Glory to God

I love the example which we receive from Joseph whom was sold into Egypt about giving God the glory. 

When Joseph was in jail on false accusations and he told his prison mates that he could interpret dreams, he fronted this information by first letting them know that it was a gift from God. 

When Jospeh was brought to Pharaoh, he told him the same thing. 

Genesis 41

15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

We live in a world and society where people are afraid to mention God at all, as if it might bring offense to someone and even further we sometimes tip toe around our faith if we think that it might shut people down to us. 

I know for myself I am often guilty of not thanking God enough for the blessings that He does give me and I dwell too much on what I am lacking; yet He has given me so many gifts and allowed me to be in important positions to be an influence for good. 

I hope that I can give my Father the glory as everything good no matter what it is, comes from Him. 

Moroni 7 

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

I know that as we give credit to Our Father in Heaven for the blessings and gifts that He gives us, we may not see the effect of our actions in this life, but we will be able to look at Him when we meet Him and feel happy that we blessed and gave Him all glory. 

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

All Things Work Together For Our Good

Brooke and Will, 

 When reading in Genesis 37 about Joseph who was sold into Egypt, I was reminded about how great of a lesson that we learn from this prophet. 

When Joseph was a child he had dreams, or revelations from the Lord about whom he would someday become. He dreamt that he would be a leader over his brothers and many.

Pondering this story I could see the way that Joseph being sold, being made a slave, and even being put in prison on false accusations, could have led him to give up on those promises, and wonder if his revelations were even real? But, Joseph did not lose faith, and he continued to live his life in a way that showed that he knew someday the promises given him would be fulfilled.

Joseph's trials and the way that he handled them is a lesson for us all. 

Brooke and Will, in your life you will sometimes question things that you see happen, or blessings not be fulfilled, and we can always look to this Joseph who was sold into Egypt and see the beautiful reminder that " All things will work together for the good, for those who love God. " ( Romans 8:28 ) 

If Joseph had not been sold into slavery by his brothers, he would not have been in the position to work in for Potipher, and if he had never worked for Potiphar, then he would have never been put into prison. If Joseph was never put in that prison he would not have been given revelation in regards to other prisoners dreams, whom would then not have taken this information of a man of inspiration to Pharoah, whom would then give Joseph the title of  Vizier, the second most powerful man in Egypt, and make all of Joseph's promised blessings be fulfilled.

We can know that Joseph never lost faith in the promises or revelations that he was given by the Lord because Joseph continued to work hard as a slave and to use the situation for good. 

In our lives, Our Heavenly Father will prove our revelations and promised blessings just as he did for Joseph who was righteous.

I hope that I can follow this example of Joseph and know that sometimes we must pass through one place, to get us to the place that we eventually need to be. Our Heavenly Father truly uses all things for our good. 

“This ability to turn everything into something good appears to be a godly characteristic. Our Heavenly Father always seems able to do this. Everything, no matter how dire, becomes a victory to the Lord. " - OT Institute Manual, Genesis 37

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Genesis 35 - The Temple

Brooke and Will,

I wanted to share some really neat things about Genesis 35.

This chapter builds on my testimony of the true pattern that our Heavenly Father works after.
Since the beginning of time Heavenly Father taught his children to build temples in order that we could have a place here on the earth, that was sacred, and holy; a place where He could teach us and make two-way covenants with us.

It is interesting that this chapter begins with Jacob having a vision of a ladder that reaches to Heaven, almost as if it is a premonition of the following direction given to Jacob of the Lord.

The Lord tells Jacob to go to Beth-el, which means " House of God ", and make an offering to Him.
( Genesis 35:1 -2 ).

Jacob tells his family that they have to be prepared to go to this place where he would make an offering to God, or in other words to the place Jacob would go to the temple.

To me, I see the true instruction that Joseph Smith was given in building temples by the Lord as well, and the fact that we must be prepared to enter into them by being worthy.

Jacob then tells his family to put away the " strange gods " they have among them. Meaning to go to this Holy place, you can not worship other Gods. ( Genesis 35:4 )

This reminds me of the way that we lay aside the things of the world as we prepare to enter the temple and as we strive to be worthy and hold a temple recommend. Truly the truth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shines through even stronger than common, in his chapter.

Then we see Jacob build this temple in Genesis 35:14, wherein this place Jacob also received a new name from the Lord which is " Israel ", and then gave a promise that " Israel " would be fruitful, and that nations and kings would be his.

Those nations and kings are now referred to as the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and even today, as part of those tribes, we have access to these same promises and blessings as we enter the temple and make and keep covenants with the Lord.


I feel it such a privilege to be past of this House of Israel. As a member of His church we are all part of " Israel " either by lineage or adoption into it.

I know that this pattern set forth by the Lord of building temples and all of the symbolism, and ordinances that happen there, are truly from our Father in Heaven. I know that the actions that we partake in there have actual Priesthood Power that is added to our lives each time that we attend the temple to help our brothers and sisters, and ourselves have communion with God in ordinances and covenants.

I can not wait to go to the temple with you my Brooke and William.

Love, Your Mother

Blessed For Your Sake

Brooke and Will,

I have failed to keep my book for your up of my scripture insights while I was in Statistics. You will see that my last post was in December, and I started my Statistics class in January through April.
It is the beginning of May, and although I did continue reading the Old Testament a bit, I did not get too far.

I will begin where I left off with my thoughts on how these scripture accounts can relate to us and the things that I feel to share with you in this book.

One statement made an impression on me as I read in the Old Testament, Genesis, chapter thirty.

Issac, Abraham's son, begat Jacob, whom was renamed " Israel" by the Lord, and Jacob married Leah, Rachel, Bilah, and Ziplah.

The Father of Leah and Rachel was Laban, and he was not fair to Jacob. Jacob served him faithfully despite the many times he was wronged by Laban.

As Jacob was working to do his best despite the circumstances, we learn in Genesis 30:27, that Laban's household was blessed by Jacob's presence there as Laban tells Jacob:

" I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake."

From this I am reminded that no matter what senerio or circumstance that we come into in our lives, we have the opportunity to bless other's lives, as the Lord will bless us as we seek to be the best servants to Him that we can be.

As I pondered upon this principle, I realized that even though Laban was recognizing that he was blessed with material blessings because of Jacob's presence in his household; likely, Laban was unaware of the even greater blessing that Jacob' had given him through raising his grandchildren, and serving  his daughters with Godly power, as one of Abraham's descendants and as a righteous man.

As we are aware that Lord blesses those around us if we are trying to be a righteous servants to God,We will recognize the great opportunity that we have to be witnesses of the happiness and blessings that come from being engaged in the work of the Lord.

Laban recognized that Jacob was loved and favored by the Lord.

 I hope that I can do a better job at doing those things that the Lord would look pleasantly upon, in order that other's testimonies would grow as Laban saw God's hand in Jacob's life.

It is a great thing to know that we can be a blessing to all those that we love. That makes me happy, and I believe that I am blessed because of you, Brooke and Will, as you are in my household, and you are my children.

I know that Heavenly Father gives me the motivation that I need in order to bless and protect you, that He loves. That is a great blessing to me. You both are such a strength to me.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Personal Revelation

Brooke and Will, 

I think that one of the most important and most beautiful message of the Restored Gospel is the principle of continuing personal revelation from our Heavenly Father. 

The restoration of Christ's church on the earth began with Joseph Smith being prompted by your favorite scripture ever Brooke : " If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God.." ( James 1:2 ).

From this we learn that we can ask God anything, and not only can we ask God anything, we should ask Him many things, for the scriptures say, " Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good..." ( Alma 37:37 ).

As I continued to read in Genesis, I read about Abraham's son Isaac not being about to have children through his wife Rebekah. Isaac prayed for her and she was able to conceive (vs.21).

 Rebekah thought the children were struggling within her. We learn a great deal in this scripture account. We see that we can ask the Lord ANYTHING, as Rebekah did go to the Lord in prayer about this concern. The scripture says, " She went to inquire of the Lord." (vs.22).

The Lord answered her as He said, " Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people should be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." ( vs.23 ).

In your own life you will have many questions. I can promise you that I know without doubt that our Father in Heaven would rather you go to Him about any question that you have, than anyone else on the earth. I have had great and miraculous instructions and answers given to me by Our Father in Heaven as I have gone to Him seeking for counsel, and answers in prayer.

It is also important to remember that although we are taught to counsel with the Lord in all of our doings, that does not mean that each and every time that we go to the Lord in prayer about something, that He will automatically tell us what we should do. 

Sometimes answers are unfolded line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little( 2 Nephi 28:1 ), and we begin to see a portion of His answer to our questions, until we are prepared to receive a fullness.

Sometimes we are given the opportunity to show more faith, for believing that we will receive guidance and answers is a test of our faith that must be shown to receive miracles. ( Jarom 1:3-4 )

 Sometimes we are told that it is our choice ( D&C 99: 7-8 ), or that it mattereth not, as He does want us to learn to choose for ourselves. He has said, 

" It is not meet that I should command in all things." ( D&C 58:26 ).

It is an important reminder that even though the Brother of Jared was chastised for THREE HOURS by the Lord, for not coming to Him in prayer; when The Brother of Jared did go to Him and asked Him for instructions, The Lord did give him some instructions,

 but, ended with the answer, " What will ye that I should prepare for you?...." ( Ether 2:25 ) 

and we see that ultimately the Lord wants us to individually choose things for ourselves after we are prepared to make good choices; He will give us what we may, because if we ask, " We shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you. " ( D&C 4:1 )

" Many men seem to have no ear for spiritual messages nor comprehension of them when they come in common dress....Expecting the spectacular, one may not be fully alerted to the constant flow of revealed communication." - Spencer W. Kimball 

" There are spiritual influences that are just as deep and meaningful as anything that is tangible to the natural senses; yet they cannot be described or explained. They come through the still small voice of the spirit. They are penetrating but cannot be described any more than the feelings of love, sympathy, friendship, can be defined and fathomed." - Joseph Fielding Smith ( Man, His Origin and Destiny ) 

" A sudden stroke of ideas which come into our mind as pure intelligence, this is revelation " - Joseph Smith 

" I will tell you....in your heart." ( D&C 8:2 ) 

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jehovah-Jireh : GOD WILL PROVIDE

The task of narrowing down to one principle that I learn from Father Abraham, and my ability to express the honor that he deserves, has been overwhelming for me. Each time that I considered what I would leave my children about the test of sacrificing his son, I felt inadequate to address this scriptural account. 

Brooke and Will,

 I can only ponder this event, read the chapter over, and over, so many times, (as well as the LDS Institute manual) ; I hope this helps in your studies, and I hope that you will study about these things on your own as well.

Our Heavenly Father does not like to see us struggle here in mortality anymore than we as parents struggle to let our own children go through the trials of life. Often times I succumb in my limited view of mortality as your parent. I am too quick to save you from your struggle, and this is because I am not a perfect parent; but our Father in Heaven truly is a perfect parent. 

Our Father knows that the process of learning and growing to become more like Him can only happen in a fallen world, and in a human body. The process of learning to have faith, comes with having a struggle.

 The first principle of the gospel is  faith Jesus Christ, and in fact, Joseph Smith stated that, " We must exercise faith in God unto life and salvation; which includes faith that He exists, Faith in what He can do for each of us through His Atonement, and last, faith that the life we are pursuing is according to His will." ( Lectures on Faith ) 

In the talk written by Bruce C. Hafen titled " The Value of the Veil "  he explains to us the ways in which our mortal experiences and tests are necessary.

 He says :

" Knowledge can also be called skill development - learning how to do something like playing the piano or swimming. The process of becoming Christlike is a matter of acquiring skills more than a matter of learning facts and figures. And there is something about the nature of developing those divine skills that makes it impossible even for God to teach us those things unless we participate in the process. Imagine an innovative music school with a revolutionary approach, the " think method" in which the piano students did not have to practice. The school would teach all the rudiments; describe in detail how to move one's fingers; go deeply into music theory and history; teach thoroughly how to read music. The students would memorize all the best books that have even been written on how to play the piano. The school could last four years, but when the first graduate of the " Do it without Practice Piano Course " walks onto the stage of Carnegie Hall with the orchestra in the background, what do you think would happen? Not much. Why? Because some things can only be learned with practice."   

As we understand that the experiences and tests that we have in this life are not only for our benefit, but absolutely necessary, we can see how they are shaping us, and allowing us to learn the things that we must experience with mortal bodies, because we have and will have eventual innumerable mortal children if we reach our divine destiny. We too are promised innumerable posterity like our Father Abraham, if we keep our covenants.

 

" And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:23-29

Even Jesus Christ, God Himself, went through human experience, growing in grace from grace, ( Abraham 3:24, Luke 2:1 ) so that he might know in the flesh how to succor His people ( Alma 7:1 ).

As we are given a measure of the account of Father Abraham in Genesis 22, with the principle of knowledge gained through practice and mortal experience, we see this test equal to the man or "God" that Abraham was destined to become. 

D&C 132 :

29 : Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelation or commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into his exaltation and sitteth upon his throne.

Brooke and Will, 

The last impression that is most meaningful to me about this account, is that God did ask Abraham to sacrifice His son, and without watching his beloved wife Sarah wait and miraculously be given the promised blessing of seed, even at her old age of ninety-nine, this experience could not have been as fulfilling. 

BUT, 

do not forget that God did ask Abraham to sacrifice His son, but that He did not allow Abraham to go through with it! He instead left a beautiful message to you and to me which is called, 

" Jehovah-Jireh " 

When at last an angel of the Lord stopped Abraham from slaying his son, Abraham lift his eyes and looked, and beheld behind him saw a ram caught in the thicket by his horns, and Abraham took the ram instead, and offered it as the burnt offerings, instead of his son. 

And he called the place Jehovah-Jireh, as it is said to this day, in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen . 

( Genesis 22:14 )

And, in this same exact location God, would not have an angel come tell him stop! But, He instead would sacrifice His Only Begotten Son, in representation that Abraham would not have to, because Jesus Christ is the ultimate sacrifice.

Because Heavenly Father gave us His Son Jesus Christ, we will not have to suffer some of those tests in the way that we may have had too. 

We may be asked to go into our own lands of Moriah, like Abraham was. We may be asked to go all the way to the top of the mountain and raise our own daggers, but in the end, we can know that God will provide our ram; after we were willing to sacrifice, I know that He will bless us as He did Abraham, if we are faithful and keep heading up our mountains....

I hope that I can continue up my mountains in the strength of the Lord, and I hope that I can be pleasing to Him that I know I often let down, yet He continues to be so patient and loving towards me. 

I do know with all my heart that The Restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church on the earth and I would do anything to help build His kingdom no matter what that meant. 

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

" Jehovah- Jireh " means that God will provide. 

DRAW NEAR TO HIM

It is astounding to me everyday that my Home Health patient Jeffrey is still alive. I began caring for him last November and he was not even supposed to make it past Christmas. 

Each day for me caring for him was like a gift to me. I felt the sacredness of the call to care for one so closely approaching the otherside of the Veil. 

Jeffrey could not talk even from the moment that I met him. Regardless of no words, I quickly learned what his face expressions meant and the nods to yes and no questions allowed me to get to know Jeffrey. 

Each day I wanted to learn something new about him as I knew it could be the last time he would ever even have a speechless, yet still a conversation with anyone before he would go. 

I learned a lot about Jeffrey. He loves football, surfing, mountains, having his own saltwater fish in a tank, Bluegrass Country Music, gospel quartets, and the list goes on, but....he hardly loves anything more than math and Jesus. Those are his two favorite things and the last thing that I ever saw Jeffrey hold in his hand before they have both become paralyzed now was a math book and a small Bible. 

Jeffrey is completely paralyzed now and he can't nod his head yes or no because the tumor in his brain has caused him to lose control over his entire body. 

As I have been witnessing this I have realized how important communication between two people, but most importantly with our God. 

I have realized the way that God is our ultimate caretaker. 

I see the way that we are all like Jeffrey sickly in the bed and we can be so uncomfortable. 

I can see the way that I try to imagine what position that Jeffrey would be most comfortable in? I see the way that I move things around to see if I can get any reaction from him? I see the way that I desperately want to help him be in the best condition that I can with medication, positioning and the people around him...

But, I can also see how difficult it is to really do much without him telling me how he is or how he needs help. 

I can see more clearly how much our Father in Heaven must want us to ask for His help and seek for His care.

I can see the way that we express our desire for help and the way that we respond to the changes He is trying to help us with as vital to the amount of care that He can give us. 

We aren't paralyzed. We can ask our Father in Heaven for the medicine of His Son and the Atonement that we need. We can tell Him that we are thankful for His care and we can even ask to learn from Him. 

Loss of complete communication with Jeffrey has allowed me to see how one whom does not pray must make our Father in Heaven sad. The way that it makes me feel sad and at a loss on my ability to give Jeffrey more help. 

Through this experience I hope that I can learn to take my prayer with my Father in Heaven more deeply and with more gratitude for the ability that I have to ask for help and express gratitude for the way that He is changing my divine positioning around without me even asking for help, but because He loves me. 

I know that He loves us all because of the way that I have been given the ability to love complete strangers and I am not God, and I am very very far from being perfect. 

http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/88.63?lang=engyou.

63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 

I am thankful that I can pray. I am thankful for all the things that Jeffrey teaches me, and I hope that I can allow them to change me for good. 

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.