I'm sitting here preparing to teach on leadership tomorrow in Church, and so I've been thinking. How often do I think of myself as a leader? Seldom. I feel that even when in positions of leadership, I'm not very likely to attribute that title to myself. I'm just little ol' me, just plodding along, making the best of life. But a leader? I'm not spectacular enough to be one of those. Am I right in assuming that I'm not the only one who feels that way? Then I read Matthew 5:14-16, and in the context of leadership, it took on a different meaning for me. "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." The Lord did not give us light purposelessly. The Leader of the Universe...
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Planned Parenthood is a recent addition to my knowledge base. But with the floodgates that opened due to the release of the sting videos, this organization has been brought to the forefront of my thoughts repeatedly over these last few weeks. I have been watching Pro-Lifers and Pro-Choicers passionately erupt since. To say there have been strong responses from both sides would be an understatement. And I am left to consider: Could these videos have been an elaborate hoax by Pro-Life advocates in hopes to eliminate a large national abortion provider? It is highly possible. When people feel strongly enough about a cause they will often do anything to further that cause, especially when they believe it is for the greater good. But, could this also have been a legitimate inside look at an organization that is now backpedaling and smoke screening to maintain appearances? It is also highly possible. When people are exposed for what they are, they attempt to save face at all costs in order to...
A couple years ago I read something from my Facebook feed. The author wrote a statement about how he or she felt about being in the church. While it bothered me, I couldn't really put my finger on why. But who am I to argue with how someone feels? I can't recall ever hearing the statement before then, but the same phrase has been increasingly mentioned in various posts written by Latter Day Saints since. In the past few days alone I have read multiple articles, essays or blog posts that have all used or mentioned the same sentiment. "Maybe this church isn't the place for me." I talked to my husband a lot one night after I had read several such articles. I voiced my concerns about the people who feel this way, and about the people who make people feel this way, and about our children in the challenges they may face in this regard. So, a couple years later, I have finally been able to verbalize what I wish I could say to that original author and anyone who f...
My cousin recently shared a personal thought on Facebook that really resonated with me. She shared the well known verses in Ecclesiastes 3. 1. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: 2. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6. A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Then pointing out the beautiful individuality in each of our lives she said, (I've slightly paraphrased) "Everyone is at different ...
The other day I went on a walk to the park with the kids and their Auntie and cousin. There was a group of older boys (roughly 11-13 years old) hanging around when we arrived. E was excited to talk their ears off; he loves older kids. In between his excited tales about the mom that made him get shots in his legs that day and wandering off to play on the slides (then right on back to expose the band aids that gave proof of mom's tyranny), I watched and listened to these boys as they loitered on top of the playground. What I heard made my mother heart hurt. It hurt for the boys whose childhoods I can only assume (due to my ability to overhear conversations and language that no thirteen year old should utter) are filled with anger and violence and smut. It hurt for the parents who aren't taking the time to teach their boys responsibility, respect, or virtue. It hurt because these are the boys my sons are growing up with, this is the generation I have to help them navigate. I wish ...
I feel as though miracles are a regular part of my life. Maybe the older I get, the better I'm getting at recognizing them. Or maybe the older I get, the more my interpretation of 'miracle' has changed. Most likely, it's a mixture of the two. Whatever it is, it's a tremendous blessing to be able see the hand of the Lord so active in the small, the daily, and the life shattering events of my life. Thanks to the New Testament, we have multiple accounts of the miracles performed during the mortal ministry of the Savior. There are those who argue that miracles of that magnitude don't occur today. But it's been my experience that they do. And I have every reason to believe they will continue. When I think of the Savior turning water into wine, I think of the simplicity of miracles. This wasn't a mountain moving, life or death type of thing. This was a, 'Oh no! We've run out of wine at the marriage celebration, what do we do!?' type of thing. C...
The other day I was reading a talk by Sister Julie B. Beck. She said, 'One of the questions that I get frequently is, “Is it okay if I work outside of my home?” You have to know that as an international, global, Relief Society president, that question isn’t always appropriate in all of the world’s countries. There are many, many places where if our women don’t work, they don’t eat. So of course they have to work. The question of whether or not to work is the wrong question. The question is, “Am I aligned with the Lord’s vision of me and what He needs me to become and the roles and responsibilities He gave me in heaven that are not negotiable? Am I aligned with that, or am I trying to escape my duties?” Those are the kinds of things we need to understand. Our Heavenly Father loves His daughters, and because He loves us and the reward at the end is so glorious, we do not get a pass from the responsibilities we were given. We cannot give them away. They are our sacred duties and...