Dad's papers

  Spiritual Confidence Hello Family, It’s been almost two months now since General Conference, and I wanted to go back and revisit President Nelson’s prophetic counsel to us. As I’ve studied his words it amazes me that this simple teaching of scripture can be so impactful in our lives if we seek to “hear” what is being taught.  My invitation today is two fold. First, take time this week to listen and study the words of our prophet from this past conference. Secondly, accept his invitation given in his message: “I invite you to take intentional steps to grow in  your  confidence before the Lord.” Maybe journal what these “intentional steps” are for you. The trials and challenges that we each face can “knock our self-confidence”, and leave us feeling weak and vulnerable, stressed and frustrated, hurt and doubting, and a range of other feelings. The prophet teaches us how we can regain our spiritual confidence as we approach our Heavenly Father and Savior for their need...

Enduring Happy Monday! It’s going to be a beautiful week of Spring time weather this week. It has been so fun to all be together, and I try not to stop and think that it will have an end when Summer is over.  This next week our lessons in Relief Society and Elders Quorum will be based off of Sister Runia’s talk about repentance. This was a really great talk. My invitation this week is to read and study it in preparation for our Sunday lesson.  In the talk Sister Runia referenced one of my favorite scriptures from the New Testament. It’s found in Hebrews 12:2. Speaking of our Savior Jesus Christ the scripture reads “…for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” Tamara W. RuniaYour Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His JoySister Runia teaches that our worth doesn’t change when we make mistakes and that the Savior understands us and wants us to choose Him again and again. Ask yourself: What was the joy that was set before Him? Was it the end rew...

  Abide the Day Happy Monday! As many of you are beginning to settle into your new routines, I thought I would share a short thought this week from my lesson I taught in Elders Quorum this week. These are the words of Jesus Christ in response to some of His disciples asking about when He will come again, and what they must do to be ready to meet Him. “And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins. “For they that are wise and  have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived —verily I say unto you, they shall … abide the day.” There are three things the Savior tells us we must do to be “wise” in our preparation to meet Him, whether it be at His Second Coming, or our time to leave mortality. The invitation this week is to consider how we are doing in these three areas and what we might do to increase our preparation. “Receive the truth” - following the tea...

  Our house is full again, and nothing could make us happier. We are looking forward to the months ahead together. This past week was amazing to be able to go back to Miles’ mission and see where he served and meet some of the people he taught and loved. Pretty special!  On the cruise I read a book mama had given a few months ago called Inner Excellence, written by a Sports Performance Coach. It’s a great book that dives into how to become our best selves. It parallels in many ways things taught in the scriptures. As I read it I couldn’t stop thinking of our prophet leading us to the ultimate source of becoming “our best selves”, Jesus Christ. “When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves.” (President Nelson) Invitation: Below are three of the major highlights I took away from reading Inner Excellence, and the parallels found in the scriptures that have helped me want to refocus on letting God prevail in ...