August 2025, Week 3

 *Today at church we sang one of the new hymns, number 1007: "As Bread is Broken."  I know I keep quoting hymns here, but I suppose that's the reason we keep singing them--their messages are clear, concise, and important.  Anyway, the phrase that stayed with me was from the third verse: "May our repentance be sincere.  Unto our pleadings incline thine ear."  Sometimes with the emphasis on daily repentance, I think I get a little repetitive and less sincere, and that's something I can improve on.  I also like the mental image of Heavenly Father inclining His ear, perking up and listening, to my pleadings.  I know He does hear me every time, but I appreciated this reminder.

*One of our sister missionaries shared a story about her grandpa, who lived in a rural area and was driving to work on a cold, snowy highway.  He saw something dark run onto the road, so he stopped to see if he had hit it.  There was a little lamb, hiding under the tire of his truck, thankfully unharmed.  He picked up the lamb, tossed it to the side of the road, and got in his truck, but the lamb ran right back to the shelter of the tire.  He got out again, picked up the lamb, walked further away from the road, tossed the lamb, and headed to the truck, but the lamb beat him back.  He picked it up again, walked much further away, tossed the lamb, and ran back to the truck, but the lamb beat him again, looking for the shelter of the tire.  Her grandpa finally took the lamb to a small hill and tossed it down (she assured us that the lamb was okay), ran back to his truck, and was able to drive away.  She related this to how Jesus Christ knows what is best for us.  Sometimes we think we have found a good place, but it is actually dangerous for us to stay there.  He will move us and try to keep us away from danger, even if it is uncomfortable or scary or cold.  The good news is that He won't drive away from us. ☺

It was a delight!

August 2025, Week 2

 *Today at church one of the Primary boys, my friend F. B., gave a talk about the Holy Ghost.  It was so sweet.  He said, "Here are three ways I feel the Holy Ghost."  He's nine--and can already identify at least three ways.  I think that's remarkable.  One of the ways he shared is that he feels the Holy Ghost telling him "I matter."  He is on a good path.

It was a delight!

August 2025, Week 1

 *Today at church, we sang "In Humility, Our Savior" (172), which includes the words, "Then when we have proven worthy Of thy sacrifice divine, Lord, let us regain thy presence; Let thy glory round us shine."  I am sometimes sensitive to the word "prove," because of the area we live and the resistance of many in other religions to the "works" we are invited to do as we are on the covenant path.  They say, "Faith is all you need!  No works!  You're trying to earn your way into heaven!"  We had the sister missionaries over for dinner on Saturday, and they were talking about encountering this resistance, so it was on my mind when I sang, and it made me pause.  I looked back over the words of the hymn to see what we needed to do to prove ourselves worthy of Jesus's sacrifice, and I found 1) be humble, 2) Remember Christ, 3) forgive, 4) have tolerance and love, and 5) offer prayers.  That is a valuable list of things to do, and if I need to prove myself worthy to enter God's presence in these ways, I'm willing.

*Sister Bond shared her testimony about the temple, and how she loved to take her girls to see the Los Angeles Temple when they were young, and it was a place to find peace.  I related, not only because my parents would take us to see the Los Angeles Temple when we were young, but also because of our trip to Las Vegas last week.  Ben and I stayed on the strip and watched several shows, but we didn't rent a car, so we walked up and down and through several casinos to get to them.  One of the mornings, we took an Uber to the Las Vegas Temple to do a session, and it was so lovely.  Twice Ben commented that he felt like we were "home" at the temple, though we'd never been to that one.  As we were waiting for our Uber back to the hotel, I could look down from the hill and see the strip in the distance, and I noted the contrast in where we were to where we were going--the feeling of peace versus the feeling of chaos, excess, and extremes.  I'm grateful to have the two, and to recognize where I prefer to be.

It was a delight!

July 2025, Week 4

*Today at church I appreciated the Sacrament Hymn's message of peace.  (Maybe because we just returned from an anniversary trip to Las Vegas at 1 am, and I had been asked to play the organ, but didn't have time to practice.)  It was Hymn 178, "O Lord of Hosts," and actually I appreciate any message of peace in these last days.  The world won't find it at large for a while--but we can find it in our hearts through Christ.  

*Brother Whitaker spoke, and he is a physical therapist.  His talk assignment involved Doctrine and Covenants 81:3-5, and he spoke of how, in his work, he literally succors the weak, lifts the hands that hang down, and strengthens the feeble knees.  He gets satisfaction in seeing people improve their lives with his help and training.  We have so many opportunities to serve and lift people, and to see them improve their lives.  Jesus showed us how to lift others (literally, as with the man who lifted his bed and walked, and symbolically, as with the woman with the issue of blood).  He performed true miracles, but we can be part of miracles for others, too.

It was a delight!

July 2025, Week 3

 *Today at church Josh Matheney told a story about a pioneer family.  At one point, their little baby died, and they were unable to bury it, so they wrapped it in a blanket and left the body behind.  The mother was worried about the wolves getting to the body and wanted to go back to the baby once they had made camp for the night, but no one thought she should.  In the middle of the night, she had a prompting to go get the baby, so she did, and once she found it, she found that the baby was alive!  It was a miracle, and she was able to bring the baby back to camp and with them for the rest of the journey.  There were so many miracles along that pioneer trail.  He reminded us that miracles come from covenant-centered lives.  We can trust in God's promises.  And the Atonement of Jesus Christ was the ultimate rescue, of everyone's souls.

It was a delight!

July 2025, Week 2

 *Today in church, I co-taught our lesson with Caroline about Doctrine and Covenants 76, about the three degrees of glory.  I usually give my girls the topic and references, and let them take as much time as they want, and then I fill in the rest of the time, but she was so well prepared and taught a great lesson for the whole time we had available.  The girls in our class are good about answering questions, too, so we had some thoughtful discussions.

It was a delight!

July 2025, Week 1

*Today at church one of my sweet young women bore her testimony.  She was adopted last year from foster care by a family that we are good friends with, and then decided to get baptized a couple months later.  She attended FSY this week, and she loved it.  She shared that life is better in the church than out of the church.  I thought that was an insightful observation, and it's a privilege to watch her grow.

*A brother shared that he's suffered with pretty intense anxiety during his life.  He was talking with someone about having one wish granted, and he thought he'd love to have his mind healed from this anxiety.  But he reflected that if he didn't have anxiety, his personal, professional, and spiritual life wouldn't have developed the way is has, and he wouldn't have the life that he loves.  God knows our needs, and he puts us in the path to get there.

It was a delight!

June 2025, Week 5

 *Today (and the next two weeks) at church I had the opportunity to conduct the music for Sacrament Meeting.  We sang Hymn 170, "God, Our Father, Hear Us Pray."  I love how songs that I've been singing my whole life can suddenly jump up and say, "Hey--look at me!  This part is pretty good!"  The line for me today was from the third verse: "Pardon faults, O Lord, we pray; Bless our efforts day by day."  It also called for grace from God twice.  I was thinking of this later in our Sunday School lesson.  We were talking about the process of creating the Doctrine and Covenants, and section 67 reminds us that God uses whoever He chooses--like Joseph Smith, who was doing his best with the great charge that was given to him.  God pardoned his faults and blessed his efforts, just like He will for us--and His grace will cover us.  It covers me.

*We sang several patriotic songs, as well, and I invited everyone to stand for "The Star Spangled Banner," which was our closing song.  (I did have to switch from soprano to alto midway through.)  This country is not perfect, but I see that God blesses us with His grace.  Thank goodness.  Thanks to God.

It was a delight!

June 2025, Week 4

 *Today at church Henry Walker spoke as he's beginning his mission this week.  He reminded us to have a willing heart and mind--to have a good attitude, participate in missionary work, and consistently engage in small and simple things.  Good, solid advice--with backup from Doctrine and Covenants 64.

*The choir sang, and I participated as a singer, since we were out of town and I couldn't play for the practices!  (There is still not a pianist called--and there may not be for a while, I guess.  Katie Matheney played this time.)  We sang an arrangement of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." I love the words "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it...Here's my heart; O, take and seal it."  A sister visiting for Henry was sitting behind my family and I noticed that she was moved to tears by that part, too, and she thanked us for singing after the meeting.

*Our Young Women's lesson was about forgiveness (based on Doctrine and Covenants 64).  At the end I asked the girls to ponder how they felt when they've been forgiven.  We sat in silence for a couple minutes, and I noticed tears in one sweet girl's eyes.  We were part of some really good things today.

It was a delight!

June 2025, Week 3

 *Today at church we celebrated Father's Day while we were in Orem, UT, in Scott and Kaitlyn's ward.  One of the speakers shared that our God, Elohim (which means God[s], exceeding, very great, mighty), chose to be called Heavenly Father.  I think that speaks to what He feels is His most important calling (or His work and His glory).

It was a delight!

June 2025, Week 2

 *Today we had church at Aspen Grove--outdoors in the mountains!  We had such a lovely Sacrament Meeting in the amphitheater, and it was nice to see lots of our family represented (including Scott and Benson) in helping with the blessing and passing of the Sacrament.  I couldn't help but think of the hymns "I Stand All Amazed" and "How Great Thou Art" while looking around at our surroundings during the meeting.  One of the speakers said that God wants us to feel joy, even as we go through trials.  Another told a poem called "The Lanyard," by Billy Collins (which I'll add to the end of this post).  He compared it to Jesus Christ and His Atonement for us.  He reminded us that rather than thinking of "paying back" Jesus, we should spend our efforts thanking Him--and that can be enough.  We closed the meeting with singing "I Believe in Christ."  It was so good.

It was a delight!

The Lanyard

By Billy Collins

The other day I was ricocheting slowly

off the blue walls of this room,

moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano,

from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,

when I found myself in the L section of the dictionary

where my eyes fell upon the word lanyard.

No cookie nibbled by a French novelist

could send one into the past more suddenly—

a past where I sat at a workbench at a camp

by a deep Adirondack lake

learning how to braid long thin plastic strips

into a lanyard, a gift for my mother.

I had never seen anyone use a lanyard

or wear one, if that’s what you did with them,

but that did not keep me from crossing

strand over strand again and again

until I had made a boxy

red and white lanyard for my mother.

She gave me life and milk from her breasts,

and I gave her a lanyard.

She nursed me in many a sick room,

lifted spoons of medicine to my lips,

laid cold face-cloths on my forehead,

and then led me out into the airy light

and taught me to walk and swim,

and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.

Here are thousands of meals, she said,

and here is clothing and a good education.

And here is your lanyard, I replied,

which I made with a little help from a counselor.

Here is a breathing body and a beating heart,

strong legs, bones and teeth,

and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered,

and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp.

And here, I wish to say to her now,

is a smaller gift—not the worn truth

that you can never repay your mother,

but the rueful admission that when she took

the two-tone lanyard from my hand,

I was as sure as a boy could be

that this useless, worthless thing I wove

out of boredom would be enough to make us even.

June 2025, Week 1

 *Today at church Henry Walker, who will be beginning his mission soon, blessed the sacrament and was very emotional while doing so, as this was his last time as a Priest.  I think it helped everyone to think a little more about the words he was saying, and to appreciate the Spirit that comes with them as we renew our covenants.

*Sister Harbison spoke about her family's trip to Hawaii.  They climbed a mountain trail that turned out to be a lot more challenging than they had anticipated, and along the way, people coming down kept encouraging her that she was doing great and that it was worth it, and that she was getting closer and closer, until she finally made it.  She then was able to give others the same encouragement on her way down.  She said this was like gospel living--sometimes we need the encouragement, and sometimes we're the ones giving it, and we all lift one another up to a higher plane.

*For Mother's Day, Ben gave me a bird feeder with a camera, but it took me a while to buy the birdseed, but I finally did, and a couple little birds started visiting!  I got a notification while we were at church that there was a bird (I have since learned how to pause the notifications, now that I have regular visitors), and it made me think of Hymn 1005, "His Eye is on the Sparrow," which is definitely one of my favorites of the "new" hymns (though it was written in 1905).  I like all of it, but here's the second verse: "'Let not your heart be troubled.' His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubt and fear.  Though by the path He leadeth, But one step I may see.  His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.  I sing because I'm happy-- I sing because I'm free-- For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me."

It was a delight!

May 2025, Week 4

 *Today on the way to church, we heard a beautiful song on the radio by Samantha Ebert, called Flowers.  I had to look it up, because I think I will use it for my Girls Camp lesson:

Well, blue skies and hillsides feel so far away
And I wrote in my notebook that I've seen better days
Than the ones as of late
I can't bear the weight

The rain won't stop pouring out my windowpane
And I haven't left my bedroom in 76 days
I wish something would change
'Cause I'm losing faith

So I brought it up in a desperate prayer
Lord, why are you keeping me here?
Then He said to me, "Child, I'm planting seeds
I'm a good God and I have a good plan
So trust that I'm holding a watering can
And someday you'll see that flowers grow in the valley"

So whatever the reason, I'm barely getting by
I'll trust it's a season knowing that you're by my side
Every step of the way
And I'll be okay

'Cause I brought it up in a desperate prayer
Lord, why are you keeping me here?
Then He said to me, "Child, I'm planting seeds
I'm a good God and I have a good plan"
So trust that I'm holding a watering can
And someday you'll see that flowers grow in the valley

Mm, mm

When I'm on the mountain and looking down below
I'll see a valley of flowers that needed time to grow
And I'll thank you for the rain
The hurt and days of pain

And I'll bring it up in a grateful prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for keeping me there
You know just what I need, and you've planted seeds
'Cause you're a good God with a real good plan
And you hold my world in a watering can
So I can have peace 'cause flowers grow in the valley

*Aeden Denny, the youth speaker, reminded us to make equal time, not spare time, for the spiritual things in our lives.  He also said that we need to share the Light of Christ, like his sister Ella.  (Very sweet--and true.)  

*Michelle Ball spoke as well, and shared how she has been suffering with chronic laryngitis, which has given her a bit of an identity crisis, since she has a very beautiful singing voice.  She has struggled, but has learned that she is not worth less.  She has a divine identity, and being a singer is only a part of who she is.  She is a very quiet sister, and I had no idea that she was suffering in this way.  It was a reminder to me that we don't know peoples' inner struggles and everyone is living with something hard--because that is how mortality was designed.  But He's a good God, and He has a good plan, so we trust that He's holding the watering can, and we'll have the flowers and the peace.

It was a delight.

May 2025, Week 3

*Today at church they asked two soon-to-be seminary graduates to speak, including my Caytie.  McKay Ball shared 2 Nephi 25:26, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."  (Always a favorite of mine!)  Seminary prepares the youth for future covenants.  Caytie shared a short testimony about what seminary means to her, and reminded us that the Lord loves effort, and she has seen her faith grow with her effort to attend seminary every morning.  Brother Conley gave an excellent talk about using spiritual gifts, and Sister Chavez also gave a great talk about covenants.  One thing she said was that one of the definitions of "bind" is to be with, so in the scripture, "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say," she said we can say "I the Lord am with you when ye do what I say."  I like thinking about it that way.  Then in Sunday School, while talking about the Gifts of the Spirit, Lillie Doolittle, who just came home from her mission in Bolivia, said that she felt she was given heavenly help to learn Spanish, but really, the gift of tongues came in finding the right words in the moment of teaching the gospel to help someone feel the Spirit and connect with Christ, and this can happen even in your own language.  I really liked that perspective.

It was a delight!

May 2025, Week 2

*Today at church we celebrated Mother's Day.  I appreciated being able to take the Sacrament and remembering my covenants and why I do what I do.  I went to Relief Society for the first time since our ward boundaries were rearranged, where they served us fruit and cheesecake bites.  We also had a discussion about how the Holy Ghost has helped us in our lives as mothers or daughters.  Ella Denny, who is a senior and just starting to come to Relief Society, shared how she has trouble knowing how to show her thanks to her mom (who was in the room) because she is so amazing--there's nothing she could do that would express all of her thanks.  Torrie (her mom) said from across the room, "Clean house and happy kids!  That's all I really want!"  We all laughed, because most of us have asked for the same thing for Mother's Day. ☺  

It was a delight!

May 2025, Week 1

*Today at church people were able to share their testimonies.  Brother Doolittle asked if we still have the feelings of Easter with us.  That is worth pondering.  A sister missionary shared how hope is an expectation of good things to come through Christ.  That's a great definition!

* I subbed in Primary as the pianist for a bit while Sis. Matheney had to step out, and we sang "Give, Said the Little Stream."  Bro. Tague was teaching the words, which I thought was funny because everyone knows the words already, right?  And then he said, "I'm small I know, but wherever I go the fields grow greener still."  I was sure he was mistaken, but there it was right in front of me in black print--FIELDS, not GRASS!  I was actually amazed that I'd never seen it written that way before.  All the adults were looking at each other, wondering when they changed it, and why--did the people in the desert with no grass feel left out?  And then, in the most random coincidence, my sister sent a group text about ten minutes later, with an article about how the word in that song has always been fields, not grass, even though the majority of people sing grass.  (They did a pretty detailed survey!)  And she sent pictures from the previous two children's songbooks that showed they say fields, not grass.   Primary music trivia for the day--though I think I will be sticking with grass.  It sounds better.

*At choir practice after church, we started a new song, "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need," which thankfully has a very easy accompaniment.  Sister Donovan was sharing how this was sung at a funeral of a little boy that she knew, and how the words at the end of the song really touch her: "No more a stranger or a guest, but like a child at home."  It was very sweet.

It was a delight!

April 2025, Week 4

 *Today at church one of the seniors (Josh Garcia) gave a talk and said how he loves that Seminary helps him with the habit to start the day with Jesus.  I try to do the same with my scripture study first thing in morning.  I'm not perfect at it, but I keep trying!

*Brother Miller told us about the family that "shepherded" him into the church.  I loved that that is how he described it, and I really hope to be able to be a shepherd for others, as well.  He also asked us if we put ourselves or God and service to others first.  I think this may be why I am not as active a shepherd as I would like to be--my comfort and my desires sometimes come first before my willingness to reach out to act.  But Brother Talley said that the love of God generates genuine compassion for others, so hopefully as I love God, my desire to give more of myself will increase.

It was a delight!

April 2025, Week 3

*Today at church we celebrated Easter Sunday!  We sang Hymn 197 for the Sacrament hymn which is "O Savior, Thou Who Wearest a Crown." I appreciated the reminder in the second verse, that He saved us ALL.  "No creature is so lowly, no sinner so depraved, But feels thy presence holy and thru thy love is saved.  Tho craven friends betray thee, they feel thy love's embrace; The very foes who slay thee have access to thy grace."  The choir also sang two songs, "Mary Come Quickly (For He is Not There)" and "Surely He Hath Born Our Griefs" (though not the version from The Messiah).  I had put a lot of time into practicing these songs, and I appreciated all the prayers to help me play them well!  This choir is really nice to be a part of--I love helping to make beautiful music.  (Ben helped us too, as my page turner.  Both of these songs had no breaks for me, and they were long, so I appreciated his help a lot.)  Tessa gave one of the talks, and reminded us that Easter is more than just a holiday--it's an opportunity to make traditions that help us build a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Meghan Nance also spoke about being healed versus being whole.  She reminded us of the ten lepers--nine were healed, and one was made whole through Christ.  I also loved how the person offering the closing prayer asked that we noticed opportunities to change.  He is risen!  He is risen!  Tell it out with joyful voice!

It was a delight!  He is my delight!

April 2025, Week 2

 *Today at church we celebrated Palm Sunday!  From the doors to the chapel there were white cloths on the ground with palm leaves lining the pathway.  I appreciated the visual reminder.

*I was nervous.  I was accompanying the choir, since there has not been a pianist called yet, and the song was again pretty difficult for me, with four flats and some complicated chords.  I had been practicing a lot, and I felt like the person in the parable of the talents who was only given one.  I had faith that if I didn't bury it (as I really wanted to do), God would take it and multiply it for His kingdom.  It was a big, bold anthem called "Alleluia!"  I  knew my parents and the choir director were praying for me, and I really felt their strength as I played.  It was not perfect, but it was the best I had done, and it was enough.  (I got the last big, loud chords right!  Yay!)

*The talks were sweet--a Primary girl talked about resurrection.  Brother Baron asked for our prayers to help sustain him through his talk since he was so nervous.  (I could understand that!)  Sister Lamarche talked about the Holy Week, and what she had learned about Pilate.  One of my young women sang "Gethsemane."  Later in the evening we attended a Stake musical Easter concert, which was lovely, and featured several Primaries singing songs, a quartet of youth, a duet, a soloist, and two choir numbers.  As I was reflecting on today, I realized that not one of us was perfect in what we did--but we all gave the best we had to help bring people to Christ.  That's all He asks of us.  He takes all of our efforts and magnifies them into something grand, and it is a blessing to be a part of that.

It was a delight!

April 2025, Week 1

 *Today was General Conference!  David A. Bednar reminded us that it was also the 195th anniversary of the organization of the Church (April 6th, 1830), and he quoted the Restoration Proclamation (with expanded explanations).  Our family is working on memorizing that again, so it was nice to hear it.  He also asked us to receive and act like Joseph did.

*Four speakers referenced the Parable of the Ten Virgins during this conference.  There was a new statue representing the five with oil unveiled this month at Temple Square.  I think there is value in thinking about why.

*I have so many good notes.  I really need to go back to study these talks more deeply.  I don't always do that, though I always want to.  I'll finish with my notes from our dear 100-year old President Nelson.  This is a day of great momentum.  He is impressed with the youth.  We need confidence: in our covenants, in our prayers, in God's love and in that He sends angels and wants us to reach our highest potential.  How do we gain this confidence?  Charity and virtue open the way.  Charity: be a peacemaker.  Anger never persuades.  Plea for greater charity from our Savior, the Prince of Peace.  Virtue: will free you from anxious and troublesome thoughts.  We will become who God needs us to be.  Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the Second Coming.  Take intentional steps to grow in confidence.  Joy and faith will increase, and spiritual power will grow.

It was a delight!