My top 11 list.

Years ago when I read President George Albert Smith's Creed I was fascinated with the idea of formally writing a personal creed.  Of course we have living our religion as a creed for all of us but so did President Smith.  The 1932 article says in part:
...This creed was a self-written guideline to measure his desires and conduct, and the reason for the conduct, by which he wanted to guide his life.   

He narrowed it down to 11 points.  And now, never seen by any eyes but mine, the Top 11 on My Creed..................... 

1) Refuse to be offended

2) Trust but verify  (thanks, President Reagan, for that one!)

3) Forgive everyone everything

4)Even the thinnest of pancakes has 2 sides

5)Let go and let God  (isn't thanks due to AA on this one?)

6)Don't want more for people than they want for themselves

7)When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.
         (thank you...Thomas Jefferson)

8)The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and 
   expecting different results.  (thank you...Albert Einstein)

9) Love unconditionally

10) Pray unceasingly

11) Keep all confidences

I left off--Time heals all wounds and wounds all heels.  It's very hard to limit, truths to live by as your own code of behavior, to 11 points!  I think I could easily adopt the list below as an addendum to my Top 11 list and count it as  #11-A!  I think I'll do that.  Consider it done!  I need to take the numbers off and list them alphabetically!! 

I really like the list below and wish I knew who/whom to credit.  sorry.  Everything on there is in my mind. I think I need to revise my list!  Yes!!!

Some Good Thoughts...

Life isn't always fair, but it's still good... If it doesn't seem like it, change your point of view. When in doubt, just take the next small step. One step leads to another. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. CHOOSE to forgive. Your acquaintances won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch. Pay off your credit cards every month. Not enough money? Then do what you can and get rid of them as soon as possible. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. Plan for retirement starting with your first paycheck. If you didn't, then start with your NEXT paycheck! When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. Besides, who wants to resist?? Make peace with your past so it won't mess up the present and future. It's OK to let your children see you cry. Then they know you are like them and they aren't alone in their sorrows. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their trials are all about. If a relationship has to be hidden, you shouldn't be in it. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind and refreshes your body. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. Whatever doesn't do you in, really does make you stronger. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. The second one is up to you and no one else. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take "no" for an answer. Get out the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't keep it for a faraway occasion. Today is here... and only here for a moment. Over prepare, then go with the flow. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?' Always choose life. Forgive everyone, everything, including yourself! What other people think of you is none of your business. Time heals almost everything. Give it time. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. Believe in miracles. They are happening all around you. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it each day. Growing old beats the alternative (dying young). Your children get only one childhood, BE THERE. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. Meet each day with excitement and expectation...The best is yet to come. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up, it will make you feel better. Yield. Bend, don't break. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Enjoy the time you have. Wednesday........ If not me...who?  If not now...when? = You snooze. You lose!~~~Sometimes!

Some gave all. Thank you. My appreciation is deep rooted.

Words: Ju­lia W. Howe, 1861, alt. This hymn, Battle Hymn of the Republic, was born dur­ing the Amer­i­can ci­vil war, when Howe vis­it­ed a Un­ion Ar­my camp on the Po­to­mac Riv­er near Wash­ing­ton, D. C. She heard the sol­diers sing­ing the song “John Brown’s Body,” and was tak­en with the strong march­ing beat. She wrote the words the next day:

I awoke in the grey of the morn­ing, and as I lay wait­ing for dawn, the long lines of the de­sired po­em be­gan to en­twine them­selves in my mind, and I said to my­self, “I must get up and write these vers­es, lest I fall asleep and for­get them!” So I sprang out of bed and in the dim­ness found an old stump of a pen, which I re­mem­bered us­ing the day be­fore. I scrawled the vers­es al­most with­out look­ing at the p­aper.

The hymn ap­peared in the At­lant­ic Month­ly in 1862. It was sung at the fun­er­als of Brit­ish states­man Win­ston Church­ill, Amer­i­can sen­at­or Ro­bert Ken­ne­dy, and Am­er­i­can pre­si­dents Ron­ald Rea­gan and Ri­chard Nix­on.
Music: John Brown’s Bo­dy, poss­i­bly by John Will­iam Steffe (MI­DI, score). John Brown was an Amer­i­can abo­li­tion­ist who led a short lived in­­sur­­rect­­ion to free the slaves.

---

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

---

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Courtesy of Bee MacGuire
Obtained From TheMcCrae Museum of The Guelph Museum

---

McCrae's "In Flanders Fields" remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring of 1915. Here is the story of the making of that poem: Although he had been a doctor for years and had served in the South African War, it was impossible to get used to the suffering, the screams, and the blood here, and Major John McCrae had seen and heard enough in his dressing station to last him a lifetime.
As a surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Major McCrae, who had joined the McGill faculty in 1900 after graduating from the University of Toronto, had spent seventeen days treating injured men -- Canadians, British, Indians, French, and Germans -- in the Ypres salient.
It had been an ordeal that he had hardly thought possible. McCrae later wrote of it:
"I wish I could embody on paper some of the varied sensations of that seventeen days... Seventeen days of Hades! At the end of the first day if anyone had told us we had to spend seventeen days there, we would have folded our hands and said it could not have been done."
One death particularly affected McCrae. A young friend and former student, Lieut. Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, had been killed by a shell burst on 2 May 1915. Lieutenant Helmer was buried later that day in the little cemetery outside McCrae's dressing station, and McCrae had performed the funeral ceremony in the absence of the chaplain.
The next day, sitting on the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the Canal de l'Yser, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, McCrae vented his anguish by composing a poem. The major was no stranger to writing, having authored several medical texts besides dabbling in poetry.
In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the wild poppies that sprang up in the ditches in that part of Europe, and he spent twenty minutes of precious rest time scribbling fifteen lines of verse in a notebook.
A young soldier watched him write it. Cyril Allinson, a twenty-two year old sergeant-major, was delivering mail that day when he spotted McCrae. The major looked up as Allinson approached, then went on writing while the sergeant-major stood there quietly. "His face was very tired but calm as we wrote," Allinson recalled. "He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer's grave."
When McCrae finished five minutes later, he took his mail from Allinson and, without saying a word, handed his pad to the young NCO. Allinson was moved by what he read:
"The poem was exactly an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene."
In fact, it was very nearly not published. Dissatisfied with it, McCrae tossed the poem away, but a fellow officer retrieved it and sent it to newspapers in England. The Spectator, in London, rejected it, but Punch published it on 8 December 1915.

                   **************************************************************

A National Moment of Remembrance On Memorial Day

That poem about where “poppies blow”
And, “the crosses, row on row”
Still rings true, these ninety years
After written, still brings tears.

We still have Dead, “amid the guns”
And lose our young and our loved ones
Those who lived, “short days ago”
Who, “felt dawn, saw sunset glow”.

In Flanders Fields, “the poppy red”
Still grow near where the blood was bled
They, “Take up our quarrel with the foe”
And still die for Freedoms that we know.

They pass, “The torch” to, “hold it high”
And not, “break the faith with us who die”
For they, “shall not sleep, though poppies grow”
Beneath all those, “crosses, row on row”
In Flanders Fields.

Del “Abe” Jones
4-25-2005 

***************************

Memorial Day
Of every year
The little valiant
Flags appear
On every fallen
Soldier's grave--
Symbol of what
Each died to save.
And we who see
And still have breath--
Are we no wiser
For their death?

~Dorothy Brown Thompson~


****************************

memorial day songs kids

memorial day stories kids

memorial day coloring pages kids

memorial day history kids

what is memorial day kids

*******************

There is so much available online.  I enjoyed these especially and hope you did too.  I thought it interesting to learn the history of 2 Hymns that we are so familiar with.  I hope your Memorial Day is filled with gratitude.

 
  
 

 

  

Prophet with a Creed.....and the name is!.......... (drumroll)

President George Albert Smith!!!! 

Before George Albert Smith became President of the Church, he struggled with health issues. He spent several months in St. George, Utah, convalescing. This was a time of deep introspection for him, a time to probe "his interior world, weighing and analyzing his strengths and weaknesses, his responsibilities, and his motivation, searching for his ruling principles to govern his life" (George Albert Smith: Kind and Caring Christian, Prophet of God, p. 134).

During this time of illness and convalescing he wrote what became known as his "creed." This creed was a self-written guideline to measure his desires and conduct, and the reason for the conduct, by which he wanted to guide his life. During the remainder of his life, President Smith would apply the words of his creed to his everyday life. Below is the creed he wrote:

I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor.
   
I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed.
   
I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of mankind.
   
I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and happy life.
   
I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals, but rather love them into doing the thing that is right.
   
I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy.
   
I would avoid the publicity of high position and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends.
   
I would not knowingly wound the feelings of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do good and make him my friend.
   
I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the success of all the children of our Heavenly Father.
   
I would not be an enemy to any living soul.
   
Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter, I feel it not only a duty but a blessed privilege to disseminate

(Improvement Era, March 1932, p. 295; George Albert Smith, p. 134-135).

We have the 13 Articles of Faith. We have individual Patriarchal blessings.  We have the Family Proclamation.  We have the RS theme.   We have so much.  Why have a creed?  I don't know.... but President George Albert Smith had one and that inspired me to have one.  I know the things I have in my creed are personal truths I try to live by.  Maybe my creed is insight into my weaknesses category?  Reminders of how I want to be.  How I want to live.  I've slowly added things over the years.  It's an interesting idea to think about having a Creed. 

I like that he doesn't number them. I numbered mine but not one of them, in my mind, is any less/more important. I think I need to do away with the numbers on mine. I'll share mine after Memorial Day. 

Do you have a creed of some sort?  Some saying/quote that pulls you through life and gets you back on track if you are derailed for a bit?

    

A Creed

Creed....a set of beliefs or principles.

Don't you think Proverbs 31:10-31 is sort of like a creed?

10¶Who can find a ^avirtuous ^bwoman? for her price is far above rubies.

11The heart of her husband doth safely ^atrust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her ^ahands.

14She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15She ^ariseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the ^adistaff.

20She stretcheth out her hand to the ^apoor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her ^aclothing is silk and purple.

23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25Strength and honour are her ^aclothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of ^akindness.

27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of ^aidleness.

28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30Favour is deceitful, and ^abeauty is vain: but a woman that ^bfeareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

And don't you think the writing below is a creed-like list also?  A modern day twist on the  Proverbs verses above?

THE RELIEF SOCIETY OF
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

We are beloved spirit daughters of God,
and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction.
As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion
to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar.
We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:


Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ
through prayer and scripture study


Seek spiritual strength by following
the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening
marriages, families, and homes.
Find nobility in motherhood
and joy in womanhood.
Delight in service and good works.
Love life and learning.
Stand for truth and righteousness.
Sustain the priesthood
as the authority of God on earth.
Rejoice in the blessings of the temple,
understand our divine destiny,
and strive for exaltation.

I know of one President of the Church that wrote his own creed.  I was so fascinated and inspired by it that I have collected a few things for my own creed.  I guess it could be simplified by just saying ...endeavor to live the Gospel but I wanted to have a few concrete personal things.  I think I need to clarify a little more what a creed  is.  Tomorrow I will share the Creed of President ________________? ?????  Do you know who it is?  I only know of one.  Maybe there are more. 

Speaking of Westminster Dogs....

Parts of a press release....about the Westminster Dog Show
In all, nearly 2,600 dogs will compete in 179 breeds and varieties....
Already, three more new breeds have been accepted for the 2012 show: the xoloitzcuintli (shoh-loh-eets-KWEEN'-tlee), the Norwegian lundehund and the entlebucher....
Also likely to be a crowd favorite is a monkey-faced affenpinscher named Banana Joe.This will mark the first time at Madison Square Garden for Icelandic sheepdogs, redbone coonhounds, Leonbergers, Boykin spaniels, cane corsos and bluetick coonhounds. 

When I saw Bluetick Coonhounds mentioned, I thought of my Grandfather Clark who died when my Mother was in her mid-teens.  Grandfather Clark loved the bluetick hounds he raised and sold from his wooded farmland in Missouri.  He'd had an appendectomy, they'd sent him home, he ended up in such pain  they were taking him back to the hospital.  My Mother said... as the car pulled away, all of the hounds bounded to the fence, rested their forepaws on the rail, threw back their heads and howled a plaintive mournful baying sound.  My Grandmother said she knew then, he would not live to come home from the hospital, as the hounds had never acted that way before.  My Mother said, as she listened and watched them, she knew they were telling him goodbye.  He didn't survive and died of peritonitis. 

Dogs are amazing animals.  Oprah says that dogs are humans with hair.  Not being an Oprah convert, I personally don't believe that but I do believe they are incredible animals.  In our family we have a son that has 2 cairn terriers, like Toto, and they have taken care of our son in so many ways as he struggles with lots of health issues and chronic pain.  They brighten his life abundantly.  
  
Speaking of dogs.  Our Church building is only a year old as far as us using it.  Early on, during the Sacrament hymn, one of the full-time missionaries came in late from outside.  He did not know that a dog followed him into the building and up the aisle (the Elder was going to sit on the front row to help pass the sacrament).  The Elder sat down but the dog just scooted up the stairs to the landing where the choir/Bishopric are seated. From our left side pew, in the fan shaped design of chapel seating, we could see it all happening.  The Bishop saw the dog and made a beeline for the dog and at the same time the very conservative man, seated behind us, appeared to the congregation to race up the aisle.  Meanwhile the dog busied himself with his one leap of faith and landed on the Sacrament table!!  The Bishop grabbed the dog and passed him to the aisle runner who trotted the pup outside. Our entire left side was howling with laughter in spite of trying to control ourselves.  The rest of the congregation kept singing the hymn.  The organist kept playing even though she'd seen the scurrying about.  Our side got partial control of our outburst and then would experience a burst of muffled laughter.   What was your view on the day of The Tail of the Dog on the Sacrament Table?  Where you there?

Proverbs  17:22  A merry heart doest good like a medicine....

Just jump in!!!

A little follow-up note--
Good morning Nancy:
I want to thank you for sending out the message about leaving the perfume at home on Sundays. I also thank all the women who abstained yesterday. I was able to move from the very end of the aisle (where I usually sit, to reduce the allergic reaction), to the middle of the room, sitting among the other women. It really was wonderful for me, and I couldn't stop smiling. I was simply grateful.

Thank you!

**********************************

Our sons were wrestlers from the youngest age possible through high school.  I sat through hours, and I mean hours, of wrestling matches.  I stayed from beginning to end.  If the team traveled?...then I traveled.  If a son was in the lower weights, wrestling early on, I'd stay to the end to support the other team members.  If a son was in the heavier weights, wrestling later, I'd watch all the earlier matches to show support for the team.  Waiting forever for that brief moment of  my boy on the mat, in what appeared to be a contest to tear an arm off or perhaps get lucky and snap off a head.  I shrieked the loudest in the crowd but not with enthusiasm for the sport but sheer terror.  I went because I was the Mom.  Terry as the Dad went because he too had wrestled and loved it!!

In the many hours of sitting and waiting, I often thought of how interesting it is that each activity a person chooses to spend their time participating in, has a protocol, dress codes, routine expectations of the member and... each who chooses to spend their time that way, embraces it. 

I went to one professional wrestling match.  I was totally out of my element and inappropriately conservatively dressed, to fit in amongst shoulder length super-teased platinum hair on the men, revealing tank tops, stilettos, studded necklaces, chains, tattoos, super tight jeans... loud screaming voices, people peacock-strutting and on and on.  I was a duck out of water.  They were happily enjoying themselves with anticipation of what was about to happen.  At the end, we got up to escape/leave and realized halfway down the bleachers that the main attraction had not yet wrestled.  We left anyhow.

I've been to horse shows with people in dresses right with the horses.  I watch TV Wimbledon to see the hats and dresses that are expected garb.  I've seen dancers at classes with every hair slicked back into the requisite bun, black leotard, pink shoes.  Everything that uses our time, that is a group endeavor, has it's expectations of the club members.  People get into it knowing that and accepting that.

This year at the televised Westminster Dog Show I watched women, running around in dresses, showing their super expensive dogs.  No one seems to find it strange, except me, that they run in dresses.  It is a given.  Accepted and understood, as much as a Country Club membership, that requires suit and tie and shoes.  The list is endless of these available things to spend our time on with their individual codes of conduct.  People embrace, willingly, the guidelines of their time-spenders. 

Reminds me of the time our youngest son was taking swimming lessons and had arrived at the  progression point of diving day!  Experienced swimmers swaggered around in their suits and head gear and paraphernalia for the sport.  I sat there, my vision riveted to the board, as my skinny little guy walked to the end of the board, bounced and stopped.  He repeated that conduct enough times that people were staring at him. Some pointing at him.  Some kids chuckling.  I felt so bad.  The instructor stopped hollering instructions and went out on the board to encourage him.  Somehow or other he sort of jumped but it was more a falling off feat as he managed somehow to end up on the underside of the board, clinging for dear life.  Terror stricken.  Some were now really laughing at him- dangling with his krypton fingers gripping the board.  I got teary-eyed.  The instructor went out and pried his fingers loose in order to get him off the board.  I witnessed a screaming body drop to the pool seemingly a million miles below him.  I still think of my boy spewing water everywhere!!!  Not a good day for first diving lesson.  He was a child that sobbed bucket loads of tears when he cried so it was a wet ride home.  Lots of work left on that feat.  Yes.  He did master it. 

At some point in our Church membership we decide to jump off the diving board into the deep end of the pool.   We decide to immerse ourselves in the Gospel, beyond that initial dip, in the waters of baptism.  We decide to be religious.  To embrace and live our religion.   There is so much in that decision of finger loosening our death grip on past living.  It appears we are staring at pages of multiple choices for a newness of life.  We can take baby steps and really make it easier on ourselves, as some decisions only need to be made once, to get us off center....such as weekly church attendance and accepting a calling and willingness to render service.   much easier than dangling!  reminds me of that scripture about being lukewarm.

Revelation 3:15,16
vs 16..So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

 

 

6pm Saturday night and all is well!

As I read of the "pending doom" the opening line of the Hymn-- We thank thee, O God, for a prophet-- popped into my mind as did the scripture...no man knoweth the day of His coming  (Mark 13:32)   It's these last day happenings that increase my testimony and belief and confidence in living Prophets.  I am at peace. 

Print articles were rampant with press coverage....

Harold Camping is not hedging this time: "Beyond the shadow of a doubt, May 21 will be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment," he said in January. (2011)

The doomsday message has been sent far and wide via broadcasts and web sites by Harold Camping, an 89-year-old retired civil engineer who has built a multi-million-dollar nonprofit ministry based on his apocalyptic prediction......

They believe it will likely start as it becomes 6 p.m. in the world's various time zones....

"We know the end will begin in New Zealand and will follow the sun and roll on from there," said Garcia, a 39-year-old father of six. "That's why God raised up all the technology and the satellites so everyone can see it happen at the same time."

The Internet was alive with reaction in the hours past 6 p.m. Saturday in New Zealand.

"Harold Camping's 21st May Doomsday prediction fails; No earthquake in New Zealand," read one posting on Twitter.

"If this whole end-of-the-world thingy is still going on ... it's already past 6.00 in New Zealand and the world hasn't ended," said another.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a great Relief Society lesson this week.  Out of the Conf. issue of May 2011. 

LDS Women Are Incredible!--by Quentin L. Cook.  

Under the topic title was the line--

Much of what we accomplish in the Church is due to the selfless service of women--

That line made me think about how much we as women really do in stepping up to the plate and accomplishing tremendous things.  I know in our Ward that the women are extremely important to the running of the Ward. 

We have 2 women as organists. A woman as Sacrament mtg. chorister and also music chairman. A woman as the choir leader. A woman teaching Family History. A woman assisting teaching a Temple class. Two women manage the library. There are women helping in the Scouting program. A woman teaches Seminary. A woman heads up the Humanitarian effort. We have women teaching Sunday School. 

A woman heads up, as President, the Primary program for every single child from 18 months to 12 years. She carries out the entire program as outlined with all sorts of other women doing all sorts of callings to make it happen. 

A woman heads up, as President, the Young Women from age 12 to graduation from high school and she has all sorts of other women helping her. 

A woman heads up the RS for all women from high school graduation to death and then will do the funeral!   She also has innumerable help from other women. 

Did I mention that women go , as Visiting Teachers, to homes/call/send a letter to all women listed on our roles?   Monthly!!! 

Yes. I totally agree with Elder Cook! "LDS Women Are Incredible!" All of this Church service is done while working full time either in the home or both home /workplace. Quite amazing! Tongue in cheek....what are the men doing? what is left? this reads like everything that needs to be done is done by women!   not true of course but really...let's never doubt ourselves. Let's embrace out uniqueness, our individuality, our distinctiveness, our membership in the Church that we all have a testimony of. That is our binding cord...membership and testimony and experiencing the Holy Ghost and the wondrous gifts that are available to us.  Let's value, support and sustain each other as we give our all in serving!

~~Sunday morning I sat in the 8:30am meeting with 13 men.  The usual fresh scrubbed scent.  I'm getting nostalgic!!  RS room had no wafting perfume. Very pure.  wonderful!   got this note....

Good morning Nancy:

I want to thank you for sending out the message about leaving the perfume at home on Sundays. I also thank all the women who abstained yesterday. I was able to move from the very end of the isle (where I usually sit, to reduce the allergic reaction), to the middle of the room, sitting among the other women. It really was wonderful for me, and I couldn't stop smiling. I was simply grateful.

Thank you!

Does This Make Scents?

There is only one Sunday morning a month that I'm not at a Ward Council meeting at 8:30am.   I look at the men sitting in chairs all around the perimeter of the room and sometimes I think of their Mothers.  How proud they would be to see their sons all spiffed up, some with hair still dampish looking, fresh shaven, scrubbed and tidy.  White shirts, suits, neckties.  sometimes shiny shoes but always nice shoes.  Sunday shoes.  Sunday clothes.  Priesthood men.  There is a scent of shampoo and soap.  I've always been thankful that the room isn't in odor combat with powerful aftershave/cologne scents.  It just smells fresh and clean.  After several years of attending these meetings it's a very familiar scent. It's pleasant and feels rather homey to me in it's familiarity.

 Two of my young granddaughters love my perfume.  When they fly in for a visit I take my Chanel No.5 with me to the airport.  Before I go into the waiting area, I give myself a neck misting because I know they will throw their arms around me and nestle into my neck and exclaim....Nana, you smell sooooooo GOOD!!....   That is a sweet memory, for them and also for me.  When they were younger they called it "fumes".  That seems very accurate!!

It used to be that we reinforced our favorite scents by adding, layer by layer, same-scent soaps, powder and creams or lotions (which are sometimes stronger than perfume it seems).  We could identify each other by our perfumes and people would ask us what it was or recognize it and wish they could wear it but it just didn't smell good on them.  I remember from my girlhood always having a blue bottle of dime store perfume called Evening in Paris. Our eau-de-toilette! I could also pick up a bottle at the local Piggly Wiggly grocery store.  My friends all loved it and we drenched ourselves in it.  A couple of dollars bought a nice size bottle.  Then I moved to White Shoulders Splash and then to Jungle Gardenia and then Chanel No.5 and on to several others, to give them a chance to be my scent choice but always returning to Chanel No.5 

Recently I got this note................ 

Hi Nancy:
I've got to beg something.
The past three weeks, there is someone in our ward who has been using some kind of perfume that contains the one scent that I am allergic to. Subsequently, I have been absolutely miserable during Relief Society, with my eyes running, my nose running, and mucus clogging my throat. Yesterday was so bad that I could barely stay at church. The scent is also reaching me in sacrament meeting, and yesterday I had to leave the chapel, because I was so distressed.
There is nothing I can take to prevent the reaction, because my body can't tolerate the medicine to stop it.
So I am appealing to you to send out an email to the sisters in the Ward to please stop using perfume on Sunday. They can use it 6 days a week, but please refrain on Sunday.
If they keep using it, I just don't know what I'm going to do. I am truly miserable.
Thank you!
(and then she signed her name)

We have some in our Ward that have severe allergies and the day is past, of slathering on the lotions and potions and sprays of favored scents, when we go to Church gatherings.  It pains me to think that my Chanel No.5 could smell like skunk spritz to someone else and cause them to miss Church! 

I thought of a couple of scriptures. 

One in Luke 6:31 
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

and the other in Isaiah.  These verses are talking about the women of the world getting caught up in all the latest things and thinking they are pretty marvelous.  This will happen again in the last days as women lose sight of "proper priorities" and focus on themselves and their appearance- to the extreme.  This scripture made me chuckle in light of the note I received.
Isaiah 3:24
And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink;.....

Monday.  I'll be back.  Hope you will too!

There is always hope...

                                 There has to be hope!!  Always!  
                                We have to endure our trials head-on! 
                     
                          Here is a favored quote that means a lot to me
                                  by Elder B.H. Roberts (1857-1933)

"...those who have to contend with difficulties,

brave dangers, endure disappointments,

struggle with sorrows, eat the bread of adversity

and drink the water of affliction,

develop a moral and spiritual strength,

together with a purity of life and character,

unknown to the heirs of ease, and wealth and pleasure."

Cindy, a friend in Kansas, is working to overcome the damage a recent stroke left behind.  She is working hard to walk and regain as much of everything that she had before the stroke.  It's hard work.  I wanted to have something that she could quickly refer to when she needs a quick uplift in her hope factor.  This is a short list that is quick to scan and hopefully will help her press on.  I received it from Joan.  Thanks, Joan!  It would be neat to add Book of Mormon verses with the Bible verses but I'm not going to take time right now and do that.  This is done and I really want her to have it now.  Keep the faith, Cindy!!  You can do it!

YOU SAY	GOD SAYS	BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible'	God says: All things are possible	( Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'	God says: I will give you rest	( Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'	God says: I love you	( John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on'	God says: My grace is sufficient	(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'	God says: I will direct your steps	(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'	God says: You can do all things	( Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'	God says: I am able	(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'	God says: It will be worth it	(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself'	God says: I Forgive you	(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage'	God says: I will supply all your needs	( Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'	God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear	( II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'	God says: Cast all your cares on ME	(I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough'	God says: I give you wisdom	(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'	God says: I will never leave you or forsake you	(Hebrews 13:5)

Harmony...a good blessing!

Why do I wait and always act surprised when things are happening in my life and people are coming to visit and stay a few days?  Like I was unaware they are coming to visit even though I've had ample notice.  I poke around knowing what all needs to be done, magnify the tasks, overwhelm myself and then at the last minute hustle. So there Terry and I were hustling, or was it shuffling?, and he ended up with his back and hip causing him terrific pain. So what did I do? Stay and work? double time? No. He said -- why don't you run over to the Temple. You need it.-- really? there is all this stuff to do. I left and I was glad.

It was a beautiful evening session. to me the sky light has an entirely different effect in the feel of the Temple. One different thing happened when I pulled in and parked at the end of the Stake center. I had turned off my car, reached forward to pull out my keys from the ignition, and saw some sort of commotion. A woman was running to the back of her car, and started pulling 2 Temple bags out of trunk. A man jumped out of the drivers seat, stepped in front of the closed door and was standing right by the side walk in full view of me. He hurriedly crossed his arms and jerked his shirt up over his head. He grabbed outer shirt and under shirt to pull over his head and there he stood with his head covered, thashing to free him self and momentarily not realizing that he had no shirt at all on. (Houston! we have a problem.) His wife was stunned when she looked up and saw him. I finally had the decency to stop watching. Another peek and there he was tucking in his white shirt. I waited until they walked toward Temple to exit my car. They had out of state plates. I really thought it was neat that they obviously were so eager to go to Temple. I was thankful that they had no idea that I witnessed his state of affairs. I've not told a soul except for you!!

They are digging up and putting video security camera's around the Temple. Made me sad to see the work going on but it makes sense in today's world. Sounded like they'd had some problems so just taking precautions and covering all bases.

I was sitting and waiting for the session to start and it seemed that all were seated. Then this angel-like temple worker came in, looked startled at the patrons, all waiting for the session to begin, took in a deep breath and said in a loud whisper--what is going on!? ---then she got teary. Turns out that she has 4 sons and they were all there with their spouses, as a late Mother's Day present to her. Isn't that the sweetest surprise in the world? They came on the shift that she works and the Temple assignments were arranged so she wouldn't know until she walked in that room. They were a joyous family in the Celestial room. It was a heavenly sight.

I sat there in the Celestial room and thought about the Gospel and my family, and you and your family, and my testimony and how thankful I am for it. Also how glad I was that Terry said that I should go to the Temple. Things do have a way of working out. It was a happy ending story with 5 family members arriving for 2 days and beds, food, etc. were ready.

I thought about this quote on the way home...

These Temples are there to be used,

and those who use them will reap a blessing

of harmony in their lives.

They will draw nearer unto the Lord,

and He will draw nearer unto them. 
                                              ~by President Gordon B. Hinckley 1985

Still thinking of my Birthday!!

My birthday is the day before Mother's Day so it's sort of like those that have birthdays the day before Christmas.  It's there, acknowledged and things sort of merge into oneness and that is just fine.  Not being one that pays a lot of attention to the exact years that I've been around, it's all fine.  This year I was invited to a baby shower on my birthday and was eager to go.  It was a sweet surprise to be serenaded with the Happy Birthday song by the attendees.  An impromptu event- by the hostess announcing it was my birthday. 

I was caught off guard with the emotions I had when I looked at the young mother-to-be, so very pregnant and so very ready to hold this little unborn son in her arms.  I knew her approximate age and thought of how extremely youthful she appeared.  Then the thought entered my mind that my mother had been younger than her, by 5 years, when she had me.  It really touched me to think of my Mother at that time in her life and the tough delivery that ensued in bringing me to earth.  On the way home I thought of our wonderful Ward, that I love being a part of, and the mix of people.  Right now we have lots of young Mothers, bearing children, creating families for eternity and I admire their strength and courage. 

The world in the last days is not always a pleasant place but these women are stalwarts in creating families, introducing them to Gospel living and actions, teaching them what they need to know to be as safe as possible in the world, and enjoying being a Mother to their heart's desire.  We have Mom's of all ages and stages in our Ward.  And we have lots of those with Mother hearts...Aunties, Grandma Substitutes, Mom Substitutes.  A nice Ward, like ours, is a good place for a Mother to succeed in her Mothering goals and plans.

On Mother's day this quote was on our program....it is so nice.  (Thanks, Hal!)

The holiest words my tongue can frame,

The noblest thoughts my soul can claim,

Unworthy are to praise the name

More precious than all other.

An infant, when her love first came,

A man, I find it still the same,

Reverently I breath her name,

The blessed name of mother.

--by George Griffin Fether

*************************

Sister Julie B. Beck said this in a recent talk:

“Our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, love, value, and rely on their daughters,” she said. “God’s daughters have equal importance in His sight with His sons.” She then pointed out that women have some unique duties and responsibilities in the plan of salvation, and that they share other responsibilities with men.

Female identity in that plan as understood in the gospel of Jesus Christ is “interesting and exciting and unique” and “is one of greatness and richness, choice beyond comparison,” Sister Beck said. This is also in direct contrast with the debased and devalued identity of women often portrayed in the world today, she said, including identities based on sensuality, prestige, power, money, and leisure.

“The identity we have from Heavenly Father can be fully understood only through spiritual confirmation,” she said. “An intellectual study can be made, but a spiritual confirmation teaches us who we are and what we are to do. … The identity of a daughter of God is precious beyond compare and rich and full.

She then said that as “guardians of hearth and home,” women “have responsibility for the hearts and souls” of Heavenly Father’s children.

“They are given this powerful and influential leadership role,” she said. “The female responsibility of being a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend … is all about nurturing, teaching, and influencing. These are non-negotiable responsibilities. We can’t delegate them. We can accept them and live them. These are things we understood before we were born, and we can’t negotiate with the Lord whether they’re part of His plan. These are our responsibilities.”

                                                                        ***********************

True the day of honoring Mothers is past but for some reason I keep thinking of how young my Mother was at 22 and appreciating her effort in doing the best she could as a Mom.  We all know that there is no end to mothering, every day is Mother's day, 24/7.  enjoy reading the talk below.  It's a classic in the Church and was used in our Ward's Mother's Day Sunday, by the youth speaker, Madeline.

                                                     Friday afternoon session, October 5, 1973

                     “Behold Thy Mother”                           

Elder Thomas S. Monson

Of the Council of the Twelve