Prior to reading this book, I had not read an account of a family or individual who lived in East Germany while the wall was in place. I found this true story fascinating.  

"This is just something we have to go through. We will be fine. We are strong.  We have each other. Nothing will break us, neither this nor anything else.  This family has much to be proud of. We are far above all of this" (Quoting "Oma", the matriarch of the family, pgs. 166, 167).

"No one knows what the future holds, but I want the family to stay strong.  Keep up the Family Wall.  Lean on and protect one another no matter what may come.  No one can say what will happen or if things will change, but all I know is, justice will win.  Truth will prevail and justice will win.  We have survived East Germany with our dignity intact.  This life has not always been easy, but it has not made us bend.  It has actually made us stronger.  And we are strong because our souls are free" (Quoting Oma, pgs. 214, 215).

 

From By Jamie Kathryn LeSueur: What we hear this conference will add to what we’ve learned in past conferences rather than replace those teachings. Our prophet is like a “watchman” on the tower (Ezekiel 33:2). He is called to “blow the trumpet, and warn the people” (Ezekiel 33:3). And President Nelson’s warning is more than just a notification of danger—it’s a plan to help each of us prepare and withstand spiritual attacks. President Nelson knows we’re in the last days, and he is doing everything he can to help us stand strong. (March 2023 Liahona, "A Look at Our Prophet's Ongoing Warning Call")

Dieter Uchtdorf asked: "How might our approach to general conference be different if we saw conference as an opportunity to receive messages from the Lord Himself?" (March 2018, First Presidency Message)

I am excited for General conference this weekend. I am praying to be open to the counsel given.

I have thinking about why I do the things I do. What is my motivation? What propels me?

Is it to please others and look good? Is it because I feel a duty and responsibility? Or maybe I fear God and I don't want to be punished. Do I feel like because I obey some commandments that certain rewards will be granted? Am I in some type of bartering or transactional relationship? Does the reward(s) that God promises motivate me? Or is it something else?

James Skeen said: "Instead of viewing obedience as a means to an end, it becomes an expression of love and appreciation." (Nothing More to Give: From Transactional Obedience to Transformational Relationships, pg. 100)

Can love for my Savior and my Heavenly Father be the exclusive motivation for living the gospel and serving others?

I want the love and gratitude I feel for the Savior and Heavenly Father to be my motivation. I have relationships with Them, and those relationships are precious to me.

The relationships and the love are paramount, but I think there is something else, and it is hard to put in to words. In the process of striving to be obedient, repentant, and fully converted, I am being polished and refined.  I am changing and growing, and there is satisfaction and joy in the process. 

 

I like to watch Richie Saunders play basketball because he gives it his all! He is intense and determined.  I watched a video about him and was interested to learn he has a personal creed.  This creed is described as his internal value system, and no matter what happens around him, he uses this creed to determine who he is, or who he wants to be. Here are the points in his personal creed:

1. Take the time and energy to elevate the one in the moment.

2. Whatever I accomplish on or off the court, always remember that I am no more important than others.

3. No one will question my commitment to the team and to the game.

4. Trust in the 5 a.m.s. It is who I am, so be me.

5. Be relentless in my work ethic.

6. Find the joy in the now.

7. Serve at every possible opportunity.

8. Take the time to connect with God daily.

9. Protect the family name.

 

I think this is a great book! How in the world do I narrow this post to a few quotes from the book? There are so many excellent points made by Dr. Levine.

America’s newly identified at-risk group is preteens and teens from affluent, well-educated families.  In spite of their economic and social advantages, they experience among the highest rates of depression, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, somatic complaints, and unhappiness of any group of children in this country (pg. 17).

Affluent kids are often so protected from even the most minor disappointments and frustrations that they are unable to develop critical coping skills (pg. 77).

The child who is constantly admired for a particular skill frequently becomes less interested in trying out new things. Children begin to play it safe and lose their willingness to experiment and challenge themselves (pg. 143).

Affluent parents, who are relatively free form the concerns of sustaining their household economically, have more psychological space; they can “afford” to spend more time worrying about their children’s performances and sizing up the competition. Higher-income families also typically have fewer children, giving parents more time to obsess about the details of each child’s life and to devote time, energy, and money to polishing their “star” qualities. In spite of good intentions, the levels of adult overinvolvement that have become typical in so many comfortable homes and communities are startling and counterproductive. We seem to believe that if involvement is good, then over-involvement must be better (pgs. 137,138).

Autonomy, what we commonly call independence, along with competence and interpersonal relationships, are considered to be inborn human needs (pg. 8).

Parents need to reinforce with their children the reality that it is not external things that help them to handle difficult feelings; rather, it is the development of internal resources that provide a safety net when they are struggling. Helping your child understand and manage her distressing feelings, and finding ways to cope with them, are life-long gifts (pg. 51). We want to avoid training our children to believe that it is external rewards that are responsible for personal happiness (pg. 53).

By allowing them to get occasionally bruised in childhood we are helping to make certain that they don’t get broken in adolescence. And allowing them their failures in adolescence, we are helping to lay the groundwork for success in adulthood (pg. 79).

 

The Chinese bamboo tree is planted after the earth is prepared, and for the first four years, all of the growth is underground. The only thing visible above the ground is a little bulb and a small shoot coming out of it. Then, in the fifth year, the bamboo tree grows up to eighty feet.  Principle centered leaders understand the metaphor of the bamboo tree. They know what it means to pay the price to prepare the ground, to plant the seed, and to fertilize and cultivate and water and weed, even when they can't see immediate results, because they have faith that ultimately they will reap the fruits in the harvest. And what wonderful fruits they are!
(Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill, First Things First, pg. 265)

A comparison between scriptures having to do with the justice of God, and scriptures explaining the mercy of God.

Justice: The justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous (1 Ne. 15:30).

O the greatness and the justice of our God! (2 Nephi 9:17)

And naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne (Moses 7:31).

And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence (Alma 42:14).

O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God (Alma 42:30).

Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice of God, and the sword of his almighty wrath, which doth hang over you except ye repent and withdraw your armies into your own lands (Alma 54:6).

And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father (3 Nephi 27:17).

Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you--lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver (Mormon 5:24).

Verily, verily, I say unto you, wo be unto him that lieth to deceive because he supposeth that another lieth to deceive, for such are not exempt form the justice of God (Doctrine & Covenants, 10:28).

Summary: Two of the pillars of God are: His laws and His justice. Our world would be chaotic without God's laws and justice. God provides repentance, along with a Savior to save us from the grasps of justice. We can pretend that God's laws do not exist, and pretend that there are no consequences for not following His commandments, but the laws remain, and the consequences will at some time come to pass.

Mercy: I will trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever (Psalms 51:8).

But God, who is rich in mercy... (Ephesians 2:4).

O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! (2 Ne. 9:8)

But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you (Alma 12:33).

He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth (Psalm 57:3).

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion (Romans 9:15).

For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him (Philippians 2:27).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).

Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish! (1 Nephi 1:14)

They were delivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God (Alma 5:4).

And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angles, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations (Alma 24:14).

But do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility (Alma 42:30).

And because of the mercies of the Father unto the Gentiles...(3 Nephi 16:9).

Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy (Moroni 8:19).

My servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon (Doctrine & Covenants 1:29).

Glory, and honor, and power, and might, Be ascribed to our God; for he is full of mercy, justice, grace and truth, and peace (Doctrine & Covenants 84:102).

Summary: God is "rich in mercy." Love, grace, and mercy are essential and dominate characteristics of God. God (especially) showers mercy on those who are humble, obedient, repentant, and grateful.

A mellow and pleasant guitar piece to listen to: "Milonga" by Gerald Garcia.

I will miss Max. I really enjoyed talking with him. He never married and did not have children. Max told me the he had one niece and one nephew, but they did not keep in touch. His two siblings have passed away. He talked with me about skiing, his growing up years, and serving as an Army medic. I admire the way he faced his final chapter of life with humor and a good attitude. He was patient and kind and he had a great smile. Max displayed two pictures in his room: one of his mother and the other of a cherished dog he once owned. It's good to think of Max reunited with his mother.

I miss Shirley! I miss singing hymns with her. She wrote the names of her favorite hymns in the front of her hymn book, and we always sang one of those hymns. She had a beautiful, clear soprano voice. I liked hearing about her growing up years, the way she met her husband, and the hobbies and interests that filled her life. Oh, how she loved her children and grandchildren! She was proud of their accomplishments and worried about them as they faced heartache and difficulties.  The best thing her children did for her was to throw her a big birthday party last summer! At that time, she was aging but not ailing. Little did they know that it would be her last birthday party.  After the party, her daughter made her a photo book filled with pictures, and Shirley loved showing everyone her party memory book. What a smart idea! Most of all, I miss Shirley's smile and her love.

Here are a few reasons why I appreciate the gift of the Holy Ghost:

1. The Holy Ghost confirms truth. As I am reading and studying, or listening to someone give a talk or share their testimony, the Holy Ghost confirms to me when I hear truth. I feel the confirmation in my heart and soul and my spirit is touched.

2. The Holy Ghost comforts me. When I am anxious or fearful, the Holy Ghost can assure me, wrapping me in comfort.  Sometimes the Holy Ghost prompts me to remember a past experience or message from the Lord that gives me reassurance. The Holy Ghost helps me to feel safe and hopeful. The Holy Ghost brings the warmth and light of the Atonement into my life.

3. I feel protected with the Holy Ghost as a companion, because I am warned, sometimes as if by flashing lights, and other times by a quiet whisper, when something is not appropriate or is dangerous. 

4. The Holy Ghost not only warns me of things not to do, but I am encouraged and cheered on to do good things. The Holy Ghost nudges me along, helping me to feel confident and courageous. The names of people in my life sometimes come to my mind, and I feel like the Holy Ghost helps me to remember who to reach out to, and when.

5. I drive a car with sensitive lane warnings. If I veer out of my lane, I am reminded to steer back to my lane. The Holy Ghost helps me stay on course. I am reminded of commandments, of feelings and promptings, of ways to improve, and a need to repent.

6. I mentioned that I am driving along, trying to stay in my lane, but where does the road lead? The road/path leads back to the Father. Ultimately, the Holy Ghost is directing me to press forward in faith, relying on the merits of Jesus Christ and headed for exaltation.

I cherish this gift!