Friday, March 1, 2024

The Son rises

 I used to think that one factor-- the main factor-- facing Eve (garden of Eden), Nephi (Laban), Joseph Smith (116 pages) and Mary mother of our Savior (immaculate conception) was the idea of shame in being seen as doing the wrong thing when you know in your core that you are doing what God wants you to do. 


I wonder if the challenge for them in facing their decision was also (and moreso?) the pain they feared to cause the ones they loved... the ones who might not understand what they did and that it was indeed God who had told them to do it. 

But as gods and goddesses ourselves, will not often the higher right be the one that is least understood and seems to cause unnecessary pain?

The whole plan of salvation seems to pivot on the allowance and even embracing of the potential pain that comes with, right choices,  growth and learning. (Bury our weapons of war or take them up in our defense?) 
Yet we often seek that less painful path as a default, facing that conundrum of "men are that they might have joy."
I guess joy doesn't always mean an absence of pain. 

***



Regardless, we will never go out of existence. 
The sun always rises after the pain. 
We can only feel it, though, if we turn our faces to the Son. 
God is good. 
His ways are higher than our ways. 

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Seek to be Meek ;)

 I have recently really been struggling to have faith and hope despite all the crazy awesome blessings I have and it was frustrating!  Then I ran across a scripture in Moroni and I have become a little obsessed with meekness, lol.  God tells us there that we cannot have faith and hope without meekness.  Weird.  So I can't have faith and hope unless I'm meek?  Wait!  So did that mean I was being prideful and that was why I didn't have faith or hope?  I don't believe this is always the root of sadness, for sure! But it sure has been something of an immediate cause of effect in my life.

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Submissive Leadership

 Quick thoughts on my scripture reading this morning: 3 Nephi 8-the Lord has control over the very elements but exercises that power very carefully.  That reminds me and actually connects two other things I read about this morning!!!

1 Peter 5: 2 aFeed the bflock of God which is among you, taking the coversight thereof, not by constraint, but dwillingly; not for efilthy flucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being alords over God’s heritage, but being bensamples to the flock.

4 And when the chief aShepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a bcrown of cglory that fadeth not away.

5 Likewise, ye younger, asubmit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with bhumility: for God cresisteth the dproud, and giveth grace to the ehumble.

6 aHumble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8 Be asober, be bvigilant; because your adversary the cdevil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

I need to be humble and submissive to those around me and in my stewardship or the devil will rend me as a lion.  We need to exercise the power and authority we carry in any capacity carefully, especially the power that God lends us to fulfill our stewardships….which reminds me of a cool quote from something I read earlier this morning from a talk called “Divine Parenting” from the last conference:: 

"God will do everything He can, short of violating your agency, to help you not miss out on the greatest blessings in all eternity."  (President Nelson) 

This is an interesting model to follow as a parent and as a missionary leader!  That line between respect of agency and stewardship is hard to find sometimes!   This also led me to this other great quote (from another great talk from President Nelson "Salvation and Exaltation" 4/08):  

Do not try to control your children. Instead, listen to them, help them to learn the gospel, inspire them, and lead them toward eternal life. You are God’s agents in the care of children He has entrusted to you. Let His divine influence remain in your hearts as you teach and persuade.  

I feel like these all tied together well to remind me of the key underlying principle of an awareness of where my stewardship over those under my stewardship begins and ends….and to “learn from the best,” as it were. (Per 1 Peter 2)

Too often we enter into these kind of relationships with our egos leading out: thinking of all we have to offer or feeling a weight of guidance and direction–which can be real! But I know that I am inclined to take on too much and step in too often and too quickly…and too assertively or aggressively.  This is normally born out of fear and ignorance and a lack of faith in the individual.

I would love to hear how anyone who reads this has benefited from leadership that allows them to grow and develop in this way! I know that my heart warms just trying to think of people that have blessed me this way <3.

Monday, November 13, 2023

My morning pep talk from God

 I am facing another week of hours of dress rehearsals with two performances at the end. It is a little stomach-clenching because I don’t just find the best of the best and find a way for them to shine. I take those who have seldom if ever acted and thrust upon them great roles and seek to help them discover the capacity within each of them. It is nerve-wracking but has thus far produced 100% incredible results.