Dad's papers

 51 (1-29-24) Another week is already here. Time keeps flying by. I hope you have all had a good week and are preparing for an even better one to come. In my Come Follow Me study this week something stood out to me more clearly than ever before. It is crazy to me that no matter how many times we have read the Book of Mormon, and no matter how well we can recall the stories, especially those of Lehi and his family, there is something new and inspiring for us every time.  As the Spirit teaches Nephi the meaning of the symbols in his vision, Nephi not only shares with us his understanding of the interpretation, but writes for us as a warning of what to look out for and how to apply these teachings in our lives. Who among us can not relate to the “mists of darkness” in our own personal journey? I know they are all too familiar to me personally. The temptation to be short and impatient, selfish and proud, these are daily obstacles of dark fog that can suddenly appear out of no wher...

  Stay by the Tree   Mama assigned me a talk this past week for our family Come Follow Me. The talk was given my Elder Kevin Pearson of the Seventy entitled  Stay By the Tree.   If you get a chance, listen to, or read it. It was given in April 2015. I really enjoyed studying it this week, and wanted to share some highlights that spoke to me.   ·          If enduring to the end is essential to eternal life, why do we struggle to be faithful? We struggle when we are caught between competing priorities. Casual obedience and lukewarm commitment weaken faith. Enduring to the end requires total commitment to the Savior and to our covenants.   ·          Trials are like great mists of darkness that can blind our eyes and harden our hearts. Unless we are “continually holding fast” to the word of God and living it, we will become spiritually blinded rather than spiritual...

 49- 1/15/24 Good Morning Family, A short thought this morning …. In our Come Follow Me last night, I shared with the family that one of my study goals in studying the Book of Mormon this year is to look for ways in which covenants strengthened the people of the Book of Mormon. As I’ve studied this week, a thought that has stuck with me is that “remembering” plays such an integral part of our “keeping” covenants with God? We keep our covenants when we choose to be obedient to the promises we have made with our Heavenly Father. Sometimes we find ourselves being obedient in autopilot because that’s just what we have become accustomed  to do. But the importance of “remembering why” we choose to act in obedience is where real power lies. Here is an invitation for all of us:  When you find yourself acting in obedience in some way this week… it may be paying tithing, doing something for your calling, reading your scriptures for the day, or saying your personal prayers, try...

 48- (1-8/24) Lean  in Hello Family, I’m excited to study the Book of Mormon more in depth this year in Come Follow Me. As I was studying this week the scripture in 2 Nephi came to mind, … Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do (2Nephi 32:3) This week comes with a lot of new and unknown for us. Miles is essentially starting in a new area with the realignment of boundaries. Sadie and Emma are both starting new jobs. A new semester is beginning for all of you. There is just lots of unknown that can bring a bit of anxiety and stress. It is comforting to me to know that we each know how to lean on our faith for peace and direction. That as we go to the scriptures in a meaningful way we we can leave feeling a greater measure of peace and direction forward. Sister Wright from the Primary General Presidency gave a great talk this past conference about leaning on this preparation of faith. ...

 47- (1-3-2024) GOALS & Resolutions Hello Family, 2024 is here! That seems pretty crazy to actually write out. It was so good to be able to gather everyone together. We miss our missionary, but we will be with him THIS year, and can’t wait! This past week there have been a couple of thoughts and messages that have stood out and gone along with my new year goal planning and past year evaluating and have been helpful for me.    I thought I would share those with you this week. One is from Elder Gong’s most recent conference address, and the other one we read as a family last night durning family scriptures from a talk given by Elder Kevin Pearson’s conference address last October. As I think about the allotted time we are given in any day, week, or month, there just doesn’t seem to be enough of it. We try to prioritize what it is we want to accomplish, or what is pressing in the moment, and sometimes lose site of things that matter most. In his message Elder Gong talked...