A Most Worthwhile Gift

Nothing in this life is of greater worth than the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost. It is the source of joy, peace, knowledge, strength, love, and every other good thing. With the Atonement, it is the power by which we may be changed and made strong where we are weak. With the priesthood, it is the power by which marriages and families are sealed together eternally (see D&C 132:7, 19). It is the power by which the Lord makes Himself manifest unto those who believe in Him (see 2 Nephi 26:13). Every good thing depends on getting and keeping the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives. Everything depends on that."

Lawrence E. Corbridge, "The Way," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 35

All I can think after this wonderful quote is "What can I say more?" (Jacob 6:12)

Love, Plain and Simple - But Very Profound

“Do we exemplify [a] legacy of love? Do our homes? Bernadine Healy, in a commencement address, gave this counsel: ‘As a physician, who has been deeply privileged to share the most profound moments of people’s lives including their final moments, let me tell you a secret. People facing death don’t think about what degrees they have earned, what positions they have held, or how much wealth they have accumulated. At the end, what really matters is who you loved and who loved you. That circle of love is everything, and is a great measure of a past life. It is the gift of greatest worth’ (“On Light and Worth: Lessons from Medicine,” Commencement address, Vassar College, 29 May 1994, 10, Special Collections).”

Thomas S. Monson, “Dedication Day,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 65

I love the part that says "what really matters is who you loved and who loved you." I can't express the emotions and thoughts it fills me with as I think on it. But I can say that I believe it, and believe in it. And it brings me a peaceful, hopeful joy.

Personal Ponderings

[from my online journal today]:

"I urge you to not take counsel of your fears. I hope you will not say, 'I'm not smart enough to study chemical engineering; hence, I'll study something less strenuous.' 'I can't apply myself sufficiently well to study this difficult subject or in this comprehensive field; hence, I'll choose the easier way.' I plead with you to choose the hard way and tax your talents. Our Heavenly Father will make you equal to your tasks. If one should stumble, if one should take a course and get less than the 'A' grade desired, I hope such a one will not let it become a discouraging thing to him. I hope that he will rise and try again."

Thomas S. Monson, "Decisions Determine Destiny," New Era, Nov. 1979, 8

I was often told growing up that I was "the smart one." Really, it's only because I have a good memory. I'm not saying I'm dumb, but I certainly don't think I have the intelligence others thought me to have. Perhaps it's because I think that common sense is tied in with intelligence, and I was told and have come to believe that I have very little of it. 

Still, I believe in potential. I believe that anyone can learn anything they so choose. They may not excel at it, but they can learn it and know somewhat of it. Example: Me and Math. I love math! Everything so logical. Can't do it even if my life depended on it. Oh well. That's why I'm friends with various math wizards and geniuses. When it comes my time for creating worlds, hopefully my husband has somewhat of an understanding of the maths and sciences so that we can create something feasible. Of course, I know that if it is us working together to create the best of our capabilities, then what we create will be magnificent.

Anywho. With my belief in potential, I also like to believe in what adults always told me: You can do anything. Well, all right. I believe most of that. I can't whistle. Can't. I've tried. I can't stand on my head. Good heavens--I can't even do a somersault anymore because of my fear that I'll break my neck. I have little athletic prowess. I'm not the greatest driver. And the list of what I can't do or what I'm not good at is endless. But I love the stories of Heber J. Grant. I believe in improvement. And development. And, well, reaching potential. Discovering what potential Heavenly Father has in mind for us and going for it.

This quote of President Monson's, and others similar to it, always gets me wondering. Again, when I was younger, I was told I could be anything. They opened the world to me. I wonder if I copped out. Did I take the easy route in profession? Did I shy away from the hard roads and take one that to me was just too easy? No challenge? 

I'm not whining, or bemoaning, or even berating myself. I'm just...pondering. Am I slacking on reaching my potential, or am I doing what Heavenly Father would have me do? I suppose I extend that to all aspects of my life instead of only my career. 

Do I do everything I can, should, and ought to do? Am I reaching potential or shirking the hard things of life?

The Rising Generation...

...sure knows how to have fun!!! I'm still part of that, right? I mean, I'm only 10 years older. Am I not still rising? :-)

[from my Facebook posting]:

Oh my word--my brother's AWESOME!!!! He SO gets it all from me. This has to be my laugh for the month--Bar None! And what a happy way to recycle old memories for me and my CC days (this was one of "our songs.") P.S. Maybe you should wait to watch it on another day. Not quite the Sunday song, even if they are The Mormon Mafia. :-)

Never Let Go!

The post title is a Josh Groban song which has many meanings for me. But, yes, one of them is about never letting go of the Iron Rod (the word of God). If staying on the strait and narrow. Clinging to the Gospel and the Lord's teachings.


Maybe the lyrics are a stretch for some. I will not attempt to explain the ways I see it. Yet I remember the days this message spoke quite clearly to me, and I cannot see the song differently. Perhaps you can see and know what I do from it:

I can't understand it

The search for an answer is met with a darker day

And we've been handed these moments forever

But I'm reassured there's another way

You don't have to close your eyes,

There is room for love again.

Ease the pain to realize all that love can be,

Forced apart by time and sand,

Take a step and take my hand,

And don't let it go--

Never let go!

Broken, once connected.

We were so strong and so blessed in a simple way.

So don't let me go it alone.

Turn your head up to the sky,

Nothing down below but me.

Face the truth to relize all that we could be.

Torn apart by rage and fear,

Hold on to what brought you here,

Don't let it go--

Never let go!

In another's words:

"Our Heavenly Father loves each one of us and understands that this process of climbing higher takes preparation, time, and commitment. He understands that we will make mistakes at times, that we will stumble, that we will become discouraged and perhaps even wish to give up and say to ourselves it is not worth the struggle. We know it is worth the effort, for the prize, which is eternal life, is 'the greatest of all the gifts of God.' And to qualify, we must take one step after another and keep going to gain the spiritual heights we aspire to reach."

--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "One Step after Another", Ensign, Nov. 2001, 25

Happy Easter!

1. He is risen! He is risen!

Tell it out with joyful voice.

He has burst his three days’ prison;

Let the whole wide earth rejoice.

Death is conquered; man is free.

Christ has won the victory.

2. Come with high and holy hymning;

Chant our Lord’s triumphant lay.

Not one darksome cloud is dimming

Yonder glorious morning ray,

Breaking o’er the purple east,

Symbol of our Easter feast.

3. He is risen! He is risen!

He hath opened heaven’s gate.

We are free from sin’s dark prison,

Risen to a holier state.

And a brighter Easter beam

On our longing eyes shall stream.

Text: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818–1895

Music: Joachim Neander, 1650–168

He is the first ray of sun  

To reach above the mountain  

He's a gentle ocean breeze on my face  

He is raindrops movin' slowly down my window 

He's a long deep breath at the end of the day  

He is a warm afternoon at the end of September  

He's a brilliant sunset sky  

Lyrics to beginning of "He Is" by Hilary Weeks

To celebrate this Easter season

Here is a YouTube clip the Church put out from part of Elder Holland's talk last Sunday. Something to think on during this Easter season. I hope all of you like me may feel the love of the Lord in everything, especially when pondering on the great and lonely sacrifice he made for each one of us.

Bonus #1 Answer

"What was one of your favorite talks?"

Right now, my heart is favoring Elder Holland's talk. Perhaps because it was the one I most felt the Spirit while listening to it. And in which the Spirit spoke most to me as well. I'm not even sure how to describe what I was feeling. I was mesmerized? Enchanted? Those don't seem to fit. Certainly I was in awe. And gratitude was overflowing as he more fully made me think on what my Redeemer did for me. Over the last year and a half, I have come to more fully know that the Savior really did experience every pain I have ever suffered, and that He truly is the only one who knows how to succor me. And I'd always known that the Savior had been alone. Yet I never fully grasped just how alone, and what that really meant. That he at that point suffered spiritual death, or else He could not have completely known, understood, and atoned for the sufferings of each and every one of us. I agreed with Elder Holland's words and found myself renewing my commitment to be sure that I myself will never let the Savior suffer alone again.

Quiz Answers

1. Sister Barbara Thompson- 2nd counselor in RS Pres.
2. Prayer (Elder Russell M. Nelson)
3. Combined men’s choir from BYU-I.
4. Elder Richard G. Scott, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder Stevenson
5. Guide Us, O, Thou Great Jehovah
6. Elder Charles Didier 
7. Elder D. Todd Christofferson
8. Elder Steven E. Snow; 4th session
9. Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf
10. Pres. Boyd K. Packer
11. Pres. Packer’s son, named Allan R. Packer. Oldest of 10
12. This is My Beloved Son; Primary songbook
13. Missionaries-52,494 members-13,508,509; stakes-2818; wards/branches-28109; missions-348; districs-622; convert baptisms- 265,593; baptisms of children of 8-123,502; temples dedicated- 4, 1 redeciated; temples in operation-128
14. Brother Matthew O. Richardson
15. Come Thou Glorious Day of Promise
16. 3
17. Alma 7:11-13
18. Elder Dallin H. Oaks
19. Elder Robert D. Hales
20. Doubt, Discouragement/Despair, Distraction, lack of Diligence, Disappointment, Disobedience, Disbelief.
21. Elder L. Tom Perry
22. Elder M. Russell Ballard
23. Sister Margaret Lifferth; NO cell phones.
24. Elder Neil L. Andersen; “Remember who we are and what we have”
25. Elder Richard G. Scott

The extra bonuses? I'll think about writing separate notes on those.

Conference Quiz

[from my online journal]:

I know somewhere in this journal I've mentioned how in my family we often had Conference quizzes. If we "passed," we got a really nice dessert. Since I don't have kids of my own, yet, I thought I'd come up with a quiz for all of you. Now, technically, I ask you and you look through your notes and give me your answer right away so I can move to another kid. But as we are in this electronically distant phase, I will give you a day or two. Now that you can re-watch them fairly easily, most of those you can find answers to even if you weren't able (or don't like) to take notes.

1. Who was the 4th Speaker of the 4th session? (Priesthood is counted as a session) Bonus: What is their leadership position?
2. What was the topic of the last speaker's talk in the 2nd session?
3. Who provided the music for the 3rd session?
4. Who spoke specifically about temples--as a main topic? (More than one answer. Pick one.) Bonus: List all 3.
5. What was the Choir & Congregation number for the 5th session?
6. Who said the opening prayer of the 1st session?
7. Who quoted Elder Wirthlin's last Conference talk "Come What May--and Love It?"
8. Who spoke about Change? Bonus: What session did they speak in?
9. Who conducted the 2nd session?
10. Which member of the 12 apostles spoke in the 3rd session?
11. Whose son spoke in Conference? Bonus: what was his name? BONUS bonus: What position as a child is he?
12. What was the 3rd song the choir sang in the 4th session (without congregation)? Bonus: Where does this song "originate" in LDS hymnody?
13. In the Stats report, how many missionaries were mentioned? Bonus: give 3 more statistics given.
14. Who was the newly called 2nd counselor in the Sunday School Presidency (who happened to be an EFY speaker at my one-and-only EFY!!!)?
15. What was the opening song of the 2nd session?
16. How many times did Pres. Monson speak?
17. Cite the Book of Mormon of the scripture that Pres. Eyring quoted (and happens to be one of my favorites).
18. Who spoke about selfless service?
19. Who spoke about overcoming temptations, particularly financial ones?
20. What were Elder Pearson's 6 (actually--I technically counted 8!) Destructive D's? 
21. Who spoke particularly about member missionary work?
22. Who spoke particularly to the youth (both genders)? 
23. Who spoke about reverence and respect--particularly pertaining to Sacrament meeting? (I loved this talk!) Bonus: What was said about cell phones (which LOTS of people need to pay heed to)?
24. Who "added" a second part to the familiar phrase "Remember who you are?" Bonus: What was the addition?
25. Who shared experiences specifically about his wife and 2 children? (That was a very tender thing to listen to)

BONUS: What was one of your favorite talks?

BONUS: What was something you learned?

BONUS: What was something that made an impression (no need to share something sacred or personal if you do not wish to)

BONUS, BONUS, BONUS (because how would you really know this unless you read my Facebook status as of Sunday night): What was my "favorite" talk (as of now)?

Yes--"COURAGE in so great a cause!"

[from my personal online journal]:

There are those days when you wonder how in the world we will ever get through them. Often we don't believe that we will get through. Yet we always find ourselves at the end of those days seeing that we have gotten through. And we often never really can remember how we did get through. Or what we did to get through.

But if we would just realize that our prayers--for help, strength, support, courage, endurance, and everything which the Atonement makes possible--are being answered. That Christ is at our sides. That He is at my side. Leading. Encouraging. Guiding. Comforting. Pushing. Lifting. Carrying. Helping me get through each and every day--not just the unbearable ones. I need to remember to always listen to His reassuring, guiding voice, and to always answer this call during the good, happy times and the otherwise:

Press forward, Saints, with steadfast faith in Christ,
With hope’s bright flame alight in heart and mind,
With love of God and love of all mankind.

Press forward, feasting on the word of Christ.
Receive his name, rejoicing in his might.
Come unto God; find everlasting light.

Press on, enduring in the ways of Christ.
His love proclaim thru days of mortal strife.
Thus saith our God: “Ye have eternal life!”

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

-Press Forward, Saints, LDS Hymn no. 81, words by Marvin K. Gardner

Truly:

Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.
-Alma 26:35 (emphasis added)