The War Goes On

I mentioned the War in Heaven in one of my posts earlier this week.  This may be a foreign concept to some of you.  Anyway I found this article, from the April 2017 Ensign, written by a General Authority and thought it went along well with my past couple of posts.  Elder Lawrence explains the War in Heaven quite well.  I thought about cutting it down but I'm going to post the whole thing because it's very well written and informative.

I'm going to bold some of the ideas that stand out to me.  Enjoy the article. 

The War Goes On

By Elder Larry R. Lawrence
Of the Seventy



The war that began in heaven continues to this day. In fact, the battle is heating up as the Saints prepare for the return of the Savior.

Anyone who follows international news will agree that we live in a time of “wars and rumors of wars” (D&C 45:26). Fortunately, everyone on earth is a war veteran. We have been battling the hosts of evil in an ongoing war that began in the premortal sphere before we were born.

Because we had not yet received physical bodies, we fought the War in Heaven without swords, guns, or bombs. But the fighting was just as intense as any modern war, and there were billions of casualties.

The premortal war was fought with words, ideas, debate, and persuasion (see Revelation 12:7–9, 11). Satan’s strategy was to frighten people. He knew that fear is the best way to destroy faith. He may have used arguments like these: “It’s too hard.” “It’s impossible to make it back clean.” “There’s too much risk.” “How do you know you can trust Jesus Christ?” He was very jealous of the Savior.

Thankfully, God’s plan triumphed over Satan’s lies. God’s plan involved moral agency for mankind and a great sacrifice. Jehovah, known to us as Jesus Christ, volunteered to be that sacrifice—to suffer for all our sins. He was willing to lay down His life for His brothers and sisters so that those who repented could come back clean and eventually become like their Heavenly Father. (See Moses 4:1–4; Abraham 3:27.)

The other advantage that helped Jehovah win the hearts of God’s children was the powerful testimonies borne by His supporters,led by Michael, the archangel (see Revelation 12:7, 11; D&C 107:54). In premortality, Adam was called Michael, and Satan was called Lucifer, which means the “lightbearer.”1 That may seem like a strange name for the prince of darkness (see Moses 7:26), but the scriptures teach that Satan was “an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God” before he fell (see D&C 76:25–28).

How could a spirit with so much knowledge and experience fall so far? It was because of his pride. Lucifer rebelled against our Father in Heaven because he wanted God’s kingdom for himself.

In his classic talk “Beware of Pride,” President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) taught that Lucifer “wished to be honored above all others” and that “his prideful desire was to dethrone God.”2 You have heard too that Satan wanted to destroy man’s agency, but that was not the only reason he fell out of favor. He was cast out of heaven for rebellion against the Father and the Son (see D&C 76:25; Moses 4:3).

Why did you and I fight against the devil? We fought out of loyalty. We loved and supported our Father in Heaven. We wanted to become like Him. Lucifer had a different goal. He wanted to replace the Father (see Isaiah 14:12–14; 2 Nephi 24:12–14). Imagine how Satan’s betrayal hurt our Heavenly Parents. In the scriptures, we read that “the heavens wept over him” (D&C 76:26).

After a heated campaign, Michael and his armies prevailed. Two-thirds of the heavenly hosts chose to follow the Father (see D&C 29:36). Satan and his followers were cast out of heaven, but they were not sent immediately to outer darkness. First, they were sent to this earth (see Revelation 12:7–9), where Jesus Christ was to be born and where His atoning sacrifice would be carried out.

Why were Satan’s hosts allowed to come to earth? They came to provide opposition for those who are being tested here (see 2 Nephi 2:11). Will they eventually be cast into outer darkness? Yes. After the Millennium, Satan and his hosts will be cast out forever.

Satan knows that his days are numbered. At the Second Coming of Jesus, Satan and his angels will be bound for 1,000 years (see Revelation 20:1–3; 1 Nephi 22:26; D&C 101:28). As that deadline approaches, the forces of evil are fighting desperately to capture as many souls as they can.

John the Revelator was shown the War in Heaven as part of a grand vision. He was shown how Satan was cast down to earth to tempt mankind. This was John’s reaction: “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:12).

So how does Satan spend his days, knowing he has no time to lose? The Apostle Peter wrote that “the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

What motivates Satan? He will never have a body, he will never have a wife or a family, and he will never have a fulness of joy, so he wants to make all men and women “miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27).

The devil targets all men, but especially those who have the most potential for eternal happiness. He is clearly jealous of anyone who is on the pathway to exaltation. The scriptures teach that Satan “maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about” (D&C 76:29).

The war that began in heaven continues to this day. In fact, the battle is heating up as the Saints prepare for the return of the Savior.
President Brigham Young (1801–77) prophesied “that the Church would spread, prosper, grow and extend, and that in proportion to the spread of the Gospel among the nations of the earth, so would the power of Satan rise.”3

I think all of us would agree that this prophecy is being fulfilled as we watch evil infiltrate the societies of the world.  President Young taught that we need to study the enemy’s tactics in order to defeat him. I share four of Satan’s proven strategies and some ideas on how to resist them.

Satan’s Strategies

1. Temptation. The devil is brazen when it comes to putting wicked ideas into our minds. The Book of Mormon teaches that Satan whispers unclean and unkind thoughts and sows thoughts of doubt. He nags us to act on addictive urges and to entertain selfishness and greed. He doesn’t want us to recognize where these ideas are coming from, so he whispers, “I am no devil, for there is none” (2 Nephi 28:22).

How can we resist this direct temptation? One of the most effective tools is to simply send Satan away. That’s what Jesus would do.

The New Testament account of the Savior on the mount of temptations is instructive. After each temptation the devil presented to Him, Jesus used a two-step defensive technique: first, He ordered Satan to leave; then He quoted scripture.

Let me give you an example: “Get thee hence, Satan,” commanded Jesus, “for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). The next verse records, “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him” (Matthew 4:11). The Savior’s defense was very effective!

The biography of President Heber J. Grant (1856–1945) gives insight into how President Grant, as a young man, resisted the devil. When President Grant recognized that Satan was whispering to him, trying to plant doubts in his heart, he simply said out loud, “Mr. Devil, shut up.”4

You have the right to tell Satan to leave when you are confronted with temptation. The scriptures teach, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

The other part of the Savior’s defense was to quote scripture. There is great power in memorizing scripture, as Jesus did. Scriptural verses can become an arsenal of spiritual ammunition.
When you are tempted, you can recite commandments such as “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy,” “Love your enemies,” or “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly” (Exodus 20:8; Luke 6:27; D&C 121:45). Scripture power not only intimidates Satan, but it also brings the Spirit into your heart, reassures you, and fortifies you against temptation.

2. Lies and deception. The scriptures reveal that Satan is “the father of lies” (2 Nephi 9:9). Don’t believe him when he whispers messages such as “You never do anything right,” “You are too sinful to be forgiven,” “You will never change,” “No one cares about you,” and “You have no talents.”

Another of his oft-used lies is the following: “You need to try everything at least once—just to gain experience. One time won’t hurt you.” The dirty little secret that he doesn’t want you to know is that sin is addictive.

Another effective lie that Satan will try on you is this: “Everyone else is doing it. It’s OK.” It’s not OK! So tell the devil that you don’t want to go to the telestial kingdom—even if everyone else is going there.

Although Satan will lie to you, you can count on the Spirit to tell you the truth. That’s why the gift of the Holy Ghost is so essential.
The devil has been called “the great deceiver.”5 He attempts to counterfeit every true principle the Lord presents.

Remember, counterfeits are not the same as opposites. The opposite of white is black, but a counterfeit for white might be off-white or gray. Counterfeits bear a resemblance to the real thing in order to deceive unsuspecting people. They are a twisted version of something good, and just like counterfeit money, they are worthless. Let me illustrate.

One of Satan’s counterfeits for faith is superstition. His counterfeit for love is lust. He counterfeits the priesthood by introducing priestcraft, and he imitates God’s miracles by means of sorcery.

Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, but same-sex marriage is only a counterfeit. It brings neither posterity nor exaltation. Although his imitations deceive many people, they are not the real thing. They cannot bring lasting happiness.

God warned us about counterfeits in the Doctrine and Covenants. He said, “That which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness” (D&C 50:23).

3. Contention. Satan is the father of contention. The Savior teaches, “He stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another” (3 Nephi 11:29).

The devil has learned from centuries of experience that where there is contention, the Spirit of the Lord will depart. Ever since he convinced Cain to kill Abel, Satan has influenced siblings to quarrel. He also stirs up problems in marriages, among ward members, and between missionary companions. He delights in seeing good people argue. He tries to start family arguments right before church on Sunday, right before family home evening on Monday night, and whenever a couple plans to attend a temple session. His timing is predictable.

When there is contention in your home or workplace, immediately stop whatever you are doing and seek to make peace. It doesn’t matter who started it.

Contention often begins with faultfinding. Joseph Smith taught that “the devil flatters us that we are very righteous, when we are feeding on the faults of others.”6 When you think about it, self-righteousness is just a counterfeit for real righteousness.

Satan loves to spread contention in the Church. He specializes in pointing out the faults of Church leaders. Joseph Smith warned the Saints that the beginning step to apostasy is to lose confidence in the leaders of the Church.7

Almost all anti-Mormon literature is based on lies about the character of Joseph Smith. The enemy works hard to discredit Joseph because the message of the Restoration hangs on the Prophet’s account of what happened in the Sacred Grove. The devil is working harder today than ever before to make members question their testimonies of the Restoration.

In the early days of our dispensation, many priesthood brethren, to their regret, did not stay loyal to the Prophet. One of them was Lyman E. Johnson, who was excommunicated for unrighteous conduct. He later lamented having left the Church: “I would suffer my right hand to be cut off, if I could believe it again. Then I was full of joy and gladness. My dreams were pleasant. When I awoke in the morning my spirit was cheerful. I was happy by day and by night, full of peace and joy and thanksgiving. But now it is darkness, pain, sorrow, misery in the extreme. I have never since seen a happy moment.”8

Think about those words. They stand as a warning to all Church members.

I am a convert to the Church. I was baptized when I was a 23-year-old young single adult attending medical school in Arizona, USA. I know firsthand how Satan works on investigators to confuse them and discourage them when they are seeking truth.

All during my youth, I had watched the examples of Latter-day Saint friends. I was impressed with the way they conducted their lives. I made the decision to learn more about the Church, but I did not want to tell anyone I was studying Mormonism. To avoid pressure from my friends, I decided to make my search a private investigation.

This was many years before the internet, so I went to the public library. I found a copy of the Book of Mormon and a book called A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, by Elder LeGrand Richards (1886–1983) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I began to read these books with great desire, and I found them inspiring.

While my spirit was yearning to learn more, Satan began to whisper in my ear. He told me that in order to be completely objective, I needed to read what was written by the critics of the Church also. I went back to the public library and began to look around. Sure enough, I found a book that discredited the Prophet Joseph.

Reading this anti-Mormon book confused me. I lost that sweet spirit and influence that had guided my investigation. I became frustrated and was about to abandon my search for truth. I was praying for an answer while reading anti-Mormon literature!

To my surprise, I received a phone call from a high school friend who was attending Brigham Young University. She invited me to come visit her in Utah, promising that I would love the scenic trip. She had no idea that I was secretly studying about her Church.

I accepted her invitation. My friend suggested that we go to Salt Lake City to visit Temple Square. She was surprised by my enthusiastic response. She had no idea how interested I was to learn the truth about Joseph Smith and the Restoration.

The sister missionaries on Temple Square were very helpful. Without knowing it, they answered many of my questions. Their testimonies influenced me to “doubt [my] doubts,”9 and my faith began to grow. The power of a heartfelt testimony cannot be overestimated.

My friend also shared her testimony with me and invited me to pray and ask God if the Church was true. On the long drive back to Arizona, I began to pray with faith—for the first time “with a sincere heart, with real intent” (Moroni 10:4). At some point on that trip, it seemed that my whole car lit up with light. I learned for myself that light can dispel darkness.

After I had decided to be baptized, the devil put up a final struggle. He worked on my family, who did everything in their power to discourage me, and they refused to attend my baptism.

I was baptized anyway, and gradually their hearts were softened. They began to help me research my family history. A few years later, I baptized my younger brother. The friend who invited me to visit her in Utah is now my wife.

4. Discouragement. Satan effectively uses this tool on the most faithful Saints when all else fails. For me, when I begin to feel discouraged, it helps me just to recognize who is trying to get me down. This makes me mad enough to cheer up—just to spite the devil.

Several years ago, President Benson gave a talk called “Do Not Despair.” In that insightful talk, he warned, “Satan is increasingly striving to overcome the Saints with despair, discouragement, despondency, and depression.”10 President Benson urged Church members to be on guard, and he gave 12 realistic suggestions for fighting discouragement.

His suggestions include serving others; working hard and avoiding idleness; practicing good health habits, which include exercising and eating foods in their natural state; seeking a priesthood blessing; listening to inspiring music; counting your blessings; and setting goals. And above all, as the scriptures teach, we are to pray always so we can conquer Satan (see D&C 10:5).11

Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.12

It is important to know that there are limits to the power of evil. The Godhead sets those limits, and Satan is not allowed to cross them. For example, the scriptures assure us that “power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children” (D&C 29:47).

Another significant limitation is that Satan does not know our thoughts unless we tell him. The Lord explained, “There is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart” (D&C 6:16).

Perhaps this is why the Lord has given us commandments such as “Do not murmur” (D&C 9:6) and “Thou shalt not speak evil of thy neighbor” (D&C 42:27). If you can learn to bridle your tongue (see James 1:26), you won’t end up giving too much information to the devil. When he hears murmuring, complaining, and criticizing, he takes careful notes. Your negative words expose your weaknesses to the enemy.
I have good news for you. The armies of God are larger than the armies of Lucifer. You may look around and think to yourself, “The world is becoming more and more wicked. Satan must be winning the war.” Don’t be fooled. The truth is, we outnumber the enemy. Remember, two-thirds of God’s children chose the Father’s plan.

Brothers and sisters, make sure you are fighting on the Lord’s side. Make sure you are carrying the sword of the Spirit.

It is my prayer that at the end of your lives, you can say with the Apostle Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

-- The War Goes On, Elder Larry R. Lawrence, April 2017 Ensign

May we all continue the fight against the evil one. Satan and his minions are jealous of those on the covenant path. They know they are fighting a losing battle but are working their hardest to make everyone as miserable as themselves. We are much more powerful than Satan.  Don't let him deceive you.  Satan's is a losing cause.  The winner has already been decided.  Be on the winning team! 

That's my two cents.

"Pride Month" ?

This past week I have seen two members of the Church praising "Pride Week" or what it represents.  What these misguided members don't understand is multifaceted.  Let me explain.

First of all, these misguided people think they are being loving and accepting of their fellow man by praising the LGBT agenda.  When in reality they are condoning sin and demeaning their fellow man.  It is easy to love your fellow man and accept them as human beings and fellow brothers and sisters without condoning sinful behavior.  And yes, homosexuality is a sin.  Same-sex attraction is not, but breaking the law of chastity in any respect is a sin.  I didn't make the rules.  God did.  I'm just explaining them.

Now, before you think I am just a naïve member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints who has no clue, let me assure you that I know what I am talking about.

I went to medical school in San Francisco.  That should explain a lot.  I not only had many of my clinicians/professors who were openly homosexual or even obvious closet homosexuals, but many of my patients also.  I did not treat them any different than I would anybody else.  In fact, I grew to have compassion for them in their trial.  Most were very nice people.  In fact I remember one patient who I was going to do a bloody nail avulsion on.  He was obviously homosexual.  But he warned me profusely that he was HIV-positive and told me to be very careful.  That's just one example. By the way, I was still a student at the time and did not have much experience, which might explain why the patient was a little concerned for me.

So I've had plenty of experience interacting with homosexuals.  You don't need to condone their lifestyle to treat them kindly.  We are all children of God who sin differently.  But we should never condone or praise a sinful lifestyle.

Satan has pushed the LGBT agenda so much recently, but many people are confused.  It's almost as if society is teaching us that that lifestyle is superior in some way.  Which is completely and utterly false. Society teaches that if we don't condone and praise homosexuality that we are intolerant and unloving.  This is what Satan would have us believe.  But God teaches us that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.  Anything else is counterfeit.  It doesn't matter what the laws of the land are.  God's laws trump everything.

Another disturbing thing about "Pride Week", or pride month whatever it is, is the use of the word pride itself. Scripturally, pride is a vice.  It is not something you want attached to your name.  There is a difference between being proud of someone for an accomplishment and being prideful. President Ezra Taft Benson gave an iconic talk on pride back in 1989.  Here is an excerpt.

"Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. (See Mosiah 3:11; 3 Ne. 6:18.) ...

"Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing.

"The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.

"Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of “my will and not thine be done.” As Paul said, they “seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” (Philip. 2:21.)"

"Our will in competition to God’s will allows desires, appetites, and passions to go unbridled. (See Alma 38:12; 3 Ne. 12:30.)

"The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives. (See Hel. 12:6.) They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great knowledge, their abilities versus God’s priesthood power, their accomplishments against His mighty works.

"Our enmity toward God takes on many labels, such as rebellion, hard-heartedness, stiff-neckedness, unrepentant, puffed up, easily offended, and sign seekers. The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren’t interested in changing their opinions to agree with God’s." -- Ezra Taft Benson, "Beware of Pride", April 1989

Doesn't that exactly describe the LGBT agenda and mindset?  Hatred, hostility, opposition.  My will, not thine.  Unbridled appetites and desires. Combative in nature. They want everyone to agree with them, they are not interested in changing their opinions to agree with God's, or anybody's.

Yes, "Pride Month" is named properly.  It fits the LGBT agenda to a tee.  Yet, ironically they don't understand that it is a very derogatory term.  Yet that is what they are self labeling themselves as.

So, praising "Pride Month" is disturbing on many levels.  First of all you are condoning sin by praising a homosexual lifestyle.  By telling people to "be who you are or be proud of who you are" in terms of LGBT lifestyle and pride is actually promoting hatred, hostility, and opposition.  It is not promoting love and acceptance.

And to place a label of LGBT on someone as "who they are" is actually degrading.  Their lifestyle or struggles with same-sex attraction or body dysmorphia should not be what define them. What should define everybody and should be the first thing you associate yourself with is being a child of God.  That is what defines us.  We are all children of God.

Satan wants us to label and define others and ourselves in derogatory terms.  And then promote it as something good.  We should all be smarter than that.  Don't let Satan buffalo you.

To promote "LGBT Pride Month" as anything but derogatory and demeaning is misguided and wrong.

That's my two cents.

Lone Coyote

This morning when I went outside I was sitting on the edge of my sidewalk overlooking our property.  I saw some movement and lo and behold there was a lone coyote trotting across our field.

I wish I had a camera and was able to use it -- I could have taken some awesome pictures -- but this is pretty much what it looked like.



He went right by the dog tree where I usually sit.  I was cursing myself for not being there.  But then I probably wouldn't have seen him.  He kept trotting right across the road and into the forest.  Then he left the forest and went up the hill behind the forest.

I high tailed it down there as fast as I could, but he was long gone.  Not sure where he went exactly.  He was probably watching me.  I was hoping to see him and maybe a few of his cohorts.  To no avail. Luckily Dad just mowed yesterday so I was able to go behind the forest right where he went on the same trail. I was calling out to him but obviously he wanted nothing to do with me.

He wasn't in any hurry.  He was just trotting along his way.  It was so cool to see him. I love living out here in the country where we see all kinds of wildlife in their natural environment.

That's my two cents.

Choose to Believe

"The decision to believe is the most important choice we ever make."

-- Elder L. Whitney Clayton Of the Presidency of the Seventy

We make many choices in life, everyday.  Some big, some small.  Some important, some not.  In fact, choice is central to God's plan of happiness.  Choice is so important that our agency is, in part, why there was a war in heaven.

A major part of our mortal journey here on earth is making choices.  How we exercise our agency will determine our final destination in the eternities.  President Monson said it very concisely, "Decisions determine destiny."

So for Elder Clayton to say that the most important choice we ever make is the decision to believe, is not insignificant.

In fact, our choice to believe is what got us here, on Earth with a mortal body.  Everybody here that's ever been born chose to follow Christ in our pre-mortal existence.

Unfortunately, many of our fellow brothers and sisters here on Earth have chosen not to believe and have chosen to turn away from following Christ.  It is very tragic.  But thankfully, because of Christ's atonement, those who have chosen to turn away, can also choose to believe again.

It is my hope and prayer that we will all make the right decision when it comes to the most important choice we will ever make, and choose to believe.

That's my two cents.

Posing with Grandma

Today I was perusing through my scanned photos and came across these.  I don't remember seeing these photos before but I do remember that white and red polka dot dress.  I loved that dress.  So pretty.

Tammy and Grandma 1983

 I love this first picture I posted with me and Grandma posing.  The photo was dated 1983 so I would've been 12 years old in this picture.  I love the genuine smiles.  And I love that picture of Jesus in the background.  I will always associate that picture with Grandma's house. If you look closely, you will see the stone polar bear lamp that I loved playing with when I was younger.  I'm so happy to now have it in our home.  :-)

Full-length photo of me in my pretty, frilly dress.

Another photo of me and Grandma from 1983.  This has a better view of the awesome polar bear lamp.  I love that thing!

Same day in 1983.  Outside shot.  Looks like summertime with the dark green leaves.

I have such happy memories of Grandma and all of the lessons she taught me.  :-)

That's my two cents.

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.