A touch of inspiration

Source

Sometimes it is hard to overcome hard things in our life. I am sure I am not the only one that feels that way. This week has been one of those ones where although I was struggling with things in my life, the Lord saw fit to bless me with an amazing session of Stake Conference. The words and thoughts brought my spirit up and helped me to see the light ahead and the hope that I can be a better person. Our visiting general authority spoke directly to me in both meetings. And through out the weekend I have been feeling and seeing the promptings of the spirit. He quoted a line from President Monson that says - don't let a prompting go by without heeding it (paraphrased.) I am not sure why I need to put this on this blog but I kept getting the impression that I needed to do it. So here I am.

Brother Hillyer quoted a part of Sister Beck's talk. It was about doing the essential things in life. It struck me that I spend too much time doing the nonessential things and then wonder why my life is falling apart. I made a sign to remind me and thought I would share it with you.

To download 4x6 click here

To download 8x10 click here

This comes from her 2007 talk to the sisters titled What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable. In his talk Brother Hillyer reminded us that we need to be putting our focus on Christ and doing all we can do be like him. It reminded me of our last Book of Mormon Book group. We had talked about how we don't know how to do things and still be a wife and a mother. I realized that as we talked about it that we needed to prioritize our life and do better at doing less. As I looked up this talk, I came across her talk Mother's who know. I reread it and found a quote that summed up what I have been thinking and also came as an answer to prayer.

Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power.

He reminded us that we need to eliminate the nonessential things and begin to do more of the essential things. As we act upon the promptings we receive, BLESSINGS WILL HAPPEN!

As I have been studying my scriptures the last couple of days and reading the Ensign I came across two valuable things.
1. Alma 21:23 " . . . and they were zealous for keeping the commandments of God." I really liked that word. Zealous - it made me think that I need to be zealous in keeping the commandments, in following Jesus Christ and in making my home a beautiful happy place.
2. Keeping the Faith in a World of Confusion by Bishop Gérald Caussé had some amazing advice that seemed along the theme of my thoughts lately.

To strengthen our testimonies and protect ourselves from error, we must constantly nourish and fortify our faith.

To do this we must :

1. Seek the Truth Continually
2. Accept Unanswered Questions
3. Seek the Testimony of the Spirit
4. Seek the Words of Prophets and Apostles
5. Nourish Your Faith

This article is a good read and I recommend it for everyone.

I am always amazed as I see the hand of the Lord in my life. It always reminds me that he is aware of me and my challenges and that if I take time to repent, follow GOD and keep the commandments, then I will be able to live one day with him.

There is so much more that I could write but these are the things that I felt strongly needed to be put here on the blog. If you have questions don't hesitate to call or email me, or leave a comment.

No brunch but still meeting!

Hey ladies,

since no one replied and things are still a little crazy, I decided to postpone the brunch and go with our regular meeting at the church. After the kiddos are back in school and things settle down for everyone we will try again! See you tomorrow at the church!

Naomi

Jacob 6-7

Hey ladies,

We decided in book club today that we would just finish up Jacob for next week (Jacob chapters 6 and 7.) Also, I was thinking about hosting it at my house but wasn't sure if I should wait until school starts again or if you think we would all fit alright. Let me know what you think and then we'll make the plans :)

Naomi

Jacob 5

Just a reminder that we are meeting tomorrow and reading Jacob 5, the first 30 verses.  We will discuss all of them since last week didn't really happen.  I won't be there until around 9:30 or so.  We are still having swim lessons.  I do have a key if you need me to open the door I will, but I have to be at swim lessons at 9. 

In my studying of Jacob 5, I was using my student manual from institute.  There is some pretty cool stuff in there that helps in learning about Jacob 5 and this allegory.  I found it online and will give you the link.  It is to the whole book but I am pretty sure you ladies are smart enough to get to the right page.  I may print a copy of it to have at the church for reference.  It has an explanation of the what each of the symbols means and also a description of the different visits to the vineyard.  I hope it helps in your study.  Sorry I didn't get it to you sooner.

http://www.institute.lds.org/content/languages/english/Institute%20of%20Religion%20Materials/Student%20Manuals/Religion%20121-122,%20Book%20of%20Mormon%20Student%20Manual~eng.pdf

Jacob 4 in review

Todays discussion was pretty good for me.  Stephanie brought the latest Newsweek and on the cover was the story "Is the internet Making us Crazy?"  Here is the link to the online version.  It is pretty amazing and so true.  http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/07/08/is-the-internet-making-us-crazy-what-the-new-research-says.html 
But what we took from our discussion is that we need to find the ROCK (Christ) and follow him.  He is ultimately how we can be the best we can be.  He has suffered for us and the atonement is for not if we forget to open our hearts and let him heal us.  Our spirit will truly tell us of "Things as they really are."  If we just listen to it's still small voice.

With that said, I am getting off the computer.  I just came on to check my email and put up this blog post.  I am struggling with how much time I spend on here and hope that I can find a way through Christ to overcome my "addiction".  Thanks ladies for a great discussion.

We decided to split Jacob 5 into 4 sections.  We will be reading the first 15 verses for next week.  It talks about the first visit to the vineyard.  I am afraid that next week I won't be there until after 9:30 since we have swim lessons starting on Monday.  Hopefully we can quickly come over and get the last part of the discussion.  Anyway, talk to you later.
Amy

Jacob 4

As I was reading in preparation for Thursday in Jacob 4 I came across verse 13.  "Things as they really are" and I was reminded of the article with the same title by Elder Bednar.  Just thought I might share it since it was on my mind today.  Plus it might be nice to discuss the implication of what is said in his talk in reference to our use of the internet and other devices.  It is something I have been struggling with as of late, a never ending battle of me against this machine.  Anyway here is the article if you want to read it. 
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/06/things-as-they-really-are?lang=eng&cid=email-shared

If you don't have time to read it then here is the link to the Mormon Message that highlights the talk.  http://youtu.be/CstRqAlAZf0





See you all on Thursday and hope you are doing well.  I have missed our class the last couple of weeks and really need the spiritual uplift.

Love ya - Amy

#49 on the list

So I took the sticker off of Debbie's cards she gave us. (Ask Debbie for a card if you didn't get one.  It is  "50 Ways to find the joy of scripture study.")   And #49 said "Adopt a new attitude about the scriptures."  I thought - "that is interesting".  But the more I thought about it, the more it stuck in my brain.  I started thinking about the many times we need to just "adopt a new attitude" and decided I needed to do a short post about it.  One idea might be that if you are unsure that they are true then you start thinking they are true as you read and then you will find that the Holy Ghost will manifest the truth to you.  I can hear Stephanie's words that this is all a part of the secret - and I think she is right. 

I have always held a belief that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and so I wondered what my "new attitude" might be.  I know as I read the scriptures after I thought about that, there were things that came to my mind that brought greater clarity to things in my life.  I don't know if I can express it in words.  I think it just goes to the idea that if you are thinking about something specific then those things are brought to light. 

I really think that the quote that Stephanie brought up is even more important as we think about our "new attitude".  In this case it is those unanswered prayers that seem to elude us.  Here is the quote from the Ensign. 

Acting When No Sure Answer Comes

There will be some instances when no sure answer comes. We have a series of revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants in which the Lord tells the early missionaries of this dispensation that some matters were to be left to their discretion. The phrase that is often repeated is “it mattereth not unto me” (D&C 60:5; 61:22; 62:5).

President Brigham Young explained this doctrine: “If I do not know the will of my Father, and what he requires of me in a certain transaction, if I ask him to give me wisdom concerning any requirement in life or in regard to my own course, or that of my friends, my family, my children, or those that I preside over, and get no answer from him, and then do the very best that my judgment will teach me, he is bound to own and honor that transaction, and he will do so to all intents and purposes.”²

^{For the whole reference here is the link:}

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2011/02/finding-answers?lang=eng

So maybe we need to approach the scriptures, life and the gospel with a new attitude and see where it takes us.  I hope you find this interesting and don't think I have gone off the deep end.

We will be reading Jacob 1 coming up this Thursday.  See you then.