Because of Him

Because of Him I can do all things and live with Him again. Click here for the full Easter Story with beautiful pictures of our Savior.

I wish your family all a Happy Easter weekend as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the one who teaches me how to love, how to be a mother, how to forgive, and how to be guided by the spirit.  I know that he lifts me through my trials and that he can make me whole again.  May we all feel of his infinite love and peace.

Manna from Heaven

This content of this video comes from a CES fireside and this Ensign article.

This week I studied and prepared to teach the gospel doctrine Old Testament lesson #14 which covers the first couple months of time after the of the Israelites escape bondage from the Egyptians.  The House of Israel face many challenges and opportunities to learn how to recognize the hand of the Lord in their lives as they are taught by the prophet, Moses.  One BYU scholar said "that while the Lord gets the people out of Egypt, the real challenge is getting Egypt out of Israel."  Isn't that so true with us today as we live in the world, but try to get the worldliness out of ourselves?

The manna from heaven provided them with physical food and a daily reminder of who they relied on for both their physical and spiritual nourishment.  Can you imagine living 40 years on manna and quail?  The word "manna" comes from the Hebrew word "man-hu" meaning, "What is it."

So many lessons can be learned from this manna, including lessons of:  strict obedience, faith that they would be provided for daily, avoiding greed, and keeping the Sabbath day holy.  

Recently our family has been studying Moses in the Bible and the Book of Abraham.  Our children are facinated by the old 1956 movie, The Ten Commandments.  We have been reading the scriptures with the children and then watching the movie in short segments as we read.  It has taken us a couple weeks.  It is really funny how they beg to watch the movie, they have never begged for any other movie like they have this one.  It has been a great opportunity to teach them what we know from the scriptures and what Hollywood elaborated on.

Powerful Monologue - Must Watch

This is a powerful, silent monologue.  I hope you take 10 minutes to watch it, even if you aren't a Glenn Beck fan.  This got me thinking what would my last words be?  What did my words tell of me today?  

Angels Round About You

This short video clip is taken from Elder Holland's talk that he gave in the October General Conference of 2008.  I found it as I was studying for my Sunday School lesson.  It is a very timely message for me.  I am fascinated as I learn more about the ministering of angels.

Our Temple is Almost Ready!

From the LDS newsroom:  The First Presidency has announced a public open house beginning Saturday, 13 October and continuing through 10 November 2012, excluding Sundays. Tickets for the free tour are available by visiting www.boisemormontemple.org or by calling 1-855-537-2000.

The temple is located at 1121 South Cole Road in Boise, just north of the I-84 Cole Road exit. Tours, consisting of a 12-minute video presentation followed by a 30-minute walking tour through the temple, will begin at the meetinghouse adjacent to the temple.

Following the public open house, the temple will be formally dedicated on Sunday, 18 November 2012. Three dedicatory sessions will be held, with the services broadcast to Latter-day Saint chapels in the surrounding area to accommodate Church members who are unable to attend in the temple. The dedication will be preceded by a cultural celebration featuring music and dance by the youth of the Church on the evening of Saturday, 17 November.

The Boise Temple is the 27th operating temple of the Church’s 139 temples worldwide. It is one of four temples in Idaho, with others in Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and Rexburg. A fifth temple in Meridian is currently in the planning and approval phase.

The temple closed in July 2011 for an extensive renovation of the grounds and the interior. The temple’s exterior has been replaced with white granite. A new gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni sits atop the temple’s tallest spire. The temple’s interior now features a syringa flower and trees motif, which can be seen in the art glass and decorative painting. Beautiful grained hardwoods from Africa and the United States add warmth and ambience.

 Latter-day Saint temples differ from the meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered “houses of the Lord” where Jesus Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. Inside, members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to serve Jesus Christ and their fellowman."

 I am totally on fire about the temple being open for public tours!  The very first day that it opened, we were there!  Then I was able to go with Danielle, my sister-in-law and again with my friend, Kim.  Then I went a fourth time on Saturday with my family (their second time) since we had extended family in town.

 It is absolutely breath taking!

 I can feel the spirit there and I look forward to it's dedication on Nov. 18th.

I am getting excited to return to the temple, I have felt a void of not being able to attend as frequently as I would like. I look forward to making it a weekly commitment again.

Monumental: Must See Documentary March 27th

You can guarantee that I will be watching this movie on the 27th.

You can get more information about the documentary and where you can view it here.

Remember Who We Are

It was just announced last night by Santorum that this song is his official campaign song.  It has a great message, listen carefully.  Rick Santorum said of his song choice, “Our campaign has focused on returning to a government that believes in the American people again, and few songs express the beauty and strength of who we are as free Americans better than Krista’s. ‘It’s our time,’ as the song says — our time to take a firm, unwavering stand against big government; and it is our time to take our country back.” (Here is a link to the full article).

  

 I love Krista Branch.  I saw her perform in SLC almost two years ago, then I saw her at the Divine Destiny Event in DC.  She was getting off a little transportation van to enter the Kennedy Center, when I  said, "Hi, Krista".  She seemed a little surprised that someone recognized her.  I love what she stands for!

She also sings this song, which is a favorite of mine.

Here is another new video about her support for Israel.

Wherever You Are

What a powerful, beautiful song of love, patriotism, courage, prayer, and peace!
(if you don't see the video link above, click here)

"The song has become the fastest-selling single (great article at this link) in Britain in the last three years. It sold 556,000 copies in the last week, more than the rest of the top 12 combined. And it’s not the work of a teen pop sensation or even a “professional” musician. Rather, it came from a bunch of military wives singing their hearts out. And the result is nothing short of tear-jerking and spectacular.

“This is so surreal. Who would have guessed in those first rehearsals that we could take Christmas Number 1″ the choir’s director, Gareth Malone, told the Telegraph. He formed the group for a BBC singing competition called, “The Choir.”

And they all stuck singing gold.

The song is called “Wherever You Are,” and the video features not only the song, but a behind-the-scenes look at the song’s recording."  --Jonathon M. Seidl at The Blaze

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Merry Christmas! The best gift is giving of ourselves to others in need. 

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers!  I hope we understand the significance of our role of being mothers.  May we band together and magnify our noble calling of raising children up unto the Lord.   "The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is every lasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you.  He is blessing you and He will bless you, especially when your days and your nights might be the most challenging.  Rely on Him, rely on Him heavily, rely on Him forever and press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hope." --Jeffrey R. Holland

Joseph Smith Movie Now Available for Free Download

This movie is now available online - check it out here.  Read the article below to learn about the revision of the film.

From a church news release March 28, 2011 (found here):
"People around the world now have a new way to learn about Joseph Smith, the founder and first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A film called Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration is now available online, marking the first time the Church has shared a full-length film on the Internet.

A similar film has been shown since 2005 in Salt Lake City and 19 Church visitors’ sites around the world. Now the film is available to everyone on MormonChannel.org/Joseph and YouTube and has been revised to be more easily understood by a wider audience.

Ron Munns, who produced the original film, said, “The first Joseph Smith film was excellent and was well received by many. However, some parts were not easily understood if you did not already know the story.
Everyone comes to the film with different backgrounds and knowledge, and we wanted to make sure that every person who sees the film walks away with a better understanding of the Prophet Joseph and what he did.”

The film will also help people better understand Latter-day Saint belief in modern prophets, the purpose of temples, and the eternal nature of family relationships. There is also additional context around historical events such as the First Vision — when God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith when he was 14 years old.

“Our hope is that people who aren’t familiar with the story will come away with an increased understanding of the role Joseph Smith played in restoring the Church of Jesus Christ,” John Garbett, who produced the new movie, said.

Garbett said this focus on Joseph’s prophetic role prompted many of the changes. For example, a scene showing a leg operation Joseph had as a young boy was removed because it was less essential to the purpose of the film.

“There is less focus on Joseph the man and more focus on Joseph the prophet. It’s the same story, just with a different emphasis,” Garbett said. “There are some things in the old version that people might miss, but there are things in the new version that people will be thrilled to see.”

Those who have seen the film will notice that the revised version has a new narrator: an actress representing Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph’s mother.  “We chose this device to tell the story because Lucy Mack Smith was an eyewitness to everything that happened,” Garbett said. “This is a mother talking about her son in her own words.”

The revised version is five minutes shorter than the original, and about 40 percent of the movie is new. Footage from the first version was re-edited to fit the revised storyline, and Garbett and his team also shot some new scenes. Regardless of where the footage came from, the crew took great care to ensure that every moment of the film has the same look and feel.  “Someone who sees the movie will not be able to tell what was shot then and what was shot now,” Garbett said.


“The beauty of having the new Joseph film available on the Internet is that you can see it at home at a time that is convenient for you,” Nielson said. “Even if you have seen the previous version, don’t miss the opportunity to see the new one. It will help enhance your understanding of the life and mission of Joseph Smith.”
Munns too is excited to have the film seen by a wider audience.

“This is a version that can be easily shared by Church members with their friends not of our faith,” he said.
The full-length version of Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration can be seen on MormonChannel.org/Joseph and YouTube. It can also be seen in the Legacy Theater at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City and at some Church visitors' centers.

In addition, a free download of the movie is available at MormonChannel.org/Joseph in a 300k or 100k MP4 version. Because of the download option, there are no plans to make the revised film available on DVD. Currently, the film is only in English but may expand to additional languages in the future."

Icing on The Cake: A Visit to Temple Square

Paul and I had a long layover in SLC after our recent trip.  Daniel, Paul's brother (living in the SLC area), came and picked us up from the airport and took us to temple square for a brief visit.  I instantly felt at home once I stepped onto Temple Square -- the spirit is so strong.    First, I asked if we could see the Christus statue.  I love walking up the ramp to the glorious statue of Christ.  He brings me peace in a world of wars and rumors or war, He brings me love, and He shows me the way home to our Heavenly Father.
 

Christus Statue in South Visitor's Center on Temple Square

A model of the Salt Lake Temple in the North Visitor's Center (new on display).  The sister missionaries brought us to this display.  I felt the spirit so strongly as they testified of the temple and it's blessings.  I could barely keep my composure as I felt of my love and gratitude for the temples that dot the earth.  The week of this trip was the first week that I was unable to attend in over a year (besides the times the temple closes for cleaning).  The temple is my home away from my heavenly home.

 

I love this model of the Salt Lake Temple.  I took photos as best I could through the glass covering.

 

It is just so fascinating to see how the temple is designed and to see the rooms in such detail.  The room in the upper right photos is the Council Room, where the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve meet weekly.

Near the model was a touch screen with this short video clip showing the Celestial Room.  This is the temple that Paul and I got married in almost 17 years ago.  I remembering sitting with Paul in the Celestial Room prior to our sealing.  What a beautiful, glorious room!

Paul and Daniel
Thank you Daniel for taking the time to make our trip complete!

We Believe

I am grateful for the mutual program that the church has for the youth ages 12-18.  As of next week, I will have two boys in this age group (I can't believe it).  I hope and pray that the youth of the church live according to the principles they are taught at home and church because we need their righteous examples, their strength, their service and their light more than ever in the world today.

This link here introduces the 2011 Youth Theme of "We Believe".  At this link they have several videos, in addition to 40+ songs in the Youth Music Library that you can download for free!

I am a Mother

Jane Clayson Johnson spoke at Time Out For Women a few years ago in my city.  I was impressed with her testimony of being a mother.  When her book came out,  I bought several copies to give to new mothers.  I have been reading her book recently and am excited to share her words and other's quotes with you.

In her book (I Am a Mother, pg. 7) she quotes California's First Lady, Maria Shriver, who is explaining her agenda as the state's first lady and her goal to "empower mothers."  Maria asks,  "How do we get women to stop saying, 'I am just a mother.' Or, 'I used to be such and such, but now I'm just a mother?  We need to market motherhood.  So I am up with a saying: 'Motherhood:  24/7 on the frontlines of humanity.  Are you man enough to try it?'" (from "First Lady Maria Shriver--Her New Life, " The Oprah Winfrey Show, April 29, 2004).

Christmas Food Court - Hallelujah Chorus

Paul showed me this video last night!  This was at the Gateway Mall in SLC.  It's powerful!

What Shall We Give?

"To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable and it becomes the spirit of Christ."

"If we are to have the very best Christmas ever, we must reach out for the carpenter's hand.  With every step we take in His foot steps, we abandon a doubt and gain a truth."
   President Thomas S. Monson

Things That Matter Most

This is a fantastic talk given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf from the most recent General Conference.  In this he talks about:  the pace of modern life, the solutions to the problems this pace brings, the power of getting back to the basics and what they are, and rejoicing in the gospel.

I feel like my life is always busy just with keeping up with the mundane daily chores.  But it is also very easy for me to get caught up in the unnecessary things of life.  When I think about prioritizing my life I like to refer back to my favorite talk by Sister Julie Beck (click here for link).  It gave me a new perspective. And this talk just builds upon that one.

He says, "it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list."  He continues by saying that wise people "resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life. They follow the advice (from Gandhi) “There is more to life than increasing its speed."  In short, they focus on the things that matter most.

       UAdd a Note

And why does this all matter?  It is summed up in a quote from Elder Oaks from a recent general conference, taught, “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”

Faith and Service

Continue in Patience

This short video has a powerful lesson of patience.  I especially like the marshmallow experiment.  Does anyone have a four year old to test?  

President Uchtdorf says, "Patience means staying with something until the end, it means delaying immediate gratification for future blessings.  The work of patience boils down to this - keep the commandments, trust in God, our Heavenly Father, serve Him with meekness and Christ-like love, exercise faith and hope in the Savior, and never give up."

Interesting Info: The Marshmallow Test got its name from an experiment at Stanford University in the 1960s on 4-year-old nursery school pupils. Researchers told children that they could have one thing they really wanted right away – a marshmallow, or a candy or a cookie, for example – but if they could wait while the researcher left the room and came back about 15 minutes later, they could have two. 

It was designed to test self-control. The researchers, led by psychologist Walter Mischel, found only about 30 per cent of more than 600 children tested could hold out.That's as far as it went until the early 1980s, when Mischel followed up and discovered the children who had been able to wait for two marshmallows were also doing better academically. 

Jonah Lehrer, in a recent New Yorker magazine article, reports those children who waited 15 minutes averaged 210 points higher – more than 10 per cent – on college entrance exams than did those who could wait only 30 seconds.Collectively, the brain skills needed to wait for marshmallows are known as "executive function" or, more broadly, as "self-regulation." They include inhibiting impulses, sustaining attention, planning, prioritizing, and finding and carrying out strategies to stick to your plan. In kid-friendly language, it means you can "rise to the challenge."

I Want to Hold Your Hand

We  (us in-town-siblings with spouses and children) got together at Tisha and David's place tonight for our first youtube party.  Everyone submitted their favorite youtube videos and then we had a viewing party complete with lots of appetizers - yum!  It was a lot of fun.  The one above was found by Tisha.