The Word of Wisdom

By way of explanation, the Word of Wisdom is a law of health as recorded in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants of the LDS Church.

"The Word of Wisdom does not promise you perfect health, but it teaches how to keep the body you were born with in the best condition and your mind alert to delicate spiritual promptings."

--President Boyd K. Packer Ensign, May 1996, Page 18

It really bugs me when someone says they can't eat or drink something because the LDS Church doesn't allow them to. We have the choice to keep the commandment or not.

In the world, not of the world

I have a nightshirt that hits me mid-thigh. I keep forgetting to get my pajama bottoms, which are really sweat pants, out of the laundry room, which is the cats' bedroom at night before they have been put to bed. I was feeling immodest, yet when I was in my late teens, early 20s, I wore short-shorts & my skirts barely covered my bottom. I was trying to participate in the styles of the day.

"One of the greatest challenges for all of us is to learn how to live in the world without participating in all that it offers. Worldly standards will always be in a state of flux. The only true and unchanging standards are those set by the Savior and His teachings of the restored gospel."

--Donald L. Staheli, "Achieving Your Full Potential", Ensign, Feb 2009, 57–61

I learned that the Lord is aware of us. The prophets, apostles, even our bishopric & local leaders are literally called of God. We may not have chosen them, but God did & we need to trust in Him.

"I pray that there will enter our hearts the peace that comes from knowing by a power beyond all human ability to transmit that God is aware of us and has raised up servants in our day to lead us under the power and inspiration of his close attention."

--President Boyd K. Packer Ensign, November 1994, page 65.

The fire of your testimony

I like the sound of "fire of your testimony." I also like we have two new quotes, especially after last night having two repeats.

"Keep the fire of your testimony of the restored gospel and your witness of our Redeemer burning so brightly that our children can warm their hands by the fire of your faith."

--President Boyd K. Packer Ensign, May 2003, 84

And the next one about helps to give us courage.

"We have great helps to give us courage in this life. The greatest is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of what He did, sins can be washed away in the waters of baptism. We can renew that blessing when we partake of the sacrament in faith and with a repentant heart."

--Henry B. Eyring, "Moral Courage", Liahona, Mar 2010, 4–7

We can certainly use all the help we can get to give us courage.

Doubting thoughts

It's been as few days since I've read scriptures or updated any of my blogs. The computer's been down, I've not been feeling well …

"If you should have doubting thoughts, remember the counsel given by President Stephen L. Richards, a former counselor in the First Presidency, who declared: "Just say to those skeptical, disturbing, rebellious thoughts, 'I propose to stay with my faith, with the faith of my people. I know that happiness and contentment are there and I forbid you, agnostic, doubting thoughts, to destroy the house of my faith. I acknowledge that I do not understand the processes of creation, but I accept the fact of it. I grant that I cannot explain the miracles of the Bible, and I do not attempt to do so, but I accept God's word. I wasn't with Joseph, but I believe him. My faith did not come to me through science and I will not permit science to destroy it."

--President Thomas S. Monson, "Great Expectations", CES Fireside for Young Adults January 11, 2009

I like the idea of talking to my thoughts, I do that quite well, thank you. The next one is pretty thought provoking too.

"Do not ever disturb prelude music for others, for reverence is essential to revelation"

--President Boyd K. Packer; Ensign, November 1994, page 61.

Mothers

I was ready just to paste both of these quotes in tonight without even checking to see if they had already been used.

"No teaching is equal, more spiritually rewarding, or more exalting than that of a mother teaching her children."

--President Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Feb. 2000, 16

Only if said children will allow their mother to teach them. But I guess example is also teaching. I found once Don-Mike is out on his own, he likes to have an extra bottle or loaf of bread, or whatever, so he doesn't have to run to the store when they run out.

"At the focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched--none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen. Shepherds would soon arrive and later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph--and all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby--that's how Christmas began. It is for this baby that we shout in chorus: 'Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King! . . . Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth' ( Hymns, no. 209)."

--Jeffrey R. Holland, "Without Ribbons and Bows", New Era, Dec. 1994, 6

Elder Holland's article that this was taken from would be an interesting read.

School Thy Feelings

This should be dated December 23, but it's after midnight, so it won't be.

The first quote tonight is a repeat from Elder Boyd K. Packer's thought from The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected.

The one by President Monson reminds me of Hymn 336, School Thy Feelings. Of course, the title of his talk is the first line of the hymn.

"We've all felt anger. It can come when things don't turn out the way we want. It might be a reaction to something which is said of us or to us. We may experience it when people don't behave the way we want them to behave. Perhaps it comes when we have to wait for something longer than we expected. We might feel angry when others can't see things from our perspective. There seem to be countless possible reasons for anger….If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry."

--Thomas S. Monson, "School Thy Feelings, O My Brother", Ensign, Nov 2009, 62, 67–69

Anger is a secondary emotion. It is always caused by something first.

The standard of truth

I enjoyed this quote by President Packer:

"You always hold the key of repentance to unlock the prison door. If they throw the word diversity at you, grab hold of it and say, "I am already diverse, and I intend to stay diverse." If the word is tolerance, grab that one, too, saying, "I expect you to be tolerant of my lifestyle—obedience, integrity, abstinence, repentance." If the word is choice, tell them you choose good, old-fashioned morality."

--Boyd K. Packer, "The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected", Liahona Nov 2003, 24–27

And this one by Elder Holland:

"God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face."

--Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Ministry of Angels", Ensign, Nov 2008, 29–31

Both of these quotes leave me wanting to read the talks they came out of, especially Elder Holland's.

Fatherhood

Today's quotes are:

"No man achieves the supernal exalting status of worthy fatherhood except as a gift from his wife."

--President Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1998, 73

Couldn't we turn that around & say motherhood is a gift from our husband?

"Fathers, yours is an eternal calling from which you are never released. Callings in the Church, as important as they are, by their very nature are only for a period of time, and then an appropriate release takes place. But a father's calling is eternal, and its importance transcends time. It is a calling for both time and eternity."

--Ezra Taft Benson, "To the Fathers in Israel,", Ensign, Nov 1987, 48

Wow! What a way to look at it. I have NEVER thought of it in quite that way before.