Delight In So Much Abomination

Nothing shocks me anymore.  This world is in a downward spiral.  But I still get sickened and saddened by some of the things I hear that are happening.

Most things that are immoral are now considered normal behaviors.  For example, the law of chastity.  It is now considered normal and even expected by society to break the law of chastity.  Fornication, promiscuity, cohabitation, pornography and even adultery are considered normal behaviors. And if you don't participate in breaking the law of chastity, society looks on you as abnormal. There must be something wrong with you.

Even sexual deviancies such as homosexuality, bisexuality, same-sex marriage, and transgenderism are now considered normal and legal.  I never thought I would see the day that I would be watching Wheel of Fortune and Pat Sajak would ask the contestant who he had supporting him in the audience and the young man would say his husband.  It made my stomach churn.  I never would have dreamed that same-sex marriage would be legal in this country.  And people don't think anything of it.  It used to be something they would hide and be ashamed of. Now it is flaunted and glorified.  Even extreme deviancies such as pedophilia and bestiality, which I hope are still taboo to most people, are gradually becoming more acceptable in society.

This world is becoming increasingly evil as people embrace Satan's philosophies.

Murder is still the one immoral behavior which I thought was universally taboo.  But even murder, cold blooded first-degree murder, is now not only accepted but applauded in the state of New York.

I will now quote from Rush Limbaugh.com:

"Ready for this? “By a vote of 38-24, abortion was voted on in the New York Senate to be added to the New York Constitution as a constitutional right.” But wait. We’re just getting started. The New York State Senate yesterday voted 38-24 “to allow nonphysicians to perform abortions.” The New York State Senate voted yesterday 38-24 “to allow abortion through the third trimester.”

"But the pure evil is in the last part of the bill. The New York State Senate voted 38-24 yesterday “to repeal protections for babies that survive abortions.” The abortion business in New York has just been voted on as constitutional by the New York State Senate.  

"... they are giving standing ovations in the New York state Senate chamber to the killing of children! Now they are acknowledging that that’s what’s happening, and they’re applauding it! And they’re codifying it and making it constitutional in New York. They applaud it. There was a standing O for the provision that if an attempted abortion fails, you can go ahead and finish the job after birth. 

"They stood up, standing O. Do you realize this is a striking change in approach? For the longest time there wasn’t a baby involved, there wasn’t a human being. It was just a woman’s right to choose. It was just civil rights, human rights. It was an illness. It was an unviable tissue mass. It was a potential psychological problem. To get away with it, to promote it, to make sure that there were as many abortions as possible, they had to take the human element out of it — and they did. 

"Now they’re making no effort whatsoever to hide what’s happening. They are openly celebrating what’s happening. That’s my question. Why? What in the world, folks? 

"So abortion now is an approved method of killing, whereas it used to just be about “a woman’s right to choose,” a civil rights issue. Somebody want to tell me that they’re going in the right direction? Somebody want to try to tell me that they are “progressives” and that they are furthering the enlightenment of human existence? What kind of people are these? 

"You know, it’s actually uncanny. Everything Kermit Gosnell was convicted of murder for doing has now been legalized in New York. Gosnell was convicted. They did this movie about this guy, a Nick Searcy movie. He was convicted of killing infants that had already been born, now legal in New York. He was convicted of allowing untrained and unlicensed nonmedical people to perform abortions. That’s now legal in New York.

"You can abort up to the due date! But now, that’s not even necessary. You can abort afterwards. So why even mess with this? Why even mess with the abortion aspect of this? Kermit Gosnell always maintained that he was innocent, that he was ahead of his time, and would someday be exonerated — and New York just did it. 

"But killing a baby in New York after it survives an abortion is legal — and was applauded in a standing ovation in the New York State Senate chamber. 

"They were celebrating.

"The ability to go ahead and kill a child that survives an abortion gets a standing ovation.

"This is called the Reproductive Health Act. It’s a bill that “expands abortion access” and codifies the right to abortion in the New York Constitution. But here are the elements of this. Abortion is added to the New York Constitution. Nonphysicians are allowed to commit abortions, to perform them.

"Nondoctors? Whatever happened to the back-alley abortions with the coat hangers being objectionable? Whatever happened to that? Allow abortion through the third trimester and then, Governor Cuomo, up to your due date! See, if there’s no doctor involved, if you don’t have to have a doctor… I thought all this was about protecting the life of the mother. 

"For example, the back-alley abortions, the coat hangers. “No, we can’t have that! That’s why we need to legalize abortion. Too many women are being harmed or hurt and so forth.” It was all about protecting the life of the mother, but it isn’t about that anymore, folks. This is about taking the life of a child. That’s all this is. 

"If the mother doesn’t want it and it’s born, you can still now, in New York, get rid of it it. They just repealed protections for surviving babies. This is what Obama voted for as a state senator in Illinois! If the baby survived abortion, you could go ahead and…

"For those of you who think this is easy for me to talk about because it’s scoring political points, you’re as wrong as you can be. But I don’t… What else do you call it? A baby survives an abortion and you can still terminate the baby. You can still kill it. If that was the intention in Illinois — and Obama voted for that, and then tried to hide and run away from that all during his presidential campaign. They just made that legal in New York. They have repealed any protections for babies that survive abortion under the premise nobody wanted that baby.

“New York City’s One World Trade Center’s spire was lit pink to celebrate the passing of a law that legalizes abortion for any reason up to birth. The law also allows nondoctors to perform abortions and repeals a legislation recognizing unborn babies over 24 weeks as potential homicide victims. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ... signed the bill … before ordering that the spire of One World Trade Center, as well as bridges and buildings in the state capital of Albany be lit pink in celebration.

“‘In the face of a federal government intent on rolling back Roe v. Wade and women’s reproductive rights, I promised that we would enact this critical legislation within the first 30 days of the new session — and we got it done,’ Cuomo said.” So they’re celebrating. They’re celebrating. Anybody can do abortions now up to the due date. If the child survives, you can still finish the abortion — and they’re celebrating this with standing ovations."  -- Rush Limbaugh.com, January 24, 2019

I know I said nothing shocks me anymore.  But the legalization of infanticide -- first degree murder of babies -- and then celebrating passing a law to murder babies?  That literally makes me sick to my stomach.

Mormon's words to his son Moroni immediately echo in my mind.

Moroni 9:11-15

11 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization—

12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)

13 But O my son, how can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination—

14 How can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us?

15 Behold, my heart cries: Wo unto this people. Come out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before thy face!

Like Mormon, my heart also cries at such depravity.  How could anybody be so deranged?  Let alone the majority of state senators in New York?  How can anybody "delight in so much abomination"?  They pass a law to kill babies then celebrate by lighting up the city in pink?  Absolutely disgusting.

This is a textbook illustration of calling evil good. This is what the prophet Isaiah warned us about.

Isaiah 5:20

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

The Book of Mormon warns us of this very thing.

 Mosiah 29:26-27

26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.

27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.

From the beginning of time there have always been those who choose evil over good.  They are usually in the minority. Mosiah prophesied that when the majority of people choose iniquity -- choose evil over good -- then the judgments of God are inflicted and great destruction ensues. 

Legalizing cold-blooded murder and then celebrating it certainly qualifies as choosing iniquity -- choosing evil over good.

Let this be a warning to everybody that the Lord will soon come and cleanse the earth of iniquity.  This is just another sign that it will be sooner rather than later.  Get your life in order ASAP, if it isn't already.  There is no time to lollygag.  If you do, it may be too late.  If your life is in order and you are trying to follow our Savior and live His Gospel, then there's no need to fear.

That's my two cents.

Temples

I'm going to copy Lisa's blog and post all of the temples I've been in.  I hope I didn't forget any.  :-)

Temples I've been inside:


Provo Utah


Logan Utah


Salt Lake City


Mt.Timpanagos Utah


Laie Hawaii


Oakland California


Las Vegas Nevada


Los Angeles California


San Diego California


Seattle Washington


Mesa Arizona

Donny and Marie T-shirt

This is mostly for my own reference.   For my blog book.  Lisa gave me an excellent suggestion the other day. She knows how much I have been on a Donny and Marie kick lately.  In fact I've got them on my iTunes repeat right now.  And I have for a couple of weeks now.  :-) Between that and watching the Donny and Marie shows on YouTube, they pretty much consume my waking hours right now.  :-)

So a few days  ago Lisa suggested that I should make a Donny and Marie T-shirt. Excellent idea.  I have designed many T-shirts on Adobe Photoshop.  So, yesterday, I did!  Turned out awesome!  After I designed it I had Lisa press it for me last night.  And I'm wearing it today!  I love it! Vintage 70s fashions rule supreme.  It reminds me of my Elvis shirt I had when I was a kid.  With the thick plastic transfer.  So cool!

Here is an actual photograph of the shirt.  It turned out a little dark -- I didn't have the printer settings right.  But it is still awesome!  I love it!

"I'm a little bit country.  I'm a little bit rock 'n roll.  I'm a little bit of Memphis and Nashville.  With a little bit of Motown in my soul.  Don't know if it's good or bad.  But I know I love it so.  I'm a little bit country.  I'm a little bit rock 'n roll."

By the way I quoted that from memory.  :-)  Donny and Marie rule supreme!

Quote of the Day

"The best of all human conditions in this life is to have the gift and companionship of the Holy Ghost."

“Pay whatever price you must pay, bear whatever burden you must bear, make whatever sacrifice you must make in order to get and keep in your life the Spirit and power of the Holy Ghost. Everything depends on that.”  -- Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge, BYU Devotional Address, January 22, 2019

Joy in Service

I was watching a BYU devotional on Sunday by David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  It was titled "That They Might Have Joy" given on December 4, 2018.

There was one quote that stood out to me.  In that talk he quoted from a commencement address given by President Kevin J. Worthen, of BYU.

“I have come to believe that one measure of our eternal progress is how much joy we derive from service.” - Kevin J. Worthen, August 16, 2018

How we feel about our service to others is a reflection of our eternal progress.  Do we serve others grudgingly or do we derive joy from service?

President Marion G. Romney, formerly First Counselor in the First Presidency, gave wonderful insight on the eternal nature of service.

"Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made." - Marion G. Romney, "The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance", June 1984 Ensign

Serving others should bring us joy.  Service is an eternal principle which is not just to be endured to  get us a ticket to heaven.  Rather exalted beings in heaven derive joy from service.  Joyfully serving others becomes part of their being.

May we all continue progressing towards becoming more like our Savior, Jesus Christ, as we strive to make joyful service part of our nature.

That's my two cents.

Fame

I know I've done posts on the tragedy of the consequences of fame before.  Namely Michael Jackson and David Cassidy come to mind.  I may have done others I don't remember.

Fame is an interesting thing.  It is something so many people aspire to have.  Yet those who have it will most likely tell you they don't want it.  Most people can't handle fame.  Especially without being grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I consider fame to be a trial or hardship people who have it go through.  Fame has destroyed many people's lives.

I have never aspired to fame.  In fact, I don't even like the few people who know me to know me.  :-)

Fame is ironic.  Being known by and adored by the masses yet so many who have achieved fame are extremely lonely.  Fame is fleeting.  Fame can be very destructive.  Especially when your self-esteem is based on your fame.  One minute everybody loves you, the next minute you are the loneliest person on the planet. You don't even know if your friends are true friends or if they are just your friends because you're famous.

Most famous people become miserable.  I have a few theories as to why.  First of all, fame tends to persuade people to turn away from God.  Turning from God always leads to misery -- eventually.  Perhaps not at first but like the prophet Alma taught, "wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10).  Living a life of sin, living the "eat drink and be merry" lifestyle leads to nothing but heartache and misery.

When people become miserable they tend to try to escape the reality of their life.  Thus leading to more destructive behavior -- drugs, alcohol, extreme risk-taking, promiscuity, etc.  It's a very sad road.

As I said in my previous post, I have been on a Donny and Marie kick.  I have even watched some concerts of the Osmond brothers from the early 1970s.  All of them are extremely talented.  Their dancing and harmonies are amazing!  And all of them became very famous at a very young age.  And Donny and Marie have stayed in the limelight pretty much their entire lives.  Going on six decades now.

Yet, from my perspective, they both have been able to stay grounded, stay true to their faith, and even defend their faith when it is mocked.  How is that possible?  I believe it comes from their roots, what their parents taught them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and having good family support.  And really, knowing what is most important in life.

I am impressed that Donny and Marie have been able to withstand the trial of fame that they've been dealt.  As far as I'm aware, Donny and Marie and perhaps their brothers are the only people to achieve such fame and not let it destroy their lives.

Kudos to the Osmond family.  Not only have Donny and Marie withstood the trial of fame.  But they are using it to teach and defend truth.  Marie does a weekly spiritually uplifting Instagram post on Sundays.  And Donny has a section on his website where he shares his beliefs and even answers fans questions about the Gospel.  So awesome!  They are actually using their fame to do good and to help their fellow man find true happiness through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Donny and Marie are both extremely talented entertainers.  Donny and Marie have both been famous their entire lives.  Yet both Donny and Marie have figured out how to navigate through their fame and not let it destroy them. I have gained even more respect for Donny and Marie not only as entertainers but as people of character, integrity, and faith.

That's my two cents.

On the Shelf

I've been on a Donny and Marie kick lately.  I was able to find the old Donny and Marie shows from the 70s on YouTube.  I have been binge watching them.  They are awesome!  I especially love the concert spots -- where Marie is a little bit country and Donny is little bit rock 'n roll.

I remember watching the Donny and Marie show sometimes when I was a kid.  I was always more of a Marie fan because well, I'm a little bit country.  :-) I had all of her albums in the 80s.

But after watching The Donny and Marie Show now as an adult, I must say I am impressed with Donny's talent as well.  They are both excellent singers and dancers.  I didn't realize their mad skills until recently.  It is even more apparent when you watch their guests try to dance with them.  Especially Merle Haggard.  That was hilarious.

I absolutely love the 70s fashions, dancing, and music.

I just discovered this song, On The Shelf.  Love it!  I've been listening to it on repeat for days.  I never get tired of it. So I thought I would share this masterpiece with you.

Your Countenance Tells the Truth

Several days ago I read a story that disturbed me.  A woman whose sister chose to "marry" a woman wrote the article.  She and her sister were both members of the Church.  Her sister chose to leave The Church to live a homosexual lifestyle.  The woman claimed that her sister was finally at peace now that she was living "true to herself" or something to that effect. 

What disturbed me was the claim of being at peace.  That's a bunch of malarkey. "You cannot do wrong and feel right.  It is impossible!"  Said the wise prophet, Ezra Taft Benson.

Ended up that the woman also left the Church which makes sense because the claim that her sister was finally at peace would not come from someone on the covenant path.

One thing that I have noticed is that people who once knew the Gospel, lived in the Gospel, embraced the Gospel-- And then turn away from the Gospel, always look miserable.  It radiates in their countenance.  Just as they are claiming to never be happier, to finally be at peace, or whatever other lies they tell themselves and others -- their countenance tells another story.  Their eyes are dark, their smile is forced and they look miserable.

You may be able to lie to others and even lie to yourself, but you're countenance will tell the truth.

True happiness is only found in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "Wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10)

God has established Commandments.  They apply to everyone, regardless of beliefs.  Granted, because of upbringing and chances for learning, some people understand the Lord's Commandments better than others. But, everybody is born with the light of Christ (a conscience), everyone has a basic moral compass.

I've noticed that those who were once on the covenant path, having embraced the Gospel and having been taught the truths of the Gospel, are the ones who fall the hardest and radiate the most miserable countenances. It's extremely sad to see.  Especially when those closest to you, those whom you love the most are the ones choosing misery over happiness.

"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."  (2 Nephi 2:27)

Your choices are reflected in your countenance.  Do you choose to live your life on the covenant path?  Do you choose liberty and eternal life by following our Savior?  Do you choose happiness?  Or do you choose to live a life outside of the covenant path?  Do you choose captivity and death?  Do you choose to follow the devil?  Do you choose misery?

Whatever you choose, it will be reflected in your countenance.

Those who choose not to follow the Savior's covenant path inevitably try to convince themselves that they are happy and at peace.  They may fool themselves.  They may even find fleeting happiness in sin for a time.  But their countenance will tell the truth. Even during times of fleeting happiness in sin, their countenance resonates misery.

"... I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?" (Alma 5:19)

My hope is that those who are choosing not to follow the Savior will quit fooling themselves and come back to the covenant path. Wherein true happiness is found.  I hope we will all be able to have the image of God engraven upon our countenances.

That's my two cents.

27 Years

27 years ago today I embarked on the greatest adventure of my life.  I entered the Missionary Training Center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And thus began my 18 month full-time proselyting mission.

I'm the good-looking Sister in the middle in the black sweater. :-)

The above picture is me with my MTC district.  The lady with the white name tag was our teacher.  We had a morning, afternoon and evening teacher.  In between was breakfast lunch and dinner.  With some personal study, service, firesides/Group meetings, sacrament meetings and PE thrown in the mix.

It was intense training but also very rewarding and a great learning experience.  Because I would be speaking my native tongue, I was only there three weeks. Those who had to learn a foreign language were there eight weeks.

Then I flew to Tampa Florida to begin proselyting full-time for 18 months.  It was challenging but I learned a lot and grew leaps and bounds as a person.  It is an experience I would highly recommend to anyone worthy and willing to serve.

That's my two cents.

Developing the Faith to Reap

I just read a really good article in this month's Ensign. I was going to just put a few quotes but the whole thing is worth reading in context.  It gave me new insight on faith and the different levels of faith we can achieve.

I hope you will take the time to read it.

Developing the Faith to Reap
By Elder Wilford W. Andersen
Of the Seventy
From a devotional address, “The Faith to Reap,” delivered at Brigham Young University–Idaho on March 17, 2015.

Lehi and his family had been in the wilderness for only a matter of days when the Lord told him to send his sons back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates from Laban. We don’t often compliment Lehi’s two rebellious sons, Laman and Lemuel, but at least they were willing to go. They had enough faith to give it a try.

Laman, and later Lemuel with his brothers, asked Laban for the plates. The brothers lost their family fortune and almost their lives in the attempt. At that point, Laman’s and Lemuel’s faith failed them, and they were ready to quit. Nephi, on the other hand, rose above the danger and discouragement:

“As the Lord liveth, and as we live,” he said, “we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.

“Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord” (1 Nephi 3:15–16).

Nephi then exercised great faith, obtained the plates of Laban, and returned with his brothers to their father in the wilderness.

There seem to be two distinct levels of faith. The first level is the faith to try, the faith to thrust in our sickles. The second level is the faith to do. It is more than the faith to thrust in our sickles—it is the faith to reap.

Laman and Lemuel had the faith to try, but Nephi had the faith to do. Laman and Lemuel had enough faith to thrust in their sickles, but Nephi had enough faith to reap.

That subtle distinction between the faith to thrust in our sickles and the faith to reap will make all the difference in our lives. To live again with our Heavenly Father and to live productive and joyful lives on earth, we need to develop the faith to reap.

We have received marvelous promises from the Lord—promises of happiness and joy in this life and exaltation in the next. But the challenges and problems of our daily lives tend to diminish our hope. Our land of promise seems so far away, so improbable, that we begin to doubt.

“It isn’t possible for me to reach that goal or to receive that blessing,” we think. “Surely, the Lord was thinking about someone else when He made those promises.”

No, He was thinking of you and of me. We only need sufficient faith to receive our blessings—a faith so strong that it can convert our future promises into present realities. We need the faith to reap.

What exactly is the faith to reap, and how can we develop it?

Have Faith in Jesus Christ

First, unlike the faith to thrust in our sickles, the faith to reap is not faith in ourselves. It is not the same as self-confidence or positive mental attitude. It is not even faith in our families or friends—all of which are good. The faith to reap is faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. It is faith in His power, not ours.

When I was called as the stake president of the Mesa Arizona Maricopa Stake, Elder W. Mack Lawrence, at the time a General Authority Seventy, invited my wife and me into the stake president’s office and extended the calling. I dutifully accepted. Then he invited us to enter the high council room and prayerfully consider men to recommend as my counselors. As I entered the room, I saw pictures of all the stake presidents who had previously served in the stake since it was organized, and my heart sank. They were great leaders both in the Church and in the community.

I looked at my wife and said, “Kathleen, I don’t think I can do this. I’m not in their league.”

She said, “Don’t talk to me about it. You had better talk to Elder Lawrence.”

To my surprise, when I told him that I didn’t think I could fulfill the calling, Elder Lawrence responded, “Well, I suppose you’re right.”

But then he said, “You can’t do it, Brother Andersen, but the Lord can. He has the power to do His work, and if you will be worthy and work hard, He will do it. You will see.”

And He did.

The faith to thrust in our sickles is the faith to try. It is faith in oneself, and it evaporates as soon as the going gets tough. And then we start to doubt. But the faith to reap is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It never yields.

Align Your Will with God’s Will

Second, to exercise the faith to reap, we must be certain that our desires and objectives are consistent with the will of God. We can never exercise faith to reap if God does not agree with the harvest. To have His help, we must align our will with His.

Because the prophet Nephi, the son of Helaman, was a righteous and faithful man, the Lord told him, “I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word.” That is a wonderful promise. But then the Lord adds, “For thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will” (Helaman 10:5).

Moroni taught, “And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” (Moroni 7:33; emphasis added).

Conforming our desires to God’s will is a prerequisite to the faith to reap.

When my sons were younger, they played on the high school basketball teams. Back then they used to have a team prayer prior to beginning each game. As I watched from the stands, I would wonder what they were praying for. If they were praying to win the game, their prayers lacked the faith to reap. This was clearly evidenced by the number of games they lost! The Lord apparently did not share their desire that they necessarily win every game.

In other words, God will help us to achieve only the goals that are good for us. That is because He loves us, and He knows better than we do what will be for our good. We should pray each day that Heavenly Father will bless us with righteous desires to conform our will to His. We must learn to pray as the Lord did in the Garden of Gethsemane that God’s will, not ours, be done (see Luke 22:42). Only then can we exercise the faith to reap.

Go to Work

The third prerequisite of faith to reap is work. The Apostle James makes it clear that faith without works is dead. The faith to thrust in our sickles requires belief, but the faith to reap requires more than belief. “The devils believe,” writes James, “and tremble” (see James 2:17, 19).

I heard a story about a father who noticed his young daughter kneeling beside her bed, praying that Heavenly Father would protect little birds from entering a bird trap her brother had built and placed in the backyard. Later that day, the father grew concerned. He knew the trap was a good one. He had helped his son build it.

“I heard you praying this morning that Heavenly Father would protect the little birds from your brother’s trap,” he said to his daughter. “But sometimes sad things happen even when we pray that they won’t.”

She responded, “I just know he won’t catch any birds, Daddy.”

“I admire your faith, sweetheart,” the father said. “But if he does catch some birds, I hope that won’t hurt your faith.”

“He won’t, Daddy,” she said. “I know he won’t.”

The father asked, “How can you have such great faith?”

“Because after I said my prayers,” his daughter replied, “I went out back and kicked his bird trap all to pieces.”

It is good to pray for Heavenly Father’s blessings. But after we say amen, we have to go to work. We cannot expect the Lord to guide our footsteps if we’re not willing to move our feet. Nor should we ask Him to do for us that which we can and should do for ourselves.

We must work at reaching our righteous goals. We must work at keeping the commandments. The real power in our covenants and the real power in the faith to reap is realized not when we conclude with certainty that God keeps His promises but rather when we conclude with certainty that we keep ours. That great truth is what converts future promises into present realities. We must work.

Don’t be discouraged with your failures or mistakes, but be constant in your efforts, and be determined. The faith to reap does not require perfection, but it does require persistence.

I invite you to develop the faith to reap. Place your faith firmly in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and in His Atonement. Make sure that your desires align with and conform to His will. Then go to work with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, with unfailing determination and persistence. There is no challenge, no problem, no barrier that will not yield to the faith to reap.

Show Your Faith

“There is only One in whom your faith is always safe, and that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. And you need to let your faith show!”

President Russell M. Nelson, “Let Your Faith Show,” Ensign, May 2014, 29.

-- Developing the Faith to Reap, Elder Wilford W. Andersen, January 2019 Ensign

Write Your Representatives

Vice President Pence was on Rush Limbaugh today.  I just read part of the transcript.  Vice President Pence asked us to please write or call our congressmen and senators to ask them to support President Trump in his efforts to secure our southern border.

Here is the letter I sent.  I am also sending it to my two Senators.

Dear Congresswoman Schrier,

Since you represent me, I would like to ask you to please support our president in his efforts to secure our southern border.  This is a very important matter.  I am all for legal immigration.  There is a right way to do it.  Follow the law.  Our country is being invaded by illegal aliens by the thousands every day.  Bringing drugs, gangs, and sex trafficking to name a few of the threats to our nation.  This is unacceptable.

Please support President Trump in building a wall to secure our southern border.  And also please vote to fund border security.

Thank you,

Dr. Tammy Stone

This literally took me less than a minute to compose.  A quick Internet search will link you to your congressman and senators.  It's very easy.  This is a very important matter.  Please put forth the effort to send a quick note to them.  You can even copy mine or paraphrase it if you wish.

That's my two cents.

In the Last Days of My Probation

As you all know, I listen to The Book of Mormon every morning for several hours.  This morning a scripture that I'm not familiar with jumped out at me because this is exactly how I feel.  Or, in other words, I should say this is what I hope I can say at the end of my mortal life.

This scripture is the prophet Lehi speaking to his sons as he nears the end of his mortal journey-- or as he says, "in the last days of my probation". Basically teaching them gospel truths and admonishing them to live the gospel.

2 Nephi 2:30

"I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. Amen."

I can relate to Lehi.  He also had family members -- namely his sons Laman and Lemuel -- who chose not to live the gospel and persecuted those who did.  Especially their family members.  This despite having a father and brothers who were prophets. So, obviously they were taught, and knew well, the Gospel.

I look to Lehi and his righteous sons as examples to me.  Lehi and his sons, Nephi and Jacob, all taught the gospel and called the wicked to repentance despite persecution. Even persecution from those who are supposed to love and protect them -- family.

Even on his deathbed, Lehi was teaching the gospel to his sons hoping that his wicked sons would wise up and change their ways to save their souls.

The following is part of what Lehi told his wicked sons on his deathbed.

2 Nephi 1: 13-19

13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.

14 Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler can return; a few more days and I go the way of all the earth.

15 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.

16 And I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul from the beginning.

17 My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from time to time, for I have feared, lest for the hardness of your hearts the Lord your God should come out in the fulness of his wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed forever;

18 Or, that a cursing should come upon you for the space of many generations; and ye are visited by sword, and by famine, and are hated, and are led according to the will and captivity of the devil.

19 O my sons, that these things might not come upon you, but that ye might be a choice and a favored people of the Lord. But behold, his will be done; for his ways are righteousness forever.

Lehi continued to teach and warn his sons to complete chapter 1 of second Nephi.  It's quite powerful if you'd like to read the rest.

My heart also is weighted down with sorrow from time to time because of the hardness of the hearts of family members and my fellow men.

I hope I will always teach and defend truth throughout my life despite persecutions I may face.  I hope, like Lehi, that I will be able to say on my deathbed that "I have chosen the good part, according to the prophets" and that "my soul has been redeemed".  Because I, also like Lehi, "have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. Amen."

That's my two cents.

College Football Bowl Picks Results

1. Dad   -16    TB  46
2. Tammy  -16  TB  33
3. Lisa  -17   TB  41
4. Mom  -20   TB 47
5. Rex  -21   TB 50

Actual TB  51