Strengthening A Testimony

President Gordon B. Hinckley, our latter-day prophet wrote a book called Standing For Something. In this book there are 10 virtues that we can obtain to heal our hearts and homes. In one of the last chapters "We can save our nation by saving our homes" he starts with saying, “Society’s problems arise, almost without exception, out of the homes of the people. If there is to be a reformation, if there is to be a change, if there is to be a return to old and sacred values, it must begin in the home.” Within this chapter he lists 10 things that he says can change the problems that are arising in society. 1.) Accept responsibility for our role as parents and fulfill our obligations to our children. 2.) Get married and stay married. 3.) Put the father back at the head of the home. 4.) Recognize and value the supreme importance of mothers. 5.) Celebrate and treat children as our most priceless treasures. 6.) Discipline and train children with love. 7.) Teach values to children. 8

One thing that we believe as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is that there is a prophet on the earth right now. There were many prophets on the earth who we know from the Bible. There is a prophet in our day and his name is President Thomas S. Monson. Before him was Gordon B. Hinckley.  We also have twelve apostles who are witnesses of Jesus Christ that work with the Prophet. The church is organized just like when Jesus organized it when He was alive. When we have General Conference twice a year we are able to listen to them speak through inspiration. I was reading one talk by one of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland,  and wished that so many people would read it so they could understand a little bit better about our church. I have problems expressing my thoughts and feelings so I'll be quoting a lot from what Elder Holland said. There are a few things that I really liked and wanted to share.  The main focus of Elder Holland's talk was to

I am troubled by what is going on in our county. I know that Heavenly Father must look down at us and feel very sad. I was reading and watching something online and a talk from this last General Conference came into my mind. It was from  Elder Robert D. Hales . We sat and watched it and it made me happy to know that we can turn to the Prophet and the Apostles for direction, and that direction comes from our Heavenly Father. I wanted to put a quote from Elder Hales's talk that I thought was something I should remember.  "As true disciples, our primary concern must be others’ welfare, not personal vindication. Questions and criticisms give us an opportunity to reach out to others and demonstrate that they matter to our Heavenly Father and to us. Our aim should be to help them understand the truth, not defend our egos or score points in a theological debate. Our heartfelt testimonies are the most powerful answer we can give our accusers. And such testimonies can only be borne in

"But make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions.(see 1 kings 18:21) President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.' "This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. "Resistance to abortion

I just read D&C 59 and a scripture stuck out more than the others. It is in verse 5: Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all they might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him. I was thinking of what this really meant. If we followed this commandment completely than we would be following all the other commandments. To love the Lord with all of my heart, might, mind and strength is something that I need to try and do a lot better. I know I love the Lord and am so grateful for Him. I'm never going to be perfect but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't try to get close, right? We are promised so much when we do what the Lord asks with "cheerful hearts and countenances" (v. 15). I get excited of all the blessings that come to me when I do what's right. I want to follow the commandments better; to their fullest.

Nobody knows when our Savior will come again but I know He will come to this earth again. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches that He will come again after many signs and destruction. It makes me feel both excited and nervous. I am nervous because I know that I need to be more spiritually ready for Him. I have a lot of weaknesses that I need to overcome.  I am also very scared for the destruction that is supposed to happen before He comes. I hope that I can live my life in a way that I can be there for when He comes. It of course might not happen until after I die but I want to be prepared for it. I've never thought about it as much as I do now.   One thing that has been on my mind a lot is Zion. This is the promise that the Lord has given us through the hard times that will come. We can have our own heaven on earth. I noticed that in General Conference there was a lot of talk about unity and building up a Zion in our own homes and wards and stakes. I want to be

I listened to most of conference today and I thought I'd write some thoughts before they leave me. It is always frustrating when you think of so many things that uplift you and make you want to do better and then you forget. I wrote notes and so I hope I will go back and look at them and set my goals to be better. I loved all the talks I heard but there were a few talks that really stuck out to me the most. The first one is by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. He spoke of Hope. I was so grateful to hear his words. I feel that I am blessed with always having some hope in things. I don't feel like I'm a negative person and I try to see the good side of things instead of the bad. It still is hard sometimes to find hope in the future when it is so unpredictable. President Uchtdorf talked about how hope gives us eternal happiness. How could we be happy if we do not have hope? He also said that "with hope we can have patience and go through our afflictions." (I didn&#

It is sad to realize that men are easily tempted to do or believe in things that just aren't right. It just goes along with the scripture I put on here saying, "the natural man is an enemy to God." It is so easy to sin. I have realized how much we need to be on our guard. I feel like I have to have this battle with Satan in my head. I want to know for sure that the way I'm living my life is in the right way to live with Heavenly Father again. For too long I was living my life in a way that I thought was good but I wasn't going to make it to Him by just going through the motions.  I read from 2 Nephi something that was really interesting. Nephi was actually prophesying about our present time. It is 2 Nephi 28:20-23. It is kind of long but all important. 20   For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. 21   And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that t

The young women recite this scripture every Sunday along with their theme. I really like it so it's my new scripture to memorize. Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen. Mosiah 5:15

I was reading about Pre-Mortal Life and these 2 scriptures made me feel excited: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.  Jeremiah 1:5 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me; Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.  Abraham 3:23 So why am I excited? I am nothing at all like Jeremiah or Abraham. But I know that I was placed on this earth at a time that Heavenly Father wanted me to be. The very fact that I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of all of us makes me very happy. I could be going through the hardest, most difficult times,  but when I know for sure that Heavenly Father knows my problems and wants me to be happy, I know that I can make it and that I can

President James E. Faust said:   "We find solace in Christ through the agency of the Comforter, and the Savior extends this invitation to us: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The Apostle Peter speaks of "casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." As we do this, healing takes place, just as the Lord promised through the prophet Jeremiah when He said: "I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. ... I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul."

I love collecting quotes and I thought I would share my newest one. I got it at my brother's house. "We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see." Boyd K. Packer Ensign-April-1983

I decided to start memorizing some of my favorite scriptures. Here's the first one: "For the natural man is an enemy of God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things the Lord seeth to inflict on him, even as a child doth submit to his father."   Mosiah 3:19

I don't really have a collection of things I turn to for comfort when I need uplifting. I think I should have some memorized that I can just think of when I'm frustrated with kids or down for some reason. I do love songs so I usually try and sing something in my head. I would love to know of what other people's favorite quotes, songs, or scriptures are when needing comfort or uplifting. If you could give me input I'd love it.  I actually have thought a lot of the song called, " Come, Come Ye Saints ." The words are written by William Clayton in 1846 they are the following: Come, come, ye saints, no toil nor labor fear; But with joy, wend your way. Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day. ’Tis better far for us to strive Our useless cares from us to drive; Do this, and joy your hearts will swell All is well! All is well! Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? ’Tis not so, all is right. Why should we think to earn a great re

It seems like the Ensign has the right articles that I need to hear. Of course the conference ones are wonderful. I've never really read an entire Ensign magazine until recently. I didn't know how wonderful they were. There was actually an article this month called Coming to Know for Ourselves   by Elder Kenneth Johnson. He said some good things that have been on my mind lately. So you should read it when you get a chance. There is a convenient link to it.  It has been on mind lately that I need to know for sure what my faith is. It needs to be a faith that I have come to know myself and not borrowed from family or other church members. In Elder Johnson's article he says, "If our faith is rooted in the sandy soil of reason and logic, it will be swept away by a rising tide driven by the escalating winds of opposition. A faith founded in Jesus Christ and on the rock of revelation will endure through the fiercest storms of life (see Helaman 5:12)."  I didn't rea

Last night wasn't one of my happiest moments. I haven't had a good break from the kids until today so I needed to get my mind on something other than stresses. I decided to read King Benjamin's words in Mosiah of the Book of Mormon. I love reading his words that he spoke to all the people. I read Mosiah 3 where he talks about Jesus and how he will come to earth and do so many wonderful things. It is amazing that so many prophets can tell us what will happen and how to prepare ourselves for it.  Mosiah 3:9-11 9   And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him. 10  And he shall arise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men. 11  For behold, and also h

I have been thinking for quite a while about just making my own blog that didn't have pictures of my kids, only my thoughts and testimony. I think it is more of my journal of writing down my thoughts of things that I've read or thoughts that come to me. It helps me to realize things better. I might not always make sense because I can't communicate as well as I'd like but hopefully my point gets out there to someone. It also helps me to have people comment. I would like anyone who isn't a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be able to ask questions or comment. I'm not interested in debating, only sharing what I believe. I know that things that I testify of are true. I will not doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I know without a doubt it is. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and is true. I know that when the Bible is translated correctly it is the truth. I know that we have a Prophet on the