A New Prophet

The time has come.

As all eventually do,

a Giant of a man has passed on,

and thereby passes his baton

of leading and loving-

a worldwide stewardship.


I felt today, as I watched

this reverent process-

The Savior's will has been spoken

and a prophet speaks again.


To President Nelson, I say:

I love you.

I sustain you.

I will stay

on the covenant path.

Warm Imperfection

He rolled over, and in the silky twilight could detect his lover-

                        His wife of twelve years...

           lay dreaming, and drooling... on the pillow, wearing

                her signature fragrance- lait du mamelle. 

The curve of her hip would never fit into her wedding dress now--

                      it had expanded to allow four children passage

                                         into this world...

                                          their world.

Her forehead, though still, held worry in it.

                      storylines on her face told of feeding family time after time, 

                                           and correcting and healing and soothing and listening.

Silver strands of hair glistened from her temples like spider silk, 

                       spun out of an altruistic altar-mind, 

                                            constantly crafting her next soul build. 

He stared, and met her again.

She was imperfect to look at, warm to the touch. 

Years ago, when he picked her up on campus, he couldn't have seen this, 

for in front of him were bright eyes, slender curves, smooth skin, and shiny brown hair. 

Beneath that, 

              and forthcoming, 

                          was the mother of his children, 

              who, after a decade of spirit evolution, would surprise him in turns.

For as her body worked its way toward the grave, 

                her soul was climbing to heaven. 

He saw her clearly this morning, as light from the window cleaved to more light-

                 He saw the undeniable shine from his sleeping, service-worn wife. 

 And he was grateful God gave him choice, and he chose to cleave to her,

                                                And leave all else behind.

He thought of another kind of light- 

                 the fabricated kind.

      it glowed from computers, flashed from florescence, and sparked in dark alleys.

                       It beckoned to the cleaving nature of men, 

      asking them to cleave to cold screens, to faces on a page, to voices over a phone.

This light, which always goes out eventually, 

                was full of photo-shopped bombshells (what an appropriate term). 

                          Proprietors' pockets were filling as they sold these shells

                                             (who knew not that they were so much more than that), 

And the men, like lemmings, kept cleaving and cleaving to the cold perfection behind the glass-

                never satiated. never full. never feeling 

                                              just 

                                              like 

                                              this. 

In love with the contents of a seashell

(which had been through a little rough undertow)...

                                                                           

No, this pearl was better. She was worth the messy ride-

                The baby puke, the streaky mascara, the hormone swings inside.  

He thanked her, quietly, for never steering away. 

and vowed again, "forever". 

In wonder, he patiently anticipated

                              the opening

                                             of those bright eyes. 

                 

Sandwiched

My ancestors baked bread.

and now we buy bread.

I'm sandwiched in the middle of sweat and convenience, with a homemade slice on top and a commercial slice on the bottom.

And what's a girl to do?

I can roll out my ravioli, or pick it up in the freezer section.

I can sew a dress, or order it on Amazon.

I can bake my cake and eat it, too.

(or can I?)


With myriad ways to spend my strength, I freeze.

Distracted by the good of both, stymied.

I eat this life sandwich,

Ingesting the wholesome, rich slice my grandma made and longing for her presence.

The other slice doesn't taste as good, but because I bought it, I can write this.

Doctrine

There is nothing quite so sweet as kneeling with your children for prayer and listen as they say beautiful things.  Inspired things.

As my son prayed tonight, I was inspired by the way he spoke with his Father in Heaven.

The first thing he thanked the Lord for was the temple we visited last night.  He was thankful that we have a holy place where we could go and perform baptisms for those who didn't have a chance in this life.  He asked that we would always keep that place sacred and important.

He thanked God for our family, that we are sealed together forever, and that we love each other.

                                       

He shared how grateful we are for the priesthood that is on the earth today, to bless all people.

He was thankful for this beautiful world that God created for us, that we can enjoy the beauties around us.

I don't think this boy realized all the doctrines he expounded on during that prayer, but I was pleased as his parent to know that he understood these things:

1. Temples are the House of God.  In ancient times, God commanded His people to build holy places of worship.  When Christ visited the Temple in Jerusalem, he referenced it as His Father's house.  (John 2:16)

2. Families can be sealed together for eternity.  In Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132, it speaks of this principle.

3.  The priesthood has been restored to the earth.  John the Baptist brought this power back to the earth, transferring it to Joseph Smith through the laying on of hands. (D&C 13) The higher priesthood was later brought to the earth through Peter, James, and John.  (D&C 27:12)

4. God created this Earth.  In Genesis chapter one, God teaches us that He made this planet and all the living creatures thereon.

Thank you, my boy, for sharing your witness of these doctrines with me through your prayer tonight.

Temple Weddings... (sigh)

I gave a talk in church yesterday.  I have thought since then (as I often do) about what I could have said instead.

I wish I had told the story of my friend, Rebekah.

You see, Rebekah lived in a town where there weren't many members of her faith.  Except her cousins, but who wants to date your cousin?  She was a hard worker, and very beautiful.  She longed for the day when she would find a man of her dreams.  But who would that be?

One day an older man came to her village.  He was on a special errand.  He was to find a wife for his master, Isaac.  He offered a heartfelt, specific prayer that he would find her.  He even described to the Lord what he would look for, knowing that when he saw her, it would be right.  He asked that this girl, upon meeting him, would give him a drink of water.  Not only him, but all of his camels, too.  (A girl who fetches water for camels is awesome, because camels drink a lot,  and water is not light!)

As he was saying this prayer in his heart, before he had even finished, Rebekah came with a pitcher on her shoulder.  She went down to the well and filled her pitcher.  When she came back, he asked if he might have a little to drink.  When Rebekah heard this request, she quickly set down her pitcher that he might drink.  And THEN she offered to fetch water for his camels! (Remember, hard worker?)  She quickly did all this, running between camels and well, and the servant, Eleazar, had the feeling that his prayer was being answered.  He placed some beautiful jewelry (heavy gold) on her wrists. He asked the girl whose family she belonged to.  When she explained, he knew that she was of the household of faith, and that this was the girl!  He asked if her family might have room for his group to stay the night at their home.  She responded that there was plenty of room for them and their animals. 

She ran home to tell her family what had just happened, and to prepare for this kind servant.  She showed them the jewelry he gave her (this is probably the first thing she did!).

Eleazar came and settled into their home.  That night, he explained the miraculous events which had occurred that day.   I like a phrase he uses in telling the story:  "and I, being in the way,"  (...found this girl). 

He was in the right place at the right time.  He was prepared to receive an answer to his prayer because of the kind of life he had been living up to that point. 

Anyway he tells his story, and the family agrees that it must be meant to be.  THEN, he explains that he will be going back to his home in the morning, and he would like to take Rebekah with him.

WHAT?  You haven't known this girl for even a day, and you want to take her tomorrow?  The family has concerns, of course, that she will be far away and that they won't see her very often, if ever.  They ask if she can just stay for 10 days or so, to prepare to be married and to move from her family.  Eleazar explains that he must get back to report to his master. 

Then is time for Rebekah to decide.  Will she go with this man?  Tomorrow?  Her response will change the lives of millions of people, for she would become mother to them.  She must have felt the Spirit encouraging her, because she gave the faithful answer:

"I will go".

She left her home and all she knew to follow a man she just met the day before, to marry a boy she had never met.

But when she sees Isaac, it is all over.  Or should I say it all began.

I am grateful to Rebekah.  She had her sights set on an eternal marriage and nothing less. 

Marriage in the Temple is different from marriage in the world.  You are blessed and sealed together for not only this life, but for eternity.  I am grateful for the sealing priesthood power which has given strength to my marriage.  I know this power is real, and I am grateful my husband and I were able to be married in this beautiful temple:

Manti, Utah

The Unplanned

 

I have been serving as a teacher to the 8 year old children in my congregation.  I have loved it!  Each Sunday, we have a lesson on an aspect of living the gospel, such as being honest or developing your talents.  For some time, I have been wanting to have them over for an ice cream party, but twice I had to cancel for one reason or another (after sending them invitations in the mail).

Last Sunday, we tentatively planned for Tuesday after school.  Later, though, I realized my son had a Dr. appointment at that time and there was a meeting for parents that evening.  So I didn't plan on it.

Tuesday came, and I was sitting in the Dr.'s office with my son when I got a call from my 8 year old boy (who is in my primary class), telling me that kids were showing up.  "Oh no."  I thought.  "I'm not there, and I wanted to give notice to parents that we were doing it, and...oh well."

I asked my older daughters to oversee dishing out some ice cream and playing some games and I'd be home soon.  I quickly texted the rest of the parents' children, explaining that we are having ice cream at my house, and those kids came.  Eventually all of my class was there but one.  I showed up to a house full of fun-- nerf gun wars and dress ups.  I washed some bowls and served ice cream to those who hadn't had some.  It was loud and crazy, and wonderful.

I had planned to have my house clean for this event.  It was pretty messy.  I had planned to give parents a few days notice.  Totally overrated in this case.  I had planned to have cute paperware to serve the ice cream in, and lots of toppings and such.  They didn't care.  I had wondered how to keep them all entertained for 2 hours.  They entertained themselves, and had much more fun than if I had been there telling them how I thought we should have fun ("okay let's play a game of boolah boolah!")

I had a much better time, and much less stress, when the children took the lead and reminded me what it is like to be a kid.  Live in the moment and laugh.  And don't worry if your house or the decorations aren't perfect.  Actually, it is better and more relaxing that way.

A fascinating thing to me is to think about how the Savior spent his days.  I can't see Him sitting down with the apostles in the morning saying, "Today's agenda is as follows:  Sermon at 10 o'clock, Healings at 1, Rebuking devils at 3 and Water to Wine at 6.  Does everybody have that in their planners?  Okay let's go."  I can't see him rushing around in stress, trying to get to everything and everyone at once.

 

Rather, I see the Savior as the Master of the moment.  Seeing a present need.  Seeing someone in pain or someone who needed teaching, and doing what He needed to do for them, right then.  He had power to call down angels and force everyone to listen to Him, but instead He found the real power in spending an hour or two with those who came to Him.  He responded to the needs of Nicodemus, the woman at the well, the woman with the issue of blood, and many more.  When Mary chose to sit at His feet, He taught her.

I hope and pray to be more like my Savior.  To look at life not as a task list, but as an opportunity to be with and serve wonderful people.  To strive not to make perfection out of this messy mortality, but to seek the perfection that will come through Christ, for all those who seek Him, in an eternal and distant day. 

General Conference

Twice a year.

October and April.

6 sessions, each 2 hours long.

Talks and music are given to inspire the general membership of our church.

I love it.

As a conference gets closer, I yearn to hear the words of our leaders.

I was especially impressed this year with the Women's meeting.  The leaders of our Young Women, Primary-aged Girls, and Adult Sisters spoke.  They are powerful emissaries of Christ.

Here is one such leader, Jean A. Stevens:

Here is a link to her talk.

I love Spirit she carries with her!

I also loved hearing from Thomas S. Monson.  He encouraged us to "Ponder the Path of Thy Feet" (line from Proverbs), and follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ.

You can go here to find a full list of General Conference Speakers and subjects.

I testify that Prophets and Apostles walk the earth!  God loves us just as much as all of His children who lived in previous times.  He sent them prophets such as Moses, Abraham, and Noah to teach His children of Him.  His pattern today is the same.  We live in a wicked world and we need light and revelation which comes from these inspired leaders.