Thanksgiving Food Drive

Every year in our ward the youth get together to collect food from the ward members for Thanksgiving. The Bishopric then takes the food around to families in the ward that have need for it. I have participated in this food drive now three times and it is my absolute favorite activity. This year our ward really outdid themselves. We collected (if I remember correctly), 16 turkeys and put together enough canned and boxed food to fill 11 big boxes to the top. It was so, so great! The best part about it to me is that with the poor state of the economy, things are tight for EVERYONE yet the good people here donated more food than any year I have ever seen. It was just so awesome! I'm so thankful that my Heavenly Father led my family to this ward that I love so much. I'm grateful to belong to a church whose members are always so willing to give. And I am grateful that the church teaches the importance of service and charity and provides their youth (and their youth's leaders) with positive experiences like this.

Roots and Branches

Tonight in my scripture study I was reading 3 Nephi 25 (compare Malachi Chapter 4). It's a very short chapter; only six verses all together, but very important. At this point in the history, the Savior was coming to the conclusion of his visit to the Nephites and was teaching them before he left. This chapter records what he taught about the return of Elijah. The Savior taught the Nephites that in the last days, he would send his prophet Elijah to restore the sealing keys to the earth and "turn the hearts of the children to their fathers."

Verse 1 of this chapter reads: "For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch."

I admit that I read my scriptures too late at night when I'm too tired and should probably find a better time to study because I passed over these verses and just kind of thought, "Yeah, Elijah. Genealogy. Sealing powers. I know all this." SO... its a good thing I study with the Book of Mormon Student Manual. It expounded a little on the significance of the symbols "root" and "branch". Now, you've probably already figured it out for yourself, but here's the way Theodore M. Burton explains it (from God's Greatest Gift, pp. 194-95):

"What are my roots? Why, my roots are where I came from. My roots are my parents, my progenitors or ancestors in a direct bloodline....What then is meant by the word branch? If I consider myself as the trunk of the tree, nourished and supported by my roots, then the branches constitute that which comes from me. My branches are my children and my grandchildren, etc. In other words, my branches are the posterity that comes from me as branches spring from the trunk of a tree."

I love this metaphor! Love, love, love it. And I completely missed it at first - even as obvious as it is. So, the idea is, if we want to keep our roots and branches with us after the resurrection and judgement, we have to complete necessary ordinances. And this is where Elijah comes in. Elijah restored the keys of authority to administer in all the ordinances of the Priesthood - including the higher, sealing ordinances. The sealing ordinances make it possible for our roots and branches to remain a part of our trunk. In other words, the sealing ordinances make it possible for my progenitors and my posterity to remain a part of me and my family forever.

Joseph Fielding Smith taught "The higher ordinances, the greater blessings which are essential to exaltation in the kingdom of God, and which can only be obtained in certain places, no man has a right to perform except as he receives the authority to do it from the one who holds the keys...Elijah restored to this Church and, if they would receive it, to the world, the keys of the sealing power; and that sealing power puts the stamp of approval upon every ordinance that is done in this Church and more particularly those that are performed in the temples of the Lord" (Doctrines of Salvation, 3:129-30).

The more I study, the more I see that the Savior never wastes a symbol. (I know in this instance, he's actually quoting Malachi, but the way I see it, Malachi spoke for the Savior, so when the Savior quotes Malachi, he's really kind of quoting himself, right?) Anyway, I don't know why I still pass symbols by without trying to see what they really stand for - what a superb teacher he is! That's why I love my study companion books and why I hate to ever miss a Sunday School lesson. I still need a little help seeing those deeper things.

The Church Continues!

Elder M. Russell Ballard, General Conference, Sunday Morning Session, October 5, 2008

I only wrote down three things from Elder Ballard's talk but I think they're worth mentioning:

First, The church continues to grow despite attacks on the people.

Second, the works, designs & purposes of God cannot be thwarted.

And third, we can't afford to become comfortable. There is still much to do.

Especially in light of heavy criticism and persecution recently, this is a good reminder that the work won't be ceasing just because people may not like it - but it's also a good reminder that we can't just sit around and expect it to happen. We have to be doing our part. Sound council and a comforting reminder.

Return to Virtue

Sister Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women General President, General Conference, Sunday Morning Session, October 5, 2008

Sister Dalton spoke to us about the importance of living a virtuous life and what that really means. She said that virtuous men and women posses a quiet confidence and strength. I like that. I don't think being truly virtuous makes us proud or boastful but yeah ... quiet confidence and strength. She said "There is no greater friend than a clear conscience." Lovely. A good thing for any of us to remember.

She related the story from the Book of Mormon of Lahonti who was invited by an enemy to come down off his mountain and as he did so, he was poisoned by degrees until he died. I enjoyed her account of this because I had just read it myself in my personal scripture study but I really hadn't read more into it than just the account. I missed the big picture I guess. She asked us, "are we being poisoned by degrees?" It's so easy to let that happen. She counseled us "Don't lose sight of your identity while being consumed by self image."

And then she reminded us that we have the power to changed the world. But we have to prepare. We have to exercise more discipline, set our course on the finish. And she quoted from this council from Moroni: "Awake and arise and lay hold of every good gift..."

The last thing I found interesting from her remarks was that she said every young woman should be sustained and encircled about by righteous Priesthood power. I love that! I believe that men and women in this gospel compliment one another so perfectly and that we need the gifts that the other can offer.

I love hearing Sister Dalton speak. I believe she possesses a genuine love for the young women and she is so upbeat and cheerful about the gospel - always with a smile.

New Calling

Nate has another new calling! He's been called to serve and was set apart today as First Counselor in the Elder's Quorum. I'm so pleased and excited for him. He just loves Elder's Quorum and is very enthusiastic about serving. He hasn't been released from teaching Sunday School yet but probably will be soon. Way to go Nate! I'm so proud of the efforts you've made to get to this point and look forward to witnessing the blessings that will come to you as you serve.

Responding to Criticism

Elder Robert D. Hales, General Conference, Sunday Morning Session, October 5, 2008

Elder Hales' remarks seem to me to be of particular importance given the recent circumstances with the Church's involvement over California's Proposition 8. We've certainly faced some tough criticisms even among some of our own members lately and his remarks were all about the best way for us to respond.

He recommends that when we are faced with criticisms directed towards the church we need to step back, pray and respond as the Savior did when he was attacked. He listed four examples of how the Savior responded when he was attacked: First, he remained silent. Second, he bore testimony. Third, he exercised divine responsibility to preserve that which is sacred. And fourth, he pleaded for forgiveness of his enemies. Depending on individually circumstances, we could probably pick and choose from these appropriate responses if not use more than one or all of them.

We were counseled to respond with humility, meekness "Christian courage" and to turn the other cheek. Above all, we were counseled not to react with anger. I wrote in my notes, NO CONTENTION! so this must have been heavily emphasized or at least it was important for me to hear it. We've all been told this before; the moment we allow the spirit of contention to enter a discussion we have lost and can do no good. But reacting with humility and meekness and not anger when someone is attacking something we feel so very personal and hold so very sacred is easier said than done.

However, he said that "True disciples of Christ see opportunity in opposition." This is something I've tried to begin cultivating in my own life. I think it takes practice but the rewards are truly worth the effort. We were counseled to take advantage of negative criticism by responding with love and to use it as an opportunity to bring attention to the church. We should seek guidance from the Spirit for inspiration tailored to each encounter.

Another difficult one: "True disciples speak with quiet confidence, not boastful pride." I try to remember that it is confidence not in myself, but in the gospel which I wish to testify. But it's hard when you feel like its a personal attack. Another one that I think takes practice to master. One thing that might help us with this is his council that "as true disciples, our primary concern must be others’ welfare, not personal vindication". We don't feel we are better than they are, rather we desire to show them a better way. I think if we were always keeping that in mind our pride would never be a problem.

He said sometimes the only thing we can do is walk away. Always remember to stay on higher ground. He related the experience of the Prophet Nehemiah who built a wall around Jerusalem. his enemies wanted him to come down to the plains where they planned to do mischief to him. His response was “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” So it is with us. Stay on higher ground.

This was really helpful for me to review this council in light of the recent political events. I do choose on occasion, to respond to criticisms when I feel passionately about them and in this case I have responded to more than one person and have been involved in lengthy dialogs in defense of the church. Elder Hales' remarks were valuable to me because though my intentions are good, I don't always respond the way the Savior would have done. I will certainly try to take this council to heart and apply it.

My John Hancock

This evening I attended my ward's "Evening of Excellence" for the Young Women. Some of the girls were asked to speak about this year's theme which is taken from Mosiah 5:15 and is "Be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works." One speaker began by showing a copy of the Declaration of Independence and then relating the story of John Hancock's signature. As you may recall, when the signers of the Declaration of Independence were asked to add their signatures, many were understandably shy about doing so. To add their signature constituted treason to the King of England and meant death by execution should they not win the war. Popular myth says John Hancock believed so adamantly about what he was putting his name to that he made sure to sign his name so largely and clearly that "King George could read it without his spectacles." She related this beautifully to our theme and challenged us to sign our own "John Hancock" to the cause of the gospel. We should be so firm in our testimonies that we don't care what might happen to us; we want to make it known who we are and what we stand for. We should believe in it so fully that we aren't afraid to let it show. She said it much better than my attempts here, but I just felt so strongly that that's the way I want to live my life. I want to let my testimony show in every thing I do and say.

I'm so tired of being afraid to stand up for what is right and true. I'm so tired of worrying about others taking offense at the truth. I'm so tired of worrying about negative consequences that may or may not come from declaring my testimony. There is no greater blessing than to belong to this church and I for one am not ashamed of the gospel! It is truth and light and I will share it! And that's my John Hancock!

A Great Day of Unity is Coming

President Henry B Eyring, General Conference, Sunday Morning Session, October 5, 2008

President Eyring opened his remarks with a smile and a positive message and I couldn't help but smile myself as he began to speak. He said "A great day of unity is coming." He said we're doing better. Families are praying together. Fathers and mothers are praying for unity in their families. We are becoming more unified as a church.

And then he gave us suggestions on how we can encourage greater unity. He said that hearts can be knit together in unity when we bear testimony of the Savior and his mission. When we bear testimony of the Savior in our Family Home Evenings, it can encourage greater family unity.

He also counseled that "pride is the great enemy of unity." How absolutely true that is and how sorely difficult it is to overcome pride (at least for me.) He said we should be peacemakers and try to resolve conflicts. One way we can do this, he said, was to try to find something we can agree on. We can also pray to restore peace and unity when it is lost. (This of course requires us to become humble...it's that darn pride again that makes it so difficult.)

The Lord can help us see that someone else's differences fill in what we lack. We have to remember that we see others through imperfect eyes. We ought to try to view people through the light of Christ. I think this is especially important to remember this in our wards because we have so many different personalities with different strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes when working with others in my church duties it gets difficult to be patient with differences so I really like this council.

And finally, we've all heard it said, but it never hurts to say it again, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

I never like to be told that I'm prideful and I never like having to be humbled but as difficult as it may be to hear that that's what is required of me to do my part towards greater unity, I still found these remarks on the whole to be very uplifting and positive. Truly, we are strongest as wards, families, stakes and as a church when we are unified.