Baby Jesus Makes Me Feel Happy

I have had a post on my mind for a while now but know it will take some time to get all of my thoughts out and organized and time has been lacking so I thought it was time that I atleast get something posted and switch gears from Thanksgiving to Christmas. 
The title of this post is one of my favorite lines that comes from a sweet little girl in this Mormon Message. Enjoy!

Waiting For Two Marshmallows

I am going to openly admit a weakness here; I am NOT the most patient person. President Benson said, "Patience is composure under stress" and this is the greatest area of my impatience. When I am stressed or tired, as sad as it is, patience with loved ones seems to be the first thing to go.

I like a quote by Jacob de Jager which says, "Patience is learning to hide your impatience."

What have you found that helps you to "HIDE" your impatience (especially with your children)?

What have you done to not simply hide impatience but to truly gain greater patience?
What helps you to wait to receive the second marshmallow?

Joseph Smith and the Restoration

When Christ was on the earth, he established a church. Ever wonder what happened to that church? Find out in this video.



To learn more about Joseph Smith visit HERE and HERE.
To learn more about the Restoration of Jesus Christ's Church visit HERE.

The Same Church that Jesus Christ Organized

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka - the LDS Church or the Mormon Church) is the same church that Jesus Christ organized while he was on the earth.

Elder Haight said, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims to the world that this church is a restoration of Christ’s church…. It is therefore not a reformation, a revision, a reorganization, or a mere sect. It is the Church of Jesus Christ restored in these latter days."

Watch this video of Wilford Woodruff's search for the truth as he sets out on a search to find the church of Christ on the earth. He later became the 4th Prophet of the Church.



To read about The Church of Jesus Christ in Former Times click HERE
(all of the features discussed exist in the church today).

To read about The Church of Jesus Chirst Today
(including how the Church was restored) click HERE.

To download this video for yourself click HERE.

Sibling Love

This video made me think of a portion of this scripture: "And ye will not suffer your children that they...fight and quarrel one with another..."

My 3 year old and 10 month old are already pretty good at the whole sibling rivalry thing and I can see that it is only going to get worse.

How do you help your children to get along? What are some things that have brought your children and family closer together? I sure could use a little help in this department.

Are You In There?

Are you in there? Or are you in your own world? Are you focused on the things that you want to do or feel like you should do or do you put YOUR things aside and take interest in YOUR CHILDREN'S wants and needs on a consistent basis? I know I too often am thinking of the next thing I need or want to do while in the midst of "giving my children attention." I need to work on giving them my full and undivided attention and simply forget about my agenda or my list and think about what is important on theirs. I needed this wake up call.

Elder Perry said, "Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world."
-"Mothers Teaching Children in the Home," Ensign, May 2010, 30

How do you make sure you spend the time and are "in there" for your children? How do you balance your agenda with the things that are REALLY important?

The Sacrifices Made For Scriptures

A few nights ago for scripture study we talked about Moroni and how far and long he wandered to stay away from the Lamanites and protect the plates. I hadn’t realized that it was probably thousands of miles. My husband ended by saying and we have the scriptures right by our beds, we need to read them.

Then on Sunday morning I watched this video of the great sacrifices that Joseph Smith and other early saints went through to translate and make available the Book of Mormon. I love Elder Hollands words about how they would not have done what they did if this book wasn't true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I am grateful for the sacrfices made so that I can have access to its words.

Then I thought of others like Nephi who also risked their lives to obtain the word of God and I felt blessed and grateful to all of these wonderful men for their faith and their diligence in bringing the word of God to me. I think I often take for granted all that has gone on before so that I can have access to the scriptures right in my own home, right next to my own bed, always at my fingertips whenever I chose to pick them up. I need to be more faithful and diligent in my personal scripture journey because if I don’t I will be risking my own spiritual life and there is no reason why I or any of us should do this when our scriptures lie right by our beds (or on our bookshelves).

And when I shared all of these thoughts with my husband he reminded me of these great words from Elder Christofferson:

On October 6, in the year 1536, a pitiful figure was led from a dungeon in Vilvorde Castle near Brussels, Belgium. For nearly a year and a half, the man had suffered isolation in a dark, damp cell. Now outside the castle wall, the prisoner was fastened to a post. He had time to utter aloud his final prayer, “Lord! open the king of England’s eyes,” and then he was strangled. Immediately, his body was burned at the stake. Who was this man, and what was the offense for which both political and ecclesiastical authorities had condemned him? His name was William Tyndale, and his crime was to have translated and published the Bible in English.

William Tyndale was not the first, nor the last, of those who in many countries and languages have sacrificed, even to the point of death, to bring the word of God out of obscurity. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude. We owe perhaps an even greater debt to those who faithfully recorded and preserved the word through the ages, often with painstaking labor and sacrifice—Moses, Isaiah, Abraham, John, Paul, Nephi, Mormon, Joseph Smith, and many others. What did they know about the importance of scriptures that we also need to know?

In Tyndale’s day, scriptural ignorance abounded because people lacked access to the Bible, especially in a language they could understand. Today the Bible and other scripture are readily at hand, yet there is a growing scriptural illiteracy because people will not open the books. Consequently they have forgotten things their grandparents knew.

I suppose that never in history has a people been blessed with such a quantity of holy writ. And not only that, but every man, woman, and child may possess and study his or her own personal copy of these sacred texts, most in his or her own language. How incredible such a thing would have seemed to the people of William Tyndale’s day and to the Saints of earlier dispensations! Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time. May we feast continuously on the words of Christ that will tell us all things we should do (see 2 Nephi 32:3).

"My New Life" - A Beautiful Mother

I hope that I can learn to cherish the moments I have with my children, the wonderful moments I have in this life. I hope that I can push through the hard times and trust in the Lord. What a wonderful example Stephanie Nielson is of this. What a wonderful Mother.



I hope you all have a Happy Mother's Day!

Mormon Missionaries

"You've seen them around. Maybe they've even knocked on your door. Have you ever wondered who they are and what they're doing? Find the answers in this video."



You can also watch other Mormons Made Simple Videos here.

Seek the Higher Ground

April 2010 General Conference Highlight Video

I loved the one of the definite themes of Conference this time around and I love the way the selections in this video of Conference really pull it all together. The world is wicked and we as mothers and priesthood holders need to step it up and teach our children the way. There was definitely more to it than that and boy was it good so enjoy this video and be reminded of the great counsel we all received a few weeks ago (it is about 10 minutes).

There is Just No Way That God Doesn't Exist

Alma 30: 40,44 "And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only....all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

A friend posted this on her blog a while back and it had an impact on me. My eyes tear up each and every time I watch it. God is real. We are His children. He loves us. And all things in and on this earth truly can lead us to know that there is a God.

Enjoy this wonderful compilation of the beauty of the earth:


P.S. I am back from my weird sickness. I still have bouts of dizziness here and there but I am pretty much up and running again. I'll be back on Words of Wisdom Wednesday to share an apostles thoughts on the matter.

MM: I Am a Child of God

"What a wonderful song that is. And what a great truth it teaches. You have an earthly father. He is your mother’s dear companion. I hope you love him and that you are obedient to him. But you have another father. That is your Father in Heaven. He is the Father of your spirit, just as your earthly father is the father of your body. And it is just as important to love and to obey your Father in Heaven as it is to love and obey your earthly father.

We speak with our earthly father. He is our dear friend, our protector, the one who usually supplies our food and clothing and home. But we also speak to our Father in Heaven. We do this with prayer. I hope that every night and every morning you get on your knees and speak with your Father in Heaven...It is not asking too much, is it, to take a few minutes of each day to speak with your Father in Heaven when you know that you are a child of God?"
(Gordon B. Hinckley, “You Are a Child of God,” Ensign, May 2003, 117)

MM: Love One Another

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day full of love!

Movie Monday: Scripture Power

As many of you know we love the song "Scripture Power" at our house and sing the chorus before we do family scripture study everyday so when I found this video I just had to share. Enjoy!



Video by Jenny Phillips

To read a few past posts that involve scripture power and scripture study click HERE.

Movie Monday: Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful

What makes YOU feel beautiful in the eyes of the Lord?

Movie Monday: New Youth Site and No Cussing Club

The Church just came out with a new site for youth. I have only skimmed the surface of the site but it seems wonderful. On the site their are videos and testimonies, among many other things.

This is what lds.org had to say about the site:

"Youth.lds.org is a new Web site for youth ages twelve to eighteen. It features prophetic guidance for youth along with media featuring youth around the world following the example of the Savior in serving and strengthening one another. The site is also the online home of A Brand New Year 2010, where youth bear witness of the power of living the standards in For the Strength of Youth. "

This video (No Cussing Club) is just one example of the many testimonies and experiences shared on this new Youth page. Enjoy!

For some reason the video stopped playing here. Here is the link to watch it on the site - No Cussing Club.

What a great example of standing up for what is right.

Movie Monday: Mormon Temples Made Simple

Ever wondered what goes on in an LDS temple? Ever wondered what the difference is between a church building and a temple? Ever wondered what the purpose of temples are? Well, this video is so perfect and simple in explaining what temples are all about. Hope you enjoy!