Preparing Drop by Drop

Dear Sisters,

A few years back, when I lived in Moscow, Idaho, we had to travel about 2 hours to get to the Spokane, Washington Temple.  

It took a lot of planning, scheduling, and coordinating.  We would usually try to find a couple to trade with us, while we switched off watching kids and attending sessions.  We had to pack food, schedule a room in the church next door so we had a “home-base”, and prepare for naps.  Basically, it was an all day affair, but it was always such a spiritual feast when we did make the sacrifice to attend.  Aren’t we blessed to have a temple so close?!

As I was thinking back on those times, I remembered one time that was pretty unforgettable for me.  I had worked very hard to coordinate a temple trip with eight other couples.  It took a lot of planning and effort, and during the last couple minutes of the drive, I stressfully checked my bag, pulling out my temple recommend, only to find that it had expired 3 days prior.  I was crushed!  I felt like I had worked hard to get there, and now I had come all that way, and wouldn’t be able to go.  I spent the day tending children, and I was glad I could help the other couples, but I also felt a little sorry for myself.  

As I watched these couples, and my own husband enter the temple doors, I was reminded of the parable of the ten virgins found in Matthew 25.  Maybe it was a little dramatic to think of it like that, but I really felt like I was being shut out and left behind.

I think it is interesting that in this parable, it makes it clear that all of the virgins remembered to bring their lamps, even the five foolish virgins; however, they “took no oil with them.”  And when they were told that the bridegroom was coming, even those foolish virgins trimmed their lamps to prepare.  It was just in that last crucial moment that they realized they hadn’t prepared enough and had no oil for their lamps.

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I’m sure you are familiar with the rest of the parable.  While they were rushing to buy oil, the bridegroom came.  Those that were ready, went with him and “the door was shut.”  And when the foolish virgins tried to enter, he said, “I know you not.”

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My experience at the temple, reminded me that I needed to prepare myself spiritually as well as temporally for attending the temple, and especially for the Savior’s coming.  I don’t ever want to be cut off, shut out, or left behind.  I committed that I would never let my recommend expire again, and I am blessed every day that I try to serve, keep my covenants, and study the gospel to add oil to my lamp. 

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

Just as we are reminded in that scripture, we don’t know when the Savior will come again, but it may not be far off.  The simple, kind, good things we do add oil to our lamps and prepare us for the second coming, and for attending the temple, His Holy House. 

“Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps.”

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985), Faith Precedes the Miracle(1972), 256.

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Sisters, add some oil to your lamps this week!  I love you!

Sincerely,

Lydia

This Life is the Time...

Dear Sisters-

I had such a neat opportunity to attend a Leadership Training Meeting yesterday, where I was taught by Elder Nelson's wife, and some other amazing women.  I had each of you on my mind, as I pondered how I could better serve you.  I thought it was interesting that much of what was said revolved around the temple and that we are in the last days.

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Sis. Nelson encouraged us to think about what she referred to as our "pre-mortal commitments," and consider what we are busy doing.  She urged us to filter out the time-wasters.  We don't want to look back on this earth life thinking, "Oh, I was suppose to be doing that?"  If we are prayerful, I feel certain the Holy Ghost can direct us to the meaningful things we should be doing.

Alma 34 comes to mind:

 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

 34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

We talked a lot about missionary work in our meetings today, I feel sure that there truly is a "hastening of the work" taking place right now.

I hope that we can all do our part to assist the Lord in building His Kingdom and preparing for His second coming.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

Oh, how we need each other!

Dear Sisters,

Oh, how I need you! 

Sis. Marjorie P. Hinckley once said, “Oh, how we need each other. Those of us who are old need you who are young. And, hopefully, you who are young need some of us who are old. It is a sociological fact that women need women. We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other.”

What a blessing your friendships and associations have been in my life already!  I was thinking that this last week, when my daughter interrupted my sleep, yet again, upset from a bad dream.  I had tried several different things to comfort her and get her back to bed, but there she was again, and just as I was about to slip into “angry mom” mode, I remembered an experience Sis. Prawitt had shared in Relief Society about how she was having a hard time getting her son to sleep in his bed, and then she tried playing primary songs, and he went right to sleep.  Her experience gave me an idea.  I know it sounds silly, but I suggested that my daughter sleep with her scriptures.  I didn’t see her again until the next morning, when she told me how much it had helped, but that she didn’t want to bend the pages so she kept them on her night stand, and if she ever felt scared, she could touch them. :)

Long story short, we need each other.  I so appreciate you amazing sisters.  You inspire and lift me.  Your selfless service is so encouraging.  Thank you to the sweet sister who made a thoughtful anonymous gift for my family this last week. 

Sisterhood is such a great blessing, that I hope each of you take advantage of.  (Certainly visiting teaching gives us an opportunity for that.)  I was grateful for Sis. Hughes’s lesson yesterday on the blessings of sisterhood, with the powerful example of Ruth and Naomi.  I also recently read a beautiful talk “Sisterhood, Oh How We Need Eachother.” by Sis. Linda K. Burton.  There were a couple paragraphs I wanted to share:

“The fact of the matter is, we really and truly need each other. Women naturally seek friendship, support, and companionship. We have so much to learn from one another.

Sisters, there is no other group of women in the world who have

access to greater blessings than we do as Latter-day Saint women. We are members of the Lord’s Church, and regardless of our individual circumstances, we can all enjoy the full blessings of priesthood power through keeping the covenants we have made at baptism and in the temple. We have living prophets to lead and teach us, and we enjoy the great gift of the Holy Ghost, which serves as a comfort and guide in our lives. We are blessed to work hand in hand with righteous brothers as we strengthen homes and families. We have access to the strength and power of temple ordinances and so much more.

In addition to enjoying all of these magnificent blessings, we have each other—sisters in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been blessed with tender and charitable natures which enable us to render Christlike love and service to those around us. As we look beyond our differences in age, culture, and circumstance to nurture and serve one another, we will be filled with the pure love of Christ and the inspiration which leads us to know when and whom to serve.”

Sisters, I need and appreciate you so much.  I hope we can look beyond differences, and be united through the powerful atonement of Christ.

Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

Awake! No Longer Droop In Sin!

Dear Sisters,

It’s Tuesday!  Where is the week going?! Hope you are doing well. You have been in my thoughts.

My Dad is a Professor of Horticulture and Floral Design, and I married a Horticulturist and Landscape Architect, so I blaim them for my deep thoughts and analogies during my scripture study yesterday. J

I love 2^nd Nephi, chapter 4.  It is full am many gems, but as I came to verse 28, and got caught on the word “droop.”  It made me think of a plant; perhaps because I had just watered some of my flowers that were “drooping” and begging for much needed water in the heat. 

Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

I cross referenced this verse with Psalms 42:11

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why are thou disquieted within me? hope though in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

God is the “health of our countenance” or “soul”.  I started thinking about those plants drooping for water, and how much our souls are ready to "awake."  Sin in our life causes our souls to “droop”.  We should be thirsting for that “healing balm” and light that only the Savior can provide.

If you continue reading in 2 Ne 4:33, again I caught the plant-like word: hedge (a boundary formed by shrubs).  Is there any hedge-like problem in your life that is blocking your path?

Nephi pleads with the Lord to make his path straight and not to hedge up his way, but to hedge the way of his enemies. 

 

Did you know that as we make a conscious choice to be “encircled in the robes of righteousness” the Lord will hedge, or set a boundary AROUND US?!  In other words, as we make good choices, Satan's influence decreases, or even stop all together, we are protected, and able to receive the “health of our countenance”.

If there is something in your life that is causing your soul to “droop,” turn to the Lord, ask him to do some pruning, and make your path straight.  I love you sisters and I want you to be able to take part in all the blessings he has available for you.  I testify his hands are outstretched.  

We had an awesome lesson from Sister Phipps about the blessings of the temple.  Take advantage of those blessings.  If you have never been to the temple, find out what you need to do to be worthy of a recommend.  If your recommend is not current, take steps to make it current.  If you have a current temple recommend, use it and attend the temple regularly.  If you already go to the temple often, go more often.  There are things each of us can to do improve, no matter what stage we are in.

I really do love you and I am cheering for you!  Hope you have a lovely week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

"Our Bishop's Always There"

Hello Sisters!

Hope you had a relaxing Sunday.  

Today, I have been feeling grateful for our good bishop.

What a remarkable man he is.  He’s a pretty humble guy, and kind of a character. :)  He doesn’t claim to be perfect, but he has a true desire to help us along our path to become more like our Savior.  I testify that at his core is a genuine love and concern for every member of his ward.  Every time I speak with him, I feel a confirmation of his sincere desire to strengthen our ward family.  He is a good shepherd over his little flock.  I am grateful he is at the helm.  Bishop Blaylock is a great blessing in my life, and I just want to encourage any sisters who might be struggling with sin, addiction, or pain to go to him.  I testify he holds to keys and the mantle of his calling.  I would also encourage all of us to express appreciation more often for the time and energy he puts into his calling.

Along with those thoughts on our good bishop, I felt it was appropriate to ask him what message he would like to share with the amazing sisters of our ward.  This is what Bishop Blaylock had to say:

“I would like all sisters to realize the power that they have in the church and the priesthood. Families cannot be exalted without a worthy husband and wife working as equals in a family. Women are essential in God's eternal plan.”

He wants us to know that all God’s children have access to priesthood blessings.  He shared a beautiful quote by Elder M. Russell Ballard that supports that thought:

"When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which by definition is priesthood power. While the authority of the priesthood is directed through priesthood keys, and priesthood keys are held only by worthy men, access to the power and blessings of the priesthood is available to all of God’s children."

“In our Heavenly Father’s great priesthood-endowed plan, men have the unique responsibility to administer the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. Men and women have different but equally valued roles. Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man, so a man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. … In the eternal perspective, both the procreative power and the priesthood power are shared by husband and wife.”

Isn’t that an enlightening idea?!  What power and potential we have.  What a great bishop to remind us of that.

Thank you for all you do!  I encourage you to visit and check up on your Visiting Teaching sisters.  I need to know how they are doing.  I’m counting on you.  We love and appreciate you so much!  (Special thanks to you sweet sisters who took an extra name or two to visit today.  I feel so grateful!) Have a marvelous week, and a very special Memorial Day tomorrow.

Love,

Lydia