Sabbath Scripture- I Will Be Glad!

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart;

I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee:

I will sing praise to thy name,

O thou most HIgh.

(Psalm 9:1-2)

What a World!

http://lynxdesign.deviantart.com/art/Beautiful-World-04-64180950

There is sunshine in my heart today and miracle of miracles there is sunshine in my yard today! Here in Utah we’ve had a long spell of cloudy, rainy days. I read a meteorologist report yesterday that said we’ve had more rain the last three months than has ever been reported for those months. Snow still caps the mountains and people are holding their breath hoping that it melts slowly or there will be major flooding problems. But I’ve never seen Utah this green. It is beautiful. Every shade of green you can imagine radiates richness from the mountainside, along the roadsides, and in the nearby yards.


There is so much beauty right now that it is impossible to walk outside and not be grateful for this amazing world.

Where ever you are, take a moment to enjoy the beauty around you. Soak in the blue of the sky. Breathe in the spring air. Enjoy the dancing of the leaves on the tree and the gentle breeze that kisses your cheek. God has given us a great gift—this world. Take time to enjoy it!

Growing Faith

The prophet Alma taught the people that if they planted the word of God in their hearts it would grow into faith. He explained that if they would simply listen to the word with open hearts and then ponder and act upon the words they heard, the words would grow into faith that would direct their lives. He also instructed them how to recognize that faith was growing within them. He said they would feel it swell within them and that it would enlarge their souls and enlighten their understanding. Finally he said it would be “delicious” to them. (See Alma 32:28.) In other words, they would be able to feel the goodness of it.

I'm sure you've felt this. The word of God does grow goodness within us that is felt and savored. But it is important that we realize that any idea we plant in our minds and hearts will grow and that not all ideas grow goodness. 

Many of the ideas purported in the world today grow into feelings that discourage, darken, and leave a foul “taste” in the soul. These seeds are weeds and need to be plucked out and thrown away as soon as we recognize they are beginning to take root within us. Like any weed, if allowed to grow they crowd out all the good plants and overtake the garden.

Therefore, it is important that we occasionally tend to the garden of our minds in order to care for the good seeds and rid ourselves of the bad. In this way we assure that the good words of God will grow a healthy and strong faith within us.

Following Jesus

Several times Jesus Christ asks us to do the same things he has done. It is easy to see how you and I can comfort, teach, forgive, nurture, and encourage as He did, but one of the main things He did is heal. My first thought was that I couldn’t do that, but then as I pondered about it more I realized that there are many ways that I can reach out to others and heal. I know that often others have “healed” me.

The word heal means “to make sound or whole.” While it is true that I cannot give someone who is blind sight and make them whole in that way, I can guide them or do things for them that heal them from some of the problems caused by their blindness so that they can function in a sound way. I can’t raise the dead, but I can serve and comfort those who have lost a loved one and help heal their sorrow. 

There are a lot of physical things I can’t heal, but I can love, support, encourage and serve those who do have physical ailments so that they are healed from the emotional burdens that accompany their ailments and I can help make their physical burdens lighter. 

While it is true that I can’t follow the Savior and do what He did exactly, I can do what He did in my own ways and according to my capacities. And I think that’s all He asks of us. If we do all we can in whatever way we can we are doing what He did.

Word Power

The more I study words the more amazed I am at the power they have. You can discover this yourself. Close your eyes so nothing distracts you and repeat out loud about ten times the word ugly. Afterward, examine the feelings that have come over you as you did this.  Then close your eyes again and repeat out loud about ten times the word beautiful and then identify the feelings that have come over you.

If you are like me the difference was striking and surprising. You weren’t thinking about anything ugly or beautiful only saying the word and yet the words created feelings. In addition, these are simple words that we use every day.  Words stir emotions and feelings within us when we simply say them and those feelings can change the way we interact with the people around us.

Watch the words you use today and discover whether you use positive words that build and encourage or negative words that dissipate and discourage.

The words you choose to say and think have power.

We're Growing!

One of the great themes of the Book of Mormon is that spiritual growth is a process. No one expects a three day old baby to run, but for some reason we often expect ourselves and others to run spiritually when we are spiritual infants. But God understands that spiritual growth is as real as physical growth—that’s why He provided a Savior for us. He knew we would need help.

One of the many places this is taught is in 3^rd Nephi 18. In that chapter the Savior teaches the people that they should never keep anyone away from the Church. He says in verse twenty-two, “Suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not.”

Then He speaks to the people and explains that they know what they should do and so they should do it. “Ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me” (18:25). So those who have progressed to the point that they know the commandments know what they should do.

But then in verse twenty-seven the Savior speaks of himself and says, “I say unto you, I give unto you another commandment, and then I must go unto my Father.”

Here we see the process. We begin by knowing we may come to Christ. Then as we turn to Him we learn what we should do, but as we grow we come to the point that our hearts are changed so that we must do what we are commanded to do not because anyone is forcing us because it is what we want to do.

Spiritual growth is a process and if we are persistent and patient we will grow. So don't fret over the fact you aren't a giant oak yet. Fretting takes away some of the energy needed to become a giant oak.

Truth Tool to the Rescue

I’ve been using the Truth Tools a lot this weekend and am here to tell you they really work. Last Friday I had a biopsy done on skin in the corner of my left eye. They are testing for skin cancer. It isn’t a big wound. As a matter of fact it is only two very small stitches, but there is a little bruising so that I have a bit of a black eye. Nothing big, but the problem is I can’t wear any makeup for a week.

Without mascara my eyelashes are absolutely invisible and I look terrible. Without makeup I feel naked and so my natural inclination is to lock myself in the house and wait until the week is up. But I can’t do that. I have responsibilities at Church and classes to teach during the week. So I marched out into the world yesterday. Some people stared. Most didn’t. But instead of being my friendly, outgoing self who smiles and greets others, I found myself retreating inside myself. That’s when I pulled out my Tool Box.

As the feelings started vexing me with thoughts of how ugly I was and that I shouldn’t be in public looking like this, I questioned, “Is that true?” and it brought me back to the truth quickly. I’ve got a small bruise on my eye. No that isn’t ugly. If I encountered something like that in another person, I wouldn’t think anything about it—especially I wouldn’t think they were ugly. I might wonder what happened to them and have a little empathy about how whatever happened might have hurt them, but that’s about all I’d think. So why when it is me, do I think it’s so absolutely horrible?

After all those thoughts I’d be all right for a while until I’d see someone staring at me (usually children who are just curious!) and then I’d grab the Questioning Tool and go to work again. It did work. I conquered the vexation and made it through the day just fine.

Now I just have to make it through a week of standing up in front of classes teaching with no makeup on. But I’ve got a tool Box full of amazing Truth Tools. I’ll make it!

Make your Memorial Day memorable!