I love Douglas for eternity :)

I grew up with the concept of Eternal Marriage so I always feel like I understood the concept very well. At times this makes it difficult to understand someone would feel who has never heard of the concept of eternal marriage that is why I love this quote so much from Parley P. Pratt. I know part of God's plan are eternal families so that we can be in these loving bonds forever!

It is a long quote but really good...

"I received from (Joseph) the first idea of eternal family organization, and the eternal union of the sexes in those inexpressibly endearing relationships which non but the highly intellectual, the refined and pure in heart, know how to prize, and which are at the very foundations of everything worthy to be called happiness.

Till then I had learned to esteem kindred affections and sympathies as appertaining solely to this transitory state, as something from which the heart must be entirely weaned, in order to be fitted for its heavenly state.

It was Joseph Smith who taught me how to prize the endearing relationships of father and mother, husband and wife; of brother and sister, son and daughter.

IT was from him that I learned that the wife of my bosom might be secured to me for time and all eternity; and that the refined sympathies and affections which endeared us to each other emanated from the fountain of divine eternal love. It was from him that I learned that we might cultivate these affections, and grow and increase in the same to all eternity; while the result of our endless union would be an offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven or the sands of the sea shore...

I had loved before, but I know not shy. But now I loved--with a pureness--and intensity of elevated exalted feeling, which would lift my soul from the transitory things of this grovelling sphere and expand it as the ocean. I felt that God was my heavenly Father indeed' that Jesus was my brother, and that the wife of my bosom was an immortal, eternal companion; a kind ministering angel, given to me as a comfort, and a crown of glory for ever and ever. In short, I could now love with the spirit and with the understanding also" (autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, Salt Lake city: Deseret Book Co., 1979, pp/ 297-98)

Thou shalt have no other gods before me

I think a lot of times when we learn about the ten commandments we treat it like a check list that we have already completed. I think that if we would take the time to read even just the first commandment more carefully we would find that we have more to work on.

The first commandment is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”. As I read the first commandment I often think of the ancient times and of them worshipping the golden images and statues. I forget about all of the "other gods" that we can potentially put before Heavenly Father. This means that anything that is coming between us and Heavenly Father is an "other god" and in violation of the first commandment. It seems so simple but how often have we let our talents or our dreams come before our priorities to God. I think that is a big part of living on the earth- learning to put God first, before all of the other distractions. I know that as we put God first everything else in our life will come together. (of course not immediately and maybe not even until the next life). I am so thankful for a knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father because it helps to keep everything in perspective. In my own life I want to evaluate potential "other gods" and determine how I can better put God first in my life.

The former President kimball gave a very good talk about this entitled, The False God We Worship.

Motherhood

I really love this quote by Presdient Benson and completely agree with everything that he said. I had a wonderful loving mother and I know that these things on this list were really important to her too. I can still remember when I would be on school vacation and we would be out shopping she would still want to be home in time for my youngest sister Laura to get home from school. It was really important to my mom to be at the "crossroads" something that I really appreciated. Now as I am looking forward to motherhood it has given me extra time to reflect on my own mother and all of the wonderful things she did for me.

I love you mom!

“Thinking of the example of his own mother and that of his beloved and faithful wife, Flora, President Benson has offered ten specific suggestions for mothers as they guide their precious children:

1. Take time to always be at the crossroads in the lives of your children, whether they be six or sixteen.
2. Take time to be a real friend to your children.
3. Take time to read to your children. Remember what the poet wrote:You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be— I had a mother who read to me.
4. Take time to pray with your children.
5. Take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening. Make this one of your great family traditions.
6. Take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible.
7. Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family.
8. Take time to do things together as a family.
9. Take time to teach your children.
10. Take time to truly love your children. A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love

(see Ezra Taft Benson, To the Mothers in Zion, pamphlet, 1987, pp. 8–12; see also Ezra Taft Benson, Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1990, pp. 32–36).”

Follow the Prophet

Former President Ezra Taft Benson

For Family Home Evening last night my husband and I read a talk that I really loved. The talk is entitled Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet given by President President Ezra Taft Benson when he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles.

I really enjoyed the article because of its emphasis on the importance of the prophet. I love our living prophet President Thomas S. Monson and am so thankful for his guidance in all things. Whatever he would like to speak about I would like to listen and follow. I truly believe that the prophet is God's mouthpiece on the earth that he has given to us to help us navigate through this sometimes difficult world. I know that as we follow the prophet we will come close to our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.

We will not be lead astray if we stay close to the prophet.

The following are the 14 Fundamentals that President Benson spoke about and some of my favorite quotes:

1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

President Wilford Woodruff tells of an interesting incident that occurred in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“I will refer to a certain meeting I attended in the town of Kirtland in my early days. At that meeting some remarks were made that have been made here today, with regard to the living prophets and with regard to the written word of God. The same principle was presented, although not as extensively as it has been here, when a leading man in the Church got up and talked upon the subject, and said: ‘You have got the word of God before you here in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants; you have the written word of God, and you who give revelations should give revelations according to those books, as what is written in those books is the word of God. We should confine ourselves to them.’

“When he concluded, Brother Joseph turned to Brother Brigham Young and said, ‘Brother Brigham I want you to go to the podium and tell us your views with regard to the living oracles and the written word of God.’ Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down; he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said: ‘There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now,’ said he, ‘when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books.’ That was the course he pursued. When he was through, Brother Joseph said to the congregation; ‘Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth.’ ” (Conference Report, October 1897, pp. 18–19.)

President Marion G. Romney tells of this incident which happened to him:

“I remember years ago when I was a bishop I had President Heber J. Grant talk to our ward. After the meeting I drove him home … Standing by me, he put his arm over my shoulder and said: ‘My boy, you always keep your eye on the President of the Church and if he ever tells you to do anything, and it is wrong, and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it.’ Then with a twinkle in his eye, he said, ‘But you don’t need to worry. The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray.’ ” (Conference Report, October 1960, p. 78.)


3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.

5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.

7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.

9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.

Said Brigham Young:

“Some of the leading men in Kirtland were much opposed to Joseph the Prophet, meddling with temporal affairs …

“In a public meeting of the Saints, I said, ‘Ye Elders of Israel, … will some of you draw the line of demarcation, between the spiritual and temporal in the kingdom of God, so that I may understand it?’ Not one of them could do it …

“I defy any man on earth to point out the path a Prophet of God should walk in, or point out his duty, and just how far he must go, in dictating temporal or spiritual things. Temporal and spiritual things are inseparably connected, and ever will be.” (Journal of Discourses, 10:363–64.)


10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.

11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

The learned may feel the prophet is only inspired when he agrees with them, otherwise the prophet is just giving his opinion—speaking as a man. The rich may feel they have no need to take counsel of a lowly prophet.

12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.

14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.

Arms of Safety

Sometimes every day life wears on us and the trials and realities of life bring us slowly down. It is as if we don't know how to explain it but life just seems to be a little bit too much and we need a breather. That is what is so great about he gospel. Every week we are provided with that much needed "breather" as we go to church and partake of the sacrament. The sacrament is the most important reason why we go to church.

The sacrament is only possible because our Savior sacrificed his life for us. It is our weekly reminder that Christ suffered and died so that we do not have to. Each week before the sacrament we sing a beautiful hymn reminding us of Christ's sufferings and triumph over death. I am so thankful that we can partake of the sacrament each week and experience that renewal in our lives.

Each week as we sit pondering the Savior pleading through prayer for the sweet whispering of the spirit to tell us again, "Behold your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice" (D&C 110: 5)

Patience

While Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the church in this dispensation was in Liberty Jail while he cried out: "...How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea they pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of they people and of they servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?"  

Joseph along with many members wondered why our loving Father could sit back and watch as the saints were being so persecuted.  Sometimes I feel the same way in my own life.  If you love me so much then why are you not rushing to my every whimper and cry for help. 

Lately I have been reading a lot of parenting books and it reminded me of something that I recently read.  The book encouraged parents to stop and listen to the cries of their baby before rushing into their every need.  The book taught that often the child will cry and soothe themselves back to sleep.  If we rush in every time that our child has a need they will grow weak and dependent upon us.  Of course we are here for them but we want them to grow strong.  

Heavenly Father wants us to grow strong.  He gives us these periods of quiet struggles where we grow stronger.  Heavenly Father is always always there for us but he does not immediately take away all of our pains when we whimper.  He teaches us to over come the natural man and always gives us just enough to keep going, but usually not more than we need.  

Revenge

In October of 2008 we had the wonderful opportunity of gathering together as a church (through the internet, satellite, and so forth) in order to listen to our living prophet, the 12 apostles and other leaders of our church. 

Then we wait with anticipation until the November Ensign comes filled with all of the addresses that we heard a month earlier (or if you can't wait you can usually go online within a week and all of the talks are there in several languages!). 

I love rereading the conference talks and it is really amazing what you miss the first time through.  Tonight I sat reading a particular talk entitled, The Test, by President Boyd K. Packer, the president of the 12 apostles.  It is an excellent article talking about the saints as they were forced to leave their homes in both Kirkland and Nauvoo but how they never lost faith.  I particularly enjoyed the article because it talked about how the Saints had been treated cruelly and unfairly almost unceasingly by US Government but that they still celebrated that same government.  

I quote from the talk, "One would think that, compelled by force of human nature, the Saints would seek revenge, but something much stronger than human nature prevailed...  If you can understand a people so longsuffering, so tolerant, so forgiving, so Christian after what they had suffered, you will have unlocked the key to what a Latter-day Saint is.  Rather than being consumed with revenge, they were anchored with revelation." 

I am still striving for the faith and patience of the saints and the understanding and wisdom they possessed.  I am striving and fighting to overcome the natural man which yells inside of us to claim revenge.