"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)

I donated my hair. I cut off 10 inches (that's the minimum requirement). As I have thought about how long it took me to grow out my hair, from very short to as long as it needed to be to donate it, it was close to 4 years. If you just count from when I decided to focus on donating it, it was over a year. It took time, just a tiny amount each day, invisible to the naked eye. No real effort on my part actually, other than to brush, wash, dry it, and keep it healthy. There are things like that in our lives that go unnoticed but make a big difference for others. For example, cooking a meal, folded laundry, garbage taken out to the trash can, socks picked up and put in the laundry basket, dishes taken over from the table after dinner, a diaper changed. This list of small things that make a difference for us and others is endless. Sometimes we may become weary from doing all these small things. But the Lord responds with such feelings by saying: "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).

As I have looked back over the years of growing out my hair there were little things I did that made a difference. This is the same with taking care of our spiritual growth. Alma taught his son, Helaman, about being wise, he said, "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls" (Alma 37:6-7). The Lord's purpose is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39) and He helps lead us through small means, not huge miracles or flashy signs. For example, if we want to make the changes that allow us to get into shape for a long race we don't just go out and run or ride a bike for hours on end. We do small things, incrementally that make a difference and build up stamina, endurance, and good health. If we want to raise our children in righteousness and teach them to love the Lord it takes small things and diligence. We can find great joy in "well-doing" as we teach our children by loving and guiding them.

The Lord said, "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). To find Him we must be diligent. Growing my hair out required diligence. It was the small and simple things that made the difference. The same is with our relationship with our Father in Heaven. He doesn't require us to go out and run a marathon or carry 50 pounds for miles on end. What He wants and requires of us is simple and depends upon our diligence. He says, "Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind, and strength" (D&C 11:20). Keeping the commandments is the smallest thing we can do that makes "great things" come to pass (Alma 37:6; see also 1 Nephi 16:29; D&C 123:16). The Lord will "prepare a way" (1 Nephi 3:7) for us to accomplish all things that He desires for us to achieve. The challenge for us sometimes is to get our will in line with His. To have the desire to be obedient and keep His commandments, and thus, "laying a foundation of a great work" (D&C 64:33). And we, His children, are His great work!

"The worth of a soul is great in the sight of God". D&C 18:10

I had a professor tell me once that I wouldn't amount to much; that I would only amount to being a mother. At the time I was working on my degree in art with an emphasis in sculpture. I was his one student that would bring my infant daughter to my studio and work on my art, chiseling away at my stone sculptures. I was very angry by his comment at the time. In fact, for a long time it had been a thorn in my side. I had felt that he was right, I wouldn't amount to much as an artist. Well, he was right. And he was dead wrong. Let me explain.

He was right in the fact that I haven't amounted to much in the worlds terms as an artist or a sculptor and I probably never will. I don't have much time being a full time mother of four children and all their various needs. Some may say this is an excuse for not doing my art, but I say, I am doing my art. My art, as a mother, is that of sculpting souls. The Lord's work is all about His children, teaching, nurturing, guiding, strengthening His children; helping us become our best self. The best self being "children of Christ" (4 Nephi 1:17). As an artist I found that sculpture takes time and patience. Being a mother and fulfilling my role of nurturing children also takes time and patience. Creating a masterpiece isn't done in a day, or even a year. A masterpiece is timeless and often has infinite value. I can't put a price tag on the value of teaching or guiding my children in the ways of truth and righteousness.

When we put our family first, whether in the role of father, mother, sister, brother, daughter, son, or likewise, we are sculpting souls; this being God's greatest work (see D&C18:10; Moses 1:39). Perhaps the world will never tell me that I am a great artist. In fact, the world may even say I am a failure because I haven't "sold" any of my work. But that's okay with me; the goal was never to sell, but to create. Each of us must decide what we really want to create in this life. Time and creating are valuable gifts each of us have; and the greatest artwork we can participate in is "the worth of a soul" (see D&C 18:10). 

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17)

This past week has been a week of learning. I ended up, by default, if you will, being in charge of organizing and feeding about 80 people for a water polo event. I didn't get to decide the date, the location, or the menu. For whatever reason, I was in a really grouchy mood because people hadn't paid for their meals and I needed a head count to know how much food to order, and decided I was upset about the date when this past week began. I was doing some minor complaining to some other women about the date being so late. The next day, I received a text from one of the women apologizing for making the banquet so late after the season ended. Needless to say, I felt horrible because in my selfish frustration, I had forgotten who had been there to start the planning and organizing of this event. These good women did the best they could, they didn't need criticism. I immediately sent a text back and apologized for my attitude and thanked her for all she was doing.

After I received that text I realized a lot of things. We so readily quote the scripture, "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17) that we forget that it encompasses a broader view of things than just serving each other. It also means this: What attitude you serve your fellow beings you are also serving your God with that same attitude. When I realized this, that my attitude was not what it should be, I wanted to change it, immediately! Having this new perspective made all the difference. I wanted to be cheerful serving God. I realized when God says, "All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C122:7) isn't just a nice thought, but it is an eternal truth. He knows exactly what we need in order to progress. It is us who gets things all mixed up and want to take needless control. God really is in charge. We get to make choices, but we don't get to choose the consequences, whether good or bad. We also get to choose the attitude in which we serve, and boy are things a lot easier if we have a good attitude!

When I realized that I needed an attitude change I was able to be open to learning so many more things. I learned how to cook ribs for 50 people, which can easily be expanded to 80 or 100. This is a great skill and I learned I don't really want to be a caterer. I learned that complaining can hurt other people, especially good, innocent people and that hopefully (I know I will have to keep working on this one) I can focus on the good that is being done by everyone. I learned that "...to be learned is good if [we] hearken unto the counsels of God" (2 Nephi 9:29). All my "knowledge" from past events is good only if I am willing to share it with a good attitude and be flexible.

God knows what we need to learn. The challenge is to "seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from His hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that He counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy over all His works" (Jacob 4:10 italics, bold mine). Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) stated: "In a very real sense, all we need to know is that God knows all!" (Book Of Mormon Student Manuel, Religion 121-122; 2009, pg.67),

 I also learned this week, or rather was reminded to, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings" (Philippians 2:14). The attitude in which we serve others, is the attitude in which we serve the Lord. This I testify, makes a huge difference.

"Whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens" (D&C 132:46)

When my husband and I were engaged, we spent some very precious money on a queen sized bed. We had to transport the mattress and box-springs about 40 miles to our soon-to-be apartment. My soon-to-be husband had finals, so my brother said he would help me transport the bed to our soon-to-be apartment. My brother and I put the items in the back of our dad's pick-up truck, bungee corded it down and were off. I was driving. We drove about 10 minutes to the freeway with everything just fine. I entered the freeway and sped up to freeway speed. I had been driving less than a minute when I saw in my rear-view mirror the mattress take flight and disappear. I was shocked! How could something so big, and so valuable, we were extremely poor students, come loose so easily and fly away, just like that?

My brother said he would go and get the mattress. He came back after a a while and told me he couldn't find it. I was a bit surprised because, how can you lose an item as large as a mattress? We decided he would walk back to the freeway entrance and I would walk forward on the freeway because it was an exceptionally windy day. After about 20 minutes or more we met back at the truck, with no luck of finding the mattress. As we got into the truck there came a fire engine with its lights and sirens blaring. I started to feel really nervous, and not just about getting married. I was worried I had caused an accident...or something, and how was I going to explain to my soon-to-be husband I had lost our mattress?

We followed the fire engine up the freeway about 2 or more miles. We pulled over and waited. There in the middle of the freeway was a smoldering mess of metal, in the shape of a mattress. The fireman came over to us and we asked what had happened. He said it was a mattress that had caught fire. He asked us if it was ours. I said it was mine and asked what I should do. He said, "Nothing, unless you want to pick up your garbage".

I learned a few things from this experience. One, make sure things are tied down securely, especially if you care about them. Don't take chances with a bungee cord and call it good. The Savior made a plan for us to use to make sure things are secure. This plan is called "the great plan of happiness" (Alma 42:8; see also Alma 12:22-33; Alma 34:8-16). This plan was so carefully laid out for all of God's children. It is wonderful and simple to follow. This "great plan of happiness" answers simple questions about where we came from and why. Where are we going? And, where will we go when we die? We don't have to wander the "freeway" of life looking for lost "items" or answers. Heavenly Father wants us to ask, in fact, we "are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally" (D&C 46:7) and He will answer. (You can read more about this incredible plan here).

Another thing I learned, if things aren't securely tied down, or bound in their proper place, no matter how big they are, they can fly away and get lost. Binding things with a bungee cord, or with improper authority doesn't work. But, with the Lord's promise things are made stronger, and are put in their proper place. "Whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens" (D&C 132:46; see also Matt 16:19). Marriages are made stronger when sealed by the authority and power of God. President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is to see a husband and his wife and their children happy at home, protected by the principles and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the everlasting priesthood. Husbands and wives should understand that their first calling-from which they will never be released- is to one another and then to their children" (And a Little Child Shall Lead Them). Bound together, not just by a bungee cord, or by an "I do", but by eternal, Priesthood Power is stronger than the cords of death or the cords of disagreement, or financial problems, disability, or physical problems. It is a power that Christ wants for all the families of the earth. Families can be together forever.

I find it interesting that 18 years later (today happens to be our anniversary), a mattress is very symbolic of our marriage, in more ways than one. Our society would have one think that you can have a "relationship" before you are married, but in reality, that type of "mattress", bound only by a bungee cord, will truly fly away and eventually get lost. I know, from personal experience, that the Priesthood is the power to bind marriages, to keep and protect families. Our marriage has its ups and downs, its trials and challenges. All marriages do. But, because we, my husband and I, have made a covenant with God, we have been strengthened and lifted in times of challenge, our burdens have been made lighter, and we have been bound together "by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge which...greatly enlarge[s] the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile-" (D&C 121:41-42).

I wish everyone could have a mattress story, to apply the joy of having a marriage that is filled with the beauty that comes from learning by "burning up a mattress". There are many more things I could share that I learned from burning up a mattress, but those will have to wait. This I testify, when we keep our part of the covenant, to give and receive each other, then Heavenly Father keeps His part. He says, "I, the Lord, and bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise" (D&C 82:10). This is a good way to keep a marriage secure and protected, keep God involved, and "burn up that mattress".

"How oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings" (3 Nephi 10:6)

I have to admit that I have often wondered if being a mother is enough. I do a lot of cooking, a lot of laundry, a lot of driving children all over, to, and from places. I do a lot of things that get absolutely no praise or thanks, but a lot of exhaustion at the end of the day. Pondering this roll of motherhood, the powerful doctrine that all women are mothers whether they have had children or not is taught as Eve was called the "mother of all living" before she gave birth to children  (Genesis 3:20; Moses 4:26). It is more than just cooking, driving, doing laundry and all the mundane things that seem to crowd out some of the power that comes with doing these essential tasks that keep a family going, that make a house a home and a group of people a family. Let me try and explain through a personal experience this week.

I usually am pretty good at making dinner and making sure we eat together as a family. This week, one day I failed to plan and when I got home from a meeting that had been for our children, it was already dinner time. I decided we would have leftovers or everyone could have cereal. Everyone was fine with this. My request was that we eat together. Well, time went by and family members got their various food options and proceeded to eat them as they heated up, or completed whatever task they were working. We didn't eat together. I was kind of bummed that we missed out on that family time. I don't know if anyone else noticed, but I did. There was no gathering.

As a mother, meal time, cooking, even if it is just cold cereal, is about gathering. Gathering is an essential doctrine that Christ teaches. "O ye house of Israel who I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart" (3 Nephi 10:6 (4-6), D&C 10:65, Luke 13:34). Christ gathers His covenant people, His children, "as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings". As a mother, I gather my family each night around our dinner table to protect and strengthen my loved ones. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, an apostle of the Lord, taught this about gathering together for dinner: "The number of those who report that their whole family usually eats dinner together has declined 33 percent. This is most concerning because the time a family spend together eating meals at home is the strongest predictor of children's academic achievement and psychological adjustment. Family mealtimes have also been shown to be a strong bulwark against children's smoking, drinking, or using drugs. There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: what your children really want for dinner is you" (Good, Better, Best).

Gathering is part of my role as a mother. It's not just about cooking or cleaning. But about gathering my loved ones about me, just as Christ gathers His loved ones, "For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts; Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life freely" (D&C 10:65-66). The roll of a mother is enough and so much more. The world just doesn't see it as He does, and as I am continuing to learn to see and cherish. Gathering, this I testify, is part of the power, strength, and responsibility of being a mother.