My dad sent me this from this year's Priesthood/Relief Society manual by President George Albert Smith, page 7. I am not in Relief Society and had not read it. I loved it. It connects with my former post:
"Within the last year, I have had the privilege of meeting and conversing on the gospel with some men who live in this community [Salt Lake City], not members of our Church. One man had resided here for twenty years, a man whose life is above reproach, a good citizen, a splendid business man, one who has kindly feelings towards our people. He told me that he had lived here twenty years, and he had come to the conclusion that we were just as good as our neighbors who are members of other churches; he could not see any difference in us.
"I want to say to you, my brethren and sisters, that is no compliment to me. If the gospel of Jesus Christ does not make me a better man, then I have not developed as I should, and if our neighbors not in this Church can live among us from year to year and see no evidence of the benefits that come from keeping the commandments of God in our lives, then there is need for reform in Israel. …"
"It is high time to awake out of sleep!" (Romans 13:11). Is there any other way to truly awake and arise than to testify, lift, and share His love?
Monday, February 13, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Dare to Be Different!
The other day at church an opinion was stated that as members of the Church, we want to appear like everyone else so that others will see we are normal and therefore want to be apart of us. It was in reference to appealing to non-members. I understand what was meant by this statement, but still, I didn't really agree. I believe we need to be different from the world in powerful ways, to stand apart from the crowd, not because we are haughty but because we are distinct, because we have a great sense of purpose (or we should, if we don't). We should not only appear different but BE different because we possess the greatest gift on earth: the Holy Ghost, which, if activated, gives us great power and vision and understanding.
When I heard this comment, I thought of a quote by President Spencer W. Kimball that we have been quoting for thirty years: "Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world . . . will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different--in happy ways--from the women of the world."
Quoting Sheri Dew from here on out: "Are we all that different from the other good women of the world? Are we ever going to do more than just quote President Kimball? We have the gift of the Holy Ghost, a living prophet, spiritual gifts that magnify us, access to priesthood power, ordinances that endow us with knowledge and power, unique leadership training, and the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness. We should be far more distinctive than even the very finest women in the world. But are we? In our every day lives, do we 'talk of Christ,' 'rejoice in Christ,' 'preach of Christ,' and testify of Him (2 Nephi 25:26)? Are we women on a mission to build His kingdom?
"Now, I am not saying we're not doing lots of good in the world. No women anywhere have done so much for so many so often. But I think we need to ask ourselves, 'Are we the women God needs us to be in the latter part of the latter days?'
"If it's any consolation, we're not the first generation to struggle with this. In 1873, Eliza R. Snow said to the Relief Society: 'We are privileged above all other women-kind on the face of the earth. . . . I have thought . . . how necessary for the Saints of the living God to be more of a distinct people than what they are . . . to be as different from the rest of the world as our privileges are more exalted--we should be a shining light to the nations of the earth. But I often say to myself, are we what we should be?'
"We may not be the first generation of sisters to be influenced by the world, but we need to be the last. We've just got to be the last. The Apostle Paul said it best: "It is high time to awake out of sleep. . . . The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light' (Romans 13:11-12; emphasis added).
"Sisters, it is high time for us to arise and have the influence God intended us to have. It is high time for us to lead the women of the world. It is high time for us to model the distinctiveness and happiness that sets true followers of Jesus Christ apart" (Awake, Arise, and Come unto Christ, 2008 BYU Women's Conference).
Let's dare to be different. Let's not be ashamed of our uniqueness. Let's set ourselves apart from the world, for that's really HOW we follow the Savior and become like Him, by choosing Him above trends or popularity. True seekers will see that distinctness with refreshment and follow. I've seen it.
When I heard this comment, I thought of a quote by President Spencer W. Kimball that we have been quoting for thirty years: "Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world . . . will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different--in happy ways--from the women of the world."
Quoting Sheri Dew from here on out: "Are we all that different from the other good women of the world? Are we ever going to do more than just quote President Kimball? We have the gift of the Holy Ghost, a living prophet, spiritual gifts that magnify us, access to priesthood power, ordinances that endow us with knowledge and power, unique leadership training, and the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness. We should be far more distinctive than even the very finest women in the world. But are we? In our every day lives, do we 'talk of Christ,' 'rejoice in Christ,' 'preach of Christ,' and testify of Him (2 Nephi 25:26)? Are we women on a mission to build His kingdom?
"Now, I am not saying we're not doing lots of good in the world. No women anywhere have done so much for so many so often. But I think we need to ask ourselves, 'Are we the women God needs us to be in the latter part of the latter days?'
"If it's any consolation, we're not the first generation to struggle with this. In 1873, Eliza R. Snow said to the Relief Society: 'We are privileged above all other women-kind on the face of the earth. . . . I have thought . . . how necessary for the Saints of the living God to be more of a distinct people than what they are . . . to be as different from the rest of the world as our privileges are more exalted--we should be a shining light to the nations of the earth. But I often say to myself, are we what we should be?'
"We may not be the first generation of sisters to be influenced by the world, but we need to be the last. We've just got to be the last. The Apostle Paul said it best: "It is high time to awake out of sleep. . . . The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light' (Romans 13:11-12; emphasis added).
"Sisters, it is high time for us to arise and have the influence God intended us to have. It is high time for us to lead the women of the world. It is high time for us to model the distinctiveness and happiness that sets true followers of Jesus Christ apart" (Awake, Arise, and Come unto Christ, 2008 BYU Women's Conference).
Let's dare to be different. Let's not be ashamed of our uniqueness. Let's set ourselves apart from the world, for that's really HOW we follow the Savior and become like Him, by choosing Him above trends or popularity. True seekers will see that distinctness with refreshment and follow. I've seen it.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Forgiveness and Prayer Go Hand in Hand
Here is the talk I gave in stake conference a few Sundays ago:
In Kirtland, Ohio, on December 16, 1833, Joseph Smith said: "This one thing is sure, that they who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, and before their robes are made white in the blood of the Lamb, it is to be expected, according to John the Revelator, they will pass through great tribulation."
So when these trials come, as Joseph Smith said they will for all who live godly in Christ, what is our charge?
Our charge is that we must FORGIVE those who hurt, wrong, or misunderstand us.
How do we do that? And why is it so important for us to forgive others?
The answers to these two questions are contained in Mark 11:25: "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
There it is: We learn in this scripture that if we want God’s mercy, we must have mercy on others. How short I fall and am in such need of His mercy! If I am to obtain that, I must forgive those who trespass against me. We also learn in this scripture that prayer is needed in our efforts to forgive.
A few years ago, I had a great charge to forgive, lest my soul became bitter and cankered by some difficult and traumatic circumstances. I soon discovered that it was beyond my gritted teeth, clenched fist, natural-man abilities, for so deep was the pain. I poured out my soul to the Lord.
One day as I was reading Moroni 7, I was reminded that ALL good things come from Christ. I realized that meant even the ability to forgive. As I prayerfully pled with my Father to help me let go and forgive, I became so amazed with the process of HOW He healed my soul. It was a slow process—sometimes creating a holding place for forgiveness can take a long time—but with time and great effort it happened. As He went to work softening my heart and healing my soul, He did so, in part, by leading me to some of the following scriptures and insights:
The story in John 8 taught me about some powerful attributes of the Savior. Through this story, I learned that Jesus did not want to call others in their sins. He wasn’t confrontational. He wasn’t revengeful. He rejoiced not in iniquity but had pure charity.
In John 8, we read: “The scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, and when they had set her in the midst, they said unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” (John 8:3-5).
Notice how Jesus responds to this: “But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger, wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not” (John 8:6). What is he saying by this action? “I don’t want to be involved in this. I’m giving you a chance to just go away. I have no desire to exult in the sins of others.” There is a world of discomfort we sense in those words, “as though he heard them not.” He did not wish to judge. He says so himself at the end of this story when He said, “I judge no man” (verse 15).
Yet, His accusers won’t let Jesus off the hook. “When they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7). He seems be saying, if you are going to judge, judge yourself; “And again, he stooped down, and wrote on the ground” (John 8:8). I don’t think he even wanted to judge her accusers but he definitely turned their thoughts to themselves. Later, after the accusers left, he said to her, “Where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more” (John 8:10-11).
The Joseph Smith Translation adds this interesting phrase: “And the woman glorified God from that hour, and believed on his name” (JST, John 8:11*).
Condemnation often brings alienation and deepens movement into sin. Jesus gave an invitation out of sin because he didn’t dwell on it. There was no stinging condemnation in his voice, perhaps not even the hint of disappointment, just pure and open love. (Adapted from “The Jesus We Need to Know,” by S. Michael Wilcox.)
This story helps me remember that I don’t really know another’s heart. I am definitely not without sin and it is never my place to judge another’s heart. I have learned over the years that sometimes people sin or make mistakes not because they are necessarily evil or bad but because they are weak—they are tired, or stressed, or sick—or they have poor judgment or lack experience or a myriad of other reasons unbeknownst to me. I know that I definitely fall into that category at times. Therefore, I rejoice in what we learn in D&C 137:9: “For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.”
Sometimes we desire to do what is right but we falter because we are human. We all need the Atonement, Christ’s merciful intervention, to be saved. Understanding this principle has greatly increased my empathy and has caused me to want to run to the rescue of others. It has helped soften my heart to be more accepting and less judgmental.
President Monson once quoted Mother Teresa, saying: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
We CAN love others! We must love others! We can replace hate with love through the gifts of the Spirit. President Eyring teaches us that prayer is the ticket: “Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in [others]. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small. Pray for the love to make [others’] joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of [others].”
I know from personal experience that obtaining a desire to replace hate, or apathy, or distain with love takes deep humility. President Spencer W. Kimball addresses how we develop such humility: “How does one get humility? To me, one must constantly be reminded of his dependence. On whom [is he] dependent? On the Lord. How [does one] remind [him]self? By real, constant, worshipful, grateful prayer” (Humility, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [Provo, 16 Jan. 1963], pp. 2-3).
It comes down to how we pray—how real, how constant, how worshipful, and how grateful our prayers are!
President Boyd K. Packer said, “When I hear you say, ‘I can’t! I can’t solve my problems!’ I want to thunder out, ‘Don’t you realize who you are? Haven’t you learned yet that you are a son or daughter of Almighty God? Do you not know that there are powerful resources inherited from Him that you can call upon to give you steadiness, courage, and great power?”
Hymn 285 has become my personal motto. Sometimes I replace the word “Saints” with my name ((I keep the word "ye" in for humor!)):
Ye fearful Saints
Fresh courage take
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy
And shall break
With blessings on your head.
It is my witness that the Lord indeed knows the way up and He knows the way out. I have put that to the test again and again. He has never failed me, only delayed my deliverances. I have become grateful for those painful, stretching delays because they have brought me to my knees and taught me of my absolute dependence upon my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is my salvation, my God, my King. I will stay with Him to the bitter end, or should I say the glorious end, for surely I know it will be with Him at my head!
*This reference is not found in the standard works. It is found in The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the New Testament.
In Kirtland, Ohio, on December 16, 1833, Joseph Smith said: "This one thing is sure, that they who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, and before their robes are made white in the blood of the Lamb, it is to be expected, according to John the Revelator, they will pass through great tribulation."
So when these trials come, as Joseph Smith said they will for all who live godly in Christ, what is our charge?
Our charge is that we must FORGIVE those who hurt, wrong, or misunderstand us.
How do we do that? And why is it so important for us to forgive others?
The answers to these two questions are contained in Mark 11:25: "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
There it is: We learn in this scripture that if we want God’s mercy, we must have mercy on others. How short I fall and am in such need of His mercy! If I am to obtain that, I must forgive those who trespass against me. We also learn in this scripture that prayer is needed in our efforts to forgive.
A few years ago, I had a great charge to forgive, lest my soul became bitter and cankered by some difficult and traumatic circumstances. I soon discovered that it was beyond my gritted teeth, clenched fist, natural-man abilities, for so deep was the pain. I poured out my soul to the Lord.
One day as I was reading Moroni 7, I was reminded that ALL good things come from Christ. I realized that meant even the ability to forgive. As I prayerfully pled with my Father to help me let go and forgive, I became so amazed with the process of HOW He healed my soul. It was a slow process—sometimes creating a holding place for forgiveness can take a long time—but with time and great effort it happened. As He went to work softening my heart and healing my soul, He did so, in part, by leading me to some of the following scriptures and insights:
The story in John 8 taught me about some powerful attributes of the Savior. Through this story, I learned that Jesus did not want to call others in their sins. He wasn’t confrontational. He wasn’t revengeful. He rejoiced not in iniquity but had pure charity.
In John 8, we read: “The scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, and when they had set her in the midst, they said unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” (John 8:3-5).
Notice how Jesus responds to this: “But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger, wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not” (John 8:6). What is he saying by this action? “I don’t want to be involved in this. I’m giving you a chance to just go away. I have no desire to exult in the sins of others.” There is a world of discomfort we sense in those words, “as though he heard them not.” He did not wish to judge. He says so himself at the end of this story when He said, “I judge no man” (verse 15).
Yet, His accusers won’t let Jesus off the hook. “When they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7). He seems be saying, if you are going to judge, judge yourself; “And again, he stooped down, and wrote on the ground” (John 8:8). I don’t think he even wanted to judge her accusers but he definitely turned their thoughts to themselves. Later, after the accusers left, he said to her, “Where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more” (John 8:10-11).
The Joseph Smith Translation adds this interesting phrase: “And the woman glorified God from that hour, and believed on his name” (JST, John 8:11*).
Condemnation often brings alienation and deepens movement into sin. Jesus gave an invitation out of sin because he didn’t dwell on it. There was no stinging condemnation in his voice, perhaps not even the hint of disappointment, just pure and open love. (Adapted from “The Jesus We Need to Know,” by S. Michael Wilcox.)
This story helps me remember that I don’t really know another’s heart. I am definitely not without sin and it is never my place to judge another’s heart. I have learned over the years that sometimes people sin or make mistakes not because they are necessarily evil or bad but because they are weak—they are tired, or stressed, or sick—or they have poor judgment or lack experience or a myriad of other reasons unbeknownst to me. I know that I definitely fall into that category at times. Therefore, I rejoice in what we learn in D&C 137:9: “For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.”
Sometimes we desire to do what is right but we falter because we are human. We all need the Atonement, Christ’s merciful intervention, to be saved. Understanding this principle has greatly increased my empathy and has caused me to want to run to the rescue of others. It has helped soften my heart to be more accepting and less judgmental.
President Monson once quoted Mother Teresa, saying: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
We CAN love others! We must love others! We can replace hate with love through the gifts of the Spirit. President Eyring teaches us that prayer is the ticket: “Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in [others]. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small. Pray for the love to make [others’] joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of [others].”
I know from personal experience that obtaining a desire to replace hate, or apathy, or distain with love takes deep humility. President Spencer W. Kimball addresses how we develop such humility: “How does one get humility? To me, one must constantly be reminded of his dependence. On whom [is he] dependent? On the Lord. How [does one] remind [him]self? By real, constant, worshipful, grateful prayer” (Humility, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [Provo, 16 Jan. 1963], pp. 2-3).
It comes down to how we pray—how real, how constant, how worshipful, and how grateful our prayers are!
President Boyd K. Packer said, “When I hear you say, ‘I can’t! I can’t solve my problems!’ I want to thunder out, ‘Don’t you realize who you are? Haven’t you learned yet that you are a son or daughter of Almighty God? Do you not know that there are powerful resources inherited from Him that you can call upon to give you steadiness, courage, and great power?”
Hymn 285 has become my personal motto. Sometimes I replace the word “Saints” with my name ((I keep the word "ye" in for humor!)):
Ye fearful Saints
Fresh courage take
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy
And shall break
With blessings on your head.
It is my witness that the Lord indeed knows the way up and He knows the way out. I have put that to the test again and again. He has never failed me, only delayed my deliverances. I have become grateful for those painful, stretching delays because they have brought me to my knees and taught me of my absolute dependence upon my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is my salvation, my God, my King. I will stay with Him to the bitter end, or should I say the glorious end, for surely I know it will be with Him at my head!
*This reference is not found in the standard works. It is found in The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the New Testament.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Ellie's Answer
We had a surprise on Saturday! When the February 2012 Friend arrived, Ellie was looking at it and then suddenly exclaimed, "That's me!!! Look! I'm in the Friend!" Sure enough, there she was on page 47 in the Question Corner article! The question was: "My brother and I argue a lot. I want to be nicer, but it’s hard. What are some things I can do to stop fighting?" Here's what she said:
I used to have this problem with my sister. Here are some things that really helped me. #1: If you’re about to say something unkind, think to yourself, “If my brother said this to me, how would I feel?” #2: Every morning when you first see your brother, say something nice like, “I really like that shirt you’re wearing.” If you do these things, you’ll soon be able to get along better with your brother.
Ellie H., age 11, Colorado
It was 100% her idea, her writing, and her submission. Can't help it; it was a proud parent moment! :)
P.S. To see her adorable photo, you'll have to get your hands on an actual February Friend or click on the Friend reference above and download that section. :)
I used to have this problem with my sister. Here are some things that really helped me. #1: If you’re about to say something unkind, think to yourself, “If my brother said this to me, how would I feel?” #2: Every morning when you first see your brother, say something nice like, “I really like that shirt you’re wearing.” If you do these things, you’ll soon be able to get along better with your brother.
Ellie H., age 11, Colorado
It was 100% her idea, her writing, and her submission. Can't help it; it was a proud parent moment! :)
P.S. To see her adorable photo, you'll have to get your hands on an actual February Friend or click on the Friend reference above and download that section. :)
Friday, January 27, 2012
Darn Pride!
I run the risk of writing such a great post on pride that I will be proud of it! (:( Any way I flip the issue of pride, it's a danger. S. Michael Wilcox described it as a gopher with many holes in our soul--it can pop up anytime, anywhere. And as soon as we think we've conquered pride, we've proud of our humility.
C.S. Lewis described it as such: "Catch [a man] at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, 'By jove! I'm being humble,' and almost immediately pride--pride at his own humility--will appear. If he awakes to the danger and tries to smother this new form of pride, make him proud of his attempt--and so on, through as many stages as you please."
It was Mary Ellen Edmunds who said her soul had pride cancer. I loved her honesty. Pride is a cancer to the soul and we all have cancer. Fighting that cancer is a daily effort. Patricia Holland said she believes it's one of those things that must be fought again and again. C.S. Lewis once pointed out that the problem with following the Savior is that you have to start over each day as though nothing has been done before. We have to have a determined mind to daily strip and fight pride in all it's subtle mediums.
HOW?
We need God. Quoting Lewis's wisdom again: "In God you can come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that--and therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison--you do not know God at all. As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you."
Another antidote for pride is gratitude. If we recognize WHAT we have been given and WHO the Giver is, we are in position to fight pride. We awe at the Lord's mercifulness and grace. We want to give Him the glory; we want to render our lives to Him. Again, Lewis's insight speaks truth to my soul: "There is not only joy in humility but tremendous relief." We don't have to pretend; we don't have to compare; we just glory in God and give the glory all back to Him.
If I had a better handle on pride, I could tell you more about the joy and tremendous relief one receives but it's just a moonbeam. As soon as I seem to grab hold, it's gone; I feel proud that I got a glimmer and thus it becomes nearly impossible to catch and hold the glorious moonbeam of pride's antidote: humility.
Darn pride! I'll keep grabbing for those moonbeams. Daily.
P.S. If you ever wonder why I don't allow comments on my blog, it's because it's one of the ways I try to fight pride. It's so easy to feel proud when others pat me on the back publicly. I know I have co-dependency tendencies so it's a way to try to stop up prideful gopher holes... (I do appreciate private comments though. They give me the fortitude to keep trying.)
C.S. Lewis described it as such: "Catch [a man] at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, 'By jove! I'm being humble,' and almost immediately pride--pride at his own humility--will appear. If he awakes to the danger and tries to smother this new form of pride, make him proud of his attempt--and so on, through as many stages as you please."
It was Mary Ellen Edmunds who said her soul had pride cancer. I loved her honesty. Pride is a cancer to the soul and we all have cancer. Fighting that cancer is a daily effort. Patricia Holland said she believes it's one of those things that must be fought again and again. C.S. Lewis once pointed out that the problem with following the Savior is that you have to start over each day as though nothing has been done before. We have to have a determined mind to daily strip and fight pride in all it's subtle mediums.
HOW?
We need God. Quoting Lewis's wisdom again: "In God you can come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that--and therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison--you do not know God at all. As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you."
Another antidote for pride is gratitude. If we recognize WHAT we have been given and WHO the Giver is, we are in position to fight pride. We awe at the Lord's mercifulness and grace. We want to give Him the glory; we want to render our lives to Him. Again, Lewis's insight speaks truth to my soul: "There is not only joy in humility but tremendous relief." We don't have to pretend; we don't have to compare; we just glory in God and give the glory all back to Him.
If I had a better handle on pride, I could tell you more about the joy and tremendous relief one receives but it's just a moonbeam. As soon as I seem to grab hold, it's gone; I feel proud that I got a glimmer and thus it becomes nearly impossible to catch and hold the glorious moonbeam of pride's antidote: humility.
Darn pride! I'll keep grabbing for those moonbeams. Daily.
P.S. If you ever wonder why I don't allow comments on my blog, it's because it's one of the ways I try to fight pride. It's so easy to feel proud when others pat me on the back publicly. I know I have co-dependency tendencies so it's a way to try to stop up prideful gopher holes... (I do appreciate private comments though. They give me the fortitude to keep trying.)
Monday, January 23, 2012
Be Unashamed
Sometimes, do you, like me, ever feel too peculiar? (See Exodus 19:5 and 1 Peter 2:9.)
I have felt particularly that way, perhaps painfully, since I fulfilled an assignment to speak in stake conference yesterday. (I will share the talk soon.) Can I just share with you some of my feelings? I hope my reflections help someone out there.
After hearing the other talks in the Saturday session and those before me on Sunday, I knew my talk would be quite different from the other ones given. I had been given very direct instructions of what I was to speak on and HOW I was to do so. I had never received such direct instructions on a speaking assignment before (and it was particularly different from the last time I spoke in stake conference). From the beginning, I felt it was a tall order to fill but I desired to obey. I was told to speak from my heart, to look into the eyes of the listeners, and to use minimal notes (on the subject of how prayer is vital in our efforts to forgive). I was told that when I speak, the words I say are good, but the spirit I use to speak with is powerful and to use that same conviction when I spoke in conference.
So during conference all the talks given but mine talked about prayer in general (minus the stake president's closing message). All that spoke, other than the members of the stake presidency, read their talks. Mine was an obvious "red thumb" in the mix. As requested, I spoke with spiritual conviction and I worried later that it was too strong. It was obviously stronger than any other talk given. My parents were present and said that my talk quieted the audience and I had everyone's attention. (No, I didn't raise my voice or anything of the sort (I have to laugh at that idea!); I just spoke from my heart.) As I reflected on the experience, I became more and more uneasy and even, sadly, embarrassed.
As I was thus being carried away by fear and "negative pondering," as our stake president taught is Satan's counterfeit to pondering in faith, I began to pray in earnest for understanding. Two thoughts came to mind that I'd like to share:
A talk I'd heard by Sister Julie B. Beck (text, audio) came to mind. In the talk she testified strongly that Satan is raging. She said, "The powerful feeling that has been coming over me is, 'Sisters, fight--fight, Sisters!" She was emotional. The women started clapping. I realized that the words that I spoke were simply a fight for Christ. They were strong. The thought that followed was "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ" (see 2 Timothy 1:8). As I reflected, I realized that I had testified boldly of Him, of His power of deliverance.
Oh, sometimes, I realize, it's so hard to NOT be ashamed when you stand out so much and you feel so exposed and peculiar but we MUST be that way--UNASHAMED and willing to stand by Him NO MATTER WHAT.
It's HARD but you and I can do hard things with the Lord. So let's pick up our crosses and do it (with a smile)! :)
I have felt particularly that way, perhaps painfully, since I fulfilled an assignment to speak in stake conference yesterday. (I will share the talk soon.) Can I just share with you some of my feelings? I hope my reflections help someone out there.
After hearing the other talks in the Saturday session and those before me on Sunday, I knew my talk would be quite different from the other ones given. I had been given very direct instructions of what I was to speak on and HOW I was to do so. I had never received such direct instructions on a speaking assignment before (and it was particularly different from the last time I spoke in stake conference). From the beginning, I felt it was a tall order to fill but I desired to obey. I was told to speak from my heart, to look into the eyes of the listeners, and to use minimal notes (on the subject of how prayer is vital in our efforts to forgive). I was told that when I speak, the words I say are good, but the spirit I use to speak with is powerful and to use that same conviction when I spoke in conference.
So during conference all the talks given but mine talked about prayer in general (minus the stake president's closing message). All that spoke, other than the members of the stake presidency, read their talks. Mine was an obvious "red thumb" in the mix. As requested, I spoke with spiritual conviction and I worried later that it was too strong. It was obviously stronger than any other talk given. My parents were present and said that my talk quieted the audience and I had everyone's attention. (No, I didn't raise my voice or anything of the sort (I have to laugh at that idea!); I just spoke from my heart.) As I reflected on the experience, I became more and more uneasy and even, sadly, embarrassed.
As I was thus being carried away by fear and "negative pondering," as our stake president taught is Satan's counterfeit to pondering in faith, I began to pray in earnest for understanding. Two thoughts came to mind that I'd like to share:
A talk I'd heard by Sister Julie B. Beck (text, audio) came to mind. In the talk she testified strongly that Satan is raging. She said, "The powerful feeling that has been coming over me is, 'Sisters, fight--fight, Sisters!" She was emotional. The women started clapping. I realized that the words that I spoke were simply a fight for Christ. They were strong. The thought that followed was "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ" (see 2 Timothy 1:8). As I reflected, I realized that I had testified boldly of Him, of His power of deliverance.
Oh, sometimes, I realize, it's so hard to NOT be ashamed when you stand out so much and you feel so exposed and peculiar but we MUST be that way--UNASHAMED and willing to stand by Him NO MATTER WHAT.
It's HARD but you and I can do hard things with the Lord. So let's pick up our crosses and do it (with a smile)! :)
Friday, January 20, 2012
You Matter
Do you ever feel overlooked, unnoticed, or forgotten?
The other day a remembrance came to me. It was that my sister, Katie, often felt overlooked. She told me so. Giving just one example: Between her mission and before having children, Katie served in different auxiliary presidencies but once she had children, her callings were less visible. She served mostly with piano playing. Her last calling was in the nursery. She struggled with feeling unwanted and insignificant. And yet, with this remembrance, I was filled with an understanding of the Lord's knowledge of His plan for her. Because Katie was not bombarded with Church responsibilities, she was able to keep her primary focus on her family. She scrapbooked, sewed, cooked, and journaled like no other. When she died, she left her strong love and influence in her home. Her mark is all about her children and husband now. Dennis has said many times that he finds so much comfort in her journals that were so detailed and expressive.
Further, because she wasn't so thinly spread, her service extended beyond to the "ones" that needed her. I don't know how I would have walked a road I was called upon to walk without her strong, supportive belief in me. She called me weekly when I was so mentally, emotionally, and physically weak. She sent me timely gifts of love. I know I wasn't the only one who received such attention and love. It was just her way.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf always says it best: "God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good." To me, Katie was indeed one of those souls and I praise the Lord that He allowed her to minister to me in my times of need. And you know, that ministry from her hasn't stopped. I can still feel it and I thank a loving Father who never leaves me alone.
The other day a remembrance came to me. It was that my sister, Katie, often felt overlooked. She told me so. Giving just one example: Between her mission and before having children, Katie served in different auxiliary presidencies but once she had children, her callings were less visible. She served mostly with piano playing. Her last calling was in the nursery. She struggled with feeling unwanted and insignificant. And yet, with this remembrance, I was filled with an understanding of the Lord's knowledge of His plan for her. Because Katie was not bombarded with Church responsibilities, she was able to keep her primary focus on her family. She scrapbooked, sewed, cooked, and journaled like no other. When she died, she left her strong love and influence in her home. Her mark is all about her children and husband now. Dennis has said many times that he finds so much comfort in her journals that were so detailed and expressive.
Further, because she wasn't so thinly spread, her service extended beyond to the "ones" that needed her. I don't know how I would have walked a road I was called upon to walk without her strong, supportive belief in me. She called me weekly when I was so mentally, emotionally, and physically weak. She sent me timely gifts of love. I know I wasn't the only one who received such attention and love. It was just her way.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf always says it best: "God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good." To me, Katie was indeed one of those souls and I praise the Lord that He allowed her to minister to me in my times of need. And you know, that ministry from her hasn't stopped. I can still feel it and I thank a loving Father who never leaves me alone.
The Lord knows what He's doing with us and we are never lost to Him. Our mark can and will be felt by those who need it most as we listen to and follow the whisperings of the Spirit. We are never overlooked, unnoticed, or forgotten to Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
