Stay on the Path

Hello Dear Sisters!

Isn’t summer wonderful!  I hope you are enjoying the sunshine and making happy family memories.

Speaking of memories, I can remember a summer as a young teenage girl when I got to spend a week with my grandparents in Salt Lake City.  It was really fun for me to have that one on one time.  I had just gotten my license and my Grandpa let me drive while he took me home to Idaho.  I think I was reminded of this drive, because Doug and I just made it as we dropped our kids off for a few days with Grandparents.  One part of that drive with Grandpa really stuck with me.  I can remember we had just made it over the Malad pass and could see the valley below, but in the far distance, we could see a billowing cloud and a wall of gray.  
​We continued on our course, singing silly songs and talking together, but we noticed the wall getting closer and closer.  It was confusing because it was such a lovely, sunny day, and everything seemed fine.  As we got a little closer we could see it was a very thick wall of rain.  As a new driver, I was a little nervous.  My wise Grandpa suggested that I pull off to the side of the highway.  I did so just in time.  The wall hit with intense force.  Hail, wind, and rain pounded the car and impaired the view.  The intense storm blew over pretty quickly, and it was almost surreal the way it returned to a lovely sunny day again.  I’m not sure what would have happened if I hadn’t heeded my Grandpa’s wise council to pull over.  I think it would have been very easy to lose control of the car and drive off the road.

We have a wise prophet that has a very clear view of what lies ahead.  He is experienced and in-tune, and he and his apostles issue warnings and give wise council regularly.  If we are not careful to heed this council, our view may become impaired and we could very easily drive of the path.

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I would encourage all of us to listen to and obey our prophet’s council.  He recently asked us to read the scriptures every day.  Here are his words:

This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.

We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you. If it is true—and I solemnly testify that it is—then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Isn’t that perfect council?  It’s simple, but so important.  Read your scriptures every day and follow the prophet!

I hope you have a lovely week!  Stay on the path.

Sincerely,

Lydia

He is Mighty to Save

Dear Sisters,

I hope all of you were able to attend our Stake Conference today.  What a special meeting.  I’m sure we all feel deep gratitude for President Ellis and the time and sacrifice he put into his service.  I am very excited for President Tuck to lead and teach us.  I’m sure he will be just what our Stake needs.

I enjoyed hearing many of your experiences with the Book of Mormon Saturday morning at the Christmas Breakfast.  Your testimonies strengthened mine.  I know that we can always turn to the scriptures for answers and comfort.  It is a wonderful source of truth and guidance.  

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I appreciate all those who accepted the challenge to try to read the scriptures every day, and try finish the Book of Mormon by Christmas.  Even my nine year old Autumn took on the challenge, and I think she will finish before me.  She says it is her favorite book now.  I have had to tell her to “Stop reading the Book of Mormon and come to dinner,” or “go to bed.” A couple times… words I never thought I would say. :)  I testify that great blessings come from reading the Book of Mormon.  Pres. Hinckley promised that as we read the Book of Mormon,

“There will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God”

I hope you will continue your pattern of scripture reading into the new year, or use it as an opportunity to start fresh and make it a habit.

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I recently read the wonderful section when Samuel prophesies of Christ’s birth, and tells the people of the signs to watch for. 

Many of the people don’t believe, and even try to kill Samuel, but some listened and believed and seek for the prophet because they wanted to repent and be baptized.  Those believers watched and waited for a long time.  The unbelievers mocked them and said it was past time.  They set a date for the signs to appear and threatened that if they had not come by that time, the believers would be put to death.  How frightening that must have been.  Those people must have had great faith.  The prophet prayed that Christ would come, and just as Samuel had prophesied, the signs appeared, and there were three days of light.  The unbelievers were amazed and left the believers alone.

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It occurred to me, as I was reading, that Christ was a “Savior” as soon as he came to earth.  He may have been only an infant, but his humble birth saved the lives of all those who believed and looked for the signs of his coming.  He truly is good at “saving”.  I am so grateful for his ability to rescue us.

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 Alma 34:18 “Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is might to save."

Turn to Him, and He will help you through any trial.  I know He loves you!

Sincerely,

Lydia

Distinct and Different in Happy Ways!

Dear Sisters,

Do you realize how precious you are?  Do you recognize the vital part you play in preparing the world for the second coming of the Lord?  Our lesson today was on Leadership, and I couldn’t help but think of this quote by Elder Packer:

“We need women who are organized and women who can organize. We need women with executive ability who can plan and direct and administer; women who can teach, women who can speak out. …

“We need women with the gift of discernment who can view the trends in the world and detect those that, however popular, are shallow or dangerous.”

Tonight, I would like to echo Elder Nelson’s words from his most recent talk, “A Plea to My Sisters.”  This is a talk I urge each of you to familiarize yourselves with—I would very much like to quote the entire talk… in fact I did, and then I had to painfully edit and re-edit. Brevity is not one of my strong suits.  

He quoted a prophecy President Kimball made over 30 years ago.

“Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world … will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.”

 

Elder Nelson exclaimed that we are the women he foresaw!  Do you think of yourself as distinct and different in happy ways?  I absolutely love that idea and the reminder that we need to stand out and “lighten up.”  The Gospel should be bringing you joy!  

“I wonder if we as Church members might benefit from asking ourselves from time to time: “Is my experience in the Church working for me? Is it bringing me closer to Christ? Is it blessing me and my family with peace and joy as promised in the gospel?” (Elder Uchtdorf)

If we are not feeling joy in the gospel, Elder Uchtdorf urges us to “simply” and “start where we are.” 

“God will take you as you are at this very moment and begin to work with you. All you need is a willing heart, a desire to believe, and trust in the Lord.”

“Today, we need women who know how to make important things happen by their faith and who are courageous defenders of morality and families in a sin-sick world.

 

I pray each of you will do your part to fulfill President Kimball’s prophecy. Elder Nelson promises that as we do, “the Holy Ghost will magnify your influence in an unprecedented way!”

Start where you are!

Sincerely,

Lydia