1- Tammy -11
2- Michael -12
3- Dad -13
4- Lisa -23
5- Mom -25 tiebreaker 49
6-Juliet -25 tiebreaker 53
actual tiebreaker 49
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving everybody! We are looking forward to a wonderful family gathering this afternoon. With lots of good food. Although we will be missing Michael and his family as they are spending the day with Derrinda's folks in Oregon. I can smell the turkey cooking right now :-).
This morning I watched a wonderful CES fireside that I had recorded on DVR from November 1, 2009. It is called "Reflection in the Water" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. As a matter of fact, I watched it twice this morning. I looked for the transcript to post but apparently it's not out yet. I would try to summarize the talk for you but I don't think I could do it justice. I will post the transcript when/if it becomes available. If I remember :-). In the meantime, I have it on my DVR if anyone would like to come over and watch it. It is well worth your time to watch it. CES fireside talks are always good but, this talk was exceptional.
Happy Thanksgiving!
This morning I watched a wonderful CES fireside that I had recorded on DVR from November 1, 2009. It is called "Reflection in the Water" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. As a matter of fact, I watched it twice this morning. I looked for the transcript to post but apparently it's not out yet. I would try to summarize the talk for you but I don't think I could do it justice. I will post the transcript when/if it becomes available. If I remember :-). In the meantime, I have it on my DVR if anyone would like to come over and watch it. It is well worth your time to watch it. CES fireside talks are always good but, this talk was exceptional.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Relief Society Lesson November 2009
The following are my notes from my Relief Society lesson I taught yesterday. I prepared it a little differently than usual. I used five talks instead of just one. They were all so good I couldn’t choose just one. They seemed to flow together pretty well, I thought. So the following is just excerpts from the different talks, which I used as my outline. There are some really great quotes from prophets and apostles. So I hope you will read it.
Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ
Elder Robert D. Hales
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
“In matters of personal belief, how do we know what really is true?
I testify that the way to know the truth about God is through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead, is a personage of spirit. His work is to “testify of [God]”19 and to “teach [us] all things.”20
However, we must be careful not to constrain His influence. When we do not do what is right or when our outlook is dominated by skepticism, cynicism, criticism, and irreverence toward others and their beliefs, the Spirit cannot be with us. We then act in a way that the prophets describe as the natural man.
“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”21 This “natural man is an enemy to God, . . . and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, . . . and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, [and] full of love.”22
If we do not yield to the gentle influence of the Holy Ghost, we stand in jeopardy of becoming like Korihor, an anti-Christ in the Book of Mormon. Not only did Korihor disbelieve in God, but he also ridiculed the Savior, the Atonement, and the spirit of prophecy, falsely teaching that there is no God and no Christ.23
Korihor was not content merely to reject God and quietly go his own way. He mocked the believers and demanded that the prophet Alma convince him with a sign of God’s existence and power. Alma’s response is as meaningful today as it was then: “Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.”24
Eventually Korihor was given a sign. He was struck dumb. “And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: . . . I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.”25
Brothers and sisters, you may already know, deep in your soul, that God lives. You may not know all about Him yet and do not understand all His ways, but the light of belief is within you, waiting to be awakened and intensified by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ, which you are born with.
So come. Believe the testimonies of the prophets. Learn of God and Christ. The pattern to do so is clearly taught by prophets of old and prophets today.
Cultivate a diligent desire to know that God lives.
This desire leads us to ponder on the things of heaven—to let the evidence of God all around us touch our hearts.
With softened hearts we are prepared to heed the Savior’s call to “search the scriptures”26 and to humbly learn from them.
We are then ready to ask our Heavenly Father sincerely, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, if the things we have learned are true. Most of us will not see God, as the prophets have, but the still, small promptings of the Spirit—the thoughts and feelings that the Holy Ghost brings into our minds and hearts—will give us an undeniable knowledge that He lives and that He loves us.
Gaining this knowledge is ultimately the quest of all God’s children on the earth. If you cannot remember believing in God or if you have ceased to believe or if you believe but without real conviction, I invite you to seek a testimony of God now. Do not be afraid of ridicule. The strength and peace that come from knowing God and having the comforting companionship of His Spirit will make your efforts eternally worthwhile.”
19. John 15:26. 20. John 14:26.
21. 1 Corinthians 2:14. 22. Mosiah 3:19.
23. See Alma 30. 24. Alma 30:44. 25. Alma 30:52.
26. John 5:39.
To Acquire Spiritual Guidance
Elder Richard G. Scott
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness.
I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit.
What may appear initially to be a daunting task will be much easier to manage over time as you consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive from the Holy Ghost will also become stronger. I witness that as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear.
Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it. These two capacities come together. That’s why Nephi could say, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.”2 He knew the spiritual laws upon which inspiration and power are based. Yes, God answers prayer and gives us spiritual direction when we live obediently and exercise the required faith in Him.
…Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily.
The inspiring influence of the Holy Spirit can be overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or pride. When such influences are present, it is like trying to savor the delicate flavor of a grape while eating a jalapeño pepper. Both flavors are present, but one completely overpowers the other. In like manner, strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Sin is addictive; self-degenerating; conducive to other strains of corruption; deadening to spirituality, conscience, and reason; blinding to reality; contagious; destructive to mind, body, and spirit. Sin is spiritually corrosive. Unrestrained it becomes all-consuming. It is overcome by repentance and righteousness.
I share a warning. Satan is extremely good at blocking spiritual communication by inducing individuals, through temptation, to violate the laws upon which spiritual communication is founded. With some, he is able to convince them that they are not able to receive such guidance from the Lord.
The Love of God
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency
How Do We Become True Disciples of Jesus Christ?
The Savior Himself provided the answer with this profound declaration: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”1 This is the essence of what it means to be a true disciple: those who receive Christ Jesus walk with Him.2
…Once again the Savior revealed the way. When asked to name the greatest commandment, He did not hesitate. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” He said. “This is the first and great commandment.”4 Coupled with the second great commandment—to love our neighbor as ourselves5—we have a compass that provides direction not only for our lives but also for the Lord’s Church on both sides of the veil.
Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.
When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden.
…
How Can We Increase Our Love of God?
Since “God is love,”10 the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love.11 But because a veil separates this mortality from our heavenly home, we must seek in the Spirit that which is imperceptible to mortal eyes.
Heaven may seem distant at times, but the scriptures offer hope: “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”12
However, seeking God with all our hearts implies much more than simply offering a prayer or pronouncing a few words inviting God into our lives. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”13 We can make a great production of saying that we know God. We can proclaim publicly that we love Him. Nevertheless, if we don’t obey Him, all is in vain, for “he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”14
We increase our love for our Heavenly Father and demonstrate that love by aligning our thoughts and actions with God’s word. His pure love directs and encourages us to become more pure and holy. It inspires us to walk in righteousness—not out of fear or obligation but out of an earnest desire to become even more like Him because we love Him. By doing so, we can become “born again . . . [and] cleansed by blood, even the blood of [the] Only Begotten; that [we] might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory.”15
My dear brothers and sisters, don’t get discouraged if you stumble at times. Don’t feel downcast or despair if you don’t feel worthy to be a disciple of Christ at all times. The first step to walking in righteousness is simply to try. We must try to believe. Try to learn of God: read the scriptures; study the words of His latter-day prophets; choose to listen to the Father, and do the things He asks of us. Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible—and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you.
1. John 14:15. 2. See Colossians 2:6. 3. See Matthew 23:23. 4. Matthew 22:37, 38. 5. See Matthew 22:39.
6. 1 John 4:19. 7. See Isaiah 54:10; Jeremiah 31:3. 8. See 1 Samuel 16:7 9. See D&C 88:63. 10. 1 John 4:8.
11. See Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:7, 16. 12. Jeremiah 29:13. 13. 1 John 5:3; see also 2 John 1:6.
14. 1 John 2:4; see also Isaiah 29:13. 15. Moses 6:59.
Love and Law
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love.
I have been impressed to speak about God’s love and God’s commandments. My message is that God’s universal and perfect love is shown in all the blessings of His gospel plan, including the fact that His choicest blessings are reserved for those who obey His laws.1 These are eternal principles that should guide parents in their love and teaching of their children.
I.
I begin with four examples which illustrate some mortal confusion between love and law.
A young adult in a cohabitation relationship tells grieving parents, “If you really loved me, you would accept me and my partner just like you accept your married children.”
A youth reacts to parental commands or pressure by declaring, “If you really loved me, you wouldn’t force me.”
In these examples a person violating commandments asserts that parental love should override the commandments of divine law and the teachings of parents.
The next two examples show mortal confusion about the effect of God’s love.
A person rejects the doctrine that a couple must be married for eternity to enjoy family relationships in the next life, declaring, “If God really loved us, I can’t believe He would separate husbands and wives in this way.”
Another person says his faith has been destroyed by the suffering God allows to be inflicted on a person or a race, concluding, “If there was a God who loved us, He wouldn’t let this happen.”
These persons disbelieve eternal laws which they consider contrary to their concept of the effect of God’s love. Persons who take this position do not understand the nature of God’s love or the purpose of His laws and commandments. The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love. The same should be true of parental love and rules.
…
Some seem to value God’s love because of their hope that His love is so great and so unconditional that it will mercifully excuse them from obeying His laws. In contrast, those who understand God’s plan for His children know that God’s laws are invariable, which is another great evidence of His love for His children. Mercy cannot rob justice,2 and those who obtain mercy are “they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment” (D&C 54:6).
We read again and again in the Bible and in modern scriptures of God’s anger with the wicked3 and of His acting in His wrath4 against those who violate His laws. How are anger and wrath evidence of His love? Joseph Smith taught that God “institute[d] laws whereby [the spirits that He would send into the world] could have a privilege to advance like himself.”5 God’s love is so perfect that He lovingly requires us to obey His commandments because He knows that only through obedience to His laws can we become perfect, as He is. For this reason, God’s anger and His wrath are not a contradiction of His love but an evidence of His love. Every parent knows that you can love a child totally and completely while still being creatively angry and disappointed at that child’s self-defeating behavior.
The love of God is so universal that His perfect plan bestows many gifts on all of His children, even those who disobey His laws. Mortality is one such gift, bestowed on all who qualified in the War in Heaven.6 Another unconditional gift is the universal resurrection: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Many other mortal gifts are not tied to our personal obedience to law. As Jesus taught, our Heavenly Father “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
If only we will listen, we can know of God’s love and feel it, even when we are disobedient. A woman recently returned to Church activity gave this description in a sacrament meeting talk: “He has always been there for me, even when I rejected Him. He has always guided me and comforted me with His tender mercies all around me, but I [was] too angry to see and accept incidents and feelings as such.”7
III.
God’s choicest blessings are clearly contingent upon obedience to God’s laws and commandments. The key teaching is from modern revelation:
“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
“And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:20–21).
This great principle helps us understand the why of many things, like justice and mercy balanced by the Atonement. It also explains why God will not forestall the exercise of agency by His children. Agency—our power to choose—is fundamental to the gospel plan that brings us to earth. God does not intervene to forestall the consequences of some persons’ choices in order to protect the well-being of other persons—even when they kill, injure, or oppress one another—for this would destroy His plan for our eternal progress.8 He will bless us to endure the consequences of others’ choices, but He will not prevent those choices.9
If a person understands the teachings of Jesus, he or she cannot reasonably conclude that our loving Heavenly Father or His divine Son believes that Their love supersedes Their commandments.
6. See Revelation 12:7–8. 7. Letter of Dec. 6, 2005, in author’s possession.
8. Compare Alma 42:8. 9. Compare Mosiah 24:14–15.
Closing Remarks
President Thomas S. Monson
If we heed His words and live the commandments, we will survive this time of permissiveness and wickedness.
We live at a time when many in the world have slipped from the moorings of safety found in compliance with the commandments. It is a time of permissiveness, with society in general routinely disregarding and breaking the laws of God. We often find ourselves swimming against the current, and sometimes it seems as though the current could carry us away.
I am reminded of the words of the Lord found in the book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Said the Lord, “Ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come.” Ether 2:25
My brothers and sisters, He has prepared us. If we heed His words and live the commandments, we will survive this time of permissiveness and wickedness---a time which can be compared with the waves and the winds and the floods that can destroy. He is ever mindful of us. He loves us and will bless us as we do what is right.
How grateful we are that the heavens are indeed open, that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, and that the Church is founded on the rock of revelation. We are a blessed people, with apostles and prophets upon the earth today.
Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ
Elder Robert D. Hales
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
“In matters of personal belief, how do we know what really is true?
I testify that the way to know the truth about God is through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead, is a personage of spirit. His work is to “testify of [God]”19 and to “teach [us] all things.”20
However, we must be careful not to constrain His influence. When we do not do what is right or when our outlook is dominated by skepticism, cynicism, criticism, and irreverence toward others and their beliefs, the Spirit cannot be with us. We then act in a way that the prophets describe as the natural man.
“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”21 This “natural man is an enemy to God, . . . and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, . . . and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, [and] full of love.”22
If we do not yield to the gentle influence of the Holy Ghost, we stand in jeopardy of becoming like Korihor, an anti-Christ in the Book of Mormon. Not only did Korihor disbelieve in God, but he also ridiculed the Savior, the Atonement, and the spirit of prophecy, falsely teaching that there is no God and no Christ.23
Korihor was not content merely to reject God and quietly go his own way. He mocked the believers and demanded that the prophet Alma convince him with a sign of God’s existence and power. Alma’s response is as meaningful today as it was then: “Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.”24
Eventually Korihor was given a sign. He was struck dumb. “And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: . . . I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.”25
Brothers and sisters, you may already know, deep in your soul, that God lives. You may not know all about Him yet and do not understand all His ways, but the light of belief is within you, waiting to be awakened and intensified by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ, which you are born with.
So come. Believe the testimonies of the prophets. Learn of God and Christ. The pattern to do so is clearly taught by prophets of old and prophets today.
Cultivate a diligent desire to know that God lives.
This desire leads us to ponder on the things of heaven—to let the evidence of God all around us touch our hearts.
With softened hearts we are prepared to heed the Savior’s call to “search the scriptures”26 and to humbly learn from them.
We are then ready to ask our Heavenly Father sincerely, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, if the things we have learned are true. Most of us will not see God, as the prophets have, but the still, small promptings of the Spirit—the thoughts and feelings that the Holy Ghost brings into our minds and hearts—will give us an undeniable knowledge that He lives and that He loves us.
Gaining this knowledge is ultimately the quest of all God’s children on the earth. If you cannot remember believing in God or if you have ceased to believe or if you believe but without real conviction, I invite you to seek a testimony of God now. Do not be afraid of ridicule. The strength and peace that come from knowing God and having the comforting companionship of His Spirit will make your efforts eternally worthwhile.”
19. John 15:26. 20. John 14:26.
21. 1 Corinthians 2:14. 22. Mosiah 3:19.
23. See Alma 30. 24. Alma 30:44. 25. Alma 30:52.
26. John 5:39.
To Acquire Spiritual Guidance
Elder Richard G. Scott
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness.
I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit.
What may appear initially to be a daunting task will be much easier to manage over time as you consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive from the Holy Ghost will also become stronger. I witness that as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear.
Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it. These two capacities come together. That’s why Nephi could say, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.”2 He knew the spiritual laws upon which inspiration and power are based. Yes, God answers prayer and gives us spiritual direction when we live obediently and exercise the required faith in Him.
…Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily.
The inspiring influence of the Holy Spirit can be overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or pride. When such influences are present, it is like trying to savor the delicate flavor of a grape while eating a jalapeño pepper. Both flavors are present, but one completely overpowers the other. In like manner, strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Sin is addictive; self-degenerating; conducive to other strains of corruption; deadening to spirituality, conscience, and reason; blinding to reality; contagious; destructive to mind, body, and spirit. Sin is spiritually corrosive. Unrestrained it becomes all-consuming. It is overcome by repentance and righteousness.
I share a warning. Satan is extremely good at blocking spiritual communication by inducing individuals, through temptation, to violate the laws upon which spiritual communication is founded. With some, he is able to convince them that they are not able to receive such guidance from the Lord.
The Love of God
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency
How Do We Become True Disciples of Jesus Christ?
The Savior Himself provided the answer with this profound declaration: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”1 This is the essence of what it means to be a true disciple: those who receive Christ Jesus walk with Him.2
…Once again the Savior revealed the way. When asked to name the greatest commandment, He did not hesitate. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” He said. “This is the first and great commandment.”4 Coupled with the second great commandment—to love our neighbor as ourselves5—we have a compass that provides direction not only for our lives but also for the Lord’s Church on both sides of the veil.
Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.
When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden.
…
How Can We Increase Our Love of God?
Since “God is love,”10 the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love.11 But because a veil separates this mortality from our heavenly home, we must seek in the Spirit that which is imperceptible to mortal eyes.
Heaven may seem distant at times, but the scriptures offer hope: “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”12
However, seeking God with all our hearts implies much more than simply offering a prayer or pronouncing a few words inviting God into our lives. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”13 We can make a great production of saying that we know God. We can proclaim publicly that we love Him. Nevertheless, if we don’t obey Him, all is in vain, for “he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”14
We increase our love for our Heavenly Father and demonstrate that love by aligning our thoughts and actions with God’s word. His pure love directs and encourages us to become more pure and holy. It inspires us to walk in righteousness—not out of fear or obligation but out of an earnest desire to become even more like Him because we love Him. By doing so, we can become “born again . . . [and] cleansed by blood, even the blood of [the] Only Begotten; that [we] might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory.”15
My dear brothers and sisters, don’t get discouraged if you stumble at times. Don’t feel downcast or despair if you don’t feel worthy to be a disciple of Christ at all times. The first step to walking in righteousness is simply to try. We must try to believe. Try to learn of God: read the scriptures; study the words of His latter-day prophets; choose to listen to the Father, and do the things He asks of us. Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible—and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you.
1. John 14:15. 2. See Colossians 2:6. 3. See Matthew 23:23. 4. Matthew 22:37, 38. 5. See Matthew 22:39.
6. 1 John 4:19. 7. See Isaiah 54:10; Jeremiah 31:3. 8. See 1 Samuel 16:7 9. See D&C 88:63. 10. 1 John 4:8.
11. See Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:7, 16. 12. Jeremiah 29:13. 13. 1 John 5:3; see also 2 John 1:6.
14. 1 John 2:4; see also Isaiah 29:13. 15. Moses 6:59.
Love and Law
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love.
I have been impressed to speak about God’s love and God’s commandments. My message is that God’s universal and perfect love is shown in all the blessings of His gospel plan, including the fact that His choicest blessings are reserved for those who obey His laws.1 These are eternal principles that should guide parents in their love and teaching of their children.
I.
I begin with four examples which illustrate some mortal confusion between love and law.
A young adult in a cohabitation relationship tells grieving parents, “If you really loved me, you would accept me and my partner just like you accept your married children.”
A youth reacts to parental commands or pressure by declaring, “If you really loved me, you wouldn’t force me.”
In these examples a person violating commandments asserts that parental love should override the commandments of divine law and the teachings of parents.
The next two examples show mortal confusion about the effect of God’s love.
A person rejects the doctrine that a couple must be married for eternity to enjoy family relationships in the next life, declaring, “If God really loved us, I can’t believe He would separate husbands and wives in this way.”
Another person says his faith has been destroyed by the suffering God allows to be inflicted on a person or a race, concluding, “If there was a God who loved us, He wouldn’t let this happen.”
These persons disbelieve eternal laws which they consider contrary to their concept of the effect of God’s love. Persons who take this position do not understand the nature of God’s love or the purpose of His laws and commandments. The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love. The same should be true of parental love and rules.
…
Some seem to value God’s love because of their hope that His love is so great and so unconditional that it will mercifully excuse them from obeying His laws. In contrast, those who understand God’s plan for His children know that God’s laws are invariable, which is another great evidence of His love for His children. Mercy cannot rob justice,2 and those who obtain mercy are “they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment” (D&C 54:6).
We read again and again in the Bible and in modern scriptures of God’s anger with the wicked3 and of His acting in His wrath4 against those who violate His laws. How are anger and wrath evidence of His love? Joseph Smith taught that God “institute[d] laws whereby [the spirits that He would send into the world] could have a privilege to advance like himself.”5 God’s love is so perfect that He lovingly requires us to obey His commandments because He knows that only through obedience to His laws can we become perfect, as He is. For this reason, God’s anger and His wrath are not a contradiction of His love but an evidence of His love. Every parent knows that you can love a child totally and completely while still being creatively angry and disappointed at that child’s self-defeating behavior.
The love of God is so universal that His perfect plan bestows many gifts on all of His children, even those who disobey His laws. Mortality is one such gift, bestowed on all who qualified in the War in Heaven.6 Another unconditional gift is the universal resurrection: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Many other mortal gifts are not tied to our personal obedience to law. As Jesus taught, our Heavenly Father “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
If only we will listen, we can know of God’s love and feel it, even when we are disobedient. A woman recently returned to Church activity gave this description in a sacrament meeting talk: “He has always been there for me, even when I rejected Him. He has always guided me and comforted me with His tender mercies all around me, but I [was] too angry to see and accept incidents and feelings as such.”7
III.
God’s choicest blessings are clearly contingent upon obedience to God’s laws and commandments. The key teaching is from modern revelation:
“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
“And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:20–21).
This great principle helps us understand the why of many things, like justice and mercy balanced by the Atonement. It also explains why God will not forestall the exercise of agency by His children. Agency—our power to choose—is fundamental to the gospel plan that brings us to earth. God does not intervene to forestall the consequences of some persons’ choices in order to protect the well-being of other persons—even when they kill, injure, or oppress one another—for this would destroy His plan for our eternal progress.8 He will bless us to endure the consequences of others’ choices, but He will not prevent those choices.9
If a person understands the teachings of Jesus, he or she cannot reasonably conclude that our loving Heavenly Father or His divine Son believes that Their love supersedes Their commandments.
6. See Revelation 12:7–8. 7. Letter of Dec. 6, 2005, in author’s possession.
8. Compare Alma 42:8. 9. Compare Mosiah 24:14–15.
Closing Remarks
President Thomas S. Monson
If we heed His words and live the commandments, we will survive this time of permissiveness and wickedness.
We live at a time when many in the world have slipped from the moorings of safety found in compliance with the commandments. It is a time of permissiveness, with society in general routinely disregarding and breaking the laws of God. We often find ourselves swimming against the current, and sometimes it seems as though the current could carry us away.
I am reminded of the words of the Lord found in the book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Said the Lord, “Ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come.” Ether 2:25
My brothers and sisters, He has prepared us. If we heed His words and live the commandments, we will survive this time of permissiveness and wickedness---a time which can be compared with the waves and the winds and the floods that can destroy. He is ever mindful of us. He loves us and will bless us as we do what is right.
How grateful we are that the heavens are indeed open, that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, and that the Church is founded on the rock of revelation. We are a blessed people, with apostles and prophets upon the earth today.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Week 12 Results
1- Dad (-14)
2- Tammy (-17)
3- Lisa (-21)
4- Juliet (-22)
5- Mom (-23)
6- Michael (-24)
7- Derrinda (-26)
2- Tammy (-17)
3- Lisa (-21)
4- Juliet (-22)
5- Mom (-23)
6- Michael (-24)
7- Derrinda (-26)
Friday, November 20, 2009
Quote of the Day
“There are cycles of good and bad times, ups and downs, periods of joy and sadness, and times of plenty as well as scarcity. When our lives turn in an unanticipated and undesirable direction, sometimes we experience stress and anxiety. One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: 'The best is yet to be' ("Rabbi Ben Ezra," in Charles W. Eliot, ed., The Harvard Classics, 50 vols. [1909–10], 42:1103).”
L. Tom Perry, "Let Him Do It with Simplicity", Ensign, Nov. 2008, 7
L. Tom Perry, "Let Him Do It with Simplicity", Ensign, Nov. 2008, 7
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Windstorm
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Home Fires Burning
Monday, November 16, 2009
College Football Picks Week 12
Name:____________________________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 12
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Central Michigan at Ball State
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Colorado at Oklahoma State
Friday, November 20, 2009
Boise State at Utah State on ESPN2 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Oregon State at Washington State
Ohio State at Michigan
Minnesota and Iowa
Duke at Miami
Maryland at Florida State
Louisville at South Florida
North Carolina at Boston College
Chattanooga and Alabama
Mississippi State at Arkansas
Florida international at Florida
Oklahoma at Texas Tech
Memphis at Houston
TCU in Wyoming
Iowa State at Missouri
Northern Illinois and Ohio
Tulane at UCF
Connecticut at Notre Dame
LSU at Mississippi
Penn State at Michigan State
North Carolina State at Virginia Tech
Wisconsin at Northwestern
Air Force at Brigham Young
Virginia at Clemson
Purdue at Indiana
UAB at East Carolina
Rutgers at Syracuse
UTEP at Rice
Baylor at Texas A&M
San Diego State and Utah
Arizona State at UCLA
Florida Atlantic at Troy
Southern Methodist at Marshall
Arkansas State and middle Tennessee State
Louisiana Tech at Fresno State
Colorado State at New Mexico
Louisiana Monroe at Louisiana Lafayette
Tulsa at Southern Mississippi
Vanderbilt at Tennessee
California at Stanford
Kentucky at Georgia
Kansas State at Nebraska
Kansas at Texas
Oregon and Arizona
Hawaii at San Jose State
Nevada and New Mexico State
Harvard at Yale
Princeton at Dartmouth
Cal poly at Weber State
Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona
Southern Utah at San Diego
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Boise State at Utah State ___________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 12
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Central Michigan at Ball State
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Colorado at Oklahoma State
Friday, November 20, 2009
Boise State at Utah State on ESPN2 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Oregon State at Washington State
Ohio State at Michigan
Minnesota and Iowa
Duke at Miami
Maryland at Florida State
Louisville at South Florida
North Carolina at Boston College
Chattanooga and Alabama
Mississippi State at Arkansas
Florida international at Florida
Oklahoma at Texas Tech
Memphis at Houston
TCU in Wyoming
Iowa State at Missouri
Northern Illinois and Ohio
Tulane at UCF
Connecticut at Notre Dame
LSU at Mississippi
Penn State at Michigan State
North Carolina State at Virginia Tech
Wisconsin at Northwestern
Air Force at Brigham Young
Virginia at Clemson
Purdue at Indiana
UAB at East Carolina
Rutgers at Syracuse
UTEP at Rice
Baylor at Texas A&M
San Diego State and Utah
Arizona State at UCLA
Florida Atlantic at Troy
Southern Methodist at Marshall
Arkansas State and middle Tennessee State
Louisiana Tech at Fresno State
Colorado State at New Mexico
Louisiana Monroe at Louisiana Lafayette
Tulsa at Southern Mississippi
Vanderbilt at Tennessee
California at Stanford
Kentucky at Georgia
Kansas State at Nebraska
Kansas at Texas
Oregon and Arizona
Hawaii at San Jose State
Nevada and New Mexico State
Harvard at Yale
Princeton at Dartmouth
Cal poly at Weber State
Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona
Southern Utah at San Diego
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Boise State at Utah State ___________
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Raising Young Children
This blog posting is a result of a request I received. My first topic request! So, I hope I did it justice. There is some great advice from prophets and childhood development experts. So, those of you with young children, will hopefully benefit from this blog post.
From November 1981 Ensign, Ezra Taft Benson, “The Honored Place of Woman”:
"It is a fundamental truth that the responsibilities of motherhood cannot be successfully delegated. No, not to day-care centers, not to schools, not to nurseries, not to babysitters.
We become enamored with men’s theories such as the idea of preschool training outside the home for young children. Not only does this put added pressure on the budget, but it places young children in an environment away from mother’s influence....
It is mother’s influence during the crucial formative years that forms a child’s basic character.
Home is the place where a child learns faith, feels love, and thereby learns from mother’s loving example to choose righteousness.
How vital are mother’s influence and teaching in the home—and how apparent when neglected!
I do not wish to wound any feelings, but all of us are aware of instances of active Latter-day Saint families who are experiencing difficulties with their children because mother is not where she ought to be—in the home."-Ezra Taft Benson, 1981
A few quotes from President Spencer W. Kimball:
"Home life, proper teaching in the home, parental guidance and leadership—these are the panacea for the ailments of the world and its children. They are the cure for spiritual and emotional diseases and the remedy for its problems. Parents should not leave the training of children to others."-Spencer W. Kimball
"There seems to be a growing tendency to shift this responsibility from the home to outside influences such as the school and the church, and of greater concern, to various child-care agencies and institutions. Important as these outward influences may be, they never can adequately take the place of the influence of the mother and the father. Constant training, constant vigilance, companionship, and being watchmen of our own children are necessary in order to keep our homes intact and to bless our children in the Lord’s own way."-Spencer W. Kimball
"Fathers and mothers, your foremost responsibility is your family. By working together you can have the kind of home the Lord expects you to have. By showing love and consideration for one another and for your children, you can build a reservoir of spiritual strength that will never run dry."-Spencer W. Kimball
"Mothers, you are your children’s best teacher. Don’t shift this precious responsibility to day-care centers or baby-sitters. A mother’s love and prayerful concern for her children are her most important ingredients in teaching her own."-Ezra Taft Benson
From March 1982 Ensign-Children in Church:
"Tiny Latter-day Saints are normal children. The things they do during church are typical of their growth and development. Research at Yale University has produced a host of characteristics which children exhibit at various ages. (See Arnold Gesell and Frances Ilg, Infant and Child in the Culture of Today, New York: Harper and Brothers.) At age one children like activity—moving around, pulling up, creeping on the floor, throwing things on the floor to have them retrieved. By fifteen months they like to explore, to turn pages, to observe action around them. By eighteen months climbing is their favorite activity. They like to tear pages out of books, including hymn books. This is the busybody, into-every-thing age. Their temper tantrums are a result of discovering their own will and its effect on others. By age two, children like to practice their newly acquired vocabulary, not always in soft tones. They are particularly fond of father and want to be with him (even if he is speaking in church). Almost all of their play is accompanied by constant talking. By age three children are becoming more responsive to parental requests and can entertain themselves up to an hour if provided with appropriate materials. By age four they are even more self-entertaining but still ask up to four hundred questions daily. They may stay occupied but still not be interested in the proceedings of an entire sacrament meeting.
These developmental facts combine to produce a picture of very powerful, active, inquisitive little Saints. But the normality of our children should be a comfort, not a concern. During the preschool years, children learn more than they will ever again learn in mortality: vital life skills of locomotion, communication, relationships. They form feelings, attitudes, and opinions that will remain with them the rest of life—about God, about church, about family and friends. We must, therefore, not overlook their developmental needs nor contribute to negative attitudes during church. We must capitalize on children’s stages of development and be creatively persistent in helping them cope with the challenges of church activity. "-Joyce Williams, former professor of child development and mother of five
“Children in Church,” Ensign, Mar 1982, 43–48
“Latter-day Saints should be the most reverent people in all the earth,” President Spencer W. Kimball has said. “Where, then, does reverence begin, and how can we develop it? The home is the key to reverence, as it is to every other godlike virtue.
“… Behavior learned at home determines behavior in Church meetings. A child who has learned to pray at home soon understands that he must be quiet and still during prayers in worship service.
“Likewise, when family home evenings are part of home life, children know that there are special times, not only at church but at home, when we learn about our Heavenly Father and when everyone needs to be on his best behavior. …
“Parents with small children sometimes have a difficult time helping their youngsters appreciate meetings and keeping them from creating disturbances. Perseverance, firmness, and preparation in the home are essential ingredients for success.” (We Should Be a Reverent People, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1976, pp. 2–3.)
I am not a parent but I understand the importance of following the Prophet’s counsel in raising children. Hopefully these quotes from former prophets and childhood development experts will help those of you raising young children. I would just like to reiterate one statement from a childhood development expert, “During the preschool years, children learn more than they will ever again learn in mortality”
That’s my two cents.
From November 1981 Ensign, Ezra Taft Benson, “The Honored Place of Woman”:
"It is a fundamental truth that the responsibilities of motherhood cannot be successfully delegated. No, not to day-care centers, not to schools, not to nurseries, not to babysitters.
We become enamored with men’s theories such as the idea of preschool training outside the home for young children. Not only does this put added pressure on the budget, but it places young children in an environment away from mother’s influence....
It is mother’s influence during the crucial formative years that forms a child’s basic character.
Home is the place where a child learns faith, feels love, and thereby learns from mother’s loving example to choose righteousness.
How vital are mother’s influence and teaching in the home—and how apparent when neglected!
I do not wish to wound any feelings, but all of us are aware of instances of active Latter-day Saint families who are experiencing difficulties with their children because mother is not where she ought to be—in the home."-Ezra Taft Benson, 1981
A few quotes from President Spencer W. Kimball:
"Home life, proper teaching in the home, parental guidance and leadership—these are the panacea for the ailments of the world and its children. They are the cure for spiritual and emotional diseases and the remedy for its problems. Parents should not leave the training of children to others."-Spencer W. Kimball
"There seems to be a growing tendency to shift this responsibility from the home to outside influences such as the school and the church, and of greater concern, to various child-care agencies and institutions. Important as these outward influences may be, they never can adequately take the place of the influence of the mother and the father. Constant training, constant vigilance, companionship, and being watchmen of our own children are necessary in order to keep our homes intact and to bless our children in the Lord’s own way."-Spencer W. Kimball
"Fathers and mothers, your foremost responsibility is your family. By working together you can have the kind of home the Lord expects you to have. By showing love and consideration for one another and for your children, you can build a reservoir of spiritual strength that will never run dry."-Spencer W. Kimball
"Mothers, you are your children’s best teacher. Don’t shift this precious responsibility to day-care centers or baby-sitters. A mother’s love and prayerful concern for her children are her most important ingredients in teaching her own."-Ezra Taft Benson
From March 1982 Ensign-Children in Church:
"Tiny Latter-day Saints are normal children. The things they do during church are typical of their growth and development. Research at Yale University has produced a host of characteristics which children exhibit at various ages. (See Arnold Gesell and Frances Ilg, Infant and Child in the Culture of Today, New York: Harper and Brothers.) At age one children like activity—moving around, pulling up, creeping on the floor, throwing things on the floor to have them retrieved. By fifteen months they like to explore, to turn pages, to observe action around them. By eighteen months climbing is their favorite activity. They like to tear pages out of books, including hymn books. This is the busybody, into-every-thing age. Their temper tantrums are a result of discovering their own will and its effect on others. By age two, children like to practice their newly acquired vocabulary, not always in soft tones. They are particularly fond of father and want to be with him (even if he is speaking in church). Almost all of their play is accompanied by constant talking. By age three children are becoming more responsive to parental requests and can entertain themselves up to an hour if provided with appropriate materials. By age four they are even more self-entertaining but still ask up to four hundred questions daily. They may stay occupied but still not be interested in the proceedings of an entire sacrament meeting.
These developmental facts combine to produce a picture of very powerful, active, inquisitive little Saints. But the normality of our children should be a comfort, not a concern. During the preschool years, children learn more than they will ever again learn in mortality: vital life skills of locomotion, communication, relationships. They form feelings, attitudes, and opinions that will remain with them the rest of life—about God, about church, about family and friends. We must, therefore, not overlook their developmental needs nor contribute to negative attitudes during church. We must capitalize on children’s stages of development and be creatively persistent in helping them cope with the challenges of church activity. "-Joyce Williams, former professor of child development and mother of five
“Children in Church,” Ensign, Mar 1982, 43–48
“Latter-day Saints should be the most reverent people in all the earth,” President Spencer W. Kimball has said. “Where, then, does reverence begin, and how can we develop it? The home is the key to reverence, as it is to every other godlike virtue.
“… Behavior learned at home determines behavior in Church meetings. A child who has learned to pray at home soon understands that he must be quiet and still during prayers in worship service.
“Likewise, when family home evenings are part of home life, children know that there are special times, not only at church but at home, when we learn about our Heavenly Father and when everyone needs to be on his best behavior. …
“Parents with small children sometimes have a difficult time helping their youngsters appreciate meetings and keeping them from creating disturbances. Perseverance, firmness, and preparation in the home are essential ingredients for success.” (We Should Be a Reverent People, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1976, pp. 2–3.)
I am not a parent but I understand the importance of following the Prophet’s counsel in raising children. Hopefully these quotes from former prophets and childhood development experts will help those of you raising young children. I would just like to reiterate one statement from a childhood development expert, “During the preschool years, children learn more than they will ever again learn in mortality”
That’s my two cents.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wise Counsel
Those of you from Utah, are quite familiar with Jon Huntsman. I came across this article On Deseret news.com. What a wise man. This article summarizes a BYU devotional given by Elder Huntsman yesterday. I think I will have to look for the devotional on BYU TV. Anyway, I thought it was really good so I thought I would share. I hope you enjoy it.
Elder Huntsman tells Y. students to focus on integrity, hard work
By Marianne Holman
Published: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 10:05 p.m. MST
PROVO — "God did not put us here to fail," Elder Jon M. Huntsman Sr., a prominent businessman and philanthropist, told BYU students during the university's weekly devotional Tuesday in the Marriott Center.
"I would say to you, have faith in yourself, believe in what you are doing and, most importantly, be a person of integrity," said Elder Huntsman, an Area Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "It is totally up to you and no one else how your life evolves."
Elder Huntsman spoke of the personal responsibility each individual has in shaping his or her own future and the importance of goal setting and hard work.
"What we become, who we are and the footprint we will leave in life is based entirely on our own determination, hard work, education and sacrifice," he said. "Our Heavenly Father expects the best from each of us. We must believe in ourselves."
Elder Huntsman told the students to work hard and show integrity in all aspects of their life, regardless of prosperous or hard times.
"Don't give in when the going gets rough," he said. "You are laying the foundation of a great work, and that great work is your life. Never cut corners, demean other people or waste time 'hanging out.' Decide who you are and what your goals entail, then go for the roses. Life has little regard for those who waste time."
Drawing from a Book of Mormon scripture (2 Nephi 2:25) in which Lehi tells his son, Jacob, that "men are that they might have joy," Elder Huntsman spoke of the importance of following one's own dream, no matter the obstacles or difficulty of the task.
Remembering his college years, Elder Huntsman spoke of when he realized he needed to study hard to reach his dreams.
"Making dreams become reality requires great sacrifice and determination," he said. "Most people are content to just coast along. Many really don't like to apply their talents and abilities or to put in long hours of work. But to achieve any dream and to make something truly remarkable happen in our lives, we must face adversity head on, and we must overcome all of the obstacles in our pathway."
The world today is filled with significant obstacles everywhere, Elder Huntsman said. Attempted suicide, pornography, drug abuse, eating disorders, sexual identity and addictions of various forms and disguises plague society, making some feel as though they cannot fulfill their dreams, he said.
But these are only momentary setbacks, Elder Huntsman said. There is a road to recovery that many can travel and have done so through the atonement of Jesus Christ, he said.
Another challenge facing individuals today is the economy, and some of the problems of losing homes and jobs. Despite the setbacks, there is much to be learned during times of adversity, Elder Huntsman said.
"Many of us here today are either going through one of the valleys of life or will someday experience one of those challenges or moments of adversity," he said. "Remember that adversity determines our character."
Looking to LDS Church founder Joseph Smith as an example of weathering difficulty, Elder Huntsman spoke of the character formed and the need for integrity during lessons of trial and challenge. These experiences in life are intended to make us better — not bitter, he said.
"Always keep in mind, nothing meaningful can come your way without integrity, and integrity is often challenged by adversity," Elder Huntsman said. "Be creative, work hard and surround yourself with bright, honest people. Be a straight shooter, and follow your dreams. But above all else, believe in yourself, and between you and the Lord, your dreams can and will come true. And in your pursuit of your dream, never, never forget others."
I couldn't have said it better myself. :-) May we all try to remember and emulate the principles taught by Elder Huntsman.
That's my two cents.
Elder Huntsman tells Y. students to focus on integrity, hard work
By Marianne Holman
Published: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 10:05 p.m. MST
PROVO — "God did not put us here to fail," Elder Jon M. Huntsman Sr., a prominent businessman and philanthropist, told BYU students during the university's weekly devotional Tuesday in the Marriott Center.
"I would say to you, have faith in yourself, believe in what you are doing and, most importantly, be a person of integrity," said Elder Huntsman, an Area Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "It is totally up to you and no one else how your life evolves."
Elder Huntsman spoke of the personal responsibility each individual has in shaping his or her own future and the importance of goal setting and hard work.
"What we become, who we are and the footprint we will leave in life is based entirely on our own determination, hard work, education and sacrifice," he said. "Our Heavenly Father expects the best from each of us. We must believe in ourselves."
Elder Huntsman told the students to work hard and show integrity in all aspects of their life, regardless of prosperous or hard times.
"Don't give in when the going gets rough," he said. "You are laying the foundation of a great work, and that great work is your life. Never cut corners, demean other people or waste time 'hanging out.' Decide who you are and what your goals entail, then go for the roses. Life has little regard for those who waste time."
Drawing from a Book of Mormon scripture (2 Nephi 2:25) in which Lehi tells his son, Jacob, that "men are that they might have joy," Elder Huntsman spoke of the importance of following one's own dream, no matter the obstacles or difficulty of the task.
Remembering his college years, Elder Huntsman spoke of when he realized he needed to study hard to reach his dreams.
"Making dreams become reality requires great sacrifice and determination," he said. "Most people are content to just coast along. Many really don't like to apply their talents and abilities or to put in long hours of work. But to achieve any dream and to make something truly remarkable happen in our lives, we must face adversity head on, and we must overcome all of the obstacles in our pathway."
The world today is filled with significant obstacles everywhere, Elder Huntsman said. Attempted suicide, pornography, drug abuse, eating disorders, sexual identity and addictions of various forms and disguises plague society, making some feel as though they cannot fulfill their dreams, he said.
But these are only momentary setbacks, Elder Huntsman said. There is a road to recovery that many can travel and have done so through the atonement of Jesus Christ, he said.
Another challenge facing individuals today is the economy, and some of the problems of losing homes and jobs. Despite the setbacks, there is much to be learned during times of adversity, Elder Huntsman said.
"Many of us here today are either going through one of the valleys of life or will someday experience one of those challenges or moments of adversity," he said. "Remember that adversity determines our character."
Looking to LDS Church founder Joseph Smith as an example of weathering difficulty, Elder Huntsman spoke of the character formed and the need for integrity during lessons of trial and challenge. These experiences in life are intended to make us better — not bitter, he said.
"Always keep in mind, nothing meaningful can come your way without integrity, and integrity is often challenged by adversity," Elder Huntsman said. "Be creative, work hard and surround yourself with bright, honest people. Be a straight shooter, and follow your dreams. But above all else, believe in yourself, and between you and the Lord, your dreams can and will come true. And in your pursuit of your dream, never, never forget others."
I couldn't have said it better myself. :-) May we all try to remember and emulate the principles taught by Elder Huntsman.
That's my two cents.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
College Football Picks Week 11
Name:____________________________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 11
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Ohio at Buffalo
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Toledo at Central Michigan
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Bowling Green at Miami, Ohio
Ball State at Northern Illinois
South Florida at Rutgers
Friday, November 13, 2009
West Virginia at Cincinnati
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Texas at Baylor
Georgia Tech at Duke
Houston at UCF
Indiana at Penn State
Michigan and Wisconsin
Syracuse and Louisville
South Dakota State and Minnesota
Tennessee at Mississippi
Clemson at North Carolina State
Florida State at Wake Forest
Northwestern at Illinois
Michigan State at Purdue
Kentucky at Vanderbilt
Missouri at Kansas State
Virginia Tech at Maryland
Brigham Young at New Mexico
Colorado and Iowa State
San Jose State and Utah State
Louisiana Lafayette at Middle Tennessee State
UTEP at Southern Methodist
Florida at South Carolina
Idaho at Boise State
Stanford at USC
Iowa at Ohio State
Miami at North Carolina
Washington and Oregon State
Boston College at Virginia
Nebraska at Kansas
Delaware at Navy
Fresno State at Nevada
Southern Mississippi at Marshall
UCLA at Washington State
UNLV at Air Force
Alabama at Mississippi State
Louisiana Tech at LSU
Auburn at Georgia
Texas A&M at Oklahoma
Utah at TCU
Troy and Arkansas
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State
Wyoming at San Diego State
New Mexico State at Hawaii
Arizona State at Oregon
Arizona at California
Eastern Washington at Southern Utah
Northern Arizona at Weber State
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Utah at TCU __________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 11
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Ohio at Buffalo
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Toledo at Central Michigan
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Bowling Green at Miami, Ohio
Ball State at Northern Illinois
South Florida at Rutgers
Friday, November 13, 2009
West Virginia at Cincinnati
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Texas at Baylor
Georgia Tech at Duke
Houston at UCF
Indiana at Penn State
Michigan and Wisconsin
Syracuse and Louisville
South Dakota State and Minnesota
Tennessee at Mississippi
Clemson at North Carolina State
Florida State at Wake Forest
Northwestern at Illinois
Michigan State at Purdue
Kentucky at Vanderbilt
Missouri at Kansas State
Virginia Tech at Maryland
Brigham Young at New Mexico
Colorado and Iowa State
San Jose State and Utah State
Louisiana Lafayette at Middle Tennessee State
UTEP at Southern Methodist
Florida at South Carolina
Idaho at Boise State
Stanford at USC
Iowa at Ohio State
Miami at North Carolina
Washington and Oregon State
Boston College at Virginia
Nebraska at Kansas
Delaware at Navy
Fresno State at Nevada
Southern Mississippi at Marshall
UCLA at Washington State
UNLV at Air Force
Alabama at Mississippi State
Louisiana Tech at LSU
Auburn at Georgia
Texas A&M at Oklahoma
Utah at TCU
Troy and Arkansas
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State
Wyoming at San Diego State
New Mexico State at Hawaii
Arizona State at Oregon
Arizona at California
Eastern Washington at Southern Utah
Northern Arizona at Weber State
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Utah at TCU __________
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Week 10 results
1 ~ Michael -15 (49 Tiebreaker)
2 ~ Tammy -15 (57 Tiebreaker)
3 ~ Juliet -16
4 ~ Mom and Lisa -18 (42 Mom Tiebreaker 52 Lisa Tiebreaker)
6. ~ Dad -18 (54 Tiebreaker)
7. ~ Derrinda -20
Actual Tiebreaker 47.
2 ~ Tammy -15 (57 Tiebreaker)
3 ~ Juliet -16
4 ~ Mom and Lisa -18 (42 Mom Tiebreaker 52 Lisa Tiebreaker)
6. ~ Dad -18 (54 Tiebreaker)
7. ~ Derrinda -20
Actual Tiebreaker 47.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Scumbags
I've blogged about this before but came across this video so I thought I would post it. I hate politics. Obama is such a liar. Politics is turning into a moral agenda rather than political. This health care reform stuff is a joke. But nobody's laughing. It is just another step in Korihor's scheming plot toward socialism. And the destruction of this country. In a free world, taxpayer dollars do not go towards funding abortions, homosexuals and their sinful lifestyle, or any other immoral practice. Nor are we forced into purchasing health insurance, if we choose not to. This cursed state in which I live passed the "everything but marriage" law, referendum 71. Which I encouraged everyone to vote against. At least I did all I could do, in voting to reject it. I am fed up with all the scumbags leading this country. Elected by scumbags, who outnumber people with morals trying to do what is right.
That's my two cents.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Technical Difficulties
For those of you anxiously awaiting week 10 college football picks, I regret to inform you that I cannot get the paste function to work in blogger. So I will not be posting picks for week 10. My computer has been having problems recently. Sorry.
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY!
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Week 9 Results
1. Michael -15 tiebreaker 55
2. Tammy -15 tiebreaker 43
3.dad -15 tiebreaker 42
4.Juliet -19 tiebreaker 42
5.Lisa -19 tiebreaker 36
6.mom -25
7.Derrinda -28
actual tiebreaker 58
2. Tammy -15 tiebreaker 43
3.dad -15 tiebreaker 42
4.Juliet -19 tiebreaker 42
5.Lisa -19 tiebreaker 36
6.mom -25
7.Derrinda -28
actual tiebreaker 58
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