Who me?

Have you ever been in a large crowd and the person on stage was talking directly to you. For a minute you look at the people around you to see if the comments are meant for them, but they are looking back at you. Suddenly, you're increasingly aware that the comments are targeted at you, so with surprise on your face you point your finger to your chest and while tapping mouth the words "Are you talking to ME?" The speaker continues "That's right. You. I am talking to you." For an awkward moment your face flushes as you realize that you are the center of attention.

That is very much the scenario right now, except for the flush face. You are exactly the person this message is directed toward.

The God in Heaven created all things on earth and in heaven for you. He gave his Son that you might be exalted. His very purpose is to bring to pass your resurrection and exaltation. Moses 1:39

With that in mind every week our young women stand and recite these words:

WE ARE DAUGHTERS of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. WE WILL “STAND as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith • Divine Nature • Individual Worth • Knowledge • Choice and Accountability • Good Works • Integrity • and Virtue

WE BELIEVE as we come to accept and act upon these values, WE WILL BE PREPARED to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

You are the most important person in heaven and earth.

Because He Lives

No regrets

I follow a blog about a particular family that adopted children from Ethiopia and the miracle these children have been in their lives. I was first introduced to this experience through a beautiful video that touched me deeply when I watched it.

Life has been busy and I failed to keep current reading new blog posts...until today. When I visited the page, I was horrified to hear that one of these beautiful children was taken in a car accident. Dozens of well-wishers extended sympathy and words of comfort to heal a broken family and particularly the mother. Their faith carries them through each day. 

We all experience loss. Because of Jesus Christ, our sadness need not linger.

The great plan of happiness renewing power of God's love and the miracle of his grace in your life and that of your friends and family can empower you to new heights as you share your experience with others. 

As taught by Elder Dallin H. Oaks "All of the myriads of mortals who have been born on this earth chose the Father’s plan and fought for it." Gratefully, we have hope especially in the midst of despair. As members of the Church, we know that family relationships can extend beyond the veil because of the atonement.

The Savior Jesus Christ set a perfect example for us. His mission was recorded in scripture and today is broadcast in touching displays of his life that warm the heart and strengthen the soul.

These media bring to life the scripture stories of his life. We, too, should witness of him and his impact for good in our lives.

Tell your story. 

We have all had bosses that we admire. I have had this privilege more than once. Let me tell you about one of them:

Her story was one of hardship, loss, and difficulty, but her dogged determination kept her moving forward. She was optimistic amid disappointment. She worked tirelessly and dreamed big. And she shared her strategy with the rest of us. One tactic she used was a dream poster. Wherein she placed all the things she wanted to accomplish on a poster she hung in her office to remind her the dreams she was working for. And incredibly, one goal after another began falling. She said that she felt it was almost miraculous the power and effectiveness of focusing on her goals. It enabled her to do things she otherwise couldn't or perhaps wouldn't.

Then she shared her discovery with others to empower them to achieve the unexpected. And it worked.

Today she helps others achieve their goals, which is her gift. And she writes a blog, which I read frequently for inspiration. Her story has helped countless others. We needn't be afraid of failure.

"Mishaps and failures and even mistakes ... end up having the most profound impact on me. Their stories of overcoming hardships, and standing up after falling down…those are what inspire me to want to be better in my own life." 

As she said, don’t be ashamed to share your story. It may strengthen and inspire others. Your decision to do so will both bless you and edify others.

One thing is for certain: You'll be glad you did.

My dream

It's interesting how our dreams have a way of being fulfilled. Many years ago, I thought I would like to create a website where people could go to be uplifted, to celebrate the good, and to share the beautiful things God has given us. As I have tried to produce that site, it seems stumbling blocks kept obstructing my path, and I could never achieve what I wanted to do. Well, meanwhile the Lord completed my dream. It's here.

I remember when I was a young man, Granny had a dream to live in the country and enjoy the rapture of a beautiful farm—horses, cows, goats, chickens, turkeys, gardens, orchards, berry patches, streams, trees...and more—and when I look back, though we worked hard and never seemed to get enough done, we realized everything we set out to do...and more. 

Life has numerous obstacles, and frequently we do not realize their purpose or role, but we are never alone. When we align ourselves with Him whose purposes cannot be frustrated, we are sure to be successful despite our shortcomings.

My life is testament of that fact. The Lord is not finished with me yet.

He is not finished with any of us yet.

Inspiring verses from the Doctrine and Covenants

“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” - Joseph Smith

Crescendo through life

Choosing the right is not difficult. Nor is it possible for you to sink beyond the reach of the healing arm of the Savior Jesus Christ. The renewing power of God's love and the miracle of his grace summons you to allow him to change your life for the better. There is no dream in the unfolding of time and eternity that cannot be realized. The Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning. 

When we feel lost and without hope, we are forgetting that the Redeemer has already paid the price. Our task is to nurture our relationship with him, so that we can be healed, lifted, and edified especially in the midst of hardship.

Allow me to remind you of the beautiful sonnet "Footprints" that is so well known the original authorship of the poem is disputed, with dozens of people claiming to have penned it. Though this incident is fictional, the principle is sure and the message eternal.

This popular text describes a dream in which a person is walking on a beach with God. Two sets of footprints appear in the sand in their stead. The tracks pass through various stages of this person's life. Looking back at the difficult times in life, the two footprints change to just one, especially at the lowest and most hopeless moments of the character's life. Believing that God abandoned his follower during those challenging times, the person questions God "Why when I needed you the most would you leave me?" God responds "During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

He will never forsake us. He waits for us to accept his gift.

It Is Never Too Late

Origin

Daily disciplines

Perhaps one of the blessings of farm life was the consistent, repeated lessons taught through the days, weeks, months, and years of effort. The daily disciplines taught us there were consistently, repetitiously ingrained in our hearts and minds, which has now become a great blessing throughout my life. 

Endurance is sometimes the only difference between success and failure. 

Our experience in Castle Valley and Sunflower Hill Bed and Breakfast Inn didn't come about because it was easy. Years of effort, decades of patience, and literally bags of money have been used to bring about the goals of the ventures started so many years ago. And what do we have to show for it. Millions of dollars? Buckets of gold? Chests of worldly treasures? No, but that was never the goal. So what has all the hard work, resources, time, and effort brought us? Here are a few of the perhaps less obvious benefits of these ventures:

• Love of work
• Blessings of obedience
• Learning from mistakes
• Importance of family unity
• Haven of the gospel

We can accomplish anything we put our minds to. The road to success is fraught with challenges that may keep us from being the best we can be.

Remembering to seek the kingdom of God first is the answer. Then there is no way you can fail.

Alma 37:6

Cherished memories

I love this time of year for many reasons: surrounded by family, involved in fun activities, remembering Jesus Christ's birth, feeling the importance of his Atonement. Giving and receiving gifts. The memories we make together carry us through the challenges of life. I remember convening at my parent's farm for family gatherings. Sometimes it was holidays like this and other times it was for family reunions or simple visits. The fun always came to an end though. Of course, we have all experienced these feelings some time or another, but for me the emotion is particularly poignant because I remember my young son wishing these gatherings could last longer. And a few tears were always shed as we drove up the long driveway and off their property. Fun gatherings with family and carefree getaways can't last forever, at least not in this life. But that is exactly why we make the choices that we do now, so we can reap the benefits here and now, which continue into life everlasting with the ones we love. In this life we just get glimpses of this experience, but in the hereafter, because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can enjoy the good things of life everlasting with all those we love in a state of perpetual joy. Because life is hard--and easy carefree times fleeting--we can appreciate and hope for the blessing of eternal happiness and peace in the kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus Christ taught that he would prepare the way for us, mansions in heaven. Doctrine and Covenants 59:1-4, Mark 10:30 

And we know with surety that we can rely on his word. He is patient, kind, and loving. He has prepared a way for all men to come unto him and receive the reward he has prepared for them.

I was always amazed as a child when I heard the experience of the Israelites who were bitten by the serpents and died because they would not look to the brass serpent lifted up on a pole. It was a simple solution that could have saved their lives. This is a similitude for us that we might learn from their experience and look to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation in this life and eternal life in the world to come. Our Christmas 2014 in Cancun will be a memory we can hold on to and cherish the rest of our lives, and when you remember these 10 days spent in Cancun, remember it's by the Savior Jesus Christ who made this all possible and because of him, the joy we will experience heretofore will exceed your fondest expectations now and through eternity. So no tears necessary. Our joy need never end. 

As I have loved you

I had the good fortune of attending BYU while Jeffrey Holland was president of the university. He and Patricia Holland would address us often in devotionals. It was a real treat. Of course this was before he was called as an apostle. Yet, I became familiar with and accustomed to his powerful messages and oratory.

Today he is one of my favorite apostles--if its okay to have favorites.

I concur with his testimony of Jesus Christ.



Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, is the only lamp by which you can successfully see the path of love and happiness for you and for your family.

My goal is to emulate His life and love as he loved.

How do I love thee? As he does... for that way never faileth.