Category: Life according to Angela

Children Preach, Part 2

This is a continuation of my notes of really heartfelt messages from children’s sacrament meeting presentations that I have attended this fall.

Reflecting on what she learned from reading Daniel in the Old Testament, “I know that Heavenly Father will help us when we face troubles of our own. He gives strength through hard things. He will keep us safe. I am thankful for the example Daniel is to us. (girl, age 10)

After telling the story of Jonah being swallowed by the whale, this boy said, “That’s why I like the story of Jonah though; he teaches us how hard it can be when we have to own up to our mistakes and face the consequences. But he also teaches us that through repentance we can be forgiven.” (boy, age 10)

“My favorite name of the Savior is a Shadow by Day and a Pillar by Night because the Savior is there to keep us protected and lead us with his light. (boy, age 9)

My favorite name of the Savior is Light because Jesus is the biggest light in my life! He is a light for me when I am scared. When you’re in the dark you get scared, but when you are in the light you are going to be fine! (girl, age 9)

Spoken with clarity and confidence, this tiny boy had these words memorized, “Jesus Christ came to earth to live as a mortal man. He suffered and died for us. His suffering is called the Atonement. Jesus was resurrected and came to life again. Because of what Jesus did for us, we can live forever with Heavenly Father.” (boy, age 6)

This boy showed his maturity in gospel knowledge by saying, “We believe that Heavenly Father will continue to teach us and reveal many important things through our prophet. I can also receive personal revelation and learn much about Heavenly Father’s plan for me. I am thankful for President Nelson who receives revelation for our Church. And I am thankful for the restoration of the Gospel.” (boy, around age 9)

“I think the gathering of Israel and the Second Coming [are] important because I want to see Jesus again. I think He will visit all the neighborhoods and will knock on everybody’s door and say “Hi” to them. Because I believe in Jesus, I want to do what He would do. He would help those in need. I wanted to help those in need, so I worked to raise money to help people in need at the Road House.” (boy, age 10)

“The Eleventh article of Faith is talking about religious freedom…I am thankful I could choose to be baptized. I know not everyone in the world has the chance to worship any way they want. It is a blessing to have the freedom to believe and act according to my beliefs.” (boy, age 10)

A tiny little girl recited this from memory, “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; Indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul–We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things (with her arms extended and moving in a circular motion, as if to show “many things”), and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” (girl, just barely age 5)

“Whenever I am having a bad day, I can always sing one of the Primary songs to feel better. My faith has grown by understanding each of the Thirteen Articles of Faith and how they make me become closer to Jesus Christ.” (boy, age 11)

Thank a special person

A few months ago, as I helped lead a discussion in a stake leadership meeting with men, women, and youth, I asked the question, who are the top three people in your life who have helped bring you to Christ? Mothers and fathers and teachers ranked highest among those who chose to share. After the meeting, a man pulled me aside and told me that he had realized that all of his gospel learning until the time he was twelve years old had been from women in his family and women in the Primary organization. It was to them that he owed so much. I don’t know if this was a new thought for him, or if he had regrets that he couldn’t thank them. This experience reminds me that it is a good week to give thanks to somebody special. Who has helped bring you to Christ?

Hoarding

This was my little entertainer a few weeks ago. It’s the season to prepare for winter.

The squirrel in me has been gathering books that I want to read this winter. This week, as I walked through the house, I found my books in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, my desk, and more on the doorstep. I am ready.

It is Monday

A local artist explained that sometimes he has so many projects that he feels overwhelmed and stuck. In times like this, he lines up his paintings, sets a timer, and commits to work on each of them for a short, set time, something like 10-15 minutes. One by one, he makes focused progress and feels better about life.

I have found this is a great way to stop feeling overwhelmed about my own tasks. I think it works, not because I get a lot done in 10 minute segments, but because it trains me to focus. Once I regain my focus, the unhelpful panic recedes and I can move freely within my world. I am no longer hiding from a difficult job or feeling shame for neglecting something. This strategy works for me, especially on a task-heavy Monday.

Harden Not Your Hearts

“Harden not your hearts”* is a phrase I read today in the book of Jacob, and I began to think about the control we need to exercise over our thinking.

Recently, I started to feel a little bothered by someone. “This person just wants me to feel small,” I thought. But then these two simple words came to my mind,

“Or not.”

Or not? The Spirit was teaching me to question my thinking. I was making assumptions. I was taking the easy bait of victimhood. I was hardening my heart. I was not giving the person the benefit of the doubt. I was wrong!

It is a common tendency to trust thoughts and feelings as though they are pure truth. Sometimes thoughts can be wrong because they might be influenced by emotion, popular philosophies, low blood sugar, fatigue, unhealthy family patterns… So much static.

My wisdom for the day is that we can be fooled by our thoughts. Measure your ideas with the standard of Christ’s doctrine. For me, the words “or not” were enough to help me see that there was a better way to look at things.

Our thoughts matter because they lead to action. Our hearts matter because they represent our loyalties.

“Harden not your hearts” is great counsel.

*See Jacob 6:5 in the Book of Mormon. See also Obadiah 1:3, “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee.”

Austin

On this quick trip, we focused on visiting just few people and places we knew 20 years ago. The memories tumbled around in my heart as we saw the old haunts, and I felt such gratitude. There were some heartbreaking things we learned and some really happy, full experiences, too. Reunions are often complicated like that.

Behind the scenes

This is just a portion of the cookies we decorated.
Refreshments and handouts ready to go.

It has been a busy few months preparing for a stake Primary training about temple and family history work. On the day of the training, Paige and I decorated 70 temple cookies, and that was a big job. Thank you, Paige!

Most of the effort to prepare for this evening can’t be shown. Truly, it was not about the pretty cookies. There was a lot of personal and collaborative work. It was a spiritual journey. By the end, I realized this wasn’t “my” training at all. My original ideas for the evening slowly changed to something better, thanks to counseling with my presidency and an enthusiastic high councilor. Answers to prayers came. My small hope for some help from a few temple and family history consultants resulted in around 16 people showing up to teach.

It’s my birthday weekend, and as I look back on my last week of being 47, I can say that it was one of the best weeks. I was with my Sanchez family in the temple, along with Richard, Paige, Daniel, and McKenna. I got to see ordinances performed for people from my own labors in family history research. And towards the end of the week, I believe miracles happened at our training.

We gathered at the grave for my grandparents the morning after we completed their temple ordinances.
Modern apostles, including David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, Neil L. Andersen and Dale G. Renlund have promised many powerful blessings to those who participate in Family History and Temple Service.

Spiritual gifts

I have learned that when I have a big event at church where I will be speaking or leading a discussion, I need to retreat in the hours (and sometimes days) leading up to it. I eat simple foods, and I avoid errands and people. I have spent a lot of time wishing I wasn’t like this, that I could have endless capacity to be with people and lots of energy to do more. But my strengths need stillness to show themselves. It takes quiet to bring order to all that I observe about people and the world. I am always watching and thinking, and I am analyzing behavior and words. I try to think of little things that might be helpful. I love to study and learn. All of this takes a lot of quiet. I haven’t always had the luxury of stillness when I needed it, but during the more busy times in my life, I have learned I can function as an extrovert, too.

I have had to work to understand that my quiet ways are a strength. I admire extroverts! I think they are wonderful.

Maybe you have struggled to understand that your personality unlocks your purpose on earth, or that your gifts are needed, noticed, and enough. I have. And I can tell you that your personality and spiritual gifts are wonderful. Consider their Source!