One of the songs that we enjoy singing in our family is "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel."
One of the reasons has to do with a brother that was in our ward, Brother Burns, who loved to share stories about his children when they were growing up. One such story was about one of his sons who also loved the song. Brother Burns recalls that one day he and his wife heard their son singing "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel". Brother Burns stated that he looked for his son and discovered that his son was in the bathroom (using the facilities). At that moment, his son was singing the chorus "do your duty (dooty) with a heart full of song."
Each time we sing this song in Sacrament Meeting Victor and I always turn to each other and smile.
The second reason is because of the powerful words in the song. The second verse reads: "The world has need of helping hands and hearts that know and feel."
During Ward Conference yesterday we sang this song after young Brother Brandon Carlisle shared this as his favorite song. Brandon talked about the first verse and his feelings about it.
When President Blickenstaf stood to speak he asked Brandon to come back to the podium and asked him what his thoughts were about the second verse. His thoughts mirrored my own and that of President Blickenstaf. As sisters in Zion, we have the amazing gift of compassion. This pure love is what drives the Relief Society organization to do amazing things. Our hearts are knit together as we use our hands to help those who are in need. We have the capacity to be providers of the Tender Mercies of the Lord.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
PERSONAL REVELATION
One of the gifts that Heavenly Father has given me is to know. It has become such a normal part of my life I sometimes forget how powerful; amazing and miraculous personal revelation and promptings of the spirit can be.
I know that some struggle when it comes to seeking and receiving personal revelation. I know that many don't recognize the promptings of the spirit; therefore they can not act on those promptings. I also know that there are others like me who forget that the knowledge received is a gift from Heavenly Father to help us succeed in this life and to ultimately return to him.
During General Conference this past weekend I experienced something that I have tried to describe in a previous blog and I don't think I described it quite right... :) Let's see if I can explain it better.
Over the course of my life I have learned the hard way that I can not do things on my own or even expect others to help me. My strength is found in the Lord. It has taken a long time to finally realize that my success and my talents and my strengths come from relying on the arm of God.
I have learned that constant prayer; seeking Heavenly Father's guidance has led me to places and things that I would not have found on my own. I have sought the scriptures for answers with a prayerful heart and have found answers that were exactly what I needed to hear (read).
This month's Visiting Teaching Message found in the Ensign, Seeking and Receiving Personal Revelation, reminded me that the gift to know is personal revelation. The General Conference talks also helped me to see that I truly was receiving personal revelation from Heavenly Father because those things which I have been prompted to do or to write about in my blogs or have been blessed to understand were discussed in the talks during conference.
In the Visiting Teaching Message it says:
"In its more familiar forms, revelation or inspiration comes by means of words or thoughts communicated to the mind (see Enos 1:10; D&C 8:2-3), by sudden enlightenment (see D&C 6:14-15), by positive or negative feelings about proposed courses of action, or even by inspiring performances, as in the performing arts. As President Boyd K Packer,... President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has stated, 'Inspiration comes more as a feeling than as a sound.'"
Personal Revelation is something that each of us should be seeking and we have the right as children of Heavenly Father to know His will. We have to prepare ourselves to receive this revelation. We have to want it and exercise our Faith to know that what we seek will be granted.
Personal Revelation is a Tender Mercy that I have been given from the Lord and I am grateful for it's powerful influence in my life; as well as in the lives of my husband and children.
I know that some struggle when it comes to seeking and receiving personal revelation. I know that many don't recognize the promptings of the spirit; therefore they can not act on those promptings. I also know that there are others like me who forget that the knowledge received is a gift from Heavenly Father to help us succeed in this life and to ultimately return to him.
During General Conference this past weekend I experienced something that I have tried to describe in a previous blog and I don't think I described it quite right... :) Let's see if I can explain it better.
Over the course of my life I have learned the hard way that I can not do things on my own or even expect others to help me. My strength is found in the Lord. It has taken a long time to finally realize that my success and my talents and my strengths come from relying on the arm of God.
I have learned that constant prayer; seeking Heavenly Father's guidance has led me to places and things that I would not have found on my own. I have sought the scriptures for answers with a prayerful heart and have found answers that were exactly what I needed to hear (read).
This month's Visiting Teaching Message found in the Ensign, Seeking and Receiving Personal Revelation, reminded me that the gift to know is personal revelation. The General Conference talks also helped me to see that I truly was receiving personal revelation from Heavenly Father because those things which I have been prompted to do or to write about in my blogs or have been blessed to understand were discussed in the talks during conference.
In the Visiting Teaching Message it says:
"In its more familiar forms, revelation or inspiration comes by means of words or thoughts communicated to the mind (see Enos 1:10; D&C 8:2-3), by sudden enlightenment (see D&C 6:14-15), by positive or negative feelings about proposed courses of action, or even by inspiring performances, as in the performing arts. As President Boyd K Packer,... President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has stated, 'Inspiration comes more as a feeling than as a sound.'"
Personal Revelation is something that each of us should be seeking and we have the right as children of Heavenly Father to know His will. We have to prepare ourselves to receive this revelation. We have to want it and exercise our Faith to know that what we seek will be granted.
Personal Revelation is a Tender Mercy that I have been given from the Lord and I am grateful for it's powerful influence in my life; as well as in the lives of my husband and children.
Monday, April 5, 2010
THE MIND AND WILL OF THE LORD
As I watched and listened to General Conference this weekend I was filled to over flowing and was touched deeply by the inspired talks. Since I have been posting on this new blog I have shared some of my thoughts and feelings pertaining to the Gospel and have reflected on the Tender Mercies of the Lord in my life.
The talks given brought peace to my soul and reassured me that I was doing those things that Heavenly Father wants me to be doing. Each talk was an affirmation to me that I am on the right path. I felt like Heavenly Father was directly speaking to me and telling me that I was doing a good job. I also felt a renewed energy to continue pursuing those things that are righteous in my life and in the lives of my children.
I shared with Victor my feelings and thoughts about the talks given saying: "I feel vindicated and I feel that I have been doing all that is required of me and that Heavenly Father is telling me this to bring peace to my soul."
Victor and I have been working together to help our children in the Gospel; giving them the tools they need to succeed and to survive in this world. We have felt the promptings of the Spirit and have chosen to listen to those promptings and to act on them.
Elder Neil L Andersen was the second to last speaker in the last session of conference. His words hit me with great power and I knew that he is an inspired servant of the Lord: "We have felt and heard the mind and will of the Lord..." I already knew that because I had listened to each talk and knew that Heavenly Father was directly speaking to his children through the leaders of this true church.
Elder Andersen also expressed ideas and concepts that each of should be considering and following in our day to day lives. Shortly after his talk I grabbed a piece of paper and made my own list of things that I have already started working on and that were discussed during the two days of conference talks:
1. Personal Progress - Aislyn and I have been working on this since January. At least two talks addressed the Youth Programs of the church and the necessity of parents being involved.
2. Duty to God - Victor has been working with Evan and Alex (as well as the rest of the young men in our ward). Victor expressed great concern and a deep desire to make sure these boys earned their Duty to God almost a year ago to the Bishopric and the rest of the Young Men's Presidency and this has been the new focus in our Ward.
3. "Go back for the one..." "Don't ever give up..." Victor and I spent over a year instructing and teaching Alex and helping him to return to full activity in the church. He is currently the Teacher Quorum President. We are also working with Vincent and have seen a softness in his heart.
4. Bare your testimony of Christ. This is a tender area for me. It is difficult to put my feelings out there for all to see. In January and February I was working with the Activity Day girls and challenged them to bare their testimonies in March. I promised them that if they each bore their testimonies I would join them in baring mine. What a blessed experience. I love the Savior and my testimony of him is a sure knowledge of who is and of his atoning sacrifice. I know that my testimony has great power to heal those who are searching for truth. After listening to the conference talks I can not refrain from baring my testimony.
5. Pray with your family - morning prayers are the easiest. The evening prayers are a little sketchy. We do have prayer at dinner time.
6. Have family home evening - Because our children are working on Personal Progress, Activity Day Goals and Duty to God our children have been preparing and giving the lessons.
7. Speak more frequently of Christ. My children are blessed to have parents who love the Lord and who love the Gospel. Every day challenges have given us opportunity to share the gospel and to speak of Christ with our children.
I hope General Conference was a blessing to you and that you were filled to overflowing.
The talks given brought peace to my soul and reassured me that I was doing those things that Heavenly Father wants me to be doing. Each talk was an affirmation to me that I am on the right path. I felt like Heavenly Father was directly speaking to me and telling me that I was doing a good job. I also felt a renewed energy to continue pursuing those things that are righteous in my life and in the lives of my children.
I shared with Victor my feelings and thoughts about the talks given saying: "I feel vindicated and I feel that I have been doing all that is required of me and that Heavenly Father is telling me this to bring peace to my soul."
Victor and I have been working together to help our children in the Gospel; giving them the tools they need to succeed and to survive in this world. We have felt the promptings of the Spirit and have chosen to listen to those promptings and to act on them.
Elder Neil L Andersen was the second to last speaker in the last session of conference. His words hit me with great power and I knew that he is an inspired servant of the Lord: "We have felt and heard the mind and will of the Lord..." I already knew that because I had listened to each talk and knew that Heavenly Father was directly speaking to his children through the leaders of this true church.
Elder Andersen also expressed ideas and concepts that each of should be considering and following in our day to day lives. Shortly after his talk I grabbed a piece of paper and made my own list of things that I have already started working on and that were discussed during the two days of conference talks:
1. Personal Progress - Aislyn and I have been working on this since January. At least two talks addressed the Youth Programs of the church and the necessity of parents being involved.
2. Duty to God - Victor has been working with Evan and Alex (as well as the rest of the young men in our ward). Victor expressed great concern and a deep desire to make sure these boys earned their Duty to God almost a year ago to the Bishopric and the rest of the Young Men's Presidency and this has been the new focus in our Ward.
3. "Go back for the one..." "Don't ever give up..." Victor and I spent over a year instructing and teaching Alex and helping him to return to full activity in the church. He is currently the Teacher Quorum President. We are also working with Vincent and have seen a softness in his heart.
4. Bare your testimony of Christ. This is a tender area for me. It is difficult to put my feelings out there for all to see. In January and February I was working with the Activity Day girls and challenged them to bare their testimonies in March. I promised them that if they each bore their testimonies I would join them in baring mine. What a blessed experience. I love the Savior and my testimony of him is a sure knowledge of who is and of his atoning sacrifice. I know that my testimony has great power to heal those who are searching for truth. After listening to the conference talks I can not refrain from baring my testimony.
5. Pray with your family - morning prayers are the easiest. The evening prayers are a little sketchy. We do have prayer at dinner time.
6. Have family home evening - Because our children are working on Personal Progress, Activity Day Goals and Duty to God our children have been preparing and giving the lessons.
7. Speak more frequently of Christ. My children are blessed to have parents who love the Lord and who love the Gospel. Every day challenges have given us opportunity to share the gospel and to speak of Christ with our children.
I hope General Conference was a blessing to you and that you were filled to overflowing.
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