Acceleration

  This is not the way I like to do things but....that doesn't seem to prevent me from sharing the following!  I need to tell you where you can read the entire article and for the life of me I can't remember!  When I remember or find it, then I will share it with you.  I'm just wanting to share because it seems so timely.  Read all of the mentioned scriptures.  That acceleration of the gospel has certainly even taken a greater leap ahead with the October announcement of ages of Missionaries now changed.  This is what we have Prophets for...to tell us the facts/truth.  give us a heads-up/ warning voice.  This is so powerful to read.  apologies again for just throwing it out there with no reference source for you to verify it and enjoy all that he said by reading entire article.  It just feels right to share it.  So I am. 

    'Moving more rapidly'
Excerpting entire passages of scripture from Matthew 24, 2 Nephi 28 and Mormon 8, Elder Ballard firmly established that ancient prophecies regarding the last days preceding the Savior's second coming aren't just being fulfilled but are coming to pass at an accelerated rate.

"I'm telling you what the Savior said would be the signs of the acceleration towards that day when He shall come," he said. "We could stay here for a couple of hours talking about all of the prophecies of what will occur in the last days. We're in the last days — you can quote me on that. And it is moving more rapidly."

Conditions that Elder Ballard specifically cited as fulfillment of prophecy and signs of the times include "pornography and how real affection and how true and real love are being disturbed by Satan and his minions" (see Matthew 24:12); "an acceleration of the gospel going to all nations" (see Matthew 24:14); and how "Mother Nature is letting its power be seen throughout the world at a more accelerated pace" (see Mormon 8:30-31).

I'm in the caboose!!!

Lots to think about with all the drama and hubbub of the election.  I just sat and thought a bit and realized that my testimony is intact and that makes me feel so good!!  God is in his heaven and His thoughts are higher than mine.  There is a lot that has to be done before the Lord's imminent 2nd coming and the reality is- things are not going to rewind and go back to the days of seemingly innocence.  We are such passionate people about our beliefs and what the future holds.  I think we have to be careful that we don't undermine our own faith by being a dog on a bone.  Elder Packer said we need to make sure when we get to  the top of the ladder we are climbing, that it isn't propped up against the wrong wall.  (paraphrased.  for sure!)

I remember a big stir in the Church in 1962 when a man, of reputation in the Church,

as a scholar/author/teacher wrote some books and there was always a swirl of questioning if it was his truth or The Truth.  Crowther, Duane S. (1962). Prophecy, Key to the Future.    This book quickly made the rounds amongst people in our California Ward.  I tried to read it and just couldn't get into it.  I felt sheepish but just let it drop.  We were in the midst of readying a move back to Anchorage and I just forgot about it

Imagine my surprise, arriving in Anchorage, and they were talking all about that same book and even wanted to have a discussion group about it, amongst the RS women.  A sister I admired for her tremendous spiritual strength and Gospel knowledge just loved that book.  I told her that I'd had trouble reading it and she was puzzled, as to her is was just amazing.  She lent me her copy and encouraged me to try it again.  A time was scheduled a few weeks out to discuss the book.  I took it home and really tried to read it but I just flat out couldn't read it.

In the meantime a new sister moved in and when she heard that book was being studied she was appalled!  She shared that the Stake President, in her Stateside Stake, had asked people not to read it at all as it was based on untruths.  So that ended that book club event before we even got together.

In trying to figure out why I'd been so stumped/stopped in my reading I looked at the footnote sources and found the book was based on what is called The White Horse Prophecy.  If you look it up in your old Mormon Doctrine, it explains about it.  Probably Google it nowadays!

Crowther wrote another controversial book, that in today's world we'd call them near death experience.  Life Everlasting.  People sharing what happens after death.  

There were little defensive debates going on about these books.  Not pleasant.  I like peace in the Gospel pasture not horn tangling/antler wrangling.

Then other books came that were called The Thousand Years Series by Cleon Skousen. He also penned  Naked Communist.  And formed a political group of The Freeman.  something like that.  It became divisive. The Church asked members to not preach it in Church.  Brother Skousen was extremely conservative and he faded out but kept writing.

Then recent political cartoons crowned Glen Beck as Skousen re-incarnated.  Thanks to Beck 5 Thousand Year Leap by Cleon Skousen became a best seller and totally gave Glen Beck  a sense of direction and a base for his teachings.

Most of these books, at the time they were in the forefront, created controversy and ofttimes contention.  Because I remember all of that happening,  I'm leery of them being preached and quoted by faith filled members.  Note what a coward I am...I don't say a word about any of my feelings until the candidate of my choice is defeated!  I guess I chalk up choice to the individual in what they choose to read!

It's not the reading it's the heavy handed hot-headed-ness.  The anger.  The accusing.  The whole 9 yards.  Propelling peace out of the picture.  The results of the reading & research.

So today I evaluated my standing in the Church and the standing of the Church and declared us both still whole and at peace and on the train that is clickety clacking down that strait/straight track. 

I'm not buying into the rage/anger/pain/grief etc.  The Lord could have changed the entire course of things, most certainly,  as I believe there were enough of us praying, fasting, donating, phoning, voting to warrant His divine help.   Actually He can do it without us, if He chose to! 

I've used up my alloted time for stewing and musing and whining over this election and the outcome and it's time to regain my equilibrium and get back on the faith train.

Today I reminded myself what the Lord says in Isaiah....  55:8-9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  



  

  

Out of Bondage- Ransom is Paid!

I wish I'd taken my camera to our Book-club tonight.  Such a nice group of women.  My life is so enriched by the women in it.  Terry and I have a firm iron-clad marriage rule that we don't befriend those of the opposite sex so while there are a lot of wonderful men, I'm sure, my life outside of the males in residence, are female.  These Bookies are all sensitive truth-seekers and I think they are all brainiacs.  They are all young and vivacious.  Well, almost all.  My friend Carol and I are the group cronies.  Myra Faye is out of town or there would be 3 of us.  3 mascots!

Carol was widowed a few months ago and this is a hard time for her.  She sometimes, usually actually, feels like a duck out of water but I tell her that we must go.  It's good for her.  for me.  for all of us.  Tonight as we were heading home I told her of the gift I'm giving her. I'll tell you but first I have to backtrack.

In 9th grade I learned to type on an old Underwood Typewriter that was quite the contraption.  This is not a picture of me!!!  I wanted you to see the Typewriter.  You had to change the spool ribbon and hit the return handle at the end of every sentence.  It took a lot of oomph to press the keys hard enough to make an impression.  It was heavy to lift!





 I seem to have no hesitancy to call attention to my antiquity!  Anyhow that is the typewriter with it's myriad of details that must be handled properly to get everything centered etc.  Then things advanced to the Royal Typewriter and in class we'd try to get one and not be stuck with the old Underwood... 












 Years later  they developed an electric typewriter and it was great!!

Electronic typewriter - the final stage in typewriter development. A 1989Canon Typestar 110

 and even later the first Word Processors with a screen!  marvelous!!!

 
 The Brother WP1, an electronic typewriter complete with a small screen and a floppy disc reader.

and of course we moved right into personal computers for our homes...
 

Things from that point on have continued to evolve.  Now I was content to stay on the Word Processor and saw no need to move to anything else.  I had to be convinced to let go of my floppy discs but I did have my light bulb moment and eventually fell in love with my PC  (look how savvy I am!  PC!) 

Then along came E-mail.  I have to say, if I was into building shrines, then I'd have some sort of stone fortress with a chiseled homage to E-mail.  If there was some sort of usage limit, I would have drained the entire earth supply early on.  I saw it's worth.  I used it for everything to contact everyone.  I was an RSP that used it for everything in RS.  (Cindy did finally ask me to stop emailing her.  Ouch!  Whimper.)  My communication world was just fine.  I wanted nothing else.  I had it all.

Then as happens in progression, especially in technology, things change and become more advanced and new things are added.  Interference.  Unnecessary.  Unwanted.  Unused.  well, by me anyhow.  I had my beloved email (correct spelling.  it's even in the dictionary!)  2 things were touted....blogs and FaceBook.

Having this insatiable desire to talk about the Gospel in my life, I eventually got up the courage, after hearing talks at General Conference to share your Gospel life, to do a blog.  Perhaps my life is not exactly what they were talking about but it is the only life I have and it is my life in the Gospel and I do absolutely love the Gospel and I am trying to live it.  So I'm trying to spread the word and it took a year before I put my name on it!!  Still no picture.  Just clothes blowing in the breeze and I love that picture and that's okay.  So now I still love my email but my heart is now so bloggable!!  I think blogging thoughts like I used to email.   Maybe even more so!!!  I'm aghast at that thought of such disloyalty!

Truly- I thought I was prepared for the length of my mortal life to just do email.  I felt so up to date.  so modern.  so with it.  Now it's like archaic to most.  So I moved ahead to blogging but the mere thought of FaceBook or as the with it folks call it, FB, just turned me off.  I was just so turned off with loss of privacy, sure of identity theft, some mugger getting your address and taking your coin purse, or a pervert writing dirty words and saying you did it, or someone telling something that you didn't want told and well....you see that I did have an element of distrust.  more than a little for sure!!!

Then I got held in bondage.   My Grandchildren would do something and I'd find out after the fact.  Someone would casually mention to me about a mutual friend-- some wonderful news or some sad news of challenge going on and I would know nothing of it...Oh, that's right.  You still don't do FaceBook?   Then ransom demands started coming in....get on FaceBook/ IF you were on FaceBook you'd know etc.  and then low blows like....If you want to see how Grace is doing in her championship dancing, Mom, then you need to get on FaceBook.  No one does email.  That's old stuff. 

The gauntlet was thrown down.  Alright I'll put my private life in jeopardy.   I'll become so modern that I'll shock myself.  That is what I did!!!  I'm on FaceBook.  Excuse me, I mean  FB!!

This rambling is all about my agonizing trek to this century but I'm trying to lay some groundwork  for my gift to my 75 year old friend Carol so you can understand how amazing it is.  I'd been concerned about her.  She needed more to do that would give her contact with people.  Tonight when we left the Book Clubbing, I told her I had the greatest idea in the world and was giving her a gift.  I asked her if she knew that Nikki's husband was having his last day of work.  She told me no.  I asked if she knew what he might do and she said no.  I said he's going to school!  I told her I'd learned it from FB (note lingo!).  And I was going to set her up on FaceBook also!!  We were both going to do it.!!  She enthusiastically/emphatically  said...Oh, no your aren't!  I'm not doing that!  I don't want to!  Uh-uh.  No!  You are wasting your breath!  I don't like that stuff!  You can just stop right now talking about it!     Surely she didn't really say...you are nuts!

So tomorrow I'm going over and get her going on her gift!!!  I'm so excited to do this!  She and I are stepping into a new world!!  She'll be sending you a friend invite!!

My heart is all happy as I write this and hum.....  (wonder if Carol is humming with the joy of FB in her future?)

Keep smiling, keep shiningKnowing you can always count on me, for sureThat's what friends are forFor good times and bad timesI'll be on your side forever moreThat's what friends are for 

My Place

It's fall and evenings are blustery.  Some rain.  Wet leaves.  Chilly.  Desire to read a good book .  Stay in and be cozy and comfy.  No can do!!!

It was the annual Stake High Priest dinner program.  The HP, wives, widows, all single adult women are invited.  The male planned meal is a great attempt but I've never had a moment of...do you share your recipe?  Appreciated meal though as the men cook, serve, and clean up.  I saw some of the chef's wives helping out a bit.

I chuckled when a HP, in charge of some kitchen detail, walked out and asked for-- attention!, room was quiet and he asked...does anyone here want more salad?  Looked around and said...didn't want to open a new bag if no one would eat it.  I liked his practical nature!

Some at our table wanted to skip the program and just go home.  I asked how many hadn't really wanted to come to the event and all hands shot up.  I asked how many wished, now that they had eaten, if they could go home.  100%, readying car keys.

HP sometimes drone on a bit and sometimes take a bit/a lot more than their allotted time.  The table renegades professed love/admiration etc. for those scheduled on program but....

I said we have to stay.  We sustained these people.  They need our support.  More important than anything is the fact that this is our test to endure to the end. We laughed at my halo buffing but actually I really meant it.

When you are younger, super busy with your young family, very active in the Church you attend so many events.  You are either in charge of a major part of something or responsible for the whole shebang.  Your children might have speaking parts or you might be helping chaperone or even lining up transportation for some Ward extravaganza or Temple trip or even a Stake event might end up on your plate to take charge of.

There are all sorts of bits and pieces, that are a puzzle piece of the whole puzzle, in making sure our Ward has the full Church program.  It's hectic and many times overwhelming and difficult and stressful but somehow or other it must be done and it does get done.  You catch your breath and ready yourself for the next assignment.

In the past I thought that was so much work/responsibility to put on the busy younger members of our Ward.  It wasn't fair.  They already had more on their plate than they can handle.  Now I feel different.  Those very responsibilities are what get the entire family to Church on Sundays and the other days of the weeks special events!  True at times, wisdom is needed, when a harried woman is at her wit's end and needs a respite of sorts but even then, the load is lightened but not ever totally removed.

This massive effort that women put forth is actually crucial to their spiritual growth and deepness and conviction of testimony for themselves and their families.  Those responsibilities, that are so all encompassing to the success of our Ward, build a foundation of testimony that plays out as you age.

Eventually it's about CTR!  Attending meetings when, truth be told, you'd like to slip on your robe, cuddle up and read BUT the right thing to choose is go to things when you have absolutely no responsibility.  None.  and way down inside no real desire or interest in the happenings.

It's a test.  Enduring.  ...Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:21)

I was talking to a sister in a different Ward and she said that she felt no need to go to RS monthly meetings where they have socials, teach skills, share recipes etc. etc.  She said that she knows what she needs for her life and it's a waste of her time to go.  She'd rather be home.  She doesn't need it.  She is 75. She prayed about it and felt prompted that it wasn't about her learning.  It was about her supporting the young RS members, the current ones.  Setting an example of the importance of attending meetings that have been planned.  supporting others.  She now attends with that in mind.

There have been many times I have wanted to not attend something but I have always ended up feeling the Spirit, glad I went, and my life has been blessed.  Even at HP events where there is sometimes that droning or those perhaps in love with the sound of their voice or suddenly remembering another story that fits in with the assigned topic or maybe changing the topic, my life is blessed for the effort.  

I was blessed that evening for choosing the short trek from cultural hall to chapel and not veering left and out the door to the parking lot after the meal.  

By literally choosing the right turn coming down the hall....the end and amazing result to me was 3 and perhaps 4 of the 6 of us are now motivated to trying to climb our own Family Tree.  The Spirit was strong.  Feeling tears, momentarily surface but not trickle, let me know this is the place.

The place for me.

On Stage everyone!!!

Alice will continue her mad romp through Wonderland this week.  (Thursday-Saturday)
Here are the amazing YW from our Ward......

Sophie--Kristen--Madeline

Sophie--Kristen--Madeline

Madeline- Kristen (in back)- Sophie

So proud of all 3 starlets!!!!

Check out the Yakima Herald on line for some great pictures from behind the scenes.....

‘Twas brillig before Zillah’s Alice in Wonderland

www.yakimaherald.com

‘Twas brillig before Zillah’s Alice in WonderlandPosted on November 3, 2012Close ← PreviousNext →By TJ MULLINAXYakima Herald-RepublicEmailPrintCommentsShareTweetBackstage with Zillah High School’s Z Center Stage Theater Company before Alice in Wonderland on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012 in Zillah, Wash. Jeff…

Bravo!!! Bravo!!!

Our daughter did not like participating in competitive school sports.  She enjoyed watching competitive events but not participating.  She tried a couple of things as she is very active but she was born a peace maker and it just proved more than she wanted to be involved in.

She loves physical activity for fun and personal fitness but her real love and forte reside in the creative arts of pottery, stain-glass, photography, and all sorts of things that create beauty. She does love to ice-skate and if Homer had teachers she might have been competitive in that sport!

Our sons were a different story!  I've gone to more sport events for high-schoolers, with 4 sons in wrestling, than you would imagine and they were top of the line.  State qualifiers etc.  Only one son was at a school where football was offered and he did that also.  I traveled to every single wrestling match for all 4 sons and 3 years of football games.

Having our family so spread out in age there was never a let up for what seemed a thousand years.  Our last son came into our life when our first son was graduating from high school.  That's a heap of wrestling matches!! People thought I was dedicated, in love with wrestling (not!), and would continue on after the last boy graduated.  again...not!  I was there as a Mom.  Mother's understand that statement. 

I'm an aging cheerleader.  I love to cheer and support any youth in our Ward that do theater.  One of my favorite theater venues are high school productions.  Not just our local high school but others also.  And I love community theater!

I just finished watching the local production of Alice in Wonderland.  I am not a fan of the story as it's so nuts/insane/crazy/wild etc. etc.  No real plot.  BUT it does have some great character roles and they get to shine.  This first play of the year, had a loss of many seniors from last year and the parents at the box office were new faces this year.  It's fun to watch people move through the system in supporting their children.

Just as I went to all of those sports events, these parents/grandparents/other relatives and friends support these young thespians by their attendance.

I am not related to a single cast member but I feel people in my situation, can strengthen the youth because I don't come out of obligation or blood relation.  I come because I love theater but even more so I love to see people I know on stage.  I even love to watch strangers!!! 

3 YW from our Ward were star players in the play.

One was even the lead role of Alice!  Madeline had never done a play or been on stage and she learned all of those lines, delivered them flawlessly and was on stage practically non-stop.  She was Alice personified...slender, girlish looking, long light colored hair.  Type casting!

The other 2 girls had multiple parts and costume changes.

Sophie, was a pro in her stage presence, staying in character, great voice projection and adorable looking in her mouse costume.  She developed a good on stage personality for her role and the most important thing to me she was believable.

Kristin, just made me proud.  A YW that has overcome so many odds and she covered several roles and handled all of them, including costume changes with what appeared to be ease!  She is comfortable on stage and her acting voice is always relaxed, well-cued and very believable.

This was opening night.  I like to go to opening night as I like to support all that work they've done and they need people there besides family to act for.  Also I will go back the night before closing and see that production.  I enjoy seeing how it has changed as far as additions and subtractions in stage direction, and how the characters acting has evolved.   So I like to go twice.  I don't enjoy going on closing night, as a lot of times in high school productions, it's filled with inside jokes and a lot of clowning around and that doesn't entertain me.  It's sort of irritating to me!!  I want to see the real play!

There are many that support our youth in all of the sporting events.  I choose theatre to show them I care.  I don't think it matters what our preference is.  It matters that we do something, when possible, to show our love, confidence, enjoyment, and support for our Ward youth.

They were awesome tonight in tackling such a complicated, intricate script and bring it to life with their great set and costumes and knowing their lines and stage direction!  Bravo!!!  Bravo!!

Ready or Not?

There are a lot of rough areas in New York.  Several years ago my sister and one of her daughters went there and in touring they went to Hoboken.  She said it felt safe because it was the home of legendary singer/crooner, Frank Sinatra, and the mob (so it goes) kept Frankie's hometown safe.  This little town is one square mile!

The entire concept of New York is so different anyhow...Islands connected by bridges and then lots of transportation underground.  I visited downtown New York  a little over 16 years ago and went to Les Miserable on Broadway.  It was exciting, thrilling and a dream come true to share such a time with my daughter!  I was a duck out of water and felt like I was in a cement jungle.  Like a maze.

Downtown, most people don't own cars and apartments are many times twin-bed wide.

As I follow the storm and the aftermath I think of gratitude for the practical aspect of the Gospel.  I think of being taught and teaching that in cases of disaster...if you can't get out?--then others can't get in.   It may take up to a week for help to arrive so be prepared.  Two days is nothing to get riled about.

I remember the night I woke up from a dead sleep, after being called as RSP, and was hyperventilating over the fact that I did not know if the families were prepared with foodstuffs and water and etc.  We started a big push, a big Ward campaign, to get yourself comfortable with what you have on hand.  We had all sorts of drives and goals and then called a sister to conduct a monthly class to get everyone on target and to keep us all moving ahead.  We did that for a long time and eventually it was dropped.  I felt that everyone was prepared for a minimal time with 3 months being the goal.

I read that a person could survive sheltering in place if they were prepared with water and food.  To be able to just close your door and stay home.  Even pandemic events could be survived if a person were prepared to stay home.  For the authorities to tell 20,000 people to shelter in place when they aren't prepared in advanced, can't get commodities now because they can't even leave their homes, doesn't make much sense.

It's sort of a 10 virgin story.  The hour is past for readiness and they will just have to wait it out and hope for the best.

I am no longer the RSP but I still care and still hope that all the women that I know, and that includes you that are reading this, will check your cupboards and get a little something each week, or whenever you shop, so that you are always ready for any situation that requires you to shelter in place.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are a few snippets that made me really thing about realistic expectations and having sensible adequate information.  

HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP) — National Guard troops delivered food and supplies to residents in this heavily flooded city across from Manhattan on Wednesday as officials sent out a plea for boats, generators and volunteers.

Superstorm Sandy sent the raging Hudson River waters from one side of the one-square-mile city to the other Monday. Two days later, at least 25 percent of the community remained flooded, leaving many residents anxious about whether they could get out and municipal leaders struggling to get assistance to all those who needed it.

Tempers flared Wednesday at a staging area outside City Hall, where a man screamed at emergency officials about why food and water had not been delivered to residents just a few blocks away. The man, who would not give his name, said he blew up an air mattress to float over to a staging area.

City officials defended their response.

"The dimension and scope of this situation is enormous," Public Safety Director Jon Tooke said. "You have emergency operations at all levels — from local to federal — spread too thin across the city and the state, but we're working on it."

Tooke said the estimated 20,000 people still stranded in their homes were being encouraged to shelter in place, and that high-water vehicles would get supplies to them. He said people with medical and other special needs were being taken out by trucks.

At the Elliott-Chelsea Houses, a New York City Housing Authority complex, residents are without running water as well as power.

"Every day, I'm just going out looking for food and water," said Magaly Perez, a single mother clutching the hand of her 5-year-old daughter, Jade.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cornish said the storm itself was initially a bonding period with neighbors he once only nodded hello to.

But now that residents have been able to get outside their homes and see a bit of dry sidewalk for the first time in days, they are realizing the full scope of the damage and are getting antsy.

Cornish was deciding Wednesday whether to go to his parents' house in Summit, which had no power.

"I'm debating, no power and a colder house in Summit, or stick it out here with some auxiliary power that will only last until the building runs out of diesel," he said.

In Cornish's building, the generators powered only the hallways. He said doors were open and neighbors were sharing; some had refrigerators plugged in hallway outlets or worked on laptops.