early preparation...

I love Church meetings, especially conferences.  right now is that time that I love...Stake Conference, General Women's Conference, April General Conference...one right after the other.  I'm already thinking of menu for General Conference.  We literally sit for two days and watch it all.  Love being in my house (yes, at times relaxed in my old comfy bathrobe) and enjoying this modern day miracle of sitting in my living room and seeing the happenings.

I'm mentioning Gen. Conference now because it's time to get ready to receive the gift of GC.  I like to make a guess at what might be mentioned...like- last days/food storage/gays and that sort of thing but the really biggy for me is to seek answers to my personal questions.  Right now I actually only have one question in my mind and maybe it will shift to something else or maybe it will stay and I'll have a couple of more, that I really want some guidance or a confirmation of.  

I'll write it on a paper and be excited, happy and relieved when I get my answer!!  so right now am giving you a heads up....time to make your list of questions or question!!  

Terry and I heard this on one of your Conference talks.  True it covers broader answers to problems that we all share in mortality but we can have personal help (IF we ask in prayer for that guidance/revelation)

My dear brothers and sisters, I feel it both a privilege and a blessing to be present at this inspirational conference, and I know that the answers to many of today’s problems are to be found in the messages being given by our leaders.    Franklin D. Richards  (GC April 1971)

This is from 2013 but still rings true....

good thought!

There are some readers that need this great thought as I did!!!  something to think about....

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I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.

— Leonardo da Vinci

Wonderful day...

Tuesday, the Temple was open again after being closed for awhile for winter maintenance.  First day and it was packed.  Lots of young full-time missionaries. 

I love the feeling of total peace in the Temple.  I also love knowing I can receive answers to prayers...guidance...confirmation of being/doing right.  I went alone and enjoyed the journey...prayer and thinking.

My heart is full of gratitude to be so close to a Temple.  55 minutes away.

Generosity with words...

Sometimes I spend time shuffling my thoughts as if they were puzzle pieces.  Turning and examining various ideas on various things on how I feel and how it fits into my life.  That is what I've been doing.

I started a couple of days ago to write about Church service and it's many benefits and morphed into talking about loving those you serve in those callings which right now focuses on my Laurel class.  I realized I came to the conclusion, years ago, that unconditional love is the entire focus of the Saviors ministry...the basis of all His service/miracles/parables and His very life.  and....as a believer/follower I need to learn/do the same.  So I realized that love wasn't really the subject, nor an awakening to me, to know that it is a necessary attribute to strive to acquire/develop.  beyond necessary....it is essential.

What I started to explain, and got off track, what was coming with a sense of amazement to me, is the service we render through our callings, eventually impacts us with great memories but even more startling is to realize those callings, while we might not realize it at the time, will bless those we serve and it will come to their mind, years and years later.  The importance of callings really impacted me as I received notes from girls, now adult women, sharing their love and appreciation for something that happened a life time ago.  Something as simple as a weekly class. 

 My life has been so blessed in the last several weeks by generous thoughts that have arrived in my life in cards/letters/emails.  So appreciated and came right at the time I needed to hear those sentiments.   

Retraction!!

Sunday night Melissa reminded me that I said I'd post a picture a month!  Of me!!  I told her I changed my mind and I needed to say so to you.  So I did 2!  Just can't handle it!  Must have been something in the air when I made such a rash decision to actually say I'd do such a whack-o thing monthly!!  Whack-o for me anyhow. 

Melissa, I know you've already seen this but here you go...I did put a picture on!, already seen on FB, and with that I am retracting that earlier statement!!  No promise of any pictures of me on my blog.

I honestly cannot imagine how people do selfies!!  They enjoy it!!  Love it!!  and I certainly enjoy their pictures of themselves!  So keep it up everyone.  I'm checking you out!!

My beautiful friend, Chelle!  love her!!

Mothers take note....

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.