Be Not Entangled

Hello Sisters!

This last week, I took my kids to the river to play.  I joined them for a little bit, and then watched them along the river bank.  While I sat there, I noticed some huge spider webs spun between the tree trunks next to me.  

I must confess, I'm not very keen on spiders, but I was mesmerized as I watched a small ant that had fallen into the web.  He dangled from a strand for about one second.  The huge spider sat watching a waiting in it's lair, but he immediately rushed to it, snatched it, and took it right back into it's lair.

I'm not sure what the little ant was doing up in the tree near the web in the first place, but I was reminded of this experience as Sis. Herbert read Galatians 5:1 during the lesson on Obedience on Sunday.

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

"True freedom lies in obedience to the councils of God." (Proverbs 6:23)

I really believe that.  I think that Satan truly wants to drag us down.  We have to keep the commandments and watch ourselves.

3 Nehpi 18:18-20

Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

Don't forget that nasty spider waiting in the wings.  Find freedom in obedience. Smile, and keep the Holy Ghost near you!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

Purified Until They Are Cleansed

Dear Sisters,

I hope your summer has been wonderful!  Hope you are enjoyed the sunshine and some of those summer projects.  I was working on a project last week that involved some spray paint.  I foolishly left the can of spray paint out while I stepped away for a minute.  (I should have known better!)  Of course, my son Brigham got curious, and began experimenting with the spray can.  I came back to a couple of blue spots sprayed onto our concrete.  I was not happy with him.  I didn’t yell, but I very firmly told him he needed to get the scrub brush and start working it out of the concrete.  He sat there pathetically crying and scrubbing, while I declared in frustration that “every time you see this spot, it will remind you of the naughty thing you did, so you won’t ever do that again!”  

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It was fitting that in my scripture study the next morning, I came across the scripture in Isaiah 1:18,

Come now, and let us reason together saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Through the companionship of the Holy Ghost, I could see the opportunity for a teaching moment.  I later talked to Brigham about that scripture and told him that as a parent, I’m commanded to teach my children about repentance and how to stay clean.  We looked at the spot together, and although he and I scrubbed as hard as we could, even though the paint was fresh, we couldn’t quite get all of it out.  It would have been even harder if the paint had had time to dry.  I told him that when we make a mistake, it is good to recognize it quickly, and try to do everything we can to make it right, but it is only through the atonement that the “spot” can be completely removed.

What a blessing that promise it.  We all make mistakes.  Isn’t it wonderful to know that through our loving Savior, our garments can become spotless through his atoning sacrifice?  We can become clean completely, as we apply the atonement. 

There can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins. (Alma 5:21)

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I’m so thankful for my Savior and his sacrifice.  I hope we all take advantage of that precious gift.  If you have a “spot” you haven’t quite taken care of, remember that he can help you.

Have a lovely week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

Allegory of the Icy Driveway

Dear Sisters,

So… how about all this snow? J  It is actually all this white stuff that inspired my thoughts this week.

I recently had the “opportunity” to chip away at a driveway full of frozen packed ice and snow.  We have often had sweet neighbors take care of us, so I don’t want to dismiss their kindness, but they had plenty snow of their own to worry about.  Doug gets to plow snow at the temple whenever it comes down and I’m at work, so between the two of us, we don’t usually get to it very early.  We had both come home tired and quickly forgot about our driveway.  We left it for a day thinking the sun might melt it, but the frozen mess remained. 

Finally, after I nearly got stuck trying to pull into the driveway, I decided I had better address it.  As I chiseled away at the ice with a metal shovel so that my van could get through, I kept thinking, “I wish I would have just shoveled this when the snow was fresh.  It would have been so much easier!  Why didn’t we do that?!”  I found myself repeating this question several times throughout this tedious, labor intensive process.  I usually do my pondering during the menial tasks, when my mind wanders.  It was at this point that I recognized that there was a lesson to be learned here. 

While I chipped at the ice, I considered how it could represent our unrepentant sins, mistakes, or even grudges.  The longer we wait to address them, the more difficult the process of repentance can become.  It is hard work either way, but if we “frankly forgive” or “speedily repent” in the beginning when “the snow is soft,” then the heart might not have quite as much time to “freeze and harden.”  If you have something you need to repent of, don’t wait another day—get the shovel out and chip away at the ice.  Schedule an appointment with the bishop if it is something you need help addressing.

“When we sin, we turn away from God.  When we repent, we turn back toward God.  The invitation to repent is rarely a voice of chastisement but rather a loving appeal to turn around and to “re-turn” toward God.  It is the beckoning of a loving Father and His Only Begotten Son to be more than we are, to reach up to a higher way of life, to change, and to feel the happiness of keeping the commandments.  Being disciples of Christ, we rejoice in the blessing of repenting and the joy of being forgiven.  They become part of us, shaping the way we think and feel.”  -Elder Neil L. Anderson

Although my hours of hard work on the ice were unpleasant, it was satisfying once it was complete.  I still had some rough patches here and there, but was happy to find that when the sun came out the next day, it was just warm enough to melt the remaining slush away, resulting in a clear driveway.  I felt that the sun could represent the Son of God’s atonement.  He heals without a scar.  He promises that if we forsake our sins, he will remember them no more.

 “Any pain entailed in repentance will always be far less than the suffering required to satisfy justice for unresolved transgression.  The Savior spoke little about what He endured to satisfy the demands of justice and atone for our sins, but He did make this revealing statement:

“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup.” -Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Sisters, I testify that the Savior can heal you.  If there is something in your life that you know you need to change or fix, don’t put off clearing that driveway any longer—catch it while the snow is fresh.  And if it’s already frozen, it’s not too late… pull out your shovel and get to work. J You will not regret your efforts.

Whatever the cost of repentance, it is swallowed up in the joy of forgiveness.

I hope you have a wonderful week.  Stay warm.  Travel save.  And truly, good luck with your driveways. ;)

Sincerely,

Lydia

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

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

Hope through the Atonement of Christ

Dear Sisters!

I hope you had a good Sunday.  I am trying to make my Sundays more of a “delight” and I just picked a bowl of black berries, and I think I am there. J  If you’re not feeling delighted with life, come over and have a couple of my blackberries, and they will fix that.  I believe they will cure anything!

Actually, I want to talk about the real cure… the real reason we have hope.  I love my Savior!  He gives me hope.

"And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise." (Moroni 7:41)

This last week, my son, Seth, asked me a question that I’ve been pondering.  After he had done something wrong and was feeling bad, he said, “Mommy, did Jesus ever make any mistakes?”  It gave me a wonderful opportunity to talk about how perfect the Savior is.  No—he never made a mistake, but he willingly paid for all our mistakes, conquered death, and made it possible for us to return to Heavenly Father.  

What unbelievable love and compassion he must have for us, and what love, humility, and deep respect we should have for him.  Part of that love and respect is shown by using the gift he offers us.  When we repent, we show our gratitude and appreciation for his great sacrifice.

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"The Savior wrought the Atonement, which provides a way for us to become clean. Jesus Christ is the resurrected Christ. We worship and recognize Him for the pain He suffered for us collectively and for the pain He endured for each of us individually, both in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. He bore all with great humility and with an eternal understanding of His divine role and purpose.

Those who will repent and forsake sin will find that His merciful arm is outstretched still. Those who listen to and heed His words and the words of His chosen servants will find peace and understanding even in the midst of great heartache and sorrow. The result of His sacrifice is to free us from the effects of sin, that all may have guilt erased and feel hope.” (Elder Packer)

As I visit with you sisters, I am truly amazed by the strength and faith that often, you don’t even realize you have.  You overcome big obstacles and you press on, very much like our Pioneer ancestors as they endured their journey across the plains.  I just want to remind you to turn to your Savior.  Use his gift, and when you are down, remember there is ALWAYS HOPE!  I want to quote our ward missionary, Elder Taylor, who is famous for saying, “The Atonement even covers that.”  It’s true!  It really does.  Pour your heart out to the one who knows you best.

President Ellis’s words in sacrament meeting today rang true to me, that “there is no aspect of our lives that the atonement doesn’t affect or improve.”

Please remember there is always hope, because of the atonement. 

Have a wonderful week!  Happy Pioneer Day!

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

Growing!

Dear Sisters—

I just can’t wait to get my hands in the dirt after Sis. Garner’s lesson today, and her analogy between sisters in the Relief Society and a garden.  Truly, we need all types!  We are so thankful you are part of our little garden.  She talked about how we need patience, new growing opportunities, blooming where you are planted, and consistent persevering perennials.  I loved how Sis. Salisbury drew the analogy even further by encouraging us to pull out the weeds, or weaknesses and sins in our lives.

Marilyn shared this quote when she talked about our need for patience:

“Too often we approach the gospel like a farmer who places a seed in the ground in the morning and expects corn on the cob by the afternoon. When Alma compared the word of God to a seed, he explained that the seed grows into a fruit-bearing tree gradually, as a result of our “faith, and [our] diligence, and patience, and long-suffering.”  It’s true that some blessings come right away: soon after we plant the seed in our hearts, it begins to swell and sprout and grow, and by this we know that the seed is good. From the very moment we set foot upon the pathway of discipleship, seen and unseen blessings from God begin to attend us.”

Be patient in your growth.  I testify that as you continue to except new opportunities to stretch and grow spiritually, blessings will come.  Be faithful and diligent!  We love you!

-Lydia