Big Challenge (I think so.)

So I've told you about my friend Mariah in previous blogs.  (in January 2014?)

a few reminder facts... 

She was married and had 4 children.  Outstanding/brainiac/talented/great parent (always winning parent of the month type things)/loyal friend/hardworking/educated.   Active in Church.  Sealed in Temple.

Another woman in her same Ward...sort of carbon copy of Mariah.  5 children.

They find out/figure out, however that sort of thing happens, that they are gay.

In love.  with each other.

Divorces for both of them.

Stay active in their Ward.

Time goes on.

They get married.

Both end up ex'd.

Still attending Church in their Ward.

Both have testimonies.

So...you know that I've said a few times to you Momma's...how are you going to explain this entire homosexual scenario to your children?  How are you going to explain... our religion does not believe, does not support gay marriage, will not change the doctrine at any point?  How do you teach to love someone while viewing their actions as sin?

So...we have the family Proclamation...we have Scriptures that denounce this practice...we have living Apostles...we have videos and publications from the Church to teach these facts.  so evidently there are things out there for your consideration in covering this landmine territory.


Heavy on my mind right now, because Mariah and her wife just announced,  they got married 8 months ago, so it's out there for everyone to see in cyber space--

isn't the perplexing basic question...

 ...how will you treat these beautiful children at Church, Moms?  how will you teach your children to treat them in Primary?  at Scouts?  Activity days?  YW?  YM?

To all the adults teaching each of these age groups...how will we conduct ourselves?

Guess the first rule, the basic challenge is...unconditional love for all concerned?

One side of Mariah's Christmas card 2014.

The Ladder

Quite some time back I shared a poem by a reader that I was captivated by it.  I just love it.  It's called The Ladder and I printed it at the end of this news....Amy has decided to do a blog about her pain from which she is working at healing herself!!!  She says.....

For a long time now I have had a desire to share my healing journey in a way that could help others. I have feared speaking out, though, because of not wanting to offend others or make people uncomfortable who know my ex-husband. Today marks 3 years since leaving my marriage. During that time I have faced persecution and been judged for the choice to leave. I have purposefully remained quiet but am now choosing to use my voice. I have started a blog, not to criticize my ex or speak about specifics from my past, but to share experiences and feelings as I move forward to connect to my true self. If you desire to join me on my journey, please follow my blog! It is a slow start, but I had to just get the first post done. More to come!
http://freedomtobecome.blogspot.com/2015/03/freedom.html

Freedom to Become: Freedom

freedomtobecome.blogspot.com|By Amy Tiare

The Ladder

by Amy Tiare

Teetering on a broken ladder

Unsafe, unclear

Halfway to my destination

Do I go up?

Do I go down?

Does it matter at this point?

The ladder will soon give way

Looking down at the cliff below

Jagged, rocky

Pain is what awaits me

What to do?

Which direction to choose?

Is there even a choice?

Can’t even remember which direction I was going

Looking up at the broken rungs above

Dizzy, weak

Fear keeps me holding on

Can I make it?

Can I continue to hold on?

Is there any way to save me?

There is no way out of this

A scene flashes before my eyes

Pain, anguish

The Savior suffers in Gethsemane

Can he make it through?

Can he complete the task?

Is it too much for Him to take?

He endures it well and fulfills his mission

A voice enters my mind

Calm, gentle

“My child, I am here for you.

What will you choose?

Go down? I will catch you.

Go up? I will reach for you.

Choose. I cannot help as long as you are still.”

I listen to my heart

Pounding, racing

I listen to my head

What will happen if I move?

Will the ladder break?

What will become of me?

A choice is made. I let go…

6 words to NEVER say!!!

Christ's life, His scriptural teachings, His Church, the RS organization I adhere to-- are all centered and based on service.   

My friend Carol lives a life of service.  She always has and I believe she always will.  She is a human dynamo.  She has single-handedly taken care of our entire Ward at times.  She knows every needful thing to do and does it.  Pronto.  Without delay.  She is amazing!  I know this sounds exaggerated but really I could produce Ward witnesses that would back me up on this phenomenal woman.  None of us could match her if we tried and I'm glad that isn't expected of any of us.

My life is blessed with the presence of many great women and the commonality, beyond Church membership, is each has a kind and giving heart.  Each gives in their own way.  They have figured out their own personal ministry.  (Ministry.  I like the word and want to blog about that beautiful word.)

At different times in my life, I've done different levels of service. 

Right now I feel like my own personal life is my own personal service project!!  So many changes in our life and I'm feeling more in control of "us".

anyhow....
 
This article is one of the best, if not the best, I've ever read.  read the comments also.  they are eye-openers!  The Six Word Phrase All Mormons Should Stop Saying  here

Neuroplasticity

Our friend Darrel is a retired high school Biology teacher.  His wife was diagnosed with dementia a couple of years ago.  We were visiting one time about the brain and he shared that when he went to college that he was taught, and then taught his students, that you were born with so many brain cells and eventually they would die off and couldn't replenish themselves or be healed.  We talked about what had been discovered since that time and how Terry had that stroke 2 years ago and the amazing things we learned, that he could heal his brain and reconnect broken lengths through therapy.  It's called neuroplasticity.

I just read about the merits of neruoplasticity in this article Faith to Heal the Brain here
It's an amazing article. For those of you in SLC area they are having a special presentation.  I know there are several of you that would want to attend this in hopes it would help your child.  The book by Norman Doidge is called The Brain That Changes Itself .  I am so curious!  If I was in Utah, I'd go with you!

Norman Doidge in Salt Lake City on March 31st.

If you or your loved ones suffer from mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, OCD, and addictions, or neurological challenges such as chronic pain, ADD, LD, TBI, stroke, MS, dementia, Parkinson’s, and Autism, or if you want to learn what you can do to preserve and enhance brain function, join us. Avalon Hills Treatment Centers invite you to attend a night with Dr. Norman Doidge, MD. Hear stories of faith, hope and personal triumph and remarkable discoveries and recoveries from the frontiers of neuroplasticity on Tuesday, March 31st at 7 pm at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

Click below to reserve your tickets.

https://www.avalonhillsfoundation.org/register/register/

To find out more about how the new science of Neuroplasticity can help you overcome your challenges and/or preserve and enhance brain function, join us on March 31st.

God's love = His commandments

this is such a great talk Free Forever, to Act for Themselves by Elder Christofferson here

(two paragraphs to whet your appetite!)

So God does not save us “just as we are,” first, because “just as we are” we are unclean, and “no unclean thing can dwell … in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man [of Holiness].”⁴ And second, God will not act to make us something we do not choose by our actions to become. Truly He loves us, and because He loves us, He neither compels nor abandons us. Rather He helps and guides us. Indeed, the real manifestation of God’s love is His commandments.

and

I am under no illusion that this can be achieved by our own efforts alone without His very substantial and constant help. “We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”²⁴ And we do not need to achieve some minimum level of capacity or goodness before God will help—divine aid can be ours every hour of every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience. But I know that beyond desiring His help, we must exert ourselves, repent, and choose God for Him to be able to act in our lives consistent with justice and moral agency. My plea is simply to take responsibility and go to work so that there is something for God to help us with.

dreaming...

I bought the book  

21 Principles-Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit 

 by Elder Richard G. Scott.

Over the years I've learned so much from his words and I looked forward to reading the book.  I have not been disappointed in the least!  I've always thought I knew what a dream was.  I mean dreams that are revelatory/instructive on a spiritual level.  I remember two very distinct dreams concerning callings in the Church.  One was a dream of a calling that would happen (it did 5 months later) and the other was how to do a particular calling that I was already in.  

A dream...seeing it like a movie.  A dream of being awakened, by specific detailed voice instructions, out of a sound sleep, as to how to handle a current calling or what calling was in the future and how to do it.  Those are the types of dreams, that are familiar to all of us.  At least I'm assuming so.

Elder Scott gave me new perspective on a different type of dreaming.  I'd never heard this before. I think it's powerful and enlightening.....

Principle 16

One of the most memorable and powerful patterns of communication by the Spirit is through dreams.  I have learned that when the transition from being fully asleep to being fully awake is almost imperceptible, it is a signal that the Lord has taught something very important through a dream.

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

This is a truth to me....

(I just added a great quote by President Benson to yesterday's blog post.  it's towards the end.  you will enjoy it.  I promise!)