Blog Posts

They Cannot Be Lost

5/20/2019

Once again, the concept that God is in every single detail of our lives has hit me right in the face this morning and I'm feeling a little lightheaded from the impact, to tell you the truth.

On Sunday, I wrote a "Come, Follow Me" post for my New Testament class that focused on lost things. I referred to three of the Savior's parables that talked about how things (aka people) get lost in this life, but how no one is ever truly lost to the Lord.

As I sat down to put together this second post for my Family class, I realized that it is kind of a continuation of some of the thoughts I shared on Sunday.

I will never be able to deny the existence of God or the way He orchestrates our lives, even and especially when we have no idea that we are being instruments.

Family Relations--To Infinity and Beyond!

Okay, so hopefully Disney doesn't see this post and sue me for using Buzz Lightyear's famous line, but I feel it fits perfectly with what I want to share with you in this post.

In my first "Eternal Families" post, I shared why Eternal Families are important in God's Plan of Salvation. Now I want to share with you how that great plan of salvation (AKA God's Plan of Happiness) "enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave" (paragraph 3, The Family). I will also discuss how temple covenants save families. Are you ready to go on this ride with me and learn how your family can be together forever? Let's do this.

God's Plan of Happiness

Photo cred: churchofjesuschrist.org

This is God's plan of happiness for His children. It is truly a plan for families as it allows families to live together forever in heaven. Through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ and His victory over death, we have the opportunity to be with our families after this life. Isn't that awesome?

Now, I hear some of you...maybe the family I have is not so great and I don't want to be with them forever. If that's the case, my heart goes out to you and I am crying along with you because it breaks my heart to think of people in that situation. Do you know who else is crying with you and understands perfectly how you feel about your "not-so-wonderful" family? Our Savior and our Heavenly Father. They know, and I promise, you will not be left in the dark. There is room for everyone in this great plan of happiness and if you trust in Them, you will be led to places and people that will fill your life with joy...here and throughout the eternities.

"Before we were born, we lived with God, the Father of our spirits. All [of us] on earth are literally brothers and sisters in His family, and each of us is precious to Him. We lived with Him for eons of time before our mortal birth--learning, choosing, and preparing."
-Weatherford T. Clayton (Clayton, para 3).

Do you understand what this means? We are all part of one great big family and, in the words of Stitch from the movie Lilo and Stitch, "Ohana means Family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten." (Again, with the Disney reference. Maybe I am needing a trip to Disneyland? :) But what that really means is that no matter what your family looks like here on earth, you are part of something much bigger and through your desire to be faithful to God's commandments, your choice to rely upon and utilize the Atonement of Jesus Christ in your life, and your trust in God's plan of happiness, you will find joy and happiness with a forever family. I promise.

When Things Happen

Photo cred: pixabay.com

Life is hard and full of different choices. As part of the plan of happiness, God gave us agency--the ability to make choices for ourselves. Sometimes we use that agency wisely, sometimes...not so much. How grateful I am for the opportunity to repent when my choices are not so great.

As a parent, I can attest to the fact that it is hard to see your child make a choice that you know will lead them to hardship and sorrow. Maybe you have previously made a similar choice and subsequently have experienced the natural consequences that come along with it. Maybe you have seen others make similar choices. Whatever the case may be, when you're a parent and just want what is best for your child, it's hard to see them make choices that will lead them through difficult natural consequences.

“Few family challenges are of more significance and have longer-term implications than when family members fall away from correct principles and eventually become involved in serious transgression” (Hawkins et al, 169).

So where does this leave families in their quest to live together forever? How will that be possible if some family members ultimately choose to not follow the covenant path? We have been taught in the scriptures that "this life...[is] a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of us..." (Alma 12:24). If that is truly the case and we need to use this life to prepare to meet God, what will happen to our families if we are not all using this life to make those preparations wisely? Keep reading, my friends...

Temple Covenants Save Families

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be married in the temple. I had been taught that temple marriage = eternal marriage, and that is what I wanted.

When I met Mark (AKA The Love of My Life), I wanted that eternal marriage even more. I couldn't imagine not having him or our future children in my life forever. Even though I recognized the importance of temple marriage and the covenants we would make there, I did not fully understand just how binding those covenants could be.

After many years of study and prayer, I feel like I have a little better understanding of the power that comes from temple covenants, but I know that I am still only chipping away at the iceberg. I'll tell you something though, it's an iceberg that I'm going to keep chipping away at because my family means EVERYTHING to me, as do the covenants I have made with God in His holy house. Because I care about both so much, I am willing to put forth the effort to expand my knowledge and know what I need to do to keep my end of the bargain. I know God will keep his, because...He's God. It's me, who is a mortal, that I need to worry about.

Now, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I have a love/hate relationship with agency sometimes. Of course, I love it because it gives us the opportunity to choose for ourselves, and it's through choices that we learn and grow. However, I hate letting go of the "control" I have over my children and sending them off to use their own agency. I know, I know. That sounds bad. Maybe it's the control freak in me, but it's the truth.

I think it comes from the idea that I can't stand to see my children hurting, so I don't want them to make choices that will lead them to hurt. But, it comes back to the whole learning and growing thing, right? Sometimes the times in which we learn the most are the times that are most painful. Plus, I know that I'm not the only parent to feel the way that I do.

“Our Heavenly Father knows, far better than any mortal, the pain and sorrow associated with having children who exercise their moral agency to their condemnation rather than exaltation”
(Hawkins et al, 172).

Photo cred: churchofjesuschrist.org

Not only does Heavenly Father understand the pain and sorrow that parents experience when a child makes choices that lead him/her away from God's covenant path, but He has blessed us with prophets and apostles whose words give us hope and more importantly, help us to NOT FREAK OUT AND REMEMBER THAT OUR KIDS ARE STILL AMAZING AND EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY! :)

“When a seal is put upon the father and mother, it secures their posterity, so that they cannot be lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father and mother” -Joseph Smith
(Hawkins et al, 169).

The seal the Prophet Joseph is referring to is the sealing of a husband and wife that can only happen in a temple as it needs to be performed by someone who has been authorized to use the priesthood keys that pertain to sealing things on earth and in heaven. (Those are a lot of words that may be unfamiliar. If you want to know more, follow the links. :)

This is where this post ties in nicely with the post I wrote on Sunday. Just because you feel that your child or loved one is lost because of choices he/she is making, it DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE LOST TO THE LORD. (Sorry for the all caps shouting words, but I just want to get those points across, lol.) He/she is still your child. He/she is still God's child. Those are the things that really matter in this equation.

“The Shepherd will find His sheep. They were His before they were yours—long before He entrusted them to your care; and you cannot begin to love them as He loves them. They have but strayed in ignorance from the Path of Right, and God is merciful to ignorance. Only the fullness of knowledge brings the fullness of accountability. Our Heavenly Father is far more merciful, infinitely more charitable, than even the best of his servants, and His Everlasting Gospel is mightier in power to save than our narrow finite minds can comprehend” -Orson F. Whitney (Hawkins et al, 169-70).

Our Job is to Love

So? What can parents do who feel that a child is lost? Well, for one thing, if those parents are doing their best to keep the covenants they have made in the temple, I promise you, that will go a very long way in the eternities. Again, I don't understand it all, I just know that there is a power in the priesthood sealing of families and there is also power in keeping the covenants you have made with God.

We can also love the crap out of our kiddos. I cannot tell you how much I love these yahoos. I love them on their good days and bad days. I love them whether they're making me laugh or making me cry. I JUST LOVE THEM! SO MUCH! And that's exactly what I need to do. Whatever paths they decide to take in their lives, whatever rocky ridges they decide to cross, my job is to love them.

Sometimes that is much easier said than done, right? I have expectations and hopes and dreams for their lives that may be different than the expectations, hopes, and dreams they have for themselves. But there is instructions in the scriptures and The Family: A Proclamation to the World that can help all parents on the path to love and nurture their children, no matter what direction they choose.

Counsel from the Scriptures:

Counsel to cultivate certain emotions (love unfeigned, patience, and long-suffering):
Mosiah 3:19, D&C 121:41-42
Counsel to avoid emotions such as anger, hate, resentment, envy, and jealousy:
2 Nephi 26:32, 3 Nephi 30:2, Leviticus 19:17-18, Psalm 37:8, Ephesians 4:31

Counsel from The Family Proclamation:

"To create an atmosphere where parents are abiding by the counsel in the Family Proclamation to “love and care for each other and for their children”…to “rear their children in love and righteousness and teach them to love and serve one another” and to honor principles such as “forgiveness, respect, love, and compassion”, requires a meek and lowly heart on the parent’s part" (Hawkins et al, 172).

I just want to leave you with one more quote from a mother who "gets it"--a mother who has been through the trenches and back again. This quote has changed my outlook on the "what if" scenarios about my children's choices that I have created in my mind.

“I don’t think there is a greater influence than one that is fueled by love. I think that God created the family unit as part of the divine plan to have his children return to Him. I don’t think it’s to create a feeling of despair when a loved one strays from the gospel; I think it’s to create a feeling of urgency on our part to help that son or daughter come back—to keep ourselves on high, firm ground, even holy ground, so that we can reach out to one who does not have as firm a footing on gospel ground. Although a connection to God might seem to be broken, a line of communication and love through us remain" (Hawkins et al, 172-73).

"A line of communication and love through us remain." It's our job to love. Just love the crap out of them and be their biggest fans and supporters. The Lord knows exactly where they are and He loves them, every inch of them, and we can too.

Works Cited:
Clayton, W. T., (2017, April). Our Father's Glorious Plan. 187th General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Family: A Proclamation to the World." (1995, November). Ensign, 25, p. 102.

Hawkins, A. J., Dollahite, D. C., & Draper, T. (2012). Successful marriages and families: Proclamation principles and research perspectives. Provo, UT: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.

Lost Things

5/19/2019

Have you ever lost something?

Of course you have! What human being has not ever lost something in his or her life?

How does it feel when you lose something?

If you are anything like me, the range of emotions is quite wide. I usually go from annoyance to frustration to a little bit of anger to more annoyance (unless I have found the object by this point) to maybe even a little bit of sadness. But then the magic moment comes. That moment when you find the item that was lost and immediately the annoyance, frustration and anger subside. Sometimes those feelings are even replaced with a little dose of humility and chagrin.

God has things that get lost as well, although because He is perfect, I'm sure He doesn't go through quite the range of emotions that we do. When I say that God has "things" that get lost, I'm really referring to His children. We get lost, and He feels sadness about that. But even though we are lost, in a sense, He still knows exactly where we are. He just has to wait for us to use our agency to find our way back to Him.

In my New Testament studies this week, I studied a lot of parables. Three of them deal with lost things and offer three different ways that we get lost from the path that leads back to God.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

In Luke 15:4-7, we read the parable of the lost sheep.

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

President David O. McKay (1873-1970), a prophet of the Lord, shared some insights about the three parables that I am sharing today. He talked about how each parable teaches about different ways that the children of God stray away from Him. This is what President McKay said about this parable of the Lost Sheep:

"Rescue of the Lost Lamb" Photo cred: churchofjesuschrist.org

"How did that sheep get lost? He was not rebellious. If you follow the comparison, the lamb was seeking its livelihood in a perfectly legitimate manner, but either stupidly, perhaps unconsciously, it followed the enticement of the field, the prospect of better grass until it got out beyond the fold and was lost.

So we have those in the Church...who wander away from the fold in perfectly legitimate ways. They are seeking success, success in business, success in their professions, and before long they become disinterested in the Church and finally disconnected from the fold." (in Conference Report, April 1945, 120-21, 123).

Photo cred: Pixabay.com

The lamb took his "eyes off the prize", so to speak. He focused his gaze on things other than the Shepherd. Maybe he started by stealing a few glances of the grass on the other side of the fence, which turned into staring hungrily at the grass, which then led to sampling the grass, and before he knew it, he had lost sight of the Shepherd completely.

Elder Joseph B Wirthlin (1917-2008), an Apostle of Jesus Christ, shared another take on this parable and who the lost sheep could represent.

"Some [children of God] are lost because they are different. They feel as though they don't belong. Perhaps because they are different, they find themselves slipping away from the flock. They may look, act, think, and speak differently than those around them and that sometimes causes them to assume they don't fit in. They conclude that they are not needed. ...

...If we only had more compassion for those who are different from us, it would lighten many of the problems and sorrows in the world today. ...

Some are lost because they are weary. It's easy to feel overwhelmed. With all the pressures and demands on our time and the stress we face each day, it's little wonder we get tired. Many feel discouraged because they have not measure up to their potential. Others simply feel too weak to contribute. And so, as the flock moves on, gradually, almost imperceptibly, some fall behind." ("Concern for the One," Ensign, May 2008, 18-19).

Who's been one of these little lambs at one point or another? I have definitely felt a little of both of these "lost lamb scenarios" in my life. But here's the good news. The Good Shepherd, AKA the Savior of the World, knows exactly where we are, at all times. We are never lost to Him and He is always there, waiting for us to call out, just like a little lost lamb cries out to its mother.

We can return to the arms of that Good Shepherd who loves us wholly and completely, no matter where our wanderings have taken us.

The Parable of the Lost Piece of Silver

The Savior continues His teachings of "lost things" in Luke 15:8-10 with the parable of the lost piece of silver.

"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."

Going back to President McKay's insights on these three parables, he describes what the lost coin may represent:

"In this case the thing lost was not in itself responsible. The one who had been trusted with that coin had, through carelessness or neglect, mislaid it or dropped it. ...Our charge is not only coins, but living souls of children, youth, and adults. They are our charges."

Here we see that the coin was lost through negligence on the owner's part. We also see that the woman in the parable represents any one of us who have responsibility to watch over and care for someone else--spiritually and physically. Whether you are a parent, or have stewardship over others through leadership roles, you are charged with being responsible for loving and teaching those whom you have stewardship over. President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) shared how we should face this responsibility of loving and teaching others:

“There must be warmth in the work of the Lord. There must be friendship. There must be love unfeigned. There must be appreciation and thanks expressed. There must be constant nurturing with the good word of God. All of these are small things, so easy to do, and they make so great a difference." (“There Must Be Messengers,”Ensign, Oct. 1987, 5).

It's about love and friendship, respect and charity. It's about expressing gratitude. As President Hinckley said, these are all small things and easy to do, but they make a huge difference in the lives of those whom are feeling a little lost and unloved.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

This may be a familiar parable/story for you and it has been analyzed and mentioned many times throughout history. Found in Luke 15:11-32, we learn about a son who demanded that his father give him his inheritance so he could leave and go experience the world. The son went "into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living" (verse 13).

Eventually, he spent his entire inheritance and ended up feeding swine. "He came to himself" (verse 17) and realized his mistakes.

"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants" (verse 18).

And what did the father do when he saw his son? Did he shun him as "tradition" of the day would have had him do? No. He "had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him" (verse 20).

From Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

“The tender image of this boy’s anxious, faithful father running to meet him and showering him with kisses is one of the most moving and compassionate scenes in all of holy writ. It tells every child of God, wayward or otherwise, how much God wants us back in the protection of His arms” (“The Other Prodigal,” Ensign, May 2002, 62).

"The Prodigal Son" by Liz Lemon Swindle

"The Prodigal Son" Photo cred: churchofjesuschrist.org

I love the painting on the left. It was painted by Liz Lemon Swindle and it is entitled "The Prodigal Son". I think it beautifully depicts the way that our Heavenly Father feels when we return to Him.

Going back to the words of President David O. McKay--He said that in this parable, the person who was lost became lost because of his own choices.

Does that mean that we're done? We make some bad choices, get lost, and then...that's it? No heaven? No salvation? No exaltation? Absolutely not.

Like the Father in the parable, our Father in Heaven is constantly looking over the horizon, waiting and watching for us to use the agency He gave us to choose to come to Him. And, like the father in the parable, He will run to us, have compassion on us, and celebrate our return.

"The parable of the prodigal son teaches us much about the nature and attributes of our Father in Heaven. Like the father in the parable, God will not control us, keep us from straying, or keep us from making selfish, foolish errors. Yet His love never diminishes. He is so anxious to have us return that He will run to us when we are still “a great way off” (Luke 15:20). He knows us so well that He can recognize our better selves when no one else can. Each of us, male or female, will be able to recognize something of ourselves in each of the sons in the parable.
The parable also teaches us about what the Savior does for us when we turn from sin and return to Him. Through the Atonement, He runs to welcome us home and does not require us to make the trek of repentance alone" (New Testament Student Manual, Chapter 18).

We are Never Truly Lost to the Lord

The Shepherd knows His sheep.

He knows them, loves them, and welcomes them back when they stray.

May we always strive to use our agency to make choices that will lead us back to our Father in Heaven, but...if we mess up, if we make choices that lead us away from Him instead, may we always remember how the Lord feels about things that are lost. He has a plan for their salvation and redemption, and for that, I am truly grateful.

Photo cred: churchofjesuschrist.org

The Eternal Family

5/12/2019

GUYS. Can I just take a minute here and tell you how completely wonderful and amazing God is?

Let me give you the short version...
*Des has a blog/website and loves to post things.
*Des is a wife, the mom of 4 busy children (okay 3 right now who need her attention every day and one who gets prayed for a lot while he is away from us), a part-time college student, has a part-time job, and a part to full time "job" serving with the best group of young women ever.
*Des really wants to keep blogging and sharing some of the cool things she is learning in college, but has zero time to devote to that.
*God says, "How about for this semester you take these two classes and both of those classes will give you the opportunity to blog as an assignment so you can blog AND have it count as school work.
*Des is amazed (again) at how much God knows her and loves her.

An Assignment with a Purpose...

I have already been sharing things that I have been learning from my New Testament class in my "Come Follow Me" series. Now, I get to start sharing some things that I am learning in my Family class, and I am truly excited and terrified all at the same time.

Remember this post (my post about marriage) and this post (my first post about The Family: A Proclamation to the World)? I remember being completely terrified to write those posts because of comments that I may receive. But then I remembered that the only people who really read my posts are maybe my parents and my in-laws and a few close friends, so I probably didn't have anything to worry about, lol. I knew that they would be kind in their comments.

When I wrote those blog posts, I definitely felt inspired to do so and my motto is, "When God asks me to do something, I do it." Well now, once again, God is telling me to do something. Although there is still a little bit of anxiety that is accompanying the task, I am mostly just extremely excited to share with you the things that I have learned and am continuing to learn about God's pattern for families.

And honestly, there is no need for me to be anxious. Because...

The Doctrine of Eternal Families

From the very beginning, God has shown us the importance of families in His great plan of salvation. Here's a quick synopsis of the plan of salvation:

Isn't that the best plan ever? God created that plan for us and as part of that plan, He gave us the opportunity to live in families.

"Families are the basic organizational unit of the eternal realms, and so [God] intends for them also to be the basic unit on earth.
Though earthly families are far from perfect, they give God's children the best chance to be welcomed to the world with the only love on earth that comes close to what we felt in heaven--parental love."
-Henry B. Eyring
("Gathering the Family of God", April 2017 General Conference)

The experiences we can have in our families will prepare us to live with God again someday and live as He lives--in a family unit. One of the things I love most about this doctrine of eternal families is that God didn't just say, "Here. Live in a family and learn how to live like me." He has given us instructions on how to be successful in our families and in the process of learning how to be like Him.

My Family- 2017

Three Pillars- The Creation, The Fall, and The Atonement

Social scientists have recognized that relationships go through stages as they grow, change, and develop. They have described these stages as visionary (the beginning), adversarial (times of disillusionment), and vital (reconciling differences). We can describe these stages in gospel terms as well: the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ (Hawkins et al, 343).

In "Teaching the Doctrine of the Family" by Julie B. Beck, she explains how each of these pillars relate to and are important for eternal families.

"The Creation of the earth provided a place where families could live. God created a man and a woman who were the two essential halves of a family..."

"The Fall provided a way for the family to grow. Adam and Eve were family leaders who chose to have a mortal experience. The Fall made it possible for them to have sons and daughters."

"The Atonement allows for the family to be sealed together eternally. It allows for families to have eternal growth and perfection..."

The more I have studied about how to have success in family life, the more I am drawn to and believe this doctrine of the three pillars to be true. In the doctrine of each of these pillars lies the truths and instruction for us to reach our full potential individually and in our families.

The Creation

From the document, "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", we learn profound truths such as:

We were created by God in His image.
We have Heavenly Parents.
We are literally the spirit offspring of God.
Our spirit creation includes identity as male or female and we have a divine destiny.
We each have great potential to become like God is.

These truths, once you internalize them, can strengthen you beyond what you think is possible. I mean, think about it, we have the opportunity to become as God is! Isn't that an amazing promise? The great writer C.S. Lewis once said:

"The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were "gods" and He is going to make good His words.

If we let Him--for we can prevent Him, if we choose...The process will be long and in parts very painful, but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said." (Hawkins et al, 344).

"If we let Him". I love that phrase. We have so much potential in us, and God can help us reach that potential as individuals and in our families, but we must turn to Him and allow Him to change us.

"The Lord Created All Things" Photo cred: churchofjesuschrist.org

The Fall

"Adam and Eve in the Garden" Photo cred: churchofjesuschrist.org

"The Fall of Adam and Eve allowed the Lord's plan for marriages and family to continue forward by making it possible for Adam and Eve to 'have an increase' as they added children to their family" (Hawkins et al, 344).

I admire our first parents, especially our beautiful Mother Eve. When Satan presented her with the opportunity to partake of the fruit, she knew she was at a crossroads. She did not just partake of the fruit without putting some serious thought, and dare I say, prayer, into that decision.

"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat." -Moses 4:12

The Fall was necessary for us to learn and grow--on our own and in families. Without that opportunity for growth, we would not be here.

"Adam feel that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." -2 Nephi 2:25

That joy--true joy and happiness--"is most likely to be achieved when [family life is] founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Family, paragraph 7).

The Atonement

The doctrine of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most important of all the doctrines of God.

"Not only does the Atonement of Jesus Christ make forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of our bodies, and eternal family relationships possible, but the Savior is also the very embodiment of the ways of living and being by which we are to live our lives.
There is no other way or means by which individuals, couples, families, and communities, or even nations may be saved" (Hawkins et al, 345).

Our Savior. Our Redeemer. Our Champion. He has made it possible for us to live together as families for eternity! Isn't that the most amazing news ever?

Maybe you are reading those words and thinking, "I want my family to be together forever! How do I do that?" I will tell you how...temple marriage. Making covenants with your spouse and with the Savior in a temple of God.

Then it's all a matter of keeping those temple covenants and following the Savior in good times and in bad. Maybe this seems like He's asking too much--to follow His commandments for the rest of your life. But remember, it was He who bled from every pore and died for you, so asking you to keep your covenants with Him for the rest of your life sounds like a pretty small price to pay, doesn't it?

"Jesus Suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane" Photo cred: churchofjesuschrist.org

That was a lot of words...

You're right. It took me a lot of words to get to this point of the post, so I won't say too many more. I just want to leave you with a couple of really powerful quotes that tell us WHY this doctrine of Eternal Families and the doctrinal pillars that support it are so important.

"If we continue with present trends, we can expect to have more emotionally disturbed young people, more divorce, more depression, and more suicide" -Ezra T. Benson

This was a prophetic statement given in 1992. Umm...are we seeing that it has come true today? Absolutely! We see huge amounts of emotional imbalances in our young people, divorce rates are still high, there is more depression and anxiety, and I don't have to tell you that the rate of suicides has increased by an alarming rate. What are the present trends the prophet was talking about? Disregard to God's commandments and principles that have been established since the beginning of time.

We need to return to the "God-ordained fundamentals that will ensure love, stability, and happiness in our homes." -Ezra T. Benson

The Time is Now.

While it is true that I am writing these blog posts about eternal families to fulfill a school assignment, more importantly, I am writing them to fulfill an obligation I have as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because I have made covenants with Him in His holy temple, it is one of my responsibilities to stand up for His moral laws and principles that the world at large is trying to move away from. My goal is to do that in the most loving way possible, trusting that His Spirit will help me to get the message across in an educated, humble, and kind manner.

Thank you for enduring this lengthy post. I leave you now with a message regarding eternal families from Elder L. Tom Perry, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Works Cited:

Beck, J. B. (2011, March). Teaching the Doctrine of the Family. Ensign, 41(3), 12-17.

Benson, E. T. (1992, July). Salvation: A Family Affair. Ensign, 22(7), 1-3.

"Family: A Proclamation to the World." (1995, November). Ensign, 25, p. 102.

Hawkins, A. J., Dollahite, D. C., & Draper, T. (2012). Successful marriages and families: Proclamation principles and research perspectives. Provo, UT: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.

A Divine Mission

5/12/2019

Divine: "Of, from, or like God or a god."

Mission: "A specific task with which a person or group is charged."

The Savior has a divine mission, a specific task that He was foreordained to complete. That divine mission has many aspects to it, but everything comes back to the fact that He is our Savior and Redeemer. He atoned for our sins, weaknesses, infirmities, and everything else that seems unfair about this life. He died on the cross and was resurrected and because of those two selfless and courageous acts, He made it possible for us to return to live with Him, our Heavenly Parents, and our own families forever.

As I have studied in the New Testament over the last few weeks, I have marked the different aspects of the Savior's divine mission that have stood out to me and I would like to share a couple of them with you on this Sabbath day.

He came to heal us from sin.

Photo cred: churchofjesuschrist.org

There are several instances in the Bible where the Savior is asked to help someone--to perform a miracle--and the Savior obliges, but along with the miracle He makes sure to let the people know that His ability to heal us spiritually is more important than His ability to heal us physically.

Matthew 9:13 "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke 5:31-32 "...They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

While we certainly should never discount the beautiful miracles that the Savior creates in our lives, we should always recognize that the opportunity to utilize the Savior's Atonement in our lives to create change within our souls is more important than any miracle of physical healing that the Savior blesses us with.

He came to save that which was lost.

Photo cred: pixabay.com

We all have those "wandering sheep" moments in our lives where we stray from the Savior and the protection that comes from honoring covenants we have made with Him. Fortunately, we have a Good Shepherd who loves us, who knows where we are at all times, and who lovingly calls to us. It's up to us to study His life and His teachings because that study will help us to recognize the voice of that Good Shepherd who is calling to us and wanting to lead us back to His fold.

John 10:11, 14, 16, 27-28 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep...I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine...And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd...My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish..."

Mark 6:34 "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."

Matthew 15:24 "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

I love this quote from President Dallin H. Oaks, a modern-day Apostle of the Lord:
"The Lord loves all of His children. He desires that all have the fulness of His truth and the abundance of His blessings. He knows when they are ready, and He wants us to hear and heed His directions on sharing His gospel. When we do so, those who are prepared will respond to the message of Him who said, 'My sheep hear my voice...and they follow me'" ("Sharing the Gospel", Ensign, Nov. 2001, 9).

One question I have asked myself this week and now pose to you, whomever you are, who may be reading this post...

What can I do to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd and heed Him when He calls to me?

I have discovered that the one sure way to recognize the voice of the Savior is to choose to follow His teachings. When you do His will, you will come to know His doctrine (John 7:17). Yes, you will have questions and concerns because you are only able to look at things and understand them with your imperfect, mortal heart and brain.

But I promise you, if you will say to the Savior, "Okay, Lord, I don't understand why it has to be this way, but I am putting my faith and trust in you" and then GO and DO as the Savior instructs, you will be blessed with peace and you may even be blessed with an opportunity to see things through an eternal lens and perspective.

Parables and Miracles

5/5/2019

In my New Testament class this week, I studied about some of the Savior's miracles that He performed and also some of the parables He taught during His ministry on earth.

SO...MUCH...GLORIOUS INFORMATION!

There is no way that I could possibly share everything I learned this week. That blog post would be WAY too long and boring...even for my 5 biggest fans who still read my ramblings on this blog. :)

I'm going to try and narrow this down to three main points...my three biggest takeaways from this week.

#1- It is important to have friends who help you come unto Christ.

"Man stricken with palsy" Image from ChurchofJesusChrist.org

In Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 2:1-12, and Luke 5:18-26, we find the story of the paralytic man who was brought to the Savior to be healed of his infirmity. There was a huge crowd around the Savior, and the man's friends, who were carrying him on a stretcher of sorts, were having a difficult time getting him close to the Savior. Because of their faith, they knew that if they could get their friend to the Savior, He would be able to heal Him.

Did these friends tell the man, "I'm so sorry. I know we have brought you all this way, but we cannot get close to the Savior, this man who can heal you. We will have to try another time."

No.

These friends exhausted all their resources, finally resorting to removing the roof of the house that the Savior was in so they could lower their friend down to the Savior. They did not give up on their friend and they did not give up on their faith.

Image from ChurchofJesusChrist.org

This has led me to ask myself this week. "Am I that kind of friend who would sacrifice everything so that my friends can come to know the Savior?"

I like to think that the answer to that question is, "Yes." At least, that is what I try my best to do. I know that the Savior has the power to heal and I would do anything for my family and friends to develop a personal relationship with their Savior that would bring His healing power into their lives.

However, the healing power that I speak of is not just the power to heal physical infirmities. As we learn from the Savior Himself in this story, it is more important that we come to the Savior so that, through His Atonement we can be forgiven of our sins, our spiritual infirmities.

I would give anything...even my life...for my family and friends to be able to come to know how much the Savior of the world loves them, how much He has done for them, and how He is the one to turn to in order to receive peace and joy in this life and beyond. Maybe that sounds a bit dramatic and unbelievable, but it is 100% true. The Savior is everything, my friends. Everything.

#2- Part of the Savior's divine mission is to call the sinners to repentance.

"Jesus Walking on Water" Image from ChurchofJesusChrist.org

"They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." -Mark 2:17

We are all sinners because we are all imperfect. Sin comes in many forms and even though it sounds like a harsh word, a sin is something as simple as losing your patience with someone. We are all in need of the power that comes through the Savior's Atonement and because He is the one that offered that great atoning sacrifice, He is the one that sets the terms for what we need to do, and how we should live in order to fully partake of all the blessings He has in store for us.

"Because of what He accomplished by His atoning sacrifice, Jesus Christ has the power to prescribe the conditions we must fulfill to qualify for the blessings of His Atonement.
That is why we have commandments and ordinances. That is why we make covenants. That is how we qualify for the promised blessings."
-Dallin H. Oaks

#3- The Savior's compassion and power to heal are extended to all people, everywhere.

Image from ChurchofJesusChrist.org

In Mark 5:25-34 we find the story of the woman who had an "issue of blood" for twelve years. Because of this illness, she was considered an outcast from society and despite her best efforts of seeking medical help, she was not able to be cured from her ailment.

"When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes,
I shall be whole.
And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague." -Mark 5:27-28

Immediately, Jesus sensed that "virtue had gone out of him", or in other words, He knew that His power had been used to heal someone. His disciples thought He was crazy. "There are so many people here", they said. "How can you say, 'Who touched me?'"
But the Savior knew because He knows all of us. He knows our hearts, our fears, our weaknesses, our strengths, our desires...everything. He knew that this woman had come to Him to be healed and through her faith in Him, this healing took place.

The Savior didn't care that this woman was an outcast in society or that she had something "wrong" with her. He saw beyond all that and extended His healing hand through her faithfulness.

And He does the same for us, for you and me, for all men and women everywhere. As we turn to Him, as we trust in Him, as we do the things He asks of us, as we exhibit faith in Him, He heals us.

I know this. With every ounce of everything that is in me, I know this to be true. So turn to the One who can truly save you and He will make you whole.

Come, Follow Me

4/29/2019

Once again, I have seen the hand of the Lord blessing me in my life.
Those who follow this blog know that since I have started school, blogging consistently has been very difficult for me. It has been one of the good things that I have had to lay aside as I have focused on the best things that I need to be doing with my time right now.

But, at least for the next 6 weeks, I will be able to do a weekly blog post that will be part of an assignment for one of my classes, so I will have to make time for it. Yay! This makes me so happy because...
A.) I love blogging and I have missed it and...
B.) I get to blog about my Savior every week.

God is so good, my friends. So very, very good. Never forget that.

Come, Follow Me

The class I am writing this post for is my New Testament class. I have already been trying to focus on the New Testament and the life of our Savior with the "Come Follow Me" curriculum that we are studying this year as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's been a game changer, folks. For me and for my family. Now, before you get the image in your head of the Ogden clan gathering around our scriptures every night of the week having a picture perfect discussion about what we have already read and prepared, let me help you picture the REAL deal...

Since January, we have not had a discussion every night of the week. Most weeks we get in 2-3 nights of great discussion. Some weeks, such as last week, we got in 0 days of great discussion.

Some weeks everyone comes prepared with a section read to discuss a maximum of 1 time per week. Usually it's 0 times that everyone has read the material before we meet to discuss.

I have rarely planned ahead and have never put together an object lesson to go along with what we are talking about.

HOWEVER...
Most weeks, as we plan the time in our schedule to meet and discuss the life of the Savior, and make it happen, I feel a difference in the way we interact with one another and the amount of contention in our home.

AND, I am always blown away with what the girls bring to the discussion. At 17, 15, and 12, these young ladies have so much to contribute to our conversations about the Savior. I cannot wait until their brother comes home from his mission so he can weigh in with his wisdom and insights.

So, there you have it. A glimpse into the lives of a family who is doing their best to follow the Savior and heed the counsel of His living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. Do we have room for improvement? 100%. We will always have room for improvement. Do I sometimes feel stressed and anxious because "we are not doing it well enough"? 100%. But that's where I have to remember to say...

Get Thee Hence, Satan.

And that brings me to what I want to share today about my studies this past week. In Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13, we read about an experience the Savior had when he "was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be with God" (Matthew 4:1 Joseph Smith Translation). He chose to fast for forty days and forty nights as he communed with God. "He was afterwards an hungered, and was left to be tempted of the devil" (Matthew 4:2 Joseph Smith Translation).

Then Satan, being his incredibly "awesome" self (note, I use the word awesome sarcastically there), came to the Savior and tempted Him three different times. In two of the instances he tempted the Savior, he began with the words, "If thou be the Son of God". I find this interesting that Satan would try and get the Savior to doubt His divinity. What I find equally as interesting is that Satan does the exact same thing with us. We may not hear those exact words, "If thou be the Son or Daughter of God", but he gets us to doubt our divinity all the time.

Is God really there?
Does God hear my prayers or is He too busy listening to the prayers of others?
How can we really all be children of God? There are so many people on this earth. Not to mention all the people who have previously lived on the earth.

These are just a few of the questions that we ask ourselves that allow doubt of our divinity to creep into our minds.

But there is hope for us, my friends. The Savior, being His incredibly AWESOME self (note, I use the word awesome with NO sarcasm this time), set a beautifully perfect example for how we can respond to Satan when he comes to tempt us.

"Get thee hence, Satan."

"Get out of here." "Be gone." "Buh-bye, now." Or, as Moses so eloquently put it, "Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me: Thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten" (Moses 1:16).

BOOM! Mic drop.

That's right, Satan. I am a daughter of God. I am created after His image. I have God and the Savior on my side which gives me power to "bruise thy head" (Genesis 3:15). I'm not going to listen to your garbage because I know who I am and I know who I have chosen to follow for the rest of my life and throughout all eternity, and it's not you.

And that's my "mic drop" moment with Satan and man, does it feel good.

"Light of the World" by Brent Borup Image courtesy of ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Songs for the Sabbath- Oh My Soul

4/14/2019

I have great news!

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I posted a new Songs for the Sabbath post (my first in a very long time) and I mentioned that I was taking a break from my 12 page researched argument paper?

Well, my friends, thanks to hard work, perseverance, and divine intervention, I received an "A" on that paper, and I literally jumped for joy.

Now I have a week-long break in between semesters and I am looking forward to catching up on some badly needed chores around the house. (You know you're a mom when you are "looking forward" to catching up on house chores, lol.)

Once again, I just felt like blogging, so I sat down at the computer with a heart open to the Lord's will to see what song I could share today that might help someone. I turned to one of my favorite Christian artists...Casting Crowns. I love their music so much, especially their Christmas album. (Guys. If you have not heard their Christmas album, add it to your list for this year! I'm telling you! It's AMAZING!)

I found a beautiful song and video that they published over two years ago. I hope that it helps bring you what you need on this holy Sabbath day.

Casting Crowns- Oh My Soul

When you don't feel strong enough, please remember, you don't have to face the hard times alone. The Savior is there, watching and waiting. Reach out to Him and He will help you find the strength you need to make it through anything.

Screen shot taken from Casting Crowns video for "Oh My Soul"

Songs for the Sabbath-
Strong

Just 1 Reason.

Songs for the Sabbath-
Oh My Soul

You Can Do Hard Things-
Sara Isom

Songs for the Sabbath- Rest

3/31/2019

This feels amazing.

It's been way too long since I have written on this blog. I have been taking a higher level English class this semester and after spending most of the day on the computer completing the writing assignments for that class, plus the assignments for my other classes, I just don't have it in me to keep up the blog with regular posts.

But, I miss it and I'm thankful to take a break from my 12 page argument research paper assignment to share a beautiful song on this Sabbath day.

Rest- Nik Day

I love the music that is specifically written to go with the Youth theme every year. This year's theme for youth in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is from the scripture found in John 14:15...

I love it! Such a great scripture to focus on this year and any year.

Another thing that I encourage you to focus on is the Savior's ability to help you find peace and rest in this sometimes unruly and wicked world. There are some scary things out there, enough to create massive amounts of anxiety and fear in anyone. How fortunate we are to have the Master Healer, Protector, and Prince of Peace on our side to help us overcome our fears and anxiety.

Lyrics

You've been dreaming eyes wide open,
Struggling in the dark.
Tired of all the chaos you've been through,
You will find what you're needing
If you open up your heart.
Call His name.
He's been waiting for you.

CHORUS
And you'll find rest from your worries,
You'll find peace for your soul,
You'll find strength in your journey
Wherever you go.
You'll find light in the darkness
And hope once again.
When you follow the Savior,
You'll find rest.

Lay your head down on His shoulder.
He can take the pain away,
He knows exactly what you need.
He's your healer, your protector.
He came and took your place.
So come and lay your burdens at His feet.

CHORUS

And through every mountain you climb,
Every tear that you cry,
He'll be by your side.

CHORUS

When you follow the Savior,
You'll find rest.

"Jesus Calms the Storm" ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Songs for the Sabbath
In Christ Alone

Songs for the Sabbath
Safe Harbor

Six Years and Counting

Songs for the Sabbath
God Is

Songs for the Sabbath- You Say

11/11/2018

Wow! Three posts in less than a month?!? I'm definitely on a roll here. Lol.

I've been wanting to post this song in a "Songs for the Sabbath" post for a long time now, and today I'm just making it happen! It's SO good and has blessed my life so much since it was shared on Facebook by one of my friends.

Since hearing this song, I have bought Lauren Daigle's entire new album. She's amazing. If you haven't heard any of her stuff, you have to check it out. SO good, my friends. So good...

You Say- Lauren Daigle

Stop beating yourself up.

You are a child of God and He loves you.

You have an older brother, Jesus Christ, who suffered for YOU. He died for YOU. Believe in that kind of love in your life, because it's real.

Songs for the Sabbath-
In Christ Alone

Songs for the Sabbath-
Strong

Songs for the Sabbath-
I Look To You

Just 1 Reason.

The Roller Coaster Ride

11/10/2018

I just have to say, I love it when I actually follow promptings from God and good things happen.

Here is a comment I got after posting the first chapter of my book...

"Desirae,
I just finished your book! I came here to see what else you've been up to lately, and just for general amusement because it's late, and I'm up...of course. (I'm not even a week into this cancer diagnosis and I've already been thrown enough curveballs that I'm frustrated to no end!) I read this blog post and thought...it's me! Your book is popping up in your head for me! (I sound really self important, I know!) But Heavenly Father knew I needed you and your book right now. A lot! So thank you!..."

Being an instrument in God's hands = Priceless

Ready for another chapter? Me too. :)

Chapter 7: The Roller Coaster Ride

While I waited for the gene test results, I found myself stuck on a roller coaster ride of emotions. The fear and anxiety of all the unknowns sent me rushing downhill at an alarming speed. Then out of nowhere I would receive a tender mercy that would thrust me upwards to the crest of the next hill. That would allow me enough time to smile and catch my breath before careening down to the bottom again.
                  The emotional ride left me with a constant, throbbing ache in my head. I spent half of my time as a sobbing, blubbering mess. When I wasn't crying, I was trying to keep myself busy so that I wouldn't linger too long on all the possible outcomes that were roaming through my mind.
                  At times, I wondered if I had just been having a bad nightmare. I kept hoping that I would suddenly wake up and resume my normal life. After all, I didn't look sick. People who have cancer look sick, right? I didn't feel sick either. Other than some fatigue, I felt like I could run a marathon, or maybe a 5K. Yes, let's stick with a 5K. (I detest running.)
I did my best to try and NOT think about cancer, but found it impossible when every conversation I had with people started with, "Do you have any news?"
"Nope, no news yet," I would have to report time and time again.

(excerpt from my journal) Day Nine: "I... am... exhausted. Emotionally, physically, spiritually--you name it. I am tapped out. I just keep trying to stay busy and keep a smile on my face, but today was hard. I snapped at my kids a lot...then I got angry with myself. Our lives could turn completely upside down in a few days. I should be making every moment count. But I couldn't today. I just couldn't put on the happy face anymore and unfortunately my family took the brunt of it. I'm sorry, guys. Tomorrow is another day. I will try to do better...I just want to cry all the time--cry because I'm scared, cry because I'm angry, [and] cry because I just want this nightmare to be over."

I became extremely impatient with the whole waiting process. I needed answers! Because I was a planner by nature, this cancer thing was really cramping my style. I couldn't move forward with any plans in my life, particularly the plans for my upcoming preschool year. (I taught preschool in my home.) My life was on hold and I did not like the music that was playing in the background.
As the days crept by and the turmoil in my heart grew, I started down a dangerous path of self-pity and despair. "I don't want to do this!" my mind screamed. "What if I am not strong enough?"
                  However, it seemed like every time I started down that dark path of self-pity, fear, and doubt, my faith in Jesus Christ steered me back in the right direction. I found myself craving more spirituality. I devoured my scriptures, prayed every single minute of the day, and scoured the Internet for words of comfort.
                  It was in those times of reflection that I received some of the most tender mercies. I was led to verses of scripture such as "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Other tender mercies came in the form of earthly angels. My family and friends surrounded me in a bubble of love. Everywhere I turned I found someone giving me words of encouragement, sending me flowers, or bringing me food--lots and lots of food. That's one thing that we humans do when someone is suffering. We think of our favorite comfort foods and we share them. It's awesome. Especially when it involves chocolate.
                  My favorite earthly angel was my husband. When he came home from his business trip I felt like I could breathe again. It was so good to have him by my side. He was (and continues to be) the calm to my crazy and my reminder to take things one day at a time. Chemotherapy? Surgery? Radiation? Don't worry about it. We'll cross that bridge if and when we come to it.
                  He was right of course. Worrying would not change anything. The only thing that the worry was doing was causing me to lose precious hours of sleep, which, in turn, turned me into "grumpy mom." That was when I decided that I needed to find a place of peace and harmony within myself and ditch the roller coaster ride for good.

Thanks for coming back to check out another chapter! If you want to read what's in between these chapters and the rest of the story, click here or here to purchase your own copy. :)