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 ...

  Hello Family, I hope you all had a great Easter. Our day was really nice, with the Mauricio’s coming to church with us and then back to our house for an Easter Egg Hunt. Later in the evening mama spoiled us with a really nice dinner, where we had Katherine over and join us. The weather was beautiful, and it was just a really nice day to focus on the Savior, His resurrection, and the blessings of having His gospel in our lives. This past week I studied Elder Christofferson’s conference address titled Worship. I really enjoy his talks because I think he does such a great job helping us learn how to implement or live our faith. How to apply it in everyday living. The part of his talk that resonated with me most is the need to convert our beliefs or faith into action. Actions that allow for the process of change in our character as we strive to emulate Jesus Christ. Elder Christofferson called them the actions that constitute our worship.  As we exercise our faith, putting it in...

  Hello Family, It has been fun to have a whole new set of conference talks to begin to study. This past week I’ve been studying President Holland’s talk, As a Little Child. I didn’t have to look very far for ways I can improve and become more childlike in my character. Listen to these words of the Savior: “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Watching you kids grow up, it is obvious for me to see the childlike qualities we should seek after. I watch Lainey and Graham, who have entered into the inevitable transformation to “teenage mode”, and you begin to see these childlike characteristics change, just as they did for the rest of us. They are all still in there, they just get blurred by the constant influence of the world and all of its cares. It begs the question, what exactly causes ...

 111-  Another Conference It was an awesome weekend! We missed you Sadie and Seth, but can’t wait to be together soon.  I was thinking this week about what it would be like if we didn’t have General Conference. From the very beginning of the restoration the Lord has made clear that this is how He would regularly gather His apostles, and communicate with His disciples. This week we will be studying Doctrine and Covenants sections 30-36. Each of these revelations came after the saints had gathered together for conference, or shortly thereafter, which is a testament to how revelation can flow into our lives as we begin to implement what the Spirit is teach us through his servants. I’m so thankful for the opportunity we have to be able to hear and focus on the words of living apostles and prophets and other church leaders. These words are scripture, words God would have us hear right now. I know that they are messages of hope, peace, and direction to all who make it a priorit...