Gospel Message, Day 206

Family History, Part 4

I was re-reading my Patriarchal Blessing yesterday. The work of genealogy and family history is specifically asked of me in that blessing. I am counseled to not neglect it. It was a nice thing that by the time I received my blessing when I was 14, I had already developed a love for family history--because it gave me such joy and excitement to receive that guidance. I have struggled over the years to find the time to regular attend to it, but my love for it has never diminished. And over those same years, I have heard our leaders counsel ALL of us more and more that this is a responsibility we all must share. We all must do our part. I can testify that it is a difficult work to do alone. I get stumped with mysteries. I get confused only coming from my limited perspective. I forget some of the rules in relation to what work I can have done for certain ancestors. It helps to have others involved, for it gives more hands and minds working on it, as well as no longer feeling alone or lost or overwhelmed in such a huge, daunting, but needed and worthwhile work.

Gospel Message Day 205

Family History, Part 3

Family History and Temple Work go hand-in-hand. I've already blogged on the topic of temple ordinances. Those ordinances are saving ordinances. After we perform them for ourselves, we are to work to get them done for those who have died without a chance to have those ordinances. It may seem overwhelming where to start, but it makes perfect sense to start with out family. To seek out our predecessors, without whom we would not be. That while researching and learning about who we are and where we come from through our ancestors, we also help to save them along the way. Don't they deserve it? After all they did and endured in their lives that one day you would exist on this earth? And if you are on this earth and have the great blessing of the Gospel in your life, shouldn't you share that blessing with those who have gone before? The answer to that should be a very easy and resounding, "Yes!"

Gospel Message Day 204

Family History, Part 2

My first ventures into Family History--aside from being raised hearing the stories my parents shared--was because I was a voracious reader. We went regularly to the library, but too much time passed in between and I was left with nothing to read for days at a time. I started to read whatever I could find in the house. Most of the books were LDS fiction for teens, which my older siblings had or were reading at the time. But it wasn't enough.

Soon I came to my parents' books. Specifically, some ancestors' journals that my mother had. And like many books I found them fascinating, only these held something precious that the others did not--they were real. They were about real people who actually lived, who were telling about their own lives through their own words. I fell in love with those words, and those people. I wanted to know more. The Spirit of Elijah definitely woke in me as I read those journals. And I haven't stopped searching for those people since! (I just wish there were more primary sources from them so I could better know their personalities and experiences.)

Gospel Message Day 203

Family History

Time for a new topic, and it's one of my favorites! I love family history. I never run out of things to learn. There are always challenges to tackle. I learn more about who I am and where I come from. I get to dig into history (which I love). One thing I learned in my two Oral History courses is that every person has a story and every one is infinitely amazing. (Something the show Doctor Who tries to tell us over and over, which is why I love it so much.) So, aside from it being a commandment to seek out our ancestors, I sincerely love doing so because I love finding more people and learning their amazing stories.

Gospel Message Day 202

General Conference Insights, Part 9

So, I've mentioned on the blog before of my connection with Sister Burton because of her husband being my YSA Stake President. How much I love Sister Burton! And her talk this Conference was amazing. Hers was one of the talks that was an answer to my very specific prayer. She spoke of marriage and parenthood. In essence, she spoke of how righteous men are brilliant and amazing. She spoke of how wives should treat their husbands, but there was so much in the talk that applied to my situation. Especially these questions she posed to each of us:

1. 1. 
   When was the last time I sincerely praised my companion, either alone or in the presence of our children?
2. 2. 
   When was the last time I thanked, expressed love for, or earnestly pleaded in faith for him or her in prayer?
3. 3. 
   When was the last time I stopped myself from saying something I knew could be hurtful?
4. 4. 
   When was the last time I apologized and humbly asked for forgiveness—without adding the words “but if only you had” or “but if only you hadn’t”?
5. 5. 
   When was the last time I chose to be happy rather than demanding to be “right”?
6. These questions can apply to those of us in the single life. There are friends, family members, co-workers, people we serve at work, ward members, neighbors, and more with whom we interact. We can always thank someone. We can always pray for someone. We can always seek forgiveness when we've done wrong. We should frequently ask these questions of ourselves and the self-analysis that should inevitably follow will help us be happier and stronger in our relationship with others and with our Savior.

Gospel Message Day 201

General Conference Insights, Part 8

Elder Holland gave a beautiful Easter talk. He gave such a fabulous analogy about the two brothers rock climbing. And how one was left hanging and alone, yet he wasn't really alone. There were brotherly hands and strong arms to pull him through, as there always are for us. That analogy hit so close to home for me. Not that I've ever experienced rock climbing like that. But the lesson was so clear. And the love, care and concern are things I have always felt from my parents and siblings. I know what it is to have someone there to pull me through. I had that as a child. But I know how it is as an adult, even though I am alone. For I know the Savior has never left me hanging there, alone, with no hope of safety.

This quote was one of the gems I took from the talk:

So today we celebrate the gift of victory over every fall we have ever experienced, every sorrow we have ever known, every discouragement we have ever had, every fear we have ever faced—to say nothing of our resurrection from death and forgiveness for our sins. That victory is available to us because of events that transpired on a weekend precisely like this nearly two millennia ago in Jerusalem.

Gospel Message Day 200

General Conference Insights, Part 7

I love when the speakers in conference repeat their own words multiple times within their talks. It truly drives their message home. Elder Nelson did this a couple of years ago with his "Ask the Missionaries!" talk.

Elder Pearson did the same thing. He spoke on how Lehi's dream shows us how to Endure to the End. His list (I love when they give lists!):
1. Don't forget to pray
2. Come unto christ and be perfected in Him
3. Press forward with faith
4. Book of Mormon is key to spiritual survival
5. Don't be distracted and deceived
6. Stay by the tree.

With the Book of Mormon he told us to search. "Every Day! Every Day! Every Day!" I love that. He repeated it twice. Would make a great cross-stitch to put on the wall. :-)

I also love that he said there is no room for average or complacent disciples. We must be active. To be about and doing. No one is saved by just sitting there. Just sitting there leads to you wasting away. Even if you have no control over your situation, you can still have control how you act and what you do in that situation. So we may be in situations in life that aren't fabulous. Stuck in a place that is upsetting. In a job that is difficult. In a marital status that is not one's first choice. But I still have control over how I live the Gospel, and how I endure to the end.