Easter Sunday Resurrection Talk

Brush your teeth.  Wash your hands.  Comb your hair.  Eat your vegetables.  Stand up straight.  All of these and more we have been taught by our parents with regard to our physical bodies. 

From the Health community, we are taught: Exercise.  Eat your vegetables. Eat a balanced diet.  Drink plenty of fluids.  Get plenty of rest. Etc.

From God, through His prophets and the scriptures we are taught:  Do not partake of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, coffee or tea.  Eat your vegetables. Eat meat sparingly.  Do not get tattoos.  Other than the optional one pair of earrings for girls, do not pierce your body.  Bridle your tongue.  And, the Law of Chastity, and the commandment to not kill, two commandments that carry the most severe of consequences if broken, have to do with how a Spirit person gains a body, and how that Spirit departs it's mortal body.

As a side-note: Kids, if all that you get out of my talk is that you need to eat your vegetables, that is still a good message. 

So, obviously, our bodies, how we care for them, and what we do with them are important.  But why?  In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, we are taught that "In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life."

Those Spirit sons and daughters were us.  We lived with our perfect, immortal, righteous, joyous Father in Heaven.  He is the Father of our Spirits, and we wanted to become like him.  Our Father in Heaven's entire work and glory is to bring to pass our IMMORTALITY and ETERNAL LIFE.  Immortality requires that we have a perfect physical body permanently and inseparably connected with our spirit body.  Eternal life requires that we keep the commandments and the covenants that we have made to perfection that we too may be perfect, righteous, and joyous like our Father in Heaven.

Heavenly Father knew that the way for us to gain immortality and eternal life was to come to earth, gain a physical body, and learn through our experience to make righteous choices.  He loved us, and he knew that this life would present two major obstacles in our ability to return to Him: first is sin, the second is physical death.  So, His plan required a Savior to atone for the sins of man and to break the bonds of death.  Our Father said, "Whom shall I send?" (Abraham 3:27). Jesus Christ, who was called Jehovah, said, "Here am I, send me" (Abraham 3:27), giving all glory and honor to the Father.

Satan also volunteered, but not to follow the Father's plan.  Instead, he proposed a plan in which we would not be allowed to learn through our choices; we would be forced to do what is right; and in his plan, all glory and honor would be his. 

Our loving, wise, perfect Father chose Jesus Christ, knowing that His love for his Spirit brothers and sisters, His unwavering obedience, and His strength of character would see Him through the difficult task.  Satan was not pleased, and a battle, in the War for the Souls of Men, commenced

Of this time, President Hinckley taught, "What a perilous time that must have been. The Almighty Himself was pitted against the son of the morning. We were there while that was going on. That must have been a desperately difficult struggle, with a grand, triumphal victory.

"...Why were we then happy? I think it was because good had triumphed over evil and the whole human family was on the Lord’s side. We turned our backs on the adversary and aligned ourselves with the forces of God, and those forces were victorious."  Close quote.

One third of the hosts of Heaven had chosen to follow Satan, and, being defeated, were cast out.  In losing the battle, Satan and his followers permanently lost the opportunities presented in our Father's plan.  Namely, they would NEVER receive a physical body, and they could NEVER live with God again. 

For those of you thinking, "At least THEY don't have to eat their vegetables."  Listen to what the Prophet Joseph Smith taught: "We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God in the celestial kingdom. The great principle of happiness consists in having a body. The devil has no body, and herein is his punishment. He is pleased when he can obtain the tabernacle of man, and when cast out by the Savior he asked to go into the herd of swine, showing that he would prefer a swine's body to having none. All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not. The devil has no power over us only as we permit him; the moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power' " Close quote. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 211, 214)."(David A. Bednar, "Things as They Really Are (Church Educational System fireside for young adults, May 3, 2009)

(We might also note that the swine, themselves, preferred death to being inhabited by evil spirits.)

In General Conference last Sunday morning, Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke of our amazing bodies.  He said, " Each organ of your body is a wondrous gift from God. Each eye has an autofocusing lens. Nerves and muscles control two eyes to make a single three-dimensional image. The eyes are connected to the brain, which records the sights seen.

"Your heart is an incredible pump.¹⁷ It has four delicate valves that control the direction of blood flow. These valves open and close more than 100,000 times a day—36 million times a year. Yet, unless altered by disease, they are able to withstand such stress almost indefinitely.

"Think of the body’s defense system. To protect it from harm, it perceives pain. In response to infection, it generates antibodies. The skin provides protection. It warns against injury that excessive heat or cold might cause.

"The body renews its own outdated cells and regulates the levels of its own vital ingredients. The body heals its cuts, bruises, and broken bones. Its capacity for reproduction is another sacred gift from God.

"Be we reminded that a perfect body is not required to achieve one’s divine destiny. In fact, some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail or imperfect bodies. Great spiritual strength is often developed by people with physical challenges, precisely because they are so challenged."

He goes on to explain, " If the body’s capacity for normal function, defense, repair, regulation, and regeneration were to prevail without limit, life here would continue in perpetuity. Yes, we would be stranded here on earth! Mercifully for us, our Creator provided for aging and other processes that would ultimately result in our physical death. Death, like birth, is part of life. Scripture teaches that “it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.”²⁰ To return to God through the gateway we call death is a joy for those who love Him and are prepared to meet Him.²¹ Eventually the time will come when each “spirit and … body shall be reunited again in … perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame,”²² never to be separated again. For these physical gifts, thanks be to God!"

For those of us left behind, death does not generally bring a feeling of joy.  " When President Hinckley spoke at [Elder Joseph B.] Wirthlin’s [wife's] funeral, he said that it is a devastating, consuming thing to lose someone you love. It gnaws at your soul."

Elder Wirthlin agreed, saying, " He was right. As Elisa was my greatest joy, now her passing is my greatest sorrow."

He goes on to teach, " During my life I have heard many sermons on the Resurrection. Like you, I can recite the events of that first Easter Sunday. ...We know what the Resurrection is—the reuniting of the spirit and body in its perfect form.¹

"...Can you imagine that? Life at our prime? Never sick, never in pain, never burdened by the ills that so often beset us in mortality?

"The Resurrection is at the core of our beliefs as Christians. Without it, our faith is meaningless.  ... when the Savior rose from the tomb, He did something no one had ever done. He did something no one else could do. He broke the bonds of death, not only for Himself but for all who have ever lived—the just and the unjust.⁶

"When Christ rose from the grave, becoming the firstfruits of the Resurrection, He made that gift available to all. And with that sublime act, He softened the devastating, consuming sorrow that gnaws at the souls of those who have lost precious loved ones."

This life can be very hard.  Our bodies, though wonderful and amazing and necessary to our Eternal progression can also cause us a lot of trouble at times.  Sickness, injury and age can bring pain and sorrow to anyone. 

However, Christ, our Savior, our Warrior, our Deliverer in the premortal realm, came to earth as a tiny baby. Born to a mortal mother, and an immortal Father -- our Father in Heaven, himself, being the Father of Christ's mortal body, Christ again became our Deliverer, this time from Death and Sin.

President Marion G. Romney taught, ""... His death on the cross, after having been rejected and betrayed and after having suffered appalling indignities, seems not to be in dispute, even among nonbelievers. That he gave his life voluntarily, with the express purpose of taking it up again in the Resurrection, is not so universally accepted. Such, however, is the fact. He was, it is true, maliciously slain by wicked men, but all the while he held the power to stay them. “I lay down my life,” he said, “that I might take it again.

“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:17–18.)

"This power was inherently his by virtue of his being born of the virgin Mary (a mortal), and being the Son of God (an immortal, celestialized being)".  Close quote. (Marion G. Romney, April 1982)

I close now with a portion of Elder Wirthlin's October 2006 General Conference talk. He said, "I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross.

"On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. Frightful storms lashed at the earth.

"Those evil men who sought His life rejoiced. Now that Jesus was no more, surely those who followed Him would disperse. On that day they stood triumphant.

"On that day the veil of the temple was rent in twain.

"Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were both overcome with grief and despair. The superb man they had loved and honored hung lifeless upon the cross.

"On that Friday the Apostles were devastated. Jesus, their Savior—the man who had walked on water and raised the dead—was Himself at the mercy of wicked men. They watched helplessly as He was overcome by His enemies.

"On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled.

"It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.

"I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest.

"But the doom of that day did not endure.

"The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.

"And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.

"Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

"But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

"No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come.

"I testify to you that the Resurrection is not a fable. We have the personal testimonies of those who saw Him. Thousands in the Old and New Worlds witnessed the risen Savior. They felt the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. They shed tears of unrestrained joy as they embraced Him."  Close Quote

I bear my testimony to you that I know that my Redeemer lives, and that because He lives, each of us, too, will be resurrected.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Happy Viewing!!

Happy General Conference Weekend everybody!!  I hope you each enjoy it as much as I do.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out LDS.org, and you too can enjoy conference. 

WIBS

There I was sobbing in our closed bedroom closet.  It had been yet another unofficial Mother's Day in our married student ward -- a ward which one visitor quipped "should be renamed the Maternity Ward."  It was true, at any given time, it seemed that at least one third of the ward was pregnant, while at least another third had newborn babies.  It was a very difficult ward to be in during our child-less "unexplained infertility" years.  The real Mother's Day was hard enough, but at least I knew when it was coming, and could, to some degree, mentally prepare for it.  It was these unofficial Mother's Days, where all the testimonies centered around the blessings and joy of motherhood, and where the Relief Society lesson was centered on the same, that left me in the emotionally crumpled heap I found myself in inside my closet.
I didn't want to come out.  Ever.  I was so tired of this rollercoaster.  I was so tired of hurting; of wanting; of wondering what I had done to render me so completely unworthy.  Emotionally, I felt completely beaten to a bloody pulp.
At some point during my heart-wrenching sobs, James knocked on the closet door, and gently reminded me that my Visiting Teachers would be at our home in just a few minutes.  My first instinct was to have him send them away, but I knew that would draw more attention to me and my "issues" than I could handle; so, I pulled myself together, emerged from the closet, fixed my make-up and greeted my Visiting Teachers when they arrived. 
They were newly assigned to me, and we did not know each other well.  During the lesson, one of them shared with me a personal experience she had just had: she and her husband had just realized that she was pregnant!  They were devastated.  How could this happen?  The timing was SO bad!  They were trying to get through school, etc., etc.  And then, they found out that it was a false alarm.  They were SO relieved.
In short, it was The.Completely.Wrong.Message to share with me on that particular day.  Strangely enough, however, instead of feeling further crushed, I felt love.  I felt that these ladies went out of their way to come and visit me, and although the words were all wrong, I had a definite sense that I was being watched over, and that if they had had ANY idea what I had been feeling, not ten minutes before they arrived, they would have shared something very different with me.  But it didn't matter.  God made it all good.  I don't understand how He can make that happen, but I know He can, because I know He did.
This actually gives me hope and courage.  You see, there are a lot of trials that I have never experienced in this life (not complaining or asking for more, mind you) and I often feel that I have no idea what to say to friends, loved ones, or acquaintances who may be facing these trials.  But, maybe if I just open my mouth, and am sincere, God will make my WIBS (well-intentioned-but-stupid) remarks into something good-- in spite of my weaknesses and faults.  At least, I hope He will.

Pondering the Vision of the Tree of Life

I have had the opportunity to hear/participate in the Tree of Life lesson in Sunday School for two weeks in a row--my awesome Mother-in-Law taught it in her ward last week where we were visiting, and my awesome husband taught it in our ward this week (where I was not visiting).  Between my Mother-in-Law's lesson last week, my own preparations to teach about the Holy Ghost in YW this week, and James' lesson, I have had some thoughts/insights that were new to me.

When Lehi begins the account of his vision of the Tree of Life, he says, "And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.  And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.  And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste."  (1 Nephi 8:5-7)

I've always found that strange.  I mean, I assume he is following a Heavenly messenger--a being of light and hope, perhaps the Holy Ghost, himself--and yet he finds himself in a dark and dreary waste.  What the?

He continues his account with "And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.  And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.  And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy." (1 Nephi 8:8-10)

So, it struck me today, that a Prophet of God, who has been following a Heavenly messenger, finds himself in a dark and dreary waste, and it isn't until he PRAYS that he is able to see where he is and where he needs to go.  And, significantly, where he needs to go is to the Tree of Life, which, of course, is a representation of the Love of God, or in other words Christ. 

He then goes directly to the Tree and partakes of the fruit (eternal life).  He tastes it and it is wonderful, and he wants his family to have the same wonderful fruit and so he "casts his eyes round about" at which point his eyes are opened to the rest of the vision: his family, the rod, the straight and narrow path, the numberless concourses of people, the river, the large and spacious building, the mists of darkness, etc. 

Therefore, the guidance of the Holy Ghost combined with prayer lead us to Christ.  Once we have come unto Christ, felt of the love of God, and tasted of eternity (through making and keeping covenants) our vision and our understanding are expanded. Then we, like Lehi, may see our family, and those over whom we have stewardship, more clearly; we may see the course that leads to Christ and eternal life; and we may see the challenges and obstacles and temptations that they and we face.

So, what of those who make it to the Tree, eat of the fruit, and then become ashamed and fall away?  "I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.  And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed."  (1 Nephi 8:24-25)  I think the key lies in their own strength (or lack thereof).  Yes, they pressed forward through the mist of darkness, but they were clinging to the rod, which we know represents the word of God.  To me, the word "clinging" sounds more fear-filled than faith-filled.  My thought is that they relied entirely on the rod, neglecting to internalize the word of God, so that, even when they had arrived at the Tree they had yet to "come unto Christ". 
For when we truly come unto Christ, we are filled with his love, or in other words with charity.  And, when we are filled with charity, we see people as God sees them.  Charity helps us to understand what people are communicating, without getting stuck on what they are saying or doing.  Therefore, through charity-filled eyes, the people in the large and spacious building who are mocking don't make us feel ashamed, rather, we see clearly that they have no foundation; we see that although there are multitudes, they are still alone.
Those who did not fall away were described as "continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree."  (1 Nephi 8:30)  Perhaps the real difference is that they not only kept the word of God firmly in their hand, but also firmly in their hearts.  They had a strength within themselves that comes from testimony firmly rooted within.  Therefore, knowing who they are and knowing the true source of their strength and hope and peace, they were able to "heed not" those who scorned them.
So, the "cling"-ers, to me at least, sort of parallel Lehi before he prayed.  One might think that Lehi following a Heavenly messenger would be just fine, but until he exercised his faith to pray, he had not truly come unto Christ.  The "cling"-ers arrived at the Tree without that same exercise of faith, and were, therefore, still blind to a degree, and were not strengthened within themselves.

One last thought I had was this: "Laman and Lemuel" who "partook not of the fruit" probably can't even see the Tree!!(Nephi 8:35) If Lehi, who was following the Spirit couldn't see it until he prayed, then it stands to reason that his son's who refuse to inquire of the Lord (or to pray in any way that would invite personal revelation), who claim, "the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us" (Nephi 15:9) would not have that sight or vision made manifest unto them.

Bedrooms, Birthdays, and Baptism

Brianna loooves books. Here she is "reading" on her new bedspread, with her newly decorated wall (stickers).
Wall stickers can be used for walls, dressers, toy baby doll cribs, etc.

And the rug was just the right finishing touch, don't ya think?

A looong time ago, when Ben's 8th birthday seemed REALLY far away, I told him he could choose how to decorate his room when he turned 8. Well, 8 rolled around and what did he decide? Camouflage, of course! Why didn't I see that coming?

Well, a promise is a promise. So we set to work, and in the end, I think it turned out REALLY well!

The loft above his bed used to be another bed. Now it is a "command post".

My mom's good friend came and painted AN INCREDIBLE MURAL on Ben's wall. It is fantastic! More than we could have imagined, and it totally feeds the imagination of my VERY imaginitive boy!

She told him that the eagle is to remind him to work toward his Eagle in scouts.

And, here is the amazing artist herself! Thank you Miss Judy!! Can you believe she did it all in one day?? Pretty dang amazing! And she's a terrific person to boot!

In April, Ben turned 8, and the first Saturday in May he was baptized by his father. It was so special. Ben was truly prepared. He understands the covenants he has made, and I honestly have seen a positive difference in him since he was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. I know that it's true. I know that Jesus truly is our Savior and Redeemer, and that He will save us if we will let Him.

I also know that a testimony is something that has to be fed, just like our physical bodies. If we neglect it, it can grow weak and even eventually die.

I am so proud of Ben and the decision he has made. I hope he learns to feed his Spirit and testimony every day.

I am having trouble adding Brianna's birthday pictures, so I will do a separate post for her, but she did just turn 4 years old! What an amazing little spirit she is!

Possible First-Person Reflections of Mary and Joseph

James and I were asked to speak in Church today. James was to speak in the first person as Joseph, and I was to speak in the first person as Mary. Here are our talks:

Mary

"My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name" Luke 1:46-49

There are times in each life when we are blessed to see with more clarity. When the questions, the fears, and the concerns, are quieted by a sure and peaceful knowledge that all is right, and that all things are in God's hands, and will turn out according to His perfect knowledge and mercy, love and justice. When the angel appeared to me and announced that I, Mary, would be the mother of the Messiah, His Only Begotten Son in the Flesh, I was blessed with this clarity, with total peace and a quiet assurance. This peace and assurance has remained with me through all that has since transpired.

When I returned from my wonderful visit to my cousin Elisabeth's home, I knew not whether my beloved Joseph would still have me to be his wife. I saw the hurt and confusion in his eyes, and knew that I had to leave this in God's hands as well. I remembered what our father David had said, "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour;..." 2 Samuel 22:2-3

As in all things, when I have trusted in the Lord, things have turned out better than I could have hoped. Oh, the joy I felt to see the hurt and confusion in Joseph's face replaced by understanding and love and a confident determination. Joseph has been my Earthly angel ever since. He is such a kind and good man. He has been so good to me, and has such great faith. He leads our family with a perfect blend of strength and gentleness, faith and practicality.

And now, on this night of all nights, Joseph has seen to it that I was afforded as much privacy as this over-flowing city could provide. He has made sure that things are as clean and comfortable as our present circumstances will permit. And when he placed in my arms, my Son, the Son of God, our Savior, I was overcome with such joy and peace as I have never before known. I know that our Deliverer has arrived and that He will, indeed, redeem Israel.

Oh, my sweet baby! Do you remember? Do you know who you are? The whole world, for all generations of time, have looked forward to your time on the earth; and now here you are! As precious, as perfect, as wonderful as every hope held in the heart, as every prayer ever uttered! Thank you for letting me be your mother! You are worth every ounce of discomfort and every drop of blood I spilt in bringing you into this world. You are worth each questioning look and whispered word I endured. You are worth this straw poking in my back, and the miles between my family and here. You are my child, and yet, you are the Father's gift to the world. You are THE Bright and Morning Star! How blessed am I to be able to raise you; to be able to kiss you goodnight, and sing you lullabies; to help teach you to walk and to talk and to learn of your Father in Heaven. For, though I must share you with the world, there will be sweet, quiet moments that you and I will share. I will treasure these moments in my heart forever.

My sweet Son, I do not know why it is that you were to be born in a stable, with a manger for your bed. But I do know that I have felt a peace so sure, so enveloping, so tangible, that I am certain that things are unfolding as they should. I do not claim to understand all things, but I know that Heavenly Father lives, and that He is mindful of us -- especially You, his Only Begotten Son in the flesh. I know that He will guide us, and that He will keep you safe until you have fulfilled your mission here on the Earth. He has blessed You with two earthly parents who love you and who will take care of you to the best of their ability. He will protect us and provide for us.

I cannot wait to show you all the beautiful creations you have placed on Earth. Will you remember? Will I be teaching you, or will you be teaching me? Oh, what a unique privilege I have among all women in all the ages of time!

Dear Father in Heaven, please help me that I may be guided as I teach and care for our Son. Help me to understand my role, for though I am His mother, yet He is my King and my Savior. Please magnify my efforts, so that although I am human and prone to weakness and error, I may yet provide the nurture and guidance that He will need as He prepares to fulfill his mission here on the Earth. I thank Thee for the peace and blessings Thou has provided for us. Thank Thee for sending thy Son to the Earth at this time and in this way. In His name I pray, Amen.

***********
Joseph

When Mary came back from visiting her cousin Elisabeth, I was so excited to see her. She was after all espoused to me. How I missed her those months. She was always such beautiful young woman, and when she returned, I saw immediately that something had changed. Her form was just a bit different and I could tell she was now expecting a child. But how? Mary? . . . such a pure and always virtuous young woman. That is what I had always loved about her. And as I sought her to be my wife, I had prayed and felt confident that she was to be a lovely and righteous mother to my children. Somehow, I even felt that we might have a child that could change the world. But what of all that now? Had I been mistaken? I still loved her, but what was I to do? The betrothal agreement offers only 2 ways out according to our law. We could go to the elders and have a court, but oh how terribly damaging that would be to her… I didn’t want to hurt her. There was another way, we could have the espousal annulled with privacy, as the law allows. I was so troubled, then, it happened! After much prayer and anxiety I laid down to sleep, and suddenly I awoke with a start! I had had some amazing dreams before, felt definite answers to prayers, and undeniable spiritual impressions as I felt the Lord’s guidance, but this was beyond anything I had experienced! There stood a brilliant, shining being. I trembled with fear, but the angel before me said, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Oh the wonder and surprise I now felt! So Mary had been true after all! I suddenly realized what the angel had meant. Of course I was familiar with the words of the prophet Isaiah:

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.

All good Jews knew these prophecies. Especially during these difficult times when we suffered under the iron fist of Roman rule. Everywhere were to be found those who claimed to be a messiah, but now, to my Mary would be born THE Messiah. And I was to be his father… no, but a guide, a foster father. I was so amazed, the angel from Heaven knew my name, and as he said, “thou son of David,” I remembered what my father and grandfather had told me as a child. We were descendants of the great king David. In fact, had we not had so much turmoil, and the kingdom collapsed as we were conquered by foreign invaders, my grandfather would have been king, then my father, then I, and my first-born son as well. Yes, he too would have sat on the throne of David. And, the angel said that this child would indeed be this rightful king.

Of course, as quickly as we could, we got married. I then worked and applied all I knew to provide for this majestic child. I used every bit of spare wood I had to build a beautiful cradle. We prepared our home to welcome him into the world. We had very little, but we wanted to make a comfortable, warm, and clean place for him to live. I had but very little money, and if I could have afforded it, would have used the very best, most expensive woods imported from faraway lands for him. But even with what I had, I was able to create something beautiful, possibly my best work. Then, at the worst imaginable moment, just as Mary was nearly ready to deliver, the Tyrant from Rome decreed a law that would rob us of what little we had. Worse yet, we couldn’t just pay our taxes in our home city of Nazareth; we had to travel to my ancestral home, the City of David, Bethlehem. The whole country it seemed was on the move. Would no one be left in their homes? What a difficult journey it was. Mary, who by this time was uncomfortable even resting in our bed or in the best chair of the house, had to walk or ride my donkey more than 80 miles. If she had not been so uncomfortable, we might have made the trip in four days, but the going was slow, and it took nearly a week. We stopped along the way to sleep, and looked forward to finding an inn once we got to Bethlehem. But by the time we got there, hungry, uncomfortable, and tired, we went from inn to inn, but found no lodging. Maybe if I had been a noble, or had power, influence, or more money, we could have found someplace, but rooms were at a premium and there was no room for us in the inns. As we were searching, Mary’s discomfort increased. She was having contractions and I was getting desperate. Finally, an innkeeper took pity on us and allowed us to go behind the inn where the animals were kept in the stable. The smell was ripe. I borrowed a broom and was able to move away the filthy manure, but there was no keeping the flies away. Still, I marveled at her silent courage throughout the trip. Even now, she did not complain. I wondered, “Could there be a more unhealthy, a more disease-ridden, a more despicable circumstance in which a child could be born? Is this a place fit for a king? Should the mother of the Son of God be asked to enter the valley of the shadow of death in such a foul and unfamiliar place as this? Is it wrong to wish her some comfort? Is it right He should be born here?” I fought back tears as I tried to find clean straw and keep the animals back. How I longed to be back in Nazareth, where at least it would have been clean, and Mary would have had family, perhaps her sister, or mother, or even a close friend to help. But alas, only I was available, completely inexperienced as I was, to bring this holy child into the world. She wrapped him in strips of cloth she had brought, and I cleared the feeding trough the animals were eating from, and we lay him in this manger.

Despite the smell and the filth, I was completely overcome by the presence of this newborn son. I had always imagined that the birth of a child would bring great joy, but who could conceive of the magnitude of the spirit that filled my breast!?! It was as if Heaven itself had burst open and rejoiced at the sight of this lovely infant. Later that night, as a group of shepherds from the nearby hills came to worship him, they told of angels, singing in the heavens. I knew that this was indeed God’s son.

During the following years, back at our home in Nazareth, I was so blessed to work for countless hours with the boy Jesus in our shop, creating furniture from wood. We spoke and discussed the scriptures often. He had come, as all children do, with no knowledge, innocent and in need of nourishment and teaching. And so, in those days, I taught him the prophecies recorded by the prophets. We discussed the law and its meaning. And yet, it seemed so often, that he was teaching me. I would explain a passage of scripture, and he would clarify and show me other meanings I had not yet conceived! How quickly he learned, and progressed from grace to grace. I often lay awake at night wondering, “why me?” not in any self-pitying way, but in wonder and humility. Wouldn’t some great prophet have made a better tutor and guide to God’s son? Why was I chosen, a humble and poor carpenter, yes, with quite a genealogy, but that dated back 28 generations, centuries removed from me? Certainly I had studied in the synagogue when I could, but I was no prophet, rabbi, or scriptorian. I did feel guided by God’s light, but could I possibly be the kind of father God would want for his son? How I doubted, so often, my own abilities or worthiness. And, to my amazement, it seemed when I struggled the most, Jesus found ways to let me know I was doing just fine. No father could have been more blessed by a good and loving son.

I guess we don’t all need to be prophets. I suppose it’s always been the case that plain, unpretentious people have moved this majestic work forward. It seems that I served anonymously. In fact, later in His life, after Jesus had declared to the people openly his true divinity and messiahship, it was because of me, that many here in Nazareth were unable to believe. They thought he was my son, as I had tried to be his father. I always tried to live worthy of this boy and Lord.

If you are also serving anonymously, wondering if your service matters, or if you will be remembered, you are not alone, so too did one of the greatest men who ever lived, a man chosen to serve as earthly father and guide to Jesus through his boyhood and youth. And if Jesus were to speak to you personally, I am sure that he would speak to you as he so often did to Joseph and reassure you of his love and gratitude.

References:
Jeffrey R. Holland, “‘This Do in Remembrance of Me’,” Ensign, Nov 1995
Jeffrey R. Holland, “‘Maybe Christmas Doesn’t Come from a Store’,” Ensign, Dec 1977
Robert J. Matthews, “Mary and Joseph,” Ensign, Dec 1974
Jesus the Christ, p. 87
Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

I have been asked to speak next week in the Christmas program in Sacrament meeting. The request was unusual in that I've been asked to speak in the first-person, as Mary.

Now, I have my own concerns with this approach, which I am not interested in discussing here. I do believe in doing my best to fulfill the assignments that I've been given. I must say that it has been a very interesting experience to ponder on Mary's role, and what she might have been thinking and feeling.

I wonder, how fully did she understand the Plan of Salvation? How fully did she understand what would be required of her Son? I know that all the prophet since Adam have prophesied about Jesus Christ, but how well was Mary taught in those prophecies? How much access did she have to those sacred records? Obviously she loved God the Father and Jesus Christ, and had incredible faith to do whatever was asked of her.

Were the people of Nazareth unkind to her and Joseph as it became obvious that she was "with child" from before the time that they were married?

I am interested to know if any of you have thoughts on Mary, her role, and what she may have been thinking and feeling. I would love to hear any of them.

Late Night with Leslie

Last night in bed, James and I had a conversation that went something like this:

Me, while reading my scriptures: Can I share an insight I received recently?

James: Uh-hmmmm.

Me: O.k., well, the phrase, "chastisement of our peace" never really made any sense to me, but I always lumped it in with the rest of the verse that I felt I understood at least at some level; "he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." So, I looked up "chastisement", and an archaic definition is "refinement, purification". Suddenly it became ...

At this point, James interrupts and says: Um, I drifted off there at the end. Something about picking things up off of the ground?

Me: No. ... Not at all.

James: Oh, sorry.

Apparently I am REALLY INTERESTING to talk to late at night. : )

So, for any of you still awake, I'd like to finish my thought.

When I pondered the phrase as "the refinement and purification of our peace was upon him", it became so beautiful to me. He worked at it and sacrificed for us until what He could give to us is PURE peace. So, whatever is standing between us and the peace we seek has already been tended to by He who turned water to wine. We can have pure peace now, through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Ben Is Growing in the Gospel

A while back, Ben was having some trouble at school. He had gotten into a bit of trouble for misbehaving. There are a lot of rowdy boys in his class, and it seems that he was just trying to fit in with them.

At about that same time, we read the story in the Book of Mormon about Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life. We talked about the different elements of his vision: the Tree, the rod of iron,the mists of darkness, the large and spacious building with the people laughing and mocking.

When we read the part about the people who had made it to the tree, but then, after partaking of the fruit, became ashamed because they were listening to the voices of those who were laughing and mocking, all of a sudden, Ben said, "that's like me." He realized that when he was misbehaving at school to try to fit in, he was like those people who were paying attention to the people in the large and spacious building. He knew that those people aren't on the path that leads to Eternal Life.

A few minutes later, he asked with some concern, "Mom, do you think I'm holding to the rod?" Ben is a good boy, who reads his scriptures, says his prayers, goes to church, tries to do what is right most of the time, and loves his Heavenly Father and Jesus. I told him that I was sure that he was, but that he might feel the mists of darkness all around him at times. I assured him that if he continued to hold to the rod and to move forward, that he would make it.

Ben has been doing great with his behavior at school since that time.

***********

Ben wanted to teach Family Home Evening this week. He chose a story from our New Testament Reader as the basis for his lesson. The story was about Jesus teaching his disciples about prayer.

After the song and prayer, Ben read the story to us. As part of the story, it talked about how Jesus taught that we should not use the same words over and over, but that we should think about what we're saying. When he was finished reading, he shared that he had forgotten about that, and had sometimes (I'll insert here, that it has been OFTEN) used the same words over and over again. He asked if we had ever had that problem. Then he reread the part in the story that taught about really thinking about what we are saying when we pray, to reiterate the importance.

After we had discussed the many points that his lesson brought out, he led us in an activity where we would demonstrate either the right way to pray (head bowed, arms folded, eyes closed) or the wrong way to pray, and the others would have to say if it was right or wrong. It was a wonderful lesson.

Neither James nor I helped him to prepare this lesson AT ALL. We were so impressed. Since giving this lesson on Monday, Ben's prayers have been much less repetitive, and it is apparent that he is thinking about what he is saying. He is a special kid, and I am privileged to be his mom.

Points to Ponder

A man traveling on a lonely country road got a flat tire. He found his spare in the trunk, but no jack. In the distance, he saw the lights of a farm house. He set off on foot toward the house to ask if he could borrow a jack.
After walking a while, he realized that the fields he was walking through probably belonged to the family in the farm house. He felt a little unsure as to how they might feel about a stranger cutting through their fields. But, with no other option before him, and the sunlight long behind him, he continued on.
A while later, the farm house lights turned off. "Oh great," he thought, "now I'll be getting the farmer out of bed." His imagination began to take flight, and he could just see the old farmer answering the door with a shotgun, and an unfriendly dog.
"It's not like I had a lot of options," the man thought defensively. And the more the man thought about the whole situation, and the more he imagined the farmer's cold greeting, the more he got upset.
Suddenly, he found himself pounding on the front door of the farm house. When the bleary-eyed farmer answered the door, the man shouted, "I don't want your %^*+#@ - >%^*+#@$# jack anyway!!!" And he turned on his heel and stalked back to his car.

*******************

An old man sat on a park bench near the main square of the city. A couple approached him and asked, "Excuse us, but have you lived here long?"
The old man replied that he had lived in this town his whole life.
"Oh, that's great!" the couple replied, "You see, we're thinking of moving to this city, and are wondering if you could tell us what the people are like here."
"Well," replied the old man, "what are the people like in the town you're moving from?"
"Oh, they're just the most wonderful people you'll ever meet! We can hardly bear to move!"
"Oh," drawled the old man, "I think you'll find people to be about the same here."
"Oh, thank you! We just knew it!"

A short time later, another couple approached the old man, and asked the same questions, for the same reasons.
Again the old man inquired, "Well, what are the people like in the town you're moving from?"
"Oh, they're just awful! We can't wait to get out of that town and away from the lot of them!"
"Oh," drawled the old man again, "I think you'll find people to be about the same here."
"We had a feeling," they replied and went on their way.

A young fellow had overheard both of these exchanges, and couldn't help but to ask the old man, "Why is it that you gave each couple such different answers??"
The old man thought for a moment and then replied, "It's my experience that your life is really a mirror of what is inside. I actually gave them both the same answer. What is different is what is inside of each of them."

*********************

In Mormon's parting words he counsels, "Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been."

We ALL have imperfections. When we are made aware of someone else's imperfections, do we condemn them, or do we thank God for showing us so that we may learn to be more wise?

Thoughts on Luke 10: The Good Samaritan and Martha

I think it is not insignificant that the account in Luke 10 of the exchange between Martha and the Savior in regard to Mary’s not helping her prepare the meal is found immediately following the parable of the Good Samaritan.

38 ¶ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
(New Testament Luke 10:38 - 42)

**Mary was living the first and greatest commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind...." (Luke 10:27) Martha was living, in part, the second: "...and thy neighbor as thyself" as she was trying to prepare a special meal for the Savior and those who accompanied Him. And inasmuch as it was the Savior she was trying to serve, she, too, was living the first.

**Martha did not receive Jesus’ very gentle rebuke until she had complained against Mary. (Luke 10:38 - 42)

**Sometimes the "neighbors" who most need our ‘compassion’ and the ‘binding up’ of their wounds, and to be carried and cared for, are the ones found in our own households. (Luke 10:33-34) Martha needed to "shew mercy on [Mary]" (v.37). She needed to "go and do thou likewise."

**Certainly the priest and the Levite were "careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and [the Good Samaritan] hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from [him]." (Luke 10:31-32, 41-42)

**I’m sure Martha would have rather been sitting at the Savior’s feet also, but seeing her guests and knowing they would need nourishment, felt it her duty to provide. In doing so, however, she failed to trust in that God who fed the multitudes.

**How often am I anxiously engaged in good causes, or "cumbered about much serving", and am missing "that good part, which shall not be taken away from [me]?"v40,42

Agency and the Atonement RS Lesson

It was my turn to teach Relief Society again. So, here's my lesson:

My daughter, Brianna, loves to do grown-up things (i.e., brush teeth, talk on the phone, empty the dishwasher, etc.) She has a special affinity for doors. She loves to close doors. I think it’s the appeal of being such a tiny person moving such a BIG thing.
One day, Brianna kept going into the dark bathroom, and shutting herself in, then crying and crying and crying, until someone would come to her rescue. As I was rescuing her for the umpteenth time, I realized that little toddlers aren’t the only ones who try something or do something -- thinking it will be fun, or a great adventure, or even funny -- only to realize that they’ve gotten themselves into a situation that’s way over their head, and a bit scary, and that they cannot get out of it without help. We all do it at one time or another.

Could I, as a parent, out of concern for my daughter’s welfare, remove all doors from her life? Would that be practical? Would that even be helpful to her?

Doors serve many purposes. What are some of the purposes that doors can serve?

Brianna’s going to encounter many doors in her life. Some will be heavy, some will be harder to open or re-open. What could I do, as a kind and loving parent, to help her with the doors she will encounter?
Help her learn the consequences of different doors.
Give her the skills/tools she needs to open closed doors (which would include the key).
Come to her aid when she cries for help.

For our lesson’s purposes, the doors that we will encounter in our lives will represent opportunities to exercise our agency.

(2 Nephi 2:27)
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

Who has given us “all things . . . which are expedient”? Expedient means: tending to promote some proposed or desired object; fit or suitable for the purpose.

(Moses 1:39)
What is the Lord’s goal/object/purpose? For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

What expedient things have we been given? Savior, Atonement, Priesthood, Covenants, Church, Temple, Gospel, Scriptures, Prophets, Family, . . . .

What are our choices from this verse (2 Ne. 2:27)?

What is Satan’s goal? that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
Satan wants us to get trapped behind the door, so that we can be captive and miserable.

It seems so very black and white. Why on Earth would any of us choose captivity and death and misery according to the power of the devil?

It is not usually packaged that way, is it?

Let’s turn to Alma, chapter 36 to read about Alma the Younger, who, at this point, has been choosing door number 2. Whatever the packaging looked like for Alma, he was going about trying to destroy the Church of God, and intentionally leading people away from Christ. When we catch up with him, in verse 12, he has been stopped by an angel, and told, “If thou wilt be destroyed of thyself, seek no more to destroy the church of God.” (Alma 36:11)
When Alma hears this, “[he] was struck with such great fear and amazement lest perhaps [he] should be destroyed, that [he] fell to the earth. . . .” (Alma 36:11)

Alma 36:12-15
12 But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.
13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.
14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.

Satan has Alma securely captive behind a closed door, and certainly miserable.

Howard W. Hunter, “The Golden Thread of Choice,” Ensign, Nov 1989, 17
"Given the freedom to choose, we may, in fact, make wrong choices, bad choices, hurtful choices. And sometimes we do just that, but that is where the mission and mercy of Jesus Christ comes into full force and glory. He has taken upon himself the burden of all the world’s risk. He has provided a mediating atonement for the wrong choices we make. He is our advocate with the Father and has paid, in advance, for the faults and foolishness we often see in the exercise of our freedom. We must accept his gift, repent of those mistakes, and follow his commandments in order to take full advantage of this redemption. The offer is always there; the way is always open. We can always, even in our darkest hour and most disastrous errors, look to the Son of God and live."

So, how do we accept Christ’s gift?

Alma 36:17
17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

As a kind and loving parent, Alma the Elder had given his son the key to the closed door. He gave him a foundation on which his faith in Christ could grow and he provided hope to him through the Atonement of Christ.

Let’s continue our reading in Alma 36, verses 18-21

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
(Alma 36:18 - 21)

The same key that freed Alma is available to each of us: The Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is entirely up to us whether or not to accept that gift, and use that key.

2 Ne. 9:46
Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery. (2 Nephi 9:46)

Howard W. Hunter, “The Golden Thread of Choice,” Ensign, Nov 1989, 17
"To fully understand this gift of agency and its inestimable worth, it is imperative that we understand that God’s chief way of acting is by persuasion and patience and long-suffering, not by coercion and stark confrontation. He acts by gentle solicitation and by sweet enticement. He always acts with unfailing respect for the freedom and independence that we possess. He wants to help us and pleads for the chance to assist us, but he will not do so in violation of our agency. He loves us too much to do that, and doing so would run counter to his divine character."

What does our Heavenly Father, as a kind and loving parent, do for each of us to help us with the doors that we each will face?
How can we apply that as we deal with loved ones?


How is it possible that Alma’s pain and torment were so completely transformed into joy?

D&C 19:16-19
16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

Boyd K. Packer, “The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness,” Ensign, Nov 1995, 18
"So many live with accusing guilt when relief is ever at hand. So many are like the immigrant woman who skimped and saved and deprived herself until, by selling all of her possessions, she bought a steerage-class ticket to America.
"She rationed out the meager provisions she was able to bring with her. Even so, they were gone early in the voyage. When others went for their meals, she stayed below deck—determined to suffer through it. Finally, on the last day, she must, she thought, afford one meal to give her strength for the journey yet ahead. When she asked what the meal would cost, she was told that all of the meals had been included in the price of her ticket."

What are some reasons that people might choose to remain locked behind a door, rather than to use the key?

Closing:
Howard W. Hunter, “The Golden Thread of Choice,” Ensign, Nov 1989, 17
"To countermand and ultimately forbid our choices was Satan’s way, not God’s, and the Father of us all simply never will do that. He will, however, stand by us forever to help us see the right path, find the right choice, respond to the true voice, and feel the influence of his undeniable Spirit. His gentle, peaceful, powerful persuasion to do right and find joy will be with us 'so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved.'” (Moro. 7:36.)

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
(Revelation 3:20)

The key to all doors = faith in Christ and acceptance of his Atoning sacrifice for us individually.

A Guy Who Keeps Things Real

There used to be a commercial on TV that I HATE. It was for some carpet spot cleaning product, and it featured various family members spilling a variety of stain-producing items on the beautiful light-colored carpet. Without fail, the perfectly composed, mother, with her lovely combed hair, says through her unforced, natural smile, with her white, shiny, straight teeth, in a sing-song voice, "Oh, that's O.K."
I'm not entirely sure why it caused such a total sense of loathing within me. Perhaps, it is because I was raised in a home that did not have a lot of money, and so it was drilled into us to take care of what we had. Perhaps, it is because my own nature is usually to kick into crisis-mode (which usually includes a bit of "OH NO!", "Oh GREAT.", or even at times, "OH CRAP!!) and take care of the mess, and then to follow up with reassurances that I really do love the perpetrator more than the carpet or whatever else was threatened or even ruined (sometimes after having to pause and remember this fact). So, maybe, to me, her reaction just seemed SOOOO staged; so unlikely in the real world; so irritatingly imperturbable.

In the same way, I used to not like Job. Yep, Job. The Old Testament prophet who is the ultimate example for enduring trials well. Ya. Not my proudest moment, but I really had a problem with a guy who could lose his whole family (with the exception of his wife) and pretty much all that he possessed, and say, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21) I guess to me, it seemed dismissive of the significance of what he had lost. It echoed, in my mind, the sing-song, "Oh, that's O.K."
Admittedly, however, that was before I ever took the time to actually READ the book of Job. All I had ever heard from the book of Job was the verse I just quoted above. Now, however, I loooove Job. I am reading the book of Job for the second time now. The first time I read it, I literally could hardly put it down. Admittedly, (as with a lot of the Old Testament) there is stuff in there that I don't get, but I definitely understand most of it, and the over-all feeling is unmistakeable. Job did not in any way, shape or form dismiss the significance of his loss. From the depths of his soul he grieved. His soul was peirced, and he longed for death rather than to endure the pain of his loss.

"Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?"(Job 3:20 - 22)

On top of this, in the midst of his mourning, his so-called friends called on him; supposedly to offer their support and condolences, but in reality -- not understanding the depth of his loss, his grieving, or of the workings of the Lord -- they add to his pain through their unfounded accusations and judgements.

"BUT Job answered and said, Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!"(Job 6:1 - 2)

He was in physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, as well as social agony. Even his wife tempts him to "curse God, and die." (Job 2:9) The true beauty of Job, and the reason that he is the paramount mortal example of enduring trials is that he never lost his faith in the Lord. No, Job did not endure his immense trials without complaint. Personally, I love that he complained. Sometimes trials are hard, really hard, and pretending that everything is o.k. when it's not, does little to actually make things o.k.. Job actually did a LOT of complaining, or rather, speaking from the pain of his soul. There was no sing-song, "Oh, that's O.K." attitude. But there was a deep and abiding testimony that he and all he had (and had lost) was in the care of the Lord.

Yep. I love Job. He keeps things real.

The Journey of Life Lesson

This is the lesson I gave in Relief Society today. This blog is also my journal, and so, I'd like to post this. Please feel free to share any thoughts or feelings you may have. I wish I could have recorded all of the wonderful things that the sisters shared during the lesson. (Some of this is rough, as it is my notes for my lesson.)

Give background for Ether chapter 6.

Ether 6:4 And it came to pass that when they had prepared all manner of food, that thereby they might subsist upon the water, and also food for their flocks and herds, and whatsoever beast or animal or fowl that they should carry with them—and it came to pass that when they had done all these things they got aboard of their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God.

Note three actions here: 1) Prepare, 2) Commit, 3) Commend: to entrust for care or preservation.

5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.
6 And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.

I don’t know about you, but I would be wondering what I had done to merit such hardship. “furious wind”, “tossed upon the waves . . . before the wind”, “buried … [by] the mountain waves … which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.” This doesn’t sound fun. And it doesn’t sound fair! Hadn’t they done as they were instructed? Hadn’t they prepared well?

There is a key to our understanding in verse 5: “the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow … towards the promised land”. The Lord uses the wind to get the people where they need to be in His time.

Nephi teaches us to liken the scriptures to ourselves. So, what could the “wind” represent in our lives?

Trials. Challenges. Adversity.

“Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Prov. 3:11–12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.” Richard G. Scott, “Trust in the Lord,” Ensign, Nov. 1995


What could the “sea” or “waters” represent?

Earth life? Earthly responsibilities/concerns?

James said: The waters stand between us and our Promised Land. We must traverse them. They hold and are a source of life, but we don’t want to be swallowed up in them. There are dangers that threaten to overwhelm; must be managed with care and prayer.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught, “Most of us have more things expected of us than we can possibly do. As breadwinners, as parents, as Church workers and members, we face many choices on what we will do with our time and other resources.
We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives.
Jesus taught this principle in the home of Martha. While she was "cumbered about much serving" (Luke 10:40), her sister, Mary, "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word" (v. 39). When Martha complained that her sister had left her to serve alone, Jesus commended Martha for what she was doing (v. 41) but taught her that "one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (v. 42). It was praiseworthy for Martha to be "careful and troubled about many things" (v. 41), but learning the gospel from the Master Teacher was more "needful.”

How do we choose where to spend our limited time, energy, and focus?

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom has taught, “Leading a balanced life can be difficult for any of us. There is not an exact pattern that works for everyone, and even our own blueprint may change during different phases of life. However, seeking balance—giving adequate time and effort to each of those things that really matter—is vital to success in our mortal probation. There are certain fundamental responsibilities we cannot neglect without serious consequence.”

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President Gordon B. Hinckley has taught:
“I think … all of us in this Church … have a fourfold responsibility. One, [members and leaders] have a responsibility to their families, to see that their families have a measure of their time. … None of us can evade that. … That is basic and fundamental.
“If we are employed, we have a responsibility to our employer. We are not at liberty to short-change him. …
“We have a responsibility to the Lord, of course, to do that which is expected of us as a servant in His house.
“And … we have a responsibility to ourselves to take some time to do a little meditating, to do a little exercise. …"

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In an Ensign article entitled, “The Stresses of Life,” Lili De Hoyos Anderson wrote “Mosiah 4:27 tells us: “See that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.” With regard to worldly stress, this means: Simplify!
My mother-in-law once told me that when she feels overwhelmed, she gauges the things that are stressing her by the statement: “A man running for his life would never notice something like this.”
At times we may all need to apply this kind of philosophy liberally to our own temporal concerns. No one knows better than you the things that cause you worldly stress. Make a list. Then get out the red pencil and (this is the tricky part) be ruthless! Cross out the items that don’t pass the running-for-your-life test.
Of course, most of those items are on your list in the first place because you, or someone important to you, cares about them. But if we cannot learn to let go of worldly things, the eternal results may be disastrous.” (Lili De Hoyos Anderson “The Stresses of Life,” Ensign, Feb 1994, 47)


7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.

Have any of you ever felt “encompassed about by many waters?” Or “buried in the deep?”

All the water in the world,
However hard it tried,
Could never sink the smallest ship
Unless it [gets] inside.

And all the evil in the world,
The blackest kind of sin,
Can never hurt you the least bit
Unless you let it in.

Richard G. Scott has taught, “Don’t let the workings of adversity totally absorb your life. Try to understand what you can. Act where you are able; then let the matter rest with the Lord for a period while you give to others in worthy ways before you take on appropriate concern again.”

Jeffrey R. Holland has taught, “Christ knows better than all others that the trials of life can be very deep and we are not shallow people if we struggle with them. But even as the Lord avoids sugary rhetoric, He rebukes faithlessness and He deplores pessimism. He expects us to believe!”

When we feel overwhelmed or discouraged, we can pray, and the Lord will bring us UP.

8 And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven forth before the wind.

It never ends, but if we’re right with the Lord, at least the wind is taking us in the right direction!

9 And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.

What are some ways that you have found helpful for maintaining, or re-gaining, a spirit of gratitude during your journey?

10 And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water.

There are many things that threaten us and our families in this world, but if we do what we can, in wisdom, to prepare, commit, and commend, we have the promise of His light, whether we are above the water or under the water.

As I have pondered what the barges could represent -- what is it that carries us safely across our Earthly responsibilities and keeps us safe from adversity and trials -- I finally realized that the barges represent our covenants. For me, this added a whole other dimension to the analogy.


Richard G. Scott: True enduring happiness with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the most challenging difficulties comes from a life centered in Jesus Christ. Obedience to His teachings provides a sure foundation upon which to build. That takes effort. There is no guarantee of overnight results, but there is absolute assurance that, in the Lord’s time, solutions will come, peace will prevail, and emptiness will be filled.


11 And thus they were driven forth, three hundred and forty and four days upon the water.

Our days are known, and will not be numbered less. D&C 122:9

12 And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.

As long as we STAY IN THE BOAT, we, too, will set our feet upon the shores of our Promised Land, and shed tears of joy before the Lord because of the multitude of His tender mercies over Us.

What is our Promised Land? Eternal life.