Samuel the Lamanite

When we reject true prophets, who see by the light of revelation, and follow instead those who have no divine light, we are really following "blind guides" (Helaman 13:29) President Marion G Romney, who was a member of the First Presidency said: Those who profess to accept the gospel and who at the same time criticize and refuse to follow the counsel of the prophet are assuming an indefensible position. Such a spirit leads to apostasy." (Conference Report, April 1983) President Ezra Taft Benson taught:" How we respond to the words of a living prophet when he tells us what we need to know, but would rather not hear, is a test of our faithfulness". (Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet, in 1980 Devotional Speeches of the Year)

This is when our faith in a living prophet called by God comes into play. But how do you know if it is faith or just belief? 

Belief can be passive, merely an acceptance that something is true, while faith is active. Faith requires belief and trust. It gives us confidence and conviction and moves us to action. We cannot have faith without belief, but we can believe and not have faith. It is not enough to just believe in Jesus Christ. For the gospel to bless our lives we must have faith that motivates us to follow Him. Knowledge, like belief, needs action in order to benefit us. Simply knowing that something can help or harm us does us no good unless we act on that knowledge. There is special knowledge that comes when we exercise faith and seek to live the gospel. When we act upon our beliefs with faith, the spirit touches our heart and mind. We receive a spiritual witness from the Holy Ghost that enables us to say "we know" that Christ is our Savior and that the Church is true. (see James E. Talmage, Articles of Faith , pg 96-100)

Faith

 

In the Book of Mormon, Alma is clear full of amazing counsel. In chapter 32 he challenges us to arouse and awaken out Faith then compares faith as a seed. The process which it describes is clearly spelt out as S.E.E.D is verse 28. It will first "Swell within your breast", then "Enlarge my soul", "Enlighten my understanding", then become "Delicious". It is an easy symbol that we can remember the process that happens as we "grow" our Seed of Faith. 

Faith just like a Seed needs to be fed. If we do not take care of it by watering it or feeding our faith it it slowly wither away. 

Alma 32:38 "But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away."

It is so important that we continue to feed out faith and grow our testimonies so that it will not wither away.

After the Storm

What if you were at the end of your rope? The only option that you had was to give up and quit moving forward. Then tragedy strikes and it does get worse! You loose everything; your home, your belongings. Everything except the clothes on your back. What would you do? This is exactly what happened to a family in 2013. This video is about loss but also hope and courage.  Our Heavenly Father loves us and knows us. He knows what we can handle emotionally, spiritually, physically, and mentally. Everyone has challenges and it is up to us to endure to the end and even beyond that. He also wants us to become like Him and through these challenges it will polish our rough edges and let our gems shine. I have felt His love many times through out my life even in my darkest hours. You are a Child of God as well and I hope that you can find that Hope in your life to endure to the end as well.

Landfill

We have a park nearby our home that has a beautiful covered arena and green grass. Hundreds of people go there to use this horse arena and park and partake in its great accommodations that it offers to equestrians.  But it was not always this beautiful. Underneath it's wood chips, mulch, and grass lies layers and layers of unwanted trash and garbage. It was a few decades before a landfill filled to the brim then eventually covered up with soil. That soil is the foundation of a new start. A new life. A new hope for something amazing that can benefit many people.
That landfill is a lot like us as flawed human beings. We all sin and have a lot of garbage that has been layered up. But once we have turned over and been truly converted to Christ, He can forgive us and give us a new layer of soil that can be a foundation to a new start. We are all children of God and he wants us to grow to the best potential that we can be. If we repent and come unto Him we can once again be beautified.

More information can be found at www.lds.org

The Value of Work

As I was pondering the wonderful year and the fun filled activities for 2015,  I can recall that it was a lot of work and its a wonder we were able to do all these thing. I hope you took time in watching the little video of a few clips and pictures that I had of each of my children. I am so proud of all the things that they were able to accomplish this year.
Tillison was able to work at Chiltons cattle ranch in Kansas and James ranch in Williams, AZ. He has learned so much on how to ride, rope, and care for cattle. He also has a little side job where he has to wake up at 5 am to feed some horses at Angel Acres which is a healing equestrian center. Through all his little job opportunity he was able to save up almost $500 to buy himself a new bike.  It is his pride and joy. He was also able to save up some money to purchase a new milk goat that he will be showing in the county fair this next season. Showing his dairy goat was a huge fear that he was able to conquer this season. Now he is excited for this year.
Bridger was also able to show a dairy goat at the county fair this year. Even though he was not interested in it like Tillison was, he still did it and did a fantastic job at it. He also has competed in a few shooting competitions and got 2 and 3 places which is amazing for being 9.
Chisolm got baptized this year in January. He has become such a neat boy. He LOVES to work with his dad. He also has latched onto a passion for hunting and is dads new hunting partner. He is one tough kid.
Brogan is such a fun kid that has a soft heart. He loves his little sister and is an example to her when I need help around the house. It is really neat to see him clean the house and pay close attention to the details. Sometimes he stays up late while his brothers are in bed and will pick up the room. THat makes me so happy! He also is my big helper in the garden. He will water it for me and will also harvest it knowing the correct veggies to pick.
Clancy loves to cook with Mama! She is always at my side when I am in the kitchen, whether its cooking or loading the dishwasher. She will make a great homemaker one day.
Elder Burton taught that "One of parents’ most important responsibilities is to teach their children to work. Even young children can begin to experience the benefits of working when they are involved in household chores and in service to others. Wise parents will work alongside their children, will provide frequent praise, and will make sure no task is overwhelming."
As a mother it is dificult to find that balance of having the patience of teaching my children the important principle of work and trying not to do it for them because it may be fast or better. This coming year I will try harder to teach my kids the value of work as they work beside me and hopfully it will build their love for working as well. 

The Atonement of Christ

 

Jesus Christ is my brother. He came to this life as part of our eternal plan. He was the greatest example of how a life should be lived. He was unselfish, helped others, and taught others. As part of the Plan, he gave his life so that we can all have a chance to be forgiven of our sins and make it back to our Heavenly Father.

 

 

 

 

I am not a perfect person. I have made many mistakes that have left a pit in my stomach for days. In many occasions I have had to get on my knees and talk to my Heavenly Father and ask for His forgiveness. As part of the human process, we have our agency to choose and act for ourselves. When we need that forgiveness we can reach out to our Father and through the repentance process we can be forgiven. Jesus Christ is my Savior and through Him I can be more perfected. 

What is a great leader?

            In Institute this week we had a great discussion about the qualities that Nephi had to make him a great leader. Now Nephi was the son of the prophet Lehi. In the first book of Nephi in the Book of Mormon, Lehi and his family we commanded to flee Jerusalem into the wilderness. Whenever Lehi would tell his family what they should do his oldest sons Laman and Lemuel would always complain even to the point where they even wanted to take their own father's life. Nephi is the complete opposite. He has a "Can Do" Attitude. If he wanted to know what was going on he would pray and get answers. In our discussion we talked about some of these qualities that Nephi had to make him spectacular. He was obedient, humble, faithful, patient, long suffering, proactive, didn't complain. He was an ordinary man doing extra-ordinary things. I look up to him a lot and try to imply his positive attitude in my life. 

(Nephi praying to Heavenly Father after his bow broke)

            

            We also discussed how can asking your parents for counsel help your relationship with them and the Lord? Naturally wisdom comes with age. I shared with the group how my parents treat all of their kids. We were raised with a "Bible and a Belt". My parents taught us a lot and now that we are married I am sure they have a lot of commentary and tips of what we can do to help our lives. But they sit and wait for us to come to them for advice. They will not smother you with suggestions unless you ask for it. It is just like Heavenly Father sits and waits for us to come to Him and ask him for help. Just like my parents, He wants see us succeed but will give us advice if we come to Him and ask him for it.

            

           (my dad with my daughter)

          The third point was, Why is it dangerous to ignore or become past feeling to the Holy Ghost? When we offend the Holy Ghost through anger, pornography, transgressions, selfishness, and other situations, he will leave us and we will become numb to his promptings. At this point we can become "past-feeling" which is a dangerous place to be in. We cannot feel the Holy Ghost's promptings and comfort in which we so desperately need every day.  As long as we are clean, we can become teachable through the Holy Ghost. This is similar to a fire. Once we are blessed with the Gift of the Holy Ghost after our baptism it is a small glowing fire within us. If we keep feeding that fire we will always be able to feel that warmth and comfort within is. Once we transgress it is the same as sprinkling water or dirt onto that fire. Soon the fire will get suffocated and eventually die if it is not fed. We need to stay clear of anything that will put out our spiritual fire and continually feed it. 

Pathway; Learn, Do, Become

Wow! It has been several years that I have posted on this blog. A lot has happened in these short years. I have been challenged to post my thoughts of what I have learned about my lesson I have learned this week. Before I start I want to explain a little bit about what and why; Pathway.

Pathway is a online college course for latter-day-saints who are needing an extra boost on their re-start for college partnered by BYU-Idaho. (At least that's why me and Sam are doing it). We both are striving to get our teaching degrees right now. Doing it together is one of the best ways to motivate each other to get this done together. This semester we are taking a religion institute class and a General Studies class. 

This week we were able to apply Learn, Do, and Become principle. 

Learn: In 1 Nephi 1:1, Nephi talks how he has been born of goodly parents and taught by the teachings of God. Taking this course is very important to me because I have shifted my focus on my learning of God. I have never had a college experience like this before. It has been hard to develop the habit of making my everyday life and thoughts centered in Christ but this is the perfect way to develop this principle. 

Do:1 Nephi 2:1 To do is to put out effort, to commit, to give freely and to obey. In this scripture it says how blessed Lehi is, which is Nephi's father, because he obeyed Gods command. I need to follow his example of the Do every day and live a Christ centered life.

Become: 1 Nephi 2:16  This scripture talks about how Nephi was obedient unto the Lord and did what he commanded of him. To become is to begin to be or come to be something. If we place our focus onto the attributes of Christ we will slowly become like him. 

I love this model. As long as we can learn and do we will become whatever we put our focus on. The most important thing I can place my focus on is to become more like our Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the best example of a person that we should be like.  I challenge anyone who reads this blog post to apply this Learn, Do and Become principle into your life in anything that you want to become like!

Hot Cocoa Recipes