Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice - and Hear the Word of God

It's been just over a month since President Russell M. Nelson was set apart as the 17th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Hopefully most of you were able to watch his first message to Church members on January 16th, and then the press conference just after that. They were awesome!!

Before that day, I had still been feeling sad about the loss of President Thomas S. Monson and his incredible example. He is the prophet I can remember for most of my life. His life and legacy had a huge effect on me and so many others.

Last spring, I was deep in the New Testament, trying to finish it before the end of the school year to fulfill my seminary credits. I still read the Book of Mormon sometimes, maybe once or twice a week, but I figured that between my seminary reading and family scripture study, I was getting plenty of the scriptures in my life already. I didn't have time to be reading the Book of Mormon, too!

But I had been wondering for awhile if I needed to start reading the Book of Mormon more often. Then President Monson gave his talk. I resolved right then and there that I would read it every day. And I saw the blessings he promised appearing in my life!

After that experience, I determined to always follow the prophet - no matter who he is - because I know he does speak for God. As I listened to our new prophet speak to us on January 16th, I was filled with excitement for this new chapter in the Church's history. I felt the Spirit testifying that President Russell M. Nelson is the prophet that Heavenly Father has chosen and prepared for this time. His life story and experiences are markedly different from President Monson's, but both of their paths were directed by the Lord, and both were willing to serve the Lord where and when they were needed most.

So while I will miss President Monson, I know that President Nelson is the one the Lord has chosen as His prophet today, and his words will be the ones that Heavenly Father wants me to hear and obey. I am so grateful that the Lord cares about His children enough to send the gospel of Jesus Christ and to have a living prophet on the earth to whom we can turn for guidance and truth!

How have you gained assurance that the Lord calls His prophets and speaks through them? When have you seen God's blessings from following the prophet?

Have a 'Happy Sabbath'!

I don't know how many of you get the Friend magazine each month, but we do, and we were happily surprised to find some changes and additions to the magazine for this year! One of those is the 'Happy Sabbath' section, no doubt stemming from the recent emphasis the Church has been putting on increasing our Sabbath day observance.

The 'Happy Sabbath' page is intended for children, but in truth, it could benefit all of us, because everyone can find another way to lift the Lord's day to a place closer to Him.

In this month's edition, the page has a question: Imagine you were going on a trip to meet a very important person. What would you do to get ready? 

Then it answers the question: You might get nice clothes to wear, learn more about who you were meeting, or mark the day on your calendar. 

Anything starting to sound familiar???

Yes! So, on Sunday, we aren't just going to worship our Father and Creator, we are going to MEET Him - sort of...like meeting him halfway. We bring our best and He sends His Spirit. Anyway, here's what the Friend says:

Heavenly Father has set aside one day a week to be a special day for us, called the Sabbath. For us, the Sabbath is on Sunday. It is a time when we can rest from work, worship Heavenly Father, and spend time with our families. We should get ready for Sunday just as we would get ready for any important day.

This is a short, profound reminder of what we should be doing to prepare for the Lord's Day! For additional inspiration, read Isaiah 58:13, Mark 2:27, and any or all of the additional references listed below President Russell M. Nelson's talk, The Sabbath is a Delight (and of course, the talk itself!). 

And please, have a happy and uplifting Sabbath! (I recommend listening to the new Press Forward youth songs for 2016--phenomenal!!!!!! link)

Integrity, YW in Excellence, and Things People Hang on Their Walls!!!

I promised I would post pictures of my Integrity project, which I displayed at our Stake Young Women in Excellence last week, and I am following up on that promise! Photos courtesy of my awesome mom!

My Title of Liberty 

Quote Book on Integrity and Honesty

For those of you who are not familiar with Personal Progress, there are eight values in which six experiences and one ten-hour project are completed. For my ten-hour project, I chose to research quotes in General Conference on the subjects of integrity and honesty and compile them into a quote book. But that was only the half of it! I also made a Title of Liberty that I'm going to hang in my bedroom where I can see it every day. This was a great experience (do you expect anything less from Personal Progress?!), although I have to admit that I found that I am not a huge fan of sewing...:) Well, you learn something new all the time, right?

Our Stake YW in Excellence was way cool! The theme was 'light'. Light is just a great thing! I even wrote a post about the sun (and the Son!) and its light in March or April. Our ward YW sang "Keepers of His Light" by Tyler Castleton and Jenny Phillips for the closing song, and the Spirit was so strong! I love that song! Definitely worth looking up and learning yourself or with your local YW!

I was reading a fantastic interview with President Nelson earlier and at the end there is a series of pictures of the things President Nelson displays in his office. There is a bust of the Savior, pictures of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, a polished rock, a wooden beehive, and President Nelson's triple combination, among other things. I wonder--how do these items influence President Nelson's decisions, thoughts, and actions throughout his day? How do the things we display in our surroundings influence OUR decisions, thoughts, and actions? For example, the polished rock on President Nelson's desk may remind him of the importance of building our testimony on the Rock of our Savior, or being steadfast and immovable. Perhaps it reminds him of the stone Daniel saw in vision, tumbling down the mountain. Maybe he envisions becoming as polished as that stone in the hands of his Master. Whatever he thinks of, it must be of some importance if the stone is on his desk where he sees it for much of the time he is in his office!

My Title of Liberty will hopefully serve the same purpose. Same thing with the quote book. I want them in places where I can see them and be reminded of my commitment to stand for truth and righteousness!

What are some objects you surround yourself with and how do they remind you of good principles?

Are You a True Disciple of Christ?

Hi guys! I apologize for the wait! Life can be a crazy thing.

Right now, I am working on Integrity Experience #7:

List the issues, trends, and problems that weaken the family. Read the First Presidency message, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”, and the section on family in For the Strength of Youth. Then research in the Church magazines the counsel of those whom we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators. Write in your journal your plan to strengthen your present family and the values and traditions you want to establish with your future family.

Each of the listed resources are definitely applicable, useful, and meaningful, but what I want to share today is what I found by researching in the Church magazines the counsel of Church leaders. Pulling up lds.org, I glanced over the home page and found an article by President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It’s called “Disciples and the Defense of Marriage”, and it’s taken from a BYU commencement address given about a year ago.

The entire thing is wonderful and I strongly advise you to read the whole thing! Here I will just share a few quotes that really impacted me and really relate to what is going on in the world today.

“Male and female are created for what they can do and become—together. It takes a man and a woman to bring a child into the world. Mothers and fathers are not interchangeable. Men and women are distinct and complementary.”

“Will you be ashamed of the gospel? Will you be ashamed of your Lord and His plan? (see Mormon 8:38). Will you yield to voices of those who would have you join them on the popular side of contemporary history?

“No! The youth of Zion will not falter! I believe you will be courageous and proclaim God’s truth with clarity and kindness, even when His truth is politically unpopular! Paul set that pattern when he declared, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth’ (Romans 1:16; see also 2 Timothy 1:8).” (emphasis added)

I especially love when he quotes the Apostle Paul about the awful things that will happen in the last days and then adds his (President Nelson’s) interpretation--

“The Apostle Paul foresaw our circumstances when he said:

‘In the last days perilous times shall come.

‘For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

‘Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, … despisers of those that are good,

‘… lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”

'Then he concluded: ‘From such turn away’ (2 Timothy 3:1–5)

After his remarkable prophecy of our time, Paul added this word of warning: ‘Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution’ (2 Timothy 3:12).

“Ponder that! It means that during these perilous times, life will not be comfortable for true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. But we will have His approval. He gave us this assurance: “Blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (3 Nephi 12:10). In short, as disciples, each of us will be put to the test.”

Read the rest of his article and let me know in the comments what your favorite quote was!

Hello Again!

President Boyd K. Packer, age 90, passed away July 3rd at his home.

This has been a busy last week and a half since I last wrote! Just a few hours after my last post, our family piled into the car and drove across the country to visit family in Utah! Yippee!

We arrived last Saturday afternoon and spent some time with my mom's side of the family. On Sunday evening, my little sister was baptized!!! (Read a post about her here.) Monday morning, we got in the car again and drove up to Idaho, where we spent the last five days with my dad's side. Several late nights, a couple of tubing trips, and plenty of cousins later, we made it safely back to Utah and just finished watching lots of great fireworks! 

On another note, President Boyd K. Packer passed away yesterday, July 3rd, at about 2 pm Salt Lake time. He's enjoying the fireworks from a different view this year. :) 

There will now be two new apostles during October's conference. Say prayers for those men and their families, as well as the First Presidency and the remaining Quorum as they prayerfully choose these holy men. 

If you were wondering, here's the new state of things:

President Monson is still the president of the Church and therefore authorized as the only one who can receive revelation for all 15,000,000 of us. President Eyring and President Uchtdorf are still President Monson's counselors. 

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is down two, though there are still thirteen apostles (if you are confused by this, click here). Russell M. Nelson is the new President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, though he hasn't been sustained yet. Can you imagine how he felt when he heard the news? Here are his last three talks: 

The Sabbath is a Delight--April 2015

Sustaining the Prophets--October 2014

Let Your Faith Show--April 2014

Boyd K. Packer has been giving talks for forty-five years! Here are his last three:

The Plan of Happiness--April 2015

The Reason for Our Hope--October 2014

The Witness--April 2014

I love "The Witness" especially!

Here are several articles remembering President Packer and giving the details about the funeral service:

President Boyd K. Packer Dies At Age 90

5 Things We'll Never Forget About President Boyd K. Packer

President Boyd K. Packer, Champion of Families, Master Teacher, Resolute Defender of LDS Doctrine, Dies at 90

24 Inspiring Quotes from President Boyd K. Packer

Funeral Services Scheduled for President Boyd K. Packer

Anyway, I hope you will take some time to ponder on President Packer's life and example, and say some prayers for his family to be comforted at this time in their lives. 

Happy almost-not-fourth-of-July!! (The time on this post is Eastern Time, but I'm on Mountain Standard Time, so right now it is about 11:15 pm for me, even if the post says 1:15 am.)

Okay, this was supposed to be a short post. Sorry! Good night!