Category: Church

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 

The Father’s good will

Luke 22:41-42

What was God’s will in Christ’s agony?

Doctrine and Covenants 29:5

I have learned that Heavenly Father wants to give us experiences with his kingdom in our lives right now, not just in the afterlife. The following parables in Matthew 13 teach us how.

Life in the kingdom begins with small acts of faith and becomes a beautiful home, providing shelter and protection from the world. Others will be drawn to it, so all kinds of personalities will be in this “tree.” There is room to sit together and figure out life.

Small acts of faith bring great blessings because God is generous. The benefits of the kingdom impact all areas of life, and can bless the people within the believer’s influence.

The kingdom is the source of joy and will require the sacrifice of all worldly things to attain it.

It’s something we must seek, and nothing compares in value. It will be the pinnacle of life’s labors.

Great pains will be given to gather all, but eventually, only those who choose to obey may stay.

So, in whatever way you are experiencing the kingdom of heaven in your life: seeking answers, finding shelter, rejoicing, sacrificing, repenting, feeling pulled away from your old life…this is all part of the plan to gather you home to the Father.

I know His will for us is so, so good, so let’s hold on together.

The Lord’s wisdom is greater

I taught my gospel doctrine lesson on Sunday. I think the discussion was good, but I was prepared to discuss more. This calling at church requires me to let go of plans because class members are so eager to contribute ideas that we don’t have time to talk about every principle in the reading. It’s a good problem to have, right?

Here are a couple of concepts that we didn’t have time to discuss.

First, Satan’s tactics:

Cunning: the use of artifice to accomplish a purpose, rather than open, candid, or direct means; fraudulent skill or dexterity.

Flatter: to soothe by praise; to gratify self-love by praise…or by anything that exalts him in his own estimation or confirms his good opinion of himself.

Stir: to agitate, bring to debate; to instigate by inflaming passions.

-Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

And, God’s wisdom:

I really wanted to talk about the ways the Lord’s wisdom has blessed the lives of our class members. For me, His wisdom is most evident in His timing of friendships, knowledge, and experiences. How has the Lord’s wisdom been evident in your life?

Best in Show

The youth activity this week was a baking challenge. Each group was given a mango and told to make something with it, and they raced off to leaders’ homes to bake.

Richard’s group made mango tarts with a baked graham cracker crust, cream cheese filling, and piped cream. I am glad that we just happened to have graham crackers, cream cheese, and heavy whipping cream in our house. We had to adapt the recipe a little for the things we didn’t have, but that was fun, and each kid was invested in the project. The tarts really tasted good, and they looked amazing.

They won Best in Show.

By way of a broken heart

As I studied Joseph Smith’s First Vision this week, I made note of two words. What do you learn from the use of these words?

From President Eyring,

Joseph Smith’s experience is a pattern we can follow to recognize personal messages from God…

There may be many reasons God could speak so powerfully to young Joseph, but a primary reason was that his heart was ready.

A BROKEN HEART IS A PREPARED HEART

Joseph had a broken heart for at least two reasons. He wanted forgiveness of his sins and weaknesses, which he knew could only come through Jesus Christ. And he was desperate to know which of the contending churches was right and which he should join.

-Henry B Eyring, The First Vision: A Pattern for Personal Revelation, February 2020.

I think broken hearts are repentant and teachable, humble and malleable. I want a heart like Joseph.

If Any of You Lack Wisdom by Walter Rane

Connection with Heaven

We went with Tim and Queenie to Temple Square on Saturday. I was excited to see the new First Vision statue. I like the depiction of movement and life in this, and that heaven and earth are reaching for one another.

I think people spend a lot of time decorating and seeking musical and artistic experiences at Christmas time because we are all in search of that feeling of connection with heaven.