Patience for Answers

"President Joseph F. Smith gave these sobering words of advice to leaders and members of the Church to help us when making decisions. It is a statement I have had displayed in my office since becoming Presiding Bishop.

“'In leaders undue impatience and a gloomy mind are almost unpardonable, and it sometimes takes almost as much courage to wait as to act. It is to be hoped, then, that the leaders of God’s people, and the people themselves, will not feel that they must have at once a solution of every question that arises to disturb the even tenor of their way.' (Joseph F. Smith,Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, p. 156.)"

-Robert D. Hales, "Making Righteous Choices at the Crossroads of Life," Ensign, Nov. 1988, p.9 (emphasis added)

This quote of President Smith's stood out to me as I read this article today. Note the emphasis that I added. It is something I know, but must remind myself again and again. Answers or solutions come in the Lord's time. And that doesn't just go for things I ask for myself, but for counsel I may be asked for from those I lead. Or counsel I have asked of those who lead me. Patience in every regard, every aspect. The Lord answers in His time, and we can be absolutely sure that it is the best time, and the best answer.

Reach for Your Potential--But Don't Beat Yourself Over the Head with It

"Don't judge yourself by what you understand of your potential. Trust in the Lord and what He can do with your dedicated heart and willing mind (see D&C 64:34). Order your life more effectively and eliminate trivia, meaningless detail, and activity. They waste the perishable, fixed, and limited resource of time. Choose to emphasize those matters that have an eternal consequence.

"Permanent, worthwhile growth is attainable, but not without great effort and the honest application of truth. Worthy accomplishment is founded in integrity. Righteousness is fundamental to happiness and desirable attainment. Righteousness is rooted in a pure heart. And indeed it protects one from contamination and the filth of the world. Righteous love is the supreme motivation for constructive change. The examples of our Father in Heaven and the Savior and Their teachings are the perfect source of motivation and direction for life."

Richard G. Scott, "Making the Right Choices" (CES fireside for young adults, Jan. 13, 2002), 4


My word--if this isn't exactly what I've been needing to hear for months! I have a terrible time in not just being extremely hard on myself, but also in expecting too much from myself. And too much too soon. I believe in progression, but I forget "line upon line, precept upon precept" (Doc & Cov 98:12). This quote is so comforting and inspiring to me. It provides simple yet perfect and doable guidelines. I think in so many ways I try to do that, but I try to do too much at once and berate myself for not succeeding at the impossible task I set before myself. Which is why the most meaningful part of this quote to me--right now--is where Elder Scott counseled, "Trust in the Lord and what He can do with your dedicated heart and willing mind." If I offer the desire and determination, and go one step at a time, then I can trust in and know that the Lord will make of me what He would, not as I would.

Memorial Day 2009

[from my online journal today]:

In memory of the all the many heroes--particularly the fallen--who have helped us obtain and keep the freedoms we have, I am posting a few personally meaningful things on this Memorial Day 2009.

A wonderful, patriotism-stirring song I have always loved.

A song I love, but one I hadn't attributed to our military.

Deeper meanings in these 2 songs touched me more than ever before, and I had to include them.

(Lyrics to songs in previous video)

In Dreams

When the cold of Winter comes

Starless night will cover day

In the veiling of the sun

We will walk in bitter rain

But in dreams

(But in dreams)

I can hear your name

And in dreams

(And in dreams)

We will meet again

When the seas and mountains fall

And we come to end of days

In the dark I hear a call

Calling me there

I will go there

And back again

Prayer of the Children, arr. by Kurt Bestor

Can you hear the prayer of the children on bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room?

Empty eyes with no more tears to cry, turning heavenward toward the light.

Crying, “Jesus, help me to see the morning light.

But if I should die before I wake, I pray my soul to take.”

Can you feel the hearts of the children aching for home, for something of their very own?

Reaching hands with nothing to hold on to, but hope for a better day, a better day.

Crying, “Jesus help me to feel the love again.

But if unknown roads lead away from home, give me loving arms, away from harm.”

Can you hear the voice of the children softly pleading for silence in their shattered world?

Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate, blood of the innocent on their hands.

Crying, “Jesus, help me to feel the sun again upon my face.

For when darkness clears I know you're near, bringing peace again.”

Dali cuje te sve djecje molitve?

Can you hear the prayer of the children?

And yet even with the fights fought, and victories won, the biggest battle still rages on.

We cannot lose it. We must not lose it. Fervent prayer for the Savior's aid, and diligence in keeping His commandments, and we can win. Our country still has a chance at remaining free.

Who will help me?

I'd like that

"The family proclamation states that a husband and wife should be equal partners. I feel assured that every wife in the Church would welcome that opportunity and support it. Whether it occurs or not depends upon the husband. Many husbands practice equal partnership with their companion to the benefit of both and the blessing of their children. However, many do not. I encourage any man who is reluctant to develop an equal partnership with his wife to obey the counsel inspired by the Lord and do it. Equal partnership yields its greatest benefit when both husband and wife seek the will of the Lord in making important decisions for themselves and for their family."

Richard G. Scott, "Honor the Priesthood and Use It Well," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 45–46

I have received similar personal counsel myself. And I look forward to the opportunity to someday have a chance to work side by side  with my husband. Until that day, I know to look for and befriend the kind of young men who do treat me equally. I also must learn how to not be a dominating personality myself. To know how to compromise. To be understanding. More open-minded. To admit when I'm wrong. To not be afraid to change what needs changing. And learn to do and to be all those things that will help me be work with my husband in an equal relationship and partnership.

Be the Best You

[from my online journal today]:

I'd heard/read this once or twice before. But had forgotten about it until M. emailed the family with it a couple of days ago. I find enough humor in it that I felt to post it here for a humorous addition.

Dear Tech Support ,

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a
distinct slow down in overall system performance, particularly in the flower
and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as:
. Romance 9.5, and
. Personal Attention 6.5,
and then installed undesirable programs such as:

. NBA 5.0,
. NFL 3.0 and
. Golf Clubs 4.1.

Also Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2. 6 simply crashes
the system.

. Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems,
but to no avail.

What can I do?

Signed,
Desperate



DEAR DESPERATE,

First, keep in mind:
. Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while
. Husband 1.0 is an Operating System.

Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme.html, try to download Tears 6.2,
and do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update.

If that application works as designed , Husband 1.0 should then
automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to
default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1.

Please note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the
Snoring Loudly Beta.

Whatever you do, DO NOT under any circumstances install Mother-In-Law 1.0
(it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all
your system resources).

In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 program.
These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory
and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying
additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend
Cooking 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.

Good Luck!
Tech Support

It can also be seen as a humorous reminder of how we all can be better spouses. Or, in my single adult case, a better person. There are many wonderful talks from Church leaders that give counsel and advice to help us be better.

"To Love and Care for Each Other" By Karl R. White

“According to the Desire of [Our] Hearts” By Elder Neal A. Maxwell

"The Pitfalls of Parallel Marriage" By Charles B. Beckert

"Bringing Out the Best in Marriage" By Val R. Christensen

"Concern for the One" By Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

"Good, Better, Best" By Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"Clean Hands and a Pure Heart" By Elder David A. Bednar

"Living in the Fulness of Times" By President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Be Your Best Self" By President Thomas S. Monson (given this past Priesthood session, but still quite applicable to us all)

Isn't it a magnificent blessing to have a lifetime to spend in becoming Our Best Self?

Bear All Things Patiently

" 'Our challenges are just as important as those of the past. Our testing is as crucial; our contributions may be as great. . . .

" 'An essential quality of the first pioneers was optimism, an ability to see new possibilities in a strange and unsettling environment. To beautify the desert, they needed faith in God, but they also needed faith in themselves and in their ability to help shape the world. The need for that faith has not diminished. . . .

" 'A pioneer is not [necessarily] a woman who makes her own soap' or a man who grubs sagebrush from the land. Pioneers are those who take up their burdens and walk toward the future. With vision and with courage they make the desert blossom and they press on toward new frontiers. (Laurel Thatcher Ulrich)"

David B. Haight, "A Call to Serve," Ensign, Nov. 1988, 82–83

I added my own emphasis to this quote--things that speak to me, and that I need to remind myself of frequently. It brings peace, comfort, joy, assurance, confidence, inspiration, and determination. And I feel to simply add to it the following, a favorite scripture of mine:

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. -Doctrine & Covenants 123:17

Yes!

" 'My soul delighteth in the things of the Lord' (2 Nephi 4:16)—His law, His life, His love. To delight in Him is to acknowledge His hand in our lives. Our gospel duty is to do what is right and to love and delight in what is right. When we delight to serve Him, our Father in Heaven delights to bless us. 'I, the Lord, . . . delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end' (D&C 76:5). I want to be worthy always of His delight."

Susan W. Tanner, "My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord," Ensign, May 2008, 83

Absolutely--AMEN!