Greetings Folks!
Long time no see? Sorry about that. I got distracted by Thanksgiving and life. Anyways, we will start off, as always, with our little Five List of Gratitude:
1. Cell Phone
(I am grateful that I can access the scriptures and the Proclamation of the Family on my phone and that I can enlarge the text so that it is easily readable for me).
2. Mini-Heater
(I am glad for my tiny space heater, the warmth it provides to my little bedroom. I know, I have said this before, but it is still true, especially on these cold winter days).
3. Rain
(I am grateful that the unceasing rain we have had has been rain and not snow. Rain will typically not prevent me from getting to a Gathering, and I fear snow will be a barrier to that, because of where I live, so far out from the meeting place).
4. Google Docs!
(I am grateful that I can write with Aimee in 'real time' and that we can apply and strengthen our craft on an almost daily basis!)
5. Nilla Wafers and Good Music
(I am glad to be able to indulge my tastebuds with a treat I recall fondly from childhood and I am happy for the opportunity to listen to lively and fun music, with my husband, as we travel home from the Gathering each Thursday).
Moving on to the events of the last few days, I got to attend the Gathering this past Thursday ... and boy did I miss those people! Not having a class to attend in person last week was very sad. I asked my husband to read the scriptures with me for the Directed Study assignment last week because the thought of doing it alone was hard to wrap my mind around. I, at least, wanted someone to bounce my ideas and answers off of. This week, the tone of the class was more somber because at least ten of the members were missing. We had a couple from Akron join us but we were down by almost half our numbers. Because of this, the laughter of previous classes was significantly lessened and the tone was more calm than jovial. (I prefer jovial but I can recognize the importance of both types of environments).
This week, we were taught by Katie (again!). Apparently, she was an emergency fill-in for whomever was supposed to teach but she only got the call on Sunday (and then prepared the lesson for the Life Skills class, only to learn that she was being asked to teach the Religion class ... I felt bad for her frustration because I know what it is like to pour hours upon hours of your effort into something, only to not have it be utilized, in the end). Anyway, she did an amazing job with teaching and leading us and she used a lot of print-outs, which I, with my vision issues, truly appreciated.
First, we talked about the previous lesson, from Thanksgiving week. We talked about the conversion of Alma, how he was Abinadai's only convert and that may have lead the man to believe his preaching was a failure, but that Alma was on fire with his own testimony and he went and established the church and taught and converted a great many of the people. Like a stone thrown into a pond, that one stone of Abinadai changed Alma's life and Alma then shared his testimony and the ripples extended outwards into numerous far reaching ways. Brother Graham brought up the talk by Dallin H. Oaks where it talked about having a change of heart and overcoming the desire to sin. Then we moved on to the introduction of the study skill . We have gone through all of the study skills, so this week we
did a review of the study skill of Principles and Doctrine. Sister Swank
handed out a printout that detailed the definition of Principles,
indicating they are concentrated truths, packaged for application to a
variety of circumstances. They are portable, unchanging truths, eternal
laws, and fundamental beliefs. To illustrate the concept, we were broken
into groups. My group was given Option 1, which consisted of three sets
of scripture verses (Mosiah 27:22-23, Alma 5:46, D&C 121:36-37). We
read them as a group and wrote down the principles we found there.
These three scriptures deal with fasting and prayer and the fact that
the Lord answers the prayers of the righteous. (Mosiah was about the
priests assembling together and fasting for Alma the Younger, Alma was
about the Holy Spirit confirming gospel truths, and D&C focused on
the importance of the Priesthood and how one needs to stay righteous to
remain worthy of it and keep their connection to the powers of Heaven).
We finished the following statements: Thus We See: the importance of
faith, prayers, and fasting, in righteously using the Priesthood, to
gain answers to our prayers. Eternal Truth: of fasting and prayer, that
they are powerful and that the Lord uses the Holy Ghost to testify of
the truth to us. I Can Learn and Apply This To Myself: by fasting and
praying for answers to important questions, respecting the Priesthood
and helping my husband stay a worthy Priesthood holder, and being worthy
to have the Holy Ghost with me and let the Holy Ghost teach and confirm
gospel truths to me. The Moral Is: to be righteous and worthy of the
blessings of the Priesthood and to fast and pray for what we stand in
need of. Also, that we need to be worthy of the Holy Ghost, living lives
that let the Holy Ghost dwell with us and guide us. So What: we learn
from these verses is that fasting augments prayer and the Lord answers
righteous desires. We also learn that we need to be worthy of the
Priesthood and of having the presence of the Holy Ghost to bring about
those answers.
For the Directed Study, we were broken into groups, again, and my
group was given Option 1: Mosiah 28:1-9. We read about the Sons of
Mosiah and how they wished to teach the gospel to the Lamanites. We
learned that their father tried to dissuade them from going and that he
feared for them to go among their enemies. However, the Lord assured
Mosiah that his sons would be alright, that their desires were
righteous, and they would convert many people and bring them to the
truth. We answered three questions as a group. First, the reasons why
the sons of Mosiah and their companions wanted to preach the gospel to
the Lamanites were several. They wanted to cure them of their hatred and
stop the fighting among their two peoples. They wanted them to come to a
knowledge of the Lord and to rejoice in Him and all He had done for
them, to correct the things that the Lamanites were falsely taught by
their fathers. They wanted to establish friendship and banish
contention. The most important reason was that the sons of Mosiah could
not bear that ANY human soul should perish. (That is an amazingly strong
statement!) The second question dealt with the contrast between the
Sons of Mosiah and their mission and the missionaries that we know
today. The Sons of Mosiah wanted to go on their missions, they chose to
go; whereas, it is more of a requirement and an expectations for young
Mormon men to serve missions. They had no social pressure asking them to
go, it was a true and pure desire of their heart. Unlike modern
missionaries, the Sons of Mosiah got to choose where they were going on
their mission, they were not assigned a location. The upside, is that
today, our missionaries are less likely to face death threats and
torture; whereas the Sons of Mosiah were going into extremely hostile
territory. (We do our best to keep our missionaries out of harms way or
keep them from serving in areas that are deemed as life threatening). I
would say that, overall, the Sons of Mosiah were more dedicated than
modern missionaries because they had this pure desire that no soul
should be lost and, while I think some missionaries gain that insight on
their mission, not all of them do. I think the hearts of Mosiah's
children were in the right place and they set out with a deep rooted
intent to look to the welfare of their enemies and bring them to the
truth of the gospel (which they had forgotten). And they were in the
best position to see that contrast, as they themselves had sinned and
led many people astray, and had also found the light and turned their
lives around by giving them over to God and by utilizing the cleansing
power of the Atonement. The third question pertained to the promises the
Lord gave to Mosiah regarding his sons. He promised that many would
believe on their words and be converted to the truth and he promised
that they would be delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites. As he
was a loving father, I am sure that promise meant a lot and did a lot to
console Mosiah's worried heart.
One of my favorite things that was said was that 'we need to pray for the gifts that we want' ... As we talked a great deal about the power of prayer and fasting, this idea of praying for spiritual gifts was a good one. I know we pray for Heavenly Father to help us change but praying for specific spiritual gifts is a concept I would like to try out. (Previously, I may have thought it pretentious but I'm not of that opinion any longer). This truly was an amazing Gathering and I look forward to the next few weeks (and I will miss everyone immensely over the holidays!)
Friday, December 4, 2015
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Attitude of Grattitude and Putting It Together ... (Together Again ... Ladada Dada Together Again!)
Greetings Folks!
It has been a crazy past few weeks. There have been
decisions about work and play and all the fun things in between! Without
further ado, the gratitude list:
1. Chicken Broth
(I know it sounds gross, but you pour it in a mug, heat it
up, and drink it straight. Does wonders for soothing the throat and draining
the lymph nodes. Don't know Grandma's advice, she knew what she was talking
about!)
2. Tiny Space Heater
(My room is the coldest room in the house. I think there are
air leaks in the windows, as tested by a match/candle flame. The cold air finds
its way inside and I end up freezing so I am very grateful for my tiny little
sunbeam space heater that makes my room nice and toasty! It makes me feel like
a lizard, sunning myself on a rock, all my limbs feel warm and cozy, and I am
so grateful for modern technology!)
3. Free Software
(For the bulk of the semester, I have been juggling two
laptops. My laptop had an expired word program on it and the update Pathway
originally had me download was not one my system could handle. This comp is
five years old, it's not great with new code. Much to my relief, I discovered
there was a version of Office that was offered through the online store, as a
student software selection, that was free! The 2010 version of Office runs
nicely on my dinosaur computer and may mean that I don't have to pony up
several hundred dollars to get a new(er) laptop.)
4. Human Kindness
(Chores and things were allowed to slide today in favor of
much needed rest and regular doses of tylenol and an antibiotic for my ear.
Help was given without being asked and I really appreciate that my health was
placed above the weekly list of 'to-do' items.)
5. The Grace of God
(I had to have an eye exam to renew my license this year. I
was very much afraid that the exam would turn out badly and I would be told I
no longer meet the vision requirements for driving in this state. Two things
happened: One, I put up a note on Facebook asking for some prayers, good vibes,
and well wishes from my friends. They all vary in faith and creed and I think
any positivity sent my way is very much welcome, regardless of denomination or
belief system. In the matter of a few hours, more than 30 people had responded,
most of them with comments. I cannot explain how grateful I felt for those kind
words, and that these people took time out of their day to offer prayers on my
behalf, or send me kind words and well wishes. (Being bullied as a child makes
you have a very disproportionate view of yourself, to say the least. I often
feel like I matter very little to people ... and this experience slaps that
thought upside the head and tosses it out the window!) Two, I had the exam and
while the results were not optimal, they were decent. I am no longer allowed to
drive at night, as I do not meet the restrictions for such a qualification.
While not overjoyed with that, it is still a better outcome than I had feared
at the start. I'll take what AI can get, and be happy and grateful and thank
the Lord for putting all of these amazing people in my path and in my life!)
Moving on to the Gathering ... This week was far more
subdued than last. Last Thursday was very jovial and filled with laughter and
fun. This week was more centered and filled with insights and a quiet sort of
love. Several people were unable to attend and they were greatly missed (and
not just the class clowns!) As the class began, I offered the opening prayer,
asking for Heavenly Father to let us have the Spirit with us as we learned, to
guide the lead student teacher, and to bless those that were, for whatever
reason, unable to attend. Sitting down, I opened my notebook and was thrilled
to learn that our professor of the evening had brought cupcakes! (Sugar is
always welcome! Especially on rainy days where everyone is sluggish and feeling
sleepy!) We started the lesson by reviewing the study skill from last week:
cause and effect. What was interesting was that the lead student pointed out
something she had noticed that she hadn’t picked up on before. When Enos went
into the woods to hunt and ended up praying for the welfare of his soul, he had
a lot on his mind. His father was about to die and he would be given the
leadership over the kingdom. He was going to be entrusted with the plates and
record keeping. He was responsible to preach to the population. That is one
tall order! So it was natural that he’d be questioning himself and his standing
before God. So, the cause and effect, in that instance, was the things going on
in Enos’ life that he had very little control over and how those things led him
to kneel in prayer and seek out the Lord.
We then moved on and learned about the study skill of
substitution. This skill involves the insertion of names into a scripture
passage (either your own name, if you are likening the scripture to yourself,
or the names of the subjects to whom the sentence is referring). It can also
involve substituting the definition of a word that you are unfamiliar with. As
the use of the chalk board presents some difficulty for some students, the lead
student simply had us read the supplied paper, containing the in depth
definition of the word and presenting some examples of how the skill can be
applied. We focused on the example of D&C 121:43, where it mentions
"reproving betimes with sharpness" and we dissected and replaced the
words. The surmised definition of the text is along the lines of reprimanding
with boldness but that is not the actual definition of words used in this
scripture. When you break the words down, the sentence turns into "correct
in a humble manner, early on, with clearness or offering clarity" and that
completely changes the way you look at the scripture itself.
As we spent a great deal of time on the class activity
(which the lead student pulled from the student manual), we did not have much
time to spend on the Directed Study. However, I will share them both here. We
paired off into partners, each set of people being given two slips of paper
which contained a set of scripture verses and some follow up questions. I was
working with Karen, and we tackled Enos 1:9-12. We were asked about what Enos
did after he'd obtained forgiveness for himself and the answer to that was that
he then sought to gain that same forgiveness from the Lord for, first, his
family and loved ones (the Nephites), and, then, his enemies (the Lamanites).
He thought of other people because that is a natural outgrowth of having
applied the atonement and the gospel into your life. When you accept and live
the gospel, you are highly motivated to share it with those around you, to aid
them in improving their own lives, in the same manner yours has been improved
upon. We discussed that Enos' pattern of action was good because it set an
example for the rest of us, of the steps we should follow in our own lives.
That we should apply the atonement to ourselves, and then reach out to our
family and the world, as well as gain a thorough understanding of the gospel to
be able to accurately share it. The second scripture we tackled was Mosiah
2:9-18. We were asked why King Benjamin served the people and we concluded that
he did so for a number of reasons: First, he did not seek to gain riches, nor
to oppress the people with taxes and burdens. Second, he wanted them to learn
wisdom and to teach them, so that he could meet God with a clear conscience.
Third, he had a desire to serve his fellow man and to serve God with all of his
might, mind, and strength. We discussed that when you perform acts of service,
you are acting as instruments in the Lord's hands, by serving His children, in
a manner that He would serve them, were He physically here to do so. After this, we went around the room and
everyone shared the scripture passages and the answers to their respective
questions.
For the Directed Study, we did Option 3, as a class (because
we basically had literally about four minutes in which to accomplish it!) We
answered the question of why prayer was necessary to enjoy the blessings of the
atonement. Prayer is important because it creates and enhances your connection
with Heavenly Father. It puts you in a state of mind to be open to personal
revelation and to be motivated to make those changes in your life that will
more fully align yourself with Christ. The other questions related to how the
people of Zarahemla suffered by not having any records. They literally 'dwelt
in unbelief' and had no rules to which they could be held accountable. By
having no records, they had no source from which to build their testimonies.
When they were joined by Mosiah, he brought with him the records of his people,
the testimonies of the prophets of his time, and the guidelines and
commandments that the people needed to learn and live by. He blessed the people
of Zarahemla with new information and new (to them) knowledge, which shed light
on their lives, and gave them a way to measure how they were living, what
precepts they needed to alter in order to be better disciples. We talked about
journal entries and how they can be a blessing to our future generations (as
those of our grandparents are to us) and how, by writing of trials and
testimony building experiences, we show our future children the path that they
should follow, the source they should look to for guidance and divine aid. We
also discussed how prayer is a cycle, that morning prayer leads to preparation
for the day ahead and evening prayer leads to gratitude for the day's events
and blessings and preparation for the following day. (This was also discussed
in one of the Digging Deeper talks). The last thing we talked about was how the
foreknowledge of God was demonstrated in our own lives. I know, I have seen it
in my life, during certain events. The largest example I have of this is my
husband. When I was in college and broke up with my boyfriend, I got a blessing
that said my decision would lead to "more happiness than [I can] ever
dream". A few years later, I ended another relationship and was told in
another blessing that the Lord was preparing someone specifically for me. Two
years after that, I met the man I married and found out something else: when he
was set apart for his mission, Steve was told that his decision to serve the
Lord would bless his future spouse, and her family - not his own family - but
hers. The same month he left on his mission, my parents’ house sold, we moved
into a new home, with a brand new ward, who embraced us and treated us with
immeasurable kindness. Were it not for the love we found in our new ward, we
may, my Mom and I, have struggled to remain members of the church. (Our
previous ward ... was filled with a lot of busy people ... we were not
fellowshipped and the adjustments of a new religion, new schedule of meetings,
and few friends, was a seriously hard transition for us to make). So, the Lord
was mindful, of a fourteen year old girl, and the boy who would grow into the
man she would marry. He was mindful of her family and the love they needed in
order to grow and thrive, and He sent them where they needed to be to grow and
thrive and flourish. I am grateful that He knows all and that He guides us if
we will but stop and listen.
That’s about all I have time for today! I hope you enjoy my
adventures and I encourage you to look up the website: www.pathway.lds.org and consider seeking
out some adventures of your own!
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Attitude of Gratitude & Putting It Together
Greetings Folks!
It's that time again ... No, you can go get a cookie after you read ...
Attitude of Gratitude
1. Technology
(Recently my husband's phone decided to die. It refused to hold a charge and we were looking at a seriously hefty charge in order to replace the gadget. A tiny miracle occurred, he took it into Verizon and the girl there was able to plug it into her charger and give it a boost. Previously we'd tired all of our charges with zero luck. But hers was a mega charger or something and it restored the power. Now all I have to do is switch the plan and put his phone back on it, as we resorted to the old, tired, back-up phone).
2. Pathway
(I love my classes and I love that I'm making friends at the Gathering. It is rather amazing to think that just two months ago, these people were complete strangers to me. Now, I really care about them. I'm emotionally invested, and I continue to pray for their welfare).
3. My VT
(My Visiting Teacher came and picked me up and we went shopping for some things for her new home. I don't think I have ever set foot in 'Home Goods' ... not since it was Aimes and that was twenty years ago, at least. Found some fun items. There is a throw I'd like to get for our bed. Also found some crazy things: I swear there is a blanket that is covered in fur and if I attach eyeballs to it, it will make the perfect large Muppet! I'd totally buy it, even if it is an orange I'm not thrilled with (though that makes it all the more Muppety), if it were on sale! It was good to just hang out and talk of life and not feel stressed for a little bit).
4. Writing
(Some days it is therapy and other days it is solace. Always it is useful. We've spun up some new characters that have seized me with a strange obsession. I want to write this story from start to finish and see where it goes. I want people to read this story. I'd love to see it on the big screen someday. I have music for it tripping through my brain. It's a whole new dimension of storytelling for me).
5. My Guardian Angel
(He or She was working overtime about a week ago. I was in Walmart and we needed a bottle of Coke. All of the bottles were lined up on the back wall of the top shelf in the soda aisle. There was an employee stocking items not four feet away but I honestly felt it was a bad idea to ask this little old gentleman, who was a foot shorter than myself, to go get a ladder and hand me a soda. Instead, I did what any youngblooded person would do, and I stepped on the bottom shelf, to get that extra two inches of leverage to reach the soda that was an arm's length away against the back of the shelf. To my utter surprise and humiliation, the bottom shelf SHIFTED and I fell backwards. What should have been a metal shelf bolted into some sort of bracketing, was instead a metal shelf LAYING on the bracketing with no securing features whatsoever. The shelf tilted up at a 75 degree angle when I put my weight on it, causing the two cases of soda on it to slide off onto the floor and causing me to slip and fall backward. I was able to land on my feet (thank you God and my Guardian Angel) and I kept from dropping the bottle of soda I had nabbed. However, my armpit and the underside of my arm was cut and bruised by the metal shelf edging of the top shelf. I am glad to be all in one piece with no broken bones but I seriously feel Walmart has an issue waiting to happen. Had I not been there, my Mom may have tried the exact same type of logic, assuming that the bottom shelf was bolted in, and she could have broken her hip or injured her back. Don't climb on shelves, kids, it's a bad idea!)
Now for the Putting It Together part of our program! If you've read this blog for a few weeks, you know that I participate in a program run by BYU-Idaho, called Pathway. This program consists of several classes and we meet once a week to discuss what we are learning in those classes (that primarily take place online). This week's meeting (referred to as a 'gathering') we discussed several academic topics and a few religious ones. The academic topics consisted of the proper way to sort through information and determine if a source is worthy of being used in a research paper. (This is done by evaluating the author, their credentials, the audience, the publication, the timeliness/relevancy, and the cited references). We also talked a bit about all of the wonderful opportunities for support and continued learning that can be found through the BYU-I Academic Support Center. There are a host of videos, information, tutors, and other things located on the website itself (and it is something that I plan to take advantage of, in the future, when dealing with the dreaded demon known as 'Math').
We also talked about things we have learned from the scriptures this week. (The reading for this week included 2 Nephi Chapters 28-33). I find it really amazing and cool, that in these last chapters, it talks about the tribes and how people will all gather to their homelands. I love that we get Nephi's last words, and that he focuses on Christ and how he really wants his people to remember the message of Christ and to look unto him for their salvation. One of the big things that we touched on, when we broke down into small groups, was the need for the Book of Mormon, not as a replacement to the Bible but as a companion to the Bible. It really is 'another testament of Jesus Christ'. In 2 Nephi chapter 29 verses 7-14, there are a list of reasons why the Book of Mormon is important. It stands as a second testimony of Christ, and bears witness unto him. It proves that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It, along with the Bible, are literally the testimony of two nations (that have run together into one testimony, by being collected standard works). The Lord never said His work was finished. He never said He would not speak anymore to man or not add to His own words. The tribes will be judged out of the words of the Lord that are in their records. And each tribe will someday have all the records of the others (as right now the Jewish people have the record of the Book of Mormon, and the Nephites have the record of the Bible or of the Jews). Sometime in the future, we will have the records of the Lord's dealings with all of the tribes ... and that will be a thing of great worth to see and to read! I find it amazingly exciting to think that whenever I read about the last days, about the tribes of Israel and people coming unto Christ, that I'm reading about our time, specifically. That we are living in a time when prophecy is being fulfilled. It's rather awesome.
Another thing I found very cool about the Gathering was that when we talked about the records, we talked about the fact that the Holy Ghost and the Lord speak to people through the scriptures. Your interactions with the Lord and His words to you help to build your testimony. Building that testimony leads you to share the gospel and live it more fully in your own life and this catches the attention of people, who come to know Christ because of how you live His teachings. This changes their lives and it moves ever outward, like a giant ripple effect, in a giant pond. The power of faith and the power of one person to make a difference, as they let God work in their lives. It's beautiful.
One last cool tidbit, one of the guys in class brought up something, that the word Hosanna actually means "save us now" ... It is a request for help. A cry for aid. A plea for nurture and mercy. I never knew the definition of the word before and it takes on new and deeper meaning because of that.
I hope you all have enjoyed reading about the Gathering and the things I have been learning. I encourage you to work on having God close to you, making Him an integral part of your daily lives! Keep the Spirit near you, and do not do anything that pushes the Holy Ghost away. Whatever things will push him away are fleeting and not really important in the long run. Staying close to Heavenly Father is what matters the most, always keep that in mind.
Until next time! Count your blessings!
It's that time again ... No, you can go get a cookie after you read ...
Attitude of Gratitude
1. Technology
(Recently my husband's phone decided to die. It refused to hold a charge and we were looking at a seriously hefty charge in order to replace the gadget. A tiny miracle occurred, he took it into Verizon and the girl there was able to plug it into her charger and give it a boost. Previously we'd tired all of our charges with zero luck. But hers was a mega charger or something and it restored the power. Now all I have to do is switch the plan and put his phone back on it, as we resorted to the old, tired, back-up phone).
2. Pathway
(I love my classes and I love that I'm making friends at the Gathering. It is rather amazing to think that just two months ago, these people were complete strangers to me. Now, I really care about them. I'm emotionally invested, and I continue to pray for their welfare).
3. My VT
(My Visiting Teacher came and picked me up and we went shopping for some things for her new home. I don't think I have ever set foot in 'Home Goods' ... not since it was Aimes and that was twenty years ago, at least. Found some fun items. There is a throw I'd like to get for our bed. Also found some crazy things: I swear there is a blanket that is covered in fur and if I attach eyeballs to it, it will make the perfect large Muppet! I'd totally buy it, even if it is an orange I'm not thrilled with (though that makes it all the more Muppety), if it were on sale! It was good to just hang out and talk of life and not feel stressed for a little bit).
4. Writing
(Some days it is therapy and other days it is solace. Always it is useful. We've spun up some new characters that have seized me with a strange obsession. I want to write this story from start to finish and see where it goes. I want people to read this story. I'd love to see it on the big screen someday. I have music for it tripping through my brain. It's a whole new dimension of storytelling for me).
5. My Guardian Angel
(He or She was working overtime about a week ago. I was in Walmart and we needed a bottle of Coke. All of the bottles were lined up on the back wall of the top shelf in the soda aisle. There was an employee stocking items not four feet away but I honestly felt it was a bad idea to ask this little old gentleman, who was a foot shorter than myself, to go get a ladder and hand me a soda. Instead, I did what any youngblooded person would do, and I stepped on the bottom shelf, to get that extra two inches of leverage to reach the soda that was an arm's length away against the back of the shelf. To my utter surprise and humiliation, the bottom shelf SHIFTED and I fell backwards. What should have been a metal shelf bolted into some sort of bracketing, was instead a metal shelf LAYING on the bracketing with no securing features whatsoever. The shelf tilted up at a 75 degree angle when I put my weight on it, causing the two cases of soda on it to slide off onto the floor and causing me to slip and fall backward. I was able to land on my feet (thank you God and my Guardian Angel) and I kept from dropping the bottle of soda I had nabbed. However, my armpit and the underside of my arm was cut and bruised by the metal shelf edging of the top shelf. I am glad to be all in one piece with no broken bones but I seriously feel Walmart has an issue waiting to happen. Had I not been there, my Mom may have tried the exact same type of logic, assuming that the bottom shelf was bolted in, and she could have broken her hip or injured her back. Don't climb on shelves, kids, it's a bad idea!)
Now for the Putting It Together part of our program! If you've read this blog for a few weeks, you know that I participate in a program run by BYU-Idaho, called Pathway. This program consists of several classes and we meet once a week to discuss what we are learning in those classes (that primarily take place online). This week's meeting (referred to as a 'gathering') we discussed several academic topics and a few religious ones. The academic topics consisted of the proper way to sort through information and determine if a source is worthy of being used in a research paper. (This is done by evaluating the author, their credentials, the audience, the publication, the timeliness/relevancy, and the cited references). We also talked a bit about all of the wonderful opportunities for support and continued learning that can be found through the BYU-I Academic Support Center. There are a host of videos, information, tutors, and other things located on the website itself (and it is something that I plan to take advantage of, in the future, when dealing with the dreaded demon known as 'Math').
We also talked about things we have learned from the scriptures this week. (The reading for this week included 2 Nephi Chapters 28-33). I find it really amazing and cool, that in these last chapters, it talks about the tribes and how people will all gather to their homelands. I love that we get Nephi's last words, and that he focuses on Christ and how he really wants his people to remember the message of Christ and to look unto him for their salvation. One of the big things that we touched on, when we broke down into small groups, was the need for the Book of Mormon, not as a replacement to the Bible but as a companion to the Bible. It really is 'another testament of Jesus Christ'. In 2 Nephi chapter 29 verses 7-14, there are a list of reasons why the Book of Mormon is important. It stands as a second testimony of Christ, and bears witness unto him. It proves that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It, along with the Bible, are literally the testimony of two nations (that have run together into one testimony, by being collected standard works). The Lord never said His work was finished. He never said He would not speak anymore to man or not add to His own words. The tribes will be judged out of the words of the Lord that are in their records. And each tribe will someday have all the records of the others (as right now the Jewish people have the record of the Book of Mormon, and the Nephites have the record of the Bible or of the Jews). Sometime in the future, we will have the records of the Lord's dealings with all of the tribes ... and that will be a thing of great worth to see and to read! I find it amazingly exciting to think that whenever I read about the last days, about the tribes of Israel and people coming unto Christ, that I'm reading about our time, specifically. That we are living in a time when prophecy is being fulfilled. It's rather awesome.
Another thing I found very cool about the Gathering was that when we talked about the records, we talked about the fact that the Holy Ghost and the Lord speak to people through the scriptures. Your interactions with the Lord and His words to you help to build your testimony. Building that testimony leads you to share the gospel and live it more fully in your own life and this catches the attention of people, who come to know Christ because of how you live His teachings. This changes their lives and it moves ever outward, like a giant ripple effect, in a giant pond. The power of faith and the power of one person to make a difference, as they let God work in their lives. It's beautiful.
One last cool tidbit, one of the guys in class brought up something, that the word Hosanna actually means "save us now" ... It is a request for help. A cry for aid. A plea for nurture and mercy. I never knew the definition of the word before and it takes on new and deeper meaning because of that.
I hope you all have enjoyed reading about the Gathering and the things I have been learning. I encourage you to work on having God close to you, making Him an integral part of your daily lives! Keep the Spirit near you, and do not do anything that pushes the Holy Ghost away. Whatever things will push him away are fleeting and not really important in the long run. Staying close to Heavenly Father is what matters the most, always keep that in mind.
Until next time! Count your blessings!
Friday, October 23, 2015
Attitude of Gratitude and The Atonement
Greetings Friends!
First, let's get back to the Attitude of Gratitude, with my five list:
1. Internet Access
(I am glad for this thing called the internet, through which I can learn and read and write stories with my best friend, and keep in touch with friends from all over the world!)
2. Luna, Duncan, Mei-Mei
(I love my sweet pups. They remind me to be kind and to live in the moment. They require I reach outside of myself to offer care and love and cuddles and comfort).
3. Shelter
(I had the experience of running into a woman and her two children who are literally homeless. They live out of her van, in a rather frightening situation. I bought the kids lunch, but wish I could do more. I am so grateful to have a roof over my head and running water and all the necessities that a home supplies that we do not think about on a daily basis and often take for granted).
4. Safety
(A dear relation of a friend of mine is experiencing a high level of harassment. We're talking crazy things, like death threats, and more. I told my friend about the Aspire App that you can put on your phone, created by Robin McGraw, that will alert designated friends and authorities if you need help and are confronted with a dangerous situation. This app is used to help women get out of dangerous and abusive relationships, etc. I also clued them in on the Companion App. This app was crafted to let others know when you are walking/traveling by foot and that you've made it safely to your destination. There is a button to alert the police and one to alert other people that you don't feel safe, in case you think you are being followed. Beyond that, I pray for the girl at the center of the drama and urge that she do all within her power to protect herself and her child from those who might attempt to do her harm).
5. My Mom
(I know, you may think it is cliche, but it is true. I am grateful for all she does to make her house into a home. All of the little touches and decorations and things that signify that she is here, that this is a place that her spirit finds rest in. I am grateful for all that she does for me, a few night's ago she polished my leather tennis shoes! She is a blessing and a best friend, and home wouldn't be home without her).
For the last two weeks, we have been reading from 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. I have really been struck deeply by the verses that relate to the atonement. At this week's gathering, we discussed the difference between principles and doctrine. A principle is "concentrated truth, packaged for a wide variety of circumstances". It is an enduring truth, law, or rule, that is portable to a variety of situations. If it is only true inside the context of a single story, then it is not a principle (because it is not portable, cannot be applied to your life). Years ago, I was taught by an institute of religion professor that you should always look for the principle within the program. The programs of the church may alter or change as time goes by. The programs will adapt but the principles of the gospel and the church will always remain the same. We need to make sure we don't get caught up in the program and not pay attention to the principle the program is trying to teach us. We learned that a doctrine is a fundamental belief, an unchanging truth, or an eternal law. One example of a doctrine can be found in 2 Ne 9, where it states that a person will not be held accountable for the laws and rules of the gospel that they do not know or have not learned here on earth. God will not hold us to a standard that we did not know existed. One of the sister's in class, brought up the point that her 9 year old son was worried about his salvation because he wasn't sure he believed in God or the gospel. His mom pointed out this doctrine to him, that it is okay if he doesn't know for sure what he believes at this point in his life, because he is 9 years old, but that his parents will not lead him wrong. That he is responsible to learn and keep studying and to trust that his parents will look out for him and guide him. That the Lord will not hold him accountable for the fact that he is still learning and hasn't had a strong witness of the truth yet. In short, that Heavenly Father is fair, and will judge us according to what we know (and if we do not know certain things, he will not judge us based on what we do not know).
During our directed study session, my group chose Option 1, where we were required to look at the verses in 2 Nephi 9, in the Book of Mormon, and write down aspects about the Atonement of Christ. My verses were 4-9 and I contributed that these verses had to do with the clear necessity of the atonement. We were subject to death because of the Fall of Adam. Both physical death, of the body, and spiritual death, of the soul, which is also known as separation from God. The Atonement is the necessary component to bring us back into Heavenly Father's presence. Without it, we would be subject to the Devil, and miserable like him. In verse 10, we learned that God planned a way for us to escape physical and spiritual death. In verse 13 we are shown that it is a mercy the Lord has planned for the atonement to apply to us because otherwise we would have a perfect knowledge of all our sins when we stood before God at Judgement and we would not be able to bear to be in his presence. Verses 17 and 19 talked about how God will fulfill the laws of Justice and that if we keep his commandments, we can live with him again. It also talked about the great mercy of Heavenly Father and that we will be delivered from Satan by the Atonement of Christ, because we can repent. Verse 20 talked about how significant it was that God "knows all things" and that his omnipotence was and is necessary, in order to bring to pass the "immortality and eternal life" of man. His wisdom has allowed him to plan around the ways the Devil has tried to foil the plan of salvation. His knowledge of each of us, allows Christ to succor us in our pains and sorrows and to aid us specifically in our journey back to Heavenly Father.
I was struck by the verses in the scriptures that talked about how no other nation would crucify Christ. That's such a heavy sentiment, there. No other nation in the world (and quite possibly no other world in the known universe) would have crucified the Son of God. They would have recognized him and worshiped him, instead. What does that say about the wickedness of the people at that time? How hard were their hearts? How closed were their minds? It just blows my mind to think that people could be so blind and inhuman. (Or perhaps it is all too human, and simply the darkest aspects of humanity?)
I really like the fact that we are essentially living during the time of the reunification of Israel spoken of in 2 Nephi. We are seeing with our own eyes, the various members of the tribes come into the church. It is the fulfillment of prophecy, going on right this second. (It kind of gives you chills). We are an "ensign to the nations" and it is our responsibility to share the gospel and spread the message of Christ. (Years ago, I heard something from another institute professor, Brother Monte Nyman, about the tribe of Ephraim: "We are Ephraim, We Gather" ... that phrase has stayed with me ever since it fell into my ears. I feel like those who are of the tribe of Ephraim are compelled to share the good news, to speak of the atonement and invite the world to listen). One of the men in our pathways gathering is named Adone. He is from Africa and he is a convert to the church. He expressed to us his testimony of the gospel and of the continued modern revelation that we receive from the Prophet and Apostles of the church and how it touched his heart and made him want to investigate the church (from his previous religious roots). It reminded me of my own roots, as a convert to the church. As well as the difference you can witness in your life, when you look at life before the gospel and the influence of the Holy Ghost and life after the gospel, with the principles incorporated into your daily life, echoed in your interactions.
For those of my friends who are not LDS, if you have any questions about the gospel or about the church as a whole, I invite you to ask me. I will do my best to find an answer for you, if I do not know the answer myself. I also invite you to share with me the uplifting principles that you have experienced in your own life, regardless of what religion or creed you belong to. We all have room and space to learn from each other!
First, let's get back to the Attitude of Gratitude, with my five list:
1. Internet Access
(I am glad for this thing called the internet, through which I can learn and read and write stories with my best friend, and keep in touch with friends from all over the world!)
2. Luna, Duncan, Mei-Mei
(I love my sweet pups. They remind me to be kind and to live in the moment. They require I reach outside of myself to offer care and love and cuddles and comfort).
3. Shelter
(I had the experience of running into a woman and her two children who are literally homeless. They live out of her van, in a rather frightening situation. I bought the kids lunch, but wish I could do more. I am so grateful to have a roof over my head and running water and all the necessities that a home supplies that we do not think about on a daily basis and often take for granted).
4. Safety
(A dear relation of a friend of mine is experiencing a high level of harassment. We're talking crazy things, like death threats, and more. I told my friend about the Aspire App that you can put on your phone, created by Robin McGraw, that will alert designated friends and authorities if you need help and are confronted with a dangerous situation. This app is used to help women get out of dangerous and abusive relationships, etc. I also clued them in on the Companion App. This app was crafted to let others know when you are walking/traveling by foot and that you've made it safely to your destination. There is a button to alert the police and one to alert other people that you don't feel safe, in case you think you are being followed. Beyond that, I pray for the girl at the center of the drama and urge that she do all within her power to protect herself and her child from those who might attempt to do her harm).
5. My Mom
(I know, you may think it is cliche, but it is true. I am grateful for all she does to make her house into a home. All of the little touches and decorations and things that signify that she is here, that this is a place that her spirit finds rest in. I am grateful for all that she does for me, a few night's ago she polished my leather tennis shoes! She is a blessing and a best friend, and home wouldn't be home without her).
For the last two weeks, we have been reading from 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. I have really been struck deeply by the verses that relate to the atonement. At this week's gathering, we discussed the difference between principles and doctrine. A principle is "concentrated truth, packaged for a wide variety of circumstances". It is an enduring truth, law, or rule, that is portable to a variety of situations. If it is only true inside the context of a single story, then it is not a principle (because it is not portable, cannot be applied to your life). Years ago, I was taught by an institute of religion professor that you should always look for the principle within the program. The programs of the church may alter or change as time goes by. The programs will adapt but the principles of the gospel and the church will always remain the same. We need to make sure we don't get caught up in the program and not pay attention to the principle the program is trying to teach us. We learned that a doctrine is a fundamental belief, an unchanging truth, or an eternal law. One example of a doctrine can be found in 2 Ne 9, where it states that a person will not be held accountable for the laws and rules of the gospel that they do not know or have not learned here on earth. God will not hold us to a standard that we did not know existed. One of the sister's in class, brought up the point that her 9 year old son was worried about his salvation because he wasn't sure he believed in God or the gospel. His mom pointed out this doctrine to him, that it is okay if he doesn't know for sure what he believes at this point in his life, because he is 9 years old, but that his parents will not lead him wrong. That he is responsible to learn and keep studying and to trust that his parents will look out for him and guide him. That the Lord will not hold him accountable for the fact that he is still learning and hasn't had a strong witness of the truth yet. In short, that Heavenly Father is fair, and will judge us according to what we know (and if we do not know certain things, he will not judge us based on what we do not know).
During our directed study session, my group chose Option 1, where we were required to look at the verses in 2 Nephi 9, in the Book of Mormon, and write down aspects about the Atonement of Christ. My verses were 4-9 and I contributed that these verses had to do with the clear necessity of the atonement. We were subject to death because of the Fall of Adam. Both physical death, of the body, and spiritual death, of the soul, which is also known as separation from God. The Atonement is the necessary component to bring us back into Heavenly Father's presence. Without it, we would be subject to the Devil, and miserable like him. In verse 10, we learned that God planned a way for us to escape physical and spiritual death. In verse 13 we are shown that it is a mercy the Lord has planned for the atonement to apply to us because otherwise we would have a perfect knowledge of all our sins when we stood before God at Judgement and we would not be able to bear to be in his presence. Verses 17 and 19 talked about how God will fulfill the laws of Justice and that if we keep his commandments, we can live with him again. It also talked about the great mercy of Heavenly Father and that we will be delivered from Satan by the Atonement of Christ, because we can repent. Verse 20 talked about how significant it was that God "knows all things" and that his omnipotence was and is necessary, in order to bring to pass the "immortality and eternal life" of man. His wisdom has allowed him to plan around the ways the Devil has tried to foil the plan of salvation. His knowledge of each of us, allows Christ to succor us in our pains and sorrows and to aid us specifically in our journey back to Heavenly Father.
I was struck by the verses in the scriptures that talked about how no other nation would crucify Christ. That's such a heavy sentiment, there. No other nation in the world (and quite possibly no other world in the known universe) would have crucified the Son of God. They would have recognized him and worshiped him, instead. What does that say about the wickedness of the people at that time? How hard were their hearts? How closed were their minds? It just blows my mind to think that people could be so blind and inhuman. (Or perhaps it is all too human, and simply the darkest aspects of humanity?)
I really like the fact that we are essentially living during the time of the reunification of Israel spoken of in 2 Nephi. We are seeing with our own eyes, the various members of the tribes come into the church. It is the fulfillment of prophecy, going on right this second. (It kind of gives you chills). We are an "ensign to the nations" and it is our responsibility to share the gospel and spread the message of Christ. (Years ago, I heard something from another institute professor, Brother Monte Nyman, about the tribe of Ephraim: "We are Ephraim, We Gather" ... that phrase has stayed with me ever since it fell into my ears. I feel like those who are of the tribe of Ephraim are compelled to share the good news, to speak of the atonement and invite the world to listen). One of the men in our pathways gathering is named Adone. He is from Africa and he is a convert to the church. He expressed to us his testimony of the gospel and of the continued modern revelation that we receive from the Prophet and Apostles of the church and how it touched his heart and made him want to investigate the church (from his previous religious roots). It reminded me of my own roots, as a convert to the church. As well as the difference you can witness in your life, when you look at life before the gospel and the influence of the Holy Ghost and life after the gospel, with the principles incorporated into your daily life, echoed in your interactions.
For those of my friends who are not LDS, if you have any questions about the gospel or about the church as a whole, I invite you to ask me. I will do my best to find an answer for you, if I do not know the answer myself. I also invite you to share with me the uplifting principles that you have experienced in your own life, regardless of what religion or creed you belong to. We all have room and space to learn from each other!
Friday, October 9, 2015
Attitude of Gratitude and Things That are Worth Your Time
Welcome back, readers and friends!
First off, back to our five list for 'attitude of gratitude':
1. Answered Prayers.
2. The Welcome of Family.
3. Safe Travels.
4. Minor Injuries.
5. Half-Baked Ice Cream.
Brief Explanation:
Really grateful for answered prayers. Prayed hard for good weather this past weekend, so we could travel safely to the family reunion. The Lord answered that prayer, we made it to the reunion and were on our way home when the rains finally began to fall in our area of the East Coast. Being around family was a blessing and really helped to recharge my emotional batteries. We all had to introduce ourselves (we made Dad do it for our group!) because the older people had no idea who the younger ones were and those of us who fall into the 'young' category didn't remember the names and faces of many of the older people. It was fun, though. People clapped for you at the mention of your name. Family, the only people who applaud you, just for showing up! (Haha, I hope Heaven is like that! Wouldn't that rock? You know it would!)
That takes care of items 1-3. Now on to 4. Early Tuesday morning, I was woken up around 3:30 by Luna, our puppy, who had a potty accident and needed a bath as a result of the issue. After rousing the husband to watch her, and keep her sequestered in the tub for the two mins it took me to get dressed, I bathed her and then got the blow dryer to dry her fur off. Her hair is thin and she catches chill easily. She hates the dryer and kept escaping me. I snatched her up, and while I was moving with her across the room, I tripped over my broken latched sandals (which I had worn because I knew they would get soaked giving her a bath). I dropped her on the way down, to my horror. I landed solidly on my 'good' knee, the one I rarely injure, and it took me several moments to gather my wits and attempt to get up again. Luna fell about a foot and a half off the ground and landed on her feet. Bless her heart, she stayed right next to me, looking concerned. (Her canine sibs have shown no such worry, when they have encountered my klutzyness). So, the end result, was that I had trouble walking for a few days (and stairs were killer) but I was so grateful I did not fall on Luna (and break her spine, she is a very small shih-tzu mix). I am also grateful I did no lasting harm (knock on wood!) to myself.
The last item on the list is ice cream. My husband brought some home a few days ago, for FHE. He knows my favorite flavor and surprised me with it. He snacked on raspberry sorbet and I put off eating my ice cream until tonight, which is homework night! Every night that is homework night should also be ice cream night. Because that is the world that I live in!
Moving on, I wanted to tell you more about my ongoing Pathway experience. I would easily recommend the program to anyone interested in going back to college. The friends you make are fun and the gatherings you attend are both enlightening and inspiring. At the gathering this past week, we discussed several things that I found interesting (as well as profound). The first thing had to do with three keys to the principal of being a lifelong learner. The first key was that we have infinite potential, as God's child, to learn anything we put our efforts into. This is because of the divinity that we possess in our relationship with Heavenly Father. Henry Eyring was quoted as stating, "I believe that every brilliant conquest made by man is but a manifestation of the divine spark, which sets him apart from the rest of creation. Man is in the image of God, destined to go on learning and perfecting himself throughout eternity." We have infinite potential (and it is amazing and sad how often we lie to ourselves and believe we are incapable of learning certain things). The second key is that to learn you need to have childlike humility. Being humble makes you teachable and willing to learn. The third key is to keep the Holy Ghost with you, to aid in your learning, by living a clean life. You have to make sure your actions do not detract from the Spirit's ability to be present with you and that the things you surround yourself with (including media) do not impede your ability to connect with the Holy Ghost, and thus with God.
One of the points that jumped out to me was the idea of attitude and how we look at what we are trying to achieve. Katie Swank brought up the point about the recent Harvard debate team losing to a group of prisoners and how the prisoners had to jump through so many hoops just to get allowed the clearance of the reading material that they needed to study for the debate. Clearly, they had more obstacles to overcome, in this regard, then the college students who had the whole of the internet at their fingers, but it was the approach of the prisoners to obtaining, assimilating, and appreciating that knowledge that made the difference. (Also, the Harvard team said that the prisoners were the most well researched, well spoken team they had ever had the pleasure to debate with!)
In the talk, "Attitudes in Affliction", Kirk Astel brought up the idea that it was Nephi's attitude, and the attitudes of those who followed him, that made the difference in their journey in the wilderness. That the women became strong, like unto the men and were able to bear the journey. That our outlook depends on what we are focusing on: are we looking at the past? or wealth or lack thereof? Or are we looking at the blessings the Lord has given us? The many good things in our lives? The prisoners could easily have given up on the debate, due to the frustrating wait period over obtaining approval for their materials, but they didn't. They looked forward to gaining knowledge and being able to present and share what they had learned. (And keep in mind, these are gentlemen who will, most likely, never see the light of day, as they are sentenced to more years then they can possible live to serve, due to the nature of their crimes).
Adama Kone taught the class for the religion portion of the gathering. We talked of symbolism and how it is used to put stories in a context that your audience can better understand them. It was suggested that symbolism adds levels of layer and texture to what is being taught (to the point that you can review the same story later and gain new insight from it, that you did not learn the first time around). We talked about how symbolism is made to fit the people whom you are teaching, that you are using objects and places that they have a familiarity with and that they may easily relate to. We also spoke about the importance of prophets and how God calls them forth from the people, as well as the idea that a prophet can expertly teach you on any subject that God wishes him to teach to you. (This echoed the sentiment that I learned, way back in Institute of Religion about a prophet being given the knowedge and authority to speak on any subject, at any time. That the authority comes from God and God would not allow the prophet to tell you something that was false or detrimental to your eternal learning and progression).
As we talked about Nephi, it occurred to me that you can learn from ANY example, good or bad. That if you look at the life of Nephi, his is a life that you would want to emulate and follow in his footsteps. As you look at Laman and Lemuel, you can also learn from their example. What you learn, is who you do not want to be. Both examples teach you an important lesson. We divided into groups and in our group, we talked about Laman and Lemuel and how one can best prepare to help people who uphold their types of attitudes. Laman and Lemuel were prideful, they had their hearts set on worldly goods, a life of ease, and riches. They wanted what they did not currently possess. And they were lazy, in that they never 'asked of God' in regards to the visions that Nephi and Lehi had. They could have learned so much, had they put forth the effort to inquire of the Lord, but they chose not to. In the end, my group concluded that you cannot change the hearts of men, only they can do that for themselves. What you can do, is be a good example to them. You can live a righteous life, keeping the Spirit with you and sharing what you learn, gospel and secular truths, with others. You can encourage them to make sure they go to the right sources of information (scriptures and Heavenly Father). Lastly, you can make sure that you are both diligent and persistent in your efforts to reach out to them. God never gave up on anyone, so we should not either.
The last thing we talked about was the scattering and gathering of Israel. What struck me about this topic was the idea that the Lord scattered Israel in order to preserve them. If he had not scattered them, they might never have returned to the truths of the gospel. (That was a 'wow' moment for me. I knew that the scattering was partly a punishment, but the fact it was also something done out of love, to bring about something greater, was amazing to learn).
All of the various things this week have made me consider the question: what am I made of? What is at my core? I know the gospel is at my core. Years ago, I ended a relationship with a boy who wanted to marry me. I ended it because, while he claimed to love me, he didn't really understand or know me. At my core. From the time I was twelve, I grew up with the gospel of Jesus Christ. By the time I was in college, that gospel was a living part of me, like the rings inside a tree that mark its growth. It was not something outside of myself, something I could set aside for him, to make him comfortable. I didn't want a life without the gospel and I didn't want a partner in that life who refused to share in living the principles. I think, when we all take a hard, long, look at ourselves, we'll find out those things that are most precious to us and we'll realize what we can live without and what isn't worth living without.
First off, back to our five list for 'attitude of gratitude':
1. Answered Prayers.
2. The Welcome of Family.
3. Safe Travels.
4. Minor Injuries.
5. Half-Baked Ice Cream.
Brief Explanation:
Really grateful for answered prayers. Prayed hard for good weather this past weekend, so we could travel safely to the family reunion. The Lord answered that prayer, we made it to the reunion and were on our way home when the rains finally began to fall in our area of the East Coast. Being around family was a blessing and really helped to recharge my emotional batteries. We all had to introduce ourselves (we made Dad do it for our group!) because the older people had no idea who the younger ones were and those of us who fall into the 'young' category didn't remember the names and faces of many of the older people. It was fun, though. People clapped for you at the mention of your name. Family, the only people who applaud you, just for showing up! (Haha, I hope Heaven is like that! Wouldn't that rock? You know it would!)
That takes care of items 1-3. Now on to 4. Early Tuesday morning, I was woken up around 3:30 by Luna, our puppy, who had a potty accident and needed a bath as a result of the issue. After rousing the husband to watch her, and keep her sequestered in the tub for the two mins it took me to get dressed, I bathed her and then got the blow dryer to dry her fur off. Her hair is thin and she catches chill easily. She hates the dryer and kept escaping me. I snatched her up, and while I was moving with her across the room, I tripped over my broken latched sandals (which I had worn because I knew they would get soaked giving her a bath). I dropped her on the way down, to my horror. I landed solidly on my 'good' knee, the one I rarely injure, and it took me several moments to gather my wits and attempt to get up again. Luna fell about a foot and a half off the ground and landed on her feet. Bless her heart, she stayed right next to me, looking concerned. (Her canine sibs have shown no such worry, when they have encountered my klutzyness). So, the end result, was that I had trouble walking for a few days (and stairs were killer) but I was so grateful I did not fall on Luna (and break her spine, she is a very small shih-tzu mix). I am also grateful I did no lasting harm (knock on wood!) to myself.
The last item on the list is ice cream. My husband brought some home a few days ago, for FHE. He knows my favorite flavor and surprised me with it. He snacked on raspberry sorbet and I put off eating my ice cream until tonight, which is homework night! Every night that is homework night should also be ice cream night. Because that is the world that I live in!
Moving on, I wanted to tell you more about my ongoing Pathway experience. I would easily recommend the program to anyone interested in going back to college. The friends you make are fun and the gatherings you attend are both enlightening and inspiring. At the gathering this past week, we discussed several things that I found interesting (as well as profound). The first thing had to do with three keys to the principal of being a lifelong learner. The first key was that we have infinite potential, as God's child, to learn anything we put our efforts into. This is because of the divinity that we possess in our relationship with Heavenly Father. Henry Eyring was quoted as stating, "I believe that every brilliant conquest made by man is but a manifestation of the divine spark, which sets him apart from the rest of creation. Man is in the image of God, destined to go on learning and perfecting himself throughout eternity." We have infinite potential (and it is amazing and sad how often we lie to ourselves and believe we are incapable of learning certain things). The second key is that to learn you need to have childlike humility. Being humble makes you teachable and willing to learn. The third key is to keep the Holy Ghost with you, to aid in your learning, by living a clean life. You have to make sure your actions do not detract from the Spirit's ability to be present with you and that the things you surround yourself with (including media) do not impede your ability to connect with the Holy Ghost, and thus with God.
One of the points that jumped out to me was the idea of attitude and how we look at what we are trying to achieve. Katie Swank brought up the point about the recent Harvard debate team losing to a group of prisoners and how the prisoners had to jump through so many hoops just to get allowed the clearance of the reading material that they needed to study for the debate. Clearly, they had more obstacles to overcome, in this regard, then the college students who had the whole of the internet at their fingers, but it was the approach of the prisoners to obtaining, assimilating, and appreciating that knowledge that made the difference. (Also, the Harvard team said that the prisoners were the most well researched, well spoken team they had ever had the pleasure to debate with!)
In the talk, "Attitudes in Affliction", Kirk Astel brought up the idea that it was Nephi's attitude, and the attitudes of those who followed him, that made the difference in their journey in the wilderness. That the women became strong, like unto the men and were able to bear the journey. That our outlook depends on what we are focusing on: are we looking at the past? or wealth or lack thereof? Or are we looking at the blessings the Lord has given us? The many good things in our lives? The prisoners could easily have given up on the debate, due to the frustrating wait period over obtaining approval for their materials, but they didn't. They looked forward to gaining knowledge and being able to present and share what they had learned. (And keep in mind, these are gentlemen who will, most likely, never see the light of day, as they are sentenced to more years then they can possible live to serve, due to the nature of their crimes).
Adama Kone taught the class for the religion portion of the gathering. We talked of symbolism and how it is used to put stories in a context that your audience can better understand them. It was suggested that symbolism adds levels of layer and texture to what is being taught (to the point that you can review the same story later and gain new insight from it, that you did not learn the first time around). We talked about how symbolism is made to fit the people whom you are teaching, that you are using objects and places that they have a familiarity with and that they may easily relate to. We also spoke about the importance of prophets and how God calls them forth from the people, as well as the idea that a prophet can expertly teach you on any subject that God wishes him to teach to you. (This echoed the sentiment that I learned, way back in Institute of Religion about a prophet being given the knowedge and authority to speak on any subject, at any time. That the authority comes from God and God would not allow the prophet to tell you something that was false or detrimental to your eternal learning and progression).
As we talked about Nephi, it occurred to me that you can learn from ANY example, good or bad. That if you look at the life of Nephi, his is a life that you would want to emulate and follow in his footsteps. As you look at Laman and Lemuel, you can also learn from their example. What you learn, is who you do not want to be. Both examples teach you an important lesson. We divided into groups and in our group, we talked about Laman and Lemuel and how one can best prepare to help people who uphold their types of attitudes. Laman and Lemuel were prideful, they had their hearts set on worldly goods, a life of ease, and riches. They wanted what they did not currently possess. And they were lazy, in that they never 'asked of God' in regards to the visions that Nephi and Lehi had. They could have learned so much, had they put forth the effort to inquire of the Lord, but they chose not to. In the end, my group concluded that you cannot change the hearts of men, only they can do that for themselves. What you can do, is be a good example to them. You can live a righteous life, keeping the Spirit with you and sharing what you learn, gospel and secular truths, with others. You can encourage them to make sure they go to the right sources of information (scriptures and Heavenly Father). Lastly, you can make sure that you are both diligent and persistent in your efforts to reach out to them. God never gave up on anyone, so we should not either.
The last thing we talked about was the scattering and gathering of Israel. What struck me about this topic was the idea that the Lord scattered Israel in order to preserve them. If he had not scattered them, they might never have returned to the truths of the gospel. (That was a 'wow' moment for me. I knew that the scattering was partly a punishment, but the fact it was also something done out of love, to bring about something greater, was amazing to learn).
All of the various things this week have made me consider the question: what am I made of? What is at my core? I know the gospel is at my core. Years ago, I ended a relationship with a boy who wanted to marry me. I ended it because, while he claimed to love me, he didn't really understand or know me. At my core. From the time I was twelve, I grew up with the gospel of Jesus Christ. By the time I was in college, that gospel was a living part of me, like the rings inside a tree that mark its growth. It was not something outside of myself, something I could set aside for him, to make him comfortable. I didn't want a life without the gospel and I didn't want a partner in that life who refused to share in living the principles. I think, when we all take a hard, long, look at ourselves, we'll find out those things that are most precious to us and we'll realize what we can live without and what isn't worth living without.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Putting It Together ...
Those of you who read this blog, I know there are like three people (and could be more after I boost the signal a bit), know that it is dedicated to the idea of gratitude in all things. Well, I certainly have a lot to be grateful for this week and I am going to take a moment to share with you some of the triumphs and challenges that took place.
As some of you know, I have started a program called Pathway through BYUI. It is the initial step in my return to college and obtaining that coveted Bachelor's Degree. Well, I am happy to report that the classes have started. This semester I am taking a Life Skills class and a religion class that focuses on the Book of Mormon. (In particular 1 Ne thru Alma 30). In addition to the online portion of the class, we have a weekly meeting, called a gathering (props if you heard that word and immediately thought of 'Gargoyles'!) during which we participate in group study and each take a turn leading the class and facilitating the learning.
Those who know me, know I am rather shy in person. Online is a different matter, as the written word is my forte. But in person, I tend to keep my head down and my mouth shut, as I observe my surroundings and wait until I feel safe enough to speak. (Yes, I was severely bullied as a child and it does have an effect on my self esteem, even in adulthood.) Well, last week, at our first gathering I was caught off guard and asked to be the Lead Student for the upcoming week. Out of reflex, I immediately said 'yes' and spent the last week in utter terror. (You may laugh, only because I am out of range to personally smack you). There was a great deal of study, pondering, and much prayer. I will also admit to some amount of murmuring (complaining).
Last night, the time arrived and I, filled with dread, completed the finishing touches on my signage for my lesson and went to the gathering. Katie Swank served as the Lead Student for our Life Skills class (and did an amazing job!) She excelled at making everyone feel included and validated, while presenting the lesson material in a thorough and concise manner. I really think she did a great job.
When it was my turn, I stood up and grabbed my outline. (I spent some time making an outline of a lesson plan, which included specific topics and thoughts, as well as timing for each activity). I will say, I totally appreciated Sis. Gomez's opening prayer and her request for the Spirit to be there and for me to do well and be strengthened. I started off by asking the class to share some of their successes and challenges that they had during the week (as it related to the lesson material of reading 1 Nephi chapters 1-5). Several people admitted to being challenged by time management and being able to complete the various tasks for the lesson. They also brought up that they felt the Lord bless their efforts as they attempted to type up answers while fighting off fatigue and weariness from a long day of jobs and/or family. I then shared a little of what I had learned from the reading. I felt it took a lot of dedication for the family of Lehi to leave their home and follow him into the wilderness. (Even though Laman and Lemuel complained, they still went with the rest of the family on the journey and they still did their father's bidding in returning to get the plates of brass). I spoke about the difference between complaining and upholding someone who is in service of the Lord and asked everyone to consider which type of person they were in their own lives. I also brought up the fact that God will strengthen you to do the work that He calls you to do. He will aid you in accomplishing His will and completing the tasks He has set you. (Much like He did in helping me to stand up in front of a room full of people I barely knew and speak to them!)
I then reviewed with the class the lesson from the previous week. We discussed the Introduction to the Book of Mormon, the Testimony of the Three Witnesses, the Testimony of the Eight Witnesses, and the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We talked about how these witnesses and their words shaped the way we currently see the Book of Mormon. The testimonies, in particularly the testimony of the Prophet, touched several people very deeply. One Sister said she had read the words before but this time they reached into her heart and touched her more deeply than in previous readings. The book became more precious to her as a result. One Brother spoke about how, growing up near the site of Palmyra had enhanced his testimony by being able to personally visit the places where the Prophet grew up and lived.
We moved on to learning a new study skill. Because I was the first Lead Student and no other skills had been presented, I was able to pick which skill I wanted from the list of nine. I chose the skill of visualizing. I explained that it could be broken down into three parts: setting (comprising location, people present, and action), details (often overlooked), and questions (such as who else was there? what else was happening at the same time? etc.). (Personally, I liked the question of 'what are the scriptures not saying that must be happening?'). I pointed out the quick visual I had created (just large representations of the words 'visualize', with smaller ones for 'setting', 'details', and 'questions'). I encouraged the class to use this new study skill during the upcoming week as they read their next scripture block.
As is often the case, I skipped some of my plan, in an effort to conserve the short amount of time we had. I had planned on giving out slips of paper and letting everyone write down 3-5 things they would take with them on a trip. Then I would collect all the papers, read off some of the items, and then tear them up and throw them away. This was in illustration of the fact that Lehi's family got to take very little of their property with them in the wilderness. I would then pose the question of how would it feel, if you were in their place? What would you give up to follow the Lord? I was also going to ask them to consider the perspectives of Sariah (leaving her friends and comforts of home and worrying over losing her sons), Laman and Lemuel (as it pertained to the faith they DID have, in that they did follow their father into the wilderness and did attempt to obtain the plates), Nephi's Sisters (mentioned in 2 Ne 5:6), and of Zoram (being given Nephi's word that he would be a free man). Again, this was shelved due to time constraints.
At this point, I divided the class into four groups and had them work on the directed study. There were four options and we made sure each option was covered. Each group had about 15 minutes to work on their assignment before presenting their thoughts to the class as a whole. (Again, we shortened the time a little because the previous class, Life Skills, ran over a bit). I was thrilled to see my fellow classmates working so openly with one another. There was mutual give and take and everyone came away edified by the learning process. It was a really cool thing to view and be a part of. From Option 1, it was discussed how Nephi was able to see the goodness and mysteries of God because of the afflictions he experienced (which is a way of looking at things that I may have not previously considered). And that the resulting knowledge, as well as his obedience, lead to him being highly favored of the Lord. From Option 2, the topic of tender mercies was discussed. The Lord protected Lehi and his family from the coming destruction of the city. He lead them through the wilderness and He aided them in getting the brass plates. He stood by them every step of the way, even when they were scared but still willing to go about doing His work and accomplishing the tasks He had set for them. Option 3 discussed Laman and Lemuel's rebellion. They were vain and prideful and attached to worldly things. They did not take the time to ask of God or seek insight into His teachings. They also did not show respect for the Lord (or at times their own family). Nephi did the exact opposite. He did not rebel because he studied the words of the Lord, he prayed and asked for confirmation and understanding. He honored his father and tried to be obedient to the teachings he was given. Nephi was humble and teachable, whereas his siblings were not. Slaying Laban was difficult for Nephi but the Lord granted him understanding, that his people would dwindle and diminish in their unbelief if they had no access to the plates of brass, and that Laban was delivered into his hands by God for the purpose of obtaining those plates, to fulfill God's promise. Overall, Laman and Lemuel complained and chose not to be positive and not to seek further light and knowledge, which was readily available. Nephi studied things out for himself and then asked Heavenly Father for confirmation and guidance. He also supported Lehi, his father, in his efforts to follow the will of the Lord. I think Nephi showed great faith in committing to follow his family into the wilderness, leave behind the world he had known, and most of his possessions. He showed great faith in being determined to not return to his father without the plates of brass. And greater faith still in doing the will of the Lord, and slaying Laban, which was something that was particularly challenging for him.
(Quick Disclaimer, I previously wrote about the various options in an assignment online, I reposted about them here, in this blog, because they were part of my learning experience and I thought they were pertinent to this summary).
I closed out the evening with a few thoughtful questions. I asked everyone how the activity they just completed would help them become a better disciple of Christ. I also asked if they could teach another person, later this week, about one of the principles they had just learned, which principle would they choose to share and why? Many people mentioned having the Holy Ghost aid in the teaching and learning process. Some mentioned that it takes exercising faith to gain new knowledge and understanding. Others brought up the point that with God on your side you can accomplish all things, even the impossible.
We ended the night with a few quick moments for reflection. I posed the question of whether or not their learning this evening would affect their Becoming Project? If so, how? I also reminded them that they can continue the discussion, if they so desire, by utilizing the gathering discussion board.
Overall, it was an amazing experience. I can testify that involving the Holy Ghost, in any and all learning, really takes your class to the next level. I really appreciated that everyone in the class participated. They volunteered to read the handout I gave on Visualization. They volunteered to pass out papers. They did not complain about presenting for their groups. They gave amazingly thoughtful and insightful comments and testimonies about their own life experiences. They were kind and raised their hands to be called on. (And they were really very understanding ... I could not read the name tags that everyone had because the print was to small for me to see clearly with my 'low vision' so I asked people to please raise their hands and I would point to them and let them speak. They did so with grace and did not make me feel awkward for having to deviate from normal procedures). I think we were all edified by the experience of learning together. We each had something to give and share and we each learned new insights along the way.
During the quick feedback session, I was told that I did well with the visuals and with making eye contact and paying attention to each person that was called on. I was told I did a great job and people were not sure why I was so afraid to stand up and speak. (The little pessimistic voice inside my head wants to say people are just being nice, since I know I stumbled over my own words - a great deal more than I would have liked - and things did not go completely as planned). I am telling the little voice to shush and trying to take things at face value. I truly felt everyone in the class was generous with their words and truly respectful and kind to one another and I entered the situation with a prayer in my heart that people would receive the inspiration that they needed to hear, specifically, and that nothing I did or did not do would get in the way of that learning experience. I think my prayer was answered.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Intervention Weekend
Today I am thankful for:
1. Angels watching over my loved ones.
Parents were in a sideswipe today. No one was injured but the white truck has some nasty black marks on it.
2. Priesthood
Got a blessing from my husband today when we were alone at the house. So nice to be able to ask and receive guidance from the Lord and to feel He remembers me/us.
3. Outback
One last Summer Meal to say good-bye to vacation. He starts part time job tomorrow and school again in Sept.
Also was our "I Love You" Versary!
4. Intervention
The Con was a great way to meet fellow creatives who are also fans of Who, Sherlock, and other Pop Culture things! And Steve got to do some voice acting work with Terry Molloy! Aka Davros!
5. Knowledge
The marketing skills I learned at Con. The spiritual things in our scriptures (2Ne 7-8) The knowledge that God watches over us always, especially in the midst of our trials.
Friday, August 7, 2015
Attitude of Gratitude (It's been a long time!)
Today I am grateful for:
1. Good Food
We visited Red Robin and got Steve his Birthday Burger and me the Ensenada Chicken. A mint brownie shake for dessert!
2. Internet TV Shows
We caught up on Mr. Robot, Teen Wolf, and Falling Skies. (What a marvel it is to be able to watch things at any time that is convenient for you! To be able to shuck that burden that existed with viewership, when if you missed the original air date you might never get the chance to view it again!)
3. Daddy being cancer free!
He had tests to see if he had developed bladder cancer, as he was presenting some pretty scary symptoms but we got good news and are Very Relieved.
4. My Companion
He loves me even when I'm grumpy. Yesterday, Aug 6, was the anniversary of the day we first met in person. He barely said hi to me at our first encounter (and eleven years later I can't seem to get a word in edgewise!)
5. Hope
I feel trapped some days. I hate our financial situation. But I am grateful that God is mindful of us and that there is always a spark of hope for the future.
BONUS
6. Writing Partners (Aimee)
We have entered a contest together and this has served to sort of rekindle our desire to work together and my desire to go back and explore and complete previous novellas. It is both exciting and daunting!
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