Cleave Unto the Covenants and Covenants

Sis Thompson is so sweet! I loved hearing of her grandmother. This was simple enough for even our youngest to understand.

Our covenants sustain us whether in good times or in difficult times. President Boyd K. Packer reminds us that “we are a covenant people. We covenant to give of our resources in time and money and talent—all we are and all we possess—to the interest of the kingdom of God upon the earth. In simple terms, we covenant to do good. We are a covenant people, and the temple is the center of our covenants. It is the source of the covenant.”

I love how Elder Nelson explains things in a simple matter.

Children of the covenant have the right to receive His doctrine and to know the plan of salvation. They claim it by making covenants of sacred significance. Brigham Young said: “All Latter-day Saints enter the new and everlasting covenant when they enter this Church. … They enter the new and everlasting covenant to sustain the Kingdom of God.”33 They keep the covenant by obedience to His commandments.

Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear

This was a great missionary talk! I loved it, although I will readily admit I need to do a better job. It's hard when you're stuck at home and don't have any outside activities where you can try and find ways to share the gospel.

There are a number of things that we can do—that you can do—to advance an understanding of the Church. If we do it with the same spirit and if we conduct ourselves in the same way we do when we host a temple open house, our friends and our neighbors will come to understand us better. Their suspicions will evaporate, negative stereotypes will disappear, and they will begin to understand the Church as it really is.

True Valentine's Day story

This was recently shared during the World Wide Leadership Training.
A great story to share on Valentine's Day.

Dare to Stand Alone

I loved this talk. I especially want my children to read and re-read this talk often. As parents, we often find ourselves standing alone even within our own ward. But we love our children too much to cave in to pressures from others and the desire to "keep up with the Jones".

As we go about living from day to day, it is almost inevitable that our faith will be challenged. We may at times find ourselves surrounded by others and yet standing in the minority or even standing alone concerning what is acceptable and what is not. Do we have the moral courage to stand firm for our beliefs, even if by so doing we must stand alone? As holders of the priesthood of God, it is essential that we are able to face—with courage—whatever challenges come our way. Remember the words of Tennyson: “My strength is as the strength of ten, because my heart is pure.”

It is Better to Look Up

This was a great talk for me. Things have been difficult with our special needs child lately and as I read this talk this week I was inspired to keep going and to have a better attitude. I was also encouraged by his words,

Experience has taught me that if we, like President Monson, exercise our faith and look to God for help, we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life. We will not feel incapable of doing what we are called to do or need to do. We will be strengthened, and our lives will be filled with peace and joy.3 We will come to realize that most of what we worry about is not of eternal significance—and if it is, the Lord will help us. But we must have the faith to look up and the courage to follow His direction.

Life will be getting more difficult in our family as my husband prepares to deploy this summer for another year. I know that the only way to get through it with peace and strength is to look to my Heavenly Father.