Category: Jesus Christ

One in Christ

Richard and I were guests on the last night of youth conference this week. We enjoyed dinner and then watched the youth assemble this work of art. Earlier in the week, each youth was given a rectangle tile to paint with some basic lines and instructions. Most pieces had simple colors and lines with very few clues about what they were actually creating.

As the sun set on the last evening, they lined up to affix their tiles to the large board as we listened to their recorded testimonies expressing why they wanted to walk with Jesus. When the art was complete, we sat quietly as we admired it and listened to music. In a world of virtual everything on small screens, this tangible, large object lesson was refreshing.

The art made me think of the process of building a testimony, day by day. It made me think of gathering Israel, one person at a time. Painting a tile could represent faith that our righteous actions will make a difference. It was also a visual reminder that the church is one in Christ, and each person brings something essential as they walk with the Him. What a beautiful object lesson with so many applications!

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12

Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect.

Doctrine and Covenants 84:110

Friends I didn’t know I had

I was sad to miss my regular temple appointment because I had a cold, and my friend sent this message which really touched my heart.

I learn something each time I attend the temple, and this time, a lesson of belonging reached me even though I had to stay home.

May I have eyes to notice those who are missing or withdrawn. May I have the courage to reach out to them and help them feel seen.

You do not need to worry about fixing all the problems.

I can get overwhelmed by the problems I see around me. Sometimes I will have an interaction that leaves me speechless and baffled by the things I observed. Sometimes I’m part of the problem, but at least then I can do something about it.

There are other times when my actions and attitudes have no part in the problem. The person is beyond my reach or beyond my capacity to help. At these times, I’ve seen the emancipating power of this phrase during prayer, “I trust Thee,” meaning that I trust the timing and manner of God’s miracles. For me, a frequent equivalent of offering loaves and fishes is offering prayer.

Jeff and Paris

The extended Ross family had quite a month. Yesterday was a happy spot, with the wedding of our nephew Jeff. The darling couple played jazz saxophone with their band, sang, and danced at their reception. How enchanting.

Weddings are beautiful, and this one was particularly lovely, but nothing compares to the blessings from our Father in Heaven that we heard during their temple sealing. Well begun, Jeff and Paris!

The true teacher

Be sure that you don’t believe that you are the “true teacher.” That is a serious mistake… Be careful you do not get in the way. The major role of a teacher is to prepare the way that people will have a spiritual experience with the Lord.

Gene R. Cook, Teaching No Greater Call, p. 41, 1999.

I think this quote relates to many interactions in life, not just gospel teaching. Parenting, interactions with others, online presence…

When I’m in a teaching moment, my preparation matters, but only if I use it to point to Jesus Christ.

Exodus

In my recent study of Exodus, I’ve focused on the symbols of Jesus Christ in the Passover, Moses’ ministry, and the means by which the Lord redeemed the children of Israel,

  • Providing huge miracles and wonders,
  • Supplying daily bread,
  • Making water sweet,
  • Leading them to an oasis for rest,
  • Raising up a prophet to point them to the Lord,
  • etc.

This morning I had the idea to place our small Covid-era sacrament trays in my scripture study area. Symbols of Christ surround us in all His creations, and I’m not sure where this visual reminder will lead my thoughts and feelings this week, but we’ll see.

Exodus= from Greek, meaning, “the road out”.

Spiritually, it connotes an escape from bondage to freedom through transformation.

Easter Snapshots

I have a glimpse of family life for your reading pleasure? today.

We saw my parents and extended family on Saturday for my Mom’s Easter egg hunt, then came home to welcome Tim and Queenie who spent the night at our house. Richard mowed the lawn for the first time this season on Saturday evening, and the lawn, blossoming trees, and tulips are beautiful. We stayed up late that night talking to Tim and Queenie about their adventures. Queenie will complete her bachelor’s degree this month and Tim is busy helping his friend Josh build a house and has some stories to tell about being a property manager. They made a trip recently to Arches National Park and Goblin Valley, which were firsts for Queenie.

We had a freeze a few nights this week, and Richard protected his apple tree blossoms with a tarp and heater.

We had our middle kids with us on Sunday. Add to the energy and events of Easter weekend the four sessions of general conference, which we watched while eating cinnamon rolls, Chex mix, and peanut M&M’s. We also visited Daniel and McKenna’s newly remodeled house where they will live after Daniel graduates this month.

Although we didn’t get a complete family picture this Easter weekend, we almost had one on Sunday during a video call. Richard played with filters to delight our grandson.

In my excitement to be with my kids and extended family, I oversupplied them with desserts. After our Easter feast on Sunday, we read passages of scripture around the table to complete our long tradition of opening eggs which hold tiny objects and scriptures. Happy Resurrection Sunday!

New heart

Until this year, I’d never “given up something” for Lent. I’m not going to tell you what I walked away from and I’m not hinting anything with the above photo. Initially, it was a difficult change, until just a few days went by and I experienced positive results.

The effects of this life change have been the quieting of my mind and the softening of my heart.

I see people in my faith working to have a more holy approach to Easter. Looking back over my first year of taking 40 days to prepare for Easter, I’m glad I made the effort. I’m a river of emotion about Jesus this week.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Ezekiel 36:26-28