Life and Cooking

After tasting her friends fantastic lemon pie, a woman asked her friend for the recipe and the friend graciously gave it to her. But when the woman made the pie it tasted nothing like the delicious pie she had eaten at her friend’s house. “She must have left out some ingredients so I couldn’t duplicate her good cooking,” the woman thought. That thought troubled her so much that at last she confronted the friend with her accusation.

The friend denied leaving anything out and calmly went over the recipe. “It calls for real butter, did you use that?”

“No,” answered the woman. “I never use real butter, it’s too expensive. I used margarine.”

“And it calls for the juice of real lemons, did you use that?”

“No,” answered the woman. “Lemons go bad before I can get them used up so I always have bottled lemon juice on hand to use.”

“Well, that is the problem,” said the woman. “There’s nothing left out of the recipe, you just didn’t follow the recipe.”

There is a lesson in this story for all of us. We have been commanded to be obedient to the laws of God and in return God will bless us. But as we live our lives we often rationalize ourselves out of doing exactly what we have been told to do, and then we blame God for not blessing us. But God has said, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10). Exactness is an important part of cooking and an important part of living the gospel.

Dog Attack

You're probably wondering how a dog attach can be Good News! but hear me out.

Two weeks ago today D4 left her home in California at 5:30 am to do a 20 mile run as part of her training to run a marathon with Mr J and D5. She ran a mile and a half and then met up with a friend she runs with. They had only been running together a few blocks when they turned up a street and encountered another jogger on the ground screaming as three dogs attacked her. (Click here to see TV report of the incident.) In the distance were two gunmen and coming upon the scene in the dark D4 and her friend were at first unable to discern what was going on. Were the gunmen part of the attack or help?

Frightened and startled D4’s friend started to scream which caught the attention of the dogs. Diverted from the jogger they rushed at D4’s friend knocking her to the ground and biting her. D4 sensing that being on the ground made her friend more vulnerable rushed in to help her friend back to her feet. In the meantime, the women realized that the gunmen were attempting to shoot the dogs but they had mainly shot in the air attempting to scare away the dogs because of the difficulty in shooting with the women in the way. However, they did manage to kill one dog and wound another before they ran out of ammunition.

Police and ambulances finally came and the jogger and D4’s friend (who is pregnant) were all taken to the hospital. The jogger was in serious condition and the friend had stitches in seven different places and was then released later that day. An ultrasound indicates the baby is unharmed. D4 was unharmed by the dogs, but the trauma she suffered is a different story.

This morning as I talked with D4 I was amazed. It will take a long time before the memories dim, the fear of dogs begins to diminish (it will probably never go away completely), and life lets go of the feeling of terror it has taken on. However, her thoughts now have been filled with the blessings that are coming out of this experience. Yes, there is still trauma, but she is also experiencing an incredible peace and understanding that even in tragedy there can be great blessings.

The Healer

At first thoughts such things as, “Why did God let us go down that street?” and "Why did He let this happen?" assailed her. But then a peace came to her and she realized that if they had not turned down that street the jogger would have been killed. The gunmen were far back and out of ammunition. The shooting had not scared the dogs away. It was the screaming that turned the dogs from the jogger and even though the friend was hurt, it saved the jogger’s life.

That is only the beginning of realizations and spiritual experiences D4 has had as she has pondered this traumatic event. She is being reminded over and over that God does have a plan and that He loves all of his children and that He has the power not only to comfort and heal and help us even in our tragedies, but to make those very tragedies into wonderful blessings in our lives. When the Lord says, “And all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory” (D&C 98:3) He really means it.

Counting My Miracles

I’m counting miracles today, but not just any miracle. I'm counting my miracles. One of the unexpected benefits of Living in Truth is that you become much more aware of all the miracles that happen in your life. And over the last year I have had more than my share of miracles. It was a year ago that I finished my radiation treatments and was so weak I could barely function. Today I’ve walked three miles and am going about my chores with vim and vigor! It is a miracle and I am so grateful for it.

This has also made me think about all the other miracles that have happened in the last few months. Daily I get better and am blessed with so many wonderful things that make my life rich and wonderful! To top it off, the sun is shining brightly so that not only is my heart warm, but my whole being! There is so much good in life to celebrate!!!!!!!!!!!

So help me celebrate life! Everyone leave a comment with one miracle that is in your life this very day!

Filling our Lamps With Faith

Before he died King Benjamin called his people together to give them his last words of counsel and advice. One of the first things he taught is that when people obey the Lord, “he doth immediately bless you” (Mosiah 2:24). This is true.

Whenever we obey the Lord, we are immediately blessed, but because we don’t see or hear or feel the blessing “dropping down” upon us, we usually don’t recognize or even realize it is happening. Or at other times we obey because we want a specific blessing and when it doesn’t come we begin to doubt or fear. But that is because we don’t understand the blessing of obedience. Remember “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:20-21). So what is the blessing attached to the law of obedience? It is faith.

Every time we are obedient to a commandment of the Lord, we are immediately blessed with an increase in our faith. As Elder McConkie once said, “Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God's laws the greater will be the endowment of faith” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., p.264).

What this means is that every time you choose to obey the Lord you are gain a little more faith and in this way we progress through life growing “line upon line” and “precept upon precept.”  (D&C 98:12). Or, as I like to think of it, it is like the five wise virgins in the parable of the Ten Virgins who drop by drop added oil to their lamps so that when the Bridegroom called, they were ready.

Looking for the Words, the Power, and the Deeds

As Nephi concludes his account of his great vision, he explains that in the last days “if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks “ (1 Nephi 14:1). Sometimes I think we take for granted all that the Lord does for us. We consider it coincidence or don’t even stop to realize what blessings we have been given. Sometimes we need to be jolted into realizing what we have. To help me be more aware, I am going about my day looking for the words, the power, the deeds that the Lord is sending my way and especially I am watching for the ways that He is taking away my stumbling blocks. I am trying to be more alert and able to acknowledge His hand in my life. And I have been surprised. Just when I need it someone tells me the words I need to hear or does something for me just when I need a deed done. I’m getting better at remembering that the Lord often works through others and recognizing that He put those people and it is a manifestation of his power and love for me.

I think being aware and being more grateful are keys to receiving another blessing Nephi talks about a few verses later. In that verse Nephi says that he “beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14).

I want to be armed at all times with righteousness and the power of God. I think being more aware of the Lord working in my life will help me in that quest.

Blessings Are On Their Way!

In Alma 41:2 there is a phrase that keeps me going through dark days. In that verse Alma says, “It is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order.” The word requisite means necessary or essential and comes from the same Latin root as the word require. This means that according to the Plan of Salvation, it is necessary and essential that all things be restored to their proper order. So what is that proper order?

Throughout the scriptures we are told that God intends for us to be happy. He wants us to have joy. He wants us to have peace, love, comfort, and all that is good. Therefore, the “proper order” is the order in which all good prevails.

This means that whenever we are suffering for any reason, sickness, abuse or persecution from other people, financial difficulties, stress, or whatever our adversity, we can be assured that if we endure it well, at some point we are going to be restored to good. All we need is to do our best to endure the trial and the Lord will do the rest. He is required to do so! He will compensate us.

So instead of fretting over trials, we can experience them as times of wonder like a child waiting for Christmas. The wait is difficult, long and hard, but it is tempered by the excitement that something wonderful is on its way.

I'm So Lucky!!

I went to lunch with some friends today and somehow a rather sarcastic conversation started with everyone joining in on, “I’m so lucky because . . .” You know, “I’m so lucky I broke my leg because that’s how I met my husband.” Or “I’m so lucky I got in a car accident because I got a new car.” It almost became a game around the table, but it got me thinking that I’m going to make that my theme for the year.

“I’m so lucky I had to shave my head because now I get to see what I look like bald.”
“I’m so lucky my hair is ¾ inches long because soon it will cover my bald spot around my scar.”
“I’m so lucky I’m getting older because my friends took me to lunch!”
“I’m so lucky I’m out of work because now I can sleep in anytime I want.”
“I’m so lucky I had brain surgery because now I have something to blame all my forgetfulness on.”

All kidding aside, I have so many blessings and have received so many miracles recently that my “I’m so lucky” list is very long and not sarcastic at all. But even then (I’m ashamed to admit it), I sometimes start to think about the negative side of things. So turning everything into an “I’m so lucky” is going to be my goal this year because I really am lucky and I want to remember that!

Recompense

In the scriptures we find a verse explaining that at one point “the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man” (D&C 1:10). I read that for years and always interpreted it to mean that the Lord would come and dish out punishments to the wicked. Oh, how wrong I was!

One day the Lord will come, and one day those who have rebelled against Him will receive their just rewards, BUT so will all those who have obeyed. He will come with healing in his wings, and part of that healing will be compensation to the righteous who have desired and tried to help others, but have suffered. (Which includes us all! Part of life is suffering!)

But look at the word. There is something more there. Recompense means “to return in kind.” It comes from the Latin recompensare and means to compensate again. That insinuates that He has done it before. So when?

The answer to that is simple. Every day. If we just open our eyes and pay attention, we see that His blessings, and healing, and tender mercies aren’t something we have to wait for. Compensation is an ongoing process. It happens daily!

Surviving Days of Darkness

I can't get off the subject of adversity. Every time I’ve turned around this past few weeks I’ve encountered someone who is suffering great trials. My heart aches for them and so during my personal scripture study and my get-ready-for-class scripture study I’ve been looking for teachings about adversity and how to cope with it.

In my Book of Mormon class right now we are discussing the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites. Mormon tells us that the horrible three days of darkness, death, and destruction that signal the Savior’s crucifixion began on the fourth day of the first month of the year (3rd Nephi 8:5). Most of the time we read through these date verses fast and don’t pay much attention to the fact that at the end of chapter ten, Mormon tells us that he is now going to tell us the marvelous things that happened at the end of the 34th year. Then he describes the appearance of the Savior.

What this means is that from the time of the three days of darkness to the appearance of the Savior almost a year has gone by. The people endure what had to be a tremendously traumatic experience. They lost loved ones. They lost homes. They suffered broken bones, lacerations, burns, and all kinds of physical afflictions. They lost livestock and many other material goods so that at the end of the three days, they were confronted with the formidable task of rebuilding their cities and homes and healing themselves and their loved ones. When we stop to think about it, we realize that these people had every reason in the world to be bitter, depressed, and to just give up. Our expectations would be that their society would be overwhelmed with people suffering post-traumatic syndrome, depression, neurosis, or at the least hopelessness and self-pity.

But that’s not what we find. Instead Mormon tells us that at the end of the year the people were gathered at the temple and “were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place” (3 Nephi 11:1). "Great and marvelous" indicates that they had been busy rebuilding not wallowing in self pity! But more importantly, they aren’t gathered to complain or have a pity party about all the hard work and all they have endured or to gloat in their success. Instead they are “conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death” (3 Nephi 11:2). This is the clue that helps us understand their attitudes and what has gone on during this year. They have endured well because they have centered their lives and thoughts on Jesus Christ. Despite all the adversity (or maybe because of all the adversity!) they have grown stronger in their faith.

This leads me to ask the questions, “Did the great blessing of having the Savior physically appear to them occur because of the faithful and positive way they dealt with their adversity?”

A friend once said to me, “I’ve come to the point where I get excited when I experience adversity because I know that after the trial the Lord has a great blessing waiting for me.” Sometimes those trials last a lot longer than we want, but the blessings will come and as with the Nephites often those blessings are far beyond anything we ever expected.

picture: www.mormonwiki.com/Jesus_Christ

"Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

My favorite hymn is the classic “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Several versions exist, but all of them include the strange phrase “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” In the Mack Wilberg version that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings, the second verse begins like this;
“Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home."
Understanding Ebenezer deepened my love for this hymn. The story is found in the Old Testament and begins during one of the many times the Israelites forgot God. Going into battle against the Philistines, the Israelites suffered a terrible defeat, but rather than repent they sent men to fetch the Ark of the Covenant thinking that if they had the throne of God in their midst they would be invincible. Once the Ark was with them, the Israelites confidently marched into battle, but the Philistines slaughtered 30,000 Israelite soldiers, sent the rest running, and stole the sacred Ark.
Triumphantly the Philistines carried the Ark to Ashdod and placed it in the house of their pagan god, Dagon. The next morning the people of Ashdod awoke to find the image of Dagon fallen on its face. Undaunted they stood the image back up, only to return the following morning to find it not only fallen again, but the head and both the hands broken off so that only the stump of the god was left. This alone stabbed fear into the hearts of the Philistines, but in addition the Lord cursed the people with sore plagues. Understanding that the stolen Ark was the cause of their problems the city fathers moved the ark to Gath and the people of Gath suffered until they moved it to Ekron and the people of Ekron suffered until finally it was determined to give the Ark back to the Israelites.
Still it was many years before the Israelites heeded the voice of Samuel the prophet and repented. In that repentant state the soldiers of Israel fasted, asked Samuel to pray for them, and offered sacrificial offerings before once more going against the oppressive Philistines. This time they were victorious.
To celebrate the great victory God had given them, Samuel erected a stone in the land and called it Ebenezer which means “Stone of Help.” So when the song says, “Here I raise my Ebenezer” it means that I now raise my own monument in recognition of all God has done for me.
For us, that monument isn’t usually a stone or anything tangible. Instead it is something that shows our gratitude–singing of a hymn, offering a prayer, bearing a testimony, serving others, or humbly accepting God’s will. In short, raising our own Ebenezer is recognition that we are changing and growing because God is helping us to do so.