Conversations that Strengthen

Dear Sisters,

Who is ready to start another school year?!  I’m feeling pretty excited myself, but you would never guess that by how it has been affecting me physically.  I have been dealing with some painful cold sores and cankers all over the roof of my mouth, and even on my tongue.  Clearly I need to de-stress. ;)  They have made eating and even talking very painful.  I mention this, because these sores caused me to ponder a thought that I wanted to share with you this week.

As I have sought relief from these painful sores, I was able to attend the temple this week to do initiatory.  I won’t go into detail about my experience, because of its sacred nature, but afterwards, I was inspired to look up these scriptures:

Peter 3:10-11

 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

Psalms 34:13-15

 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

 15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

As I read these words, so conscious of the pain in my mouth, I imagined the occasional unkind words that sometimes come out of my mouth without thought.  What if those words hurt us as much as they hurt those who they are directed at?

“When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:

Stop it!

It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters.”

-Elder Uchtdorf

I’m happy to say that the sores in my mouth have now healed, and I am recommitted to speaking kind words that will strengthen the people around me.

D&C 108:7

 7 Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.

 8 And behold, and lo, I am with you to bless you and deliver you forever. Amen.

I testify that as we speak positively with love and kindness to the people around us, the Lord will bless us with understanding and love for them, and we will feel happier.  Try to use kind words that “strengthen” the people around you this week.

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You are loved!

Sincerely,

Lydia

The Lord Cares, Act Now

Dear Sisters,

I just wanted to testify of how mindful the Lord is of each of us and how important it is to listen to and act on spiritual promptings.

I wanted to share an experience I had this last week.  I shared it in my testimony yesterday, so I’m sorry if you are hearing it twice. :)

Last week, I planned a fun day trip with the kids.  We were all ready to go, but the entire time I prepared, I felt a nagging feeling that something was wrong and we shouldn’t go, but I wasn’t sure why.  I knew the importance of being sensitive to those feelings, so I decided not to go, much to the disappointment of my kiddos.  We ended up running some errands around town, and while I was out and about, I noticed that the front tire seemed rather low.  After taking it into the shop, I discovered that it did indeed have a nail in it.  I was able to fix the problem with very little trouble.

I don’t know what might have happened if we had taken our trip, but I DO know that my Heavenly Father cares very much about me and the details of my life.  I know we are richly blessed as we heed spiritual promptings, and our ability to hear them in the future is increased, as we act of them.  We are so fortunate to have a spiritual guide through life, and we need to take advantage of this great gift and blessing.

“The gift of the Holy Ghost, if you consent, will guide and protect you and even correct your actions. It is a spiritual voice that comes into the mind as a thought or a feeling put into your heart. … It is not expected that you go through life without making mistakes, but you will not make a major mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the Spirit. This promise applies to all members of the Church.”

President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Counsel to Youth,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 17–18.

This week, try to be sensitive to the promptings of the spirit.  Be sure to act of them, and I promise you will be blessed.

Sincerely,

Lydia

"Friendship that will be Delightful and Enduring"

Dear Sisters,

Last night, my five year old came up to me with a notebook full of drawings done by his older brother.  He turned to me, pointing to a picture, and said, “Can you believe that kid?!  Isn’t he just so cute?”  I couldn’t smile big enough. J  Obviously he had heard me say something similar to my husband.  It cracked me up that he was so serious and acting like an adult.  It reminded me how very quickly this time when they are little flies by.  I just want to love every minute, and sometimes I forget to do that.

I’m working on enjoying the small moments with my children, but I especially need to work on remembering the sweet guy that supports me behind the scenes, in everything I do.  One of the best things I can do for my kids is to show them that I love and think the world of their Dad.

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My message today can apply to any sister or circumstance, but is particularly for young mothers.  I love this quote by Sis. Marjorie Pay Hinckley,

“I know it is hard for you young mothers to believe that almost before you can turn around the children will be gone and you will be alone with your husband.  You had better be sure you are developing the kind of love and friendship that will be delightful and enduring.  Let the children learn from your attitude that he is important.  Encourage him.  Be kind.  It is a rough world, and he, like everyone else, is fighting to survive.  Be cheerful.  Don’t be a whiner.”

Isn’t that a beautiful perspective?  I especially love that ending there—“Be cheerful.  Don’t be a whiner.”  Sometimes we complain—you know what I’m talking about: “It’s not fair, I was up all night with the baby and you slept through the whole thing,” or “I am sick and tired of cleaning up everyone else’s messes!”   Just think back on your interactions.  Are you cheerful and encouraging?  Or is there a little too much whining going on?  That is something I know I’m going to work on.

“Marriage is still very much a living institution, worth all the time and patience invested in it.  Marriage is the stable structure that encircles and supports two clumsy individuals, learning to love and live with each other.”

-Ronna Romney and Beppie Harrison, “Giving Time a Chance”

I love this candid "in-between" snap shot of my family during our recent reunion photo-shoot, because it captures a sweet moment between my mom and dad, who are good examples to me of having an eternal perspective and nurturing that love even with all the chaos that comes with raising six kids.

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I hope this week you find some time to nurture your marriage or a family relationship.  “Develop that kind of love and friendship that will be delightful and enduring.”  I promise you rarely, if ever, regret being kind.

Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

"Nourish it with care, that it may get root"

Hello Sisters and Happy Pioneer Day!!!

We are so grateful for the examples of the good men and women who went before us and made possible the blessings we enjoy today!  We are blessed daily by their vision and courage!

“We must be sure that the legacy of faith received from the pioneers who came before us is never lost.”

                                               -M. Russell Ballard

Speaking of faith, I happen to be studying Alma 32 where he teaches about planting the seed of faith in our hearts.  Perhaps it stuck with me because trees and seeds have kind of been on my mind this week—mostly likely because I painted a big wall mural of a tree in my classroom this week…

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And then I climbed a tree to pick and bottle a million apricots…

 

…So I’ve got some real life application going on here. J

These experiences, combined with reading Alma, have caused me to reflect on my faith, and what I am doing to nourish the seed or word of God.  In other words, what am I doing to strengthen my testimony of the gospel?

(I wanted to paste some scriptures out of Alma 32, and I ended up highlighting the entire chapter.  I think this parable of the seed is one of my absolute favorites, because it is so simple and clear.  Please take a moment this week to at least read Alma 32:28-43.  This parable has powerful application for all of us.)

I will highlight the gist of the Parable of the Seed:

Alma compares the word of God to a seed.  He encourages us to plant it in our heart and see how it makes us feel, so that we can know if the word is good or bad.  He says if we continue to nourish it, it will grow, as will our faith and understanding.  He also points out that the knowledge gained isn’t perfect because we still need to exercise faith.  So far, we’ve only planted the seed.  We have to “nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit.” 

I think this next verse is interesting, because he warns that if we neglect the tree and don’t allow it to take root, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good seed or that the fruit wouldn’t be good.  It means the ground was bad, and the seed wasn’t nourished, so we don’t get the fruit, or “knowledge” that comes from having faith.

Question: How is quality of our soil (or heart)?  Have we nourished it?  Are you fanning or dousing the flames of our faith?  I’ve notice that sometimes, when someone becomes inactive, they forget their faith, and start to think that maybe the seed wasn’t good, when in reality, the seed wasn’t nourished and it was planted in barren ground.

On the other hand, when we nourish the seed, wonderful things happen…

 41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

 42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

What a promise!!!  The knowledge and rewards we receive from being faithful will be “sweet above all that is sweet.”  Don’t forget that it requires faith, diligence, and patience.

I hope and pray that you sisters will plant the gospel deep in your heart and nourish it through faith and study, and I testify that with patience, your testimony and understand of the gospel will flourish.

The Lord wants us to have that “precious fruit.”  He wants us experience the fullness of the gospel in action.  This week, in honor of our faithful Pioneer ancestors, I hope we will all find ways to “fan the flames of our faith.”

Sweet sisters, I love you.  I pray for you.  I pray that the Lord will give your opportunities to strengthen your testimony and faith… so I’m sorry if you get some extra faith-building bumps in the road.  The Lord usually hears my prayer. ;)

Sincerely,

Lydia

"A Charity Case"

Dear Sisters,

The summer is passing by too quickly!  Hope you are enjoying the sunshine and fun family activities.

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I recently heard a sister say she didn’t want meals or visits because she didn’t want to be known as “a charity case.”  I understood what she was trying to say and I admired her desire to be self-reliant, however as I have since pondered on what it means to have charity, I believe there are lessons for all of us, both on the giving and receiving end of charity.  I’m sure these scriptures in Moroni 7 is familiar to you:

 45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Take a moment to ponder the attributes of charity and see how you are doing.  Consider, with those beautiful verses of scripture in mind, that perhaps it isn’t such a bad thing to be “a charity case.”  Shouldn’t we all desire to either give or relieve the pure love of Christ?  If you are in need of charity or service of some kind, please don’t deny someone the opportunity to share or show Christ’s pure love by serving you.  They may need it just as much as you.  We are stronger when we are loving and serving each other.

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This was illustrated in my own life just this last week.  I had to meet for a full day curriculum planning.  I had made arrangements for my kids, but they fell through.  Feeling troubled about what to do regarding childcare, I said a simple prayer that things would work out, and then I started cleaning up the kitchen… because that was something I can always do. ;)  When I took the trash out, I heard a voice say “Hey Sis!  How are you doing?”  I looked up to see sweet Peggy Blaylock peaking out of her bedroom window.  We exchanged hellos and then she said, “I was wondering if you would let me take your kids tomorrow.  I would love to take them to the family history center jubilee.”  I hadn’t even said a word about needing help.  Tears filled my eyes as the knowledge of the Saviors love washed over me.  He was aware of me and my needs, and I was so touched that Peggy was in-tune enough to know just what I needed at that moment.  Her sweet act of charity truly allowed me to feel that pure love of Christ.

Sisters, our inspired Relief Society moto of ‘Charity never faileth’ is truly one to live by, and “it will be well with us” if we do.  We all need to give and receive the pure love of Christ.  In my book, it’s ok to be known as “a charity case.” J

Sincerely,

Lydia

Turn Around and Face God

Dear Sisters,

Happy Sabbath!  I haven’t forgotten about you!  Life just got a little busy and eventful on this end.   I’ve been taking a couple classes to keep my teaching certificate current.

Maybe it’s because things have been so busy around here, that I have been simplifying things in my mind.  It hit me recently how simple the gospel really is.  Here are some simple truths I pulled out of my reading in Alma chapter 9.  (This is when Alma left the judgment seat to do missionary work and returned the second time to cry repentance to the wicked people of Ammonihah who threw him out last time.)

• Don’t harden your heart or have a “stiff neck”.
• Keep the commandments and you will prosper.
• Disobey the commandments and the Lord can’t be with you.  You loose the light of the gospel and potential blessings.
• We are “highly favored” and have the fullness of the gospel.  The Lord will hold us accountable for it.
• We need to “remember” our ancestors and our past and how we got here. (Doubt your doubts before your doubt your faith.)
• The Lord is merciful if you call on him.  Repent and he will forgive.

I think the phrase “stiff-necked” is fascinating.  I especially think it is interesting when you know that the original word for repentance in ancient Hebrew is “shuv” which means to turn around and go a different direction.  Eventually, repentance became “teshuvah” which means “to turn around and face God” or “to turn to God.”

A stiff-necked person is unwilling or unable to turn their head to face God.  Their neck is stiff.  They WILL NOT repent and turn to the Lord.  I think in our day it takes an interesting form.  We rely on the arm of flesh often.  Our neck is set with our head looking down to earth for all our needs.  We won’t or can’t look up to God because our neck is set in place.

I have so enjoyed visiting with many of you as we have gone around on our Presidency Popsicle visits over the last couple weeks.  We still have a few of you to visit, so don’t think we’ve forgotten you, and if we have, remind us because we want to see you. J  Anyway, occasionally we have visited a sister or two that is upset with the church or offended about something.  It is usually clear that they are not “prospering”.  Their heart has become hard and their neck is stiff, and they are unhappy.  It breaks my own heart.  I wish I could always have the right words to say, that might soften their hearts.  I would just encourage each of you to keep the commandments and make sure you are regularly repenting.  If your heart is hard, allow the Lord to heal it.  Sacrament meeting is a wonderful setting for this process to take place!

We would do well to take a moment to ponder on the state of our “neck”. (As funny as that sounds. J)  If we find that it is stiff, we can always repent or “turn around and face God”.  I testify that our lives will be richly blessed and we will prosper if we do.

Sincerely,

Lydia 

PS.  Happy Independence Day!  

​I hope you have a happy, safe day celebrating our blessed country and the freedoms we enjoy!

In this there is Safety and Peace

Dear Sisters,

I meant to get an email out all last week, and the time just got away from me, but you have been in my thoughts and prayers.

I thought I would just share a few thoughts from my lesson last Sunday.  I apologize if you are hearing it for the second time, but I miss you primary and young women sisters, too. J

With our ward Relief Society theme of “Faith to Follow the Prophet”, I have felt impressed for some time that I needed to emphasize the importance of keeping the commandments, especially since that was the title of one of our prophets most recent talks.  He reminded us that the commandments are not restrictions that keep us from being happy, but are in fact they way to happiness.

This spring, we were able to enjoy the fruit of our fall planting labor, as we watched the beautiful bulbs pop up. 

At one point, I noticed a plant growing around the tulips.  I didn’t recognize it, so I decided to leave it and see what it might turn out to be.  I described it to my husband and asked what it was, and he warned me not to pull it out, but let him spray it or it would come back more aggressively.

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I soon found out he was right.

This weed craftily bound itself around the nearby tulips and choked them out.  It curled itself around the stems to climb high, but in the end, they all fell.

This experience caused me to ponder how, like the weed, Satan tried to bind us and take away our precious gift of agency.  And also, how sometimes, when the weeds are really bad, we might need "an expert" or “the Savior” to help us remove them.

·         2 Ne 2:27: (Note the way Satan is described in this verse.)

o    27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

Sisters, just as the song says, I testify that there is great “safety and peace” in keeping the commandments.

“When we keep the commandments, our lives will be happier, more fulfilling, and less complicated. Our challenges and problems will be easier to bear, and we will receive His promised blessings.” 

(Pres. Monson)

I hope each of us will "choose liberty and eternal life" by clinging to the Savior.  Please take a moment this week to reflect on how keeping the commandment has made your life happier, more fulfilling, and less complicated, and express gratitude to the Lord for giving you commandments to live by.

I love you and hope you have a wonderful sunshiny week!

Sincerely,

Lydia