Sunday, May 29, 2011

LDS Scripture Citation Index

If you have ever wanted to learn more about a specific scripture or a specific topic found in the scriptures this is a great resource for you.

Here is what the site says:

"This index links from scriptures to the general conference talks, Journal of Discourses speeches, and writings in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith that cite those scriptures.  So, for example, suppose you want to know who has cited 1 Ne. 3:7 in general conference; click on the Book of Mormon link at the left and scroll down to 1 Ne. 3; there you'll find the answer.  Who has quoted Matt. 5:48?  Use the New Testament index to find out.

We have indexed the scriptures cited by speakers in LDS General Conference between 1942 and the present, and those cited by speakers recorded in the Journal of Discourses between 1839 and 1886.  The citations in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith come from the special edition, Scriptural Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, edited by Richard C. Galbraith and published by Deseret Book in 1993 (ISBN 0875796478)."

Wow, I am excited too look up some of my favorite scriptures and some of those scriptures that I just don't quite get and see what I can find. 

Go check it out for yourself:  http://scriptures.byu.edu/

Happy Scripture Studying!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Stressed, Overscheduled, Overwhelmed...You Are Not Alone

Standing in line at a grocery story, beep, beep, beep.  Hand her some cash and again beep, beep, beep.  I have two transactions.  It's 9:30 pm. I turn to the lady behind me and apologize for my double taking of time.  She shrugs her shoulders and says, "I'm in no hurry.  I'll just be heading back to cleaning and doing laundry."

I hurried out to my car and thought as I rode home about what that women had said.  I wasn't going home to clean (although I am sure I had plenty of cleaning to be done) but I had just come from putting two munchkins to sleep and needed to grab a few items and hurry home to get ready for the upcoming day, a Sunday.  And then a thought came to me, "we are all in this together".  We all have our to do lists, we all have our stressors, most of us have similar goals.  We are not in this alone. We are all busy.  We all get overwhelmed.  We all have various roles and obligations but we are truly all in this life together.

Then a night or two later I read from Matthew 14 and 15 and had a great moment of being taught:
Christs' good friend John the Baptist was beheaded and when he heard of it He went to be alone.  A mulitude followed him and even in his time of need he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  Then that very evening that multitude needed to eat and so He fed the 5,000 men and also many women and children.  Straightway he sent his disciples to get in the ship and He went to pray.  Meanwhile a storm came between 3 and 6 in the morning and Jesus walked on the water with Peter and calmed the storm.  When they got off the ship in the land of Gennesaret the people recognized him and brought those who were diseased and He healed them. Then came the scribes and the Pharisees to question him and contend against him. Then he calls the multitude around him to teach them.  He goes on to heal a girl and feed 4,000 more.

I could just keep going and going.  I don't think I had ever realized the time frame of these events. In such a short time He lost a dear friend, He healed many in the multitude, He fed 5,000, He walked on the water and calmed the storm, He healed the diseased, He stood firm against the Pharisees, He taught the multitude, healed a girl, and fed 4,000 more. 

He truly understands.  Not only did He experience everything through the Atonement but He also experienced the stresses and demands of life to the fullest.

I know often we feel like our own lists could keep going and going.  In such a short time, we can get our kids off to school, change 10 diapers, make lunch, run to the store, send a note to a dear friend, plan a lesson, calm tears, make dinner for a neighbor, take kids to soccer practice, read scriptures, plant a garden, and pray for and have heartache over our families.  And the list could go on.

But we have the Savior and we have one another.

President Monson's words fit so perfectly here, "Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out."

I hope that we can all look at the world in this way.  That we can see that our "fellow travelers" are trying their best and let them lean on us when they need to and that we may find that we have those that we can lean on in our times of need.  I also hope that we will recognize that we all need to take a step back and have a moment to ourselves.  Even the Savior sought moments to be alone and to speak with His Father.  Sometimes those moments may be interuppted by something more important but we all need those moments to draw us nearer to the Lord and to bring peace nearer to our hearts. 

Never forget that you are not alone.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

How Do You Journal?

I have not been doing good at the whole journaling thing.  Not one bit.  Yeah I have a private blog to write down the little funny, cute, and crazy moments we have in our family but I'm not even that good at keeping up with that.  I recently found my journal and well let's just say, ummm well SAD. I last wrote while I was pregnant with my little girl and yep she is 18 months old now.  Really?  I always do this. Write some here and there and then a long, long hiatus.  What to do?

How do you journal?  Do you use a blog as your journal? Do you type up your thoughts?  Do you do the whole hand written journal thing?  Do you pick a question out of a jar?  And whatever method you use what helps you to be consistent and motivated?  I need to be better.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Who Am I?

You are a Child of God!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Bringing Me Joy

So after posting that last video for Mother's Day I just had to find out who was playing the song in the background.  I found it and it is an arrangement by Jon Schmidt!  I can't tell you how much I love the whole song.  I have probably listened to it 30-40 times already.  It is seriously bringing me joy! 

Enjoy it HERE!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Thursday, May 5, 2011

What Mormons Believe: Sexual Purity Blesses Our Lives


(Click on Images to Enlarge)

This article is from the July 2010 Ensign.
To check out PDFs of past Ensigns visit here.
If you'd like to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints vist here.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Do you want to serve with me....and my kids...and my neighborhood?

Then come right along.  I knew you'd say yes. :)

So I recently started a little service group of moms and their kidlets in our neighborhood.  After Conference I felt like I needed to serve more, serve more in general, but mostly that I needed to serve more along side my children.  So that was my plan and then one night as I was reading my scriptures a thought popped into my little head that said something like, "hey, why not make it a group effort" and then with some teetering back and forth on the idea I finally succumbed and our service group was born.  It has taken over my brain for a while and finally I feel like things are falling into place.  Whew!

Then you see...a new idea came to me and I thought hmmm why not bring the whole blogging world (well the miniscule portion of that world who actually peeks at this blog) along and see what we can do.   So of course this will take a lot of initiative on your part since you don't actually live near me but if you want to follow along and do something similar in your area then please join us.  I will periodically post things that we are doing here and if it is something that would work for you and your family then please serve away and let us know how it goes.

Our current service opportunity is making a tape for an elderly Sister in our ward who is unable to attend church due to health issues.  She spends her Sundays listening to and watching Conference and other Church materials. The children will be leaving short messages and singing her primary songs on a tape.  We will then deliver it to her as a group.   I am already super excited to bring her our creation, I think she will love it.  I am almost giddy about it. 

This one is still on.  So if you know of an elderly person in your area who could use a visit, a card, a treat, or maybe even a tape make an effort over the next few weeks to make their day.  Then come back and share your warm service fuzzies. :)

Isn't service fun?!?