Our Keystone

Joseph Smith taught that, "the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth" and that this book is the "keystone" of our religion. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we believe that this book is a continuation of scriptures and just as the title page states, it is truly "another testament of Jesus Christ" in addition to the Bible. The truths and teachings that can be found in this book are amazing, but it can often seem daunting to people to begin reading. The book's length and language can feel different to those experiencing scriptural reading for the first time.

In our congregation, we were recently given a short list of scriptures that are a great starting point for anyone who would like to come to a knowledge of the truthfulness of this book for themselves. By focusing on these short, key sections, the book can become much more manageable and immediately relevant. I encourage any who have questions that need to be answered, to turn to the Book of Mormon for guidance and examples that can truly change lives. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who prepared a way for this book to be available to us today. Please take the opportunity to explore this book and learn more of our savior, Jesus Christ.

Some suggested passages to begin study with are:
1 Nephi 11:27, 31, 33
2 Nephi 2:25
2 Nephi 9:14-15, 21-23, 28-29
2 Nephi 29:3, 8
2 Nephi 31:5, 17
2 Nephi 32:9
2 Nephi 33:10-11
Mosiah 3:5, 8, 17, 19
Mosiah 27:25-26
Alma 7:14-16
Alma 11:40-41
Alma 30:43, 44, 49, 52, 60
Alma 32:17, 18, 21, 26, 27
Almas 34:32
Alma 40:11-14
Helaman 5:9-11
Helaman 14:30-31
3 Nephi 11:8, 10, 22-26, 33-34
3 Nephi 15:21-24
3 Nephi 18:15-21
3 Nephi 27:19-22
3 Nephi 29:6-7
Mormon 9:7, 17, 19, 21
Ether 4:11-12
Moroni 6:2-3
Moroni 10:4-5
Moroni 10:32-33

If you would like a free copy of the Book of Mormon, please visit http://www.mormon.org/.

God Speaks to His Children

I’ve been listening to a book called Joan – The Mysterious Life of the Heretic Who Became a Saint by Donald Spoto (about Joan of Arc). The most interesting thing to me so far is relating to her visions. Regarding what Joan said about them, I’ve noticed parallels to the visions and visitations that Joseph Smith received! After I finish this book I’m hoping to learn more about other spiritual leaders in the world and seeing how they claimed to communicate with God. God has never forgotten His people! We know He loves all his children and has special things for them to do in this life.

Sadly, however, Spoto discounts any literal visions or voices as described by Joan. He explains that she could only describe them the way she did because she did not have the language to tell what “really” happened.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we do believe that God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, literally appeared to Joseph Smith, which began the modern-day restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Additionally, Spoto goes into great lengths to explain how Joan could still be a virgin at age 19. His historical explanation is good, and should make sense to a modern reader. I was saddened, though, that this was something that had to be explained! Our society has become so promiscuous that we hardly know virtue anymore. The Chuch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches us to live chaste lives – abstinence before marriage and complete fidelity after. It really does make life so much simpler!

I am so glad that we believe in a literal existence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and that our Father continues to speak to His children. I am also grateful for chastity and virtue and that I was taught them at a young age.

Standing For Something

I recently read the poignant book written by former president of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley. In this work that was published in 2000, he writes to all, regardless of religious affiliation, and calls upon each member of society to raise him or herself up and thereby strengthen their homes and communities. Considering the current financial crisis, war, and election, these messages seem more crucial than ever and I encourage all to read or review the messages that President Hinckley has given. In the epilogue of this book he says,

"What we desperately need today on all fronts - in our homes and communities, in schoolrooms and boardrooms, and certainly throughout society at large - are leaders, men and women who are willing to stand for something. We need people who are honest; who are willing to stand up for decency, truth, integrity, morality, and law and order; who respond to their consciences even when it is unpopular to do so - perhaps especially when it is
unpopular to do so.

None of us will become perfect in a day or a month or a year. We will not accomplish it in a lifetime, but we can begin now, starting with our more obvious weaknesses and gradually converting them to strengths as we go forward with our lives. This quest may be a long one; in fact, it will be lifelong. It may be fraught with many mistakes, with falling down and getting back up again. And it will take much effort. But we must not sell ourselves short. We must make a little extra effort. We would be wise to kneel before our God in supplication. He will help us. He will bless us. He will comfort and sustain us. He will help us to do more, and be more, than we can ever accomplish or become on our own.

No nation can rise above the strength of its homes or the virtue of its people. The time has come for good people everywhere to demonstrate that they stand for something - something that is virtuous and clean and worthwhile. To that end, may we move forward with faith in the Almighty, and with a determination to live virtuous lives and to return to our society the element of goodness on which it was founded."

Amen.

Piece by Piece

Yesterday I had the opportunity to sit and contemplate the beauty of one of the historic pioneer monuments of Utah: the Logan Temple. Dedicated in 1884, this Temple is the second operating LDS Temple in the world and is truly an example of excellent pioneer craftsmanship and the dedication required to erect such a magnificent building. It is estimated that nearly 25,000 people labored during the 7 year construction of this building and the immaculate interior. Women spent two months working to hand make two thousand square yards of carpet. Rocks and timber used for the temple were hauled from the Temple Fork area of Logan Canyon. The east tower is 170 feet above the beautiful hill where the building is located. All in all, it truly stands as a testimony of hard work and perseverance of the people that lived in the Cache Valley at that time.

I love to look at the temples of the church, but yesterday only one thing kept my attention: the thousands of rock pieces that make up the massive walls. I can scarcely imagine the monumental task given to the pioneers to complete such a huge and ornate building when they were still settling in this relatively new area. However, each piece of rock was carefully chiseled by hand and placed in the right spot. Piece by piece they were able to finish what many probably thought was impossible. Their work will stand as a symbol of dedication to the Lord because they were willing to haul, shape, and place each piece of limestone.

When my life is finished I want to have accomplished a few things, the most important being that I want to be able to see that I have lived a life of faith and done the best that I can with what I had available. With hopefully years to come before this day, this goal often seems monumental. How can I do my best when I'm exhausted from a teething toddler or when I can't seem to garner enough patience to deal with a three-year-old's logic? Despite my many limitations during this phase of my life, I know that if I just do what I can each day, piece by piece, I will be lifted up by others and the Lord so that things will work out. And when the time comes, I will hopefully be able to look back and see a life that is made up of tiny pieces of goodness and hard work that has been shaped into something magnificent.

"And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father." Ether 12:37

Standing Strong

Sometimes it is hard to stand up for ourselves and our believes. I know it is hard for me. We live in a world were people are easily offended and hard hearted when it comes to religion. Often I find that it is scary to stand up for what I know to be true, especially to the ones I love. Today, I just wanted to share a thought that I have kept on my fridge for many years. When I feel afraid, or down about myself, I often see this thought and it makes me feel stronger to face the things that life throws at me and reminds me of the person I hope to someday become.

It is a wonderful thought by President Henry B. Eyring. He quoted it in a talk several years ago (I am not positive who the author really is because it is attributed to many people), and I am sure that many have heard it before.

"The Fellowship of the Unashamed"

"I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, color-less dreams, tamed visions. worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear."

Remember the Sabbath Day

I love Sundays. I always have. It is definitely my favorite day of the week. Part of it is because I like not feeling guilty for not doing chores, because we're not supposed to do our chores on Sunday! I like being able to relax and sometimes take naps. But more importantly, it's a day where I can be with my family all day long. It's a day where I get to go to church for 3 full hours and feel the Spirit so strong. Even on Sundays when I'm frustrated with my 4-year old or exhausted keeping up with my 11-month old, I'm still in a location where the Spirit abides so strongly. This past week was pretty difficult. Not anything too awful, just the regular frustrations about my shortcomings as a mom, not reading my scriptures enough, not exercising enough, yelling at my 4-year old, comparing myself to others, just wanting so bad to perfect, and of course always falling short. After all those negative feelings, it was so refreshing and wonderful to be at church today. It was Fast and Testimony meeting and all of the testimonies were so uplifting. And then we went to Sunday School. Right now Zeke and I are participating in a Family Relations Sunday School Class and it was so wonderful to discuss the joy of marriage and how we can create and find joy in our lives. And then in Relief Society, the lesson was Stand Fast through the Storms of Life. The lesson was definitely for me!

"After God ended his work of creation on this earth, he blessed and sanctified his day of rest—the seventh day (see Gen. 2:2–3). When he reiterated the day’s importance through Moses on Mount Sinai, he told the people of Israel: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8). That word remember is important. Most of us need daily reminders, such as prayer and scripture study, to keep the Lord and his work in our hearts, but we also need one whole day out of seven to refocus our attention and our hearts on him completely—to rest from worldly things that may too easily work their way to the top of our priority list." (D. Kelly Ogden, “Remember the Sabbath Day,” Ensign, Apr 1994, 46)

I went to high school in Belgium. It was a pretty small high school - my graduating class was only 29. My senior year, me and a good friend who is also LDS (we were the only mormons in our grade) were awarded the honor of being valedictorian and salutatorian. I remember one of my good friends called to congratulate me and in our conversation she stated how impressed she was that me and my LDS friend received that distinction, especially when we didn't do any studying on Sunday and even went to Seminary one evening a week. She told me that she always did a lot of studying on Saturday and Sunday and definitely every evening during the week. For some reason, that conversation has always stuck with me and I'm grateful that I never studied on Sunday.

Of course there are exceptions. Some times we are required to work on Sundays and there can be other reasons -- for example when I lived in Jordan, our Sabbath day was on Friday since we lived in a predominantly muslim country. However, I testify that we need to remember to keep the Sabbath Day holy. One day a week, we should devote more time and energy to renewing our spirits and worshiping our Heavenly Father. I know I have been blessed my keeping this commandment and I am so grateful for His wisdom in giving us the Sabbath day to help us on our journey through life and ultimately back to Him.

I'm ready for another week!!!

"A Little Child Shall Lead Them"

How often I have found myself yanked back into reality by the sweet innocence of my children. Recently, upon putting my youngest child into a 'big girl bed' we have fought the losing battle of keeping our two girls in bed, when they would much rather be out giggling, trading beds and doing anything and everything but dreaming. It is, to be certain, a frustrating experience. However, I learned a beautiful lesson from my children these last few nights. Jeremey and I have, for the sake of our sanity, decided to continue with our bedtime routine, put our girls into bed, put up the gate so they can't escape, and let them 'tough it out'. There have been tears, tattling, screaming and mess-making. But without fail, the last two nights, as our littlest has fallen asleep on the floor, we have found her covered with her special blanket, a doll tucked neatly underneath, and a big sister asleep right next to her keeping vigil. How grateful I am for such a sweet reminder of the unconditional love of the innocent. I had another such moment when, after putting my oldest daughter in time out for picking on her little sister, I watched as my little girl walked over to her big sister and stood right next to her in time out, with their arms wrapped around the other. I know that, had I been cracked on the head with a barbie car, I would not be so forgiving and willing to suffer right along with my abuser. This is not something I can honestly say they have learned from me -- it is far more likely that it is the innocence they inherited from their Father that they have yet to lose. And I hope they never do -- what beautiful spirits and sincerity.
There are times I am so often frustrated by my children, and wonder what it is I am not teaching, or how I ought to better approach them. But then I realize that I learn from them -- every day. I learn how to be a better mother from my children. I can't think of a greater truth -- and a straighter way to salvation -- than to 'be as a little child'

“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” Matt. 18: 1-5