October 2023, Week 4

 *Today at church we had the Primary Program!  It miraculously came together (as they always do) for a beautiful program.  Ben and I sat with our class in the pews in front of the podium, since our Primary has been growing.  The talks were sweet and the songs were heartfelt.  They sang Gethsemane, with much of it acapella, and that one really touched me today.  It was a significant program for our family, since it was Benson's last one.  We've had children participate in the program since Scott was a Sunbeam in 2004.  (For those keeping track, that's 19 years.  You know, I knew it was a lot of years, but I didn't realize it was THAT many.)  Our kids may be done as participants, but I think Ben and I may have some more to help out with in our futures.

*Today we had a short lesson in class, due to going over time in Sacrament Meeting.  It was just good to be back with our class, since we had missed for our cruise at the end of September, then General Conference, Stake Conference, and then the program practice.  We talked about Paul's teachings in Thessalonians, particularly about the Second Coming and the falling away and restoration that happened.

It was a delight!

October 2023, Week 3

*Today at church we had some great speakers.  The youth speaker was one of my former preschoolers, and is, what I would consider, one of the "cool" kids at school.  He's also the Deacon Quorum President, and he has a very sweet testimony which he shared.  I look forward to seeing how he continues to grow in his faith.  

*The second speaker gave us a great talk about the covenants we make in the temple, and how she has seen specific miracles in her life by keeping these covenants.  I don't remember all of her examples, but I want to put this here for when I read this in the future, and ponder miracles I've seen in my own life from keeping the covenants.  Here they are, from the church's website: 

• Law of Obedience, which includes striving to keep God’s commandments.

• Law of Sacrifice, which means doing all we can to support the Lord’s work and repenting with a broken heart and contrite spirit.

• Law of the Gospel, which is the higher law that He taught while He was on the earth.

• Law of Chastity, which means that we have sexual relations only with the person to whom we are legally and lawfully wedded according to God’s law.

• Law of Consecration, which means dedicating our time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed us to building up Jesus Christ’s Church on the earth.

*The final speaker shared his thoughts about grace.  He reminded us of Brad Wilcox's talk, where he gave an example from a student that asked him who would cover the gap between what she does and all that she "could" be doing, where Jesus steps in to cover the rest.  Bro. Wilcox helped his student see that there is no gap, because Jesus has already covered everything--we don't have to do anything for salvation, because the price has been paid in full already through His Atonement.  This, however, doesn't mean that there's nothing that we need to do, because it is through keeping the commandments and the covenants and the commitments we have as members of the church that we become who Christ knows we can be.  But the speaker said, which I appreciated, is that these things are not obligations, but opportunities.  It helps me to remember my why.  He also said that it's okay to admit that sometimes you're not okay, and to ask for help whenever you need to.

*The choir sang, and I accompanied.  It was a difficult piece, but I put in a LOT of practice, and thankfully the Lord amplified my efforts.

It was a delight!

October 2023, Week 2

 *Today at church we met together for Stake Conference.  Emma sang in the choir, as her last act before she leaves on Tuesday for a new adventure in Utah.  The theme of the conference seemed to be staying on the covenant path.  At least four speakers quoted Sister Emily Belle Freeman's conference talk from last Sunday, which makes sense since her talk was about the covenant path, but they all reminded us that the point of the path is not to do, but to become.  Also--Jesus is waiting, with His hand outstretched, to guide us along.

It was a delight!

October 2023, Week 1

 (Guess I took a break for September??)

*Today we had General Conference!  Ben and I had just returned home from a cruise at 10 pm the night before, and had to pick up Tessa from a band competition at 4 am, and I seemed to have had a bit of a stomach bug, so I was not on my game as far as preparations, treats, meals, or energy levels, but that helped bring it all back to basics for the main purpose of the day--to feast on the words of God, given through representatives here for us now.

*Sister Emily Belle Freeman gave her first conference talk as the Young Women's General President.  I have listened to her "Don't Miss This" scripture podcast for the last two years, and I am so pleased that more people will get to hear her wisdom and love for the scriptures and for Jesus Christ.  He will walk our trails with us, and pull us along if we let Him.

*Elder Valeri Cordon asked us to increase our efforts to teach the gospel culture in our families.  I liked it, because lately I feel as if many are loosening their standards, because they're just part of our church "culture" instead of our doctrine.  There is a place for culture, because, Elder Cordon said, it's how we can create a fertile environment for faith to flourish.

*President Nelson fell about three weeks ago, just after his 99th birthday, so he recorded his talk, since he can't sit for long periods of time and was at home.  He asked us to "Think Celestial," which will become a commonly used phrase now, I believe.  We already used it in our scripture study tonight, about reaping what you sow.  He also asked us to avoid anything that robs us of our agency, because we start to look for them for solace instead of to God.  He also announced 20 more temples.  The mighty work is going forth.

It was a delight!  (And I look forward to watching Saturday's sessions later.)