For we wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against...the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12)

I have come to realize that tired and cold and hungry equals grouchy Jennifer. Not a good combination. I am learning (even at this age) that the thing to do is to take care of those needs and I am not so grouchy...most of the time it helps. Take care of those basic needs and not be grouchy, hummm. But sometimes I just don't know how to get out of the grouchy and I feel stuck, and I feel like I am "wrestling with the rulers of darkness" (Ephesians 6:12). And it doesn't feel very good and it is a real battle. What to do? How to get out of this...this yuck? Let's see what the Lord suggests about being tired, hungry, and cold so that we can make this "wrestle with darkness" winnable.

Let's start with "bed"...The Psalmist says: "Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds" (149:5). I have to admit this made me smile, especially picturing me singing in bed, aloud. (For some reason I pictured myself standing on my bed singing at the top of my lungs, in my pajamas, pretty funny image.) Instead of counting sheep, we could sing hymns..."The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit of the Lord" (Elder Dallin H. Oaks) to help fight the darkness and receive more Light. Here is a list of Hymns in alphabetical order. You can click on that link and pick a hymn and it will bring up the music and will even play the tune for you if you would like. Great way to dis-spell a black mood and bring in Light.

Sleep is a good thing to get when one is a lacking Light and "wrestling the rulers of darkness". One of the things suggested by the prophet Alma in The Book of Mormon is: "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and He will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that He may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day" (Alma 37:37). When we lie down at night, lie down unto the Lord, take time to listen and take counsel from Him, not just counsel Him. "The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him (Lamentations 3:25). He is good to us. Heavenly Father wants us to pray to Him and seek His guidance and counsel in all our doings. We have nothing to lose and we can win our battles against the dark.

What is interesting is that "sleep" can be symbolic of physical death (see Mormon 9:13) and spiritual death (see 1Cor. 11:30, 2 Nephi 1:13; see Guide to the Scriptures). I find it interesting that we are told to counsel with the Lord before we sleep. When we want His protection, both physically and spiritually, we should seek His counsel and help. Sometimes, even though we may think we are awake, we are really sleeping spiritually and missing out on some of the most important messages that are being sent to us. There is a time to sleep so that we can "rest", and a time to be awake. We are told by Paul, "Awake to righteousness, and sin not (1 Cor. 15:34). We can't afford to be asleep when it comes to righteousness. We must be alert and well rested, rested in the Lord. We can't be afraid to stand up for what we know is right, even when the world is telling us we are wrong. Sometimes, we will need to "Dare to Stand Alone". But really, the Lord will never leave us alone, He will give us a Comforter (see John 14:18). Let us not sleep unto sin, but "Awake to righteousness" (1 Cor. 15:34). We will have no regrets.

How to get warm is definitely with a good blanket, and the Lord provides such a thing. He calls it the Comforter: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). The Holy Ghost will keep us "warm" through helping us remember Christ in our most darkest of days, even our gray days and our most difficult wrestling matches. And those days happen. Sometimes they are longer than others, but it sure helps to have that Comforter as our companion. Remember, we aren't alone, Christ said: "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:18). One of the reasons we go to church each week is to partake of the sacrament, in remembrance of Jesus Christ, eating the bread, which is symbolic of His body which was bruised, broken, and He died and was resurrected for us. Both the death and resurrection help remind us that we need His help in our daily battles against spiritual death, and He can resurrect us spiritually as we repent and focus our hearts and minds and our lives on Him.

I love eating fresh baked homemade bread. It is soooo yummy! And what better thing to provide for us to eat than bread? Christ said: "I am the bread of life" (John 6:48). Plain and simple. He is life, both physically and spiritually. Without Christ we are nothing. "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51). When we repent (return to God with all our hearts and minds daily, and renounce sin to which we are naturally inclined) and follow Jesus Christ we are partaking of the Bread of Life. We are able to eat "without money and without price" (2 Nephi 9:50). That is a darn good deal. It doesn't cost us money, it only requires our heart (see D&C 64:22) . The "rulers of darkness" would love to have our heart (see D&C 78:10). "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon" (3 Nephi 13:24; Luke 16:13). Eating bread is the best way to "wrestle with the powers of darkness" (Ephesians 6:12) because God "shall not fail nor be discouraged" (Isaiah 42:4).

Hungry, tired, and cold are basic needs that we all have and should be addressed so that we can "wrestle with the powers of darkness" that happen all too frequently, without having to worry about making sure we are taken care of. Christ takes care of us and provides for us if we choose to eat, are well rested, and are Comforted. This I testify is a the way to win a battle and get more Light.

"...My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me..." ( Ether 12:27)

I don't know if you noticed that I have on my profile that I am a practicing Christian, not a prefect one. I would really like to be perfect, but that isn't the case at all. I get mad at my children (unfortunately, even when I say I am not going to, and I repent of it every day:) I yell at the drivers of cars even though they can't hear me (my kids remind me of this). I make mistakes and say things that I wished I hadn't, and I hope that people know the intents of my heart, but more than likely, all they heard were my words. So, I resort back to asking for, and praying for patience and of course I get more opportunities to practice learning how to be patient. It is a lot of work. There are some things in my life that are just meant to take more time than I would like, and getting patience is one of them.

There are actually many things in our lives that we haven't received but would like that are righteous desires...or perhaps we are receiving them a little at a time and we just are not aware of them. The Lord says: "But all things must come to pass in their time" (D&C 64:32). All things must come to pass in their time, not our time. Sometimes we may feel like we are in limbo not knowing if something is going to happen or not, and we really want it to happen or work out. But the thought came to me today that we are not in limbo, we are in God's time. "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us" (Psalms 62:8). He does know exactly what we need, including patience, mercy, marriage, or increased faith, humility, or diligence, children, or perhaps even "the trial of your faith" (1 Peter 1:7). He "knows our needs before we ask" (Elder Henry B. Eyring). 

He also knows what we are capable of becoming. His complete work is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). He want to bless us with immortality and eternal life, not just immediate gratification. Immediate gratification only stunts our growth. We may think that it is really the best thing ever, but in the long run we don't learn patience, a true godly characteristic. Think of how patient God truly is. If we are to follow Jesus Christ, then instant gratification isn't His way. He says: " Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (D&C 64:33). We can't give up on practicing being good Christians. We are laying the foundation of a "great work", us! We are God's greatest work, and out of our small efforts to continue to keep the commandments to love God and love our neighbor (Matt. 22:37-40) are great things happening~us becoming more and more like our Savior, even Jesus Christ. 

Jesus said, "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48; Matt. 5:48). He does have very high expectations of us. He wants us to be perfect. But He also knows we can't be perfect on our own. That's why we have grace, "divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ" (Bible Dictionary). He told the prophet Moroni these very comforting words and they are for us, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" (Ether 12:27). We all have weaknesses, we all need Christ. And through His grace He can and will make us sufficiently strong as we turn our hearts and minds to Him. "What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes"( Deuteronomy 10:12-13).

As we keep the commandments, love God and love our neighbor, and continue in our imperfect, but practicing ways of following Christ, His grace is sufficient for us. "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is His grace sufficient for you, that by His grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God" (Moroni 10:32). You and I will be able to see that His time is the right time as we turn our hearts to Him. He knows exactly what He is doing because He is the Master of all creation (see Lord). And we are "the crowning creature" of all He created (Elder Bruce R. McConkie). 

We can go forth, with faith in Christ, "having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men" (2 Nephi 31:20)...practicing His ways, and being perfected in Him in His time. This I testify is the way to truly live as a practicing Christian. 

"...there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" (Alma 36:21)

Okay, I have a sweet tooth. I have always liked candy and chocolate.  I even have a "candy cupboard". It's where I put the best treats. Now that my kids are older there really isn't a point to having a seperate place for sweets, but it's habit. I buy candy, cinnamon bears, chocolate with pieces of toffee and nuts, yummy!

I think sweets are really good for us. "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way" (Psalms 119:103-104). Christ's words are sweet. There are many places we can taste His words. We eat them as we read them in the scriptures. We can eat His sweet words when we attend church. We can eat the sweet words of Christ as we implement them into our actions and thoughts and follow His ways.

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24) Words have a powerful affect upon us. The little saying, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me" came to mind when I read that Proverb. Pleasant words are sweet to the soul and health to the bones. Even the simple words "thank you" are very lifting and helpful whenever they are said sincerely.

Now, there is one thing I don't like with my sweets. It is when someone tries to tell me it is really good, and it tastes...bitter, or better said, gross. Some things are just not meant to be in sweets, and bitter is one of them. The definition of bitter is this:

1. Having a harsh, disagreeably acrid taste, like that of aspirin, quinine, wormwood, or aloes.
2. producing one of the four basic taste sensations; not sour, sweet or salt.
3. hard to bear; grievous; distressful: a bitter sorrow.
4. causing pain; piercing; stinging: a bitter chill
5. characterized by intense antagonism or hostility: bitter hatred.
6. hard to admit or accept: a bitter lesson
7. resentful or cynical
(Dictionary.com)

There is another saying: "Take the bitter with the sweet". But I don't like that saying. I know we have bitter things, or distasteful things that happen, but that doesn't mean I have to sit there and keep the bitterness in my mouth and continue to taste it over and over. I need and can replace it with sweetness. Some people try to tell me that some things that are sweet are bitter, or bitter is sweet. This is false. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20)! One such thing is bitter and not sweet is the need to hold onto resentment, pain, or a grudge, or being unforgiving. These things, no matter how you phrase them, are bitter.

A few years ago I had an experience that was, what I would call, "bitter". It was a life changing experience. While I was going through it, the pain was very deep, emotionally and physically. Alma, a prophet in The Book of Mormon, describes it best: "I say unto you...that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains." (Alma 36:21). I had a choice to make. I could either become very bitter and resentful or I could turn to the Savior and receive His light, and His sweetness, and move through what I needed to go through and become forgiving and loving. I can tell you, it wasn't easy. It was a long road. But now that I have had time to heal, time to "drink the sweet"(Nehemiah 8:10), and as I did so, I realized that I was "neither...sorry; for the joy of the Lord is [my] strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). I can now look back on that experience with gratitude  for all the blessings the Lord has given me. I am a better person for having gone through the experience. (I wouldn't want to go through it again, and I don't wish it on other people, but I wouldn't want it taken away from me.) "Yea, and again I say unto you...that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" (Alma 36:21).

I have been given much because of Him, even Jesus Christ, who experienced the most bitter so that we could have the most sweet. I know that my Redeemer lives (see Job 19:25). This I testify is the most sweet of all.

There is always sweetness and there is always hope. Sometimes, we just have to seek a little more for it hidden in that back corner of our cupboard, but it is there.

I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi 11:17)

Some days just don't go as planned. I have an agenda all laid out and it doesn't go at all like I planned. Sometimes I am able to go with it and be just fine, and others, for whatever reason...I can't. On those days that I can't seem to let it go, at the end of the day I realize that it did me no good to fret over it all, but things work out, or will work out, I don't know how, and maybe not when or how I think they will, but they will work out. Most often, it isn't the big stuff that causes me the most stress, but it is the little things that seem to needle their way into the agenda I had all laid out. What is up with that, I ask?

And then today, this thought came into my mind: "...lean not unto thine own understanding." I had to think about that one, seriously. All too often I want to be the one to know where I am going, I like to read the road map when we are in a new city, I like to know where I am and where I am headed. I don't mind having an adventure, but for some reason, I like to know how I am getting there. So, when I was walking today and this thought came to me, and I couldn't think of the scripture reference off the top of my head I knew that I needed to let things go. I knew that there was a lot that I don't understand, A LOT. I needed to go home and look this one up.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; 

and lean not unto thine own understanding." 

(Proverbs 3:5)

Trust in Him with all my heart, not just some of it, but all of it. The Lord has "not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Tim.1:7). When things don't go the way we think they should, even when they are righteous desires, it doesn't mean we aren't headed in the right direction. Sometimes, our agenda needs to be tweaked, and that's okay. That's not a bad thing. God does give us the spirit of love and of power and of a sound mind...not a frenzied mind, a mind that is all over the place trying to make sure we have all of our bases covered or that our agenda is totally in place. The key is to make sure our agenda is God's agenda. And sometimes, what was once the correct agenda, like having a certain number of children, which is a righteous desire and in line with God's idea's, but perhaps, has become my agenda, God's agenda has now changed for me. (That happened to me.) It's hard to discern when those changes take place. But it sometimes happens and it takes faith to continue forward amidst those changes.

One of my favorite scriptures is in 1 Nephi 11, it says: "I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things"(vs. 17). I don't have the answers to all the problems in the world or even pretend to begin to understand them. Everyone suffers...big and small. The depths of sorrow is great. But God totally understands our sorrows, our worries, our stresses, our messed up plans. How? Because "God loved us and He sent His Son! (1 John 4:10) How we choose to respond to our suffering or messed up plans, is up to us. Will we trust in the Lord with all our heart, and lean not unto our own understanding? 

On those days or weeks or months or years that don't go as planned, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved" (Psalms 55:22). "[He] will strengthen thee; yea, [He] will help thee; uphold thee with the right hand of [His] righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10). He will make our burdens lighter so that we can bear them (see Mosiah 24:15) because He loves us and wants us to succeed. "For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).

I wish I could express this in more explicit words, more poetic words, but there are only the simple and pure words that are true...our Savior Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father love us. I don't know the meaning of all things, but this I do know, This I Testify, God loves us, He loves His children! And you are His child.

Feel His Love, it surrounds you. 

"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19)

I hate it when I burn food. It stinks for a really long time, and nobody wants to eat it. And it's even worse when I have spent a lot of time preparing what I thought would be a great meal...and then I burn it, or I don't add the right ingredients, or my family tells me it tastes gross, or they refuse to eat, or they have even said that they are full. I tend to get mad. I try not to, but the natural woman comes roaring out of me, or sometimes tearfully out of me and things just fall apart.

Sometimes...things just fall apart. Sometimes the food does get burned and I can't fix it. Sometimes people really are full and don't want to eat right then. Sometimes the food really is gross. And sometimes, I do act like a maniac and behave badly. But all is not lost (even though at the moment I may feel that it is).

We all make mistakes. Everyone of us. Heavenly Father knew this from before our birth. That's why He had this great plan in place for us to follow if we choose (see Moses 6:62; 1 Cor. 15:22; Titus 1:2; Alma 42:8). It is hard not to get upset with ourselves or others when things don't go as planned, or when mistakes happen, or when tragedy strikes. It doesn't feel good to be out of control. But there is a plan in place and we don't have to be out of control. It does take faith..."For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7) to believe that our Father in Heaven can see far beyond our own natural vision. And it does take faith that He can make burned food not burned.

The plan is made clear in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has made food from nothing that we might follow Him. He did this more than once with the loaves and the fishes. He fed five thousand men, this doesn't mention how many women and children were among them. (see Mark 6:34-44) and again he fed "four thousand men, beside women and children" (Matt. 15:32-38). Both times there was food left over. He can take our "burned food", or our mistakes, our sins, our wrong doings and make them whole. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18). The next verse relates perfectly with food..."If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19).

If we are willing, we can eat whole food~ eat the food that Christ offers us. It isn't burned or gross. It might take some repenting (meaning turning of the heart and will to God and renunciation of sin (see Bible Dictionary)), but the well cooked food, and the clean smell in our house from the mess being cleaned all up, is so worth it! We all make mistakes, but we don't have to continue to live in them. This I testify is the "good of the land"  (Isaiah 1:19). Come, let's eat!

"...men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing" (Moroni 7:25)

Over the years I have watched our kids exercise as they have gone to swim practice. Let me tell you, it is not a wimpy workout. They really get their exercise. I keep thinking about exercise and what good it does for them and how it gets them ready for their swim meets and in shape for long range goals. One of our son's wears this shirt that says, "No pain, no gain." In the Olympics, there is only one gold medal given out. But in God's kingdom, we can all receive a "gold medal". Not because He is dumbing down the system to make it possible and easy for everyone and anything goes. No way! But, because the competition isn't each other, it is ourselves. In a swim meet, you are racing against yourself to beat your best time. In life, we are to exercise as well so that we can win our race; so that we can get our gold medal- eternal life.

Exercise...what am I suppose to exercise and how? I go through spurts myself. I do like to exercise, it can be a lot of work. But the rewards are great, especially if I keep at it. The scriptures talk about exercise. "Exercise faith" (see D&C 44:2, Alma 5:15, Moroni 7:25). I know what exercise is, it's a lot of work and it can  be a major benefit to my body and my mind. It can change my shape physically on the outside as well as on the inside. What about faith? What is faith?

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Substance could be said, "the assurance of things hoped for". Faith is the evidence of things we can't see with our physical eyes but is truly seen as we exercise our spiritual eyes. The evidence being those things in our lives that wouldn't be there without Divine help. "Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was (and is) until the coming of Christ" (Moroni 7: 25). We lay hold upon every good thing through our faith in Jesus Christ. The more we exercise it, the stronger it will become and the more evidence we will receive. Just as we exercise physically and become stronger, we can become stronger spiritually as well. It takes work, not just passiveness on our part in the hopes that we will get into shape and a miracle will happen and we will be able to win our race. Sometimes, there is the exception, but that is so rare, both physically and spiritually. Think about that. Who is able to go out and swim 450 yards and win the race without having done any training whatsoever? There is no gain without some pain. The same goes for us spiritually. You have to put in the time, whether it is in prayer, scripture study, pondering, repentance (go here to read about repentance), attending church, serving others. There are many ways we can feel the power of Jesus Christ in our lives and strengthen our faith in Him. But it takes "exercise" on our part. Even if we only begin to exercise our faith in a very small way (see Alma 32:36), I say, begin, because we need to start somewhere.

" Therefore may God grant unto you, my [friends], that you may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you" (Alma 4:17). Exercise your faith to turn yourself to the Head Coach, even Jesus Christ. That takes a "broken heart" (Psalms 34:18), at times it takes stamina or endurance (D&C 20:29), and definitely a willingness to listen to what the Coach is saying. Jesus Christ does know all things (see Alma 26:35). He has "descended below all things" (D&C 88:66) so that He can and will  help us in our individual races and trials. He loves us more than we can comprehend (see Alma 26:35) He will help us win our race, and help us endure those hard workouts that cause us pain, but will, in the end, produce the results we ultimately want, eternal life.

There are times when I have to exercise and before I begin I think, what is the point. How could I forget the blessings of exercise? "Yea, how is it that [we] have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to His will, for the children of men, if is so be that [we] exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to Him" (1 Nephi 7:12). Be faithful in following the example of Jesus Christ. He is "the way" and "the life" (John 14:6). He does know exactly what workout we need to become capable and strong spiritually. It is worth the time and effort we put in to "follow Him" (Mark 6:1) and become spiritually in shape. Exercise is worth it. Exercise faith in Christ. You'll be surprised at how quickly He shapes your life into something so beautiful and wonderful. It becomes something that you don't ever want to live without and becomes a natural part of your daily life, it will become a part of you. This I testify, exercising faith in Jesus Christ, is the greatest exercise that will strengthen you physically and spiritually in every way.

By the way, have I told you, you are so loved lately?

"...the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:3)

I like to make salads and sometimes I just put a few random things together and it tastes really good. That's what this post is-a tossed salad of random thoughts, a few of my favorite things that taste good alone, as well as together and sometimes randomly. The great thing about a salad is that it can be an appetizer or it can be a meal in and of itself. Here are the random thoughts-you'll have to make your own salad or you could share your favorites with me as well.

"Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not" (D&C 6:36). This is a challenge for me to do, but I think of this scripture often. The Lord is inviting us to look to Him in everything. Everything. As we do we are changed. Changed from relying on man to relying on the Master and "Creator of all things" (Helaman 14:12). We need not fear because as we look to Him, our eyesight improves and we can see better "the things that matter most" (Elder Uchtdorf), and our long term vision becomes eternal and our fears melt away. This can happen every day.

"For thus saith the scripture: Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve" (Alma 30:8). It is our choice whom we want to serve. I tell our children, just about every time they leave the house, "Make good choices." Making good choices has long term effects upon us mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physically. "[Choose] the good part...I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls" (2 Nephi 2:30). When you make good choices, you have no regrets because you can look back and know you did your best.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). I love this passage of scripture. I think about this one often and our children say it as well. We can do all things with Christ. Just yesterday, on a long bike ride, as I was riding alone and my legs were sore and my behind was sore and I was very tired and I still had 10 miles to go and I had a head ache, I started thinking about this. I can do all things through Christ...every hard thing, and there are many hard things in life, and sometimes I just have to take them minute by minute, but I keep pedaling and guess what, I move forward. And we can and we will make it to the end. And it feels great when we endure through all the hard stuff! Christ will help us get through every hard thing...He truly will and does strengthen us.

"...by small and simple things, shall great things come to pass..." (Alma 37:6) I know that isn't the whole passage of the scripture, but that is what I always think about. (If you would like to read it in it's entirety please click the link.) Too often I don't give myself credit for the little things I do. I will quickly dismiss the time I take to call someone or write to them or something that I thought was insignificant that was actually very helpful and made a big difference for someone. It is by the small things, like watering a garden daily, that a beautiful garden will grow. It is by reading the scriptures daily that the Spirit will be felt more powerfully in our lives. It is the prayers that make a difference. These may be the "pat" answers, but they are the small and simple things that will make the big difference in our lives.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). I have come to love this scripture. I use to think that I could have my own agenda and do my own thing and do it my way and show God I loved Him. But it is so simple. And it is so freeing! Keeping the commandments isn't binding, it allows me to be free from fear of disease, free from hate, free from the sorrow that comes from making really bad choices (and I have had my fair share of those...I don't want to go there again.) We are free to feel true joy and happiness when we keep His commandments because as we do so we are following the One who knows True Joy and True Happiness. "When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives" (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson). God never said that we wouldn't have trials or sorrow if we kept His commandments. Life isn't a piece of cake, but I have found that I am more at peace, a better mother, happier, more loving, and life is easier, even when it's hard, if I keep His commandments.

"O be wise; what can I say more?" (Jacob 6:12) I say this to our children and our children say this a well because...God has given us a brain. He wants us to use it. Be wise in the days of our probation, this life (see Alma 12:24). We will have problems and challenges, He will help us solve them, but He has also given us the Spirit, the scriptures, the words of prophets (read their words here), church, good leaders, family and friends to help us. He want us to make it easier for ourselves by making good choices and being wise with the things He has given us. We are wise when we pray for strength to endure the burdens and challenges rather than ask them to be removed. We are wise when we learn from Christ's example and turn to Him rather than turn from Him. "O be wise, what can I say more?"

The scriptures are a powerful and incredible tool for us to find strength and guidance. They are the words of Christ, they are His voice and will "tell you all things which ye should do" (2 Nephi 32:3). The scriptures are true. This I testify from my own experience, my own reading, my own study, and from my heart. I invite you to read and find out for yourself.

"...Become the sons (and daughters) of God" (Moroni 7:48).

Have you ever gone somewhere and had the "closed" sign up during business hours? Or how about "this website is down for maintenance", and you really need some help right then? Or have you ever, heaven forbid, gotten a busy signal on the phone when you have tried to call someone? It can be so frustrating! Well, guess what? I got two out of the 3 today. These things failed me. I am so grateful I don't need to rely on those things all of the time, but that I have a Higher source for the information I need and I can get by, for now, without the items from the store. To have instant access is incredible now a days. The pioneers had to clear their ground,  plow the earth, plant the seed, water and weed the garden, and then harvest the food. Then they had to preserve it all themselves. I can just go to the grocery store. I believe these modern conveniences are incredible miracles that we take for granted every day.


So, when I am frustrated with at little inconvenience of a "closed" sign or a website down for maintenance I must really put things into perspective. The right perspective is: "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). Ponder that one. Nothing shall be impossible with God. When life is difficult, and it will and does get difficult, remember that "He knoweth all things" (1 Nephi 9:6). He knows our needs. He knows our desires, whether they are good or bad, or whether they will help us or hurt us. And because He knows all things, sometimes we aren't given all things. "But all things come to pass in their time" (D&C 64:32). The challenge for us is putting our faith in God who knows exactly what is best for us. 


And what is best for us is to become something so incredible and so beautiful; it isn't anything that man could ever make up. It is to "become the sons of God; that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure (Moroni 7:48). That is an incredible and powerful doctrine. Christ wants us to become pure like Him. How? Through the"pure love of Christ"...which is "charity" (Moroni 7:47). If we "have not charity, [we] are nothing, for charity never faileth...Cleave unto charity (cleave means "to adhere, cling, or stick fast" or "to be faithful" (onlinedictionary)), which is the greatest of all" because everything else will fail- (see Moroni 7:46). Money will fail, people will fail, the law will fail, government will fail, but charity will never fail. And as we have charity, we will not fail. 


The blessing is, God wants us to succeed. He wants us to "become the sons (and daughters) of God" (Moroni 7:48). And the other blessing is that He will always "prepare a way for [us] that [we] may accomplish the thing which he commandeth [us]" (1 Nephi 3:7). Ask yourself, "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14) He wants us to become more than we can on our own. He will bless us with the gift of charity as we "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that we may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ" (Moroni 7:48). Each day, as we seek to do His will, and set aside the "natural man" (Mosiah 3:19) we receive a little more of this beautiful gift of charity. I would like to think that I could have it all at once. But that isn't the plan. It wouldn't be for my "benefit", and "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world" (2 Nephi 26:24). 

"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (Moroni 7: 45; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

As we "clothe [ourselves] with the bond of charity (D&C 88:125) we will become something more than we ever could on our own, ever find on the internet or at the store, that money could buy, or that a friend could offer us. Because nothing is too hard for the Lord, this I testify.

"O taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalms 34:8)

I made, for the first time, gluten free sweet potato muffins. They were delicious!!! I usually will make pumpkin muffins, but this morning I decided to use some of the roasted sweet potato I had frozen. They were so moist and yummy and the taste was sublime. I wish there was a way for me to describe the flavor; cinnamon, with a hint of clove. They had a buttery, sugar, nut crunch on top that is so good. This time I used almonds. I will definitely make them again.

Taste is an interesting thing. It can be an incredible experience that brings so much pleasure and joy to us. It is an incredible gift from God. Think of all the yummy foods we get to experience and enjoy. Grapes, in all their varieties; lemons, that can be turned into a dessert or into lemonade, I even had it on pizza the other week. Think of chocolate, that is a wonderful flavor to me. I do have a friend that doesn't find chocolate so pleasing and could pass it by. But I really enjoy it; the melting of it and the creaminess of it. I especially like it when it has nuts or toffee in it. I describe these "tastes" because these are physical tastes. "Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul" (D&C 59:18-19). These things do taste good, and do enliven my soul.

There is so much pleasure when we taste good things. That is why we are offered more delicious things to taste in the scriptures. The Psalmst says: "O taste and see that the Lord is good" (34:8). The Lord is good. He offers us so much more to life than a mere short lived lick of ice cream or a nibble of chocolate. He offers us "fruit...desirable to make one happy...that is most sweet, above all that [we]ever before tasted". If we partake of this fruit it will "fill [our] souls with exceedingly great joy...and [we know] that is is desirable above all other fruit" (1 Nephi 8:10-12). By tasting ourselves of this fruit, which fruit is "the love of God" (1 Nephi 11:22), we can know for ourselves spiritual truths because we have tasted of the love of God (see Mosiah 4:11).

When we taste of the love of God we feel the Spirit and the Spirit testifies of truth (see Moroni 10:5; John 14:26). I want to taste of His love all of the time. Sometimes it is more difficult to "taste" than others because of challenges we face or "dark days" (Ezekiel 34:12) but His love is unfailing. What can we do to taste it more frequently? In 1 John 5:3 we are told: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." His commandments aren't grievous, they are freeing and lifting. Just like laws of the land keep us safe and free from physical harm, the laws of God offer us protection and safety from spiritual harm. The yield sign on the street and the stop sign are there for a reason, not to just add decoration, but order and safety to what could lead to a horrible situation. This is the same with the commandments of God. They are there, by a loving, all knowing God who will protect us if we are willing to be obedient to His commandments. He will never force us to obey. That isn't His way. He will lovingly lead us "beside still waters" (Psalms 23:2) but, He will never force us to drink or taste that which we don't want. It is our choice.

That's the beauty of this incredible "fruit" He offers us. It is our choice to partake of all He has in store for us. He is calling and inviting all of us~ "Behold, there are many called (that means everyone who is willing to make a covenant with Him), but few are chosen" (we choose whether or not we want to accept this wonderful "fruit" He is offering to us) (D&C 121:34). He wants us to partake, it is up to us whether or not we "yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man" (Mosiah 3:19) and "taste of His love" because "...[He] preparest a table before [us]..." (Psalms 23:5). A whole table is waiting for us to taste. 

Sometimes things are difficult and "bitter". Why? So that we "may know to prize the good" (Moses 6:55). Without having tasted less than great food, I wouldn't know what delicious and incredible food really is. I will continue to seek how to make wonderful food that melts in my mouth and fills my heart and soothes my soul and tastes delicious. I can tell you this, the Lord is always offering us the best things to taste, turn to Him and He will lead us to the most incredible tasting food ever. I have "tasted that the Lord is gracious (1 Peter 2:3) and I have "tasted of His love" (Mosiah 4:11) and my desire is to share His love with all the world. This I testify will fill your soul with "exceedingly great joy" and is "desirable above all other fruit" (1 Nephi 8:12).

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost" (3 Nephi 12:6)

I have a basil plant that is hydroponic. It needs water in order to get its nourishment. I have to make sure it gets water every day. While my husband and I were out of town for 6 days I asked one of our children to make sure it got water daily. Well, he forgot. Since we have been back the plant hasn't been the same. Some of the stems have gotten hard and it takes a very long time for it to soak up water. It is like its heart has hardened and won't allow it to let the nutrition from the water get to the leaves. Most of the leaves are light green now, and not the rich green they once were.

As I read my scriptures today I thought of this plant and I thought of how we, in our lives, choose whether or not we soak up the Living Water, the Savior (see Jeremiah 17:13) whether or not we "thirst after righteousness" (Matt 5:6). Sometimes, I think it is as simple as remembering to water the plant. The water being the nourishment that the Savoir offers us, the plant being us. But sometimes when we have forgotten to drink, we get dehydrated and become hardened. What to do then?

Unlike my basil plant, we don't have to give up. There is an answer. The answer is: "...repent (which means " a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined (Bible Dictionary)), and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts" (Jacob 6:5). Don't become like my basil plant which stem had become hardened and takes really long time to soak up nutrients. "Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die?" (Jacob 6:6) Don't let your spirit die, not even a tiny bit. Every day is a chance to be reborn in Christ. Every day is a chance to drink of the waters of life, to remember Christ.

All too often we "quench" ourselves of the very nutrients that will strengthen and help us, "the words which have been spoken concerning Christ...and...the good word of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost...and [then we] make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which [has] been laid for [us]" (Jacob 6:8). These are the very things we should be "drinking in" to sustain us spiritually and to help us "always remember Him" (Moroni 4:3; D&C 20:77; Moroni 5:2; D&C 20:79;  Mosiah 5:12). Sometimes I don't think we mean to make a mock of the great plan of redemption, but we do when we forget about Him. Sometimes we just get busy and, well, lazy and forget to water the plant. And that's when we "quench the Holy Spirit" (Jacob 6:8).

The Apostle Paul said it simply: "Quench not the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Instead, water the plant, feed your spirit. Christ said: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost"(3 Nephi 12:6). Choose to drink deeply on a daily basis. Christ is the fountain of living waters (John 4:11-14). He will help us grow and become trees of life (see Proverbs 11:30). It is our choice, and what a blessing He will lead the way. Remember Christ. This I testify is the best drink you will ever have in your life!

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved." D&C 87:8

Being tall has its advantages. In a crowd I can see over the heads of people and I can spot my family members easily. I can see people I am looking for or avoid people as well. I can also stand firmly in one spot and people will generally walk around me or if they bump in to me, they apologize. I also stand out in a crowd. Through out my life I have often heard the remark, "Wow, she is tall." A lot of people have just simply stared at me. I have often wondered what those people are thinking, the ones that just stare and make no comment. I always hope that I portray what I believe, that I stand tall and proud to be who I am, a daughter of God.

Standing is something that has stood out (no pun intended) to me lately. The Young Women's motto is "Stand for Truth and Righteousness." Stand, not sit, for truth and righteousness. I have wondered why "stand" is chosen in the scriptures. To "stand...having your loins girt about with truth" (Ephesians 6:4, D&C 27:16); "Stand in awe, and sin not" (Psalms 4:4); "But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved" (D&C 45:32); "Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come" (D&C 87:8). The reason we must stand is because it is a position of courage, and strength. It is to remain firm in the face of war, and we are at war. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). We can't afford to sit around and waste our time watching TV, shopping for frivolous items that are of no value, surfing the Internet for things that mean nothing, texting and not talking with people, and many other time-wasters because we need to STAND. Now, not that those things are bad, but if we don't have a balance, we will stumble or even worse, fall. Make a stand in your life and make time for God. Pray. Read and ponder the scriptures. Remember Christ daily. Just as our bodies need food to stand for all that it requires, our spirits need to be fed to endure the battle we are in against the "rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12).

President Monson, in General Conference said: "We must be vigilant in a world which has moved so far from that which is spiritual. It is essential that we reject anything that does not conform to our standards, refusing in the process to surrender that which we desire most: eternal life in the kingdom of God" (Oct. 2011 address). President Monson used the word standards. Standards "akin to old English- standan to stand and probably to Old High German hart hard" (Merriam-Webster). Standing is hard at times. Especially when we are left standing alone. It can be really lonely. But I testify, we are never alone and we need not fear to stand. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I: am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).

I find it interesting that President Monson, the Lord's prophet for our day, in two of his addresses this past General Conference, his topic was "standing", Dare to Stand Alone addressed to the Priesthood, and Stand in Holy Places. Our prophet is calling us to recommit ourselves to the Lord's army. "Communication with our Father in Heaven-including our prayers to Him and His inspiration to us- is necessary in order for us to weather the storms and trials of life." (Stand in Holy Places) The Apostle Paul wrote: "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ...Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:3, 22)

Ask yourself, "what do I need to stand for today?" "Do I stand for Christ in all I do and say?" If we are looking at, reading, watching material that is not something we would want to share with Christ, then we have chosen to sit down, we have lowered our standards. "Who is on the Lord's side?" (Exodus 32:26) Let's do the hard thing and stand, raise the bar and "stand for truth and righteousness." Stand for and with Christ. Standing will changes your perspective and your view. "To stand" is the way "the enemy shall not overcome" (D&C 38:9). This I testify.

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." (Matt. 5: 4; 3 Nephi 12:4)

There is a particular story in the Bible that I really love. It is about Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, and a very dear friend of Jesus'. Lazarus was very sick, and he sent for Jesus and Jesus responded by saying, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby" (John 11:4). Before Jesus gets to Lazarus, he dies, and has been dead 4 days by the time Jesus arrives.  Martha and Mary know Jesus is the Christ and has the power of resurrection. Jesus knows that He is going to restore life to Lazarus. But before He does this He does something that is so tender and loving and kind. Mary and Martha are in mourning because of the loss of their brother. Even though they know he will be resurrected again in the Lord's time, they are filled with grief. What the Lord does is a deep expression of how He feels for and with us when we are in mourning and great sorrow. "Jesus wept" (John 11:35).


We are never alone in our sorrow or our suffering.

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind... and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities (Alma 7:11-12) 

Christ knows exactly how to succor us in our times of sorrow and suffering. In our times of mourning He will make our sorrow into joy. He said: "I will turn their mourning into joy; and I will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow." (Jeremiah 31:13) Our sorrow and suffering doesn't go unnoticed. There is a time to mourn (Ecclesiastes 3:4) and we are blessed when we mourn: "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (Matt. 5:4; 3 Nephi 12:4). The Lord knows exactly what we need in everything because he has suffered it all. He has lost loved ones, suffered grief and pain. He loves us and wants to comfort us. The challenge is to turn our hearts and minds to Christ so He can comfort us and help relieve our pain.

As we mourn we have the blessing to "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in" (Mosiah 18:9), even when we are in the greatest grief we can have "the hope of a glorious resurrection" (D&C 138:14) because of the grace of Jesus Christ. He is alive. He loves us, all of us. And we shall see Him and all our loved ones again. This I testify is the hope that Christ brings to all the earth.   

"I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it..." (Jacob 5:47)

We have an apple tree in the back yard that has been pruned a lot over the years in various manners. In taking care of this tree I have learned that when I prune it, it will grow more where it has been cut. I find that very interesting. In order for new growth, I must cut away some of the tree. If I want the part of the tree to grow that seems to be smaller to get larger, I must cut it back a bit in order to help it grow.

This is what Christ does with us. He has done this with all the generations of time, He will "prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not" (Jacob 5:4). When He "prunes" us to help us grow by having us go through afflictions, trials, and challenges, we sometimes don't like it at all because it isn't easy and it definitely hurts. Being "pruned" hurts us because we think we are growing just beautifully and want to stay in the same shape we are in. If it were that simple, none of us would ever need to exercise or worry about eating correctly again. But it takes some real "pruning" to change some of the behavior that we have grown accustomed to doing.

Notice that the Lord also tells His servants to "nourish" the trees (nourish or nourished is found 22 times in Jacob 5). The Lord does nourish us and strengthen us, but sometimes we refuse to accept the nourishment He is offering. It is just like my son who refuses to eat what I have made for dinner even though he has eaten it numerous times in the past, because he just discovered that I have been putting mushrooms in the dinner all this time, and he supposedly hates mushrooms. Don't we do this, at times, to the Lord? He offers us nourishment, but because it isn't convenient, or in a form we like, or is something new, we refuse to even read, or listen, or try what is offered because it isn't to our "taste". It takes real faith to open our hearts and minds to accept that God knows more than we do (see Mosiah 4:9), that truth doesn't change, neither does God, for He is a God of miracles (see Mormon 9:9-11). It takes real faith to be humble enough to follow a prophet who speaks out and tells us to "ever be courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe" (Pres. Thomas S. Monson) especially in a world where wrong is right and right is wrong.

The Lord will "dig about [us] and dung [us]" (see Jacob 5:76). He will make sure we are properly cared for through His servants the prophets. We have been promised "...the President of the Church will not lead the people of the Church astray. It will never happen" (James E. Faust). Yes, dung can be fertilizer, but I also believe that in life, sometimes, dung just happens. Everyone has it in their lives, some more than others. I can tell you right now, the grass is greenest where you are standing. Just open your eye, your spiritual eyes (see 2 Nephi 16:10), and you will see just how much you have been blessed. It is awful when we compare ourselves to others because we are comparing our worst to others best, or sometimes our strengths to others weaknesses. We don't see the whole picture when we are doing the comparing. That isn't our job to makes such judgements, that is called "incorrect judgement". It will and does make you unhappy, ungrateful, and only see the "dung" in your life rather than the incredible gift that fertilizer brings, growth!

You know, when the tree is pruned, digged about, pruned and then dunged, the fruit comes. "By their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:20). What fruit do I want to produce? Do I want good fruit? Let your roots soak up the nourishment that Christ has given us in the "good word of God" (Hebrews 6:5), produce "good fruit" (Matthew 7:17) and trust that when you are being "pruned" the Lord, the Master Gardner, knows exactly what He's doing and that you are being shaped into the most beautiful tree you could ever imagine. You are in His care. Christ is the Master Gardner and knows exactly what He is doing. Even when we have a lot of "fertilizer" in our lives. This I testify.

"...Ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long..." Jacob 6:7

I love good food. It doesn't have to be expensive, but I do like good food. One of my favorites is butternut squash soup with a little bit of Gorgonzola cheese in it. Or pumpkin curry soup, hot bread out of the oven, I grind the wheat and everything. I love fresh mozzarella with tomatoes and fresh basil and balsamic vinegar and olive oil drizzled over it. My mouth is watering just picturing all this yummy soul food. Home made macaroni and cheese with bacon or sausage in it, so cheesy and good. It is nourishing to me and comforts and lifts my spirits.

Nourishing to the soul. Food can be that way, filling and nourishing. I love it when it is cooked just right, and boy can it be a bummer when it isn't. This week I got a thawed out chicken breast sandwich, which was way too expensive and a  hair in it to boot. I was bummed. The waiter/owner didn't even apologize. Guess that's the breaks when I don't make my own food or go somewhere I know is a really good place.

There is a guaranteed place to get "good nourishment" every time you enter. It is the scriptures, you will be "nourished by the good word of God all the day long" (Jacob 6:7) if you choose to partake. Sometimes, we have a feast before us, and then we don't chew or swallow, but spit it right back out as if there is a hair in it. We don't really partake. The scriptures really do have that kind of power- to nourish you all day long. How? Because when we "feast upon the words of Christ" (see 2 Nephi 31:20) something happens to us. We are changed. We are fed in a way that man cannot feed us. The words of Christ are able to actually heal and strengthen us, both physically and spiritually.

In the most recent General Conference (you can view all addresses here) Elder Richard G. Scott, an apostle of the Lord, (just think of that alone, an apostle of the Lord,) testified of the power in pondering scriptures:

"Pondering  a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one's ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior. They can accelerate physical healing." 

The Power of Scripture

We get to choose whether or not we want to allow this power that is there for us to partake, lift, and heal us both physically and spiritually or just rot on the shelf. We decide what we think about. In The Guide to the Scriptures we are taught that "the power to think is a gift from God, and we are free to choose how we use our power to think. The way we think greatly affects attitudes and behavior, as well as our standing after this life. Righteous thoughts lead to salvation; wicked thoughts lead to damnation."

Remember: "To be carnally-minded is death (that is spiritual death), and to be Spiritually-Minded Is Life Eternal" (that's S.M.I.L.E.) (2 Nephi 9:39). Choose to be spiritually minded every day~ smile! Have eternal life (A Christ like life) every day by being spiritually minded. It is our choice! And one of the easiest ways to help us direct our thoughts and "feed our minds" is to read the scriptures daily. "Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly, then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God" (D&C 121:45).

In my own life I have felt and experienced this nourishing and healing power as I have studied the scriptures. There is a calming influence that has come into my life as I have chosen to "receive the pleasing word of God, and [I] feast upon His love; for ye may if your minds are firm forever" (Jacob 3:2). Not only can we feast upon His word, but we can feast upon His love. Come and be changed...be nourished by the good word of God and feel His love! This I testify will never fail you, but will heal you and strengthen you and is food and nourishment for the soul. And it tastes better than anything I've ever eaten!

"...A Time to Laugh..." (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

When I was a primary teacher I had the opportunity to teach the 4-5 year old children at church. The sister I taught with wasn't able to come one Sunday and there wasn't a substitute in there with me. I thought things would go pretty well. I was prepared, and I really loved the children in my class. I was teaching about the importance of having a body and about Jesus casting out a legion of devils into swine and then the "whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea and perished in the waters" (Matt. 8:28-34.)  I thought I had taught the lesson pretty well until the closing prayer. I asked a 5 year old boy to say the closing prayer. In the prayer he proceeded to pray and ask Heavenly Father to bless us that we would be turned into pigs. I then realized that my wonderful teaching had not been so effective.

I did learn a great deal from that experience and many more as a primary teacher. That particular day I learned the value of a sense of humor. There is a "time to laugh" (Ecclesiastes 3:4) and in life it is important to not take ourselves too seriously. I am learning to do this...better. (I am so grateful for a husband who doesn't give up on trying to make me laugh!) This is not to say that we should make light of sacred things, but we should remember that laughing is good therapy. "A merry heart doeth good like medicine" (Proverbs 17:22.)

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said: "The next time you're tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable" (Come What May, and Love It.) This is a good one when I spill something...like a gallon of gasoline in my new car. Or forgetting your pack pack for school when you were for sure going to be on time, and then you get be late for school because you go back and get it. Or if you miss the chair you were going to sit on and fall on the floor instead. It's funny. And laughing is always better than getting mad.

Elder Boyd K. Packer says: "Find happiness in ordinary things and keep your sense of humor!" (Do Not Fear) Children are the greatest blessing to have around. They keep things in perspective and lighten things up a lot. Just thinking about that prayer that day, praying to be turned into pigs, and in the say breath praying to do what is right makes me laugh. Children are a blessing and they bring us great happiness. And you know what? Doing the daily stuff of living, taking care of our family, teaching our children about Jesus Christ and His atonement, taking our children to their activities, praying together as a family, being the best mom to our children that they need me to be for them, cooking food, nurturing them, just "ordinary things" is happiness. This is "living after the manner of happiness" (2 Nephi 5:27). This is how Christ wants us to live, happily! It is His way of living. And it feels great! It is called "the plan of happiness" (Alma 42:28). This I testify is the happiest way to live, because it is Christ's way.

By the way, Christ loves you so much! He taught "Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh" (Luke 6:21).

"I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:25

Today, October 11th, is a special day because it would be my niece, Chandler Renee's birthday. She would be 13 years old today. She doesn't get to celebrate it here on earth with her family. I like to think she is with other family members, on the other side of the veil, celebrating the fact that we have all been given an incredible gift called "the resurrection". "The resurrection consists in the uniting of a spirit body with a body of flesh and bones, never again to be divided. The resurrection shall come to all, because of Christ's victory over death" (Bible dictionary). I know that we shall see Chandler again, that her death is only temporary, as "this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame..." (Alma 11:44).

Death of a loved one can be a real trial of our faith. I haven't lost a child and I can't imagine how difficult this would be. It isn't a trial I would choose to go through, as I am sure none of us would. I haven't been afraid of a child dying because I know I would see them again, but I have feared how I would handle the grief. And today it came to me in a very calm assuring way, I know how I would handle the grief...through faith in Jesus Christ. He said, "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you" (John 14:18). He will not leave us alone or without comfort when we go through hard things, no matter what it is! It may not be what we would want to go through, nor does it mean that it would be easy, but we don't have to go through it alone. His desire is to help us draw closer to Him, to help us become more like Him. But we must choose to "come unto [Him]" (see Isaiah 55:3, Ether 4:13, D&C 45:5).

Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. We frequently focus on how difficult it would be to have to sacrifice an only child. It would be. Abraham was able to sacrifice Isaac, not only because he loved the Lord and wanted to be obedient (obedience to the commandments shows our love for the Lord~ (see John 14:15)) but because, his faith was "that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead" (Hebrews 11:17-19). He was willing to sacrifice his son because he knew he would see him again, his only son would live again, his death would only be temporary because of the promises of the resurrection. That is powerful faith. I know there are many people who are called upon to "sacrifice" their children and they are able to let their children go, because they have faith in Jesus Christ.

My sister-in-law and her husband have incredible faith as they have continued to go forth celebrating the birth of their only daughter every year for the past 13 years and will continue to do so. It is a celebration of life, a celebration of hope, and faith in our loving Savior who sacrificed all so that we might live again. Christ said, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). What an incredible gift to give their 5 living sons, faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and in His power so that we can live again. Happy birthday, Chandler!

I look forward to the day when my sister-in-law and her husband are reunited with their daughter, Chandler because Christ lives! This I testify.

"Doubt not, but be believing" Mormon 9:27

Have you ever been somewhere and there is a horrible smell that suddenly permeates the air? One almost naturally fans the air and plugs their nose to get away from the awful smell. Sometimes we might even say something about the rancid smell, especially if it smells of natural gas and could be harmful to our health.

Well, I know there are spiritual senses that we have that we sometimes ignore, that if we could actually smell them, they would be very rancid, and very harmful to our health. Part of it is allowing ourselves to actually "feel" rather than just "fan the air" and turn away from what appears to be a bad "smell". Let me try and explain what I am thinking.

Nephi and his brother's, in The Book of Mormon had seen an angel, and yet, Laman and Lemuel would not listen to the Spirit, and had "heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto [them] in a still small voice, but [they] were past feeling, that [they] could not feel his words..." (1 Nephi 17:45). Just as we at times get used to a bad smell because we have been around the stench for too long, Laman and Lemuel had been around a "bad feel" if you will, and were "past feeling". They could no longer recognize the tender touch of the Spirit.

The Spirit is described as a "still small voice" (see D&C 85:6). The definition of still is: "undistrubed or tranquil; silent and calm; gentle or quiet, subdued" The Free Dictionary. So, if you say, 'The quiet, calm, and small voice", makes one think they must really pay attention in order to actually  "feel after [the Lord]" (see Acts 17:27; D&C 101:8). In our day and age of loud, noisy music, and it is constant with our "earbuds" always in our ears, it is very difficult to actually hear, or "feel" anything that is "still," let alone, "small". It takes practice. Practice being calm and still ourselves.

You can train your nose to recognise smells, both good and bad. But it is so sweet when I can recognize the sent of a flower, or the sent of a spice that is put into a food. I can't do it the first time I smell it or taste it, but I can eventually come to recognize them. This is the same with the Spirit, but I must have ample opportunities to "feel after him" (Acts 17:27). I must put myself into a position to be able to feel it by beginning with my thoughts. First question I can ask myself is, "What think ye of Christ?" (Matt 22:42). Have I thought about Christ today? Have I done anything that would help me to draw closer to Him or to learn of His ways? (see D&C 19:23.) As a parent I have a responsibility to give my children opportunities to practice "feeling the Spirit" and making choices that will help them know what they are "feeling" because if I am always telling them what they can and cannot do without opportunities for choice, when it comes time for them to tell on their own, they won't know how to make a choice on their own. I will have crippled them, rather than given them wings, which is the power to move and to act (see D&C 77:4).

I know that as we practice using our sense of "spiritual feeling, smelling, hearing, and seeing" through obedience to His commandments, because we love God, there will come into our lives a power of direction, (see 1 Nephi 17:13), a power and privilege to see things that are not visible to our natural eyes (see D&C 76:116-118), peace and calm that the world will not and cannot offer us (see John 14:27), and we shall have hope in Christ knowing that we will live again with loved ones who have passed away (see Moroni 7:41), and "all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good (D&C 98:3).

Breath in deeply the air that smells so fresh and good, and feels so wonderful and will change your life. It is real. Don't let yourself get "past feeling", or hearing, or seeing. "Doubt not, but be believing" (Mormon 9:27). This I testify is the best things you will ever smell, taste, touch, feel or see in your life, ever!!!

"In me ye might have peace...I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

A friend of mine from high school has always talked about "world peace". I know that he is very sincere in wanting it to take place. He is a very kind person and has a very good heart, at least he was when I associated with him. I know that he still desires world peace from a few of the posts he puts on his facebook page. I understand this desire. I too would like world peace. War is ugly, and not the the way to world peace. But there is a way to world peace.

The way to world peace is Jesus Christ, but people don't want to hear that, or don't want to follow Christ, or perhaps they think it's too simple. But it is that simple, but people would rather follow some one else or do it their own way, or some would even do it with money. Jesus Christ is the only way (John 14:4-6) and He set the example completely by being the sacrifice needed for all of us.

Let's talk openly about this for a minute. Do we really want world peace when we have a hard time not getting upset with the bad driver on the freeway or when the neighbor let's their dog mess all over our lawn and doesn't clean it up. Or worse, how do we behave when someone unintentionally embarrasses us or hurts us? Or even worse yet, how do we behave when some one intentionally hurts us and treats us like garbage and does real damage to us or a family member? These are the real questions when it comes to "world peace". Because it's one thing to talk about a war that is across the world and we only hear about it on TV or in the newspaper, but we can't control our temper with our family or with the driver on the road in our own neighborhood. (I include myself in this by the way...I am really good at yelling at the driver next to me.)

It is hard to get to that place of being able to actually do what Christ not only taught, but lived: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matt 5:44.) The real challenge comes in loving those whom I don't want to love, not just to the people who are nice to me. It is really easy to love those who are nice to you. I like being nice and loving those who are kind and good to me. Am I humble enough to "love my enemy"? This doesn't mean that if I have been abused I allow the abuser to go free and continue to hurt other people. That isn't love. That is stupidity.

Love and world peace does include limits. Christ has made it clear that there are limits and those limits are the commandments. He says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15) and one of those commandments is to "forgive all men" (D&C 64:10.) There have been times in my life where I wasn't sure I would be able to forgive someone for something because the hurt was so deep. I wanted to know why I had to forgive. I understood it was "required" of me (see D&C 64:10) but I wanted to know the "why". Well, in my desire to forgive I was taught a great lesson. And the Lord made it clear to me the reason why I needed to forgive. When I hold onto my anger and decide that the person deserves "justice" or "judgement" from me , then I am taking on a role that isn't mine. The Lord says, "And ye ought to say in your hearts- let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds" (D&C 64:11.) It is the Lord's role, not mine, to judge others. He is the one to decide whether or not they should be forgiven. We don't need that additional burden of responsiblity of "judge" put on ourselves when we don't forgive others. That is why we are "required to forgive all men" (D&C 64:10.)

If we really want to have "world peace" we must be willing to give up our desire to "judge others" and truly "forgive one another (D&C 64:9.) This is where "world peace" will start, with us, in our hearts, and  in our neighborhoods, and in our homes. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33.) Follow Christ. He is the way. This I testify.