Thinking Out Loud

A Blog? I don't really want to do that. Who cares about my thoughts anyways? Other than my Mom.

This was my reaction to Sister Steadman's announcement that we would be creating and maintaining blogs this semester. 

I have come to see how blogs can be a powerful influence for good in the world. There are many people with humble blogs who use them to encourage good, clean living. Blogs are a great way to spread the good news of the gospel. Blogs can put something positive into the world to counteract all of the negative that is on the internet. Blogs can also encourage people to be better. They can be funny and entertaining and help people to realize that they are not alone in their experiences. 

I used to think of blogs as somewhat narcissistic, but I have come to see the immense value of blogs. They can be a great tool for networking. They are a wonderful way to keep in contact with family and friends far away, and a great place to post pictures. 

There are so many different kinds of blogs. My blog is pretty simple and has mostly been my musings about different things I have read or encountered this semester. My blog is not very educational or even very exciting. It is simply thoughts. Just like my title, they are thoughts that I think to help me feel a little bit better about life and remember how wonderfully blessed I am!

Although I do not know if a long term blog is for me, I have developed a respect for those who do have the courage to put themselves out there and share their experiences. I also admire the dedication; it takes discipline to write a blog consistently! 

Love is spelled F A M I L Y

I enjoyed how Women's Conference was completely centered on family. My favorite talk was Sister Carole M. Stephens. She was real and candid in her approach to the subject of family.
Sister Stephens started her talk by quoting the primary song "The Family is of God" and structured her talk on this song. She outlined her talk using the four lines from the song and expanded on each one. She was able to include all ages as her talk surrounded a primary song, but also addressed some of the more mature elements of life.
Sister Stephens built her Ethos by quoting from The Proclamation and from Modern Apostles such as Elder Scott.
She also build pathos by telling stories. I enjoyed the story she told of being in Chile and asking the older woman, whom she was visiting, how many grandchildren she had. The story brought warmth to my heart as the women's daughter explained how her mother was grandmother to everyone in the neighborhood.
Sister Stephens brought a feeling of  honesty to the talk when she addressed many of the ailments in the world today and admitted that many of them had not been her trials to face in this life. She conceded that while she may not understand, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do.
She also quoted the prophet Joseph Smith from the book Daughter in My Kingdom. This was a great way to build unity with the sisters as this book is meant  primarily for the Relief Society.
Sister Stephens also built her ethos while inspiring pathos as she quoted from the scriptures. She was able to reiterate the importance of her message by using the words of Jesus Christ.
Sister Stephens even incorporated a bit of logos in to her talk as she spoke of the blessings which do come from studying the teachings of the Savior.
I am grateful for Sister Stephens, her love, her honesty, and the sacred topic that she spoke on.

"We shall Overcome Some Day"

Imagine being slapped hard across the face. You are shocked and stunned. The skin on your cheek blossoms into a bright red color and stings as if a hundred tiny needles are piercing through your skin. The pain and humiliation are increased as water springs to your eyes in response to the pain. Would you, in return, turn your other cheek toward your attacker and allow them to strike you again? Would this make you feel small, pathetic and powerless? Or, would it make you feel empowered? Would you instead choose to raise your fists in defense of yourself, refusing to allow such an assault to repeat itself? Now imagine you saw a family member, a spouse, a sibling, a child, undeservingly treated with such derision. Would your response change?
Looking back on the Civil Rights movement is heartbreaking and inspiring. It is disturbing to see how corrupt and confused so many white people were. It is devastating to see pictures of young children, imbued with hatred from their parents, carrying racist and hateful signs. It is disgraceful to think of Jim Crow laws ever having a place in the United States of America. However, it is inspiring to see how people responded to these injustices and never gave up despite the odds. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X each responded differently. Martin proclaimed, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it’s creed…” While Malcolm declared, “No, I’m not an American. I am one of the 22 million black people who are victims of Americanism… I don’t see any American Dream; I see an American nightmare.” Martin saw the peace and brotherly love inspired by Jesus Christ, which would come to rest upon all black and white people eventually. Malcolm saw the disorder and suffering which tore his family apart and drove his mother insane. Martin saw the inequality as something to be overcome with love; Malcolm saw the disparity as something to be overcome with force and violence if necessary. Martin was prepared to turn the other cheek. Malcolm was not going to allow any white man to slap him across the face. Each of these men were great men who, through their understanding, their faith, their unfailing diligence, and passion for the cause of freedom helped the Civil Rights movement see great success in the United States of America.

Musings on a Man with No Name

As a missionary it was so easy to believe in forgiveness for those whom I taught. I knew that the Lord would forgive them for any misdeed they committed before they obtained the gift of the gospel. I also knew that they would be forgiven by the Savior as they continued on a path of righteousness and strived to live the gospel. I felt great conviction when I bore testimony of these truths to investigators and members. Sometimes however, it is difficult to extend those promises to myself.

The Lord comes to the Brother of Jared in Ether 2:14 and speaks to him for three hours. The Lord chastens him for his forgetfulness. The brother of Jared repents and the Lord forgives him with an admonition to not sin anymore. Sometime it is hard to come to the Lord with repentance. Sometimes feelings of unworthiness or embarrassment prevent us from going to Him. There are times when we know very well not to do something and yet we do it, not only once but we make the same mistake over and over again. How could the Lord want to forgive us when He has seen our repetitive nature? It reminds me of overeating or indulging in treats. It tastes great while we savor the food and treats, we feel sick by the end, promise ourselves that we will never eat that much or a specific food again, and eventually eat the very same food in the same quantity!

The Lord is always ready to forgive though. He is waiting with open arms and in some instances even comes to us. I love the words of the Lord in the book of Isaiah which read, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”(44:22) The Lord comes to us and asks that we return to Him.

We  do not have to carry the burden of regret of guilt. We can return to the Lord because He has come to us and redeemed us. We can find peace and be tools in the Lord’s hand as we regularly repent and strive to be better.

Only 266 more Days!

Christmas is my most favorite time of the year! I enjoy the whole season. Christmas music starts to play in October, and the longer the decorations can be up, the better. I love the feeling that permeates the air. It is as if everyone is a little bit happier and a little bit kinder. Cheer and charity seem to be far more prevalent at this time of year. The anticipation of Christmas morning is a feeling which is difficult to replicate. As I was growing up my family had the privilege of taking Christmas to a family who had very little. The family was dealt a hard hand in this life. They were struggling to make it from day to day. Christmas would not be an option for them. Every year we gathered gifts, gift cards, and food to take to them on Christmas Eve. Our family looked forward to this tradition every year. The anticipation for taking Christmas to this family was often greater than the anticipation for our own Christmas morning.One year when we went to visit them we found the house dark with no lights or tree. We left and went to a near by store where we were able to pick up a tree and lights to decorate it with. Seeing the joy and anticipation on their faces every time we arrived at their house was a beautiful gift and often my family drove home with silent tears falling over our cheeks.

Christmas has been a time of anticipation from the very beginning. 3rd Nephi speaks of the people looking forward to the birth of Christ and watching for the signs of his birth. I think that the anticipation of Jesus Christ is what creates the irreplaceable feeling I so enjoy at Christmas time. Whether people realize it or not, the joyful prospect of the night which celebrates the coming of the Messiah causes all to be more merry and bright. I am grateful for the birth of our Savior and the opportunity we have each year to celebrate it. The music, the lights, the gifts and opportunities to serve are all ways in which Christmas helps us to anticipate the coming of the Savior.

Eternal Lessons from a Four Year Old

There is much confusion and strife in the world surrounding the death of young children. This is a horrendously heavy burden to bear, made even more so by the prospect of never seeing them again. This idea is perpetuated by the theory that only those who receive baptism will be received into Heaven and those who do not will be cast out to Hell. The immense pain of knowing that you will never hold that precious baby, never hear them cry or coo, and never watch them grow up, is heightened by the fear that their little soul is lost to Hell. The restored gospel brings with it so many tender revelations. The Book of Mormon contains a revelation regarding small children who have passed away before receiving baptism. "Little children are alive in Christ because of the atonement." (Moroni 8)

I find this doctrine so tender and sweet. Of course the Lord would not condemn small children to Hell after they have passed on before obtaining the ordinance of baptism. The fact that the false doctrine of small children needing baptism is so pervasive is morose. Having never had first hand experience with this doctrine or situation, it became prevalent and far more real to me when I read a short book titled Heaven is For Real. The book is written by a Pastor, whose son, at the time was just four years old, visits Heaven while undergoing an operation  in the emergency room. In the few months following the operation the son begins to slowly tell his family of the experiences he had while in heaven. One day he tells his mother that he has a sister, other than the one on earth with him. The mother is shocked and tells him that this is true.  She explains to him that she had a baby who died while still in her stomach. Her son, calmly and rather nonchalantly, let’s her know that the little girl whom she lost is up in Heaven and is waiting for her and the Pastor to come and raise her. His mother is overcome with emotion as she learns that the sweet baby girl she loved is not lost forever but is instead saved in Heaven, waiting for her parents arrival.

It is difficult for me to imagine the intense pain of losing someone and having no hope of seeing them again. The Plan of Salvation is such a blessing, especially in times of loss. With the restored gospel, we not only have a knowledge that there is life after death, but we also know that those children who pass on without receiving baptism will be safely received home to Heaven. This knowledge can bless not only my life but those around me who may not have the same beliefs.

Heaven on my Mind

When I think of Heaven I picture Jesus Christ with His arms out stretched. He is welcoming me home. I picture the Christus statue but as a real person. Fourth Nephi describes a Heaven on earth which was created after the visitation of Christ. The book makes it clear that some things have to be in place for this heaven on earth to be established. The people have no contention. They are all living according to the commandments of God. They are meeting together to worship and are constantly drawing themselves closer to God by reading the scriptures and praying. It is clear that the people are working hard and being productive. The Lord is prospering them because of their hard work and their strict adherence to His word. The people are able to have all things common among them because they are working so hard, there are none that are lazy or leaching. The scriptures also say that the people have the love of God in their hearts. This is the cause of the disappearance of contention and sins. Such a society is hardly imaginable. It would be an incredible society to behold and to be apart of.

When I think of Heaven on earth I think of my family. I have been blessed with a loving family. When I am with my family I feel warm and at home, no matter where we are. In family we can find unconditional love. We can be ourselves without the fear of being judged. We can feel safe and secure.

I think that the Savior has given us families so that we can participate in a heaven on earth. This may not be the family one is born in to. IT may be the family they begin. It may also be their family that they find within a congregation or group of people. It may be a simple family made up of a person and their dog. The Lord loves His children and wants them to experience joy and happiness in this life. He knows that one of the best ways for us to do this is through experiencing rich and fulfilling interpersonal relationships.