Prepare and Protect

President Nelson, the Lord's chosen Prophet today, recently returned from a ministering tour in the Pacific, including Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and several Polynesian islands. There were a couple of his quotes that stood out to me as he counseled the Saints in the Pacific.

President Nelson counseled Samoans to “please protect your children. Help them to know the Lord and love Him and keep His commandments and be free from the shackles of addiction and bondage.” 

I've heard people say that you can't or shouldn't shelter or protect your children from the world.  That is a misguided and dangerous philosophy.  The Prophet of God said, "please protect your children." That's pretty cut and dried.  There is no mincing words or beating around the bush.  It's very clear that the Lord wants parents to protect their children.

Children will inevitably be exposed to the evils of the world and Satan's philosophies eventually.  But why not try to protect them from the fiery darts of the adversary as much as you can as long as you can?  Heavenly Father has entrusted his precious children to you to guide, teach and protect.  Mortality is hard enough to navigate even with the best guidance.  He has made it clear that parents will be held responsible for how they raise their children.

"And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents."  -- Doctrine and Covenants 68:25

Verse 28 goes on to say "And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord." So, it's very clear in the Scriptures that parents are responsible for teaching their children truth.  It seems quite logical to me that parents would want to protect their children from evil as much as possible.  But I guess even members of the Church, who have the truth, still have to be told by the Prophet that they need to protect their children and teach them to know and love the Lord and to keep His commandments.

It's extremely sad when parents deliberately expose their children to evil, especially members of the Church who should know better. Protect them as long as you can, because they will inevitably be in the lion's den of the world, and if they were taught truth and protected while they were young, it will give them the best defenses against the adversary's fiery darts. Without that strong base, they have no hope of surviving spiritually in this sin sick world.

In Tahiti, President Nelson warned “There’s trouble ahead. … Prepare for attacks from the adversary. Please protect yourself from Satan's traps, including harmful drugs and pornography."

The second quote is along the same lines as the first.  But this time he's warning us to protect ourselves.  Notice he uses the word protect in both quotes?  And he specifically mentions harmful drugs and pornography which he alluded to in the first quote.  Obviously those are two of the biggest struggles in society and in the Church.

President Nelson mentioned in our last General Conference that Satan is quadrupling his efforts to destroy us.  Satan knows time is short and he wants to destroy as many souls as possible before the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During the Millennium, Christ will reign in righteousness and Satan will be bound. So he has to work fast now, because the Second Coming is fast approaching. By the way, I'm sure Satan is very pleased with himself, his efforts are paying off.  People are dropping like flies at breakneck speed.  Very sad.

What I don't understand is why people think it's cool to follow Satan.  Why is it cool to listen to profane, vulgar, misogynistic music?  Why is it cool to use profanity?  Why is it cool to break the law of chastity? Why is it cool to disrespect others?  Why is it cool to break any of the Lord's commandments?

I understand that people want to fit in. John 12:43 "For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  People want to be liked.  And, unfortunately Satan's philosophies now rule society. But is it really worth the heavy price you pay to gain the praise of men?  I promise you it's not.  Not only does breaking God's commandments cause misery, but people actually respect you more when you stand up for what is right.

Also, you lose the respect of loved ones when you choose to seek the praise of men and follow Satan's philosophies.  I know a certain grandfather who is very disappointed in his grandson for his use of profanity on social media.  It's very disappointing and heartbreaking to see those you love-- and to whom you have taught truth-- making bad choices and breaking God's commandments. It is exceedingly harrowing for loved ones to witness.

There's trouble now.  There's more trouble ahead.  Satan is not going to back down, in fact he's quadrupling his efforts.  And so must we. President Nelson, the prophet of God, is warning us to prepare for more attacks from Satan and to protect ourselves from Satan's traps.

May we all heed the prophetic counsel of the Lord's chosen servant, President Nelson, and prepare and protect not only ourselves but our children, and anyone else we can help.

That's my two cents.

KFC Coleslaw Recipe

This is my slightly altered version of a KFC coleslaw recipe I found online. 

KFC Coleslaw

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons Onion, finely grated*
1/3 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
1 1/2 Tablespoons White Vinegar
2 1/2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/8 Teaspoon Black Pepper
1 Bag Coleslaw Mix (16 ounce)**

Instructions:

1 -- In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients, except coleslaw mix, until smooth and well combined.

2 -- Add coleslaw mix.  Stir together until evenly coated.

3 -- Cover bowl and refrigerate four hours minimum or overnight.  Stir well before serving.

*Grate fresh onion using the finest grater until mushy and juicy.

**Alternately you could replace the coleslaw mix with 8 cups of finely diced cabbage and 1/4 cup shredded carrots.


Enjoy this crowd pleaser.  We have made it several times and it is always a hit. It is easy to make and just as delicious if not more so than KFC takeout.

Don't delay. It's getting late.

I saw the first two paragraphs of this quote today and decide to read the entire talk.  I remember hearing it in General Conference a few years ago. I may have even posted it before but it is worth revisiting.  I went ahead and added the last three paragraphs to the quote I read this morning.

Here's the quote from Elder Holland of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles:

"However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.

"Whether you are not yet of our faith or were with us once and have not remained, there is nothing in either case that you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized. Even if you feel you are the lost and last laborer of the eleventh hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning. 'Come boldly [to] the throne of grace,' and fall at the feet of the Holy One of Israel. Come and feast 'without money and without price' at the table of the Lord.

"I especially make an appeal for husbands and fathers, priesthood bearers or prospective priesthood bearers, to, as Lehi said, “Awake! and arise from the dust … and be men.”  Not always but often it is the men who choose not to answer the call to “come join the ranks.”  Women and children frequently seem more willing. Brethren, step up. Do it for your sake. Do it for the sake of those who love you and are praying that you will respond. Do it for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, who paid an unfathomable price for the future He wants you to have.

"My beloved brothers and sisters, to those of you who have been blessed by the gospel for many years because you were fortunate enough to find it early, to those of you who have come to the gospel by stages and phases later, and to those of you—members and not yet members—who may still be hanging back, to each of you, one and all, I testify of the renewing power of God’s love and the miracle of His grace. His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there.

"So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time. Please listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling you right now, this very moment, that you should accept the atoning gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the fellowship of His labor. Don’t delay. It’s getting late. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."  -- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Laborers in the Vineyard", April 2012 General Conference

I have always loved Elder Holland and his bold yet loving style of teaching.  Anyone reading this would be wise to heed his counsel. As Elder Holland said, "Don't delay.  It's getting late."

That's my two cents.

The Two Greatest Blessings

I'm feeling really blessed today.  Despite all the challenges of mortality -- and believe me, I've got my fair share -- yet I still have the two greatest blessings anyone could have.  You're probably thinking right now to yourself, what are the two greatest blessings anyone could have?  They are: The Gospel of Jesus Christ and a good family who are willing to help each other through the hard times.

I was pondering on this today because I spoke to my uncle yesterday on the telephone.  He told me he admired my faith -- which I took as a huge compliment, especially coming from him.  I told him I felt very blessed because I have the two greatest blessings in the world.  Which, of course, I just mentioned above. And yes, he agreed with me.

He told me about all of the refugees in the Europe area where he is serving and how sad it is that none of them have families to help support them.  That made me appreciate even more, my family members who help me so much.

I've mentioned this before but I will say it again.  Without my knowledge of and testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I would be a mess.  I would not be able to handle the trials of mortality. Honestly, I don't know how those who don't have the Gospel, who are not members of the Church, who haven't made Covenants and don't live the Commandments, get through life.  In fact, a lot of them don't.

There is a peace and joy which comes with living the Gospel of Jesus Christ that you cannot find anywhere else.  Despite all of the trials and setbacks which we are all bound to face during our mortal journey, we can all be at peace and find happiness, even during hard times, through living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There are blessings ready to be poured down from heaven for those who get on and stay on the covenant path.  When we are baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, we begin that covenant journey.  That's the easy part.  The hard part is staying on the covenant path.  Staying on the covenant path requires effort, sacrifice, determination, and faith.  One of the blessings we receive when we are baptized is the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This is not a gift to be taken lightly.  Isn't it amazing that we can have the constant companionship of a member of the Godhead, if we remain worthy throughout our lives?  Such an incredible gift.

Staying on the covenant path is not difficult if we put forth daily effort such as daily prayer and scripture study.  If we don't put forth a daily effort, it is very easy to fall off the path.  Believe me, I've seen it time and time again.  It's extremely sad.  So many people are dropping like flies.  So many elect, covenant making, sons and daughters of God are dropping like flies. I just learned of another one yesterday.  A father with four children and another one on the way is walking out on his family for another woman.  Whenever I hear stories of divorce like this I always know that one or both of the spouses fell off the covenant path.  It's so tragic.

We know, through the Prophet, that Satan is quadrupling his efforts.  I'm certainly seeing the fruits of his efforts.  Satan knows the Second Coming is nigh.  Prophets and Apostles are ever increasingly testifying of the urgency to prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior.  Time is certainly short.  Even Satan knows it.

I'm ever so grateful that my faith is strong in my Savior and His Gospel.  Everyday I make conscious, deliberate choices that keep me on the covenant path.  If Satan is quadrupling his efforts, then shouldn't we also quadruple our efforts to thwart him?

I am so grateful to be blessed with a loving, supportive family.  Having family members who sacrifice for each other and are willing to bear one another's burdens is a tremendous blessing.

Being a member of the Lord's true Church and having the blessings of living His Gospel plus having a loving, supportive family who are willing to sacrifice and bear one another's burdens are truly the two greatest blessings anyone could have. I am tremendously blessed.

That's my two cents.

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom!

Here's another blast from the past.  :-)

10 Things President Nelson Has Learned In 10 Decades

I read this in theChurchNews.com today.  Thought I would share the 10 things that President Nelson said he learned in his 10 decades on earth.

Wise words from a wise prophet of God.

Here's the article:

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — Now in his “10th decade of life,” President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared 10 spiritual truths he has learned and left an apostolic blessing on the approximately 1,200 Latter-day Saints, community leaders and an interfaith Tongan choir attending the first stop of his current Pacific ministry tour.

His wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, accompanied the 94-year-old prophet-president, as did Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, all of whom also spoke during the special devotional Thursday, May 16, in the Kona Hawaii Stake Center in Kailua next to the Kona Hawaii Temple.

The four continued the nine-day ministry tour, leaving Hawaii the next day for additional stops in Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Tahiti.

After tracing some of the highlights of his large family, professional medical career and long life, President Nelson shared ten things he has learned:

1 -- "God is our Father. He loves us and He wants us to have joy. He does want us to have immortality and eternal life, but He wants us to choose this course. He honors our agency.”

2 -- “Jesus is the Christ, the Beloved Son of His Heavenly Father. He came into the world to do the will of His Father. He was lifted up on the cross, and that would be the way of granting for us immortality. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, every one of us will be resurrected from the grave.”

3 -- “We are created in the image of our Father and of His Son,” President Nelson continued. Drawing examples from his career as a cardiac surgeon, he pointed out the body can heal and regulate itself.  “It’s guaranteed. It’s God’s gift to us.”

4 -- “God communicates with His children on the earth through prophets. This has been the method of instruction from the time of Adam,” he said, listing other prophets as well. “This dispensation will not end in apostasy, and it will fill the earth.”

5 -- “The scriptures are true,” he said. “They comprise a rich reservoir of divine doctrine.”

6 -- “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. It is the restoration of Christ’s New Testament Church, and the gospel is the same that God taught to Adam and Noah” and so forth. “The gospel is ancient, and the restoration of that gospel is so precious.”

7 -- “Satan is allowed to function … and I’ve learned that if you want to be miserable, follow Satan’s ways. If you want to have joy in life, follow the Savior’s way.”

8 -- “The youth of Zion today are a chosen generation,” President Nelson said. “Before these young people in today’s generation were born, they received their first lessons in the world of spirits. They were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in His vineyard for the salvation and souls of men.”

9 -- “Joy comes from keeping the commandments. ... Keeping the commandments of God are enabling. They are ennobling. They are protective.”

10 -- “Salvation is an individual matter. Exaltation is a little more, it is a family matter,” including the sealing in the temple, “and when death comes, you have the assurance of knowing that it is temporary.”

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Birthday Dad!

Here's a blast from the past.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the Best Mom Ever!

Quote of the Day

"A very important message for youth everywhere is to know your eternal identity as a child of God. Be aware that Satan will try to deceive you about who you are. He is quite fixed on confusing us about that truth. The Lord is saddened when you compare yourself to your peers. The adversary would have you think that you don’t have enough friends or enough “likes” on Instagram. Always remember that the most important “like” is that the Lord loves you.

"In fact, He loves you deeply. I invite you to stand in front of the mirror every morning and say to yourself, “I am amazing and awesome. I am a son/daughter of God. He loves me.”

-- Elder Gary E. Stevenson Of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, May 10, 2019 Instagram post

Object or Agent

We had Stake Conference this morning. Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the 70 was there and spoke to us.  We also had a couple of youth speak to us.  They both gave excellent talks.  One of them, Dane Tolson, always reminds me of my nephew, Dallas, because they used to be good friends when they were younger. Dane spoke about his faith and how it strengthens him in his life.  It makes me sad to see the different paths in life they have chosen.  But I digress.

The other youth speaker was a young woman who spoke about the role of young women but focusing on reaching to Christ.  She told the story of the woman with an issue of blood from the New Testament. She related how the woman reached out towards Christ with faith to be healed.

The temple president and his wife also spoke for a few minutes. The Temple President's wife focused on President Eyring's talk from this past General Conference. She said that talk really resonated with her when she first heard it.  She said she was in her living room watching conference and it was rainy and gloomy outside.  As soon as President Eyring started his talk, the sun came out and filled her living room with light.  She mentioned the quote from that talk that I have already put on my blog once about family relations being more glorious than imagined if we live the gospel to the best of our ability.  We don't need to worry about family members who have strayed who are making bad choices. Here is the link to President Eyring's talk.

Then the Stake President, President Wells, spoke.  He told a joke that his elderly mother told him.  I thought it was kind of funny so I will relate it here.  "You know what I herd?"... No, what  have you heard? ... "Sheep".  Ha ha.  It doesn't work as well in print since the joke is based on a homophone.

Anyway, the Stake President's talk was focused on gathering scattered Israel.  Which includes strengthening individual testimonies, missionary work -- bringing people to Christ both living and dead.  Those who are lost don't know they are lost.  He talked about a recently returned missionary whom he was interviewing and asked her what the most difficult part of serving her mission was.  She said, "interrupting people's lives".  Then she went on to relate that her senior companion taught her an important lesson.  She told her that what they were doing was the most important interruption of people's lives.  Or something to that effect.  After that, she had a different perspective on her service as a missionary.  Which made it easier for her to "interrupt people's lives".

Then for the last hour, Elder Pearson spoke. He focused on the difference between being an object and being an agent.  One example he used was the beautiful trees in the Pacific Northwest.  They can't just say to themselves, "it's too crowded here in the Pacific Northwest, I'm going to move to Utah where it's less crowded."  Or the rocks can't say, "it's too rainy here in the Pacific Northwest, I'm going to Arizona where it doesn't rain so much."  No, objects must follow the laws of nature, the laws of God.  Agents, on the other hand, make their own choices.  They have agency.

Another example was Nephi and his brothers.  When Nephi's bow broke, what did his brothers do?  They complained about it.  How were they going to obtain food?  Now they were going to starve.  They were acting like objects, victims of their circumstances unable to change anything.  What did Nephi do? He acted.  He made another bow, and was therefore able to hunt and obtain food.  Nephi acted as an agent.  He didn't just complain about it, he did something about it.

Another example Elder Pearson used was about Stake Conference.  Objects will go to Stake Conference out of a sense of obligation.  They will complain about the talks given and rhetorically  ask, "Why couldn't they get better speakers?", etc.  Agents, on the other hand, will go to Stake Conference with a hope and determination to feel the Holy Ghost and receive personal revelation relevant to their lives. Objects will use Stake and General Conferences as a free pass for a vacation since they have no church responsibilities.  Agents will use Stake and General Conferences as a wonderful opportunity to learn from Prophets and Church leaders, to receive revelation, and to grow spiritually.

I wish I could've taken notes and remembered more from Stake Conference today.  But that's the best I can do going off of my memory.  Hopefully I didn't mix things up too much.  But that's what I got out of Stake Conference today.

As an added bonus, here is Elder Pearson's last General Conference talk. It was actually one of my favorite talks given at that conference.  I remembered it just by the title.

I hope we can all be agents and not objects.  Take control of your life and your destiny.  Use your agency wisely.  Always reach towards Christ with faith.  Help gather scattered Israel by helping others come unto Christ, including lost sheep who don't know they are lost.  Do the best you can to keep the commandments and stay on the covenant path, and everything, including family relations, will be more glorious than we ever imagined in the next life.

That's my two cents.