Clarification for my last post

Concerning abortion. I think abortion is wrong. As far as the political connotation goes, I am not pro-choice but I hate the term. People who are politically pro-choice aren't really pro-choice but against accountability. However, even though I feel abortion is wrong I have a cynical view of making abortion illegal based on history and statistics. Making it illegal did not decrease the amount of abortions but increased fatalities because of people using dangerous methods to attempt abortions. So I think it should be legal because making it illegal doesn't seem to help like I wish it would. So I believe abortion should be legal but I want people to teach that it's wrong or pass measures that discourage abortion. So I want fewer abortions, but I feel we'd have to do something different besides making it illegal.

Also, the talk was very clear that in our homes and dedicated places we teach what we know to be right but sometimes politically the right thing is different because we believe that everyone should have agency. We have to allow others to live how they choose, as long as it is not harmful to others or infringes on other people's rights. This does not mean we teach that things such as drinking which is legal, is right, but we allow others the right to choose for themselves. Since drinking can harm others if they get behind the wheel, there are laws about drinking and driving. What we know to be best is what we teach, but politically I feel there is sometimes a different line to simply allow others to choose for themselves. We cannot force the public to live according to what we believe (or know) to be true when they do not also believe the same way. If we did then we would be like Satan, forcing everyone to keep the commandments and take away choice and agency.

As far as homosexuality goes- I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. The danger of changing that definition legally has already been demonstrated with religious adoption agencies which had two choices: to be forced to change their beliefs concerning what makes a family unit or to close their doors. Legalizing marriage could affect religious institutions regarding whether or not they can refuse to marry a couple, even if it's against the minister's beliefs. But there are legal benefits that are granted to marriages that are not given to homosexual couples. So legally, I think the best option is for the government to recognize only civil unions and to step back from marriages. Allow religions to marry as they see fit and separate government and religion. In saying this, I'm not saying homosexuality isn't a sin. Even if the law said marriage was between a man and a woman, it does not stop homosexuality- it only prevents them from defining their union by the same legal terms. So by acknowledging that the government's best solution is likely to recognize both heterosexual and homosexual unions as the same, does not mean I will teach that they are the same, or that they are.

Dallin h.Oaks,  " In dedicated spaces, like temples, houses of worship, and our own homes, we should teach the truth and the commandments plainly and thoroughly as we understand them from the plan of salvation revealed in the restored gospel. Our right to do so is protected by constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and religion, as well as by the privacy that is honored even in countries without formal constitutional guarantees.
In public, what religious persons say and do involves other considerations. The free exercise of religion covers most public actions, but it is subject to qualifications necessary to accommodate the beliefs and practices of others. Laws can prohibit behavior that is generally recognized as wrong or unacceptable, like sexual exploitation, violence, or terrorist behavior, even when done by extremists in the name of religion. Less grievous behaviors, even though unacceptable to some believers, may simply need to be endured if legalized by what a Book of Mormon prophet called “the voice of the people”".

I guess my point is that we should teach what is right and wrong, but sometimes the laws are different. There is sometimes a fine line between what is right and what others should also feel is right and abide by. Abortion, though a very important topic, I (cynically) believe that making it illegal won't help. But that doesn't mean I want people to think I believe it's OK, because it's not. With homosexuality, I have very strong opinions but the country as a whole does not feel it's immoral. I can't force them to live by what I feel is moral or immoral, I can only teach what I feel is right and wrong and hope to influence others to live more righteously.

Dad's Church Talk - Which Way Do You Face?

Which Way Do You Face?

Which way do you face?  That is the question that was posed to Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the First Quorum of the Seventy by Elder Boyd K. Packer.  Without waiting for a response, Elder Packer continued by stating “A Seventy does not represent the people to the prophet, but the prophet to the people.  Never forget which way you face.”  What do you suppose Elder Packer meant by that question and answer?  I suppose the same logic continues in that we do not represent the people to the prophet and the general authorities of the church, but rather, we represent them and the church to the people.  Which way do we face?

In 1 Nephi 8:25-28 we read:

25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.

26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.

27 And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.

28 And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.

Why did they fall away?  And why were they lost?  They were ashamed after they partook of the fruit.  The world, over in the great and spacious building, were making fun of them for their beliefs and they forgot which way they faced.  They listened to the philosophies and teachings of the world.  They listened to their arguments, especially the one that if we expect people to follow the commandments we are showing a lack of compassion.  Failure to relax and alter the commandments of God likewise shows a lack of compassion.  In fact, not allowing people to do whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it demonstrates a complete lack of compassion.  That is the wisdom of the world.  Those are the beliefs of those who inhabit the great and spacious building.  They believe that it is up to us to accept, tolerate and embrace whatever behavior or lifestyle they adopt.  The wisdom of the world and being accepted by the world was more important to those that fell away than the eternal truths of the gospel.  Some people will say that they can entertain the world’s views, explore them, study them, and test them for themselves and they will be just fine.  That is a dangerous proposition.  Let’s look at two examples:

Korihor, in the Book of Mormon illustrates someone who clearly was facing the wrong way.  The worst part is that he did believe at one time, but he was deceived by Satan.  Before we read a couple verses in Alma 30:52-53, let’s get caught up.  Korihor had been teaching the people and leading them astray and he is brought before Alma to be judged for his actions.  There is an exchange where Korihor tells Alma what he believes, which is the garbage that is taught in the great and spacious building.  Alma then bears witness of the actual truths about God and his teachings.  Korihor demands a sign from Alma to prove that God exists and, according the words of Alma, he is struck dumb.  Alma then asks him if he is convinced now?  And here is Korihor’s response:

52 And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.

53 But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.

By now it was too late for Korihor and he was cast out, left to beg for food and ultimately was trampled to death by the Zoramites.  Facing the wrong way cost him his mortal life and his eternal salvation.

 Lot is another example of someone who faced the wrong way.  We know that after Lot and Abraham split up the land, Lot took the more fertile lands in the plains.  The scriptures say that ”Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”  We know that over time Lot and his family moved into Sodom and lived there for some time.  Initially he woke up to a view of the great and spacious building; ultimately they ended up moving into the great and spacious building.  I am sure that Lot did not intend to lose most of his family to the world.  I am sure, when they moved from the plains into Sodom he thought they could be there, could tolerate and accept what was going on and not be tainted.  As we know, after a time, Lot was told to take his family and leave because Sodom was going to be destroyed because of its great wickedness.   Here is how that played out.  In Genesis 19 we read:

12  And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.

14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

The destruction began and in verse 26 we read:

26  But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Lot survived his experience in the great and spacious building, but with the exception of his two daughters, his entire family perished as a result of their experience inside the great and spacious building.  Even though his two daughters did physically survive the experience, it is hard to say they came out of that experience unscathed if you read a little further in Genesis.  Was it worth it to Lot to have looked out towards the great and spacious building, to have moved into to it, and for most of his family, tolerated, accepted and ultimately embraced the teachings from within the great and spacious building?  

We do not need to tolerate, accept, entertain, study, embrace or do anything else with respect to the world’s view.  We are not representing the world to the church, the prophet or our Heavenly Father.  We are representing the eternal truths of the gospel to the world.  How do we do that?  We stand up and we don’t apologize for the gospel.  We make sure that the flow of information follows Heavenly Father’s plan.   Heavenly Father laid out the plan for the flow of information.  Too often we feel the need to reverse the proper flow of information, which is clearly a case of facing the wrong way.  In Amos it is clearly explained how information flows.  It says in Amos 3:7

7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

In seminary, Amos 3:7 is a scripture mastery scripture and one of the ways we remembered it was by holding up three fingers – Amos 3, God, prophet, me.  That is the proper flow of information.  It never goes me, prophet, God.  That is simply not how it works.  There are no exceptions to that.  

Currently, the crowd from the great and spacious building is applying pressure on those of us who have partaken of the fruit.  They want us to sympathize with and accept behavior and beliefs that are unacceptable.  They push on members to lobby the brethren for changes.  The belief that members can lobby the brethren for changes in the church or doctrines of the church shows a complete lack of understanding who is actually in charge.  You can pick your cause:

Gay Marriage, the world wants us to acknowledge and accept it.

Abortion, the world wants us to stop fighting to protect the sanctity of life.  

Pornography, immorality, foul language, the world says it’s okay, under the guise of individual liberty and freedom to act however we want, even as the poison of that filth spreads and destroys that which it touches.

Violations of the Word of Wisdom, the world says it is okay.  We know by watching TV that all of the pretty people drink alcohol.  Even the most interesting man in the world drinks alcohol.  

This all must be okay, right?

Attacks on the organization and structure of the church and the priesthood. The world says it’s okay.

Attacks on those women who are somehow less of a woman because they choose to be mothers.  The world says it’s okay to denigrate those who chose live by the doctrines clearly delineated in “The Family, A Proclamation To The World.”

Wow, I wish I was as enlightened as the occupants of the great and spacious building.  I am obviously missing the big picture.  Some might even say I’m a simpleton.  That’s okay.  For me it is quite simple.  

We do not need to give instruction to the brethren or to our Father in Heaven.  

We need to listen to their teachings and do our best to live by those teachings.  

We need to represent and defend and not apologize for the eternal truths, doctrines and policies of the Lord’s church.  

When we begin to sympathize with these ideas that come from the great and spacious building, there is an underlying belief that has to exist.  Whether we recognize it or acknowledge it is not relevant, it is still there.  The belief in its simplest expression is one of two things.  

First.  Either Heavenly Father is not paying attention, because if he was, he would surely fix these injustices, this lack of compassion or these misguided doctrines.  And, since he is not paying attention, we need to get a message to him, via the brethren and the prophet so he can correct it. 

Or, second. Heavenly Father is aware of these injustices, this lack of compassion or these misguided doctrines of the church, but he has lost control over the prophet, the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve and the other general authorities, and he can’t get them to run things the way he wants them to.  In essence the church is a run-away train and he has not power to get it under control.

Both of these beliefs really scare me.  Both of these beliefs deny the very essence of who our Heavenly Father really is and whether he really is a loving and compassionate God.  The gospel is actually quite simple.  The church is the organization that was created to facilitate the restoration of the gospel and to allow it to be spread to all of God’s children in the last days.  He set it up this way.  I am going to assume that he knows what he is doing. 

Too many people use the philosophies and teachings of men as the measuring stick for truth.  The thinking is that if what is taught by the scriptures and the brethren through modern revelation does not match up the teachings of the world there must be something wrong with what the scriptures and the brethren are teaching.  That is the wrong measuring stick.  

The gospel, as given to us in the scriptures and through modern day revelation through the prophet, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the measuring stick.  If the world’s views, teachings and philosophies are not in harmony with the gospel, toss them out.  It doesn’t matter how logical, rational or compassionate they may appear to be (emphasis on appear).  Toss them out.  To accept them is to accept one of the underlying assumptions that our Heavenly Father simply doesn’t understand the issues of our day, our Heavenly Father is not a loving and compassionate God, our Heavenly Father is not paying attention or our Heavenly Father has lost control of his church.

My experience and testimony is that he is a loving and compassionate God.  He is not confused or out of touch with what is going on here.  He is absolutely paying attention to what is going on with his children.  He knows each and every one of us and is intimately aware of our struggles and trials.  He is there to help us if we will go to him and follow his direction and counsel.  And, he is in total control of his kingdom, here on earth.  The plan, was to come here and learn the gospel, live the gospel and defend the gospel.  We knew the plan and agreed to the plan.  It doesn’t really matter that we can’t remember what happened in our pre-mortal life.  We heard the plan, the entire plan and we voted for it.  We even knew that there would be trials and difficulties and suffering.  In Abraham it is spelled out quite clearly:

We were sent here so that he could prove us herewith, to see if we would do all things whatsoever the Lord our God would command us.

We are not supposed to be apologists for the gospel.  

We are to stand firm in the testimony of what is truth.   

We just need to decide if we will be purveyors of the garbage that is spewed from the great and spacious building or are we defenders of the truth that comes from our Heavenly Father that will lead us back to his presence.  

It is my testimony that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of his children.  Jesus is our savior.  He suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross for us.  Joseph Smith was and is a prophet and was responsible for the restoration of the gospel and bringing forth the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon is true.  Heavenly Father has a plan to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man and we have a part to play in that plan.  It is up to us whether we will be true to the promises that we made before we came into this life.  We agreed to come here at this time.  We knew that we would receive the gospel during our lives and we agreed to live it and defend it.  It is my prayer that we will keep the promises that we made and remember which way we face.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Given: Westlake Village Ward 2/8/2015.

Church Talk - Why Don't We Do What We Know We Should? Prayer - Scriptures - FHE - Temple

Why don't we do what we know we should? Prayer - Scriptures - FHE - Temple

It is like riding a Bicycle. Richard G. Scott - Conference Oct. 2014

This life is full of challenges and heartaches. We were taught in the premortal world that we are here to be tested, tried and stretched. We MUST take time to Come Unto Christ. There are tools that if used, provide the easiest way to find peace in our challenging world.

1: Prayer - Daily - and don't forget about family prayer.

Promise: Richard G. Scott - "Parents, help safeguad your children by arming them morning and night with the power of family prayer. Children are bombarded every day with the evils of lust, greed, pride, and a host of other sinful behaviors. Protect your children from daily worldly influences by fortifying them with the powerful blessings that result from family prayer. Family prayer should be a nonnegotiable priority in your daily life.

2. Scripture Study - We talk to God through prayer. He most often communicates back to us through His written word.

Don't yield to Satan's lie that you don't have time to study the scriptures. It is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, and video games, or social media. If you need to reorganize, do it!!!

Promise:Richard G. Scott - As you dedicate time every day, personally and with your family, to the study of God's word, peace will prevail in your life. That peace won't come from the outside world. It will come from within your home, from within your family, from within your own heart. 

Challenges are an important part of mortality. Through daily, consistent scripture study, you will find peace in the turmoil around you and strength to resist temptations. You will develop strong faith in the grace of God and know that through the Atponement of Jesus Christ all will be made right according to God's timing.

3. Family Home Evening - Once a week have family home evening. Be cautious not to make this just an afterthought of a busy day. Do not let employment, sports, extracurricular activities, homework become more important than spending time with your family.

4. Temple Attendance - There is no more peaceful place on earth than in the temple.

Richard G. Scott - As we do these four things we are Actively Coming Unto Christ. "The more we develop these habits, the more anxious is Satan to harm us BUT the less is his ability to do so."

"I am not suggesting that all of life's struggles will disappear as you do these things. We came to mortal life precisely to grow from trials and testing. Challenges help us become more like our Father in Heaven, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible to endure those challenges. I testify that as we actively come unto Him, we can endure Every temptation, Every heartache, Every challenge we face."

 Why don't we do what we know we should?

There are a few ideas that I think we can agree on.

-Your life will be better if you turn it over to God and let Him be in control.

-When it comes to PRAYER - The Lord's answers meet your needs while motivating you to grow?

-D&C 90:24 - all thing shall work together for your good.

SO...

Why do we not turn our lives over God? Why do we so often think we know best or feel like we have to be in control?

Why do we get frustrated when our prayers aren't answered immediately or the way we want?

Why do we complain when challenges come?

"Why don't we do what we know we should?"

Do I lack faith?

BUT:

Last week I walked into the RS room after church and saw some comments on the board that caught my attention. Faith...Power. I found out that Ashley Stock had given the RS lesson and heard that her remarks came from a Conference Talk from Elder Holland in 2013. I read that wonderful talk where he talks about the man who pleaded with the Lord to bless his only son,

“If thou canst do any thing,” he said, “have compassion on us, and help us.

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”1

We also know that to move mountains we only need the faith of a mustard seed. 

Surely I have that much.

Am I not Obedient?

I've always thought of my husband, Dan, as a Rock. He's just so strong and so sure about a lot of gospel topics, but I think even more than that - He has a testimony of Obedience and the power that it brings.

D. Todd Christoffersn, “As we walk in obedience we enjoy a continual flow of blessings promised by God in His covenant with us. Those blessings provide the resources we need to act rather than simply be acted upon as we go through life. ...Obedience gives us greater control over our lives, greater capacity to come and go, to work and create.”

A word of caution:

But I thought of Laman and Lemuel. They were obedient. They left Jerusalem. They went back for the plates and for Ishmael's family. Why didn't they gain the power or the character to carry their faith forward? They didn't do it "with REAL intent". How many times do I pray without real intent?

I learned a few weeks ago from one of my Young Women, Charlotte Chipembere. She mentioned that she had said her prayers out loud and I thought, "I haven't done that in awhile." What a wonderful example the Young Women are to me. I can tell you it makes a huge difference when you pray outloud. It makes it "real".

I try to be Obedient and I try to make it Real.

I sat in testimony meeting and heard wonderful testimonies from everyone. Two seemed to touch on what I had been thinking. 

Dan Greding spoke about going through a tough time when he had to "Pray as if everything depended on God and then Work as if everything depended on you." He said he turned it over to the Lord and let him have control. "I had Heavenly Father steering me."He increased his prayers and the intent of those prayers. He said he then saw things differently. Problems seemed to be challenges and opportunities for growth. Things got better but didn't seem to last and he testified that he knew that things work better when we turn ourselves over to Heavenly Father.

Bob Adams also testified that Blessings come when the struggles are the greatest and the greatest blessings come often in the greatest trials.

I would like to add that to our ideas that we agree on from the beginning.

-Your life will be better if you turn it over to God and let Him be in control.

-When it come to PRAYER - The Lord's answers meet your needs while motivating you to grow?

-D&C 90:24 - all thing shall work together for your good.

AND

Blessings come when the struggles are the greatest and the greatest blessings come often in the greatest trials.

So is everything always a struggle? Why can’t we do it?

Nephi talks about the time when the Lord sent fiery serpents to the Israelites when they were wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. 

1 Nephi 17:41 - And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.

If it's so simple, why can't I seem to do it?  And even more sad, MANY perished. I don't want to perish.

But as I was studying I read about Jesus growing up. It gave me hope. It made me realize that he truly is our example in everything.

In Institute Class this year we are studying the Doctrine and Covenants. I was reading in the manual covering Section 93:11-17 it talks about Jesus, "Received Not of the Fulness at the First, but Continued from Grace to Grace".

President Lorenzo Snow said: "When Jesus lay in the manger; a helpless infant, He knew not that He was the Son of God, and that formerly He created the earth. When the edict of Herod was issued, He knew nothing of it; He had not power to save Himself; and His father and mother had to take Him and fly into Egypt to preserve Him from the effects of that edict. 

Well, He grew up to manhood, and during His progress it was revealed unto Him who He was, and for what purpose He was in the world. The glory and power He possessed before He came into the world was made known unto Him." 

In verses 19 and 20:  

19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.

 20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace.

This indicates that all people MAY grow to the point of receiving a fulness if they will follow the example of the Savior:

GRACE for GRACE

Riding a Bike:

I'd like to give the analogy of riding a bike. A long time ago, in my day, riding a bike was a wonderful thing. I remember on my 8th birthday getting a brand new beautiful shiny red Schwinn. It was raining a little that day, but I still remember going out and riding it. Now, I'm old so you know it was special because I'm a little surprised I can still remember it. It was a little too big for me. A bike back then was a great thing. It was great to ride and lean into the turns and there was a certain feeling of power and control. It was a feeling of elation. 

But when we're first starting to ride a bike, it doesn't create a feeling of elation. It's scary. It's wobblely. We fall. We skin our knees. It hurts. When we were first learning did our parents expect us to master it the first time and have that elated feeling?

Of course not.

Riding a bike is not difficult. You sit on a seat. You hold the handle bars. You balance and you put your feet on the pedals and push. (Skateboarding, on the other hand - I've always thought that was hard, so I commend all you skateboarders out there). When you are first riding, it's new, it's uncomfortable, you're not sure if what you're doing is really right. In fact, it's easy to just quit because it may even feel like you are falling more than you are moving forward. You usually are pretty good at holding on to the handle bars, but balancing and pedaling is a different story. AND when you just start getting the hang of things, you keep hearing your parents, "Don't drag your feet!" You can’t truly enjoy riding a bicycle if you are constantly dragging your feet. You have to trust that these simple things will set you free. There are many stubbed toes caused by dragging your feet.

Keeping the Commandments is like riding a bicycle. We don't do what we know we should because we have to be patient and realize that it will come grace for grace. That by small and simple things, great things will come to pass. Starting to pray is like holding on to the handle bars, but praying with real intent is like making your first turn, trusting in doing what you've been told, exercising faith. Pedaling is like reading your scriptures. You have to keep going to reach your destination. Balancing is living in the world, but not letting it overcome you. AND remember, "Don't drag your feet!" You can’t expect to get the real joy if you are always dragging your feet. Dragging your feet just stops your progression. It's like trying to ride a bike in the mud

Why don’t we do what we know we should? It’s simple, but we’re weak. We need to do it long enough to make it a habit. Once it’s a habit, it will make us strong. We will see the Atonement working in our lives. 

Not “IF”, but “When” we slip, we need only to pick ourselves back up and keep going. We will feel the joy that comes from exercising Faith in Jesus Christ and feel the cleansing power of the Atonement.

Alma 37:6 -  Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

Say your Prayers Daily - morning and night AND don't forget about family prayer.

Read your Scriptures Daily

Have Weekly FHE

Attend the Temple - and I'd like to say, Monthly

Time invested - 

Generous - 5 min prayers, 2 min family prayers, 15 min scripture daily, 3 hrs/wk fhe, 4 hrs/mo temple, Sleep 12 hours

31 hours the Lord is asking. There are 460 hours in one month.

It's about 7% of our time.

It will make all the difference in this world AND in the world to come.

Hebrews 12:1 - ...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Big Changes: Grad Application Sent!

Big changes!

So I am figuring out my life. Little by little.

This last week, Cassie texted me about living with her. Provo wasn't really in my plans. I would rather live in Salt Lake. It just seemed like the more fun thing to do. But, the more I have thought about it, I feel really good about moving to Provo and living with Cassie. It'll be an adventure for sure.

So tonight I applied for graduation. I hit "Send Application" and it all of the sudden made me really nervous, like officially my life is going to change. That moment you send in your mission papers and realize, this is for real, not just something I have talked about.

I feel good where things are though. I just am so grateful for the testimony I have of the gospel and the fact that we have been given the gift of the Holy Ghost. Really though, how do people make hard decisions without it? I'd go crazy! I'm grateful that the Lord knows what I should be doing and guides me little by little. I don't have it all sorted out yet, but getting there.

Love you guys!

I am Sick of Being Thrown a Bone ;)

So this last week has been pretty busy with school. So no dates :( Actually had to sit down and talk to the guy and be like hey, I am going on a mission, this won't go anywhere... But we are still friends and still talk occasionally so thats nice. Anyway back to school, I have chemistry down, thats easy, I even understand most of my anatomy and physiology class, I however cannot remember the bones for the life of me. I have an A in the class but this week we have a test on all the bones and what each part of the bone is. So a little stressed out with that and then I have a chemistry test on Friday, which is just memorizing and I already know most of it. So busy, busy, busy.

I have been super stressed and worried about my roommate Sarah, she is currently in the Behavioral Health Center, and has a court hearing sometime this week to see if it will be safe for her to leave. Just keep her in your prayers, We have been trying to help her set some goals for herself and just trying to keep her positive.

I will end on a positive note. So I was not a hermit this weekend. Friday I went out with Haley, Nikole, WR, and Jordan. We just hang out and talk, and it was actually a lot of fun. I then started to "get tired" (it was 1, and thus curfew summoned me home), and left them to watch the fault in our stars. Jordan, we found out lost his mom to cancer when he was 10, and cried the whole movie. So Haley and I decided to cheer him up Saturday, and we went Lazer Tagging, played arcade games, and got pizza for Jordan cause he hadn't eaten yet. We had a lot of fun and are going to start a super heroes club, where I get to be CatWoman. Anyway, I like my life, I enjoy the friends I have, and feel like all the stress is manageable right now. Oh and still trying to find Carly a hot husband.

-XOXO Katie

PS some guy said he loved soccer today in his talk and a girl from the congregation, fist pumped and said "woot woot" back... SO FUNNY then he was like well yeah its great and she then talked back to him again. I have never experienced a sacrament meeting that was so interactive with the ward. Well needless to say I think those two weirdos should date...

Here's a weekly funny

Brazil, big test, library and religious freedom

Alright, so this week. It's starting to get hard remembering what happens from week to week. Tuesday George and I drove to Brazil (a small town in Indiana, not the country. I wanted to take a picture for George's first time to Brazil but he was asleep when we got there and it was getting dark on the way back. I have a good friend who moved out there (she's been put in charge of all the music for the upcoming temple dedication). So when George fell asleep, I put him in the car seat and we took off. He woke up as I got him out of the car-perfect timing. Anyways it was good to see her. I got some more children's book recommendations along other things and we just got to talk. She needed it too. They moved out there and it took her awhile to make friends (because of different callings, most of the people in a similar situation were all in primary and she didn't see much of them at first). But even now that she has friends, the closest ward members live about 45 minutes away. (Weird ward boundaries-she has to drive through another ward's area before getting to the other members. ) Anyways, I had a lot of fun. we didn't time things as well heading home. George wasn't tired and it was getting dark. I sang and then let him cry for a little bit. I timed it and then pulled over. There's not much in between. I ended up stopping in a small town called bowling Green. You know you're there because there's a billboard for the town but there's no gas station, no restaurants or fast food, there's a city park and like 3 side streets. Anyways, I think it's a safe town but just in case, and since it was cold, I locked the doors and got in the back with George. I nursed him and played with him for a bit and then we took off again.

Wednesday-Jon had his big test. 8 hours. I told him is bring him lunch- anything he wanted if he told me. He didn't tell me, so I ordered take out from a place i'd been to with friends. I got three things- a salad and two entrees is be willing to eat so he could choose (we ended up splitting them all). They have really good sweet potato fries and hamburgers. We ended up saving the salad to eat with dinner.

Friday we took George to the library- not his first time, but the first time we went to the kids section. We read books with him and Jon tried playing with a train set with him. We rented three- one that was recommended to me and two others that looked good. George only seems to like the one that was recommended to us. Oh well, we'll exchange them and get new ones this week.

Weather. It has been very nice here. Everyone kept saying this year was supposed to be worse than last year. Last January and February it never got above 10 degrees. This year the lowest high was 21,but most days have been in the 30s and 40s. :-)

Ward choir has been struggling. We were happy with the turn out today. We had 2 sopranos, two basses, one tenor and two Altos! Usually we have two Altos and one for the others. Our ward is very musical but people just won't come. The thing is, the people who do come probably have the best excuses not to, but they come anyways.

Spiritual thought. For a few months I've been thinking along the lines of same-sex marriage. The thing is, we believe it's a sin. People get offended by that. But we also think drinking alcohol is a sin. My drinking friends know what I think but don't seem to get offended. We believe heterosexual pre-marital sex to be a sin. But our friends don't get offended by that. We believe so many little things are sins. And we ourselves sin, but we don't offend ourselves. if acknowledging something is a sin means we hate the sinner, who is there left to love?

Then, on the same topic of same-sex marriage, I was reading Dallin h. Oaks' talk from last conference, where he says, " In public, what religious persons say and do involves other considerations. The free exercise of religion covers most public actions, but it is subject to qualifications necessary to accommodate the beliefs and practices of others. Laws can prohibit behavior that is generally recognized as wrong or unacceptable, like sexual exploitation, violence, or terrorist behavior, even when done by extremists in the name of religion. Less grievous behaviors, even though unacceptable to some believers, may simply need to be endured if legalized by what a Book of Mormon prophet called “the voice of the people”" ("loving others and living with differences") I think what he's saying is we have the right to believe as we do, but the country, politically may make other laws to allow others the right to believe as they do. It reminded me of a class I took at byu. I was assigned to defend legal abortions. In my studies I actually changed my opinion. I think I won us the debate. The thing is, I may believe it is wrong but making it illegal in the past didn't lower the number of abortions, but it increased the amount of injuries to babies and pregnant women. Those who wanted abortions still found ways, but sometimes they didn't kill the baby but only severely injured it. I wish I could change everyone's opinion, but I would much rather have a quick death for a baby than an increase in babies that were abused in the womb due to a failed abortion attempt. And I hate the term pro-choice. I consider myself pro-choice but also pro-accountability. Women who get pregnant from a choice to have sex should be accountable for the known chance of having a baby. Those who had no choice in the first place I feel should be given a choice to have the baby or not, though with how much I love George I hope that they don't choose to abort. It's like robbing a bank. If someone chooses to rob a bank there's a chance they may get caught. If they get caught they don't get to choose whether or not to pay the consequences.

Anyways, back to same-sex marriages. I don't think the country should treat same-sex couples differently. I believe marriage is a religious thing, but the country acknowledges marriages for various things, including taxes. To allow freedom and not discriminate I think the best option is to allow people and religions to marry as they see fit but the government should only see unions, regardless of what type. I can't stop the world from sinning, I can only teach my kids what is right and wrong. " In dedicated spaces, like temples, houses of worship, and our own homes, we should teach the truth and the commandments plainly and thoroughly as we understand them from the plan of salvation revealed in the restored gospel. Our right to do so is protected by constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and religion, as well as by the privacy that is honored even in countries without formal constitutional guarantees." (Same talk by Dallin h.Oaks)

Oh, George also tried real food this week. Just cheerios. Doesn't like them yet.