Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Still excited!!!

Still!... Aha-ing!

I re-read that talk again here and this part stood out...Become scholars of the scriptures—not to put others down, but to lift them up! 

"Scholars of the scriptures"I love how that sounds right along with "the deep need each woman has to study the scriptures. We want our homes to be blessed with sister scriptorians."

Those words are so exciting to me!!  I want to be a scripture scholar!  I want to be a sister scriptorian!  I want to be an influence for good!  In my own small way.  Yes!  I want to do my part!  

Women are so amazing!  I am so thankful to be a woman!  LDS women are so incredible in the amount of details they accomplish.  Just look at the make-up of a Ward....women are in charge of the Primary and the YW and the RS and now ministering.  LDS women can organize and carry out all of the details of funerals and that includes meals for sometimes 200+ people.  They give comfort along with the meal.  They are organizers to the max.  IF there was some sort of a community disaster...the Mayor would do well to call in the RSP for how-to helps!  The innateness of women, as stated by Joseph Smith, that we are born compassionate (okay.  not a direct quote but that is the jest of it!) and RS gives us a venue to act on those feelings (again.  not a direct quote!)...it's just a beautiful unfolding in these last days.

I remember when I heard the talk and the mention of non-members...I puzzled over how would/could this happen?  At that time we were pretty much involved all the time with Church meetings and sort of kept to ourselves.  Now I can see that good women of the world will, at some point, end up saying...enough!  those LDS women seem to be believers...what do they know?  okay!- not scripture.  just me thinking of possibilities of things to come!

President Nelson mentioned his wife and her influence when he expressed his love of her and said...."She is an extraordinary woman—a great blessing to me, to our family, and to the entire Church."  It seems to me, for her to be a blessing to the entire Church, then we will have to hear her speak!  and speak she does!

It's just a great day for being a member of the Church!  


Don't the two paragraphs below just give you goose-bumps????   All of these changes????...some of His mightiest works.?????  Might be.  Maybe.  Perhaps.



Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.
Enjoy President Nelson's talk again!  all of it! Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives here
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WOW!!

After 100 years we are breaking our association with the Boy Scouts!  The changes just keep a coming!  Seems like yesterday, but actually it was 1977, that President Kimball received the Silver World Award from the President of the BSA.  I remember him wearing the neck scarf (proper term? not sure) maybe at a General Conference.  Saw it in a picture.  Anyhow...you can read about it here
The Church is getting more than a facelift!  It's like a full transformation!  I am reminded of a part of my Hubby's Patriarchal Blessing...the principles of the Gospel are the principles of truth.  They have always existed and they never change.  That which changes and may be confused by some, are the policies but not the principles of the gospel. 
Sometimes he has a bit of a struggle with change and takes a bit of mulling things over before total acceptance.  I've always thought that was interesting for him to be told that in his blessing.  I've enjoyed it also.  (he said I could share)
All of these current policy changes are not changing principles like...the mode of baptism or Sacrament or sealings or etc. etc.  Changes are the implementation and revelatory changes needed for the Church, for us, to survive and progress in this world of the last days.  To me it's like a circling of the wagons.  all of us drawing in and strengthening each other and caring for each other and then that goodness radiating out and others, not of our faith, seeing this and wanting to belong and join us!  
Look at the happenings and almost in one fell swoop!  Ministering-will include MiaMaids and Laurels.   Quorums Restructured.  Family History- emphasis on those turning 12 and new converts.   Use of technology- in missionary work.  Girls camp- "globally applicable".  No lessons taught by RS/PRST- council meetings/discussions.  Dropping out of Boy Scouts-will "launch a new youth initiative"!!!
It's endless!  Changes either made or coming for 8-11 years old; 12-18 years old; RS; Priesthood; VT; Ht; YW; YM; Activity days: Scouting; Girls camp!!!
Maybe these many changes are a part of what President Nelson mentioned?...
Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory.
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Coming!
I was home and heard over the radio in 1978 that the Church had just announced that all worthy males could now receive the Priesthood.  This would open the way for Temple ordinances for all the worthy faithful.  I got in the car and drove towards Terry's shop to find him and share this amazing news!!  He was as stunned as I was.  We both were tearful.  It was a happy time for us.  We were glad for the announcement.
We hadn't understood why that had been withheld but we weren't angry or upset and felt that at some point it would happen.  And we had no impatience or criticizing afterward.  some really struggled with racism and others struggled with harsh judgment on the Church being run by "old men" that needed to be modern and they had waited to long and caused embarrassment etc. to the Church at large.  Eventually things settled down.
It seemed to be a part of our Church History that was just sort of there and not really addressed other than the fact it happened.  It seemed to just sort of be not mentioned.
And Now???!  40 years later...The Church is having a huge celebration of the event happening!  Celebrating the fact that all can join the Church and have full blessings of membership with Priesthood and endowments.  I am definitely going to watch the happenings on line.  It will be at the Conference Center so obviously they are expecting a lot of attendees.  I would love to go but that isn't going to happen but I'm so thankful I can sit here and watch it.  Wonder what they'll do?  Wonder what they'll say?  Wonder what the world will say?
Be One  (all the details) here   Friday.  June 1st.
Oh, I just now see that the June Ensign has several articles about this subject!Ensign
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Wonder???
Speaking of wonder.  I wonder what will happen with Family History with the statement in the May Ensign...Pg. 136 
“Our emphasis for the coming year is to help the consultants see their role in helping members to have this experience,” Elder Foster said. “We do that one by one. We go to [people] wherever they are, with a special emphasis on those who are turning 12 and those who are new converts.” Those two groups benefit quickly from seeing how temple work strengthens families through the eternities, and they often generate enthusiasm among their own friends and families.
12 years old!  My Primary class!
The whole scenario of an almost overall change in all that is old and familiar, is amazing!
I just read the marvelous book Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  A tender book about a young boy's life struggle.  A book about kindness.  We are headed toward greater kindness and compassion!
Yesterday I watched the Award Winning movie Coco.  I had wondered about it, ever since I heard the song, Remember Me, and saw movie clips at those hours of RootTech that I watched.  It turns out, the underlying film message is about searching for deceased family members and remembering them.  Very clever and excellent and has a twist that I did not see coming.  This movie was a Disney animated film and accepted by the world.  Awared top honors...two Oscars!  The world must be moving ahead in preparation for the message of the Gospel!

I better get with it!!
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The real wonder is you have read through this way to long blog post....all of my mind excitement!!



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