Who We Really Are...

"Two great commandments are inextricably bound up with each other.  Mortals can clearly do much good even though they are disbelievers, but someday they will see that even their good deeds were done because of who they really are and because of forces deep within them that moved them so such actions - even though they did not, at the time, recognize or acknowledge those divine forces within them."

"It is possible for all to develop such love, because carried within each soul born on this planet is the light of Christ, which can illumine the landscape of life, even if the carrier does not understand that light within." ( D&C 93:2)

- Neal A. Maxwell "All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience"

The Lord's Love For Us....

"Eternally Encircled in His Love"

Sister Bonnie D. Parkin

October General Conference 2006

" I know of a young mother with five little children who called an older sister, her valued mentor, and asked, "Can we go  on a hike?" Her friend knew that meant she needed to talk. Halfway through an eight-mile loop, the young mother finally said , 'I just can't believe that Heavenly Father loves me; I've made lots of mistakes in my life. I can't feel that I'm worthy of his love; how can He possibly love me?' Sisters, this was a woman who made temple covenants and was  active in the Church. And yet she still felt unworthy of His love. The older sister quickly responded, “Of course He loves you. You’re His daughter. Do we frequently reject the Lord’s love that He pours out upon us in much more abundance than we are willing to receive? Do we think we have to be perfect in order to deserve His love? When we allow ourselves to feel “encircled about eternally in the arms of his love,” ¹ we feel safe, and we realize that we don’t need to be immediately perfect. We must acknowledge that perfection is a process. This is a gospel of eternal progress, and we must remember to appreciate the journey."

The Value Necklace

By Sister Kathleen Dempsey (who graciously let me post this on my blog - Thank you!)

The necklace I wear cannot be seen,
it hangs around my heart.

The white gold chain, shines each day
by impressions the Spirit imparts.

By choice to act upon these prompts,
good works are surely done.

The chain holds now two unseen gems
fastened by the Holy One.

Integrity keeps individual worth in bloom
as I progress throughout the day.

Personal knowledge of the Church that's true
keeps the Enemy far away.

Come Follow Me, Come Unto Christ
by faith the path will be,

But if I fall, repentance is,
the gift that sets me free.

White purity of mind and heart have,
kept me from deep sin.

My virtue is the sacred place,
my soul has been wrapped in.

I know I am his daughter dear,
when doubts begin to grow.

Divine nature is the torch that lights
inside my heart to glow.

The sweet peace of temple experience
keeps me going back for more.

The values learned in Young Woman
lead me safely to its door.

Now on my knees at days long end
scriptures have been read.

With gratitude for all this help
its time to rest my head.

Oh, but wait! I can't forget THIS,
in keeping my chain bright.

Family and Prophet, Bishop and Saints
who pray for me at night.

Standing in Holy Places today
filled my chain with gems that shine.

Standards high, my Light not hid
shown forth for all mankind.

With all these gems I go to sleep,
they do not weigh me down.

For Father will, one bright judgement day,
place them lovingly into my crown.

God's Love For Us!

"The soul is like a violin string: it makes music only when it is stretched. God will tutor us by trying us because He loves us, not because of indifference!"

Eric Hoffer

Gardening in the Gospel....

Elder Hugh B. Brown, member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for many years told of purchasing a rundown farm. One day he noticed a currant bush that had grown more than 6 feet high. The bush had no blossoms and currants. Having been raised on a fruit farm, he recognized the problem, got his pruning shears, and went to work. He clipped it back until there was nothing left but stumps.

"It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying.... And I looked at it and smiled and said, 'What are you crying about?' You know, I thought I heard that currant bush say this:

"I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me because I didn't make what I should have made. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here."

"I said, 'Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn't intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, 'Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, Thank you, Mr. Gardener.'"

~Like a Child~

Ways to be Like a Child

When children try to reach something on a high shelf without help they often make a mess or break something. When we as parents find out we say something like "why didn't you just ask me for help" or "I would've helped you if you had just asked." Like us, ,our Heavenly Father wants to help if we will just ask Him.

Youth ~ Hungry for Things of the Spirit

“President [J. Reuben] Clark described youth as ‘hungry for things of the Spirit [and] eager to learn the gospel.’ He said: ‘They want it straight, undiluted. They want to know . . . about our beliefs; they want to gain testimonies of their truth. They are not now doubters but inquirers, seekers after truth.’”

Boyd K. Packer “Counsel to Young Men,” Ensign, May 2009, 50

Attain Eternal Life with Our Families

“It is . . . important that we be loving and kind to members of our own faith, regardless of their level of commitment or activity. The Savior has made it clear that we are not to judge each other (see Luke 6:37). This is especially true of members of our own families. Our obligation is to love and teach and never give up. The Lord has made salvation ‘free for all men’ but has ‘commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance’ (2 Nephi 26:27).”

Quentin L. Cook, “Our Father’s Plan—Big Enough for All His Children,” Ensign, May 2009, 37

How Can He Still Love Me??

Sister Bonnie D. Parkin

Eternally Encircled in His Love

October General Relief Society Meeting 2006

"I know of a young mother with five little children who called an older sister, her valued mentor, and asked, "can we go on a hike?" Her friend knew that meant she needed to talk. Halfway through an eight-mile loop, the young mother finally said, "I just can't believe that Heavenly Father loves me; I've made lots of mistakes in my life. I can't feel that I'm worthy of His love; how can He possibly love me?" Sisters, this was a woman who made temple covenants and was active in the Church."

In Light of Recent Events.......

"We allow our ignorance to prevail upon us and make us think we can survive alone, alone in patches, alone in groups, alone in races, even alone in genders."

~Maya Angelou

You're Never Alone!

Footprints In The Sand

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One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand - one belonged to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it:

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child. I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

Children of God!

Talk given by Dale E. Miller of The Second Quorum of The Seventy -

C.S. Lewis said "God has infinite attention to spare for each of us. He does not have to deal with us in the mass. You are as much alone with Him as if you were the only being He ever created."
Dale E. Miller follows by saying -
"When Christ died He died for you individually just as much as you had been the only man or woman in the world."