Heavenly Father, the Perfect Parent

Dear Sisters,

This week, during my scripture study, I noticed such a great pattern for excellent parenting.  In Alma 12:27-34, Alma does a beautiful job of laying out the doctrine behind the Fall of Adam, and Heavenly Father's plan.   God is such a perfect parent.  To begin with, he had an excellent plan, then he allowed his children to fall and make a mistake.  He used that as an opportunity to teach.  "He sent angels to converse with them" and "he conversed with them", taught them his plan according to their faith, and checked for understanding.  Once he felt they understood, he gave them commandments, and allowed them "to act according to their will and pleasure" -- in other words, he let them exercise their agency.  But knowing they would make poor choices from time to time, in his mercy, he provided them with a Savior, who would make it possible for them to repent and return to him.

These steps are fairly simple and familiar to us, but it occurred to me as I was reading them, how great it would be if I tried to follow his example a little closer in my own parenting.  Sometimes I get short with my kids or I focus on their short comings, and I'm quick to correct their mistakes.  

This week, I'm going to try to be more understanding when my children make mistakes.  I'm going to take time to teach and check for understanding, so that my expectations are clear.  And if they still make mistakes, I'm going to teach and remind them about repentance.  

I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father, who, in his great wisdom, created such a beautiful plan for us to return to Him.  I like to think that I was one of the ones who "shouted for joy" when I learned of this plan.  He is so merciful and good to us.  I'm grateful he has given us a living prophet and apostles.  Wasn't General Conference wonderful?!  I was inspired to do and be better, and I look forward to studying the talks closely.

I hope you take advantage of the tools God has made available to you to be successful in keeping his commandments.  Study the scriptures and conference talks.  Follow his excellent example this week!

Hope you have a lovely week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

Be A Little Kinder

Dear Sisters,

My sweet husband just told me a cute story about when he was a young boy.  His neighbors were having a company remove a tree stump from their yard.  The company's truck was partially in his family's driveway, and at one point, their truck spun out and did some damage to the driveway.  Doug was frustrated with them, thinking how foolish they had been, but he watched his Dad quietly go outside, and instead of getting justifiably upset, he kindly asked how he could help.  His simple attitude of kindness completely transformed the situation for the embarrassed, apologetic driver, and left quite an impact of the observing son.

  

His story was a good reminder to me to react with kindness.  We are often met with challenging situations that can test our patience and faith, but I believe things will always improve as we respond with loving kindness.

"Now, brothers and sisters, let us return to our homes with resolution in our hearts to do a little better than we've one in the past. We can all be a little kinder, a little more generous, a little more thoughtful of one another. We can be a little more tolerant and friendly to those not of our faith, going out of our way to show our respect for them. We cannot afford to be arrogant or self-righteous. It is our obligation to reach out in helpfulness, not only to our own but to all others as well.

May God help us to be a little kinder, showing forth greater forbearance, to be more forgiving, more willing to walk the second mile, to reach down and lift up those who may have sinned but have brought forth the fruits of repentance, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more." (President Hinckley)

This week, as you are met with a challenge, approach it in the patient way our Savior would.

Matthew 5:44-45

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven

I sure love you sisters!  I'm grateful to rub shoulders with such great woman.  I hope you have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

An Influence for Good

Dear Sisters,

I sat in sacrament meeting today, and couldn't help but notice a cute little girl in front of me watching her mother closely.  As her mother crossed her legs, so did she.  As her mother ran her fingers through her hair, so did she.  As her mother took the sacrament, so did she.  It made me smile.  Then I noticed a little later a young boy watching his Grandma.  His eyes were full of love and admiration, and he gently rested his head on her shoulder.  These two images touched me.  This quote from Elder Uchtdorf came to mind:

"I hope that my dear sisters throughout the world—grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and friends—never underestimate the power of their influence for good, especially in the lives of our precious children and youth!"

President Heber J. Grant (1856–1945) said, “Without the devotion and absolute testimony of the living God in the hearts of our mothers, this Church would die.”  And the writer of Proverbs said, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

President Gordon B. Hinckley counseled the women of the Church:

“It is so tremendously important that the women of the Church stand strong and immovable for that which is correct and proper under the plan of the Lord. …

“We call upon the women of the Church to stand together for righteousness. They must begin in their own homes. They can teach it in their classes. They can voice it in their communities.” ²

Never under estimate the power of your influence!  Your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends are watching you.  Be an influence for good.  Be an example of the believers.  Be a source of light and truth for them.  Don't be afraid to share your testimony with them.  They are watching you, and need your example of faith.

Find someone you can influence for good this week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

Draw All Men Unto Him

Dear Sisters,

Hope you are doing well!

In an effort to “Always Remember Christ” this year, I started reading the Book of Mormon with my daughters every morning before school.  Honestly, I’ve surprised myself with being able to get up consistently—mornings can sometimes be a struggle, and that extra half-hour of sleep seemed so tempting at first. :)  For me, starting a new routine or habit can seems a little daunting.  Although it’s still challenging sometimes, it’s made me realize how quickly we can make a positive change in our lives when we put our mind to it.  I tend to make a lot of excuses, but it really just takes a little extra will power. 

Yesterday, we read these beautiful verses that I would really like to memorize:

2 Nephi 26:23-24

For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.

He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him.  Wherefore, he commanded none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

Isn’t that great?!  My girls and I talked about the visual image of a campfire or a bright light, and how you are drawn to it when you are walking in darkness.  

​

The Savior’s light is tremendous because of his infinite sacrifice, and our spirits are drawn to the light of Christ.  I also love the emphasis that the Lord doesn’t work in darkness—he wants things to be plain and clear to us.  Everything he does is FOR us.  That scripture can help make it easier to know whether or not something is good or bad.

So… this week’s challenges: Always Remember Him!  Pick a small positive goal and make it a habit.  Read your scriptures.  And of course, remember that “the Lord works in the light.”  May you seek and find some of that light this week.

Sincerely,

Lydia

"Virtuous, Lovely, or of Good Report"

Dear Sisters,

I hope you are well and happy this lovely Sunday.  It's been nice to find the sun again.

Last Sunday, we had a great 5th Sunday lesson about technology.  We were tutored on how to use some of the Church produced apps like LDS Tools and the Gospel Library.  

We live in a miraculous time when a wealth of information and incredible resources are at our fingertips.  It is so important to use our electronic devices for good.  I'm grateful the church has come up with some amazing apps like these and family search, so that we can use to further our understanding of the Gospel.  

"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

This is a neat video clip the church created about technology:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CstRqAlAZf0

I hope you will find some good ways use technology this week.  Study your scriptures, listen to some hymns, or watch some bible videos.  Fill your lives with good, up-lifting things.

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.

​

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

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