I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! In a world that calls evil good and good evil, it is indeed a blessing to belong to a church that unabashedly declares the truth without concern for popularity.
In a world that calls large families irresponsible, it is wonderful to belong to a church that has made it clear that God has not rescinded his command to 'multiply and replenish the earth'. Indeed, in this church children are cherished, and parents are supported and encouraged in their challenging roles as caretaker, teacher, guide, and friend.
In a world that scorns stay at home moms, it is refreshing to belong to a church that esteems them, and encourages them. In fact, it has been taught from the pulpit that it is a mother's responsibility to stay home with her children, unless finances absolutely forbid it. Parent's are encouraged to look over their finances, and evaluate their lifestyle to determine if there is any way to make it possible for Mom to come home and take her place as the most important teacher of her children.
In a world that practically screams 'hater' to anyone who would disagree with the gay rights movement, it is a powerful blessing to belong to a church that teaches that it is possible to love gays with all your heart and still not agree with their lifestyle-that morality is not motivated by anger or judgment, but by a love of truth and a desire to live a clean life.
In a world that mocks the idea of preparedness, and expects the government to take care of it's people, it is indeed a blessing to belong to a church that teaches that the person most responsible for each family's welfare is the father, and in times of need he then may turn to extended family for help. Should the family not be able to provide the needed help, then the church family is more than willing to meet the need. Ultimately, however, it is a blessing to have been warned for over a hundred years that we need to be prepared for any eventuality with a year's supply of food and a 72-hour kit, my family owes it's survival this past year to this teaching and the generosity of the church.
In a world that laughs at the idea that teenagers should be expected to refrain from from sexual intimacy, and flaunts sexuality in dress, entertainment, and behavior it is a blessing to belong to a church that not only teaches it's members to be morally clean, but expects it. Indeed, the church goes to great lengths to sustain parents in guiding their teens to live their lives in contrast to the current cultural expectations. The message is reinforced as often as possible to strengthen our youth as they must face the pressure to abandon these principles daily in school, at work, and practically everywhere they go.
I have learned so much during my lifetime of membership in this church! I have learned how to be a better person, how to handle difficulty, and how to teach. I have learned public speaking, housekeeping, and how to cook from scratch. Most importantly of all, I have learned where to turn when my heart has been wrenched from my chest and I feel that I cannot go on another minute. I have been there, and have miraculously been able to carry on. I know that no matter what horrors I may experience in this life, there is a world beyond this one in which I will find peace. I know that I can endure anything, accomplish anything, and love anyone no matter how evil they may be, with the sustaining love and support of my Heavenly Father. I know that He will send angels if that is what I need.
As the world becomes ever darker, ever more wicked, as it becomes harder to know who to trust, who has been compromised by greed or lust for power, I become ever more grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I know that as long as I do all I can to be worthy of that blessing, I will be guided in all that I do. I will know who to trust and who to be wary of. I will know with a sweet sense of peace what to do to take care of my family.
I have known the reassurance of the Spirit as I have worried about a loved one, or been afraid. I have been blessed by the guidance of the spirit and have avoided car accidents because of clear warnings. I have felt to flee from dangerous situations, and to say no to my children even when it seemed unnecessary. I believe our family has been protected time and time again because of the guidance of the Holy Ghost. I don't know how I would ever function if I were to lose it! I look at people who are in scary situations who do not believe in God, and I wonder how they are able to get through it. I put myself in their situation and know that I would rely heavily on the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
We indeed live in historic times, whatever the catalysts were, we are now in the midst of a major restructuring of the economic makeup of our world. We are also in the midst of social changes, political changes, and even changes in the way people think about families. I am profoundly grateful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it has been an anchor in the storm. It has grounded me as I struggle to make sense of it all, to know what my place is in this ever-changing world. It has truly been a 'peace that passeth all understanding'.
I have been greatly blessed.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Gardening and Life
I have spent several days this past week and a half in my garden. My husband and I have been attempting to garden for 10+ years. I say attempting, because we are best described as slow learners. For many years we struggled to actually get the planting done before the middle of June, which resulted in meager crops at best. This year we were on top of things and got planting the last week of May, a huge accomplishment for us!! Unfortunately, our enthusiasm was weakened by weeks of seemingly incessant rain, and we neglected our weeding duties. The results were, well, overwhelming!
I almost fainted when I saw what had happened to our garden. It looked like a hayfield! I couldn't even see my plants. They were completely hidden by the four and five foot tall weeds that had taken over. We have let our garden go a little in the past, weeds have overtaken some areas, and tomato plants have grown together into a mass of green that made picking the tomatoes difficult, if not impossible. That was one thing, but this was taking it to a new level!
I reluctantly committed to liberating our poor garden, and in addition to finding my garden again I learned a few things along the way.
This scripture came to mind while I was weeding:
24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed atares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
(New Testament | Matthew 13:24 - 30)
My tall, tall weeds were a nuisance, but because they had been in the garden awhile my planting had also grown, but with a stronger root system than they had at first. My plants were able to withstand the disruption of my weed pulling with little harm. This scripture is actually a parable referring to the cleansing of the world from wickedness. The Lord knew that by cleansing too soon, he would risk destroying the righteous too. He had to give His people time to develop strong roots of faith to withstand the necessarily harsh times that would come with such a cleansing.
Another thing that came to mind was the idea that "by their fruits ye shall know them". (Matthew 7:20)
I was able to tell the difference between the weeds and my plants in a few different ways. First, it was quite obvious that the plants with tomatoes on them should stay. All growing things immediately around a tomato plants must be weeds. That is a quite obvious example of the need for us to distinguish ourselves by producing good fruit via service and obedience. Second, I found that the plants with thick stems were more likely to be my plants than weeds. Most weeds that I pulled had very small stems, and therefore week root systems. As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to commit to living as he has taught so completely that our spiritual roots grow deep and our stem of faith grows strong. Otherwise, how are we to be distinguished from the tares to be destroyed?
Finally, if I would have just gone out to the garden a couple of weeks sooner to pull weeds, things would have been so much better for me! I found a vining plant that had wrapped itself around my tomato plants tightly, making removal a challenge without disrupting the tomatoes themselves. Had I caught the vine before it had done so much damage the work would have been less disruptive and challenging. I think this is like dangerous sins in our lives. They almost always start with little things that we allow into our lives, often by simply letting our guard down. With continued neglect, we can find ourselves almost strangled by the sin and its consequences. Clearly, the time to beat a drug addiction, for example, is before it starts by saying no. But, if in our weakness we allow it in, we need to cut it out of our lives immediately before it becomes an addiction. Once it becomes an addiction, the work it will take to overcome it will be exponentially greater than it would have been otherwise.
So, there you have it! The musing of a delinquent gardener.
So, how does this relate to defending the LDS way? Well, I have learned from this scripture:
Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 11:4)
that I can find a lesson in everything, if I am willing to observe and listen to the Holy Ghost. It was this teaching that prompted me to ponder on my experience as I was weeding. This is just one of the many ways that I have been blessed by the gospel as taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Cheers!
I almost fainted when I saw what had happened to our garden. It looked like a hayfield! I couldn't even see my plants. They were completely hidden by the four and five foot tall weeds that had taken over. We have let our garden go a little in the past, weeds have overtaken some areas, and tomato plants have grown together into a mass of green that made picking the tomatoes difficult, if not impossible. That was one thing, but this was taking it to a new level!
I reluctantly committed to liberating our poor garden, and in addition to finding my garden again I learned a few things along the way.
This scripture came to mind while I was weeding:
24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed atares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
(New Testament | Matthew 13:24 - 30)
My tall, tall weeds were a nuisance, but because they had been in the garden awhile my planting had also grown, but with a stronger root system than they had at first. My plants were able to withstand the disruption of my weed pulling with little harm. This scripture is actually a parable referring to the cleansing of the world from wickedness. The Lord knew that by cleansing too soon, he would risk destroying the righteous too. He had to give His people time to develop strong roots of faith to withstand the necessarily harsh times that would come with such a cleansing.
Another thing that came to mind was the idea that "by their fruits ye shall know them". (Matthew 7:20)
I was able to tell the difference between the weeds and my plants in a few different ways. First, it was quite obvious that the plants with tomatoes on them should stay. All growing things immediately around a tomato plants must be weeds. That is a quite obvious example of the need for us to distinguish ourselves by producing good fruit via service and obedience. Second, I found that the plants with thick stems were more likely to be my plants than weeds. Most weeds that I pulled had very small stems, and therefore week root systems. As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to commit to living as he has taught so completely that our spiritual roots grow deep and our stem of faith grows strong. Otherwise, how are we to be distinguished from the tares to be destroyed?
Finally, if I would have just gone out to the garden a couple of weeks sooner to pull weeds, things would have been so much better for me! I found a vining plant that had wrapped itself around my tomato plants tightly, making removal a challenge without disrupting the tomatoes themselves. Had I caught the vine before it had done so much damage the work would have been less disruptive and challenging. I think this is like dangerous sins in our lives. They almost always start with little things that we allow into our lives, often by simply letting our guard down. With continued neglect, we can find ourselves almost strangled by the sin and its consequences. Clearly, the time to beat a drug addiction, for example, is before it starts by saying no. But, if in our weakness we allow it in, we need to cut it out of our lives immediately before it becomes an addiction. Once it becomes an addiction, the work it will take to overcome it will be exponentially greater than it would have been otherwise.
So, there you have it! The musing of a delinquent gardener.
So, how does this relate to defending the LDS way? Well, I have learned from this scripture:
Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 11:4)
that I can find a lesson in everything, if I am willing to observe and listen to the Holy Ghost. It was this teaching that prompted me to ponder on my experience as I was weeding. This is just one of the many ways that I have been blessed by the gospel as taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Cheers!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Welcome!
Thank you for stopping by!
I hope what you will find here is a place to read, and possibly, discuss both the aspects of LDS life that are unique to our religion, and those that we share with other faiths.
I decided this blog was a good idea after Elder M. Russell Ballard of our church leadership encouraged us to do so. It is a great opportunity to clarify my own thinking about what I believe. It is also a wonderful opportunity to fulfill my baptismal covenant to be a witness for Jesus Christ.
The best result of this blog would be that it shined a little light into someone's life. I am the beneficiary of much of this kind of service, I hope to pass it on to you!
Enjoy!
I hope what you will find here is a place to read, and possibly, discuss both the aspects of LDS life that are unique to our religion, and those that we share with other faiths.
I decided this blog was a good idea after Elder M. Russell Ballard of our church leadership encouraged us to do so. It is a great opportunity to clarify my own thinking about what I believe. It is also a wonderful opportunity to fulfill my baptismal covenant to be a witness for Jesus Christ.
The best result of this blog would be that it shined a little light into someone's life. I am the beneficiary of much of this kind of service, I hope to pass it on to you!
Enjoy!
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