It continues to be about nourishing the word ... and Sacrifice

I am alone at our ranch in beautiful Pine Valley. We entertained children and friends of children and our friends Saturday evening and then, with many committments, they all headed home, except me, because my committments are here; cleaning up, putting away and time to think, do genealogy and a little schoolwork. But Sunday was for church and again, this is where I was supposed to be. Church usually feeds my spirit, but often here it not only feeds it, but renews it, as it did yesterday. I do believe the commandment to rest from your labors on the Sabbath ... to change it up, to do the things that feed us on Sunday, so we can be better Monday through Saturday. But our small Woodland Ward expands on holiday weekends and although it was not as large as it is during a typical holiday weekend it was large in spirit. Shauna Smoot Bradley, a cousin, taught the Relief Society lesson on Sacrifice, and immediately a hymn we sing,about the Prophet Joseph Smith, came to mind. The words, "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven." She later posted the words on the board. Of course the boy prophet sacrificed ... his time, his reputation, his children, his very life, but me, what have I ever sacrificed? I have struggled with that term ... taking care of my mother, an honor; sending sons on missions, a blessing: money, time ... not really sacrifices. One lady in church talked about her in-laws; volunteering in the Salt Lake Temple on both Friday and Saturday nights, because when they asked the temple president what the greatest need was, that was his response. They live in Woodland, at least an hour's journey in good weather. I contemplated my own sacrifices ... I could think of few, except the sacrifices a mother makes for her children, but then again, some days I see them as sacrifices and other days just the mothering things that I expected and see as a mother's payment or hope for a righteous, happy, productive posterity. In my World Book Dictionary it says, "1.a "The act of offering to a god (God) especially for the purpose of propitiation or homage" 2.a. "a giving up of one thing for another; destruction or surrender of something valued or desired for the sake of a higher object or more pressing claim." In coming to terms with sacrifice in my life I read those and other definitions. If in sacrificing I am honoring God and expressing my faith then yes I have sacrificed and in so doing I have strengthened that faith and testimony. The book Mormon Doctrine says that, "Sacrifice is the crowning test of the Gospel. Men are tried and tested in this mortal probation to see if they will put first in their lives the things of the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33. Jesus said to the rich man, "If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." Working in the temple Friday and Saturday nights; Sacrifice. Paying tithing; Sacrifice. Sending youg men and women on missions/ serving missions; Sacrifice. Using vacation time to help the youth; Sacrifice. Getting up early in the morning to do those things asked of us, like setting up 1,500 chairs, or going to the temple, or reading scriptures; Sacrifice. Popularity for obedience and personal integrity; Sacrifice. Giving up exciting, compelling activities to attend meetings and devotionals and firesides and institute and Family Home Evening. So many small sacrifices and even seemingly large sacrifices to pay homage to God and put first the things of the Kingdom. A test of our faith. Refreshing acts in a world where we are told by so many to put ourselves first. The story of  Abraham and Isaac exemplifies the pinnacle of faith. Abraham, upon being commanded to offer his only son whom he loved deeply, as a burnt offering, proceeded to Mount Moriah, a three day journey. Upon the altar he placed the wood that Isaac had carried, bound Isaac to the wood and stretched forth his hand, and as he was about to slay Isaac, with a knife, he heard the voice of the Lord, calling unto him from Heaven, "Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I  sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou has obeyed my voice.  Such amazing faith! As a mother, I cannot conceive, with my little offerings, what was in his mind and heart and soul. Joseph Smith said, " A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary (to lead) unto life and salvation ... From the days of righteous Abel to the present time, the knowledge that men have that they are accepted in the sight of God is obtained by offering sacrifice ...: (Lectures on Faith, pp.58-60). And, recently President Deiter F.Uchtdorf stated, "Whether we are rich or poor, regardless of where we live on this globe, we all need each other, for it is in sacrificing our time, talents, and resources that our spirits mature and become refined."

To learn more of the life of Joseph Smith view the video Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/feature-films?lang=eng&id=2011-03-01-joseph-smith-the-prophet-of-the-restoration#2011-03-01-joseph-smith-the-prophet-of-the-restoration Honor, blessings, sacrifice ... all the same. "Thou shalt have treasure in heaven." This I Believe!

and the powerful play goes on ...

“O me! O life!” by Walt Whitman

O ME! O life!... of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the
foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish
than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean—of the
struggle ever renew’d;
Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I
see around me;
Of the empty and useless years of the rest—with the rest me
intertwined;
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these,
O me, O life?

Answer.
That you are here—that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a
verse.
-Walt Whitman

I was helping a student yesterday and this morning read this poem. Monday evening I had been studying a church missionary manual called "Preach My Gospel," thinking that I need to study more, think deeper and feel more. So the lesson was on my mind as I read and reread and read a third time this poem. The ANSWER is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ, what we call the Plan of Salvation or, as we sometime call it, the Plan of Happiness. There is purpose in this life and there was purpose in our premortal existance and our eternal life will too have purpose and meaning. Our identity is eternal and divine. We were all meant to be happy but we are also conflicted by greed and pride and power and so many other traits in need of refining; the "natural" man.

But we are here, you and me. None perfect. None without "stuff" in need of fixing. None without a need to do over so many things. But that is the plan. We are here to do over and fix and achieve perfection ,not necessarily in this life and certainly not alone.

A few weeks ago I taught my Sunday School class about perfection. When I was in 7th grade Home Economics I learned how to make the "pefect" muffin. I still have my recipe book. Mrs. Brandon, my teacher, who taught me how to do many things "right," taught me about muffins. Do not beat them. Do not overmix or they will have pointed tops. Bake to only golden brown. I learned what a perfect muffin should like. But, I am not sure I know what a perfect person looks like, except of course, the Savior, and I don't really know what he looks like. I imagine what he looks like; at least I think he looks kind and forgiving and tolerant. But a person, one  who is  striving to emulate their Savior, Jesus Christ, comes in all shapes and sizes and colors and live in all kinds of circumstances, and speak all languages and certainly has all kinds of infirmities and challenges in his or her life.

Well, the powerful play goes on and on and on. Each will contribute a verse, because no matter what you think of you, no matter what your talents and abilities and identity; you are DIVINE. Your Heavenly Father knows what role or roles you can and will contrtibute in this grand plan. O that I may not find myself in the endless trains of the faithless or the plodding and sordid crowds. The powerful play - the Plan of Happiness, the eternities, goes on. This I Believe!

Remember! Remember!

My neighbors and dear friends David and Holly Jordan are leaving this week to serve as Mission Presidents in London, England. In our church not only do young men and women leave their homes and pressing opportunities in their lives to serve missions, but couples are called and leave established careers, children, grandchildren, elderly parents etc. to serve, mostly at their own expense, our Savior Jesus Christ. They are called to countries throughout the world to share a message that they love and deeply believe, that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth and the message of the gospel brings peace and joy and purpose to the lives of those who will listen and accept the tenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Back to the Jordans. Our children have shared many experiences and our families have, with so many other neighbors and friends, and certainly the Lord, been the village that raised really good children. They will be wonderful spiritual and temporal mentors to young men and women who have chosen to share the message of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ to the British people. Well, yesterday they spoke in our church and Holly started her talk with one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon, which she called the Remember! Remember! chapter. As a mother I could see her talking to not only us, but to her own children, who were seated on the front row. As background, Nephi has given up the judgement seat as the people who chose to do evil were more numerous to those who chose to do good ... really! He and his brother Lehi, sons of Helaman, decided to preach to the gospel the remainder of their days. I love that ... let us share what we have and know to be true; let us share this plan of happiness with whoever will listen. This is the same spirit as a quote that I read the past few weeks in a "14 Week Walk With Christ" study program that some of the women in our neighborhood have been participating in. The quote, "Doctrine can change behavior quicker that talking about it." Well, the rest of the chapter was a chapter meant for me, as a child, and my children, and I am sure that day to the Jordan children,

"Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the name of your first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye may remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how it is said, and also written, that they were good." (Helaman 5:6)

This is my wish also that my children will remember the works and testimonies of their ancestors.

And back to the missionaries Nephi and Lehi, and David and Holly, and my own sons Brett and Todd and Anthony and the rest of the righteous young men and women who have gone forth keeping the commandments and preaching the word ... " And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did preach unto the Lamanites with such great power and authority, for they had power and authority given unto them that they might speak, and they also had what they should speak given unto them— Therefore they did speak unto the great astonishment of the Lamanites, to the convincing them, insomuch that there were eight thousand of the Lamanites who were in the land of Zarahemla and round about baptized unto repentance, and were convinced of the wickedness of the traditions of their fathers."

Nephi and Lehi were thrown into prison and encircled with fire. The Lamanites could not touch them. They were protected. In prison a voice from heaven called the dissenters to repentance and this is the voice that all of us should listen to, especially when it comes to hearing the word of God. "

And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold it was a STILL voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul -

The Lamanites were overshadowed by a cloud of darkness. Aminadab who had once been a member of the church of God, saw the faces of Nephi and Lehi , that they did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of angels. And he beheld that they did lift their eyes to heaven; and they were in the attitude as if talking or lifting their voices to some being whom they beheld." Aminadab told the people that to have the cloud of darkness removed they repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ ... the cloud of darkness was dispersed and they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire.

Well, some of you may saw that it is just a nice story, but not true. Like all missionaries, like the Jordan's, I would tell you the same thing, pray and listen for the still small voice and you will know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and you may not be encircled about my fire, but you will be encircled about and you will be filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.

" And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words. And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying: Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world. And now, when they heard this they cast up their eyes as if to behold from whence the voice came; and behold, they saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them."

Well David and Holly our prayers go with you and all those who spread the Gospel. They, like you went forth from the land Bountiful. You will be encircled about and you will find Aminadabs and so many others who will hear the voice. And to my children, I echo Holly's words from one of my favorite chapters, "Remember, Remember!"

All life's possibilities ....

In my church we assign people to visit, teach and minister to others. For the women this is called visiting teaching; for the men it is called home teaching. In a lay church we minister to others, whether they go to church often or not at all, and we are called to watch over all our neighbors. Literally they are our flock and we are the shepherd, to care for them, nourish them and to lead them to greener pastures and hopefully home. Well, I have always had faithful and loving visiting teachers and home teachers. I have learned so much from wonderful women who I am asked to befriend and serve. Last month one of my angel teachers left me two poems that I love, and in turn, took to a couple that I visit.

The Eleventh Hour
Had I been born
To other centuries -
How pleasant
To stretch
In the sun
And choose from
All life's
Possibilities
This one
or that.
To prove the Earth is round
Or tame the ocean,
To write a dictionary
Or expound
On Shakespeare's subtle irony.

But these are
Daytime jobs.
And
As I was born
To time's
Saturday night
My ordained task
Is to kindle
The Sabbath light.

Trial Number Five

Carefully they laid

Out on the table

Trials one, two, three

four, five and six

"Choose one," they said

"Oh, any," she cried,with a horror

Born of the best of Halloweens,

"Any but number five.

It would kill me.

I promise you I would not survive."

They thanked her graciously,

Escorted her out,

Then gift-wrapped, addressed,

And labeled "Special delivery"

Trial number five -

Sent with love from

Those whose assignment it is

To make sure you know

That you can go

Through trials one, two,

Three, four, ninety-nine,

Or five -

And, incredibly

Come out alive.

Both written by Carol Lynn Pearson

From shepherd to sheep, to teach, inspire, edify and save. A labor of love, but not a calling, as I have learned recently, because we are never released. In the physical absence of our Savior he asks us to watch over each other. This I Believe. Thank you ...

Home is Where Your Mother Is! ....

When my children tell me, "I'm going home," or "I'm at home," I always tell them, "No, you are not, because HOME is where your mother is," and in this case that is really true. The last sentence on my mother's obituary reads, "Mother always wanted to go home, and now she is HOME!" Every time we would go see her, at least for many, many years, when we would ask her, what she wanted to do, or where she wanted to go, she would respond, "I want to go home," or just "home." Her home was her castle, as I think mine is also. Home is where our "things" are and where are friends are. Hopefully we have made it a home and not just a house. Home is where our memories are ... our pictures and recipes, and heirlooms, and hopefully it is where we and our children like to be! One Christmas I made a pillow for my mother that says, "All hearts go home for Christmas" ... and they always did, at least mine did." I was always excited to go "home." I didn't like the drive or the flight, but I was always excited to go, except that often meant I had to leave my own "home" and children. I didn't like that ... usually, and it wasn't even that I had lived in that home for long. We had moved into our last home when I was thirteen. I left for college when I was barely seventeen, but it wasn't just the home, it was all that was familiar. Assiniboine Park, the Zoo, the lakes and rivers, even a drive by of sites important to my own history. We really had nothing, and I don't connect my mother with anything material that she gave me, because my family never had the resources for monetary gifts or contributions, but memories flowed when I was at home; her china, her crackers, the cheap pictures on the wall of flowers and scenes of old Europe, her crackers and cookies (I loved the ones with the jam inside), the round pancake griddle, "Pancake Tuesdays, mother's always baking ...." tapestry sofas, the ironing board in the dining room, her salt and pepper shakers (I wanted the ones with the maple leaf on top), her table and chairs and china cabinet and sideboard. (Doreen has them now.) She told me she bought them second hand in Ochre River (I think) for $100. I even like to open the kitchen cupboards and see the Canadian food brands. You forget them when you are gone! I also loved to go into the cold room downstairs and see bottles, full of peaches, and pickles and sometimes pears. It reminded me of both my mother and my father. When we were children, bottling fruit was often a family project. My Dad, was great at it too! Sometimes there were old shoes in a galvanized tub. When we were younger we would recycle shoes. For a long time there was an old violin above the door with the gun and ammunition. My Dad, I was told, played a "poor" violin when he and his brothers would play for dances. And there was a tiny suitcase full of old pictures that I always like to go through. When mother was in the rest home, I cried when I had to leave, and usually she did too. I cried as I walked away from her room and left the building. I cried as I got into the car or took the bus. The nurses and staff would tell me they would take care of her, but not like I would take care of her ... they couldn't! She was MY mother! She didn't have to buy me anything or take me to lunch ... she was my mother. She gave birth to me and worked so hard to provide just the necessities. She owed me nothing and I owed her everything. Things were not perfect at home and she was not perfect, but that is life ... none of us are. Well, I took the door hanger to the right from a hotel we stayed in. It may seem inappropriate next to my mother's obituary, but it is all about saying good-bye and so many of the sayings were ones I heard as a "child," Mother introduced me to music, and television, and books and the power of multiple languages. So, "Au revoir," mother, "There's no place like HOME!" "Until we meet again!" ... This I Believe!

Reach high, for the stars lie hidden in your soul!

Many of us are searching for those things that are important and bring meaning to our lives, similar to the quest of Albanian-born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. Born in 1910, the daughter of an Albanian grocer, Agnes left for Ireland at 18 years of age to initiate her quest; "Reach high, for the stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal." Standing only 5' tall, she dedicated her life to selflessly serve others, one by one: "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." "We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something."

Six weeks later, she sailed to India where she labored for 69 years: "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier."

Watching her bathe and clean a leper in the slums of Calcutta, an American reporter remarked, "I wouldn't do that for a million dollars." To which she replied, "Neither would I." "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." "The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis but rather the feeling of being unwanted, uncared for, and deserted by everybody."

The diminutive Albanian woman, desiring to quietly serve others was showered with honors --- India's Padmashri (Lord of the Lotus), the United States of America's Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Nobel Prize for Peace, among others.

The world would call her Mother Teresa.

"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty." "The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved." "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

To my children I would say, "Reach High, Dream Deep and use any success and joy that comes your way to fill the oceans drop by drop ... " The higher you reach and the deeper you dream NOW the more drops for the ocean. That is true gratitude ... The stars lie hidden within your soul! This I BELIEVE!

This story was sent in a letter to the employees of Davis School District just before our Christmas Break (I refuse to call it a Holiday Break) 2011.