Sadie, Jeff and I were in New York over the weekend. It was an amazing trip with the choir and band students from Sadie's high school. We were able to see and do a lot of memorable things, and maybe I'll eventually post a bit more. But I wanted to share what happened at the very end of our trip, just before boarding the buses for the long drive home.
Our last activity on Sunday night was "Top of The Rock", the observation deck at the top of the Rockefeller Center. The 360ยบ view of the city is said to be stunning. Unfortunately, the weather was wet and freezing and foggy. There was even a guide who met us at the elevators to tell us that there was zero visibility and we were welcome to use our tickets at a later date instead. Since this was our last day in New York, that wasn't an option for us so up we went.
While the view was somewhat limited, it was still beautiful with the misty fog and the lights on the buildings. The Empire State building was a bright blue with gold lights below. As I looked around the city, I saw a few other buildings with lights across the top - a solid stripe of blue above a stripe of golden yellow - and I realized they were lit up in support of Ukraine. Then, with that realization, I looked back at the Empire State building, saw the blue and gold again, and almost started to cry. Here was this iconic structure making a bold statement for all the world (or at least all of New York) to see. Yes, I felt like bawling, but I really felt proud and happy and in total agreement with the sentiment. It was a beautiful way to end our trip.
Sterling is serving in the Texas San Antonio Mission. Last night the mission shared a musical Easter Celebration over Facebook Live and YouTube. It's a collection of musical numbers performed by missionaries and members throughout the greater San Antonio area. It's really beautiful and uplifting. Sterling recorded and mixed all the audio. He also sings in two of the numbers (at 38:55 and 45:35). I would have loved this even if Sterling wasn't involved, but seeing his cute face makes me love it even more.
Click here to watch: YouTube or you can also click on the picture below.
Spencer has been doing so well on his mission. He's had 2 great companions so far and he's really been embracing his experiences and learning all he can. But last week was hard and some discouragement and even a little depression started to set in. During a routine interview with his mission president later in the week, Spencer was given some very wise counsel. President Nelson told him that when he's faced with a decision of how to feel, he will always choose happiness. Spencer said, "I really like that, so I wrote on a sticky note and put on my desk: 'I will choose happiness. -President Nelson' so I can always remember that."
The video for Day 19 of the Light the World campaign really touched me. It's the journey of an autistic young man named Aaron Jepson. At the end of the video are the words, "In the face of adversity, Aaron chooses happiness." It's a needed message and one that I've been hearing from many different sources lately.
"Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think." I don't know who said it -- it's been attributed to several people including Buddha, Dale Carnegie and Zig Ziglar, but I believe it. It's our thoughts, not our circumstances, that determine our feelings.
Just taking a minute to reframe things may be all it takes to see the blessings and happiness right where we are. Choose happiness. :)
We've had a great week! Sam and Savannah were home from BYU for a few days (they haven't been home since January!) and it was so good having the whole family together. It's going to be a while before that happens again. With Spencer leaving for the Idaho Idaho Falls Mission next month, December 2019 is the next logical time we'll be together. That made it pretty hard to say goodbye to Sam and Savannah yesterday, but all the good things we have to look forward to made it a little more bearable.
Spencer's had quite a week and it was so nice that Sam and Savannah could be a part of it. On Tuesday night, Spencer received his Eagle Scout award. Many friends and ward members attended the Court of Honor and it was a nice event to celebrate Spencer's long-awaited achievement. He's really enjoyed his time in Scouting and has been a great mentor to his younger brothers and the other boys in the troop. He'll definitely be missed!
An Eagle Court of Honor wouldn't be complete without eagle cookies.
I forgot to take pictures at the Court of Honor so the kitchen will do in a pinch. ;)
On Thursday, Spencer went through the temple for the first time. We headed out super early that morning to head to St. Louis. It was a beautiful drive and a beautiful day. I was so happy that Sam and Savannah were able to be there, too.
The grounds of the temple were gorgeous with flowers blooming everywhere.
BYU starts on Tuesday. Spencer reports for his mission on October 4. Onward and upward!
I've never been bitten by the genealogy bug... until now.
I just finished a four-day community course on the basics of genealogy. A lot of the material was review. I don't know a lot, but know just enough to be dangerous. I was given some good tips on narrowing down searches and various websites for getting information. On the last day of class, we had some time left at the end so I just started going through my family tree on FamilySearch.org. Oh boy. I had no idea when I identified my great grandma's youngest brother as a good place to start that I would end up so entrenched in his wife's family.
The Flynn Family, ca. 1921
I dove in last night and ended up at times with way-too-many tabs open on my computer and a web of documents, dates and people. At first, there was really nothing to go by except a few census records, but from there I identified her parents and brother. Her dad was a pretty fascinating fellow who was born in Scotland and worked as a hairdresser on 5th Avenue in New York City. There are multiple source documents for her dad and it's so cool to piece his life together and learn parts of his life story from these pieces of paper. Her mom was born in Illinois so I feel a connection on both sides.
It's still in a mess and I have to sort through a lot of things to fill in some gaps in my information, but it's so fascinating! Every new discovery is so satisfying.
Maybe it's because Sam and Savannah are away at school, forging ahead toward a (hopefully) bright future. Maybe it's because Spencer will graduate from high school in 3 months. Maybe it's because life can be tricky at times and I want the best for my kids. Or maybe it's just because I'm feeling sentimental...
Whatever the reason, I've been listening to "My Wish," by Rascal Flatts on repeat. It's one of my favorites and does a great job expressing what I wish for my kids. If you're not familiar with it, listen to the lyrics. You'll see what I mean!
(I'd hoped to find an official music video by Rascal Flatts, but there isn't one.)
My parents were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple 49 years ago today. A sealing is a marriage that lasts through time and all eternity. None of this "til death do us part" or "as long as we both shall live" business. We believe that family relationships are eternal, and the way families can be together forever is through the sealing ordinance performed in the temple. We can also do this work vicariously for those who passed on without the opportunity to be sealed if they choose to accept it.
My brother had a whole stack of temple sealings waiting to be done for deceased relatives so he invited my parents to join him and then asked each of the siblings if we wanted to come. As it turned out, everyone was able and willing. (Rob's offer to pay for lunch may have had something to do with that. :)
Those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will understand the significance of this perhaps more than others, but my parents and all seven of their children were in the temple together on their 49th anniversary to perform sealings for deceased relatives. At times I thought my heart would burst as I looked around and saw my whole family together in the temple. It was a fitting tribute to my amazing parents.
The Mount Timpanogos Temple
Happy Anniversary, mom and dad. I know you have forever, but I hope there are many more happy years together here, too!
I use this picture every time I post about my parents' anniversary, but it's the only one I have and I love it. :)
This little video is just what I needed today. I'm not very good at taking correction. It embarrasses me and gets my defenses up. At certain times in my life I've been better at humility and making changes when necessary, but lately it's not the norm.
The story told in this video is one I'm familiar with and have even shared with my Seminary class. I stumbled across it today and realize I needed the reminder. I hope you like it, too.
[If you're interested, I've included the full story of the currant bush below, as told by Elder Hugh B. Brown at a BYU commencement address on 31 May 1968.]
Could I tell you just a quick story out of my own experience in life? Sixty-odd years ago I was on a farm in Canada. I had purchased the farm from another who had been somewhat careless in keeping it up. I went out one morning and found a currant bush that was at least six feet high. I knew that it was going all to wood. There was no sign of blossom or of fruit. I had had some experience in pruning trees before we left Salt Lake to go to Canada, as my father had a fruit farm. So I got my pruning shears and went to work on that currant bush, and I clipped it and cut it and cut it down until there was nothing left but a little clump of stumps.
And as I looked at them, I yielded to an impulse, which I often have, to talk with inanimate things and have them talk to me. It’s a ridiculous habit. It’s one I can’t overcome. As I looked at this little clump of stumps, there seemed to be a tear on each one, and I said, “What’s the matter, currant bush? What are you crying about?”
And I thought I heard that currant bush speak. It seemed to say, “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as large as the fruit tree and the shade tree, and now you have cut me down. And all in the garden will look upon me with contempt and pity. How could you do it? I thought you were the gardener here.”
I thought I heard that from the currant bush. I thought it so much that I answered it.
I said, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. If I let you go the way you want to go, you will never amount to anything. But someday, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to think back and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’”
Ten years passed, and I found myself in Europe. I had made some progress in the First World War in the Canadian army. In fact, I was a field officer, and there was only one man between me and the rank of general, which I had cherished in my heart for years. Then he became a casualty. And the day after, I received a telegram from London from General Turner, who was in charge of all Canadian officers. The telegram said, “Be in my office tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.”
I puffed up. I called my special servant. (We called them “batmen” over there.) I said, “Polish my boots and my buttons. Make me look like a general, because I am going up tomorrow to be appointed.”
He did the best he could with what he had to work on, and I went to London. I walked into the office of the general. I saluted him smartly, and he replied to my salute as higher officers usually do to juniors—sort of a “Get out of the way, worm.” Then he said, “Sit down, Brown.”
I was deflated. I sat down. And he said, “Brown, you are entitled to this promotion, but I cannot make it. You have qualified and passed the regulations, you have had the experience, and you are entitled to it in every way, but I cannot make this appointment.”
Just then he went into the other room to answer a phone call, and I did what most every officer and man in the army would do under those circumstances: I looked over on his desk to see what my personal history sheet showed. And I saw written on the bottom of that history sheet in large capital letters: “THIS MAN IS A MORMON.”
Now at that time we were hated heartily in Britain, and I knew why he couldn’t make the appointment. Finally he came back and said, “That’s all, Brown.”
I saluted him, less heartily than before, and went out. On my way back to Shorncliffe, 120 kilometers away, I thought every turn of the wheels that clacked across the rails was saying, “You’re a failure. You must go home and be called a coward by those who do not understand.”
And bitterness rose in my heart until I arrived, finally, in my tent, and I rather vigorously threw my cap on the cot, together with my Sam Browne belt. I clenched my fist, and I shook it at heaven, and I said, “How could you do this to me, God? I’ve done everything that I knew how to do to uphold the standards of the Church. I was making such wonderful growth, and now you’ve cut me down. How could you do it?”
And then I heard a voice. It sounded like my own voice, and the voice said, “I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to be. If I let you go the way you want to go, you will never amount to anything. And someday, when you are ripened in life, you are going to shout back across the time and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’”
Those words—which I recognize now as my words to the currant bush and that had become God’s word to me—drove me to my knees, where I prayed for forgiveness for my arrogance and my ambition.
As I was praying there, I heard some Mormon boys in an adjoining tent singing the closing number to an M.I.A. session, which I usually attended with them. And I recognized these words, which all of you have memorized:
It may not be on the mountain height Or over the stormy sea; It may not be at the battle’s front My Lord will have need of me; But if, by a still, small voice he calls To paths that I do not know, I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine: I’ll go where you want me to go. . . . So trusting my all to thy tender care, And knowing thou lovest me, I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere; I’ll be what you want me to be. [“It May Not Be on the Mountain Height,” Hymns,1948, no. 75]
My young friends and brothers and sisters, will you remember that little experience that changed my whole life? Had the Gardener not taken control and done for me what was best for me, or if I had gone the way I wanted to go, I would have returned to Canada as a senior commanding officer of western Canada. I would have raised my family in a barracks. My six daughters would have had little chance to marry in the Church. I myself would probably have gone down and down. I do not know what might have happened, but this I know, and this I say to you and to Him in your presence, looking back over sixty years: “Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down.”
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.' All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.” --C. S. Lewis (from The Great Divorce)
I teach an online youth religion class (Seminary) for church. For the past couple of days, the discussion has focused a lot on the consequences of our choices, pointing out that you reap what you sow. In today's Seminary lesson, the questions was asked: Why do you think Satan succeeds in luring some people to his side, even though he will ultimately lose?
In response, one of my students pointed out that Satan succeeds because his path is easier. You don't have to make a commitment. But as a result, you lose the happiness and joy that come from living righteously.
It's true. While Satan's side is easier and there are no rules to follow, there is also no reward. What a disappointment it will be to find that the lures and "promises" were all a big lie and there is nothing for you in the end. Like C. S. Lewis pointed out, God will say to us, "Thy will be done," and we'll get exactly what we chose. Satan is cleverly deceptive and only when he has you in his chains will you realize that your freedom has been taken away.
Happiness comes when we choose to say to God, "Thy will be done," and His blessings are poured out upon us as we make ourselves eligible for an eternal reward. Rules and guidelines (commandments) are there for our peace and safety. It may initially feel like they are limiting our freedom, but we will soon find that true freedom is possible only through obedience.
Christ's Atonement made it possible for us to return to our Father in Heaven. It's up to us to choose to make that possibility our reality!
I've been reading through the talks that were given during the last General Conference (October 2015) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We always make it a priority to watch each session of Conference as a live stream every April and October, but I also make time to read each talk again before the next Conference. I'm just finishing up and have been really inspired by a couple of the addresses from the Sunday afternoon session.
Elder Von G. Keetch gave a talk entitled, "Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God." I really enjoyed his perspective. So many people see the commandments as restrictions or things that keep us from really enjoying life. But Elder Keetch turns it around and shows us that the commandments are a generous gift from a loving Heavenly Father who "gives us divine direction, through His commands and loving guidance, so that we may avoid the dangers--so that we may set a course in our lives that is protected from spiritual predators and the gaping jaws of sin." I love that.
Here's a fun little video that was created for the youth of the church that illustrates a principle similar to one Elder Keetch shared in his talk.
I was in my second year at Ricks College, enrolled in a Physical Science class. I was taking the class to meet a general education requirement but my professor was hard! His name was Fabrizio Pinto from Italy. He spoke with a thick Italian accent which forced me to lean in and listen a little closer. Sometimes he tried to make jokes: "My name is Fabrizio Pinto. Pinto like the car, the bean and the horse." Once I'd processed what he said, it was too late to laugh. I think he understood that because once he said, "I try to tell jokes, but it makes laugh nobody."
I managed to get an A in the class simply because Professor Pinto, mercifully, graded on the curve. Despite my struggle in the class, Dr. Pinto made me feel really smart. He even called me into his office one day and told me he'd be happy to give me a great recommendation if I'd like to be a TA for Physical Science students when I transferred to BYU. I respectfully declined, but I'll admit I was flattered that he even thought I was capable of helping anyone with science!
The fact that Physical Science was one of my hardest classes isn't the point of this post. When I think back on that class, what I remember most is that it was from Professor Pinto that I first realized the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy.
Stay with me here...
One day near the beginning of the semester - it could have even been the first day of class - Dr. Pinto announced that homework would never be due on Monday. Why? Because he never wanted to be the reason we did homework on Sunday.
Wait. No homework on Sunday? I was a good kid and always attended my church meetings. I didn't participate in sporting activities or go shopping on the Sabbath. But no homework? I'd never really considered the idea. But after hearing Dr. Pinto suggest it, I thought about it a lot. Finally I decided that if he felt so strongly about it, maybe I shouldn't do any homework on Sunday. So I didn't. And do you want to know what happened?
I never needed to.
Through this act of faith, I was blessed with more time during the week. I mean, I know I didn't actually have more time, but it felt like it because I was able to use the time that I had more effectively. I was able to easily get everything done that I needed to in the time I had. Assignments didn't take as long as expected. Studying for tests was more productive. And I was able to enjoy the Sabbath without turning it into a mad cramming session to be ready for Monday. The Sabbath became a delight (see Isaiah 58:13).
I have reflected on that experience many, many times over the past 26 years. I am so grateful for Dr. Pinto and his subtle lesson on keeping the Sabbath day holy. It has had a huge impact on my life.
Are you up for a challenge? How about one that will bring sunshine and smiles to those around you? I'm pretty confident it will fill you with sunshine and smiles, too. It's a win/win!
Each week I receive an e-mail full of uplifting quotes from Sweep the Earth. They usually make me smile or think or determine to be better. Sweep the Earth is trying to do just that: Sweep the earth with positive, uplifting messages. The quotes generally come from current or former leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some of the memes are made by Sweep the Earth and some are borrowed from other sources, but all are inspiring and intended to lift, bless and brighten.
Here's a timely and hopeful message from this week's e-mail:
I subscribe, which is why I get the e-mails, but you can visit their site and search for quotes as well. They are searchable by Keyword, Author, or Category. For example, I searched for quotes by Jeffrey R. Holland (always a favorite!) and here are a few - okay, a lot - of the results:
Aren't they great? And that's just a very small sampling of what you'll find. It's so refreshing to see a website that exists solely to bring hope and joy to others. I just wanted to share so that if you are so inclined, you can subscribe and receive a little bit of sunshine in your inbox each week as well. Or just browse the site when you need a boost, and then share what you find so you can help Sweep the Earth. :)
As part of their Christmas offerings, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has "12 Days of Social" where they are posting one video each day to spread the Christmas spirit across social media. I haven't been keeping up very well, but I did watch today's video by Stuart Edge and I am a mess. I have tears streaming down my cheeks from this touching gift.
So, of course, I wanted to share so you can be a mess, too. :)
I loveGeneral Conference. I say that every six months, but it's one of my favorite weekends! This past weekend did not disappoint. It filled me right up!
Three new apostles were sustained: Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson and Elder Dale G. Renlund. Before now, there haven't been three apostles sustained in the same conference since 1906.
It was so hard to pick just a few talks to post here - there were so many good ones! But here are some that immediately come to mind.
And then there's our sweet prophet, President Monson. He gave a great talk, but a few minutes before he was through, it was obvious he was struggling. He was literally leaning on the pulpit by the end and breathing heavily. I'm sure there were thousands of silent prayers being said on his behalf to help him finish his message.
What a blessing it is to hear the word of the Lord from his chosen prophet and apostles. I'm looking forward to studying their words over the next six months. There is so much to learn and apply and I can't wait to dive right in!
The youth learned about purity and chastity yesterday at church. Savannah brought home this visual reminder:
"Orange" you glad you wear the armor of God? Decide now to be chaste. Let that decision be so firm and with such deep commitment that it can never be shaken (or peeled away).
Savannah said that the young women loved their oranges. However, the symbolism caused several of the girls to comment that they were now afraid to peel them... :)
Yesterday was a great day. We left first thing in the morning to attend the Indianapolis Temple Open House. Oh, it was so beautiful! We are so excited that this is going to be our temple. I loved being there with my kids. It's the first time we've been in a temple with Sadie.
After our tour, we got this picture together:
There was a huge tent set up next to the temple where they had displays and information about the church and temples. I love this picture of the kids in front of the Christus statue replica. It looks like He's ready to swallow them all up in a big hug.
Jeff, Savannah and the boys all had the opportunity to serve at the temple for 5 hours after our tour. Sadie and I did a little shopping and then hung out on the temple grounds while we waited for them. There was a big photo screen where people could get their picture with the temple. There wasn't time to get one with our whole family, but Sadie got one that turned out super cute.
Jeff's assignment was to help with parking. It was a hot and sweaty job, but he said he had a great time. We can't decide if he looks more like Indiana Jones or Luke Skywalker. :)
The other kids helped with a few different things. Mostly they put shoe coverings on the visitors before they entered the temple. Sometimes they moved to the exit and helped take the shoe coverings off. For a while, Savannah got to help take pictures of the guests in front of the temple. Each of the kids had a good experience and they were happy to help.
It was a great day and one we'll remember for a long, long time!
I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude this morning as I thought about how much I love this country and the freedoms we enjoy.
But then I immediately had a pang of fear that some of those hard won freedoms might be in jeopardy.
Ever since the Supreme Court ruling last week, I've been hearing some unsettling possibilities about how things might change in our country as a result - scary things I'd never considered before. I won't go into details here because a) that's not the purpose of this post and b) this is a happy blog so I'll probably never address them here.
But I'm realizing how often I take my First Amendment freedoms for granted. The thought of losing them is a sobering thought. Maybe sobering isn't the right word. Terrifying is more accurate. I hope that next year, 5 years from now, even next century, we are still free. Free to speak, worship and assemble how we choose.
Despite these uncertainties, today in my little corner of the world was a beautiful day. We enjoyed some of our small town festivities, did a little shopping and watched the hometown fireworks display that was "choreographed" to several patriotic themed songs broadcast by a local country station.
So today, I'm grateful for the country I live in. You can be sure that I'll be praying like crazy that our leaders will make wise decisions so that my children and I can continue to enjoy the freedoms that make America a pretty great place to be.
One of Jeff's fancy red, white and blue buttermilk pancakes this morning.
Sadie is showing off the corn that's much taller than "knee high by the fourth of July!"
For the record, there are several fields around town where the corn is even taller than this!
It's been a couple of weeks, but when I think back to General Conference, three talks immediately come to mind. Don't get me wrong, there were many amazing talks and I can't wait to read them and take time to ponder their messages, but the following three were my initial favorites and I wanted to share them here.
This past weekend was General Conference which is always one of my favorite weekends of the year.
Hearing the words of prophets and apostles is always something I look forward to. There were plenty of warnings about what lies ahead. Elder Neil L. Andersen said, "The world will not glide calmly toward the second coming." But then he went on to remind us that the challenges we face make us stronger and prepare us for the future.
Several spoke about the wonders of the internet and the many wonderful things it makes available to us, but the warnings about the misuse of this tool were a prevalent theme. I love this quote by Randall L. Ridd and hope my kids will always remember it:
We were challenged to defend our beliefs, to be kind and considerate to those who don't believe as we do, to repent early and often, to let our faith show, to share the gospel, and to be grateful. We should do the best we can with the time we've been given, demonstrate love and kindness at every opportunity, develop a strong testimony of the Savior and his atonement, and trust in Him.
I could just feel the love our leaders have for us in every word they spoke. My only regret is that it all went by too fast. It felt like someone pushed the fast forward button on Saturday morning. As I listened to the final session of conference on Sunday afternoon I could hardly believe it was over already. But I've been left with plenty to ponder and apply. I've got my work cut out for me over the next six months!
