Remember the Reason for the Season

Yesterday we had some BIG changes happen for those of you who weren’t there, we had a new RS Presidency put in.  Our new presidency is as follows:

Norine Oborn, President

Helen Kennedy, 1^st Counselor

Jaime Breinholt, 2^nd Counselor

And I remain as secretary.

A very loving WELCOME and support to the new presidency as they figure out their new role in the ward.

Carole, Karlyn and Ashlee have been such a blessing to our ward and they have truly taught us the meaning of Christ-like service.  They were ALWAYS there when a need presented itself and served all of us with a smile and with the Love of the Lord.  I am so thankful to know that they will continue to do the same in our ward because that is who they are!  Thank you ladies for blessing my life with your wisdom, gentleness and patience.  Thank you for emulating the Savior in all you do.  I love you and am so thankful to call you friend.

Our lesson Sunday was taught by Karlyn. She showed us a video clip that took us through the time table of Christ’s birth.  From when the angel appeared to Mary and told her that she was to be the one to carry the Savior of the world, to when she told Elizabeth of the news till when he was born and the mission that he accomplished on the earth.  It was a great documentary.  She then talked about GREAT women in the scriptures who also were called to do extraordinary things and have great courage to do so.  Then she spotlighted some Sister’s in the ward at different stages of life who have shown courage or faith along the way.  It was touching Karlyn and we appreciated your words to us.  It was a perfect ending to such a spirit filled Sabbath.

When I think of this time of year, my thoughts always go back to when I was able to be in the Service of the Savior as a missionary, during the celebration of His birth.  My heart was continually touched during that December of 1999 while I was teaching about the VERY Person in whose name I wore upon my chest.  I felt a closeness to him that to that I time I had never bore felt.  I felt honored that He would chose me, a imperfect person to represent Him and His church.  I have never had such a rewarding and Christ Centered Christmas since but the memory still burns bright in my heart and mind.

May we all look to serve Him, to emulate Him and strive to honor the name we took upon us at baptism this Christmas and throughout this new year!  Merry Christmas and safe travels to you all.  May you have the comfort of love, the attitude of charity, and taste of AMAZING food this holiday season!

All my Love,

Meg

An Attitude of Gratitude

This week we had a lesson from Suzann.  She helped remind us to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and be thankful in all things. 

“A grateful heart…comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives.”

-Thomas S. Monson-

October 3, 2010

Lori Henningson sent me this email that in a FUN way sums up what we have been learning this month!  I hope you enjoy these reminders!

I AM THANKFUL:  

FOR THE WIFE

WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, 

BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, 

AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND

WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, 

BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME 

FOR THE TEENAGER

WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY 

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT. 

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT 

BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR. 

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING 

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY 

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD. 

AND FINALLY FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF 

IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

Let us ALL be Thankful to be alive!  What a great light hearted reminder to us!  Thanks Lori for sharing!  Have a great week!

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK!  I am indeed very grateful for you!  We are so blessed to have each other and be blessed in each other’s lives.

Today we had a wonderful lesson by Sister Sarah Udall on the Holy Ghost. She broke down the Roles of the Holy Ghost  into 8 things:

1.       To Bear witness of the Father and the Son

2.       Testify of Truth

3.       Purify and Sanctify

4.       Reveal Future

5.       Comfort

6.       Guide

7.       Reprove Sin

8.       Prepare you for things to come

President Brigham Young said:

“We want to live so as to have the Spirit every day, every hour of the day, every minute of the day, and every latter-day Saint is entitled to the Spirit of God, to the power of the Holy Ghost, to lead him in his individual duties. (In Tabernacle, May 15, 1864)

She reminded us that we all have the chance to have the spirit with us 24 hours and 7 days a week. But that we have to work on being worthy of it.  Several sister’s shared personal experiences as to how the spirit has blessed them through different means.  Sister Jean Urry shared a beautiful experience when she was PREPARED by the spirit for a HARD conversation was to be coming.  She was told what was going to happen and so when the conversation came, she was able to handle in a calm matter rather than out of control.

The memory that I had going through my head through this lesson was feeling Holy Ghost so strong when I received my Patriarchal Blessing.  I was 16 when I chose to get it.  I was spiritually immature and frankly the reason that went in for my blessing (which I never divulged to anyone) was because I had a friend that had just been killed in a horrible drunk driving accident.  Weeks before her death, Kim and I had this conversation that we always wondered if we may die young.  We talked about different experiences that we had to maybe feel that way.  So when she REALLY did die, I was so freaked out! I felt like I NEEDED TO KNOW if I was going to have the same fate.  Unfortunately I felt that a Patriarchal Blessing was the way to find it out.  I breezed through my interviews and had an appointment with the stake Patriarch.

The morning of my blessing I was not kind to my Mother.  I was grumpy and had a chip on my shoulder.  Mostly I was suffering great anxiety as to what the blessing might say.  The sweet Patriarch welcomed my family into his home in the wee 6 am hours.  He talked to me about linage and what it meant.  (I wish now that I would have listened to a word he said, cause I would really like to hear it now).  At the conclusion of his thoughts he asked me to offer the prayer so that the Holy Ghost could attend his words. 

After saying the prayer he placed his hands on my head and he sat there.  He sat there for a VERY LONG, awkward space of time. I even opened my eyes and looked at my Mom who too was looking up wondering what was happening.  After what seemed like 5 minutes of silence the Patriarch removed his hands from my head and scooted a stool right up to me so close that he was touching my knees with his knees. I was thinking to myself, “ I HAVE NO FUTURE! That is what he is going to tell me!  He is going to say, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE!” (Yes, I am a little dramatic, but that is really the thoughts that came to me.)

Patriarch McKinnley looked deep into my eyes and said, “Megan, I cannot tell you whether you are going to live or die.  That is not the purpose of a Patriarchal Blessing. We are not fortune tellers.  We are Men appointed by God to tell you the blessings that you will receive IF you are righteous and make wise choices.”  At this statement the spirit FLOODED the room and I started sobbing.  My Mom looked at me as to say, “What is going on?!” I just kept sobbing.  I couldn’t believe it!  He knew what I was thinking. The spirit helped him perceive my very deep thoughts.

He then looked at me and said, “ The Lord desires you to have a Patriarchal blessing as a Liahona in your life if you desire to have it for the right reasons.  Would you like me to give this blessing to you now?!” I wanted it now more than ever, because I understood that It was given with such power and inspiration, that I wanted that guidance in my life.

That experience with the Holy Ghost, through someone else was one I will not soon forget.  It has been an anchor to me at times when I might doubt or might want to choose a wrong direction.  It steers me back to safe waters.

Sisters, the Lord is in the details of our lives!  He has given us such great tools to use in our journey back to him.  The Holy Ghost is one of those tools.  It is a constant guide and compass to us if we choose to follow. Hold tight to that power and guidance and your life will be full of understanding and peace.

I love you.  I am grateful for my friendships with you and the love I feel!  Enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with those you love this year!

Meg

Filling our Testimony Tank

Happy Monday!  I am absolutely LOVING this weather!  I just got back from taking my 8 month old twin babies (nanny kids) to The Botanical Garden’s.  It was gorgeous with a breeze blowing outside.  We had a WONDERFUL time.  I am so excited for this cool weather and I am looking forward to many more cool months!

Yesterday we got such an AWESOME opportunity to hear about Testimony from Ashlee LeSuer.   She gave us much to think about and we had some great testimonies that followed, including hearing from our newest sister, Jennifer that was baptized on Saturday.

As Ashlee was speaking I was thinking of the times that I had experience with my Testimony.  Which have been a lot through the years.  We all get so many chances to grow our testimony or fill our testimony tank.  I find it so interesting how we some times look as our testimony like an ON/OFF switch.  We go through phases of our lives where we may have depleted our testimony and some of us may think, “Oh it’s on again!....Oh wait, it’s off….It’s on….It’s off!”  Have you had times in your life where you felt this way? I like to see it a bit differently.  I like to think of it as a gas tank.  We get out of our testimony what WE put into it.  Are we filling up our testimony tank?  Or are we just letting it stay at half full or a quarter of a tank?  Could your tank be nearing empty?  We might search for the answers to how we might again fill this tank again.  Those answers are found in the “primary answers” as is nearly every answer to our questions to increased spirituality are.  Scriptures, prayers, church and temple attendance. President Packer suggests another way to build our testimonies.

President Boyd K. Packer said: "A testimony is to be found in the bearing of it. Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that 'leap of faith,' as the philosophers call it. It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the light and step into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead for just a footstep or two."

I was thinking of times when through other’s examples of “bearing their testimonies, I was able to increase mine.  While living in Orem, Utah I was given the pleasure to be primary chorister for 5 years.  I LOVED IT! During the time there I felt inspired to ask special permission to use a song I had learned at EFY (Especially For Youth Summer camp at BYU) in my primary song line up.  This song was written by Kory Kunz after the FINAL testimony of Elder Bruce R. McConkie. After the Bishop heard the song he thought it would be an awesome challenge for our Senior Primary and granted the permission.  We worked on the song for months.  All different parts and talked about testimony, had them listen to his last testimony and talked to the kids about letting their OWN testimony SHINE through singing this song.  When they sang it, We all felt the spirit so strong and I saw how they were feeling their testimonies through as I watched some these children sing with tears coming down their cheeks.  We performed this song as the CLOSING song to our primary program that year and I do not believe there was a dry eye in the congregation. It was one of those moments when you could tangibly feel the spirit surrounding you. We were even asked to visit a BYU ward to sing that song in their sacrament meeting.  It was a blessed time where I saw these Senior Primary children transform their OWN personal testimonies through bearing it through singing this testimony of Elder McConkie with all their hearts. 

As I told you at Mother’s Day, I was able to fly home and have a reunion with these youth (who are now a lot of them in their Senior year of HS) and sing this once again for their Mother’s (who all say it is still their favorite song) on Mother’s Day.  The power of how they sang it, even seemed to multiply.  What an awesome opportunity to see the starting for some of them as to finding THEIR OWN testimony through sharing their talents. I want to share with you the song as well as the closing testimony today.  If you don’t want to watch the whole 7 min talk, put it forward to 6 min and watch from that point on (although I think you should listen to all of it.).  An important thing to know about this particular talk is Elder McConkie passed away 10 days after he gave this POWERFUL witness of our Savior!  Enjoy!

As you listen to this song, think of a bunch of 9-11 yrs singing this with all their hearts..

Sister’s, I am eternally grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am thankful that someone as imperfect as I can be forgiven from my sins and try again.  I am thankful for The Book of Mormon that bears a second witness of our Savior and teaches me of the faith and obedience that is required to make it back to the presence of my Father in Heaven.  I am so thankful for a prophet that leads and guides this church under the direction of the Savior. I know that I can turn to the prophet for truth and if I follow, I will always be safe and be able to find peace amidst the turmoil all around me. I am so thankful for opportunities all around me to share even the small part of the gospel that I know. I know that as I continue to bear my testimony that I can continue to grow and progress toward the Woman of God that I need to be.  In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

  

Baptism by Immersion for the Remission of Sins

Good Afternoon Sisters!  I know, I am late again.  I have had several things come up in the past few days and I am getting my first opportunity to sit down and write to you.  Our lesson was by Michelle Gawley this past Sunday and was about one of the basic principles of the gospel, that is BAPTISM.  I loved that she invited her husband who is a convert of a year and a half to come share his feelings with us.  It really brought in the spirit and I could sense his enthusiasm and testimony of the gospel.

Baptism is the gateway by which we inherit the Celestial Kingdom.  Jesus Christ was without sin, yet He was baptized. He said His baptism was necessary “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). The prophet Nephi explained that the Lord told him, “Follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do … with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism” (2 Nephi 31:12–13).

Each of us whether at 8 yrs old or later in our life had a choice to make.  We had to first gain a testimony of the Priesthood.  If we knew that it was the only authority by which to baptize. We also had to gain a testimony of repentance.  Lucky for us that we aren’t just cleansed one time at baptism and then expected from there on out to be perfect or we would all be in trouble.  Be have the opportunity every time we make mistakes or sin to correct them and repent of those mistakes and be worthy again of those baptismal covenants that we took upon ourselves.  The sacrament each Sunday is one of those times that we can be reminded and renewed in our covenants.

While Michelle was teaching I was reminded of a story that President Faust gave in 2001 called “Born Again”.  In this conference talk he told of a Samoan man who used his faith to get his crippled legs into the baptismal font.  Here is the story that he recounted:

“Some years ago Albert Peters told of the experience he and his companion had of a man being born again. One day they went to the hut of Atiati in the village of Sasina in Samoa. There they found an unshaven, unkempt, misshapen man lying on a bed. He asked them to come in and introduce themselves. He was pleased to know they were missionaries and wanted to hear their message. They presented the first discussion, bore witness to him, and then left. As they walked away, they discussed Atiati’s condition; he had had polio 22 years before that had left him without the use of his arms or legs, so how could he ever be baptized, being so completely disabled?

When they visited their new friend the next day, they were unprepared for the change in Atiati. He was bright and clean-shaven; even his bedding had been changed. “Today,” he said, “I begin to live again, because yesterday my prayers were answered and you [came] to me. … I have waited for more than twenty years for someone to come and tell me that they have the true gospel of Christ.”

For several weeks the two missionaries taught this sincere, intelligent man the principles of the gospel, and he received a strong witness of the truth and the need for baptism. He asked them to fast with him so that he would have the strength to go down into the water and be baptized. The nearest baptismal font was eight miles away. So they carried him to their car, drove him to the chapel, and set him on a bench. Their district leader opened the service by bearing a strong testimony about the sacred ordinance of baptism. Then Elder Peters and his companion picked up Atiati and carried him to the font. As they did so, Atiati said, “Please, put me down.” They hesitated, and he said again, “Put me down.”

As they stood in some confusion, Atiati smiled and exclaimed: “This is the most important event in my life. I know without a doubt in my mind that this is the only way to eternal salvation. I will not be carried to my salvation!” So they lowered Atiati to the ground. After a huge effort, he managed to pull himself up. The man who had lain 20 years without moving was now standing. Slowly, one shaky step at a time, Atiati went down the steps and into the water, where the astonished missionary took him by the hand and baptized him. He then asked to be carried from the font to the chapel, where he was confirmed a member of the Church.

Atiati continued to progress so that he gained the ability to walk only by a cane. He told Elder Peters that he knew that he would be able to walk on the morning of his baptism. He said, “Since faith can move a stubborn mountain, I had no doubt in my mind that it would mend these limbs of mine.” I believe we can say that Atiati was truly born again!

Like Atiati, when we are baptized, we are spiritually born of God and are entitled to receive His image in our countenances. We should experience a mighty change of heart so that we can “become new creatures” and exercise faith in the redemption of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in order to maintain our standards of worthiness. The personal standards of worthiness to be baptized into this Church are plain:

“All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.”

Baptism by immersion in water is “the introductory ordinance of the gospel, and must be followed by baptism of the Spirit in order to be complete.”

As the Prophet Joseph Smith once said: “You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost.”

I love those words, “today I begin to live again!”  Sisters how many of us are going through the motions of life?  How many of us are just getting through the day?!  How would our lives be different if we used our Baptismal covenants, accepted the Atonement for whatever is ailing us and BEGAN TO LIVE AGAIN?!  My challenge is to each of us to take inventory!  What is there in our lives that is stopping us from LIVING it?!  How can we better utilize the blessings of our baptism.

May you live each day to the fullest and enjoy more fully the sunlight!  I love you!  I am thinking of you!  Keep pushing those handcarts for the reward ahead is sweet!

Meg

COME TO JESUS

Sisters!  I don’t know how I spaced this, but I did!  I am going to blame the Layton’s delicious Sunday dinner on my lapse in memory!  I was sitting at my computer tonight and it DAWNED ON ME!  AHHHHHH I didn’t do the announcements!! No wonder I have had a rough week! J

Our lesson this week was given by our new ward member and newest called teacher, Sarah Udall.  She gave it out of lesson #19 Repentance.  I was so touched by her lesson .  She was VERY prepared and had AMAZING quotes to share and great perspective. 

Here are some of the highlights:

“Repentance is ever the key to a better happier life!” –Spencer W. Kimball

She reminded us about the talk by Elder Packer THIS conference where he taught us that each of US holds the key to our own prison. He says, “ Every soul confined in a prison of sin, guilt or perversion holds a key to the gate.  The key is labeled REPENTANCE! If you know how to use the key, the adversary cannot hold you.”

She shared with us the scripture out of D&C 19:16-17

“I God have suffered the things for all that they might not suffer IF they would repent, but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I.”

We are all in need of repentance.  We all need to cleanse our inner vessel as we continue through this journey of life.  It is up to us to take our key and USE IT.  Access our Heavenly Father’s Love and our Saviors sacrifice.  Are we willing to say as Alma, “I will give away ALL my sins to know thee.”

This video and song touched my heart Sunday as I continues my personal study about repentance.  I hope it will touch yours as well.  We all need him, we just need to come to Jesus!

All my love,

Meg

WE THANK THEE OH GOD FOR A PROPHET

Just a little side not before I put this letter in here. I have been so saddened this week as our Apostle Boyd K Packer has been attacked by people, even those of our own faith about the talk that he gave in General Conference this past weekend that referenced our stand on same sex relationships, although that was not the whole talk. I raised my hand and sustained him as a prophet, seer and revelator and I MEANT IT! End of story. No debate. The Lord does not lie and He, President Packer, is his mouth piece.

That being said, here is my message for this month for our RS newsletter.


We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee
And love to obey thy command.
When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv’rance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We’ve proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.

We are now living in a time on earth where this message is of critical importance. We need a prophet, a guide, a direct conduit to our Heavenly Father that can give us the direction that we need to make it through these turbulent times. The days of riding the fence have passed. Things are becoming more clear, more black and white. Either we follow the prophet, or we do not. We cannot just pick and choose the counsel we follow, for all our inspired leaders are called of God to do just that, LEAD. Lead us to higher ground. Protect us from unnecessary pain and affliction. Sometimes things they say to us may hit close to home. The message may also be a sensitive subject to our heart. But we will never loose blessings from following our prophets, seers and revelators.
Conference is such a blessed time of renewal. A time where we can place our worries before our leaders and know that they will give us counsel on how to improve our relationships, how to become better stewards of the blessings we have, how to repent and come closer to our Heavenly Father through his Son, Jesus Christ, and how to strengthen our homes from the storms that are surely coming our way down the road.
Right now I am reading in the war chapters of Alma. There are many parallels found there that we are seeing today all around us. In Alma chapter 53 it tells us of the 2,000 strippling warriors who fought mightily to protect our liberties. Something that stood out to me this week while re-reading this chapter is in verse 17 it reads:




17 And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight IN ALL CASES to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.

I love that! Right there it PROVES that WE CAN DO HARD THINGS! We can fight in ALL cases to protect ourselves from bondage. There are MANY things that put us in bondage. Our weaknesses are one of those things! Our prophets try to give us the tools to protect us and help us through our weakness and become STRENGTHENED in our fight against our liberty.
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 361).

Sisters, May we stand on solid ground. May we heed the words our leaders have just spoken to us and cling to them as we STRENGTHEN our families and homes from the forces of danger all around us. We are in this together! WE CAN DO HARD THINGS! Faith and Action is what will keep us heading on the right path back to our Heavenly Father. I love you Sisters. I am so thankful for all the things I learn from you as I watch the great choices that you make each and every day in your service to the Lord both in and outside your homes. Have a great month! Meg

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

ALOHA!! I’m BAAACK! And I missed you all last week, although I LOVED being in Hawaii more than you will ever know. I never thought I’d ever make it there, and to be able to go there for free and get paid for it, was a DREAM COME TRUE! I thought I’d include some Hawaii lovin’!
This is from the deck of our housing on Waikiki at sunset

Sister Suzann Garner taught our lesson this week. It was on the talk, “All Things Work Together for Good” by Elder James B. Martino. I read this talk myself about a month ago and it really touched me, I am so glad that I got to hear about it again. “We may never know in this life why we face what we do, but we can feel confident that we can grow from that experience.” I feel like we had a similar talk by Sister Allred at Woman’s Conference this past Saturday.

Elder Martino goes on, “ Each of us will face trials and tests,…it is how we react to those difficulties that will determine our success and happiness. Each of us will face adversity no matter where we are. We are taught in the scriptures that there “must needs be…an opposition in all things.” We will each face times of difficulty, and the question is not when we will face them but HOW we will face them.”

Sister Garner put up examples of what we in our ward may be facing. Some of them were: Divorce, eating disorders, pornography or affairs, being single, problems with children, financial, emotional etc. Elder Martino explains, “ Our Heavenly Father, who loves us completely and perfectly, permits us to have experiences that will allow us to develop the traits and attributes we need to become more and more Christ-like… recognize the good that comes from each experience”

I can tell you sincerely and honestly that there have been several really hard trials that I have been through and the blessings that come when you can hold your head up high when you have made it through it and see how your life has been blessed through that trial are COMPLETELY WORTH IT!

I have had some really special experiences with the talk by Elder Jeffery R. Holland, “Cast Not Therefore Away Thy Confidence” I would encourage any of you who are struggling with life or your testimony to read that, I turn to so many times a year myself. In that talk he tells us, “I wish to encourage every one of us regarding the opposition that so often comes after enlightened decisions have been made, after moments of revelation and conviction have given us a peace and an assurance we thought we would never lose. In his letter to the Hebrews, the Apostle Paul was trying to encourage new members who had just joined the Church, who undoubtedly had had spiritual experiences and received the pure light of testimony, only to discover that their troubles had not ended but that some of them had just begun.”

Satan has a way to come just at the very time that you think you are coming to the end of a trial or decision and try to deceive you or question what you had felt. Remember to pay attention to the FIRST answer and peace you were given and don’t allow Satan in to discourage you any longer. The most miserable times of my life is when I have let Satan in to my mind or my heart and allowed him to make me miserable. Sisters, we have had enough things to face, let’s not let Satan add to them!

Elder Martino gives some great perspective as to how we can better face the trials that come our way. First ask ourselves:
• What am I to do?
• What can I learn from this experience?
• What am I to change?
We can learn a lot from the Savior’s example while he was on the earth. FIRST, He sought not to do His will be ONLY the will of His Father. Second, When we are faced with trials, we must learn to not complain or murmur. THIRD, When we face our challenges we must seek greater help from God. FOURTH, Learn to serve and think of others even in our times of trial. FIFTH, Forgive others and DO NOT seek to pass the blame of our situation to them.

Sisters, none of us are free from trials. It may seem like someone has it all together, but in reality there are things she is dealing with in private that may knock your socks off! It is part of the plan that we all have opposition, some may just deal with it differently and it may not be as apparent to you. Let us keep these awesome teaching moments from Elder Martino close at hand so that next time, next moment, today even, as we go through our trials we can keep an eternal perspective as to why we may have to bear these burdens. I will close with his words. Know that I love you and I am CHEERING YOU ON! Meg

“As we pass through the trials of life, let us keep an eternal perspective, let us not complain, let us become more prayerful, let us serve others. And let us forgive one another. As we do this, “all things will work together for good to us that love God” I bear a solemn witness that our Father loves us and He sent His Son to show and pave the way for us. He suffered, He died, and He was resurrected that we might live, and He desires that we “might have joy” even in the trials of our lives.”

PRIESTHOOD POWER

Happy Middle of September!

Hope this email finds you all with smiles on your face and ready to face ANYTHING that is thrown at you because you have the gospel power to combat it, right?!

We were given an great lesson by Kelly Beeson this week in Relief Society.  She took us on a plane ride.  She was the non member sitting next to us and she had us explain to her as we would to a perfect stranger knowing nothing of the gospel, the restoration.  It kept us all on our toes.

Kelly was blessed to work on the FARMS project while she attended BYU.  There she was given an assignment to record and type letters that were written by Orson P Pratt.  Something powerful that she said as she was able to share her experience briefly with us was that while she was reading and typing she felt time and time again “ This man REALLY saw an Angel!” She said it was amazing that even though he ended up leaving the church, he NEVER denied the experience that he had with Joseph Smith!  What an awesome testimony she gave, having experienced reading the actual letters where he recounted it with others.

Something that I was thinking about A LOT during this lesson was The Priesthood.  That is definitely something that sets us apart from other religions.  We have holders that have been given that power from the Lord in our day.

Growing up without the priesthood in my home, I often prayed for better understanding of this power and the miracles it can bring forth.  Because of my intense desire to understand and experience the power in my own life, I have been given poignant experiences with the Priesthood that I will treasure forever.   One inparticular was standing out to me as I heard all of you sharing in RS this week.

I have shared before with you all that I worked many years in the EFY program (Especial For Youth).  This program is for the 14-18 year olds of the church (although we do have a number on non members attend as well).  It is set up like a bible style camp and is held in college campuses all over the world now. 

We have a special day in the week program that is a spiritual day.  It happens on Thursdays.  This is the day that all the youth and leaders dress in their Sunday best and we have mini classes talking about our worth and virtue to the girls and missions to the boys.  Then that night it ends with testimony meetings.  It is the day all counselors and leadership look forward too, the day of miracles some of us call it.  You see the light finally come on in some of your most challenging youth’s heads and you see a light of testimony starting to grow.  This day at EFY is always solemn and special.

Of course we give our Youth a break from the spiritual things and they eat lunch and have some free time.  On this particular day that I am going to talk about, I was at BYU-Idaho.  I was incharge of keeping the youth from butting in the lunch lines etc this day.  Having 800 youth come to eat at relatively the same time, is a challenge and this day hadn’t proven any less of one.  The lunch room was crowded, loud and boisterous to say the least.  I was talking to the youth and laughing with them when all of the sudden out of the corner of my eye I noticed something startling.  I noticed a youth go down and begin to have a seizure.

We had just had a training that VERY morning while the kids were in classes about how to react in an emergency situation. I watched fellow counselors move in as we were told and we formed a circle around this girl with our backs faced inward as to not cause a scene.  It worked amazing.  Only a few youth had seen what was happening and we were able to keep things calm and continuing on as normal.  As I sat there on the outside of that circle I could here the priesthood holders discuss what her full name was with her sister who was there and then without any warning the ENTIRE lunchroom went SILENT.  A hush fell over that lunch room.  You couldn’t hear one noise (not even the voice of the men giving a blessing) all you could feel was this OVERWHELMING sense of calm and spirit. 

I as well as many other’s had tears flowing down our cheeks.  It was a power like I hadn’t felt before, it was tangible, it was so powerful it HUSHED a sea of 800 hungry, boisterous teens.  The only way that I knew that the blessing was over is that as soon as the AMEN was done the teens in the room started to carryon like nothing had happened. 

I reflected on that experience all day.  I was so touched at the reverence that the youth showed for the moment of healing that was taking place.  I wondered how in the world they all knew to be quiet at the same time as the blessing was being said. 

That night as I got my girls settled down for bed they said, “Meg, can we ask you something?” I said of course.  “What happened in the lunchroom today?  Why did we feel so compelled to be reverent?”

These youth had absolutely NO IDEA that there was someone that was having a seizure. They had no idea that someone was administering a blessing. All they knew is they were compelled to be reverent.  That was such a testimony to me and to them, of the power of the priesthood.  It has power to compel you to be reverent if it needs to.

That day (as well as many others since) I was taught such a valuable lesson and my faith in Priesthood power was strengthened and made alive again.  I am so thankful for the restoration of the gospel.  For the Priesthood power that it brought back to the earth.  I am thankful that daily through the worthy men in my life I have access to that power. All I need to do is call upon them to bless me with it. I am thankful for the youth of the church that taught me that miracles still happen and who were in-tune to the change in their behavior and made it possible for all of us involved to feel that HUSH that came into the BYU-I lunchroom that day.

Sisters, may we never take this blessing in our lives for granted.  May we be compelled and reverence this gift that we have been blessed with.  May we always feel comfortable to ask for it to bless our lives.  The Priest brings amazing power in our life if we will allow it to work.

Keep pressing forward with faith Sisters!!  Have a great week!!  YOU CAN DO IT!

TO LOVE THE THINGS GOD LOVES

Good Morning Sisters!

HAPPY LABOR DAY!! Hope that all of you are enjoying the day with friends or family.  I am enjoying the day not nannying my twins! Wish I could’ve slept in though, my body is so on this 4:30am schedule though.  Have a great day!

Our lesson today was taught by Carole Richards, our Relief Society President.  She got some of her thoughts from a talk entitled, “ To Love the Things God Loves” from the Ensign in 1981.

We focused on the desires of the heart and that is always such a great teaching to go back to often.  For if we can keep our desires in line with God’s desires, the outcome of our lives would be so much more bright, wouldn’t it?!

In this talk Dennis Peterson shares a story from his mission to Japan and how he had a life changing  moment, while watching an investigator change from a mean and abusive man, to a kind and loving father through the gospel.  He then found a passage in the book, Jesus The Christ,  that made a lasting impression.  It is too powerful not to share.  He relates the following:

 “In Jesus the Christ, it explains that the Savior “had the capacity, the ability to sin had He willed so to do … Nevertheless his insurance against [sin] … is not that of external compulsion, but of internal restraint due to his cultivated companionship of the spirit of truth” (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1973, chapter 10, paragraph 2 from the end, p. 134).

It was a moment of real revelation for me; I understood finally that Christ’s ultimate defense was not his supreme will power but simply that, nurtured by the Spirit, he had no desire for Satan’s grimy alternatives. He loves the things his Father loves. Thus, as his desires became deeds, those deeds reflected a spontaneous righteousness that came from the very depths of his being.

That was the key: to love the things God loves, to make his desires my own, and thus to be truly like him. My problem was that I had been trying to act in godly ways while wanting ungodly things. If I could change the desires of my heart, then my actions would spontaneously become godly.”

I loved this teaching. “If I could change the desires of my heart, then my actions would spontaneously become godly!”

What are our desires of the heart?  Are they turned to the things of God, or do we desire having all the best of the things or the world? 

The gap between good and evil is closing in on us every day. We have to determine where are desires are going to be set.  What our ultimate goals are in this life. Where we want to be. 

I love the story in the Book of Mormon where the prophet King Benjamin asked his people to gather to the temple, “they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple” (Mosiah 2:6) I think this perfectly depicts the desires of their hearts.  They believed that King Benjamin was a prophet of God and their desires were to heed to his words so they  put their doors toward the temple READY to hear.

Where are our door point toward? So our tent door show our true desires? Are we heading ourselves and our families in the right direction?

It is always good to take our temperatures and realign our lives continually so that we are closer to the things that God loves.  I know it is a daily battle.  None of us has it easy.  The battle is what strengthens us for the REAL battle ahead.  It is what prepares us to STAND at the  last day.  The real battle hasn’t started, we are just getting our armor ready.  Every thing that we do to become more godlike, every righteous desire,  gives us one more layer in our shield.  I know that I need every layer that I can get.

Carole said something yesterday that I jotted down because it reminded me of my favorite quote.  She said, “He (God) may not always put things in our time table, but he is listening!”  My favorite quote is by Neal A Maxwell, “Faith in God includes faith in His timing!”

May we all continue to work on “turning our tents toward the temple” that we may be able to align our desires with God’s desires and have faith in him that he KNOWS what is the best for us, because he does!

I love you Sisters and appreciate all the righteous desires I see in you.  I am blessed to be part of you!  Happy Monday!  

KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS

Sisters!  How fun to be back with you after I have missed a couple weeks.  Every time I return after even a week away, I get so excited to be part of things with you again!

Today was our Conference Talk Sunday with our lovely Suzann Garner.  We went over the talk by Elder Bruce Carlson of the seventy from April Conference entitled “When the Lord Commands”.

I read this talk last night and was so impressed by the power in which he taught, using great experiences from the scriptures as well as how he taught in simple terms. 

He taught us that generally when we aren’t keeping the commandments it is because of  3 basic reasons:

1.       We have convinced ourselves that the commandment does not apply to us

2.       This commandment is NOT important

3.       This commandment is just TOO hard!

One of my favorite quotes out of this talk is the following:

“At times we may rationalize that the Lord will understand our disobedience because our special circumstances make adherence to His laws difficult, embarrassing, or even painful.  However, faithful obedience, regardless of the apparent size of task, will bring the Lord’s guidance, assistance and peace.”

This talk was perfect for me at the moment.  I personally needed it to reconfirm to me that a recent conversation I had with a friend, was on point with the gospel teachings.  We know that this world is getting increasingly BLACK AND WHITE.  Being a “fence sitter” is just not enough any more.  We are all being forced to DEFINE our beliefs and HOLD TO THEM. 

One of the heart breaking things that I personally have been going through for years is a lot of my dearest friends in the gospel are choosing a different path, a path that takes them COMPLETELY out of the  path of the Plan of Salvation.  Many of my friends are choosing to lead a homosexual life and giving into those tendencies.  I was having a conversation with one of my best guy friends who I have worked with in gospel teaching situations before. It was a tearful, agonizing conversation in which he was telling me that he has made the choice to continue with this type of lifestyle.  He was talking to me about how heart wrenching it has been for him and how much he has missed teaching in the church, and how he loves the gospel and yet he has “CONVINCED” himself that those 3 things (discussed above) apply to him.

 I talked to him about the Atonement and that he can come back, he doesn’t ‘have to” live this lifestyle.  He told me that it is “just too hard” not to. When he said that, the spirit filed my mind and I was able to talk to him boldly and yet be filled with love.  I told him, “Do you know what the only difference between you and me is?”  He of course said, “What?”  I continued, “The only difference between you and me is that I am straight and you are gay and I choose to bridle my passions and you choose to act on them.  If you chose to be not act on them, you could have all the same rights, covenants and blessings that I do.”  It was silent on the phone for what seemed like 5 minutes, knowing that he was thinking about what I was saying I left it at, “ You know I love you.  Anytime you need me to remind you, I will be here.” And that was the end of a very long conversation that we had that night.  Just when I was at my emotional end, just at the part of the conversation when I was spent “dealing with it”, the spirit took over and said what needed to be said in a way that I personally had not thought of before.

When we choose to live the commandments even when it is HARD.  Even when it is inconvenient.  Even when we have to trade something that we really want for something we want even more, we receive peace and all the blessings that are associated with keeping the commandments.  Living the commandments is ALWAYS the right choice!

  I appreciated the reminder in today’s lesson from the teaching of Joseph Smith.  It was discussing when he kept going to the Lord to allow Martin Harris to take the plates and finally after the third round of asking, The Lord agreed and through that process, Martin lost the manuscript and the plates were taken away from Prophet Joseph for a time.  After this painful lesson Joseph taught, “ I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, DO IT!”

Growing up my Mother would always say, “When the prophet speaks, the debate is over!” as she was teaching us a certain principle that we found particularly hard to hear.   I think that mantra fits the teachings from Joseph Smith as well.  And the great news is when we do, WE WILL BE BLESSED!  Keeping the commandments saves us from so much UNNECESSARY heartache we just need to DO IT! 

Sister’s you are all example’s to me of Women trying hard to keep the commandments.  None of us are perfect but the more time we can stay close to the commandments without faultering, the better we will be in this world of so much contradiction.  May you be blessed as you follow the Lord and heed to the teachings of our leaders today!

Keep the Commandments! Keep the Commandments!

In this there is safety; in this there is peace.

He will send blessings; He will send blessings,

Words of the prophet; Keep the commandments.

In this there is safety and peace.

WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH, IT WILL BE FILLED

Sisters!

 I hope this email finds you well and happy.  I am sorry that I missed you today.  Know that I really did miss you.  Today’s lesson was taught by Kristal Burton.  I didn’t get to hear her lesson but heard she was great!  Her lesson was lesson 15, The Lords Covenant People. 

I loved reading this and knowing that EACH OF US have that title.  We have ALL been baptized and taken on those special covenants and what an honor it is that we each carry that title.   In the lesson it says;

“Along with the blessings we receive as the Lord’s covenant people, we have great responsibilities.  The Lord promised Abraham that through his descendants the gospel would be taken to all the earth.  WE are fulfilling this responsibility though the full-time missionary program of the church and the missionary work done by the members. The opportunity to preach the gospel to all the world belongs ONLY to the Lord’s Church and HIS covenant people.”

I have felt so blessed since living in Arizona in many ways.  Not only the wonderful friends and families I have come close to here in the ward but also the ample opportunities I have had with missionary experiences.  I can not wait for the Gilbert temple to get done.  I already have people waiting in line to go through the tour!  The Lord has blessed me with some great people in my life that have a desire to know more about what I am about.

I had an interesting experience last month that I am going to try to explain to you over email.  I tried out for the show “The Biggest Loser” in 2008.  Through that experience I met some WONDERFUL people that I have continued facebook and phone conversations with for the past 2 years.  We have become pretty close for people that had not previously known each other and do not live in the same area.  One of those people, Josh, who I have been talking to for 2 years now, ended up moving to Arizona around the same time as I did and we didn’t even figure out we were living in the same state until recently.

I participated in a 7.5 mile urban race with him a few weeks ago and that experience opened GREAT opportunity for missionary work.  Why you might ask?  Well I am going to tell you! Haha

When Josh started spending more time with me training and working out he started to see that I was different than other girls he hangs out with.  My language is different, my goals are different the things I do with free time is different.  So he started going through my facebook and blog and found out that I am LDS.  One night when we were finalizing things about the race by phone he said to me,

“ Well I will try really hard not to corrupt you when we spend time together!”  I said, “Corrupt me?  Were you planning too?!”

 He then said,

 “ Well I noticed yesterday on your facebook that you are LDS and so I know that you are a really good girl”

 I said,

“ I am LDS.  It sounds like you have met other LDS people in your life.”

He then said something that was jaw dropping to me. He told me that he was once baptized LDS!  I fought through shock and asked him for more details on that.  He agreed that the night of the race we would talk about it.

He kept up to his bargain and I was told the most tragic tale of someone who the gospel found him, he accepted.  He JUMPED right into activity and responsibility in the church.  Was working on mission papers and then was anti- mormon-ed 2 years after baptism by an previous member. Josh came back to the right sources (members of the church) for the answers to the questions he then had.  His questions were ignored.  They all told him that “all your questions will be answered in time and why don’t you just focus on getting on your mission right now”.

Because Josh’s questions (which by the way ALL have answers through scripture) weren’t answered he has spent the last 8 years out of the church, and from what I can tell pretty lonely and searching.  Something very tragic and unnecessary being that answers could have been given and concerns over come.

I was so thankful that day to be one of the “Lord’s Covenant People” and have the spirit with me to know how to reply to what he was talking to me about.  It felt so good to be in missionary mode again.  It felt good that he knew I lived up to a certain standard and it felt good that Heavenly Father trusted me with starting the teaching process with his child who is wandering.

I have since had many spiritual discussions with Josh and I am still getting the bug into him to start working with the missionaries again.  He said to me, “Why is it that is 20 minutes you could answer all the questions that I have had for 8 years!” I just replied that I didn’t know, but that they were always there. 

Sisters, if we can just remember when we get in situations like this that there are answers in the scriptures.  We are all the Lords’ covenant people and he wants ALL his children to have what we have, and will lead us to the elect. “for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts” (D&C 29:7).  All we have to do is open our mouths.  I know that is easier said then done, but the spirit that comes into your heart when that happens, is so beautiful, it is worth opening your mouth!

Have a great week!  Let’s start praying for those missionary experiences!  One thing that I love about my church is the sister’s that come with it!!  I love you ladies!!