Thoughts and Impressions

My heart is full of gratitude and love for those called and set apart as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators in our day. In the closing and final talk given by Elder Neil L. Andersen, I felt a tangible spirit flood the room as he testified that this Church is guided and directed by our Savior, Jesus Christ. With the absence of two Apostles, Elder Andersen shared a portion of the talk Robert D. Hales had originally planned to give and also a portion of some of President Thomas S. Monson's counsel. As he shared these dear brother's words, the Spirit was strikingly powerful and undeniable, as if the Lord had blessed Elder Andersen with a full investiture of authority to speak in behalf of President Monson and Elder Hales. Tears streamed down my face as the choir sang these stirring words of the closing hymn;

"Israel, Israel, God is speaking.
Hear your great Deliv'rer's voice!
Now a glorious morn is breaking
For the people of his choice."

I always look forward to General Conference! All of the sessions have been wonderful to listen to.  If I were to summarize in just a few short words the overall messages that struck me the most, it would be these;

No matter how many times you have read the Book of Mormon, continue to make it part of your daily scripture study. Pray always and be believing. Trust that hard times are shaping and molding you in ways you cannot see. Miracles come in shapes and forms that we often fail to realize as miracles. Pray to trust that a bigger picture will one day be revealed. Be humble. Remove distractions from your life that keep you from focusing on truth. Forgive offenses. Repair the breach. Assume the good in others and swallow your pride. Take time every day to listen to or read a recent conference talk. Knowing and applying the words of the Living Prophets will direct you right personally and in your family in every circumstance. Don't worry so much about what happens to you - don't live your life in fear. Learn what the Lord is trying to teach you to learn and choose faith every time!

-Alicia

Click here to read, watch, or listen to October 2017's General Conference.

Nourishing to be Nourished

I'm studying nutrition at BYU this semester and I just happen to be finishing up Alma 32 in my personal scripture study. I love the last two verses:

"Because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you." - Alma 32:42-43

In the context of physical nutrition, I've been reading about ancient whole grains and the health benefits that we experience when they are a part of our every-day diet.  It's interesting how physical AND spiritual grains nourish us, like the word of God. Both physical and spiritual grains are best in their purest form and work in a cycle dependent on the time, attention, and priority we give them. 

Staying physically and spiritually nourished requires all our diligence, faith, patience, and hard work. The reward is - sustainability and quality of life.

I hear of members who far too often say that they just don't have time for the scriptures every day. Even prayer seems to be too much of a burden. Yet, these two things - prayer and scripture (ancient and modern) - are absolutely vital to our spiritual health. We must MAKE TIME for them! This is water and soil, sunlight and air! We can't just set them aside and expect the garden of our life to grow properly. First things first: Prayer and study - nourishing the word so it can grow, bear fruit, and nourish us is a DAILY, process to "reap the rewards of [our]faith." 

-Alicia

Peace From Invulnerable Faith

“Two artists each painted a picture to illustrate his conception of rest. The first chose for his scene a still, lone lake among the far-off mountains. It was a serene and beautiful scene; yes, very calming, very restful to look at. But the second artist, on his canvas, wildly painted a thundering waterfall. You could almost hear the roaring of the water. But a closer look revealed a fragile birch tree bending over the mist of the roaring water. At the fork of the branch, wet with spray, there sat a robin on its nest.” -Henry Drummond

It is this second illustration that I find so intriguing and most easy to relate to:

This peace is something found in our Father in Heaven, in the sure knowledge of His power through Christ and the intimate involvement of Them in our lives manifested by the Spirit of God.  This peace grows like a seed through a myriad of our own experiences and trials of faith over a life-time.

The beauty is discovered when we realize that such peace is not the absence of struggle, tension, opposition, or pain... rather it is a perfect calm in the midst of all these things.  A perfect trust in our Father in Heaven that casts out any fear of what might or might not unfold tomorrow.  It comes from knowing one's own intentions and knowing their path is aligned with God's.  This peace is the fruit born out of those personal moments where we come to know for ourselves something of God's omnipotence, omniscience, and infinite love for us, where we come to know that He holds everything in His perfect hands.

It's strange how even in the midst of struggle or turmoil there is also a sense of joy, like a robin singing in its nest... not because everything is running smoothly or how we might expect it to, but because it is anchored in what really matters and trusts the Hand that governs such matters.

Through deep and regular prayer - day in and day out, through daily consistent and regular study of the scriptures, and through constant striving to apply God's word and seek His spirit, I have tasted of His love and awareness for me again, and again, and again.

This morning, I reviewed a few conference talks given a couple of weeks ago and feel as if this quote from Jeffery R. Holland is completely fitting for the subject of invulnerable faith:

"[God's] love is the foundation stone of eternity, and it should be the foundation stone of our daily life. Indeed it is only with that reassurance burning in our soul that we can have the confidence to keep trying to improve, keep seeking forgiveness for our sins, and keep extending that grace to our neighbor.

President George Q. Cannon once taught: “No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character [to do so]. … He will [always] stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and purer for them.” - Jeffrey R. Holland - Tomorrow the Lord will Do Wonders

As Henry Drummond so beautifully wrote, I also testify that "Rest... is the mind at leisure from itself.  It is the perfect poise of the soul; the absolute adjustment of the inward man to the stress of all outward things; the preparedness against every emergency; the stability of assured convictions; the eternal calm of an invulnerable faith; the repose of a heart set deep in God.  It is the mood of the man who says, with Browning, 'God's in His Heaven, all's well with the world.'"

And so... "Whatever tomorrow brings, together we'll rise and sing that we won't be shaken."

-Alicia :)
He Showed Me How

Shelter From the Storm

I'm studying the Book of Mormon again (a little slower this time).  I'm also working my way through the Old Testament.  The brave stories of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have been fresh on my mind.  The culture tide that is sweeping away so many of our young adults has been heavy on my heart. You know how in Helaman 5:12 it warns "when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds... his shafts [directed or barbed in sharp attack] in the whirlwind, yea... his hail and his mighty storm...[that] shall beat upon [us]".  Well, it's not a matter of "when" anymore... it's happening now.

Have you ever been in a category five hurricane or tornado?  I haven't but I've seen pictures of the devastation.  Imagine heaps of wood, metal, and glass shooting at you from all directions at 180 mph. 

Aftermath of Hurricane Andrew - 1992

Before something like this ever happens the people of the community hear numerous urgent warnings over the air waves from the news anchors.  "Run for cover! Find shelter! Head for a safe place!"  

I looked up images of storm shelters last night.  I was amazed at some of the stories of people emerging after the whirlwind to find nothing but devastation and rubble for miles and miles.  I'm sure their first thoughts as they step out uninjured and surveyed the scene, were thoughts of gratitude for the one little safe place they had for their family.

Moore, Oklahoma - 2013

In the Gospel, where is our shelter, our safe place?  

"And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory of Zion shall be a defense.  And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and a covert from storm and from rain." - 2 Nephi 14:5,6  Isaiah 4:5,6

I love this description!  Every time I read it I think of the Provo Temple.  It was designed to look like a cloud around the base and the spire used to be almost orange to represent a pillar of fire.

Look at those words in the verse again, "a place of refuge, and a covert from storm" isn't it beautiful and comforting to know we have these in so many areas of the world?  

What makes this place safe?  How does it rescue us and help us be anchored in such trying times?  Why do we run to the temple?  Of course the most central focus of the temple is Jesus Christ, He is the foundation and cornerstone.  The temple helps us understand our true identity and purpose.  It helps us discover who we are and who we are meant to become.

The temple also helps us understand who the Lord has appointed as true messengers to guide and teach us in our mortal journey.  In every single temple the baptismal font is built upon the backs of twelve oxen.  There is a reason for this! The number represents the twelve tribes of Israel.  It is a place of gathering back the branches of Jacob's tree.  Twelve is also the symbol of the priesthood, a symbol of covenant.

Phoenix, Arizona Temple

Early this Monday morning, I sat on the bench in the baptistery of the Provo Temple and gazed out at the font. For the previous two days my head had been spinning about the negative voices of the world calling after and leading astray so many of our good members.  I thought of the recent Facebook conversation I participated in and the young women involved.  I thought of this girl's father and how many tears he has shed on her behalf.  Knowing some of his stories, I reflected further... "He has gone through so much anguish for this daughter on so many levels - pleading and praying for her physically and spiritually. How much more burden does this man have to shoulder? Lord, how much?!" Alma 4:15 played in my mind, "Having seen the afflictions of [this] humble follower of God....[I] began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail [me]."  My heart ached, and I prayed, "Lord, isn't there something I can say or do to help rescue these children?" I opened the Book of Mormon to where I am in my personal study.  

"We are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.

 But behold... they despised the words of plainness... sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall." - Jacob 4:13,14

I reflected over and over on these words. They "looked beyond the mark." They missed the whole point, the plain and simple truths.  The storm was upon us.  We shouted and waved.  We pointed to the children where the shelter was "Get inside! Take cover!"...and they ran right past it looking for something "more appealing" less "restrictive," imagining something more significant. 

"However frustrating outside critiques may be, the bigger obstacle to finding sanctuary is when we begin to misunderstand our own beliefs—when we allow our faith to be diminished and trivialized. That can occur if we rewrite our own history, concluding that 'my mission wasn’t that meaningful' or 'I didn’t really have that experience.' In so doing, we fall prey to the situation described by George Orwell in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four when he wrote: “Who controls the past . . . controls the future: who controls the present controls the past” (Nineteen Eighty-Four [New York: Penguin, 1950], 32).

At our worst, we caricature our own beliefs, making them seem small, insignificant, and slightly embarrassing. In the end we come to believe that our religion is no more than a series of interesting social customs and that our faith is as easily discarded as an unwanted gym membership." - Jeffrey F. Ringer - Finding Sanctuary

How is it that our culture has come to reject our very foundations of freedom?  How can we save our children who are being led astray?  "According to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build. And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected the sure foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of their corner?" - Jacob 4:16, 17

The Lord of the vineyard, after all His labor, all His digging, all His nourishing and pruning, saw the branches of his beloved tree begin to perish and He cried, "It grieveth me that I should lose this tree." (Jacob 5:11) In an effort to save it He called servants to labor with Him.  Together they "did go and labor with their mights" (Jacob 5:72).  Even though the tree was dying for a time and it seemed as if there was no hope, the tree was revived and their efforts were not in vain. The Lord rejoiced saying, "I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And blessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard." - Jacob 5:75

There is another temple in Provo.  It will be dedicated next March.  It stands as a symbol of redemption.  It proves that even if one has been ravished by storm or fire, even if it looks as if all hope is lost or that they will never return.... that there is a bigger part of the story to unfold we don't always foresee and that God is "mighty to save!"

Hold on and never lose hope!  "God's in His heaven.  All's right with the world." - Browning

Provo Tabernacle - December 2010

Provo City Center Temple - Present Day

Let it be known:
 "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." - Isaiah 61:3

This is my testimony.
-Alicia

Healing Hearts That are Failing

In the Doctrine and Covenants 45 & 88 it says in the last days "the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them."

Commotion, unrest, fear, turmoil.... How many hearts will fail during the days we live in???  When I read scriptures like this, I desire to encourage, to help heal the failing hearts of those around me.  A couple of weeks ago I was fasting for a family who lives next to me.  They are an unmarried blended family. Living in the "tight quarters" that we do, it's hard to avoid hearing the constant turmoil in their home.  None of them are active in the church.  The daughter of the mother used to come but has since given up as well.

About a week and a half ago I sat on the steps of our porch and visited with the mother of the family.  I listened to her tell me about the stresses and difficulties she faced on a day-to-day basis.  The entire time she was telling me about the "commotion" in her life I wanted so badly to somehow take the experiences I have had with prayer, with the scriptures, with the words of the living prophets, and infuse them into her so she could instinctively know where to find peace and rest from such needless pain.
She said, to me, "Alicia I can't come to church because I'm living in sin."
I immediately responded, "Aren't we all? If we waited to go only when we were completely free from making any mistakes or having any sin in our hearts then no one would be able to go."
I had a small window of opportunity to bear testimony to her of our Father in Heaven's infinite love and I told her of President Uchdorft's talk from this last conference to just "start where you are."

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak in church very briefly about the hymn, "Where Can I Turn for Peace" I had invited my neighbor friend to come and hear my testimony and I was hopeful that she would because the night before she confirmed a couple of times.  When I stood, I looked for her in the congregation but I didn't see her.  I was disappointed.  I wanted to direct my words to her. If only she would turn.  I was grateful for the number of people who had come to church that day.

I had been thinking of a favorite hymn of mine as a child, "Did You Think to Pray?" and for a brief moment I imagined myself again as a little girl sitting in church with a family who went every Sunday.  No one knew of the turmoil and pain that went on under our roof, (maybe our bishop but no body else.)  I thought, "If there are families like the one from my childhood sitting in this congregation right now then there is certainly a great number of people who are suffering needlessly in the church as well."  I remember a former bishop of ours used to call the constant visits in his office, "The Parade of Pain."

The hearts of men and women need not fail if they would only turn.  In the Book of Numbers, chapter 21, the children of Israel were bitten by serpents. Many of the people were dying but God provided an escape from the pain, suffering, and death.  He commanded Moses to raise a serpent on his staff and tell the people if they would just look at the raised serpent, they would be healed.  How can we look? How do we turn?  I believe it is through the simple process of faith and repentance, sincere prayer, daily seeking God's word (modern and ancient), and weekly partaking of Christ's sacrament.  It's the primary answer, just as simple as "look."

The children of Israel were healed by looking to Christ, they defeated the Amorites and the people of Bashan who fought against them. I testify that as we turn and look to Christ as the children of Israel did, our hearts will not fail us in these last days, even though the whole world will be in commotion.

Where can we turn for peace?  Nowhere else but to God, to our Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ - "He only ONE."

-Alicia

Using Words

"Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words." 

A sister shared this quote in Sacrament Meeting today.  I've heard it many times before and It always strikes me deep.  I often worry that I'm one of those who talks too much.  I certainly feel like I have plenty of room for improvement in the "practice what I preach" arena.  Admittedly, whenever I hear this quote, I feel to step back, examine myself more fully, and think, "Man, I really need to train myself to shut my mouth."

However, I don't think this quote means that words aren't necessary.  Take a look at 2 Nephi 25:26, where the Prophet Nephi says we are to talk, rejoice, preach, prophesy, and write of Christ.  All of these connote the use of words.

Elder Holland also expounds upon the importance of words: "In his deeply moving final testimony, Nephi calls us to “follow the Son [of God], with full purpose of heart,” promising that “after ye have … received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, [ye] can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels. … And … how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.”  Indeed, Christ was and is “the Word,” according to John the Beloved,  full of grace and truth, full of mercy and compassion." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (The Tongue of Angels) (2 Nephi 31:13–14; 32:2–3) 

Clearly we see the necessity of words -  it is through their power that heaven and earth are bound together, through words that we commune with God, call down angels, and connect with each other.  But just as we are merely dust without our Father in Heaven, our words are also useless and hollow if our hearts are not sincere.

Paul taught, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1,2

It is only when love, pure Christ-like love, is our moving and motivating force that our words have any power.  And what is Christ-like love?  It is certainly more than lip service. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments."

"Spiritually mature obedience is 'the Savior’s obedience.' It is motivated by true love for Heavenly Father and His Son. When we willingly obey, as our Savior did, we cherish the words of our Heavenly Father." - Elder Robert D. Hales - April 2014

The Savior's obedience is motivated by true love for our Father - which ultimately means His love was displayed by sacrifice.

When we sincerely love, honor, and cherish God's word, we will feel the necessity to preach the Gospel at all times, we willingly sacrifice... and what we say will be every bit a part of what we do.

I pray that the Lord will strengthen me to be a better witness of Him.

-Alicia

The Proof of Your Love

(For King and Country)

If I sing but don't have love

I waste my breath with every song

I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise

If I speak with a silver tongue

Convince a crowd but don't have love

I leave a bitter taste with every word I say

So let my life be the proof,

The proof of your love

Let my love look like You and what You're made of

How You lived, how You died

Love is sacrifice

So let my life be the proof,

The proof of Your love

If I give

To a needy soul but don't have love then who is poor?

It seems all the poverty is found in me

So let my life be the proof,

The proof of Your love

Let my love look like You and what You're made of

How You lived, how You died

Love is sacrifice

Oh, let my life be the proof,

The proof of Your love

When it's all said and done

When we sing our final song

Only love remains

Only love remains

Let my life be the proof,

The proof of Your love

Let my love look like You and what You're made of

How You lived, how You died

Love is sacrifice

So let my life be the proof,

The proof of Your love

The Fruit of the Tree

Imagine a banquet table full of fruit with all kinds of varieties.  Most people could pick out any number of them, examine its characteristics (its color, shape, smell, taste, and feel) and be able to discern the type of tree the fruit has come from.  In fact, I bet most people could do it in the dark, blindfolded, by taste alone, because we've become so familiar.  

In the Book of Mormon, I'm currently studying one of my favorite parts, Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life. Are we familiar enough with this Tree to recognize the fruit in our lives when we see it, feel it, or taste it?  How is this fruit described so that we may discern and know, truly know?

Fruit of the Tree of Life

• Desirable to make one happy (1 Nephi 8:10)
• Sweet above all that is sweet (1 Nephi 8:11)
• Exceeds all beauty
• Exceeds all whiteness - pure (1 Nephi 10:8)
• Most precious
• Desirable above all other
• Greatest of all the gifts (1 Nephi 15:36)
• The life of Christ and those who follow in His way
• Christ's Grace and infinite Atonement (1 Nephi 11:27-33)
• The fruit is light (Alma 32:35, 42)
• Partaking of this fruit, we hunger and thirst after nothing more (Alma 32:42)
• The love of God (1 Nephi 11:22)

(The Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23) Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance

The Savior also taught that through examining the fruit, we may recognize the kind of tree it is from.  He said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” - Matthew 7:20

Upon further study of fruit, I find it interesting the characteristic of carrying seeds is what distinguishes it from being any other other kind of food.  Now this goes for both good trees or corrupt trees… Either way, the seeds have capacity to replicate and perpetuate the tree that it came from over and over again.  There is no limit to the amount of fruit one tree can produce.

But as we ponder about the Tree of Life and the pure and precious fruit that holds these seeds, we can conclude that - Every good thing comes of Christ and there is also no limit.  When properly cared for, there’s no concern of “not enough to go around” no shortages, dividing stages, or caps placed upon it.  “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” (D&C 50:24)

Some other patterns of gospel living that can also be found in growing fruit:

• Doesn't happen over night - it takes time
• Needs constant care, nourishing, weeding, pruning and cutting back
• Can be preserved and stored for seasons of scarcity
• Meant to grow in abundance, meant to be shared
• Must have strong roots

President Harold B. Lee once said: “Beautiful, luscious fruit does not grow unless the roots of the … tree have been planted in rich, fertile soil and unless due care is given to proper pruning, cultivation, and irrigation. So likewise the luscious fruits of virtue and chastity, honesty, temperance, integrity, and fidelity are not to be found growing in that individual whose life is not founded on a firm testimony of the truths of the gospel and of the life and the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  - Stand Ye in Holy Places (1974), 218–19

I love the symbolism in trees. If we are familiar enough with the Tree of Life, we can know exactly "what fruit that is"... even in the dark.

-Alicia

Meeting the Challenges of Today

When you study the scriptures, do you ever have certain themes that impress deep upon your mind and heart?  I am struck by the importance of prophets and apostles, the importance of giving heed to those who are called to speak and guide in the Lord's name, on a general and local level.

As I was studying this morning, I noticed the words "Voice of the Lord" several times in chapters 12 and 13 of Helaman.  I paused as these words repeated in my head.  I questioned myself, "Do I hear the voice of the Lord in my life?  How do I discern it from my own?  How does He speak to me?"  I know from personal experience that He speaks to us through prayer, fasting, study, and personal revelation.

In the Bible Dictionary under "Revelation" it states, "The principle of gaining knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation. It is the making known of divine truth by communication with the heavens...  It...consists of individual guidance for every person who seeks for it and follows the prescribed course of faith, repentance, and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ."

The key here is the "prescribed course" for there are many who claim to hear "the voice of the Lord" who are not living the principles prescribed.  "Obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ" is very much tied to obedience to the Lord's servants, to His prophets and apostles.  Which leads into the second part of the description of revelation in the Bible Dictionary,  it's "the plan of salvation to the Lord's prophets."

D&C 1:38 says, "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."

There it is, that's His voice! The voice of His servants and the voice of the Lord are the same!

 Yesterday, I enjoyed listening to most of the sessions of this last conference, of letting the voice of the Lord permeate the walls of my home.  The hymns and the words of the prophets filled my heart with peace.

 I recognized a very clear message from them to defend and uphold the family as it has been outlined in the Proclamation to the World.  The conclusion of this proclamation ends with a very strong admonition, "We warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."  

The Lord has made His voice crystal clear.  It will be interesting to see what will happen in these coming years.  Calamities WILL come,

 Nevertheless, "The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done”-  (Joseph Smith - History of the Church, 4:540).

To go forth boldly and nobly in such times we must be found on the Lord's side.  We must be His true disciples and follow Him, for He is our Captain.  And as in any army, a good captain appoints strong leaders, these leaders speak His voice.  We sustain them as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators.

 In October of 1978 Neal A. Maxwell, an apostle of the Lord, spoke at BYU:

"Discipleship includes good citizenship; and in this connection, if you are careful students of the statements of the modern prophets, you will have noticed that with rare exceptions—especially when the First Presidency has spoken out—the concerns expressed have been over moral issues, not issues between political parties. The declarations are about principles, not people, and causes, not candidates. On occasions, at other levels in the Church, a few have not been so discreet, so wise, or so inspired.

But make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters; in the months and years ahead, events will require of each member that he or she decide whether or not he or she will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions (see 1 Kings 18:21).

President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had “never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional, or political life” (CR, April 1941, p. 123). "  (Meeting the Challenges of Today - Neal A. Maxwell)

Does this not sound completely like today?!  This was 37 years ago, But look at how far we've digressed as a nation since that time.  How much stronger the warning must be!! These declarations the Brethren have given us are about principles, sound principles anchored in truth, anchored in doctrine.

The voice of the Lord has spoken.  The prophet Samuel in Helaman 13:39 cries out, "O ye people of the land, that ye would hear my words!"

I testify that the words of the living prophets are the words unto salvation.  They bring comfort to my soul, peace into my home, hope into my heart, and courage to face the challenges of the day.

-Alicia

What is being taught?

In my religion class, we just finished studying in the Book of Mormon where the resurrected Christ visits and administers among the ancient inhabitants of America.  What must it have been like to feel the Spirit there, to sit at His feet and be taught by Him, and to partake of the sacred emblems He blessed?

In chapter 21 of 3 Nephi the Lord prophesies of the gathering of His covenant people to the truth in the last days, "that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.  For in that day, for my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and marvelous work among them" (3 Ne. 21:8,9)

He also prophesies that in the last days, He will purge the people of their wickedness, that He will "cut off the witchcrafts, the graven images, the groves, all lyings, deceivings, envyings, strifes, priestcrafts, and whoredoms" it will all be "done away." (3 Ne. 21: 16-19)

When I read this description of such wickedness, I couldn't help but think of the majority of media and movies and the steady diet of filth offered freely to us in our homes.  What becomes of us when we take partake of this?  After all... isn't it true that "we are what we eat?"

As we think of those who gathered to be taught around the feet of our Savior, how they ate of the bread and wine...  we would do well to ask ourselves what is being taught in our homes?  What do we gather around?  If our T.V. programs and sitcoms of today could take on a physical identity, whose feet do our children sit at and receive teaching from?  What are they being fed?  Just think about it.  If the Lord came to our home to do some purging, where would He start?  I imagine He'd start by unplugging the television!

President Hinckley spoke at an American Mothers convention in May of 1994 and said, 'I am more concerned about the moral deficit than I am about the budget deficit.  The strength of a nation lies in the homes of its people.’  He then decried the ‘filth, the rot, the violence and profanity’ spewing into the home via television.  ‘If we could follow a slogan that says, ‘Turn off the TV and open a good book,’ we would do something of substance in strengthening another generation,’ he insisted.  (Sheri L. Dew, Go Forward with Faith: Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley, 477)

"A moral deficit?" Can we see this?  That was back in 1994 and I submit that the junk on T.V. is far worse today that it was 21 years ago...  And yet so many mothers leave movies, popular shows, and sitcoms, to 'babysit' their children every day. With a ratio of three hours of worship on Sundays to well over twenty hours of 'the world’s teachings' the rest of the week, who do we think our kids are going to imitate??  Mothers, we cannot do this!  It is irresponsible!!  We've got to turn it around!  We need to step up in being "guardians of the hearth."

The family is under attack on all fronts. In 1995, why did the First Presidency choose to announce the proclamation on the family in a general Relief Society meeting? After President Hinckley read it, he provided an answer to that question. “You are the guardians of the hearth,” he told the sisters. “You are the bearers of the children. You are they who nurture them and establish within them the habits of their lives. No other work reaches so close to divinity as does the nurturing of the sons and daughters of God.”  -(Daughters of My Kingdom "Guardians of the Hearth")

"You... establish within them the habits of their lives." What habits are we establishing, mothers? Watching hours and hours of television a day?!

My children give me a hard time because I am so strict with media.  I let them have 20 min. each of screen time per day and on the weekends they get to watch a movie or two.  We don't have cable so we don't get T.V. programs but we have the internet.  And as deprived as my kids might sometimes feel, one day they'll thank me for laying down these restrictions, for trying to establish other habits, noble habits, like serving a neighbor, expanding their talents, reading the scriptures on their own, listening to conference talks in the middle of the week, being creative, and the list goes on.  I can see good fruit bearing from this already.

I believe mothers, especially Latter-Day-Saint mothers who have made sacred covenants, will see a tremendous difference for good in their families if they personally  love and apply the standards outlined in the  For the Strength of Youth pamphlet.  Do we know what is in this?  Have we studied it?   I testify and promise that when we adhere to these teachings, it will result in wonderful, specific blessings:  

1. We will have an increased measure of the Spirit in our homes and contention will decrease. Our tone of communication and choice of words will improve.
2. Our identity, the identity of others, and the identity of our children will be more clear and centered on truth. We will lose desire for popularity and gain a stronger inner confidence.
3. Our children will be more receptive to the Gospel, they will be more sensitive to the things of the spirit, and they will feel closer to the Savior.

Those who wrote this pamphlet are true messengers from our Father in Heaven.  They were inspired by God in each and every one of these standards.  Are we giving strict heed??

The Lord promises the righteous gatherers in the last days that "all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (3 Ne. 22:13)  This is more than a message to the House of Israel... It is to the mothers of Zion, the teachers of the home.  “Great shall be the peace” not only of our children but WE, will have peace as well, knowing that we didn't take the "easy road" but we took "the road less traveled."

Why wait for the second coming of the Savior when we can invite Him in our homes today?  Let His feet be the ones our children gather around.  Let His Spirit be what feeds them.

-Alicia

Master Teachers

A few months ago, I took my children on a field trip to the Monte L. Bean museum up on the north end of  BYU's campus.  They had a new display there to honor the life of President Boyd K. Packer.

 I walked alongside the glass encased memories and photographs frozen in time.  A powerful spirit filled the room.  My six-year-old daughter clung to my side and followed my steps as I occasionally lifted her so she could get a better view.  My heart was full and I was inspired as I reflected on of a life well lived and anchored in truth.  I was in awe of the numerous sculptures and paintings so skillfully made by the hands of this incredibly gifted man.  Each piece was evidence of one who truly rejoiced in the beauty and majesty of God's creations.

Then I noticed, in the center of the room, a display that illustrated President Packer's most defining and admirable gift - his deep love for the scriptures! There lay open a ragged and worn Book of Mormon from his days in the military.  It was heavily marked with red pencil and notations crammed within its margins, evidence of his love for this sacred text.

I returned to the museum yesterday with my children to look at his scriptures again.  This time I paid closer attention to what part in the Book of Mormon they were opened to.  I was excited to see that it was Alma 34 (a section of the reading my religion class is reviewing.) The word "PRAY" was written in big bold letters in the column along side verses 18-27 as if to give a hearty "amen" to Amulek's testimony.

I gazed upon the open verses and pondered on the two simple yet vital themes I had already chosen to write about.  There they were before me in this artifact like a picture that tells a thousand words - they illustrated a lifetime of "effectual prayer" and "internalizing scripture."  Tears of gratitude welled in my eyes for the truth so evidently treasured by this apostle of God.  He was undoubtedly a man of deep prayer.  He also knew what it meant to internalize the word, to have the word engraved upon his heart - and he was definitely a master at teaching it.

President Packer once taught,  “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.”  (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Nov 1986)

Alma was also a master teacher and understood how true doctrine changes us. He compared "the word unto a seed"¹ and promised that if we "give place”² for it in the soil of our hearts, if we "nourish it with much care³...  looking forward with an eye of faith,"⁴ it will grow into the very "Tree of Life."⁵  We will gain understanding⁶ and discernment.⁷  We will "reap the rewards of [our] faith, and [our] diligence, and patience, and long-suffering"⁸ and we will harvest the most precious and pure fruit,⁹ we will feast on "light!"¹⁰

When the word of God is internalized, when it becomes engraved upon our hearts, it changes us.  This is where conversion or transformation begins,¹¹ this leads us to Christ. All throughout Alma 30 -63 we see the evidence of the power of the word. "It had more...powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else."¹² Alma also compared it to a compass and testified that it will "show... the course which [we] should travel"¹³ in this wilderness of life.  It will lead us to peace and prosperity.¹⁴

Even and especially through times of war - What was it that was guarded so closely?  What was to be "written and sent forth among the children of men... kept sacred, and handed down from one generation to another?"¹⁵ It was scripture!

The other powerful theme emphasized in these chapters was "effectual prayer," that great eternal companion to effective scripture study and opening the windows of heaven. Amulek taught that we must "call upon [God's] holy name."¹⁶  He taught that we "must pour out [our] souls"... to have our "hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto Him continually."¹⁷  When Alma is blessing and instructing his sons, he tells Helaman, "Cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord... counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and He will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord... and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God."¹⁸  Helaman believed his father's words and followed his wise instruction.¹⁹ As a result, he went on to lead a powerful army of 2,000 warriors who were miraculously delivered because they "did pour out [their] souls in prayer to God."²⁰

Everyday we make a choice whether or not to pray sincerely and internalize God’s word in our hearts.  Life is a battle field.  We consciously decide if we are going to wield the "sword of truth." ²¹  What do we treasure?  What do we value?

President Packer wisely taught, “Our lives are made up of thousands of everyday choices. Over the years these little choices will be bundled together and show clearly what we value.”

Clearly, he was a man who greatly valued the scriptures, one whose heart was "drawn out in prayer continually."²²  He was an ordinary man called of God, transformed, changed, converted, and centered on Christ.  We can all experience this for ourselves as we let the basic, simple, and repeated doctrines “sink deep into our hearts”²³ and become one with our very souls.  I know this is true!

-Alicia

Farewell to a master teacher.

Footnotes:
1-Alma 32:28
2-Alma 32:28
3-Alma 32:37
4-Alma 32:40
5-Alma 32:40,41
6-Alma 32:28
7-Alma 32:35
8-Alma 32:41
9-Alma 32:42
10-Alma 32:35
11-Alma 53:10
12-Alma 31:5
13-Alma 37:38,39,44,45
14-Alma 49:30
15-Alma 63:12,13
16-Alma 34:17
17-Alma 34:27
18-Alma 37:37
19-Alma 45:1
20-Alma 58:10
21-Hebrews 4:12
22-Alma 34:27
23-Enos 1:3

The Darker the Night, The Brighter the Stars

I don't really have much to write in my own words today.  I've been searching through talks by the Brethren this morning and have just tried to absorb it all.  I feel as if I do a lot of "talking the talk." I love to share what is in my heart, to share my testimony...  And I guess that's a good thing, as long as it's moving to my feet and I "walk the walk." Just absorbing the words from the Brethren this morning fills me with so much gratitude for the Priesthood leadership and guidance that is available to us in this Church.  I know it comes from a very loving Father.

Here in this glorious Gospel, there are baskets full and overflowing with the doctrines and principles that will set us free. These wonderful fruits of light and truth come in such abundance that there is "not room enough to receive it." I am grateful to be able to feast and be filled, to know and be known, to pray and be heard, to learn and to feel loved.  God is good and I am happy.

-Alicia

Here's a portion of a talk I soaked up this morning:

Opposition Reveals the Truth
Tasting the Light by, Elder Lynn G. Robbins

"We are taught in 2 Nephi 2 that there “must needs be … an opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). Humankind “taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good” (Moses 6:55). Health, for example, is primarily the study of its opposite, sickness and disease; freedom, the study of oppression and slavery; happiness, the study of sorrow; and so on. And like the tiny miracle of fireflies, light goes unappreciated without a dark backdrop.

Opposition is indispensable to our education and happiness. Without opposition, the truth remains hidden in plain view, like taking air for granted until the moment you are gasping for it. Because the Light of Christ is ever-present, many people don’t notice the Spirit in their life, like those Lamanites in 3 Nephi 9:20 who “were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.”

Opposition not only reveals or unveils the truth but manifests its inherent power, joy, and sweetness. For example, it took a taste of the bitter life for the prodigal son to realize what a sweet life he had abandoned back home and had taken for granted in his youth.

It is only through pain and sickness that we come to value our health. As a victim of dishonesty, we treasure integrity. Experiencing injustice or cruelty, we cherish love and kindness—all with a “perfect knowledge,” having tasted the fruit of each by the light which is in us. The perfect knowledge comes fruit by fruit, through opposition in all things. Obedience to God’s commandments promises ultimate happiness, growth, and progress through opposition, not bypassing it. “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” -African Proverb

Consider this insightful statement from the Prophet Joseph Smith: “By proving contraries, truth is made manifest.” 

And this one from Brigham Young: “All facts are proved and made manifest by their opposite.”