What a gorgeous rendition of this marvelous hymn "It is Well With My Soul," by the BYU Concert Choir.

 

What a fascinating and instructive book! The authors bring to our attention several worldviews which are prevalent in society. These worldviews are not organized religions, but are cultural themes which guide our decisions, values, and faith. A few of the worldviews mentioned in the book are: Individualism, Consumerism, Scientific Naturalism, and Moral Relativism. Here is a thought regarding each of these worldviews:

Individualism is the belief that the individual is the primary reality and that our understanding of the universe and lifestyle should be centered in oneself (pg. 27). It is easy to get caught up in this worldview and to go after practices that promote individual satisfaction and pleasure.

Consumerism tells us that the holes in our lives will be filled if we just have more. Getting just a bit more proves to be unsatisfying, however, because money never fills legitimate needs for intellectual growth, moral virtue, love, true esteem and God (pg. 54). If I am not aware that this worldview is pulling me in a different direction than my Christian faith, I can be led down the path of materialism and consumerism and not realize it. Have riches and the pursuit of material goods become my priority? Have “things” replaced God as the most important thing in my life?

Every empire has viewed itself as destined by God, or the gods, to rule forever.  Every one of them was wrong. While nations may have impressive powers, those powers are always temporary and provisional. Granting ultimate loyalty to a country indicates that we have lost sight of what is absolutely good and have elevated the nation, a created, transitory and partial good, to a place that should be reserved for God alone (pgs. 77,78). This chapter was very interesting to me. The authors explain the difference between patriotism, which is good, and nationalism, which can be excessive in feelings of pride and position.

A seismic shift has indeed occurred in our culture.  Many say they no longer believe that truth actually exists, and if it does, it is most certainly not self-evident and may not even be knowable (pg. 79). Whatever supports our individual biases and helps us accumulate power is labeled truth (pg. 83).
Truth is relative to the interests and projects of the person claiming truth (pg. 83). I am grateful to believe in and rely on a God who does not change, nor does His truth.

 

Elder Karl D. Hirst gave a beautiful talk at the October 2024 General Conference. During the talk he included hints as to how we can feel love from our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and when and where we can feel it. Here are some of the hints, scattered throughout his talk. I love these thoughts:

His arms are not shortened. They are always long enough to "[reach our] reaching" and embrace each one of us.

I really enjoy the symbolism of mountains being evidence of the certainty of God's love.

The house of the Lord is the home of our most precious covenants and a place for us all to retreat and sink deeply into the evidence of our Father's love for us.

I have also enjoyed the comfort that comes to my soul when I wrap myself more tightly in my baptismal covenant and find someone who is mourning a loss or grieving a disappointment and I try to help them hold and process their feelings.

Birdsong, feeling the sun or a breeze or rain on my skin, and times when nature puts my senses in awe of God--each has had a part in providing me with heavenly connection.

Perhaps the comfort of faithful friends.

General Conference.

Music.

Serving.

A journal.

Your unique place of personal suffering. I wonder, if Jesus were to choose a place where you and He could meet, a private place where you would be able to have a singular focus on Him, might He choose your unique place of personal suffering, the place of your deepest need, where no one else can go? Somewhere you feel so lonely that you must truly be all alone but you aren't quite, a place to which perhaps only He has travelled but actually has already prepared to meet you there when you arrive? If you are waiting for Him to come, might He already be there and within reach?

 

This was a required book this term for my chaplain class and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned many principles and lessons, such as:

Each of us is unfinished, a work in progress.  Perhaps it would be most accurate to add the word “yet” to all our assessments of ourselves and each other. It changes everything (pg. 223).

God’s presence in the house is an inner experience that never changes.  It’s a relationship that’s there all the time, even when we’re not paying attention to it.  Perhaps the Infinite holds us to Itself in the same way the earth does.  Like gravity, if it ever stopped we would know it instantly.  But it never does (pg. 265).

Each of us heals in our own way. Some people heal because they have work to do. Others heal because they have been released from their work and the pressures and expectations that others place on them.  Some people need music, others need silence, some need people around them, others heal alone. Many different things can activate and strengthen the life force in us (pg. 18).

As women, we knew there was something simple and natural in just being there, together.  Women have always been present at these times, at death and birth and in many of the other transitions in life. Women have gathered at the transitions, as comforters and companions, as witnesses, to mark the importance of the moment (pgs. 44, 45).

When we listen, we offer with our attention an opportunity for wholeness. Our listening creates sanctuary for the homeless parts within the other person.  That which has been denied, unloved, devalued by themselves and by others. That which is hidden. Listening creates a holy silence.  When you listen generously to people, they can hear truth in themselves, often for the first time. And in the silence of listening, you can know yourself in everyone (pg. 220).

A painting of Jesus Christ by Heinrich Hoffman

Thomas Monson first had a print of this painting in his bishop's office and later he took it with him to Canada, when he served as a mission president.  He had the same print in his office when he was called as an Apostle, then moved it from place to place until, finally, it hung in his office when he was President of the Church. 

"Look at the kindness in those eyes.  Look at the warmth of expression.  When facing difficult situations, I often look at it and ask myself, 'What would He do?' Then I have tried to respond accordingly. I feel strength in having it near me."

"I have tried to pattern my life after the Master. Whenever I have had to measure the request to give a blessing against the endless demands of some of my paperwork, I have always looked at that picture and asked myself, 'What would He do?' I can assure you the choice has never been to stay and do paperwork."

(Teachings of Presidents of the Church, Thomas S. Monson, pgs. 45, 46)

 

 

Great thoughts from Dallas Jenkins (Creator and Director of "The Chosen") at BYU yesterday:

Your job is not to feed the five thousand, it is only to provide the loaves and fish.  Whether in failure or success, the message is that same. 
He does ask that of us--to bring our loaves and fishes.  

He could have just waved his hand and the loaves and fish could have appeared out of nothing, but He does demand for us to participate.  

Do the thing we can do, and then He does the thing only He can do--the miracle part. 

He does involve us in the process.  Isn't that so gracious of Him? 

He does ask us to participate.  

Whether in failure of success, five loaves and two fish, when you hand that to Him and He deems it worthy of acceptance, the transaction is over. 

It's the five and two principle--you bring what you have, you give it to God, and let go. 

I implore you starting now, get to this place, this super power that comes when you give it up to God. 

It is not your job to feed the five thousand, it is only your job to bring the loaves and fish.

I didn't know that I would feel such emotion in the courtroom on Monday. I wept for Mozzy's biological parents because I know they love their son and they tried to pull things together so that they could have him back. I wept as I heard the case worker describe how Mozzy is thriving in the Young's home and how it is in his best interest to be adopted. It was touching and meaningful to hear Devin and Marie express their feelings towards Mozzy when asked by the attorney to share. What an emotional journey this has been! 

After leaving the courthouse, Mozzy said in the car to his family, 

"I'm not a foster kid now. I'm just a regular kid."

We love and adore him!

 

 Three people I want to remember.

A.: I was asked to visit you because it was difficult for you to leave your room because of the machines you were hooked up to. You had such a bright mind! You engaged immediately in conversation and told me about your family and career. I noticed your positive outlook on life, and I was impressed. Of most interest to me was the fact that you were studying the nature of God, and you wanted to talk about what you were learning. I too have been studying about God and I promised to bring in my notes so that we could continue our discussion. We were interrupted by an aide who took your order for lunch. I remember you ordered cherry pie with ice cream and you had a smile on your face thinking about it.
Sadly you passed away a few hours later and we never were able to continue our discussion. Still, you lifted me. I remember you and what I learned from you.

Ge. was a ray of sunshine! She knew the people who lived by her and she cared about them. She also paid attention to the upcoming activities at the center and supported them. She not only attended the activities and made them fun, but she brought others along with her. I noticed how she found the good in family members as well as staff members.  I learned from Ge. how to be a lifter, even at her age! It was an honor to know her!

Ga. was stricken with a series of strokes which left her unable to communicate clearly, but I sensed her mind was still intact and I talked with her as if she completely understood me. Her smile melted my heart and I also loved her laugh. Ga. was a nurturing soul, often carrying around a babydoll or stuffed animal. She tenderly rocked the baby and sang to it. How I wished I could have known you in previous years. It was an honor to walk with you, talk with you, and sing with you. I miss you!

 

I read a quote from Jenny Doan's book How to Stitch an American Dream that ties quilts and family history together beautifully:

"What I realize now is the pieces of all of our lives are being stitched together.  The fabric stretches all the way back to our mothers and fathers, and grandmothers and grandfathers.  So many of the little pieces of our past are part of the beautiful quilt that tells our story. While many of our stories are fraught with heartache and hardship, what I’ve learned is that they are also filled with the batting of blessings—bound with dedication, hard work, faith, and, above all else, love for one another. And sometimes, even when we’re not aware of it, it’s all of that love and dedication that gets passed down to the generations that come after us." 

Last week our son and son-in-law participated in a 55k mountain trail run. I was at the finish line when they came down the last mountain trail, and I cheered for them, as well as for every runner that finished.  I cannot imagine the physical and mental effort a race of that length requires. They have been training for months yet still they suffered. I was inspired by their determination. We talked after the race of the lessons learned and life applications.