but is it where the Lord needs you. There are so many paths that seem good so how can one be better than the other. Now I know this lesson is about knowing that the Prophet of the Lord speaks for and behalf of our Savior. This is something that must be confirmed by the spirit and I will tell you this the Lord will not let anyone lead and guide his church who will decive you. If you are questioning this than the deception is coming from somewhere else. We are members of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Sometimes it may seem easier to think its not true because you may think you would be happier and yes it may seem that way for time but ultimately your happiness is based eternally and you will find yourself wishing you had not let yourself be deceived by the adversary. That is why it is so important to do those primary commandments- pray, read your scriptures, attend church, have faith and don't get caught up in what you want, rather focus on what the Lord wants. So often we get so focused on me, me, me and I want i want, i want, that we forget the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves and i can guarantee what you get from having faith in Him, is going to be far better than what you thought you wanted. So back to "do not be deceived"! The only way we can make sure of that is to have a testimony of our prophet and the only way to have that is to pray and ask for confirmation from our Heavenly Father. As I have said before it is very easy to ask why when we are asked to do something. Sometimes we can get upset and think we know better- again that is a choice we all have to make. There are consequences good and bad. YOU CHOOSE! But do not be deceived- if you choose to not follow the prophet- you will not receive the blessings that come from following the prophet and ultimately our Savior. Do not be decieved, whether in this life or the next you will see that the consequence for not following the prophet kept you from joys beyond your comprehension.

week 24

This lesson is dear to my heart because I love to obtain knowledge, secular and gospel related. Recently I was able to go back to school and continue my education,
ultimately resulting in my Associates Degree and in the future my Bachelors Degree. the thrill that comes from obtaining bits of knowledge is a high that can't be described. In fact, don't even try to explain it to youth because honestly it comes from desire and doing. Over the years I have found that I love to read, write, study, learn and share. Heavenly Father doesn't want us to stop learning. He wants us to do whatever we can in whatever situation we are in, to continue our search for knowledge. Knowledge is the only thing we can take with us into the next life. Right now my time is to be a mom and while I would love to be going to school to pursue my next course in literature, my priority is my children and their education. In the meantime I am doing what I can to further my thinking by reading books, both secular and religious. I am asking questions. I am using the tools i am surrounded by to make myself aware. Sometimes I want people to do my work for me but I find that if I put effort into it I am able to grasp the information more clearly. Right now my education has to do with how I am able to understand my relationship with my children and their different ways of learning and apply that to my relationship with my Heavenly Father and how he sees and knows me on a perfected level. I know that as i continue to make it possible to educate myself on a variety of different subjects and levels that my Heavenly Father will bless me with opportunities to share and glean from others' experiences.

week 23

I am so far behind on my blog but I have kept up on my handouts so i will be catching up over the next few days. This handout is about the Word of Wisdom and how it came to be. I must say as a youth it always was hard to explain to my friends why I couldn't do this or couldn't do that but as I have come to understand the importance of it. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. Heavenly Father is the Father of our Spirits and sometimes it seems like we are given commandments that have no reason behind them. Sometimes we are only being asked to show our obedience and faith. I remember as a youth and even today sometimes questioning things that I want to do. But as a parent I am coming to understand even more the role of my Father in Heaven. Always, because he knows me and you perfectly, he gives us commandments to keep us out of trouble. He isn't doing it to make our lives miserable, to make them harder, to take the joy away. In fact he is commanding because he wants to make life easier, healthier, more joyous and so much more. My kids always ask why. Its inevitable, unless of course it is something they want to do. its like as soon as they are asked to do something they don't like or seems difficult they ask why? This is not truly to understand; it is their way of complaining...they don't want to do it and they think by asking why I am going to change my mind. Anyway as i ramble on I will get to my point about the word of wisdom. It is not about what we "can't do" it is about how to live our lives in a way that will make our bodies and mind and spirit healthier and able so that we "can do" Back when the word of wisdom was given there were no reports out about how bad tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea were for you. Report only recently have indicated the toll caffeine takes on your body. The word of wisdom says what each of things are to be used for and their intended purpose. Only we as imperfect human beings have taken these useful medicinal items and made them "drugs" If used correctly they can be useful and healing but as we use them for recreation we build up tolerance and they are no longer useful to our bodies. We all don't need to be told how we function when we have been drinking or how our bodies crave tobacco and can't do without. We have all seen it or experienced it. So why, when our Heavenly Father asks us to refrain from these items and gives us useful tools to make our bodies and minds healthy and responsive, do we ask why? Because human nature insists we not want to feel like we are being told what to do. As a youth it feels that way, even as an adult it seems that way at times but as I contemplate it more I understand we are not being told what to do- we are being asked and we can choose and with that choice we have a consequence, we can either choose the blessings that come with following commandments or we can choose to not be prepared for eternal blessings and have to deal with physical and mental addictions that will control us and ultimately lead us into either mental, physical, financial or other distress. Its your choice--it always is! I know this now as I begin to teach my children and want so much to keep them from harm or from making the same mistakes i have made. But yes, they have a choice and their will be consequences. i only hope I can teach them from example that the blessings of following the commandments, while they sometimes may seem difficult, in the end will make life so much easier.

Week 21 & Week 22

I am a little behind but these past two weeks have been great lessons. Last weeks lesson was a continuation of the Plan of Salvation lesson...it went into greater details of what happens after this life so it taught about the three degrees of glory- Telestial, Terestrial, and Celestial Kingdom. We are all aiming to make it to the Celestial Kingdom, where our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ reside. It is the only kingdom in which we can continue to progress...it is the only kingdom where we can be exalted and truly live eternally. There is a difference between living eternally and being immortal. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ every person born to this earth will be resurrected-they will be reunited, after death, with a perfected body and new body that is a gift every person has been given. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ and our applying his atonement to our own lives, we can choose to live eternally. You see in the telestial and terestrial kingdom we will not progress, we will not learn, we cannot move forward. It will be through our thoughts and actions on this earth and how we chose to apply the atonement (the mercy of our savior) that will determine which kingdom we will want and feel we belong in. Our Heavenly Father is a loving father and while he wants us all to return to him if we do not follow the example of his son Jesus Christ- there are consequences. We will understand those consequences, whether in this life or the next, before we come to the judgment and we will make our own choice. It seems as if that is an easy choice but just as in this life we know the right choices to make but don't want to do them so it will be in the next. Just because we will understand the plan perfectly we will still be the same person and having had the gospel taught we just may say I don't want too! Its too much work. I want to take the easier road. I want to know more. I don't know enough. Whatever our excuse is- we will make the choice because that is the the cruxt of the whole plan- Agency. Are we going to choose God's will or our own? We see miracles on a daily basis, if we are looking for them, and yet we still (as a world population)deny God exists. We have words from prophets long ago that have been preserved for our day and yet we still want more. God is an unchanging God, the only things that changes is us. It has been the same, yesterday, today and will be tomorrow- we must choose to follow Him or follow the adversary. In that process we must also remember it is not our right to judge others. We are all children of our heavenly father and we are all here to learn for ourselves and come unto Christ- we are learn at different rates and in different ways and at different times. I may be good at one thing and really see the difference it makes in my life and the doors it opens for me but to treat someone who doesn't or hasn't made those choices yet as if they are sinning is wrong...All we can do is bear our testimony and show through our example the joy it brings and others will follow on their own time and at their own pace. None of us are perfect but we call have strengths to help share with others without condemning. We have perfect "heavenly parents" it is our responsibility to love as they do.

This past week's lesson was on "The day of the Lord." It was an involved lesson but I must admit there is one part that really changed my thoughts. In the world of religion and scriptures we hear about the calamities and wickedness that is going to and already does exist when the second coming approaches. No one knows the day or time, not even our Savior- only his Father. We tend to focus on the negativity and yet truly we should be looking for the joy in the midst of the wickedness. As I was reading Doctrine and Covenants 45:36-39; a scripture about the parable of the fig tree throughout the week I pondered on its words. I didn't get what the fig tree had to do with the second coming. Because I didn't quite understand it i wasn't going to use it with the lesson but as I handed out scriptures to read I accidentally gave that one out. When I heard it begin to be read my heart stopped and I was nervous about how i was going to explain it. But as I read the scripture with the student reading it a peace came over me and I understood.

36 And when the alight shall begin to break forth, it shall be with them like unto a parable which I will show you—
37 Ye look and behold the figtrees, and ye see them with your eyes, and ye say when they begin to shoot forth, and their leaves are yet tender, that summer is now nigh at hand;
38 Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh.
39 And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.

"they begin to shoot forth, and their leaves are yet tender" made me think of spring and how after a long, cold winter, with darkness all around we see the tiniest bit of hope in the trees that 'begin to shoot forth' and while we know there is still going to cold, and darkness and dreary days- we have seen the sign "that summer is now nigh at hand" we know that the sun is going to shine or may i say that the Son of God is going to reign.
I was so grateful to my Heavenly Father for sharing that little piece of knowledge with me so that I could share it with my kids. As I have continued to ponder this thought my heart has been full. The world is wicked and great calamities are taking place very close to home and we know it is going to get even worse and enduring to the end gets more and more difficult it is moments like these that keep me going on. Prophecies have been given and fulfilled and they continue to do so and knowing this, that every prophecy ever given will be fulfilled, it fills me with hope. I know as I stay close to the Lord and look for the small joys, small miracles I will be blessed and whether or not I am here to witness the coming of the Lord I will be standing on His side.

Week 20

The plan of salvation is an integral part of the gospel that I believe we don't ponder enough. At least I know that I haven't. But as I prepared for this lesson I realized that the plan of salvation is everything in gospel- it is the creation, the fall/atonement and the resurrection. It answers in great detail because of modern day revelation and scripture the most asked questions of Where did I come from? why am i here? and Where am I going? i always knew I had the answers to those questions but I didn't connect the plan of salvation as encompassing all of those questions. It is appropriate that this weeks lesson follows the lesson regarding the temple because the temple is the place where, in even greater detail, we come to understand the plan of salvation and how if applies to each individual who has ever lived, lives or ever will live on this earth. We are all son's and daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves us. Before sending us to this earth he layed out the plan and those who accepted it have the opportunity to come to this earth to gain a body. Those who did not were cast out of Heaven and will never recieve a body; Lucifer was their leader. When we came to this earth a veil was drawn over our natural bodies but our spirits inhabit those bodies and as we search, ponder and pray those things that our spirits learned before coming to earth will be brought to our remembrance. We have the opportunity here on earth to act for ourselves, to choose righteousness or evil. there is no middle ground. We will either choose to live the plan or not. As we prove our faithfulness we will be given increased knowledge and our responsibility to take the knowledge and act upon it accordingly. Some may take that knowledge and use it for good and to build up the Kingdom of God, some may take that knowledge and find ways around it, even though they know what they should be doing. Some may take that knowledge and throw it aside, stomp on it and rebel against it. Ultimately we will be judged on how we use that knowledge and to the degree in which we lived it. However, because of the atonement of Jesus christ we can repent and change our hearts. That change is reflected in our actions. We can't just say we believe we have to live it. Because of the resurrection of Jesus christ we will all be resurrected with perfected bodies. Now I know that as I write this there is more to the plan than what I have written. I am just writing as i think and I have probably left out some things. The most important things we must remember is that we are sons and daughters of God. We knew the plan when we came here and we chose to follow it. I know that our Savior, Brother, Jesus Christ was the integral part of that plan and that he atoned for our sins and our heartaches. He knows each and every one of us personally. He understands our pains. I know that because of His atonement each and everyone of us will stand with him, in our resurrected bodies, at the judgement seat to be judged of our actions and our hearts and in His mercy he will take upon Himself those things that we have repented for. That if we have proven ourselves worthy we will be able to enter the gates that lead to the mansions he has prepared for us and we will be able to live with Him and our Heavenly Father for eternity- along with all our other family members with whom we have been sealed by the power of the priesthood. I am so grateful for my knowledge of this plan and how I can continue to search, ponder and pray for more. I love it

May 29, 2009

This past week the lesson I taught was about the Temple. The temple is a sacred place and it is dear to my heart. As i continue to go and study and ponder the temple and the covenants I made within those walls I strengthened in my knowledge of my Heavenly Father and His Great Plan of Happiness. My understanding of the creation, the fall, the atonement and other facets of life becomes even greater. I love the books out there that help me to seek and find answers or clearer paths to the temple and the ordinances found within. A couple of books that I recommend are "The Savior and the Serpent," by Alonzo Gaskill "the temple - where heaven meets earth" by Truman Madsen and "house of glory" by S. Michael Wilcox. these are fantastic books that help you understand the temple by explaining more in depth about the Creation and the Fall and the atonement. Teaching this week I was able to bear my testimony about the importance of living our lives in such a way that we will be ready to enter the walls of the temple and be sheltered from the storms of the world. It is the only place on earth in which the Savior can reside- it is home on earth. His spirit can be felt there and that spirit testifies of truth. It will guide and direct our lives and give us the peace we need to make decisions that will effect us personally as well as family members and those we have stewardship over. By living the commandments set forth by our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ and given through prophets past and present- we can find greater meaning in this world of those things that came before this life and what will be after this life. It really is amazing and I am constantly being fed and nourished in the gospel as i do those basic things that keep the spirit as my constant companion. i am not perfect and I make mistakes and the knowledge I have of the power of repentance and its ability to make me whole; as I come to the Lord and confess, as well as show in my thoughts and actions, that i am truly am penitant is truly edifying. I am thankful for the opportunity the Lord has given us to come unto him in a more exact manner by attending the temple. Living the basic principles taught to me as a child and to new members through the missionaries- scripture, study, prayer, church attendance, keep the commandments - we often hear those phrases so often they become complacent parts of our lives but as we make them priorities and things we think of and act upon minute by minute- the spirit will bear witness of the truth found in the gospel as well as in the temple. I truly have a testimony of my Savior and what he has done and continues to do for me. I have a testimony of the plan of salvation which brings salvation and redemption as we live its principles. I know that the priesthood was restored to this earth for the purpose of preparing all of us to make covenants and perform ordinances that will allow us to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ when we leave this earth. The priesthood is real and it is the power to act in the name of God- as we live worthy of it. I know we have a prophet today who acts in the name of God and guides and directs His Church under his authority. I am so grateful for that knowledge. it brings me peace that I could get nowhere else.

Week 18

This week's lesson was on the Law of tithing. I know this law, if observed, with bring you blessings beyond description. Most often, however, when we think of blessing we think of physical blessings. Not to say that the blessings we receive from tithing aren't physical because they absolutely are however we also get spiritual blessings that enhance the way we look at our physical blessings. We must admit when we pay tithing it is out of absolute faith when we first do it. Now as we continue in faith and begin to recognize those blessing that faith becomes knowledge. Over the years what started as faith for me has become a knowledge and i would never, not even for a moment, consider not paying tithing. I know that I could not do without those blessings. I have seen to many that I know have directly come from paying tithing. One of those is knowing that my Heavenly Father and Savior know me and know my needs; that they are watching over me and my family. This is not to say we don't struggle in the financial department yet those financial struggles are man made. When we don't live within our means that is our responsibility. Still with the knowledge I have I continue to know that the desires of my heart ( not necessarily the wants) will be acknowledged and if it is for the benefit of me and my family they will come to pass. I know this...as longs as I remain true and faithful to the covenants that I have made at baptism and in the temple i will continue to develop my relationship with my Savior. I continue to be blessed with knowledge that helps me to understand where I came from, why I am here and where I am going. I don't know all that I want or need to know but i have faith that as i study, ponder and pray and keep the commandments and follow the prophet those questions will be answered in their own due time as i am ready to hear them.
Tithing money is used to build the kingdom of God...it does not go to any specific individual, no one gets paid. it goes to building churches and upkeeping them around the world, it goes to sharing and spreading the gospel and everything that comes with doing that. It goes to anything that the Lord, through revelations, feels with build up His church and bring souls unto Him.
Now the other thing that we have been asked to do is pay Fast Offerings. This is to set aside one day, typically the first sunday of every month, and in fasting and prayer go to the Lord and ask for those things you or a friend or family members stand in need of. Fasting consists of giving up 2 meals and during those 2 meals use that time for meditation, study, pondering and prayer for those things. What you would have spent on those meals it is asked that you give to fast offerings. This money goes into a fund that is distributed to those in need within the ward and if there is excess to the needs of the stake and so on. In the scriptures it says "if you do it unto the least of these my brethren you do it unto me" by paying fast offerings we are taking care of God's children in a physical manner. I had an institute teacher that once said, "if you stand in need of physical blessings, (and I am not talking about needing a red ferrari) then double your fast offerings and watch what happens." When he said this my soul was struck with such force I have never for once doubted that statement and i know that we have been blessed by paying our fast offerings as much as we can and not being stingy with the Lord and his children. The Law of Tithing is a testimony builder, it is a faith strengthener, it is a knowledge builder. I must admit when I first started being faithful to this principle it was not easy, I had bills, i had things i wanted but i also had a seed of faith that said this principle was of God. I have remained faithful to this principle and as I said previously I no longer pay it out of faith but out of knowledge.

Week 17

I am behind on sharing my lesson thoughts. I always make my handout but then this last week I haven't made time to write down my thoughts. Anyway this weeks lesson was on keeping the sabbath day holy. Yikes! That is a tough topic because every family has a different idea of what that is and really it is something that is personal to every person. David and I were raised in families with very different ideas of what is acceptable for the sabbath and what is not. I must admit that as a youth I hated that we couldn't watch TV, that we never went out to eat, that there were no exceptions for spending the night, or going to baseball games...whatever the activity that I wanted to do at the time. I always, like any teenager, said I would do things differently and now as a parent find myself gravitating towards those ideas I was raised with. This is not to say that David's family failed in this area, again it is personal and every family must pray and follow the guidance of the spirit. What I am saying is that David and I have to come together, as our own family, and take those best qualities of both and find out what is right for our family. As I pondered this lesson I was reminded again of why we observe the sabbath. it is a day for us to do those things, think about those things, observe those things that build our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Savior. During the week we can get so caught up in the things of the world that we forget where our blessing come from. We forget that our relationship with our Savior should be our priority. Of course we should remember this throughout the week but the sabbath is set aside to allow us the meditation and solitude needed to be in tune with the spirit and His guidance for each of us as individuals as well as families. This of course doesn't mean we read scriptures all day long, get our knees in prayer all day long and do nothing else. We go to church to partake of the sacrament- to renew our covenants that we made at baptism. We evaluate where we are in life and the things we could be doing better, we commune with the Lord and all His spirit to whisper to our hearts and minds. We focus on our Savior and his atonement and what it means to us. We keep a prayer in hearts of those things we are in need of, whether spiritual or physical. We fill our day with things that remind us of the blessings we have recieved- I have come to think that we should focus on those things that are eternal in nature- we visit with family and friends, we serve others in a reverent manner that allows us to still be able to ponder and hear the promptings we are searching for. When we make the sabbath an ordinary day we tend to fill it up with noisy things, things that take our mind away from the reverence of the day and then it is harder for us to hear the things of the spirit. So, as I taught this lesson i made sure to emphasize that every person must decide for themselves, with prayer and pondering, what is considered keeping the sabbath. What David and I do and what someone else does is not to be judged. We are doing what we have prayerfully considered with strengthen our family and allow for the spirit to be present in our home. I know that by observing this principle it will only bring us closer as a family, by keeping us together at least one day a week, but also it will bring us closer to our Father in Heaven, through our Savior, by helping us to remember the eternal blessing we have and continue to receive as we are obedient to the commandments He has set forth.

Week 16

This week's lesson was on gifts of the spirit. i can't tell you how many times I have had this lesson and how many times I have given it and yet this time I got it. I truly understood the importance of the many gifts we are given and the gifts that others have been given. I have mentioned several times that truly one of the gifts of the spirit that I have been given is that of Faith in the Lord Jesus christ and knowledge that the gospel is true. Looking back, even when i wanted it not to be true, i always knew it was. With that gift i still had a choice and sometimes i wished that i could say it wasn't. This of course was when I was younger and had to choose whether i was going to live the gospel or not. It was not an easy choice- I must admit i had reason to want to live the way of the world. Not all of it but for loves sake i wanted to be with someone who didn't want to live the gospel. I teetered for awhile- but really looking back- i never teetered i always knew. i may have made some decisions that weren't in accordance with that knowledge but I always knew. Since making that decision- the decision that I was going to live the gospel the best i knew how- i have never looked back. And now as I think about it that is another gift I have been blessed with- the ability to make decisions and look forward and not back. I have been blessed by others gifts that maybe they didn't even realize they had. Anyway this week i realized that these gifts are just as important as the gift we were given at baptism. Of course without the gift of the holy ghost we would not have these other gifts. oftentimes we forget that we can ask for gifts as long as we are asking for the purpose of building up the kingdom of God and not for the purpose of looking better to the world. i want so much to have knowledge that i can share with others. I, however, must do my part to get that knowledge. My must be prayerfully seeking answers, studying the scriptures, attending my meetings and all the things i have already been asked to do. As I continue to do these things i will be blessed to be able to share my knowledge with others in a way that it will be beneficial to them. I feel as if I am rambling and so i will end with a link to what i believe is the most awesome talk given on the gifts of the spirit. It is found in the February, 2002 Ensign.
My mom gave me this talk and it change my whole outlook on gifts of the spirit. It should be studied and pondered. I am so grateful for the gospel and the blessing that come from living it fully. I am so grateful for the decision I made to follow the teaching of the prophets. To stop rationalizing and justifying those things i was doing at the time. I know I have a ways to go and that there are things that I can improve upon but i know that as I continue to allow the spirit to work in my life and follow the promptings i will be protected, guided, and blessed far beyond what I can imagine.

Week 15

This week the lesson was on the Law of Consecration. As I asked the kids- 13-14 year olds- what came to mind when I said the Law of Consecration I got blank stares! They had never heard of it before. Wow! I wonder if I had at their age- i don't remember. So then I believe the spirit guided me to teach them about what it is. I actually was very touched by the spirit as He testified to me of this eternal principle. In fact- Job- he understood this principle to the core. Really what it comes down to is recognizing that everything that we have has been given to us by our Heavenly Father- everything. Job had a testimony that was so strong and he had been blessed tremendously with a wife and children, material wealth and when it was all taken from him, even his health- he still remained true to the Lord. People, his friends, tried to convince him to denounce his testimony, to turn from the Lord, they even tried to convince him that he had done something very wrong in the sight of God to have all these bad things happen but Job did not listen- he continued to pray and stay close to what he knew and after his trial he was given everything back and then some. When it comes to living the Law of Consecration at the cruxt of it is the knowledge that everything we have comes from our Heavenly Father and he gives it to us so that we can build the kingdom of God and if he sees fit to take it away he is doing so to build our faith in Him- to see that we will remain true even in the hardest and most difficult of times. The Law of Consecration has been lived by the people of Enoch, it was lived by the saints after Jesus Christ left the earth and it was lived by the Nephites after Jesus Christ appeared unto them. To live this law we must have an eye single to the glory of God. we must have complete knowledge that the Lord knows what he is doing and whatever he gives or takes away is his to do so with. The early saints were asked to live this law and they did so for a brief period of time and then they began to bicker and argue about who had what and why. In so doing they were unable to continue to live this way and so were given the law of tithing. The law of tithing is giving 10% of what has been given to you, back to the Lord, for the building of His kingdom here on earth. the law of consecration is giving 100% back to He who has given it to you. Now we haven't been asked to live this Law but someday we will be asked and we can prepare now to live it. We can do this through prayer, scripture study, attending church meetings regularly, loving others, keeping the commandments....I know all primary answers but these things are what help us to come unto Him- to have a personal relationship with our Savior. If we don't know Him how can we live under his law. We must also come to love as he does. to realize that all of us, even our enemies, have talents and attributes that will contribute to building the kingdom of God. We must learn now to submit ourselves wholly to the Lord. We must be willing to give up things we think are "ok" because we have been asked to do so by our prophets. The only thing we truly can "give" to our Heavenly Father is our "will." We may be asked to do things that we think are "ok" but really we are being asked to choose god's will over our own. I obviously need help in this area just like everyone else but I must say after teaching this lesson I am one step closer.

Week 14

I must admit that i did not put the effort I normally do into this weeks lesson. I let life get in the way and did not make the time to study as I normally do. However I was very touched by the spirit and the power He has to make truth known to my heart and mind. This weeks lesson was in regards to the revelations and truths that have been restored to the latter days through the prophet Joseph Smith. There are so many things that I believe we as members take for granted and forget that others aren't taught or don't have the same understanding. For instance, we believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are individual beings. Heavenly Father and jesus Christ having resurrected, physical bodies and that the Holy Ghost is a spirit, just like you and i were before being born into this world. Most other churches believe they are all spirits and they are all the same being. We also have the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation- the fact that we came from a world before- that we were created spiritually before physically and that we chose to come to this earth to follow our Heavenly Father's plan and gain a physical body. We chose this path because it was the only way we could become like Him which leads to another piece of knowledge that others don't teach- we believe we are son's and daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves us and knows us and that we have the potential to become like Him. Yes- we believe we can become Gods. What a beautiful concept. To have been created by a parent who loves me and is perfect and to know that I can become like Him. We can never be Him but we can be like Him. We also know that we can return to Him because of the sacrifice of our brother and Savior, Jesus Christ, who atoned for our sins, if we so choose, we can repent and follow His example and in doing so we can be saved from our sins and return to live again with them. We also know that because Jesus Christ gave up his life, willingly, he overcame the bonds of death and in so doing made it possible for each one of us to be resurrected- to be reunited with our physical bodies, made perfect- after we have gone from this earth. We also know that through the restoration of the priesthood we have the opportunity to make covenants with our Heavenly Father that will make it possible to be sealed to our families for eternity. That through these priesthood covenants and ordinances we can live with our Heavenly Father again. It is only through the priesthood that this is made possible and it for this purpose that we have temples on the earth today, to not only save ourselves but also to make it possible for others who have not had the opportunity to have those covenants and ordinances done for them. Because of Joseph Smith we have the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. He is a Prophet of God and because he was humble enough to get on his knees and ask, believing he would recieve he made it possible for the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to be restored. We know that God speaks to us today through apostles and prophets just as he did in times of old. We are so blessed to have this knowledge and it is our responsibility to study it, pray about it and be ready to share it with others who are searching for something more. Every one of us is a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father and our spirits are aware of this knowledge; it is not something new however when the veil was drawn it became necessary for us to need to be reminded of these truths which is why we have a member of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost to witness of these truths. He touches our hearts and minds. Truth is truth whether you want to believe it or not. All you need is a desire to believe and the willingness to "plant the seed" and let it take root. I do understand that in the world today it is not always easy to live the commandments- to not take things into our bodies and minds- to dress so that we respect the bodies we have been given- we want so much to blend in with the world; to not stand out- unless we are wanting to be noticed for the reason of the world but I can testify to you that I know by making ourselves known as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and staying true to those things the prophets have commanded we will be blessed and as we endure it becomes easier to be a "peculiar people" because you will find more strength in the knowledge you have and you will be more confident because you will be doing what you know is right instead of trying to justify those things which you know are not. I love this gospel. I am not perfect but I know that i can become perfect through repentance because of my Savior.

Week 13

With it being Easter Sunday I really wanted to tie in the lesson with why we celebrate Easter. I try to make sure to teach my kids this instead of just making the holiday about candy, easter eggs and the easter bunny. As I pondered the lesson and the reason for Easter I concluded that "the gathering of Israel" is all dependent upon what our Savior has done for us. There would be no reason for a "gathering" if our Savior did not give his life and atone for our sins. For our lesson I showed the movie "To this end was I born". I began the lesson by explaining the thoughts I have just shared with you. We then watched the 27 minute video. I have seen it before and yet i found again the spirit testifying to my heart and soul of the truthfulness of these events. As I continued to ponder these thoughts throughout the week it occurred to me that the gathering of Israel begins with me. It isn't an event that is going to take place all at one time. It goes along with the "worth of souls" when we share the gospel with ourselves we are gathering and when we gather ourselves unto the Lord or "come unto Him" by our examples we will bring others with us. In the lesson it teaches that the gathering of Israel is not just bring the lost 10 tribes out of obscurity but it is about strengthening through unification. It is about becoming perfected by receiving those ordinances necessary for us to return to live with our Heavenly Father in the Celestial Kingdom. Beginning with Baptism and following through with being sealed to our families. It is imperative for these ordinances to happen so that we can be exalted as we live eternally with our Heavenly Father. Baptism is the gate that leads to eternal life- without baptism we cannot be saved. It is an outward reflection of our inner commitment. Without the atonement and the resurrection eternal life would not be possible. it is our responsibility to strengthen and prepare ourselves so that we can do the same for others. These are the thoughts that occurred to me while preparing and giving the lesson this week.

Visiting Teaching for March

This month for me the thing that stood out for me was just that we must strengthen our homes. So often we are told that our homes can be and should be temples ( a place where the Lord can reside). When we speak of strengthening our homes we must first make it a place where the Lord can reside. it is so important to do this because the adversary wants so much to break down the plan of happiness which is centered in the family. We need to pull together-not just family members but eternal family members. We need to draw strength from every facet. We must do those things that allow the spirit to be in our lives, in our hearts, on the forefront of our minds. It is so important to love and forgive. to trust and understand. if we can't do this in our homes than we are doing our children, our spouses a disservice. To do this we must forget about ourselves and focus on others. We must make the Savior an integral part of our lives- not just someone we speak of but someone we emulate. This does not need to be done just in homes with spouses and children this can be in homes with room mates- in homes where guests are present. It all starts with YOU! So often we think that life in the gospel begins when we get married but really it begins now---it begins when you plant the seed. All those things we are being asked to do must be done before we start a family so that we can share our knowledge with our family. The Savior never was married- at least not to our knowledge- and yet he started as a child and as he got to his final days he was ready to sacrifice himself for his family. if he had waited to be married and have kids to strengthen his testimony and do those things he had been taught as a young child and youth- he would not have been strong enough to do what he needed to do for each and every one of us. Each of us as a potential and to reach that potential we must make our "homes" wherever it is- even if it is our bedroom- a place where the spirit can reside and teach us. Where we can strengthen our testimonies and the testimonies of those around us through our example. I know this I hope I am doing this and if I am not I hope I am repenting and trying harder. Begin today- don't put it off- you never know what your going to be asked to do and if you are not ready- how many people will it effect now and in the future?