Church – Page 2 – Letters from Home

Not the usual kind of post.

This blog is no longer about the day to day things, but sometimes it helps me to do a review of the week to see where we have been and where we are headed. Here is how we spent our evenings last week.

Monday: We attended the high school musical, Cinderella to support three young men that we know. One was in the orchestra pit and two were on stage.

Tuesday: Richard worked from home and I attended a Relief Society dinner. I prepared rolls, and for the first time in 13 years of dinners in this ward, I went home with an empty container. You can’t imagine how this feels for me after so many rejections. 😂

Wednesday: I prepared 4 batches of pizza dough for a young men activity at another home where Richard was in charge of pizza night. He shopped for all the ingredients and had quite an array for the boys to make personal pizzas. They had fun.

Thursday: Richard worked, and I probably worked on gifts. I had plans fall through to visit a friend.

Friday: Date to Zao for dinner and then a big Costco trip.

Saturday: We watched the BYU football game and I worked on Christmas card assembly.

Sunday: I finished our Christmas card assembly and Richard called his mom.

I am holding back panic about the demands for this coming week. I will just follow the well-worn plan for Thanksgiving and try to stay steady as I handle some extra things on the to do list.

Our charge

The article by President Russell M. Nelson from 2020, The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming is amazing. It was listed in the Come Follow Me study guide for Doctrine and Covenants 133. Here are a few passages that I marked.

I have been thinking about building physical, emotional, and spiritual reserves that can buffer me against stress.

The thing about building a reserve, whether it is financial, spiritual, or physical, is that it is done with consistent, small acts over a sustained period of time.

We can do that. We must do it. There are things during these challenging times that, with God’s help, “only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can accomplish.”

Studying about this lately

This month, I have some opportunities to teach about the trials of the early Latter-day Saints. As part of my preparation, I compiled my highlights from general conferences and church magazines on the subject of trials. Perhaps there is something in this document that would be helpful to you.

trials quotes Download

Many treasures, hidden riches, and even my knowledge of God have been gained during difficult times.

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

Isaiah 45:3

The Friday before Sunday School

I’m teaching Sunday School in a couple of days, and this is the state of my mind and my kitchen table. I have learned the best preparation is to read the scripture assignment as many times as I can and look for treasures. The Come Follow Me manual is the best study guide.

A small amount of time goes into other research (that stack of books). I don’t listen to podcasts because my class members are already doing that.

I keep notes and ideas on post-it notes to add or toss from the lesson plan, and most weeks the discussion travels beyond this map. In the end, I can’t claim credit for the things people learn from the discussion, but this is my process.

10 years ago…

Ten years ago this month, we began serving in a Relief Society presidency together. I didn’t know Charlene and Cindy well, but I knew they should be my counselors. They were the right women for the challenges that came and they taught me so much. We are forever friends.

A lot has happened during the last ten years of our lives: the passing of a husband, health troubles, marriages, missions… But when I walk into church and find them in their usual places, they lift me every single time. Our secretary Kristy has moved away, but she’s remembered and loved, too.

Young Men Camp 2025

The poof of life photo he sent me after a hike in the heat. 😎

Our ward had back-to-back youth camps this month. Busy. Richard is the only Ross man left at home to go on high adventure camps and I miss seeing our boys in photos with their dad on these trips.

Camp

Richard and I were guests at young women camp one evening this week. They provided a lovely dinner, sang around the campfire, and had a testimony meeting. It was rewarding to be observers. Girls camp feels familiar, even as the girls grow up so quickly and the campsites change. I asked question after question of the girls and leaders and learned a lot about their experiences. It was a long drive home and we pulled in at midnight. Still, we probably got more sleep than those who stayed at camp!

My class

Posing for a picture to send to Mark on his birthday

I learn many things as a teacher of this Sunday School class. I have been a student of the scriptures throughout my life, and I have experience in receiving personal revelation about passages of scripture, but there is a new level of insight that has come with this calling.

Clear ideas flood my mind when I prepare to teach this group of adults.

My takeaway is that these adults are as precious to the Lord as the children and youth of the church. What happens in our Sunday School class matters to Him because He loves them and wants to help them.

Connect

After three years of pretty steady effort, I still enjoy making these little cross stitch pieces. This is the second time I have made this one because I gave away the first and I was lonely without it. I really love its composition, colors, and meaning.

I read something interesting about this detail from Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel painting. God’s hand is on the right, Adam’s is on the left. The attitude of God’s finger is extended, reaching, while man’s is relaxed. Man must choose to reach out to God, who is anxious and ready to connect.

Connection is the goal. We can do this.

Endnotes

I have needed the counsel from my patriarchal blessing all my life, especially at times of decision or challenge.

Over time, I have discovered that there are many scriptures quoted throughout my blessing. Sometimes they are indicated with quotation marks, but more often, a few words are woven into the cadences of sentences without notation. This opens a new level of discovery for me. As I find and study the quoted passages, these scriptures provide context, expand my understanding, and often give me a scripture hero with whom I can relate. As I collect these hidden references, they become valuable endnotes to my patriarchal blessing.

Every time you wonder what you should do with your life, study your patriarchal blessing. Every time you want to feel God’s love, read your patriarchal blessing. Your patriarchal blessing is your own personal revelation, and it’s scripture just for you.

-Teresa Bell, The Hand of God in Your Life

Here is a link to Teresa Bell’s talk with some of the best insights and doctrine about patriarchal blessings. The segment begins at minute 17:43.

The Hand of God in Your Life