My brother and nephews graced us with their presence on Saturday. We had a nice visit. It's always fun to get together with family. Here's a photo of the good looking bunch. :-)
 |
| Back row: Richie, Cody, Brandon, Michael, Elijah Front row: Lisa, Tammy January 27, 2024 |
Almost felt like old times. :-)
Today in Sacrament Meeting we had a bunch of youth, their leaders, and a couple of bishopric members (including the Bishop) speak about what it means to them to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I heard a lot of "we need to love people", but never once did I hear anyone say that we need to keep the commandments to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I'm not the most observant person in the world, actually I'm probably the least observant person in the world. But even I noticed the glaring omission of anyone stating the need to keep the commandments to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I was sorely disappointed. Now, it's entirely possible that someone did mention it and I didn't notice. But even so, it came across as everyone expressing how important it is to love everyone and a few mentioned serving and not judging others – but most, if not all, omitted mentioning the importance of keeping the commandments and serving God.
Now, don't get me wrong, the second great commandment – loving our neighbors as ourselves – is vitally important in being a disciple of Jesus Christ. But what about the first great commandment? I believe there's a reason that loving God is the first great commandment. There's a reason why the scriptures emphasize loving God first, then loving our neighbor second – in that order.
Just to remind everybody what the actual scripture says here it is:
Matthew 22:37-39
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
I posted this quote back in a 2012 post I did. But I feel it's worth posting again because it is more pertinent now than it was even in 2012, and certainly more pertinent now than it was in 1961.
“No true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a communist or support programs leading in that direction. These evil philosophies are incompatible with Mormonism, the true gospel of Jesus Christ.” – Secret Combinations by Elder Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. General Conference, October 1961
It's unfathomable to me how many Latter-day Saints ascribe to the evils of communism and socialism. Even those Latter-day Saints who are very active in the Church and even those in high leadership positions.
It was made clear, 63 years ago, by one of the Lord's prophets, seers, and revelators – Ezra Taft Benson – that communism and socialism are evil. And that being a member of the Lord's true church and being a socialist/communist are incompatible. You cannot be a true Latter-day Saint and be a socialist/communist at the same time. You're either one or the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24).
If you are a Latter-day Saint and support the evil philosophies of socialism and communism you are a Latter-day Saint in name only and do not follow the true gospel of Jesus Christ. President Benson clarified that even if you support programs leading in the direction of socialism/communism you are not true Latter-day Saint, nor a true American.
It truly baffles me how many so-called Latter-day Saints support the evils of socialism/communism and the programs that destroy not only America but individuals' lives.
It's really not that hard to see through Satan's lies if you live in the world but are not of the world. If you are trying every day to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, it's easy to see the truth.
But, these are the last days before Christ's Second Coming. And as Matthew warned, even the very elect will be deceived in the last days (Matthew 24:24).
I did something on Sunday that I've never done before in my life. I voluntarily piped up in a church class. I couldn't even believe that I did it myself. Still can't actually. This may be hard for some people to believe, since I've been going to church for 53 years, but I've never voluntarily spoken in any class by raising my hand and being called on. The only time I've ever spoken in church is when I've been asked to pray, give a talk, or I've taught a lesson. I am just shy and I guess old habits die hard because I just figure that there are other people who always pipe up so I don't need to. But, lately, things are getting crazy at church. False doctrines and philosophies of men are being taught. People are cussing in their comments during class. And everybody thinks it's just fine. Not me! I don't know what happened but when she started talking about my truth and your truth, I just couldn't take it anymore and piped up. I guess, from past experience, I figured that no one else would correct her, so I had to.
I came across a talk – a BYU Devotional – by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, who at the time was an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It was from 1974 – 50 years ago! But, I would argue, more pertinent today than then. Anyway, it was a 45 minute talk but I just took my very favorite excerpts from it to share with you.
"I believe with all my heart that because God loves us there are some particularized challenges that he will deliver to each of us. He will customize the curriculum for each of us in order to teach us the things we most need to know. He will set before us in life what we need, not always what we like." – Neal A. Maxwell, BYU Devotional, "But for a Small Moment", September 1, 1974
I love this quote because it teaches that the reason we have challenges in life is precisely because God loves us, not despite it. Most people complain that because they have trials, God must not love them. But the complete opposite is true. Because God loves us so much, He allows us to face trials because we need them to grow.
"But, for the sake of righteousness, to endure, to be patient in the midst of affliction, in the midst of being misunderstood, and in the midst of suffering—that is sainthood!" – Neal A. Maxwell, BYU Devotional, "But for a Small Moment", September 1, 1974
To endure affliction and suffering with patience is sainthood. I love this definition of sainthood by Elder Maxwell.
"… we may at times assume that the plan of salvation requires merely that we endure and survive when, in fact, as is always the case with the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is required of us, not only that we endure, but also that we endure well…" – Neal A. Maxwell, BYU Devotional, "But for a Small Moment", September 1, 1974
It's true that we always hear the phrase, "endure to the end". I've been taught that my whole life. But, as Elder Maxwell points out, it's not enough to merely endure our pains, afflictions, trials, and temptations, etc. Everybody eventually gets through their trials. It's how we survive and make it through. Do we endure life's challenges with patience, grace, and trusting the Lord? Do we endure it well?
"We must be Christ-centered individually. We must have his and God’s power to do our work, and we must take seriously the challenge of becoming more Christlike. You’re soon going to go out into a world full of marshmallow men. Like the act of putting a finger into a marshmallow, there is no core in these men, there is no center, and when one removes his finger, the marshmallow resumes its former shape. We are in a world of people who want to yield to everything—to every fad and to every fashion. It is incredibly important that we be committed to the core—committed to those things that matter, about which our Father in heaven has leveled with us through his Son, Jesus Christ, and his prophets." – Neal A. Maxwell, BYU Devotional, "But for a Small Moment", September 1, 1974
You may wonder why, every year, I post the anniversary of my starting and finishing my mission. A couple of reasons. First of all, my mission had a significant impact on my life. It taught me so much because it was a lot of work and often difficult. Yet I consider it one of the greatest blessings of my life. The opportunity to serve a full-time mission for my Savior and His church was a huge privilege.
Secondly, not only was it a huge blessing and privilege to be able to serve a mission, but it was arguably my greatest accomplishment in life. Therefore I consider it worthy of a blog post twice a year.
It was 32 years ago today that I entered the Provo Missionary Training Center and began my mission. I spent three weeks in the MTC – from January 15, 1992 to February 5, 1992. Then I hopped on a plane to Tampa Florida, where I spent the next 18 months serving the Lord full-time. I returned home on July 23, 1993.
Fun fact: It's been longer since I embarked on my mission than I was alive before I was paralyzed. It's been 32 years since I started my mission. I was 31 when I was paralyzed. Isn't that crazy?
Another fun fact: I've been paralyzed longer than I was old when I left on my mission. I was 21 years and one month old when I left on my mission. It's been 21 years and almost 4 months since I was paralyzed. Insane.
Here are a few photographic highlights from my mission:
If any of you have the opportunity and privilege to serve a full-time mission for the Lord, I would highly recommend it.
That's my two cents.
Just a reminder as to how points are tallied. The number of your place each week is how many points are added together. Lowest point total wins. Since Savannah missed most of the season she was given five points (equal to fifth-place) for each game she did not participate in.
Congrats to Rex on his win this season. Clint was right on his heels. In fact, the bowl games results changed the outcome of the season. Before the bowl games, Lisa tells me, that Clint (29) was ahead of Rex (30) and Lisa (40) was ahead of me (41). So the bowls were good to me and Rex but not to Lisa and Clint. But it was pretty close between Rex and Clint all season and between Lisa and me all season.
Thanks to all who participated. It was a lot of fun each week.
Now, sadly, there's no more college football for about eight months. But here's looking forward to next season! :-)
Congrats again to this year's winner, Rex!
Good job everybody.
1. Tammy -14 tie breaker 67
2. Rex -16 tiebreaker 71
3. Lisa -17 tiebreaker 74
3. Savannah -17 tiebreaker 60
5. Clint -22 tiebreaker 64
Actual tiebreaker 67
Lisa and Savannah tied for third place as they were both seven points off the actual tiebreaker score. Kudos to me for getting the tiebreaker score spot on, and for coming in first. :-)
Lisa will tally the season results and I will post them later. It was a fun season. Thanks to everyone who participated.
My Testimony
By Tammy
Stone
January 3,
2024
I have
written many religious posts on my blog over the years. But I've never actually written my testimony
out and posted it. Until now. This is my testimony and witness as of
January 3, 2024.
God,
our Heavenly Father, lives and loves us all.
We are His children. We are created in His image. He loves us so much
that He created a plan that would allow us to become more like Him, and be able
to return to live with Him again for eternity.
Part of that plan included the need for a Savior.
Our
eldest brother, Jesus Christ, volunteered to fulfill that role of Savior and
Redeemer. Jesus atoned for us by
suffering on the cross and in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was resurrected, that someday, all of us
will be resurrected and receive our perfected bodies for eternity.
Having lived over 21 years in a broken body that doesn't
work, I am truly, eternally grateful for my Savior's resurrection that makes it
possible for me to be resurrected with a perfect body someday. I am eagerly looking forward to my own
resurrection with a body that is no longer broken, but perfected. What a glorious day that will be for all of
us.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, overcame sin and death that,
through Him, we may also overcome sin and death through repentance and
resurrection. I'm eternally grateful and
forever indebted to my Savior for His sacrifice for me.
Another part
of Heavenly Father's plan is that we got to choose to come to Earth to gain a
body and experience mortality. We were
given agency to make our own choices as to which path we will follow. Moral agency is key to Heavenly Father's plan
for us. We decide our eternal destiny.
When life
gets really hard, sometimes I wonder what I was thinking when I chose to
experience mortality. But I know that
these hard times are for my experience and for my good. The hard times are like the refiners fire in
purifying us and honing, in us, the qualities and characteristics that our
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have.
This is how we become more like Them.
So, even though our mortal experience here on Earth is hard, and
sometimes unbearable, I am still eternally grateful for the opportunity to come
to Earth to experience mortality, so that I can progress to becoming more like
my Heavenly Father, and my Savior, Jesus Christ. And remember, though seemingly long, our life
in mortality here on Earth is merely a nanosecond compared to eternity.
I am so
grateful for our Heavenly Father's plan of happiness. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus
Christ. I'm so thankful for The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Without which I would be lost. My
knowledge of the gospel plan is what keeps me going, especially in hard times.
I'm so
thankful for the prophet, Joseph Smith.
Who, as a young 14-year-old boy, prayed in a grove of trees seeking for
truth. Despite all the fierce
persecution he faced, he persevered and through him, the fullness of the gospel
of Jesus Christ was restored to the Earth, including God’s priesthood power. Because of Joseph Smith, the ancient Church of
Jesus Christ was restored on April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York, as The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Through the prophet Joseph Smith, we were also given The Book of Mormon
which is another Testament of Jesus Christ.
The ancient
record was translated by the prophet, Joseph Smith, from golden plates buried
in the Hill Cumorah. The Book of Mormon,
a record of ancient prophets covering a thousand years of ancient American
history (from 600 B.C.-421 A.D.), is a book of scripture similar to the Bible,
the ancient Jewish record.
I have been
listening to the Book of Mormon every morning, now, for over 21 years. And I must say, it really sets a positive
tone with which to start the day. I
really do notice a difference in days when I don't listen to the Book of
Mormon. My day just seems off, and
doesn’t go as well.
I had always
heard that The Book of Mormon was written for our day. I never really thought much of it, until
recently. Every day, as the world becomes
more and more wicked, it gets increasingly apparent how much The Book of Mormon
was written for us in these last days.
It's uncanny how everything written in The Book of Mormon is so similar
and pertinent to what's presently going on in our world. It truly was written specifically for us in these
last days before the Second Coming of our Savior, to help us navigate the
difficulties we face in these trying times.
I'm so
thankful to Joseph Smith for sacrificing so much to bring us The Book of Mormon
and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Both of which have been a tremendous blessing in my life.
I am also
grateful for the institution of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, and for modern prophets and continuing revelation. I'm thankful for our current prophet,
President Russell M. Nelson, for his guidance and revelations from the Lord. I’m filled with gratitude for all of the
latter-day prophets who have helped further the work of the Lord. I'm so blessed to be a member of the Lord's
true church, restored in its fullness.
I'm so thankful for the happiness, peace, and joy that it brings me.
I'm sure
many people look at me with sorrow and pity, seeing my broken body in a
wheelchair. But, little do they know,
that I am probably a lot happier than they are, because I know the truth and
have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.
Joy can be found in any circumstance in life if we are striving to
follow Christ. Pure peace and joy can only be found in living
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I feel
extremely blessed to have been born into a family where gospel truths were
taught. I'm so grateful for goodly
parents who raised me in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and
for the truths I was taught.
I'm
eternally grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and for His atoning sacrifice
for me, and for all of us. I'm thankful
for the doctrine of repentance, that I may be cleansed from unrighteousness,
through our Savior’s atonement. Words
cannot express my gratitude for my Savior for taking upon Himself my sins, and
for His redeeming power, made possible through His atoning sacrifice for me,
and for all of us.
The doctrine
of repentance is real, and available to everyone. Regardless of how far you think you've
fallen, or how far off the covenant path you think you've gone. No one is beyond the Savior's redeeming
power. There is always hope.
I'm so
thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus
Christ, to save me through grace. I'm
full of gratitude for His redemptive power of repentance, that all may overcome
sin. I'm thankful for His resurrection,
that all will overcome death.
I'm thankful for the guidance and comfort of the third member of
the Godhead, the Holy Ghost. I'm so blessed to have been given The Gift of the
Holy Ghost, after my baptism. The
constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, throughout my entire life, is my most
treasured gift. My life has been blessed
immeasurably by the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The companionship of the Holy Ghost– his comfort, guidance, and warnings–
is an unspeakable gift for which I am eternally grateful.
I'm so
excited to once again, be in the presence of my Heavenly Father, and my Savior, and be reunited with Them, soon. I can't wait for that glorious day. I am also so looking forward to being reunited with all
my love ones on the other side of the veil. I've graduated many times in my
life, but graduation from mortality will be an unfathomably glorious
experience.
I know that
God lives. I know that my Redeemer
lives. I know that there is peace in
following Them.
It is my
hope and prayer that we will all strive to live as Jesus lived. Also, that we may remember the first and
second great commandments – to love God and to love our neighbor. I know that as we strive to follow our
Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and to keep Their commandments, that
we will find much joy, happiness, and peace in this life and in the eternities.
Of these
truths I testify and bear my solemn witness.
In the name
of Jesus Christ, Amen.
As 2023 comes to a close, and we embark on 2024, I hope we remember the lessons we learned last year as we hopefully become another year wiser. I hope we will all strive, in this new year, to draw closer to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I hope we will strive to become more like Them as we make New Year's resolutions and set goals to improve our lives.
May 2024 be a year of learning, growth, joy, and happiness. May we all become another year wiser and more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. May we all remember to do unto others as we would have them do unto us and to focus more on service rather than selfishness. In doing so, we will progress in our mortal journey and find the happiness, peace, and joy that is found in living the truth.
Happy New Year everybody! May we all have a blessed and joyous 2024.
That's my two cents.
