"...In everything give thanks." (D&C 98:1)

Day #18

I am so grateful for this scripture. The truth of it has changed my life so that it is filled with joy in every situation.

"Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; 

yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks." 

(D&C 98:1)

When I give thanks "in everything" life becomes more beautiful. It changes my perspective and I see the beauty of God's creations, I see the talents of others and how they bless my life. I experience more fully the taste of food, the smells that entice me to partake of the goodness that God gives me. I hear more fully the word of God and the good news of the gospel. Giving thanks has increased the joy in my life. Truly, God is pouring out His blessings in every moment of our lives. I invite you to give thanks and experience His love for yourself.

It is in giving thanks in all things that I have come to understand this doctrine: "...men are that they might have joy". (2 Nephi 2:25) It is true. Gratitude or giving thanks "in everything", will change your life. This I testify.

Principles that apply in weaving and in life..."Wisdom and order" (Mosiah 4:27)

So, I set some goals this year for learning some more basketry techniques. (Basketry is more sculptural and "artistic" than basket making...either way, I love to weave.) And I just completed my first basket that I made following the pattern/tutorial from a book that was written by Kari Lonning, an amazing contemporary basketry artist. I decided I needed to refine my technique and really learn/perfect certain forms of weaving. This is all good stuff, except for the fact that I am a perfectionist and have a really hard time seeing the good in what I do or accomplish- and not just in weaving (that's not so good.) As I am improving my ability to weave, I am also learning that many gospel principles apply to everything in life- even weaving.

Here are 4 things that I am trying to work on and apply in my weaving...and in my daily life.

1) Ask! "...Ye are commanded in all things to ask of God" (D&C 46:7)- this includes learning a new skill, understanding new things, learning His ways. Ask God for help. One of my favorite scriptures is D&C 88:118 "And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith". I feel like this scripture not only applies to learning about God, His Church, and His ways, but also about learning all truth. There are ways of getting better at developing our talents, and God knows all of those ways. "Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear" (D&C 136:32). As I ask, He will guide my understanding, knowledge, and how to improve in all things. I have learned this for myself. It works!

2) Keep Trying! Sometimes I expect myself to know things perfectly that perhaps I have heard, read, or learned repeatedly over the years, yet, I still make mistakes. I must remember to keep trying. We get to learn "line upon line" (D&C 98:12), a little at a time and over and over. We get to learn things in wisdom and order, which is essential. "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order" (Mosiah 4:27). This has so many applications in life, and in weaving. As we keep trying and learning in wisdom and order, we will improve and get better at the things we desire most. It's totally worth the effort, especially when we don't run (or expect to perform) faster than we we are able. It will come. Keep trying. It's totally worth the effort.

3) Patience! The scripture in Matthew "Be ye therefore perfect" (Matt. 5:48) is not about being perfect now. Footnote b gives more insight to the meaning of 'perfect'. It says, "complete, finished, fully developed". I am learning and need to practice patience with myself, just as I would my own children because my weaving skills aren't fully developed, finished, or complete. I'm in the developmental stages, just like I am in many things. It takes time to develop new skills, change bad habits, or even learn to be open to the whisperings of the Spirit. So, while I learn these skills, I also get to practice patience. It's a double blessing.

 4) One last thing: Have fun! "Men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). And on those days that might not go as planned, or didn't meet your expectations, follow this advice: "If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that you souls may be joyful" (D&C 136:29). Now that is great advice.

Now- "Go and do" (see 1 Nephi 3:7) ...and have fun will doing all of it! It's worth the effort. This I testify.

The beginning of the basket..."wisdom and order" for sure!

The completed basket...not perfect, but I learned a ton of things! 

A view from the top...remember- Have Fun!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16)

I have an original painting I got with gift money which has brought me great joy. It is of the resurrected Christ standing next to Mary just outside the garden tomb. Mary hasn't yet seen or noticed Him. I have often pondered on this event captured in this painting. 

(Painting by J. Kirk Richards click here to see more of his work)

There must have been such grief for so many who had lost their Lord and Master, a Beloved Friend, Teacher, Family Member, Leader, Loved One. The depths of sorrow, I can't comprehend. I then ponder the joy that must have filled Mary as she recognized her Master, her Beloved Jesus Christ (see John 20:13-18). His promise to rise again in three days (see Mark 8:31) had been fulfilled, which I can only imagine, had been hoped and was then comprehended. He had "finished the work" of his Father ( John 17:4).

Jesus Christ is truly resurrected, lives, is whole, and complete. He is the Gift to us from our Father in Heaven. We must choose whether or not we want to receive this Gift through faith, for there is no other way to receive Him. I think Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) said it eloquently when he stated: "Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus" (Settle This in Your Hearts)!

The words to a Children's Primary song, "He Sent His Son" (#34) teaches many principles of sacrifice, love, hope, and enduring, that come from the Gift of our Savior which Heavenly Father gave to all the world. The words are as follows:

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?

He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?

He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.

What does He ask? Live like his Son.

(Words by Mabel Jones Gabbott, 1910-2004)

We are all God's children, and Heavenly Father needs to teach and have us learn of perfection (see Matt. 5:48). So He sent us a perfect example, because He loves us- perfectly. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Our Heavenly Father gave us the Gift of Christ, He sacrificed his Son for us that we might live again with them if we exercise faith in Jesus Christ. Faith takes action, and sometimes that action is to willingly sacrifice.

At Christmas time, it is a time for giving gifts, which brings great joy. My Children often give me gifts that are a sacrifice of time and money for them. I appreciate these small sacrifices for me, which brings joy to both of us. In a small way, they are expressions of their love. Heavenly Father wants us to receive the joy of giving gifts (see 2 Nephi 2:25). He sometimes may ask us to sacrifice or offer things we may not want to give up or aren't ready to part with, such as time, money, habits, grudges, loved ones, just to name a few. We often think of these things as our possessions or our "substance, which [does] not belong to you but to God" (Mosiah 4:22). When we willingly offer them to Him as gifts and we put our faith in His time table and His plan for us, then our joy will be fuller and deeper. "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" (Psalms 126:5). The Lord has also said: "I will order all things for your good, as fast as ye are able to receive them" (D&C 111:11). And Paul testified: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

"What does the Father ask of us? Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way" (#34). What beautiful and simple gifts to give our Father in Heaven and our Savior this year: faith, hope, love, kindness, forgiveness, peace. Christ is the perfect example, the perfect Gift. Mary, in the garden tomb, was joyful at the resurrection of Jesus Christ. At this time of year, each of us gets to decide if we will turn and see the resurrected Christ; or in other words, "if there is room for Jesus".

"Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world." D&C 43:34

I have been doing a lot of bike riding lately. As I ride, I am frequently alone, with the wind blowing and rushing by as I pump hard. It is such a great feeling to be able to climb a steep or long hill. It is awesome to look out over the valley and see the beautiful world that has been created for us to enjoy. For whatever reason, when things get hard on a ride or towards the end of a challenging ride, there is a primary song that pops into my head. It is called "Beautiful Savior" (Primary Songs #62). The words are these:

"Fair is the sunshine, fairer the moonlight

 And all the stars in heav'n above.

 Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer

 And brings to all the world His love. 

Fair are the meadows, fairer the woodlands 

Robed in the flowers of blooming spring.

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer. 

He makes the sorrowing spirit sing. 

Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!

Son of God and Son of man!

Thee I honor, praise and give glory, 

Give praise and glory every more! 

Ever more!

Well, after nearly being hit yesterday I have pondered the words of this song. Sometimes we are in such a rush to get wherever we are trying to go that we cut people off with our actions or even simply by not hearing them or communicating with them. We miss all the beauty that is right before us not only in His creations, but also in simple acts of kindness and service. Jesus does shine brighter. He does make the "sorrowing spirit sing". Christ simply says: "Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds" (D&C 43:34). When we slow down, even just for a moment, we can actually feel and see the power of our Creator in our lives. 

Jesus lives. He loves us and wants us to have joy in our daily life (see 2 Nephi2:25). We do this as we take time to "see". This I testify makes a powerful difference in everyday living.

"Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (D&C 88:6)

Friends are invaluable. They are a source of strength in times of need, joy, pain, sorrow, renewing, aging, birth, death, and just life. Friendships change and they grow. A true friend is one that forgives and loves even when we aren't perfect. I have found friends that will never fail me, they are full of wisdom, and I can turn to them any time. I love the advice I receive from these friends because it is never wrong if I follow the advice I receive from them. I am never manipulated or coerced, but always loved into action. It is a great relationship. If we don't have any contact for a while, we immediately reunite and I am so glad we do and I always think, "Why did I wait so long to visit these friends", because it is always my choice if we don't keep in touch.

These friends are the scriptures or often called the standard works- The Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price (you can access them all here). I love spending time with these friends. They are so filled with love, knowledge and wisdom, and truth. They are spiritual and will help us draw closer to God if we follow what they tell us to do (see The Book of Mormon: Introduction). We can all choose to be friends with the scriptures. "They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world" (Elder Richard G. Scott). In this world, we all need friends that will lead us and help us draw closer to Christ.

I would like to share a couple of my "best friends" (for this is what they have become to me) with you and take just a few brief moments and explain why they have become so treasured to me.

One of my dearest friends is found in 1 Nephi. It is when Nephi is given the vision his father had of the tree of life. Nephi is asked by the angel if he knows the "condescension of God" (1 Nephi 11:16). Nephi replies: "I know that He loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). Nephi admits he doesn't understand all of God's ways or reasons. What he does know is that God loves His children. This has given me great strength and comfort many times and continues to do so. I don't understand everything that everyone goes through, but I know we are loved and God has a reason for everything. Sometimes our trials can become our greatest blessing. If we ponder the atonement, it was the greatest trial for the Savior of us all, and is the greatest blessing and gift for all of us (see D&C 19:16-19).

I have mentioned and talked about this friend before. It has blessed my life many times. It is simple and straight forward. "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not" (D&C 6:36). As children of God, we must move forward in this life, which is a temporary separation from our Father in Heaven, with faith. Because of the veil of forgetfulness it is too easy to not remember who we really are and sometimes wander around fearing what may or may not happen. My dad has frequently given me great advice. He says you shouldn't worry about what you can't control. When we look to our Father in Heaven we can quit worrying about all the "stuff" we can't control, like our children's behavior, or if our children are going to get in a car accident, or if we are going to lose our job, or if we may or may not get sick, or whatever life may bring us....Instead, we must "...look to God and live" (Alma 37:47)! ~ That is another great friend.

Great friends help us live! God wants us to LIVE! "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). To truly live and have joy is to "live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you" (Alma 34:38). This is joy~ recognizing that the Lord is aware of us, and loves us and blesses us with all we have. When we "always remember Him" (D&C 20:77,79) we are seeing God in our lives and living in thanksgiving daily for the "tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he that chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance" (1 Nephi 1:20 italics added). We are so loved!!!

These are some of my best and dearest friends. They have lifted, carried, guided, taught, and loved me through life. These friends, the scriptures, are from a loving, all powerful, all knowing God, who loves us and wants us to have joy. Read them. Study them. Get to know them and you will have a relationship not only with the scriptures, but with the Lord. The promise is, "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (D&C 88:63, see also Psalms 69:18; Zech. 1:3-4, Ezra 8:22-23). We can all use more friends and there are many good ones to be had. The Savior Himself said, "Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks" (D&C 98:1). There is no better friend than the Savior. This I testify.

"Therefore, brethren (and sisters), stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

At Christmas time there are a lot of traditions that are done and created. It is fun to have traditions. They help unite us as families and friends. They help us create memories and even help us draw closer to Christ."Uplifting traditions play a significant role in leading us toward the things of the Spirit" (Elder Donald L. Hallstrom). In our home we have a simple tradition we do each Christmas that involves six simple ornaments. These ornaments are all words. With each word we have a scripture that we look up and then share with each other. As the years have gone by, the insights have grown deeper as to the meaning of each word and the application in the lives of our children. I would like to share these six ornaments and their traditions with you.

Ornament #1: Believe "Believe in God; believe that He is, and that He created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that He has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that He would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them" (Mosiah 4:9-10). In a time when it is taught to believe in Santa, it is vital to teach our children the true source of all power, Christ. Every time our children see or even hear the word believe we want them to think of Christ. If they are ever asked by Christ as the blind man that was healed and cast out by his fellow man, they may answer as he did. "Dost thou believe on the Son of God? [The man] answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him" (John 9:35-38).

Ornament #2 Faith "And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me" (Moroni 7:33). God's purpose is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). And expedient means that He will, through our faith, give us the power to do what is appropriate to help us bring about His purpose. His whole purpose is us. He wants us back with Him and Heavenly Father. Our faith must be based upon the fact that all we do that is right, Christ will aid us and help us. He wants us to succeed.

Ornament #3 Hope "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God" (Ether 12:4). Hope is a wonderful blessing. We hope to return to live with Heavenly Father again through the atonement of Christ. All is not lost. We are "wanderers in a strange land", but most definitely not lost to God. He is ever mindful of where and who we are  (Alma 26:36). We have hope that we are on a path to a better world, however difficult this path may seem at the time we are traveling on it; and because our hope is anchored in Christ we are steadfast and able to move forward.

Ornament #4 Love "And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father" (Ether 12:33-34). Christ is the perfect example of love, or charity. We have been commanded to "love God" and "love our neighbor"  because "on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). It is true "when we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities" (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson). When we love God, we love our fellow man.

Ornament #5 Peace "Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world" (Helaman 5:47). Christ is the source of true peace. He said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). Christ's peace isn't like any other. It is the calm when the storm is raging. It is the calm when the darkness is unending because He is the source of all Light. He is the "Prince of Peace" (2 Nephi 19:6).

Ornament #6 Joy "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). Joy in the resurrection of Christ! Joy that we "have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for [our]selves and not be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given". What joy to be "free according to the flesh", we are not dead forever! What joy that we are "free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil" (2 Nephi 2:26-27). Joy doesn't come from trinkets and toys and items purchased in a store. True joy comes from choosing to follow Christ no matter our circumstances, knowing we are "free to choose" for ourselves to follow Him.

Traditions can be simple and bring in the Spirit of Christ. These ornaments hang on our tree during the Christmas season, but the tradition of unity and love doesn't need to stop at Christmas time. We need to follow the tradition of Christ all year long. "Therefore, brethren (and sisters), stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work" (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17). To follow Christ daily, all year long, is a saving tradition. This I testify.