Our Personal Pavilions.

The first Sunday of November I taught the Young Women in our ward.  I shared with them some lessons that I've been learning as of late.  The main point I wanted to get across was that although it may not be obvious to us, we sometimes unintentionally build walls around our hearts that keep us from God.  Then suddenly we'll find ourselves feeling alone and hopeless and wonder where God is.  President Eyring (in the First Presidency in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) sheds light on this predicament...

Last month I thought things were fine...I was at least keeping busy.  It wasn't until one day when something happened that I fell to my knees and sobbed to my Heavenly Father...muttering that I couldn't do it anymore and that my best efforts had failed me.  I felt like my little world had come crashing down.  Although I tend to overreact and get emotional about things (especially during pregnancy), in a way things had fallen apart, and that was OK because it brought me to my knees...and brought me finally to the Lord.  As I prayed my humiliation turned to humility.  I felt the Lord's love for me.  I felt that with His help, IF I continued to turn to Him, I could pick up the pieces and make something better than was before.  For honestly the first time in my life I really felt a connection with the phrase "a broken heart and contrite spirit."

Sometimes when we're busy or hurting or feeling hopeless we turn to things of the world to numb us and to help us forget reality.  We all turn to different things.  For me it's often Pinterest and Facebook, or food.  But I'm starting to recognize that these things are just bandaids that can never fill the holes or heal our hearts. Instead they create walls, a pavilion of sorts, and cause our hearts to harden.

Like it says in the scriptures (Alma 32:16, James 4:10), we can either humble ourselves or BE humbled.      In any case, the Lord can help us break down those walls.   He can give us a "new" heart (Ezekial 36:26).  The wonderful thing is that it's a soft heart, that stays close to the Lord, that is blessed by the fruits of His spirit...

In the end we may fool our families, our friends, or even ourselves if we just go through the motions of life, but we can't fool the Lord.  He sees our heart (1 Samuel 16:7).  If He were to look at our hearts today what would He see?  No matter what the Lord sees, He LOVES us and desires to help make us whole...to heal us...and to help us find happiness.  No matter what pavilions we have built, we can choose to turn to Him instead!

Doctrine & Covenants 6: 36 ^aLook unto me [the Lord] in every ^bthought; ^cdoubt not, fear not.

(a Personal Progress challenge I left with the young women and leaders.)

Let your Light so Shine.

(25 -26 July 2012)

During the hustle and bustle of our summer activities, Tanya (the Relief Society President in our ward) and I packed all the young women into my van and headed to Mizzou for Youth Conference.  It was 2 days cram-packed with spiritual upliftment, mixing and mingling, dances and activities.  It was awesome to be surrounded by hundreds of youth who are striving to live virtuous lives.  I loved being there with our young women, getting to know Tanya better, and taking it all in as a leader.  But boy did it wear me out.  I came home at midnight Thursday, hugged Bry and went to bed.  The next morning when I woke up (Bry watched the kids and made breakfast while I slept in) I felt like I'd been hit by a train.  My first trimester self just couldn't keep up with all those teenagers ;0)  In any case, I came down to breakfast and found this beautiful bouquet that Bry had bought me as a welcome home.  That sweet man.  Sure love him lots and lots and lots....

I have to mention that my friend Melissa awesomely watched Brie and Alex for both days while I was gone.  She was such a trooper to take them on so that Bry could study.  THANK YOU!

Dust.

For those who have asked, here is the text from my lesson to the Young Women a few weeks ago.  And so that you don't wonder,  {P} = Participation from the girls (having them read a passage, asking them a question, etc.)

{P} Ask someone to read the following…

"A group of youth in Queen Creek, Arizona, determined to “arise and shine forth” and to lead the youth in their community in living the standards inFor the Strength of Youth. They each wrote something that they felt was holding them back or something they wanted to change in their lives in their journals, and then they literally dug a hole. They came together, tore out the journal page, and threw it into the hole in the earth, just like the people of Ammon did in the Book of Mormon with their weapons of war. 12Then they buried those pages, and that day they each made a commitment to change. They repented. They determined to arise!

Do you have something in your life that you need to change? You can do this. You can repent because of the Savior’s infinite atoning sacrifice. He made it possible for you and me to change, to become pure and clean again, and to become like Him. And He has promised that when we do, He will remember our sins and mistakes no more. 13

Several weeks ago I stood in the celestial room of the Reno Nevada Temple. The light streaming into that room was brilliant and was made even more so by the crystal chandelier, which reflected the light on its many carved facets into rainbows of illumination everywhere. It took my breath away as I realized that the Savior is “the light and the life of the world,” 16 that it is His light we must hold up and reflect. We are the tiny crystals that reflect His light, and in order to do that, we must be clean and free from the dust of the world."  ELAINE S. DALTON YOUNG WOMEN GENERAL PRESIDENT

{P?} Does anything come to mind when Sister Dalton was talking about repentance, change and giving up things that hold us back?  When she used the word dust I thought of something that gradually accumulates over time.  Little by little.  If we think about this in terms of repentance the “dust” can be little and seemingly harmless choices that add up and weigh you down.

{P} 50 lb back pack—Need a volunteer to come carry this.  What do you think?  How does it feel?  Can you run across the room?

I want to tell you about some choices that added up and that I carried around for a long time.

Turning to food instead of turning to the Lord, disregarded when full, kept eating, wasn’t exercising.  Little by little I gained more and more.  Years of overeating and neglect led to being obese.

**This isn’t a lesson about weight loss, being physically fit or even health.   It’s about the choices we make each day and the way that they add up.   It’s a lesson about the opportunity that Christ gives each of us to change.  It’s about God taking us where we’re at and helping us make changes even when they seem impossible to make. **

I want to share a few things that I recently posted on my blog.  As I read it I want you to think of how it applies to our spiritual fitness and health.

"Over the last few months I have often thought of the weight I have lost and can't believe the burden I was carrying around. {at this point} it's almost 50 lbs. Just think of hauling a 50 lb. back pack around. Imagine even carrying around a 25 lb pack. That's a ton of weight and it takes its toll

As I've gone along I have really become a firm believer that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." (Alma 37:6) I realized that my often black and white thinking was wrong. I could no longer see my health in two extremes: overweight or ideal. I had to realize that there was a spectrum of progress and that each step in the right direction was a victory....AND that each step in that direction would ultimately lead me to my goal. It's also been a beautiful testimony to me of repentance. That even though we may mean no harm by the choices we make, that ultimately we are accountable for them. And that it does mean turning from those choices and one step at a time walking away from them. It takes time, BUT it is possible and it is liberating!.celebrate all the victories! One pound is not insignificant (pick up a pound of butter and realize that there is that much less of you to have to carry around ;0)), especially when it's half of the allotted weight your supposed to safely lose a week! It's great...it's exciting! By small and simple things do great things come to pass. By small yet significant choices we turn from our old ways and find better ways of doing things."

Let’s open our scriptures to a well-known analogy.  As we read this I want you to be thinking of this idea that by small and simple things (choices, steps) do great things come to pass.  And remember that progress is NOT black or white…progress is a process.

{P} Read Tree of Life (1 nephi 8)

5 And it came to pass that I saw a ^aman, and he was dressed in a white ^brobe; and he came and stood before me.

 6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.

 7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.

 8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have^amercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

 9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious ^afield.

 10 And it came to pass that I beheld a ^atree, whose ^bfruit was desirable to make one ^chappy.

 11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the ^afruitthereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the ^bwhiteness that I had ever seen.

 12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great ^ajoy; wherefore, I began to be ^bdesirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was ^cdesirableabove all other fruit.

I don’t know about you but I’ve read about Lehi’s dream dozens of times.  Once time I read it while on my mission and something stood out to me. 

1     {P} Notice that Lehi is first in darkness…and traveled in darkness for many hours.  What does he do next?  (see verse 8)  He prays.  What happens next? (see verses 9 and 10)  He sees a large field and sees a tree. What really stood out to me is that Lehi wasn’t instantly at the tree.  Even after praying he sees it off in the distance.  So it is with our spiritual journeys.  We may feel at times surrounded with darkness, weighed down by poor decisions, neglect, laziness, procrastination, bad habits, negative thoughts…but with the Lord’s help and mercy He can lead us away from those things AND bring us into the light and help us feel of His love.

        With that passage of scripture still in mind I want to read to you a journal entry I wrote last August.  It was key paradigm shift I had that help me to feel capable of changing...

"         I realized that one of my stumbling blocks for losing weight has been seeing things as black and white.  I'm either...

overweight (black) OR ideal weight (white).

         Anything in between is not good enough.  It's definitely a debilitating mentality because it doesn't allow you room to change.  Anyway something inside of me switched and helped me see weight loss differently.  Losing 1 lb. is a success, as is 2...5...10...50...60!  They are all valuable and worth celebrating.  I can transfer that mentality to repentance, parenthood, etc.  I don't need to say, either I'm...

monster mom (black) OR perfect mom (white)

I         I can see where I'm at and move forward from there.  What is a more realistic step forward?"

{P?} I want each of us to ask our self this question, “which area in my life could I use some progress and growth?  What is the NEXT step in the right direction?”

*Don’t forget to pray, pray from the heart.  (Alma 37:36-37)  The Lord takes us from where we’re at.  We may feel completely helpless, that’s OK, tell Him, talk to Him…He can help!

·        

·         Heber J. Grant overcame many of his weaknesses and turned them into talents. He had as his motto these words: “That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased”

      We CAN turn from our old ways of doing things and change one step, one choice at a time.  Change is possible through Christ.  All things are possible through Christ!  Philipians 4:13 I can do all things through ^aChrist which ^bstrengtheneth me.

·

Hearts will Turn.

(Brie, Me, Mom, Grandma Robertson, Great Great Grandma Whiting)

Last Thursday for Young Women's we did a "Treasures in Heaven" activity.  Each of us was asked to find out about an ancestor (that we didn't know anything about), and to bring some sort of "treasure" to share with the group.  I called my Grandma and she told me about her Grandmother, Abby Ann Bird Whiting.  It was so neat to hear the excitement and love in her voice while she spoke of her dear grandmother.  Especially since that's the way I feel about her, MY dear Grandma.  And it's meaningful to hear of strengths and traits that she recognized in her Grandma that she internalized and passed to MY mom...some of which I am striving to pass on to my daughter.  There is such power in a positive influence!

At one point during our conversation she said, "You would have liked her and she would have liked you."  So neat that someday I will get to meet Abby Ann when I'm reunited with all of my ancestors!  In any case, the evening was a special one.  Stories were told, biscuits and popcorn were eaten, pictures, paintings, plants and drawings were showcased...but especially the sweet spirit of Elijah was felt as our hearts were turned to our distant families.  There were a few men that were honored that evening, but mostly women, and it struck me what perfect timing to be honoring these forbears...right before Mother's Day.

Speaking of womanhood in its purest form, I love what former Young Women General President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Margaret D. Nadauld so wisely stated ( "TheJoy of Womanhood"):

"The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity."

What remarkable women we each have to look to, whether it be great grandmothers, grandmas, mothers, sisters, aunts, friends... God has blessed each of us with strong, faithful, courageous, loving, women who we can look to.  I know that I am SO grateful for the women that God has placed in my life and continues to place in my life.  They each add to who I am and assist me in my personal strivings and efforts to be a disciple of Christ.  Thanks to each of you women in my life.  Happy Mother's Day!  (Especially you dear, Mom :0))

Pinwheels and Projects.

A few weeks ago (13 October 2011) our ward did a celebration of personal progress, Young Women in Excellence. It was really touching to hear each girl share their testimonies and talk about the different projects they've been working on. The Personal Progress program is definitely an inspired one.

(The theme was "Color Me Beautiful"-- Choosing to be beautiful in the Lord's eyes and finding strength and courage (much like David who stood up against AND defeated Goliath) to stand up for what we know to be good and right, even if the World thinks otherwise.)

What great Young Women we have!
It's fun getting to know them better.

(One of the Young Women thought us leaders should pose as different Disney princesses. Can you tell which ones we are? Actually, I have no clue who I"m representing...just knew that I was supposed to be holding a "sword" ;0))

*Pinwheels = accordian circles & yoyos :0)

While on the subject of my calling in the Young Women's organization, I have to mention a training we had a few weeks ago (15 October 2011). Elaine Dalton came to train the YW leaders of 8 stakes in the area. I felt so blessed to have been able to be there (thanks to wonderful Bry who stayed home with the kids ALL day long!). Sister Dalton was so inspiring! She was personable, down-to-earth, in tune with the current needs of these girls...and such a masterful speaker and teacher. I came home that night saying that she was my new hero. It's true. I'd love to grow up and be like her :0) A few things I took away from the training were to try to be like Jesus, help each girl feel the spirit and feel loved, and remember that repentance/change is possible!

Choosing to Cherish Each other.

As a Young Women's Presidency we wanted to have an activity that focused on unity and also on leadership training. 2 of the 4 presidency members were out of town the few weeks leading up to the activity so I decided to come up with an idea. (For those of you that know me well, once I have an idea in mind I have to run with it, and run with it I did! Now I just need to learn to not take things over the top ;0) Bry was so great to support me in my brainstorming sessions and various projects.) In any case, we did a "French cooking show"--Cooking à la Mode-- and themed everything on Chocolate Chip cookies. The main concept was tying in our individual worth to ingredients...how we are each different AND important to the group. Anyway, it was fun, especially thanks to Tiffany, Diana and Melissa who ran with the idea, gave it their own personality and spunk and made it awesome!

(Most of the Young Women
Thursday 8 September 2011)

(Thank you, Aunt Elaine, for the cute
and creative ideas that you pitched in!)

Diana, me, Tiffany, Melissa.

An Example of the Believers.

“Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Since I wrote last (venting on a particularly hard day) I read the article, "Be of Good Cheer: Choosing Happiness" (July 2011 Ensign). It was just what I needed to hear and wanted to share it in case it might be a benefit to someone else. To view the complete article online, click here.

Here are a few opening thoughts that the author shares,

"How does the Lord’s admonition of cheer sound in our world today? When economic uncertainties, terrorist threats, and corruption provide top stories for the evening news, how can the good news of the gospel intervene? When we experience personal loss in so many ways and on so many days, what is left to be cheerful about?"

"We find the key to understanding this seeming contradiction in the context of the Last Supper. Speaking to the Apostles in His final moments before Gethsemane, Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained: “The unimaginable agony of Gethsemane was about to descend upon Jesus; Judas’ betrayal was imminent. Then would come Jesus’ arrest and arraignment; the scattering of the Twelve like sheep; the awful scourging of the Savior; the unjust trial; the mob’s shrill cry for Barabbas instead of Jesus; and then the awful crucifixion on Calvary. What was there to be cheerful about? Just what Jesus said: He had overcome the world! The atonement was about to be a reality. The resurrection of all mankind was assured. Death was to be done away with—Satan had failed to stop the atonement.”¹

Christ’s enabling power helps us feel happiness and cheer amid mortal gloom and doom. Misfortune and hardship lose their tragedy when viewed through the lens of the Atonement. The process could be explained this way: The more we know the Savior, the longer our view becomes. The more we see His truths, the more we feel His joy."

What an example of faith and hope the Savior gave us. He truly did overcome the World, and because of that I can overcome anything that comes my way...I can overcome any challenging toddler moment or frazzling day.

While I'm on the topic, I also wanted to copy and paste the blurb I wrote about teaching children faith...

What qualities do YOU think a woman needs in order to teach children to have FAITH and to base their decisions on Gospel Truths?

She needs to show that she has faith in the way that she conducts her life from moment to moment. If something breaks, doesn’t work, turns out differently than expected…she needn’t despair because she knows that everything will work out one way or another. She also shows her faith as she finds the good in all things and in all people. She can hold up her head with confidence having faith in her divine worth and potential AND chooses to treat others graciously and with compassion, knowing that they too are worthy of her faith. Her faith is shown as she diligently chooses God through prayer and daily devotion, paying her tithing, attending church, helping those in need…even when it’s not convenient. And I imagine, her children will especially learn to have faith as she has faith in them and treads lightly and with love. Wow, as I write this I realize that I’ve got some good road ahead of me in this department ;0)

As for basing their decisions on gospel truth, I think our children are most likely to do things when they see the good that comes from doing them. And I imagine that for awhile that requires explicitly pointing it out for them-- doesn’t it feel nice to be bathed? Isn’t it pleasant when your room is picked up? Don’t you feel happy when you take care of your brother? Isn’t it nicer when you share with your friends? Etc. Aside from that, it’s important to make family decisions based on those truths. Let’s see, what would be an example of that? Well, first off I think the two are very connected. Often we make decisions because of our faith. For instance, we have faith that God has asked us to keep the Sabbath day holy. Even though at first (and at times) that may seem restrictive, the more we set that day apart from the rest, the more we realize His wisdom. We are uplifted and renewed for the week. We have had a chance to see the course of our lives from a higher plane. We have been reminded of the Lord’s presence in our lives.

So I guess it comes down to choosing faith in our own lives, and consistently basing our own decisions on gospel truths. When we do our children will notice the difference.

8/12/2011

I want to add a few more thoughts before I am finished with this post:

Yesterday while driving to the store I was still pondering this question. The following scripture from the Book of Mormon came to mind...

2 Nephi 25:26

"And we ^atalk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we ^bprophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our ^cchildren may know to what source they may look for a ^dremission of their sins."

Nephi said it so well. In the end, hopefully all that we do is to point our children to Christ... and to have faith in Him...Him who is SO worthy of our faith and confidence.

Last thing, I just read another great article in the July 2011 Ensign ("A Loving Mother's Life Mission", click here to see the full article online.) that embodied so many of the thoughts that I previously shared. It was so neat to read from her son's perspective the way that his mom had instilled faith within his family.

Anyway, I'd love to hear any thoughts that you may have.

Welcome to Young Womens.

I was recently called as the Young Women's Secretary in our ward. I have to admit that I was pretty nervous at first (partly because I look younger than the Laurels (16-18 yr old girls)...gotta love it :0)... and don't feel that much older than most of the girls), but I know that the Lord called me to serve in this capacity and am grateful for the opportunity! Blessings will come, they always do, they already have.

In any case, I have the opportunity to do Personal Progress again and am excited for the ways it will enrich me as a person. I am currently working on the value of Faith and wanted to get input from you...


"Discover the principles of faith taught by the mothers of Helaman’s stripling warriors. Read Alma 56:45–48 and 57:21. Review what “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (see page 101) says about a mother’s role. With a mother, grandmother, or leader, discuss the qualities a woman needs in order to teach children to have faith and to base their decisions on gospel truths. How can these principles help you in your life today and help you prepare to be a faithful woman, wife, and mother? Record your thoughts and feelings in your journal."

What qualities do YOU think a woman needs in order to teach children to have FAITH and to base their decisions on Gospel Truths?