"Stand therefore, having...your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:14-15)

Having been dealing with foot pain for several months now I have come to realize that perhaps I may have to deal with this pain for a long time. I did finally go to the doctor and find out that there is a problem with my feet and it's something that may not go away on its own. It was a relief to identify the problem and a little scary to learn it might not ever clear up. What can help give some relief is to have the right footwear and to make sure I am not inflicting more pain by being fashion conscious and wearing unsupported, or flimsy shoes that will make the problem worse. There's pretty good footwear out there to help alleviate the pain but, I have found the best "footwear" to be in the gospel.

Paul told the Ephesians, "Stand therefore, having...your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:14-15). Shod means the past tense of shoed or simply put, shoe. So, put on the shoe of preparation of the gospel of peace. It's not the gospel of stress or anxiety, but of peace. I love this! Wearing the shoes that are taking me down the path of preparation and peace is very comforting and comfortable. In modern revelation we are taught, "...if ye are prepared ye shall not fear" (D&C 38:30). I think it's a good question to ask, "what am I preparing for?" I know it's a good idea to prepare for those opportunities that come to "stand in the office which [God has] appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees" (D&C 81:5 see also Hebrews 12:12; Isaiah 35:3). When we have on the right shoes, we are able to serve and help others on their journey, thus finding "joy in the journey" (Pres. Thomas S. Monson), forgetting our own pain and helping others with theirs.

To be prepared with such shoes, when we are given the correct footwear we must "bind on thy sandals" (Acts 12:8). Binding our  sandals or "shoes" on our feet is being ready and prepared for the opportunities to serve, lift, and go forward in faith. If we have them sitting in the closet and do not have them on we may lose out when we are called to serve or feel unprepared and inadequate when we are called. I love what Pres. Howard W. Hunter said about having on the right footwear:

"May I say once more to the youth of the Church (and may I add all the adults of the Church)- prepare, believe, be ready, have faith. Do not say or do or be that which would limit your service or render you ineffective in the kingdom of God. Be ready when your call comes, for surely it will come...The Lord would say to you..what the angel said long ago to Simon Peter: "Arise. ...Bind on thy sandals. ...Follow me" (Acts 12:7-8). 

So, as I deal with foot pain, and getting the right shoes on my feet, I know that we will be wise to have our feet "shod with the preparation of the gospel", it truly does bring peace and it is the most comfortable footwear out there. This I testify.

 Great idea to "bind on thy sandals" to be prepared when the waves or wind come, for they surely shall come. 

"...let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you" Alma 34:27

At this time I have two children serving missions. My daughter is serving in England and my son is serving in Argentina (you can read their emails here and here). I get to hear from them through email once a week while they are on their missions. I can't tell you how excited I get to hear from them, hear how they are doing and all the good and hard things they experience each week. It is such a great feeling to read their letters and see how happy they are while serving Jesus Christ and teaching others of Him.

The other day, as I was praying, I wondered if this is what Heavenly Father feels like when we pray, or communicate with Him. He wants to hear from us, daily- always! We are taught over and over: "Pray always" (for example: Luke 21:36; D&C 19:38; D&C 88:126; 2 Nephi 32:9; 3 Nephi 18:15). When we pray always we draw closer to God, we open ourselves up to His protection and direction. He wants to hear from us!

Heavenly Father wants to hear how we are doing and what we are doing. I think that Amulek said it best about what we should be talking with God over, for, and about. He taught:

"Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields...over all your flocks. Cry unto him in your houses, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. ...Cry unto him against the power of your enemies. ...Cry unto him against the devil, who in an enemy to all righteousness. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. ...and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you" (Alma 34:19-27)

As a parent who gets to hear from my children once a week while they are on their missions and the joy that I have in hearing from them, I can only imagine the joy that Heavenly Father has as He hears from us, for we are physically apart from Him, just as I am separated physically from my children.

When my children email me, they will ask for items, support, prayers, and encouragement. They ask for things that are temporal and spiritual. Heavenly Father wants us to ask him for those same temporal and spiritual things that we need in our lives that will help us and lift us. A prophet taught that we should be "asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive" (Alma 7:23). Our Father in Heaven cares about us more than we can imagine. He wants to help us, and it is made possible when we ask.

As a parent I find great joy in hearing from my children. I know that our Father in Heaven wants to hear from us too. "Pray, He is there; Speak, He is listening. You are his child; His love now surrounds you. He hears your prayer; He loves the children. Of such is the kingdom... of heaven" (A Child's Prayer). He's waiting to hear from you daily. I know that praying not only brings great joy to our Father in Heaven, but also to us as we feel his love surround us as our prayers are answered. This I testify.

My daughter- serving in the England Birmingham mission

My son- serving in the Argentina Buenos Aires South mission

"...clothed with power and authority...and to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that [are] in darkness" D&C 138:30

I wash and fold  mountains of laundry, which I do pretty much on a weekly basis. Sometimes it's so much laundry that I take pictures of before and after. Kind of funny, but hey, sometimes I just gotta record how much laundry is done, for some reason it makes me feel better when I see what I have accomplished. 

The mountain before washing

A few years ago when I felt like I was drowning in laundry and knew that the laundry was always going to keep coming I needed a new view. This is the view I got: "And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil" (Mosiah 4:14).  When I first read this I knew that I needed to make sure my children had clothes to wear. It was a symbolic gesture to make sure they were "clean" and that I was teaching them correct principles about modesty and caring for their own bodies. Doing laundry, or clothing my children is more than just teaching them to have clean clothes. I also have the vital responsibility to make sure my children are clothed with power, charity, even the armor of God. 

Christ has organized his work to be done by the righteous, those who are clothed in His power and authority. "But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead" (D&C 138:30). I know this scripture is talking about when Christ went to the spirit world to teach those who have passed away, but I feel that it also applies to us (see 1 Nephi 19:23). 

Mountain after washed, but not folded

As a mother I have the responsibility to help prepare my children to go and "carry the light of the gospel to them that [are] in darkness". This is an amazing plan- I learn truth, teach my children, and they go forth to serve and teach more of His children, and they teach their children. Doing "laundry" is part of that great plan. It has become a great blessing for me in my life and the life of my loved ones to do "laundry" and help clothe the world. 

We also get to teach our children to "clothe [themselves] with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace" (D&C 88:125). We clothe them and ourselves with charity as we serve them, love them, and are a good example of kindness, goodness, covenant keeping, honesty, and all other Christlike qualities.

So today, as you work on the mountain of laundry that never seems to be conquered (even if it's just your own laundry), remember, you are doing a "great work" (see Alma 26:3; D&C 138:48; D&C 64:33) - you are helping clothe the world in charity and light and truth.

Mountain climbed...all washed and folded

"...clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted" (Jacob 2:19)

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You know, some days are harder than others, especially when my expectations are higher and I over-extend myself. But, after one hard day I have learned a lot. I realize that I have not always been aware of the needs of others as well as I could be. And I also realized and continue to learn that connecting with others is so much more important than "things". The following scripture has brought on a whole new meaning to me: "And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good- to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted" (Jacob 2:19).  Sometimes it is so easy to focus on giving in terms of money. Money I can see and say, I gave this much. But to really clothe the naked, feed the hungry is more than just offering clothing and food. It is also about clothing others spiritually and emotionally. It is also about feeding them food for the soul. When we "liberate the captive and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted" it is helping others by expressing love, concern, actually extending service no matter how small it may seem.

Over the past month I have felt a little overwhelmed by a couple of things, even though I knew I would get through them. There were two sisters (women from my church), and one of my actual sisters who did very small acts of service that showed me what it meant to "liberate the captive" and "administer relief". In preparing for my son's missionary "farewell" and knowing that I would prepare food for about 50 people I had also over extended myself in trying to serve another family member by caring for her two young children. I felt I was in over my head. These three women saw my stress, or my "captivity" if you will, and truly gave me "relief "by very simple acts of service. They could have given me money, but that actually would not have given me "relief". Instead, they gave me their love and time in very simple ways. One sister cut-up and delivered a watermelon; another sister brought over a beautiful tray of desserts, and the third sister brought delicious trays of veggies and fruits. I felt SO loved! I felt relief and my burden was made lighter! I saw, in a whole new light, that the covenant to be "willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and 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) is an active and real experience. It was no longer just about receiving comfort when death may come knocking, or having an ill family member, some other tragic event occurs.

These three sisters were able to mourn with me in that I felt a loss at my ability to "do it all" and I really needed help. They extended empathy and not criticism for lack of planning and over-extending myself. Rather, they recognized that I needed to be "clothed", "fed", "liberated", and given "relief". They offered comfort by their small acts of service. As they did this, I also realized they were the hands of God, they were actually standing as witnesses of God and his love for me. We get to do the same when we do seemingly small, but what ends up being significant acts of service. Throughout that day, there were many small acts of service, relief, and comfort that made that day a beautiful and wonderful day of love and joy from many other people.

Since I have had this experience I have tried to be better at not ignoring those little promptings to make that phone call, mail that letter, write the thank you, make the meal, or just hug someone, including my own children and husband! In doing this, I have had an increase of joy and love in my own life. I have also had my eyes opened to how much God really loves us and how he shares and shows that love through the service of others. This I testify.

Some of the other wonderful people who gave me relief with their small acts of service.
(Lft to rt. Sarah, Christian, Slade, Stockton, John)

Another small but wonderful act of service- helping entertain his cousin
(Ethan and James)

"...of you it is required to forgive all men" (D&C 64:10)

I have titled this "The Parable of the Chair" - (Taken from experiences I learned injuring my shoulder-twice.)

There was a woman who had a chair that she used a lot. She really liked this chair. It had been in their family for 20 years. It looked like an old school chair, had paint marks on it from when her kids painted pictures when they were little, and had earned a place that was frequented often by the woman. This chair was in her closet. It was good to her. She would sit on it to get dressed and put her shoes on. Sometimes it would be dragged from room to room to aid her in other needs. Often the woman would pour out her soul in prayer in the closet and the chair was a great source of support.

Well, one day she needed to stand on it to hide Christmas presents. She did. It was the perfect height. She hid the presents and then proceeded to turn and step off the chair. Well, she didn’t just step off, she fell off the chair. The chair had betrayed her! As she fell off the chair she landed on her shoulder. She screamed in pain. The chair did nothing. It didn’t come to her aid. It just sat there.

At first, the woman thought her should would get better by not using her arm. She was pretty ticked at the chair for betraying her trust like that. How could it let her down? She felt justified when she called it names, even refusing to sit on it to tie her shoes. Nothing the chair did (which was very little) helped her in any way to get over this hurt, this pain, this betrayal! The woman thought maybe it would help her feel better if she put it in the basement, never to be used again or even more serious, maybe she would get rid of the chair never to be allowed into her home again. She would most definitely be justified in that! But none of this helped her shoulder to heal. It had been over a month now, and the pain was still there, getting even worse. Being angry, hurt, and resentful was not helping her shoulder heal.

After a period of months the woman realized that perhaps she needed to try something different to get better. She had found no comfort and no peace in being offended by the chair. Perhaps she should see the Great Physician, who was also the Great Judge. It has been said that He “went about healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matt 4:23). Also, “he judgeth, and his judgement is just” (Mosiah 3:18). Feeling desperate, she finally went to see the Great Physician and Judge. He told her that her injury was indeed great. It would even need surgery to repair it. The Great Physician and Judge said there would probably be even more pain and tribulation to come, but if she would  “harden not [her] heart, and stiffen not [her] neck against [Him], [she] shall be [changed] and [He] would heal [her] (see D&C 112:13). She was told she needed to “view herself in her own carnal, or merely human state” and  must “apply” treatment daily (see Mosiah 4:2).

He prescribed what sounded easy, but was often difficult to take regularly. It was "to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the [Great Physician]; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. I, the [Great Physician], will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" (D&C 64:9-10). He also gave her exercises to take with the prescription that would also aid in her healing and would help her become to whole again. This remedy He gave her was not easy, sometimes downright painful, but in the end totally worth it. She did exactly what the Great Physician and Judge told her to do. She practiced being obedient to His instructions. The pain subsided and eventually left. She felt so much better. She could move her arm again. She was indeed healed.

In remembering, she realizes that there is great hope for the future. If an injury occurs again, of any kind, rather than wasting time trying to place blame, she would immediately go and see the Great Physician and Judge.

"The Chair"