7 months and the Holy Ghost

So this last week- I feel like it was busy but I can't remember everything. Saturday we had a baptism and Jon did the baptism and confirmation. It was a very nice baptism and there were some very good talks. Earlier on Saturday Jon went to help a family move/clean and then went to another service project. Then I went to a baby shower. Then we had the baptism and then we had people over for Nintendo.

Sunday we had a Regional Conference broadcast from Salt Lake. There were problems with the audio and it was VERY hard to hear. I gave up on the woman speaker (she was pretty much inaudible- even when straining to hear) and didn't really get much out of any of the other talks. The whole time they were trying different things to try to solve the problem. I guess like 110 other locations were also having problems with the audio. We got the audio on in time for the last 10 minutes of the last speaker.



We still haven't heard about Jon's test- they still have another week to get back to us. But George is now 7 months and wants to walk (with help) and wants to move everywhere. He can scoot very well backwards but doesn't understand crawling forward (though at times I think he's close). We heard from the complex we will be moving into and they think they can get us in May 28th- which would be great!

George and I went to the library without Jon last week because Jon went out to Illinois for a make-up lesson day. George really likes playing with this one activity cube with a bead maze on top (the things with the wooden beads that are on metal wires that swirl around and such), and then has different things on the sides. One side has some gears glued on and George REALLY likes those.




At the baptism I was thinking about the Holy Ghost. I subbed for a Primary class back in the Westlake Ward and they had an analogy that I really liked. Imagine a boom box (with a analog radio dial). You have to be really careful to make sure you have the right station, if you go a little too far, you could miss the channel you're looking for. When you get the Gift of the Holy Ghost, you not only are told which channel the Holy Ghost speaks on, but you get a boom box- so you can take it with you wherever you go. I don't know that I believe that the Holy Ghost ever leaves you, even if you go to that party. I think sometimes when we know we are not doing something right, we choose to leave our boom box behind- but I feel it is us who chooses to do the leaving. Sometimes we choose to leave the boom box at home when we go to some party we feel isn't right, or do something we know to be wrong. Or sometimes we take the boom box with us but we turn it off. In the blessing we are told to "receive" the Holy Ghost. We have to be in tune to hear the Spirit and we have to make sure that any extra noise doesn't keep us from listening to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.

Plan of Happiness

I read a good talk this week from Pres. Uchtdorf in 2008. It was "A Matter of a Few Degrees". I really liked it and I think it's one of those that you should keep and reread every now and then. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/a-matter-of-a-few-degrees?lang=eng

"Remember: the heavens will not be filled with those who never made mistakes but with those who recognized that they were off course and who corrected their ways to get back in the light of gospel truth."

In Young Women's we've been talking about the Apostasy and the Restoration. God has a plan for all His children as a whole and for us individually. WE have the opportunity of basking in the light in the fullness of times. The priesthood of God is back on the earth, the same power by which the universe was created, and the only thing which limits our ability to exercise that power is the sanctity of our lives.

And Emma Homan gave her homecoming talk today. I think I cried more than I do at my own children's talks. This sweet girl, who many of us loved dearly, couldn't see her worth two years ago. No matter how much we loved her we couldn't make her feel it. I cried out of love and joy that our Father in Heaven has for all of us. I cried because she can finally see and feel His love. And oh, what joy that brings. What joy the gospel brings into our lives. She talked about how reading at least 10 minutes a day, praying and attending Church makes all the difference. She ended with a scripture in Alma that she said kind of described her life, and then her testimony in word and sign language.

Alma 26:15-
Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.

She also said that her mission was the hardest thing she's loved to do!

My message this week is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the Plan of Happiness. It requires prayer and humility. It requires change. We live in the fulness of times and where much is given, much IS required. It is hard and we will love doing it. God loves us. We are continually encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love. We are to be instruments in his hands.

This I know.

With love,
Mommy