"...He holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society." (D&C 134:1)

I am so proud of myself. I just voted by mail and it feels so good. I honestly don't really like politics. I laugh because I do have very strong opinions, but I don't like discussing politics. I get very frustrated with...people. But, I would not give up my right to vote or my freedom, both of which come from the eternal principle of agency. Agency is: "The ability and privilege God gives people to choose and to act for themselves" (Guide to the Scriptures).

As I have thought about the privilege of voting I have learned a couple of things. In the 134th section of the Doctrine and Covenants there is a declaration of what we believe about governments and laws in general. Verses 1 and 2 read:

 "We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that He holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society. 

We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life" (D&C 134:1-2). 

When we vote we are using our agency "for the benefit of man". If we choose not to vote and we complain about what goes on, we have no excuse and no right to do so. We made our choice when we did nothing. We let others choose for us when we don't vote. We will be held accountable for this choice like it or not.

I said I don't like discussing politics because of people. Well, I am just going to let Elder Quentin L. Cook speak for me on this point, which applies to more than just politics. He said:

"We need to be civil in our discourse and respectful in our interactions. We live in a world where there is much turmoil. Many people are both angry and afraid. The Savior taught us to love even our enemies (see Matthew 5:44). This is especially true when we disagree. The moral basis of civility is the Golden Rule. It is taught in most religions and particularly by the Savior. "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise" (Luke 6:31). Our faith requires that we treat our neighbors with respect" 

(Restoring Morality and Religious Freedom).

I may not like arguing politics...but I sure have strong opinions about what I think is right and good, and it's okay if we agree to disagree. I definitely I love my freedoms; with that comes the love of freedom of speech, the love of my right to bear arms, my right to life, my right to the pursuit of happiness. I choose to vote because I want to voice what I believe is right, and I hope you choose to voice your opinion as well by using your God given gift of agency and vote in this years election. (You may then complain if you feel so inclined...but I can testify that complaining doesn't really help the situation change much, it might make you feel better to vent momentarily, but it usually doesn't bring about change.) Notice, I don't tell you how to vote, just VOTE!

P.S. Here are a couple of excellent talks about the Constitution; Challenges for Our Day; and a whole series on Religious Freedom.

"...having on the breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians 6:14; D&C 27:16)

Having done my mammogram the other day I am full of thoughts about the power and righteous influence women have been given through our blessed chests. I nursed four children, and lost a size or two, but would gladly do it all over again. Nursing was one of my favorite aspects of when my children were infants. For me, nursing was a time for giving, relaxing, renewing my children's nourishment, a time to learn, a time to love and cuddle. I nursed longer and longer with each child. What I don't miss is the horrible pain that came when I very first started nursing a child (not going to lie-it hurt like crazy! then I built up callouses and the pain went away), pain of engorgement or even the once in a while infection that I seemed prone to get; let alone the angry glances of men and women who took offense to breast feeding my child in public even though they could see nothing but a blanket and perhaps a foot or my child's waving hand. Oh, the power of the chest of a righteous and virtuous woman.

The Apostle Paul taught the Ephesians to put "on the breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians 6:14), and the Lord also has given us the same counsel, in our day, to put on the same armor (see D&C 27:16). A breastplate covers the breast, the heart, the lungs, ribs, stomach, and many more vital organs. But, there are two organs in particular that after having had my mammogram made me think of the value of being a woman. The two organs are the heart and the breast, both of which are symbols for charity.

I learned years ago that a nursing woman is a symbol for charity. What an incredible gift a woman gives to her children, life. Now, this is not about whether or not you nursed your children. This is about the symbol that comes with just being a woman, that symbol being charity. We are all mothers even before we have children (see my post here), yet our bodies are symbols of what is innately within us when we are pure. Joseph Smith admonished at one of the first Relief Society meetings: "You are now placed in a situation where you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms. If you live up to these principles how great and glorious!- if you live up to your privilege, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates....If you will be pure, nothing can hinder" (Daughters in My Kingdom, pg 169). To God, we are nurturer's; thus we feed the hungry, share, give life to others of His children, we teach, we create an environment for others to thrive. The world would often have us viewed as "objects", toys with which to be played, or even ignore those wonderful gifts given to women and act like men. Now, I must say, that it is fun to play with my husband and him with me...but to him, I am more than just a toy or an object, and I am most definitely feminine in his eyes; which makes charity all that much more symbolic and powerful when you put the husband and wife into the equation.

As daughters of God, and sisters in Relief Society, the largest and divinely inspired organization for women (learn more about it here and here) we are "taught to live up to [our] divine potential by fulfilling God's purposes for [us]. As [we] come to understand who [we] really are- God's daughters, with an innate capacity to love and nurture- [we] reach our potential as holy women. With charity in [our] hearts, [we] fulfill the purposes of Relief Society: to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need" (Daughters in My Kingdom, pg. 170). Notice that the first item is faith and personal righteousness. When I was nursing I would keep a large jug of water by my chair and carry it around with me. I would drink it all gone to replenish myself first, before I fed my child. We must, as women who give, and serve and care for others, "eat and drink of the bread and waters of life freely" (Alma 5:34) for ourselves first, and then we will be filled and can have more than enough to help others.

At times, there will be moments, or days, or perhaps even months or years of healing, and we will need to receive rather than give. And Christ says: "[She] that receiveth my gospel receiveth me; and [she] that receiveth not my gospel receiveth not me. And this is my gospel- repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom" (D&C 39:5-6). When we receive Christ, we are receiving His Atonement which heals us. Even though our bodies need time to heal after having a child, we also give while we nurse as we heal from labor and delivery. This same principle of charity applies in other aspects of our lives. We are healed through Christ as we serve others in small and simple ways. Through this healing and giving we are being taught "the peaceable things of the kingdom".

With the motto for Relief Society being: "Charity Never Faileth" (see Moro. 7:46; Daughters in My Kingdom), think of a nursing woman whose milk never fails as she continually nurses. When a woman gives of her time and of herself her milk supply is naturally replenished and there is more and more to give. "Charity is the pure love of Christ and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him" (Moroni 7:47). This is the power given to righteous and virtuous women that is "planted in [our] bosoms".

Men aren't exempt from nursing. At least not in the scriptures. "And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers" (Isaiah 49:23). Men and women who have gone through the Holy Temples of the Lord and made sacred covenants are ordained to become queens and kings if we keep those covenants. Part of that responsibility is to nurse others by sharing with them the bread and water of the gospel. Young men who hold the priesthood have the humble and great responsibility to help nurse mankind by being missionaries: "...The Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders" (1 Nephi 22:8 (1-9)).

The wearing of the breastplate of righteousness applies to all men and women who desire to come unto Christ. I use the same words as the prophet Moroni: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren [and sisters], pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see hims as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen" (Moroni 7:48).

What more can I say? Go and get your spiritual mammogram..."having on the breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians 6:14; D&C 27:16) which, for me, is charity, the pure love of Christ.

"And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked" (Mosiah 4:14)

I do a lot of dishes. Washing, drying, cleaning, putting away. And then I get to wash, dry, fold, and put away said towels. We go through a lot of towels. As I do this it gives me time to either get frustrated with the fact that I do a lot of dishes and laundry, or I can focus on the blessings I have been given and even ask for help. Going through many towels the other day led me to pondering about another towel that was crucial in the Savior teaching His apostles, which leads to teaching us.

This towel was used when the Savior and His disciples had gathered for the last supper. After supper Jesus took a towel and prepared to wash His apostles feet. (see John13:4).  He went and "He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded" (John 13:5). This humble ordinance of washing their feet (see D&C 88:139-141) speaks volumes about our Savior. He is the Creator of the world, about to be crucified to save all man if we would repent, (see Moses 5:15, Helaman 12:23; 3 Nephi 9:22) yet He knelt before His apostles and washed their feet.

It is humbling when the Lord blesses us with people who "wash our feet" by serving us and help us "bear one another's burdens, that they may be light" (Mosiah 18:8). The Lord also blesses us as He allows us to help Him when we serve others. We become better, more Christ like in our behavior and in our hearts as we serve other people and our families.

Christ is omnipotent, which is the "divine trait of having all power" (Guide to the Scriptures; see also Genesis 18:14; Alma 26:35). There is no limit in what He can do. He could help every one do everything. But He isn't selfish or self centered, rather He is loving and kind and in His kindness He gives us opportunities to serve and to be served by others. He is omniscient, which is "the divine trait of having all knowledge" (Guide to the Scriptures; see also 2 Nephi 2:24) and therefore knows what things [we] have need of, before [we] ask Him" (Matthew 6:8). He allows us to learn by doing and receiving: doing or receiving service (which can be very difficult) (Mosiah 2:17), loving our neighbor (Matthew 22:39), caring for the poor and needy (see Alma 1:27), visiting the fatherless and the widows (James 1:27). Serving our own family brings great joy and peace even when it sometimes seems like we do a lot of mundane tasks such as washing and drying the dishes.

The simple day to day tasks of "feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants" (Mosiah 4:26) leads me to how much cooking and washing of dishes I do for my family. There are many tasks that go unnoticed, yet are needful...such as "feeding the hungry and clothing the naked" (Mosiah 4:26). The hungry and the naked are our children. Think of how much cooking, washing of dishes, and laundry we do for our children and families. King Benjamin, a prophet in The Book of Mormon teaches: "And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked" (Mosiah 4:14). One of the greatest blessings as a mother is to feed and clothe our children. All that work, all that cleaning, preparing, and serving is the "building up of God's kingdom" (Consecrate). Christ could do all the work, but He let's us develop Christlike qualities as we serve others in small and simple ways; just as He showed us by His example when He washed and dried His disciples feet.

"Take...the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you" (D&C 27:18)

I have a lot of knives for cooking. I have some really nice knives, some of which are big enough to be like swords. But no matter how much I paid for the knives, if they aren't sharp, they act the same...dull. It is difficult to cut things with a dull knife and it is a lot easier to cut myself with one that isn't sharp. As I was cutting some meat the other day, with a sharp knife, I realized that the Lord has given us a "knife", or better said in His terms, a sword. Christ said for us to "take...the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you" (D&C 27:18, see also Ephesians 6:17). God uses His sword to lift, guide, and bless His children. Men use "swords" for many reasons, often "focused only on punishing behavior" (Elder Lynn G. Robbins).

When we use the word of God, or His sword to lift others, we apply it as taught in D&C 121 which reads: "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile" (vs. 41-42). The word or sword of God has "a great tendency to lead the people to do that which [is] just- yea, it [has a] more powerful effect upon the minds of...people than the sword [of man], or anything else, which [has] happened unto them- therefore...it [is] expedient that [we] should try the virtue of the word [or sword] of God" (Alma 31:5).

When we use a sharp knife or sword, to me, this means I am prepared "come what may" (Pres. Thomas S. Monson;  Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin) because I have immersed myself in the "word of God" (see Articles of Faith 1:8; Luke 4:4; Alma 6:5). His word becomes "sharp" and blesses my life with the "sword of [His] Spirit" (D&C 27:18) which leads to more revelation for myself and my family.

Sister Julie B. Beck, former General Relief Society President taught, "The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life" (And Upon the Handmaids in Those Days will I Pour Out My Spirit). Funny thing is that I actually took a "knife skills" cooking class once. The Lord offers His own "knife or sword skills" classes. They are offered each week when we attend our church meetings. Every six months we get a bonus "skills" class when we have General Conference (click here to watch a session of Conference). Attending these "classes" and the studying of the word of God leads to more personal revelation and guidance from the Holy Ghost. The sword of God helps us "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Ephesians 6:16). So I say, sharpen that sword, attend your skills classes and "feast upon the word of God" (2 Nephi 31:20); this I testify, will give you more power than man could ever offer or give you; "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12; see also D&C 14:2; D&C 12:2).

"...all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:7)

Without going into any detail, let me just say, today has been very challenging on many levels- and the day isn't even over yet. It is days like this that the scripture on faith gets me through. It reads: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). There is great hope in the power of the Atonement. I didn't see it or witness it with my eyes. It is something I only know with my heart. Faith is knowing something with your heart even when it may not make sense to your mind. It is on these really hard days that the battle heats up, the pressure is on, the testing fires are really burning so to speak. This is when the only thing to do is to "trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

 "When we understand more than we know with our minds, when we understand with our hearts, then we know that the Spirit of the Lord is working upon us" 

(President Harold B. Lee)

It's funny how things have to go sometimes. Not funny ha ha, but funny strange and hard. Everything does work out. The Lord himself said: "...all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:7). Even though I know things aren't going to change over night, and maybe not for a really long time, there is one thing I do know. God knows. He loves us and will watch over us in all things and all things do work for our good. This I testify.