I sure miss them!

I have just finished watching inspired leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speak to the world. There has been 8 wonderful hours of these talks in the last 2 days. Along with the words, there have been songs of joy and gladness to aid in taking the teachings directly into my heart. I love to listen to General Conference and always it ends with so much spirituality overflowing my heart.

These are the times that I miss my Uncle Stan and Aunt Madge Roberts! I miss them after conference like at no other time. Let me tell you why.

Sunday night after conference ended, they invited their children and grandchildren old enough to express their feelings (and any other odd bits of family that happened to be in the area), over to their home. The first time I went, I had no idea what to expect. What I found made my soul sing. People came in all states of dress—from Sunday best to lounging pajamas- it didn’t matter. All were welcomed with a warm smile and a warmer hug. We gathered in their largest room with some extra chairs set up to help fit everyone, but even then, a few always ended up sitting on the floor. It never worked that all of those invited could be there, but it was always full.

Someone was asked to say a prayer to open this simple, but most important, family gathering. Then Uncle Stan would begin by reminding us that we had just been blessed to listen to a Prophet of God and other inspired leaders. He then shared one or two of the things that he heard and felt the strongest feelings about. Then Aunt Madge would share one or two of the things that she felt were most important to her.

After they had set the example, we went around the room, one by one, and each was invited to share feelings if they desired to. Some did and some passed. No judgment was ever made on anyone. Some were touched by a story, some by a song; some found answers they had been looking for. A few times there were tears, occasionally someone was too emotional to speak and would just pass. There were times that got uncomfortable, some that were too emotional, but no one was stopped or directed or questioned. It was just a family sharing feelings. As it should be!

By the end of the time, everyone had had an opportunity to share feelings and insight. All of those there had been given the opportunity to share the spiritual feelings they had been having from listening to the Prophet of God. Each family member was able to hear what was important to every other family member there. All of them, young and old, knew that their feelings about spiritual things were important to express and that others wanted to hear them. No one had to prepare a talk, or make notes or stand up in front of the church. It was only a place to share those overflowing spiritual blessings that strengthen testimonies when shared and heard.

I have never seen another family do this kind of sharing of spiritual feelings. But the focus on listening to the leaders of the church, and then being able to share what your feeling were about the things said, is one of the most powerful teaching times for a family. No one was pressured, no one was assigned, no one was overlooked, and everyone was loved! Combining the Lord’s Living Prophet, the Family, and Testimonies, large and small—what better way to teach what is important.

After a closing prayer we were all eager to get to the dessert that Aunt Madge had ready for us. All family gatherings need to have food, don’t you think?

I sure miss Uncle Stan and Aunt Madge.

Conference Glow

Yesterday and today, I have really enjoyed watching the LDS Worldwide General Conference. Conference always seems to come at the times my spirit needs feeding the most and I am never disappointed!

There were so many speakers and so many topics that I can’t make just a brief list. But I have written down the times the Spirit spoke to me about my life and where it needs adjusting. I do love to hear about the things I am doing and feel the encouragement to keep going. No one who listens with an open mind and heart can fail to find a feast. With that feast in mind, I am now stuffed! It will take me the next 6 months to really digest the things that were said and to adjust my life to be more Christ-like and more humble.

I hope you listened and have also been fed. I hope that you will find something for your life in what you heard during these 2 days of wonderful speakers and beautiful music.

I have found a new website for General Conference. http://new.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng
It has all the sessions and you can watch one session or one speaker.

Next Saturday and Sunday, General Conference will be broadcast again in ASL (American Sign Language).  The times will be the same as this week (see previous post) and you can both hear and see the talks given, again.

By next week, all the talks will be on the web to be printed or read. http://lds.org/conference/display/0,5234,49-1,00.html  This will give just one more way to study what was said and try to implement it in our lives.

I was so excited to hear about 5 new temples that Pres. Monson announced for Portugal, Philippines, Connecticut, Indiana, and Mexico.  The work just moves faster and faster.  If you stand still, you might get run over!

Such a feast and it never has empty platters.

Truth to calm your soul

Sometimes we just need to be reminded of our Savoir and His love for us.  The video at the Son of Man Project to the music "Miracle from Heaven" will uplift you today and give you that warm feeling you get when truth is right in front of you.

http://sonofmanproject.com/

I hope you enjoy it and will view it often.

Come, Come, Ye Saints

Sunday, during Sacrament Meeting, we talked about the Hymns of the Gospel. We heard from 6 individuals and then we sang their favorite song. It was one of the most spiritual meetings I have been in for a long while. One of the songs was “Come, Come, Ye Saints”.

The words were written as early members of the Church made their way across what is now the USA to what is now Utah, in order to find a place to worship without persecution.

I have always known that my ancestors were among those who made this difficult crossing. Being one of the rare individuals whose ancestors, living at the time of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, ALL joined this marvelous gospel and made that terrible journey across wild country, is a particularly touching heritage.

Also, I have been putting this same heritage into the computer for almost the last year; both sides and as far back as we have records for. Many of the names are ones I have heard all my life, as my parents did research and talked about their ancestors. Many are familiar to me. Some, I knew before their death; most of them, I did not. But it has been a singular experience, for me which has been a blessing in many ways.

As we sang this song, Sunday, I suddenly realized that I really did have a wonderful heritage of ancestors who sang this song when it was first sung, by those travelers as they walked,

• more weary than I can imagine;
• heart-sick at just burying a family member;
• as they sat at the campfire trying to lift themselves each night before going to sleep on the hard and seldom level ground.

As we began to sing the second verse, I thought of how much complaining I do about the 115°+ heat as I sit in my air-conditioned house or drive in my air-conditioned car. The only thing close to air-cooling they had was the dirty wind blowing across the sweat on their faces. I still don’t like the heat and will probably still complain; but I have a different outlook about how I came to be here (even if it is too hot) and what my ancestors did to make that happen.

==============================

Come, Come, Ye Saints

1. Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear;

But with joy wend your way.

Though hard to you this journey may appear,

Grace shall be as your day.’

Tis better far for us to strive

Our useless cares from us to drive;

Do this, and joy your hearts will swell—

All is well! All is well!

2. Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?

’Tis not so; all is right.

Why should we think to earn a great reward

If we now shun the fight?

Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.

Our God will never us forsake;

And soon we’ll have this tale to tell—

All is well! All is well!

3. We’ll find the place which God for us prepared,

Far away in the West,

Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;

There the Saints will be blessed.

We’ll make the air with music ring,

Shout praises to our God and King;

Above the rest these words we’ll tell—

All is well! All is well!

4. And should we die before our journey’s through,

Happy day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

With the just we shall dwell!

But if our lives are spared again

To see the Saints their rest obtain,

Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell—

All is well! All is well!

Text: William Clayton, 1814–1879 Music: English folk song

“Oh what a beautiful morning” or Ode to my Mother

Sunday as we were waiting for our teenager to finish getting ready so we could go to church, I had one of those “moments”. You could call it a flashback or you could call it “I am my mother”. We were hoping to be on-time or even a little early. . . well, we did get there, but it was just after they had started.

While I was waiting, my mind began to sing the hymn “Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning”. FULL STOP!!! That was not me-that was my mother singing. Literally, it was her voice!!

If you ask all 10 siblings, they each could tell you many times when our mother would start singing. But she didn’t just sing any song. She sang a hymn that was chosen specifically to apply to the situation. When she would sing, I remember acting just like my daughter. Expelling a loud huff, turning my back and stomping away loudly; I went far enough away to not have to hear the musical reminder.

Love At Home – when we were fighting
Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning – when Sundays were more difficult than they needed to be
E’rr You Left Your Room This Morning, Did you Think To Pray – her way of letting us know that she could tell we hadn’t said our personal prayers that day
Have I Done Any Good In The World Today – when we were not willing to help others, or be nice
You Can Make The Pathway Bright, Fill The Soul With Heaven’s Light, If There’s Sunshine In Your Heart – when our moods were too negative or angry or. . .

I could go on with each hymn, but you get the idea! Those musical reminders did a number of things for me and to me. (Now that I’m over 50, I can admit that.)

First, it did exactly what she intended it to do. It helped me realize that the Gospel of Christ extends into all aspects of my life. Those lessons were taught by a few musical notes with an appropriate message attached.

Second is that she taught all of us the Hymns of Zion. We knew she loved them. She sang them more that just as instruction (and so she didn’t yell at us in those situations). She sang them as she worked and as she rocked each child.

While I was growing up, it didn’t really dawn on me that she knew all the words to all the verses. But she did! I think that is one of the treasured legacies we have from her – the knowledge that the Hymns of Zion are more than just little songs; they are prayers, pleading, advice, lessons, praise, thanks and much more.

I still can’t get far enough away to not hear those musical reminders, and I am very grateful for that.

You can't have one parent without the other, They just go together.

To see the hymns for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints go to this link.

http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/

The Testimony of a Prophet of God

Last night I learned of the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley, the prophet of God on earth. It is as if one of my closest friends has died. I feel the shock, the sorrow, the loss; but along with those comes the knowledge that he was a Living Prophet of God and I have had the opportunity to listen to his counsel and advice and I can re-read those things he taught.

One of the most marvelous blessings of being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is having a Living Prophet to guide us in these difficult times. The counsel from our Prophet weighs heavy in my life and each time I have the privilege of listening to him, I gain more faith in my Savior and more love for His Gospel.

It is so hard for me to explain my love for this man! He has given is whole life to helping the Gospel move forward in our time. He has done as much as he could to prepare us for the difficulties we face today. He has borne witness of Christ and of His Second Coming. My prayer is that I can live up to the things President Hinckley asked each member to do.

My favorite thing about President Hinckley is how much he looked like my Grandfather! I always thought of Grandpa when listening to President Hinckley. Of course, it helped that Grandpa made sure we knew of his testimony of the restored gospel, Joseph Smith, Temples, the Scriptures, and the Prophet. How could I not associate the two, when they looked so much alike and taught the same things.

One of the assignments of the Prophet of our Church is to testify of Christ. It is so important to hear that testimony and to gain our own testimony of Jesus Christ.

MY TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST

I know, without any kind of doubt, that Jesus Christ lives.

I know he is my Savior and Redeemer.

I know He loves me and He answers my prayers.

I know He will come to earth again.

I look forward to the day I can meet Him on earth and worship Him face to face.

_____________________________

The Testimony of

President Gordon B. Hinckley

The Things of Which I Know
President Gordon B. Hinckley, given April 1, 2007

How deeply grateful I am that we of this Church do not rely on any man-made statement concerning the nature of Deity. Our knowledge comes directly from the personal experience of Joseph Smith, who, while yet a boy, spoke with God the Eternal Father and His Beloved Son, the Risen Lord. He knelt in Their presence; he heard Their voices; and he responded. Each was a distinct personality. Small wonder that he told his mother that he had learned that her church was not true. And so, one of the great overarching doctrines of this Church is our belief in God the Eternal Father. He is a being, real and individual. He is the great Governor of the universe, yet He is our Father, and we are His children.

We pray to Him, and those prayers are a conversation between God and man. I am confident that He hears our prayers and answers them. I could not deny that. I have had too many experiences of answered prayers. . . .

The second great certitude of which I am sure also has its foundation in the vision of the Prophet Joseph. It is that Jesus lives. He is the Living Christ. He is the Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Messiah of the New. Under His Father's direction, He was the Creator of the earth. The gospel of John opens with these remarkable words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

"The same was in the beginning with God.
"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:1–3). . . .

Now, the next thing of which I am certain, and of which I bear witness, is the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without it life is meaningless. It is the keystone in the arch of our existence. It affirms that we lived before we were born in mortality. Mortality is but a stepping-stone to a more glorious existence in the future. The sorrow of death is softened with the promise of the Resurrection. There would be no Christmas if there were no Easter.
I speak next of the great certitudes that have come with the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is the restoration of the priesthood, or the authority given man to speak in the name of God. This priesthood is of two orders: the lesser, also known as the Aaronic, was restored under the hands of John the Baptist. The higher order of priesthood, the Melchizedek, was restored under the hands of Peter, James, and John. . . .

Now finally, I mention the blessings of the house of the Lord, which have come of the Restoration of the ancient gospel.

These temples, which we have greatly multiplied in recent years, offer blessings that are had nowhere else. All that occurs in these sacred houses has to do with the eternal nature of man. Here, husbands and wives and children are sealed together as families for all eternity. Marriage is not "until death do ye part." It is forever, if the parties live worthy of the blessing. Most remarkable of all is the authority to do vicarious work in the house of the Lord. Here, ordinances are performed in behalf of the dead who did not have opportunity to receive them while in life. . . .

Now, my brothers and sisters, this is my testimony, which I solemnly bear before you.
God bless you, every one, you faithful Latter-day Saints. May there be peace and love in your homes and faith and prayer to guide you in all that you undertake is my humble prayer in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

________________________________________

Said the Savior, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matthew 17:20).

To his son Helaman, Alma declared, "Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Alma 37:33).
May the Lord bless us with faith in the great cause of which we are a part. May faith be as a candle to guide us in the night by its light. May it go before us as a cloud in the day.
For this I humbly pray, in the sacred and holy name of Him who is the strength of our faith, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen. Gordon B. Hinckley, October1, 2006