In D&C 132:12, the Lord tells us that "everything...that is not by me or by my word, saith the Lord, shall be thrown down." Just think. We work on things that we think are important, that we want to last, whether it be a house decoration to bring beauty, joy and peace to the home, a job that makes a difference in providing for our family or "makes a mark," or say things that we think are important and want people to listen to...not to mention the millions of other things we do that we tell ourselves are meaningful.
Just think...if we are doing it on our own, and not in His name, it won't last...it won't make a difference in the long run.
How awesome it is that we can seek to know His will concerning us, even in the seemingly little things of our day, and know that it matters...from exercise, to service, to the way we look at people around us. We can make a difference and be working with Him in His glory.
******
The end of the Doctrine and Covenants seems full of promises of things that truly last, and I thought about why that might be. Joseph Smith and the saints have been surrounded by the unpredictable, the terrible, the worldly as they are driven about, persecuted, starved, and uprooted time and again before the exodus to Salt Lake. How reassuring it must be to Joseph Smith, a man who has seen his children die, his friends betray him, the things he sets up (banks, temples, etc.) seemingly either come to naught or left behind to find out that, having lived his life in accordance with the will of God, he matters. What he does will last.
It particularly struck me the words of the Lord concerning marriage in the covenant of the Lord in section 131: "And in order to obtain the highest (degree of glory in the celestial kingdom), a man must enter into this...covenant of marriage; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it."
That's it. No equivocation. There is no other way.
It made me think, first, about how everyone will have that chance. He would never say that unless everyone would have the opportunity to enter into a meaningful covenant with someone, whether in this life or the next. Of course, if someone chooses not to, essentially turning away from His gift out of choice, that is their choice, and He will not force them.
However, it made me further think, why marriage? Why not baptism or something else? Then it struck me, it is through the bonds of marriage that we are able to enter in that wonder of creation with the Creator--bringing souls into existence. That is God's work and glory...it's what He does! Day in and day out (figuratively speaking in His timeless sense), He is involved only in this: to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of souls! To be properly sealed gives us the legitimacy to procreate, participating in a god's work and glory!
How do we regard this supernal gift? How is it portrayed in society...on the screens? He has given all His children the opportunity to show how they treat this final step, this essential characteristic of godhood, in this life,... and how do we treat it?
Worlds without number, children without end...
[Fortunately, I don't think I will need sleep at that point, so that will be nice :).]
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
October 23, a day of remembrance in Hungary
Ever since WWII had ended several years earlier, Hungary had felt the
weight of Soviet influence, with the "disappearance" of their educated
people and anyone else who said anything against communism, and the
introduction of a secret police force that made the people afraid to
vote and act for themselves.
Well, in October of 1956, young students, encouraged by the problems that had become evident with the few years of communism they had already experienced (the story of "Animal Farm" comes to mind), rose up with demands of independence. Among these demands were the ability to a secret ballot for voting, the removal of a huge statue of Stalin in their government square, the removal of the Soviet star on the Hungarian flag, and the removal of Soviet troops from Hungarian soil.
On the 23rd, the students brought these demands to Parliament in Budapest, where they were flatly refused. By now, the Hungarian people had rallied behind them, and rose up in protest. The students went to the Soviet-controlled radio station to broadcast their demands to the country and were taken prisoner. Rumors said that the students had been killed. Outraged, the Hungarian people brought down the huge statue of Stalin, and a battle between the secret police in the radio station and the Hungarian people began.
Barely armed Hungarians took on Soviet tanks, fired with passion for freedom.
And they won.
They drove out the Soviets and turned to the world, pleading with the United Nations to look at their situation and support them. The United States had challenged the Soviet-controlled countries to try and break away from the Soviet influence and the Hungarians had done just that!
For 12 days, the Hungarians waited for the world.
For 12 days, the Soviets watched the world for its reaction.
Other than a token: "We should do something for the Hungarians" in the United Nations, the world was silent. I am sure there were many, complicated reasons. The cold war was in full force with the introduction of atomic bombs that had just been used to end the Pacific front of the war. However, the result was heart-wrenching.
12 days later, Soviet tanks and troops rolled into Budapest, surrounding the city. In that same square where, 12 days earlier, the Hungarians had done the impossible and driven out the Soviet forces, the Soviets slaughtered Hungarian freedom fighters. In that same square you can still see today the bullet holes in the walls of the buildings where the Hungarian students fought to the end,...and were defeated.
The other Soviet-block countries learned "the lesson": don't resist Soviet take over. Czechoslovakian leaders cautioned their people to not fight back: "After all, look at what happened in Hungary."
It was not until 1989, 32 years later that Hungarians were able to once again throw off the shackles of Soviet oppression.
Let us never be silent again.
The following is actual footage of the events of that day.
http://archive.org/details/
Remember our freedom, how priceless and how precious it is...that it is worth dying for, and remember those who fought in vain, and gain courage from their determination to do so, in the face of such horrible odds.
Well, in October of 1956, young students, encouraged by the problems that had become evident with the few years of communism they had already experienced (the story of "Animal Farm" comes to mind), rose up with demands of independence. Among these demands were the ability to a secret ballot for voting, the removal of a huge statue of Stalin in their government square, the removal of the Soviet star on the Hungarian flag, and the removal of Soviet troops from Hungarian soil.
On the 23rd, the students brought these demands to Parliament in Budapest, where they were flatly refused. By now, the Hungarian people had rallied behind them, and rose up in protest. The students went to the Soviet-controlled radio station to broadcast their demands to the country and were taken prisoner. Rumors said that the students had been killed. Outraged, the Hungarian people brought down the huge statue of Stalin, and a battle between the secret police in the radio station and the Hungarian people began.
Barely armed Hungarians took on Soviet tanks, fired with passion for freedom.
And they won.
They drove out the Soviets and turned to the world, pleading with the United Nations to look at their situation and support them. The United States had challenged the Soviet-controlled countries to try and break away from the Soviet influence and the Hungarians had done just that!
For 12 days, the Hungarians waited for the world.
For 12 days, the Soviets watched the world for its reaction.
Other than a token: "We should do something for the Hungarians" in the United Nations, the world was silent. I am sure there were many, complicated reasons. The cold war was in full force with the introduction of atomic bombs that had just been used to end the Pacific front of the war. However, the result was heart-wrenching.
12 days later, Soviet tanks and troops rolled into Budapest, surrounding the city. In that same square where, 12 days earlier, the Hungarians had done the impossible and driven out the Soviet forces, the Soviets slaughtered Hungarian freedom fighters. In that same square you can still see today the bullet holes in the walls of the buildings where the Hungarian students fought to the end,...and were defeated.
The other Soviet-block countries learned "the lesson": don't resist Soviet take over. Czechoslovakian leaders cautioned their people to not fight back: "After all, look at what happened in Hungary."
It was not until 1989, 32 years later that Hungarians were able to once again throw off the shackles of Soviet oppression.
Let us never be silent again.
The following is actual footage of the events of that day.
http://archive.org/details/
Remember our freedom, how priceless and how precious it is...that it is worth dying for, and remember those who fought in vain, and gain courage from their determination to do so, in the face of such horrible odds.
Monday, October 22, 2012
"Love you forever"
One of the books I brought with us was "Love you Forever." As I snuggled with Pipalicious and Hava, with Avot lying on the bed in front of me, reading this book, I was touched once again by the simple and beautiful message of the book: the progression of time, the growth and departure of our children, and how priceless each stage is.
As I look to the birth of this new little one, I am moved with so many emotions at the thought of being able to share this journey with yet another of our Heavenly Father's precious children. I love the stages, with the cantankerous-ness of 11 year olds, fighting and clawing for their individuality, the spunkiness of two-year-olds and their quest to explore the world by touch, taste, smell, and the simple expediency of dumping out everything they can as fast as they can. There is so much to enjoy in each stage, and what an honor it is to be with our children as they move through them.
I guess to the key is to try and see where they are at and not where we "want them to be"...to see that when my 14 year old son is frustrated about a question in Seminary that he wants to answer his own way and is being marked "wrong," it is him trying to be his own person, define his own spirituality, find merit in his own opinion and experience...it is not anger at Seminary itself. I am grateful for the Spirit that can step in and help a tired and uncertain mother know what to do, to go over and rub his shoulders and quietly be there with him as he makes his own resolutions and finds his own solutions to the frustration before him. It is an honor to see the man growing there in that chair, a man that will be faced with so many other, far more serious dilemmas in life, and to see where a woman's role can be best felt in that man's life...in quiet support and understanding as he faces those fights that only he can fight.
I love my children, each and every one of them, as much as they drive me insane at times, and as much as I am enjoying these precious moments of quiet right now while they are all out hiking with Quinn in the nearby woods. :) I love them for their unique choices, their unique gifts, but it has taken a lot of humility, letting go, and trust to get to that point...and I still have so far to go! It is too easy to think that I always know what is best, because there are so many times that I have to make the call for what I feel is best to be done in a given moment (and far too often make a poor choice :)...).
The other message of the book that is so precious to me is the constancy of the mother's love, throughout the stages, the way she simply acknowledges her bond and love to her child through her song and comfort each evening. What a challenge parenting is! To love without expectation of love given in return.
Yet, I have yet to see an instance of that parental love, given freely, unconditionally, and consistently, that is not eventually returned to and treasured. I guess it is the "eventually" that is so hard to wait for at times, is it not?
As I look to the birth of this new little one, I am moved with so many emotions at the thought of being able to share this journey with yet another of our Heavenly Father's precious children. I love the stages, with the cantankerous-ness of 11 year olds, fighting and clawing for their individuality, the spunkiness of two-year-olds and their quest to explore the world by touch, taste, smell, and the simple expediency of dumping out everything they can as fast as they can. There is so much to enjoy in each stage, and what an honor it is to be with our children as they move through them.
I guess to the key is to try and see where they are at and not where we "want them to be"...to see that when my 14 year old son is frustrated about a question in Seminary that he wants to answer his own way and is being marked "wrong," it is him trying to be his own person, define his own spirituality, find merit in his own opinion and experience...it is not anger at Seminary itself. I am grateful for the Spirit that can step in and help a tired and uncertain mother know what to do, to go over and rub his shoulders and quietly be there with him as he makes his own resolutions and finds his own solutions to the frustration before him. It is an honor to see the man growing there in that chair, a man that will be faced with so many other, far more serious dilemmas in life, and to see where a woman's role can be best felt in that man's life...in quiet support and understanding as he faces those fights that only he can fight.
I love my children, each and every one of them, as much as they drive me insane at times, and as much as I am enjoying these precious moments of quiet right now while they are all out hiking with Quinn in the nearby woods. :) I love them for their unique choices, their unique gifts, but it has taken a lot of humility, letting go, and trust to get to that point...and I still have so far to go! It is too easy to think that I always know what is best, because there are so many times that I have to make the call for what I feel is best to be done in a given moment (and far too often make a poor choice :)...).
The other message of the book that is so precious to me is the constancy of the mother's love, throughout the stages, the way she simply acknowledges her bond and love to her child through her song and comfort each evening. What a challenge parenting is! To love without expectation of love given in return.
Yet, I have yet to see an instance of that parental love, given freely, unconditionally, and consistently, that is not eventually returned to and treasured. I guess it is the "eventually" that is so hard to wait for at times, is it not?
More...
I may have posted about this song before, but it is worth reposting.
https://www.lds.org/youth/music?lang=eng
...and scroll down for "More" by Kenneth Cope. It is an amazing song introduced to me by my dear friend RaNae. There is a part that goes something like, "I've stretched this far...you've raised the bar."
I feel like I have stretched so much in the last few years, pushing myself and trusting Him more than I ever have in my life, doing what He wants me to do.
And, now, it feels like there is more stretching to do :).
More...it all boils down to that word, and that song just captures what blessedness can come from doing it.
I sit through church, without saying a single word, listening for the scrap or two of Hungarian I understand, and wonder if this is what He wants for me. It would be easy enough to grab a translator and capture it all, but all who know me know that to hear and understand is not enough for me :). I crave interaction, so maybe this is the motivation I need to really learn this language.
More, hmmmm? I really appreciate Elder Eyring's talk from April of 2012, where he mentions "asking the Lord for trial to stretch him." I know better than that, after Isaak died without any "special request" for growing, but I do know I want to be doing His work and be worthy of His service--maybe this is the price that needs to be paid for me?
https://www.lds.org/youth/music?lang=eng
...and scroll down for "More" by Kenneth Cope. It is an amazing song introduced to me by my dear friend RaNae. There is a part that goes something like, "I've stretched this far...you've raised the bar."
I feel like I have stretched so much in the last few years, pushing myself and trusting Him more than I ever have in my life, doing what He wants me to do.
And, now, it feels like there is more stretching to do :).
More...it all boils down to that word, and that song just captures what blessedness can come from doing it.
I sit through church, without saying a single word, listening for the scrap or two of Hungarian I understand, and wonder if this is what He wants for me. It would be easy enough to grab a translator and capture it all, but all who know me know that to hear and understand is not enough for me :). I crave interaction, so maybe this is the motivation I need to really learn this language.
More, hmmmm? I really appreciate Elder Eyring's talk from April of 2012, where he mentions "asking the Lord for trial to stretch him." I know better than that, after Isaak died without any "special request" for growing, but I do know I want to be doing His work and be worthy of His service--maybe this is the price that needs to be paid for me?
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Through the weak things of the earth...
A couple days ago I came across this scripture, and it was so humbling:
&C 124: 1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, I am well pleased with your aoffering and acknowledgments, which you have made; for unto this end have I raised you up, that I might show forth my bwisdom through the cweak things of the earth.
It struck me powerfully...God didn't "raise the prophet Joseph Smith up" so that He could use Joseph's talents, dazzle everyone with his abilities, or to put him forward as an example of all that is perfect and wonderful. The Lord "raised him up" so that He could show forth His wisdom and His power to the earth...even calling attention to Joseph as a "weak thing."
It was very touching to me, who feels so weak and inadequate in this foreign land. I can talk to almost no one, help almost no one but my family through the ways I am used to, and even them I am more limited in what I can do. I feel very weak :).
However, this scripture brings me such joy and consolation. God will take this weak thing, this Mary, and hopefully use me so that He may show forth His power and His wisdom. It is not always our strengths that He uses, but sometimes those very weaknesses that are so obvious to us, so that He can do His wonders.
I am reminded of Enoch in the Book of Moses, whom people ridiculed for his slowness and stuttering of speech, who, through the power of God, did so many wonders. I am reminded of Moses, who relied upon Aaron as his mouthpiece, such were his feelings of inadequacy of his ability to speak...and he, through God's grace and power, led a people to freedom from hundreds of years of slavery in one of the most powerful societies in the ancient world.
How much He can do!
&C 124: 1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, I am well pleased with your aoffering and acknowledgments, which you have made; for unto this end have I raised you up, that I might show forth my bwisdom through the cweak things of the earth.
It struck me powerfully...God didn't "raise the prophet Joseph Smith up" so that He could use Joseph's talents, dazzle everyone with his abilities, or to put him forward as an example of all that is perfect and wonderful. The Lord "raised him up" so that He could show forth His wisdom and His power to the earth...even calling attention to Joseph as a "weak thing."
It was very touching to me, who feels so weak and inadequate in this foreign land. I can talk to almost no one, help almost no one but my family through the ways I am used to, and even them I am more limited in what I can do. I feel very weak :).
However, this scripture brings me such joy and consolation. God will take this weak thing, this Mary, and hopefully use me so that He may show forth His power and His wisdom. It is not always our strengths that He uses, but sometimes those very weaknesses that are so obvious to us, so that He can do His wonders.
I am reminded of Enoch in the Book of Moses, whom people ridiculed for his slowness and stuttering of speech, who, through the power of God, did so many wonders. I am reminded of Moses, who relied upon Aaron as his mouthpiece, such were his feelings of inadequacy of his ability to speak...and he, through God's grace and power, led a people to freedom from hundreds of years of slavery in one of the most powerful societies in the ancient world.
How much He can do!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Emotions and moving
I think I am at such a mixed state of emotions, that when people ask kindly "how are you?" I think a blank stare best fits how I feel :)...
Tired, emotionally imbalanced, at peace, nervous, uncertain, trusting, ready to cry, enjoying the moment, ready for the moment to pass so I can see what happens next, calculating, befuddled...
You name it: I am probably feeling or have felt it :).
Needless to say, sleep is sporadic, and, whenever I have a few minutes, I wander around, from suitcase to suitcase--rearranging and calculating--, room to room, aimlessly thinking I am doing something, but in reality not doing very much :).
This morning, driving away from dropping off dear Quinn at the airport, I started humming through hymns. One I had looked up the other day was "When Faith Endures" and my garbled memory of the first verse went through my mind:
"I will not doubt. I will not fear. God's love and strength are always near. His promised gift helps me to find an inner strength and peace of mind. I give my Father willingly, my trust, my prayers, humility. Something, Something, and love assures that fear departs when faith endures."
As if turning the pages in the hymn book it went to another hymn near that section, "Where Can I Turn For Peace", with the first part of the third verse standing out:
"He answers privately, reaches my reaching...
"In my Gethsemane, Savior and friend."
This is no where near a Gethsemane experience. In fact, I read over D&C 122 this morning and my many blessings were brought back to my mind. Really, after reading the Lord's tender answer to an anguished prophet separated from his family and people, my humble gratitude for how easy and wonderful my life is overwhelmed me. This section is worth reading again and again in its entirety :). Such a great reminder of all we have to be grateful for.
Tired, emotionally imbalanced, at peace, nervous, uncertain, trusting, ready to cry, enjoying the moment, ready for the moment to pass so I can see what happens next, calculating, befuddled...
You name it: I am probably feeling or have felt it :).
Needless to say, sleep is sporadic, and, whenever I have a few minutes, I wander around, from suitcase to suitcase--rearranging and calculating--, room to room, aimlessly thinking I am doing something, but in reality not doing very much :).
This morning, driving away from dropping off dear Quinn at the airport, I started humming through hymns. One I had looked up the other day was "When Faith Endures" and my garbled memory of the first verse went through my mind:
"I will not doubt. I will not fear. God's love and strength are always near. His promised gift helps me to find an inner strength and peace of mind. I give my Father willingly, my trust, my prayers, humility. Something, Something, and love assures that fear departs when faith endures."
As if turning the pages in the hymn book it went to another hymn near that section, "Where Can I Turn For Peace", with the first part of the third verse standing out:
"He answers privately, reaches my reaching...
"In my Gethsemane, Savior and friend."
This is no where near a Gethsemane experience. In fact, I read over D&C 122 this morning and my many blessings were brought back to my mind. Really, after reading the Lord's tender answer to an anguished prophet separated from his family and people, my humble gratitude for how easy and wonderful my life is overwhelmed me. This section is worth reading again and again in its entirety :). Such a great reminder of all we have to be grateful for.
1 The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy aname, and fools shall have thee in bderision, and hell shall rage against thee;
2 While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek acounsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand.
4 And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in ahonor; and but for a smallbmoment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce clion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.
5 If thou art called to pass through atribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in bperils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
6 If thou art aaccused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to bprison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like cwolves for the blood of the lamb;
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the apit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the bdeep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to chedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of dhell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give theeeexperience, and shall be for thy good.
9 Therefore, ahold on thy way, and the priesthood shall bremainwith thee; for their cbounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy ddaysare known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore,efear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever
Here's a great mormon message that goes right along with it...the Parable of the Current Bush: http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#the-will-of-god
Quinn gave me a wonderful blessing before he left, using that wonderful priesthood that he is worthy of, and, among other things...well, first and foremost actually,...gave me a blessing of peace. (Second in importance to that, in my mind, was that I would have a mind that was clear and active and that I would be able to keep track of all the kids :).)
It reminds me of the mormon message about a young man and a lightning strike while at football practice:
Like that young man, Quinn was ready and worthy to administer to me, using God's mighty power. The moment may not have seemed so powerful and dramatic, yet it was powerfully personal and poignant, and his worthiness made it possible. Tender mercy. I will miss him, but am excited for what he will be getting ready while he is away!
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