The Sacrament

Kalli,

Here is another long one! I spoke yet again…3 times in 5 months. I think this might be the closest I get to feeling like a high councilman 🙂 Anyway, as I thought about sharing this talk I thought about how the Sacrament probably has a new meaning for you over the last 6 months and that is something I can only imagine is wonderful and difficult simultaneously.

To start, I’m going to read a list of words. It is sort of long, but notice what comes to mind as you listen: Warm, power, comfort, happiness, mercy, forgiveness, personal, cleanse, pure, sweet, help, determination, sacred, strength, light, safety, transforms, gratitude, humble, blessings, reflections, covenant, renewal, worship, solemn, revelation, peace, change, rectify, resolve, enlightening, edifying, love and hope.

To me, this is a pretty powerful group of words and all of them have been used by apostles and prophets to describe the sacrament.

Elder David B. Haight said “The weekly opportunity of partaking of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is one of the most sacred ordinances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is further indication of His love for all of us.”

It is wonderful to me that something so sacred is offered freely to each of us every week.

For over a decade, at my family Christmas party, my mom has each of us write out a gift we will give Christ over the coming year. This gift centers around how we can become better and therefore be closer to our Savior and Heavenly Father. This last December, my gift was that I would better prepare for and utilize the sacrament. I don’t think there is any coincidence that I was asked to speak on the blessings of the sacrament today. The Lord always knows what he is doing! As a result it has been a week full of self-reflection and new determination.

In October 2014 general conference, Elder James Hamula or the 70, speaking of the sacrament said, “It needs to become more holy and sacred to each of us. Jesus Christ Himself instituted the ordinance to remind us what He did to redeem us and to teach us how we may avail ourselves of His Redemption and thereby live with God again.”

We all need reminders and I am grateful the Lord knows this and presented a way for this reminder to happen weekly. But the portion I really want to focus on is when he states the sacrament needs to become more holy and sacred to each of us. I love how he states each of us…it is individual…I will come back to this more later. I also love that there are no exceptions, showing that in some way each of us has work to do, regardless of where we are in our understanding and utilization of the sacrament.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “I sense that some…have not yet come to understand the significance of… (Sacrament) meeting and the importance of individual reverence and worship in it.”

As I was studying this week and came upon these thoughts from Elder Hamula and Elder Oaks, I asked myself, do I understand the significance of the sacrament and hold it as sacred as I can? My answer was yes & no. I wish that I could have given a resounding yes in response, but if I were to be honest, I couldn’t. As so many of us do, I fall into cycles in my life, this area included, hence my gift to Christ 5 months ago, I seek improvement in this area. Today, I invite each of you to honestly ask yourself the same question.

Also in my studying this week I found hope…that I could increase my understanding…that I could gain a closer relationship with my Savior through the sacrament…that I could utilize the enabling power of the atonement more frequently…and that the Lord will help me in the process.

I love the word hope and all that it holds in its meaning. It, obviously, continually stood out in my reading this week, the following few passages in particular.

Sister Cheryl Esplin, of the general primary presidency, said “(when Aaronic priesthood holders pass the sacrament) it is as if the Savior Himself were extending His arm of mercy, inviting each one of us to partake of the precious gifts of love made available through His atoning sacrifice—gifts of repentance, forgiveness, comfort, and hope.”

Elder Robert D. Hales said, “Our pondering (during the sacrament) helps us to recognize that through the Savior’s sacrifice, we have the hope, opportunity, and strength to make real, heartfelt changes in our lives.”

Elder John H. Groberg stated, “No matter what our problems, the sacrament always gives hope.”

And I am grateful that it does. The sacrament is also a very personal experience. Growing up I didn’t realize this aspect or the great blessings and experiences that come because of its personal nature.

Elder Groberg said, “The sacrament is an intensely personal experience, and we are the ones who knowingly are worthy or otherwise.”

Elder David B. Haight stated, “The sacrament is one ordinance that allows us to experience a personal relationship to God and enlarges our knowledge and understanding of Him and His Only Begotten Son.“

Taking advantage of the gifts and blessings of the sacrament are up to us, as it is a personal experience. We get to choose, which is sometimes hard to swallow because if we are not fully enjoying the blessings of the sacrament we only have ourselves to look to in understanding why we aren’t taking full advantage. On the flip side, it also means that no one can hold us back from increasing our understanding and use of this great power.

Elder Groberg said “All life as we know it comes about through the joining of two separate elements—each necessary. The Savior, through his infinite atonement, provides that vital element for us. He asks us to provide the other element—even a broken heart and a contrite spirit—for he will not force us.“

In 3 Nephi 9:14 the Savior says, “Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.”

So how do we, as individuals, come unto Him through the sacrament and take advantage of the many gifts and blessings that can come through partaking of the sacrament each week?

One aspect is preparation. In our ward the partaking of the sacrament begins at 11:10ish am each Sunday. But utilizing the power of the sacrament should begin well before that time.

Elder Don Clarke, of the 70, stated, “If we properly prepare for the sacrament, we can transform our lives. If we have spent time before sacrament meeting repenting of our sins, we can leave sacrament meeting feeling clean and pure.”

Elder Jay E. Jenson, also of the 70, said, “By coming humbly and fully repentant to sacrament meeting and worthily partaking of the sacrament, we may feel those arms (of mercy) again and again.”

It’s not a one time experience.

A second way is through singing the sacrament hymn. Granted, I might be a little biased towards this one, as I love most things musical. But there is power in song and there is power in community singing.

Elder David B. Haight shared an experience from his youth, outlining a sacrament service and what it meant to him. About the sacrament hymn he stated, “As we personally sang the words, our souls were better prepared to understand this sacred ordinance. At the Last Supper the early Apostles joined with the Savior in singing. Matthew records, “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.(Matt. 26:30.)”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “The music of sacrament meeting is a vital part of our worship. The scriptures teach that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto the Lord (see D&C 25:12). How wonderful when every person in attendance joins in the worship of singing—especially in the hymn that helps us prepare to partake of the sacrament.”

Another aspect is in how we approach the time of the actual passing of the sacrament. If you are like me, it is frequently difficult to reign in stray thoughts during the this time.

President Howard W. Hunter described what these moments can be like when he said, “The solemn moments of thought while the sacrament is being served have great significance. They are moments of self-examination, introspection, self-discernment—a time to reflect and to resolve.”

Elder L. Tom Perry stated, “During the administration of the sacrament, we set aside the world. It is a period of spiritual renewal as we recognize the deep spiritual significance of the ordinance offered to each of us personally. If we were to become casual in partaking of the sacrament, we would lose the opportunity for spiritual growth.”

Elder Don Clarke of the 70 shared one way he works to keep his thoughts aligned to the Savior during the sacrament. When he was a teenager one of his teachers asked him and his classmates to take a small card to sacrament meeting. During the sacrament he asked them to write down every thought they had on the card. He stated, “I took my card and began to write. First on the list was a basketball game we had won the night before. And then came a date after the game, and so went the list. Far removed and certainly not in bold letters was the name of Jesus Christ.” He continued by saying this realization helped him to bring his thoughts to the Savior and over time his list drastically changed.

A few years ago I went through a period of time where during the sacrament I would walk through the final week of Savior’s mortal life in my mind. During this time, the sacrament, as well as the experiences and learning I had were amazingly sweet.

We can each find our own way of keeping our thoughts aligned to our Savior during the sacrament, but I hope we will not let fear or guilt keep us from evaluating where we are on this path and therefore leading us towards improvement.

If we are able to prepare, invite the Spirit through song and other means, then reflect on our Savior, repentance and the enabling power of the atonement, we will be blessed immensely.

Elder Oaks stated, “When we join in the solemnity that should always accompany the ordinance of the sacrament and the worship of this meeting—we are qualified for the companionship and revelation of the Spirit. This is the way we get direction for our lives and peace along the way.”

Elder James Hamula said, “Regular and earnest participation in this sacred ordinance helps us continue to embrace and live the doctrine of Christ after baptism and thereby pursue and complete the process of sanctification. Indeed, the ordinance of the sacrament helps us faithfully endure to the end and receive the fullness of the Father in the same way Jesus did, grace for grace.”

One of my favorite thoughts I came across this week is from Elder Don Clarke of the 70. He said, “It will always be a great sacrament meeting if the sacrament is the center of our worship.” The entire meeting will be great!

Elder Robert D. Hales said, “I testify that the sacrament gives us an opportunity to come to ourselves and experience “a mighty change” of heart—to remember who we are and what we most desire. As we renew the covenant to keep the commandments, we obtain the companionship of the Holy Ghost to lead us back into our Heavenly Father’s presence. No wonder we are commanded to “meet together oft to partake of [the] bread and [water]” and to partake of the sacrament to our souls.”

Partaking worthily of the sacrament gives us added strength and can be a protection. In D&C 59:9 it says, ““And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;” It helps keep us unspotted!

Elder Melvin J. Ballard said, “I am a witness that there is a spirit attending the administration of the sacrament that warms the soul from head to foot; you feel the wounds of the spirit being healed, and the load being lifted. Comfort and happiness come to the soul that is worthy and truly desirous of partaking of this spiritual food.”

What a beautiful description. I love the phrase “warms the soul” and the images it conjures. The atonement and the sacrament hold great power, if we will but utilize it. Through it, we can be changed, we can become better, we can reach our potential and we can return to our Father in Heaven.

In closing I’d like to share one final thought from Elder Groberg. He said “Think of it. Think of what could and should happen in your life, in your ward, in your stake, in the whole Church, in the whole world, if every Sunday individuals—hundreds, thousands, even millions—under the authority of the priesthood of God, took the sacrament worthily and thus repented and sincerely determined to better follow the guidance of the Lord’s Spirit. The life that would be given, the forgiveness that would be obtained, the spiritual strength that would be received! The light that would thus be generated would cause Zion to shine forth brilliantly and would prepare a people pure in heart, ready for the Lord’s second coming in a way that would be marvelous to behold.”

I know Jesus Christ atoned for all our sins, I know that through Him we can withstand the storms of this life and return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again. I know that as we work to improve ourselves we have Their help! I know the gospel is the word of God and I am grateful for that knowledge. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Hope you are doing well friend. Lots of love your way! Love,

Ashlee B. and Us

Patience…

Kalli,

I gave a talk about a month ago in my first ID ward. I was going to post the entire things, but realized it was super disorganized in writing and would have been a nightmare for you to decipher 🙂 So, instead I’m just going to share a couple of quotes that I found that were really powerful.

President Uchtdorf said “Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace. As parents, we know how unwise it would be to indulge our children’s every desire. But children are not the only ones who spoil when showered with immediate gratification. Our Heavenly Father knows what good parents come to understand over time: if children are ever going to mature and reach their potential, they must learn to wait.”

I love how he calls it a process! You and I have often talked about the power of that word. I truly believe it is in the process that we truly learn, this is where we struggle, search, ask, examine, etc. and therefore, those are the times and moments that we remember and that shape us.

He went on to say “Patience requires actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort. There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can-working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hears are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!”

I love this! A couple of my favorite definitions are ‘it is not passive resignation, or failing to act because of our fears.’ How powerful is that? It makes me want to get to work, because I don’t want to be in either of those situations.

There are so many situations in our lives that require patience. For me, some are easier than others, but it is always helpful to me to remember why we are required to be patient and what exercising this characteristic does for me and my eternal growth.

Just a couple quick thoughts…love you tons!

Ashlee B. and Us

“He will manifest the truth”

Kalli,

This is my talk from January. Thought I would share it here with you. Love you lots!

This weekend I saw a couple of movies, both based on true stories, which really caused me to think about humanity again. There were parts of me that became very discouraged with how lost we can become, how cruel we can be to one another, how blind we can be to others needs, but mostly how much deception there is in the world. My feelings are reflected quite well in these thoughts by Pres. Uchtdorf, “It seems to be a trait of humanity to assume that we are right even when we are wrong. And if that is the case, what hope is there for any of us? Are we destined to drift aimlessly on an ocean of conflicting information, stranded on a raft we have poorly pieced together from our own biases? Is it possible to find truth?”

Fortunately, during these films, there were also parts of me that were encouraged and hopeful at seeing people who stand strong, who don’t waiver, at seeing kindness and love. People who stood alone looking like they were following or knowing only “wrong” for large portions or all their lives, when in reality they were the only ones following or knowing what was “right”. This begs the question, how do we find and know what is right or true when there are these oceans of conflicting information, as Pres. Uchtdorf calls them, and all those around us see/understand/believe something completely different?

There are many amazing and wonderful tools and supports our Heavenly Father has provided for us on this earth to help us, but I think one of the greatest is a way for us to sort through all this information and decipher right and wrong, truth and error. It is a simple pattern of actions that I’ll touch more on in a minute, which can be quite difficult to follow consistently. But will bring the Holy Ghost into our lives and as a result we will have the ability to know what is right and true, as well as the strength to stand for and follow it.

Elder Russell M. Nielson stated why it is so important for us to decipher what is right and true, “Just as buildings and institutions have foundations, so do we as individuals have foundations that support our faith. Some are weak; some are strong. We can waffle “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed,” ³⁰ or we can stand on a firm foundation and anchor ourselves with straps of spiritual steel, rooted and grounded to the timeless pillars of the gospel.” Knowing truth gives us a firm foundation! And it is through the gospel that we will find what is right and true so that we can build and strengthen our foundations.

Michaelene P. Grassli, former general Primary pres., while speaking to parents stated, “If our children know truth, they can recognize error. When (they) are familiar with truth, they can face opposing voices with confidence. When they make mistakes or have questions about doctrines as we all do, the feelings and memories of truth from their childhood can help draw them back.” Applies to us all!

From Elder Nielson again, “The foundation of this Church was forged long before the world was. It is strong. It is true. It is eternal. The foundation of one’s individual faith, if anchored firmly to eternal truth, allows each of us to reach upward with an eternal perspective. ⁴³ That faith will give hope when there is no hope. It will give us joy here and eternal life hereafter.” To me there is a lot of comfort in this statement…gaining an eternal perspective…having hope when we see so much that tries to strip us of that…it gives joy…all great things!

But how do we know truth in order to build our own solid foundations?

In Moroni 10:4 it states, “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Many of us are very familiar with this scripture and the pattern given us to find truth, but we are all in varying stages of learning and practicing this pattern.

Search: the word of God

Ponder

Ask: sincere heart, real intent, in the name of Christ

Act/live them/test them: Holy Ghost will manifest

Pres. Uchtdorf: “First, you must search the word of God. Then quoted Alma 32:27 “Even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you … that ye can give place for [the word of God].

“Second, you must consider, ponder, fearlessly strive to believe,⁸ and be grateful for how merciful the Lord has been to His children from the time of Adam to our day by providing prophets, seers, and revelators to lead His Church and help us find the way back to Him.

“Third, you must ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth … unto you. Ask with a sincere heart and with real intent, having faith in Christ.⁹

“There is also a fourth step, given to us by the Savior: “If any man will do [God’s] will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”¹⁰ In other words, when you are trying to verify the truth of gospel principles, you must first live them. Put gospel doctrine and Church teachings to the test in your own life. Do it with real intent and enduring faith in God.”

Elder Didier also says this with, “Test divine revelation. Hear the voice of the Lord. It is real; it is personal; it is true. Reason does not and cannot replace revelation. Quoting President James E. Faust, “Do not let your private doubts separate you from the divine source of knowledge” In this same talk he has the tag line “hear and heed”. I love this because it captures the action we must all take in the truth seeking process.

Matthew O. Richardson, former Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency “First, the Holy Ghost teaches individuals in a very personal way. This makes it possible for us to intimately know truth for ourselves. Because of our different needs, circumstances, and progression, the Holy Ghost teaches what we must know and do so we may become what we must be. Please note that while the Holy Ghost teaches “the truth of all things,”⁴ He does not teach all truth all at once. The Spirit teaches truth “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Second, the Holy Ghost teaches by inviting, prompting, encouraging, and inspiring us to act. Christ assured us that we come to the truth when we live doctrine and act accordingly. John 7:17”

My take away from this is how individualized this process is for each one of us, and that it is a process. We can know truth intimately; we will learn line upon line in a manner that works for us.

Since I grew up in the church, I feel that I have known this pattern for a long time. But it is still challenging on many levels. Throughout my life I have asked, How do I really know? How it is manifest? Was that really the Spirit confirming truth or something else? It is wonderful that this is an individual process that will work for each one of us, but sometimes that is also difficult for me because how do we learn to gain understand when it is different from others? How do we learn how we receive these spiritual confirmations?

In answer to my questions, we must act, test it out, try different approaches in order to figure it out. It is so important and vital to each on of us that we learn how to recognize truth for ourselves.

Pres. Uchtdorf gives a few examples of what these manifestations of truth can look like “He will speak to them in dreams, visions, thoughts, and feelings. He will speak in a way that is unmistakable and that transcends human experience. He will give them divine direction and answers for their personal lives. You need to learn to listen to His voice.”

We do need to learn His voice! It is how we can have truth confirmed and build our relationship with Him.

Pres. Uchtdorf also said, “if you want to recognize spiritual truth, you have to use the right instruments. You can’t come to an understanding of spiritual truth with instruments that are unable to detect it.”

We have the tools of studying, pondering, prayer and action. Plus there can additional tools for each of individually that work.

Since this is an individual thing I can’t give exactly what it will feel like for each one of us when truth is revealed, but I can share my own experiences. They may be similar to your own, or quite different. A number of years ago I had a very poignant experience, but not for the reasons most would think of when considering this topic. After my fresman year in college I went on a travel study tour and as part of the trip we went to the Sacred Grove. I remember at the time being really excited and prayer to know the truth of a specific principle, which I don’t remember now. I was sort of expecting a big experience or grand gesture. It was a wonderful experience, but nothing grand. It was peaceful and beautiful. I can still hear the sounds of the birds and see the sun filtering through the trees. But there were no huge answers or confirmations. This experience helped me realize I receive truth through small experiences over time. I will feel peaceful, good, things will feel familiar, a moment of clarity, lack of confusion, or something will just stand out. It is through these small moments combined that I have a solid foundation of truth.

Once we have these experiences and confirmations it doesn’t man we are all set. There will still be moments when we waiver. Sister Grassli was talking about Moses’ experience when he was tempted by Satan and she said, “Moses knew this was not true, but Satan’s rantings had a terrifying effect on him. However, he did not let fear overtake him. He prayed again, received strength from God, and commanded Satan again to depart. Then with loud wailing, weeping, and gnashing of teeth, Satan finally departed (see Moses 1:20–22). Moses recognized error, he prayed continually for help, and he overcame fear. Thus he was able to defy Satan’s attempts to intimidate him.”

This is very comforting to me to know that a prophet of God sometimes has to call on the Lord in moments when he doesn’t feel as strong. We are not alone in needing all the support we can get and sometimes needing additional confirmations of truth.

Pres. Uchtdorf said “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a place for people with all kinds of testimonies. There are some members of the Church whose testimony is sure and burns brightly within them. Others are still striving to know for themselves. The Church is a home for all to come together, regardless of the depth or the height of our testimony. I know of no sign on the doors of our meetinghouses that says, “Your testimony must be this tall to enter.””

I love this! We are all at different stages and we are even at different stages at different times in our lives. Sometimes when we know one thing is true we have to go back to it later and work again to gain that confirmation.

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

Truth really does set us free to see and understand the bigger picture as well as to have more confidence in the Lord and the truths of the gospel.

One final thought from Pres. Uchtdorf “The process of gathering spiritual light is the quest of a lifetime.”

It does take a lifetime, and is a continual process. There are truths all around us and we need to look for them and acknowledge them. I don’t know when or why I started this, but whenever I hear truth and can identify it as such I say it out loud. I feel like it is one thing to recognize the truth, but saying it then confirms it again and is very helpful to me.

We can find truth, we just need to seek it out and learn how we gain that confirmation so we know the pattern in our life.

I know that our Heavenly Father and Savior want us to find truth and will help us if we only ask. Although it is very difficult at times and I’ve often joked about having flashing red signs to point me in the right direction, I’m grateful for the opportunity to find out for myself and to have the choice to believe in truths or not.

I know my Savior lives and loves me. I know the Atonement is real and is there for me, as well as for everyone. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Love you Kalli!!!

Ashlee and Us

SETTLE IN

Dear Kalli,

I was in a spin class the other day, and the instructor gave some valuable advice (at least I think!). Although the words directly apply to spinning, they indirectly apply to life and life’s challenges. In terms of the class, we were about 2/3rds of the way through, and we began to climb a mountain (requiring a low gear, but tons of resistance on the bike) while sitting in the saddle. She said:

“You can’t see the summit.

Don’t wish away the trip to the top.

Feel your muscles working.

Settle into your strength.

Settle into your power.

Don’t think; just feel.”

Sometimes I have a hard time with the word “endure.” For me it feels like I’m just plugging my nose and waving my hand until the smell goes away. (Often exercising feels this way for me – just ignore what my body is doing and push through so I can be done…) Instead, I LOVE the idea of “settling in” – really recognizing, celebrating, and focusing on the moment. I feel like “settling in” is empowering, not just being reactive but proactive. For me “settling in” is connecting with my strength and feeling that power move me forward, inch by inch, revolution by revolution of the spin bike.

Elder Nelson said in April 1997: “If you really want to be like the Lord—more than any thing or anyone else—you will remember that your adoration of Jesus is best shown by your emulation of Him. Then you will not allow any other love to become more important than love for your companion, your family, and your Creator. You will govern yourself not by someone else’s set of rules but by revealed principles of truth.

Your responsibility to [settle in] is uniquely yours. But you are never alone. I testify that the lifting power of the Lord can be yours if you will “come unto Christ” and “be perfected in him.” You will “deny yourselves of all ungodliness.” And you will “love God with all your might, mind and strength.” ³⁶

The living prophet of the Lord has issued a clarion call: “I invite every one of you,” said President Hinckley, “to stand on your feet and with a song in your heart move forward, living the gospel, loving the Lord, and building the kingdom. Together we shall stay the course and keep the faith.” (The [settle in] insert is my own; the real word is “endure”)

You are amazing! We love you!

Love,

Sarah and US

WRITING A NEW CHAPTER

Dear Kalli,

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” -Ben Franklin (I guess you’re doing both!!)

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” -Ernest Hemingway

“Writing in a journal reminds you of your goals and of your learning in life. It offers a place where you can hold a deliberate, thoughtful conversation with yourself.” – Robin S. Sharma

H. David Burton said in 1998, “Yes, today is, indeed, a season of many opportunities. It is a season to reach out to touch the life of someone, a season to commit to keeping the Sabbath day holy, and a season to help keep the lights of our temples burning brightly, to name just a very few. I testify of a living Father in Heaven and of His Son, our Savior and our Redeemer, both who love us unconditionally and are anxious for us to seize the many opportunities They have provided.”

Aaaaaaaaaaand, for your work with the little ones:

“Teaching Is Opportunity to Follow Christ,” President Uchtdorf Says:

https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/teaching-is-opportunity-to-follow-christ-president-uchtdorf-says?lang=eng

Although this is directly about missions, I think it can be more universally applied to each of our life-missions. Brother Waddell said in 2011, “A milestone in the life of a missionary is his or her final, or “exit,” interview with the mission president. At the heart of the interview will be a discussion of what seems to be a lifetime of memorable experiences and key lessons that have been gained in just 18 to 24 months.

While many of these experiences and lessons may be common to missionary service, each mission is unique, with challenges and opportunities that stretch and test us according to our particular needs and personalities.

Long before leaving our earthly home to serve a full-time mission, we left heavenly parents to fulfill our mortal mission. We have a Father in Heaven, who knows us—our strengths and weaknesses, our abilities and potential. He knows which mission president and companions and which members and investigators we need in order to become the missionary, the husband and father, and the priesthood holder we are capable of becoming.

Prophets, seers, and revelators assign missionaries under the direction and influence of the Holy Ghost. Inspired mission presidents direct transfers every six weeks and quickly learn that the Lord knows exactly where He wants each missionary to serve.”

 In other words, this mission is unique to you, with “challenges and opportunities that stretch and test [you] according to [your] particular needs and personalit[y].” The Lord knows where to send us on our life-missions in order to help us become the person we are capable of becoming. You are there for a reason Kalli! I sooo look forward to hearing about your new chapter and reading your book when you join us in July =)

We love you!

Love,

Sarah and US

Women of God

Dear Kalli-

I love that Sarah set this blog up. She is a super star!!

Kalli-when you knew you were going of on this grand adventure, you mentioned something about being apart/getting to know the women/Relief Society in various parts of the world (obviously I don’t remember exactly what you said)..but I thought it was cool that you get to see women throughout the world in various ways being women! Women serving their children, families, and their communities  I imagine you will see and learn many things about the beauty of a woman… you will see many examples of womanhood!! But also, you get to be an example to the young girls you will be working with. So, I thought I would share this talk…about being a woman of God. What a great privilege we have in being a daughter of God.

Love you, from Joey and us

The Joy of Womanhood, by MARGARET D. NADAULD

It is a remarkable blessing to be a daughter of God today. We have the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are blessed to have the priesthood restored to the earth. We are led by a prophet of God who holds all of the priesthood keys. I love and honor President Gordon B. Hinckley and all of our brethren who bear the priesthood worthily.

I am inspired by the lives of good and faithful women. From the beginning of time the Lord has placed significant trust in them. He has sent us to earth for such a time as this to perform a grand and glorious mission. The Doctrine and Covenants teaches, “Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men” (D&C 138:56). What a wonderful vision that gives us of our purpose on earth.

Where much is given, much is required. Our Heavenly Father asks His daughters to walk in virtue, to live in righteousness so that we can fulfill our life’s mission and His purposes. He wants us to be successful, and He will help us as we seek His help.

That women were born into this earth female was determined long before mortal birth, as were the divine differences of male and female. I love the clarity of the teachings of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve in the proclamation on the family, where they state, “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.” ¹ From that statement we are taught that every girl was feminine and female in spirit long before her mortal birth.

God sent women to earth with some qualities in extra capacity. In speaking to young women, President Faust observed that femininity “is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your … capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each … possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty.” ²

Our outward appearance is a reflection of what we are on the inside. Our lives reflect that for which we seek. And if with all our hearts we truly seek to know the Savior and to be more like Him, we shall be, for He is our divine, eternal Brother. But He is more than that. He is our precious Savior, our dear Redeemer. We ask with Alma of old, “Have ye received his image in your countenances?” (Alma 5:14).

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their outward appearance. These women understand their stewardship over their bodies and treat them with dignity. They care for their bodies as they would a holy temple, for they understand the Lord’s teaching: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16). Women who love God would never abuse or deface a temple with graffiti. Nor would they throw open the doors of that holy, dedicated edifice and invite the world to look on. How even more sacred is the body, for it was not made by man. It was formed by God. We are the stewards, the keepers of the cleanliness and purity with which it came from heaven. “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Cor. 3:17).

Grateful daughters of God guard their bodies carefully, for they know they are the wellspring of life and they reverence life. They don’t uncover their bodies to find favor with the world. They walk in modesty to be in favor with their Father in Heaven. For they know He loves them dearly.

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their attitude. They know that the errand of angels is given to women, and they desire to be on God’s errand to love His children and minister to them, to teach them the doctrines of salvation, to call them to repentance, to save them in perilous circumstances, to guide them in the performance of His work, to deliver His messages. ³ They understand that they can bless their Father’s children in their homes and neighborhoods and beyond. Women who are grateful to be daughters of God bring glory to His name.

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their abilities. They fulfill their divine potential and magnify their God-given gifts. They are capable, strong women who bless families, serve others, and understand that “the glory of God is intelligence” (D&C 93:36). They are women who embrace enduring virtues in order to be all that our Father needs them to be. The prophet Jacob spoke of some of those virtues when he said their “feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God” (Jacob 2:7).

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their reverence for motherhood, even when that blessing has been withheld from them for a time. In those circumstances, their righteous influence can be a blessing in the lives of children they love. Their exemplary teachings can echo the voice of a faithful home and resonate truth in the hearts of children who need another witness.

Grateful daughters of God love Him and teach their children to love Him without reservation and without resentment. They are like the mothers of Helaman’s youthful army, who had such great faith and “had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them” (Alma 56:47).

When you observe kind and gentle mothers in action, you see women of great strength. Their families can feel a spirit of love and respect and safety when they are near her as she seeks the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the guidance of His Spirit. They are blessed by her wisdom and good judgment. The husbands and children, whose lives they bless, will contribute to the stability of societies all over this world. Grateful daughters of God learn truths from their mothers and grandmothers and aunts. They teach their daughters the joyful art of creating a home. They seek fine educations for their children and have a thirst for knowledge themselves. They help their children develop skills that they can use in serving others. They know that the way they have chosen is not the easy way, but they know it is absolutely worth their finest efforts.

They understand what Elder Neal A. Maxwell meant when he said: “When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?” ⁴

Daughters of God know that it is the nurturing nature of women that can bring everlasting blessings, and they live to cultivate this divine attribute. Surely when a woman reverences motherhood, her children will arise up and call her blessed (see Prov. 31:28).

Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.

Oh, how we pray that every young woman will grow up to be all the wonderful things she is meant to be. We pray that her mother and father will show her the right way. May daughters of God honor the priesthood and sustain worthy priesthood holders. May they understand their own great capacity for strength in the timeless virtues that some would scoff at in a modern, liberated world for women.

May mothers and fathers understand the great potential for good their daughters inherited from their heavenly home. We must nourish their gentleness, their nurturing nature, their innate spirituality and sensitivity, and their bright minds. Celebrate the fact that girls are different from boys. Be thankful for the position they have in God’s grand plan. And always remember what President Hinckley said, “Only after the earth had been formed, after the day had been separated from the night, after the waters had been divided from the land, after vegetation and animal life had been created, and after man had been placed on the earth, was woman created; and only then was the work pronounced complete and good.” ⁵

Fathers, husbands, young men, may you catch a vision of all that women are and can be. Please be worthy of God’s holy priesthood, which you bear, and honor that priesthood, for it blesses all of us.

Sisters, regardless of your age, please understand all that you are and must be, all that you were prepared to be in royal courts on high by God Himself. May we use with gratitude the priceless gifts we have been given for the lifting of mankind to higher thinking and nobler aspirations, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Uncharted

Dear Kalli,

No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit. – Helen Keller

Uncharted: by Sara Bareilles

 

 

For your work with the little ones:

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. – Mark Van Doren

Last Sunday, Amy Beth gave an awesome RS lesson. She led us through considering the Savior as each participant in the Nativity scene, for example, how is the Savior like the angels? or the shepherds? or the wise men? or Jesus’ parents? Like the angels, the Savior brings warnings, comfort, and announces the Father. Like the shepherds, He leads us, seeking the one, being humble, and spreading the good news of the gospel. Like the wise men, He is the wisest of all, He is the King of all Kings, and He left all of his personal pursuits to fulfill the Father’s will. Like Jesus’ parents, He wants the best for us, He loves us more than we can imagine, and He sacrifices for us. There are many more participants and connections we didn’t have time to pursue – what resonates with you?

The Savior’s birth brought man into uncharted territory – He is here!!!!

Can’t wait to see where these uncharted travels take you =)

We love you!

Love,

Sarah H and US

Joy In NEW

Dear Kalli,

Walt Disney said, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

Christopher McCandless posited, “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”

From E. Bednar’s talk, “Ye Must Be Born Again” (April, 2007):

“Alma declared: ‘Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God’ (Mosiah 27:25–26).

We are instructed to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness” (Moroni 10:32), to become “new creature[s]” in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), to put off “the natural man” (Mosiah 3:19), and to experience “a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2). Please note that the conversion described in these verses is mighty, not minor—a spiritual rebirth and fundamental change of what we feel and desire, what we think and do, and what we are. Indeed, the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through our reliance upon “the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8). As we choose to follow the Master, we choose to be changed—to be spiritually reborn.”

I hope the new you are experiencing is joyful!

We love you!

Love,

Sarah H and US

Small Beginnings

Dear Kalli,

A blogger from Excellence Training wrote, “Do you remember the new beginnings within your life? They are the moments where change begins to take root, and you grew a new part of yourself?  A new version of your life? Perhaps they took the form of your first day at a new school, or a new job, the first time you fell in love, when you learned how to paint, create music, dance, or run. These are the epiphanies that send us into new patterns of thought, or the life changes that catapult us into a new state of being. To become the person you are today, you have experienced a multitude of beginnings. Some of them have been more memorable than others, but all of them are important parts of who you are. ‘Do not despise small beginnings’ – Zechariah 4:10″

In April 1975, Sterling Sill said, “And I thought that inasmuch as this is a season of so many new beginnings I would like to talk to you about birth. However, I don’t mean the birth of Jesus, nor the resurrection, nor the reawakening of nature. I mean your own birth and the great possibilities involved in our own human reawakenings.

Henry David Thoreau, an early American philosopher, once said that we should thank God every day of our lives for the privilege of having been born. And then he went on to speculate on the rather unique supposition of what it might have been like if we had not been born. Just suppose that you had never been born or that your parents or your brothers and sisters or your children or your friends had never been born. Just think of all the excitement and blessings that we would have missed as a consequence. But what Mr. Thoreau may not have known was that one-third of all the children of God never were born and never can be born because they failed to pass the requirements of their first estate.

We remember the unembodied spirits who appeared to Jesus in his day who preferred the bodies of swine rather than to have no bodies at all. (See Matt. 8:28–32; Mark 5:11–13.) And I am very sure that if we could go today while we walk by faith and stand where we once stood when we walked by sight that we would be willing to crawl on our hands and knees through life for this tremendous opportunity which we presently enjoy.

William Wordsworth said that our birth is a sleep and forgetting. There is one distinguishing characteristic about the moment of birth in that it is an unconscious moment; that is, no one ever realizes while he is being born that that event is actually taking place. Sometimes we don’t discover that we have been born until quite a long time afterward. Sometimes we never do find out that we have been born.

I heard one man say about his friend, ‘He doesn’t know he is alive.’ Frequently that strikes very close to the truth. That is, sometimes we don’t know why we were born. We don’t know where we came from. We don’t know the purpose of life. We haven’t any very definite program for just what we are going to do about our eternal destiny.”

I love the thought that there are no endings, just new beginnings, and that each beginning helps us become who we are today.

We love you!

Love,

Sarah H and US

Sending Wind To You

Dear Kalli,

The beginning of your journey had me thinking about Mary today. How might have Mary felt as she left Nazareth headed for Bethlehem? She must have been filled with anxiety and fear, anticipation and faith … and many other feelings.

Upon Leaving Home – by Stephanie Russell

“I left my quiet harbor

In favor of another—I know not where.

But first,

there are seas to cross

and storms to brave.

How could I prefer the foreign deep

to the encircling arms of my bay?

Because

some things

can only be learned

at sea.

Yes, my craft is watertight.

I can navigate the unknown,

And O, the wind that fills my sails

blows from home.”

Christine C gave an amazing talk today about gifts. She said each member of the nativity scene brought a gift: the kings, gold, frankincense, myrrh; the shepherds, spreading the word of Jesus’ birth; Joseph, incredible faith; Mary, love and sacrifice (I think). She talked about recognizing gifts in others, and how we need to see these gifts in both ourselves and in others. She said we should never doubt our own gifts, for we have them to bless and serve others.

Matt M also gave an amazing talk about the three-holiday season: Thanksgiving, for being humble and grateful, Christmas, for sharing and giving, and New Year’s, for implementing change. He talked about this natural progression through all three, that when one has humbled themselves, and served, then they desire to make changes to be more like the Lord.

Hope you are loving South Africa! Sending wind from us to you…

Love,

Sarah H and US

The Birthday of ALL Birthdays

Dear Kalli,

Happy Birthday on the birthday of ALL birthdays! The birth of a new chapter. New learning. New experiences. Today is the day you leave for a most incredible adventure. Is it not Bilbo that, when asked where he was “off to,” shouted as he ran by the questioner, “I’m going on an adventure!” Not only is this a once-in-a-life opportunity, it’s like a once-in-ten-lifetimes adventure!!

In the spirit of new adventures, Elder Holland said, “‘The best is yet to be’ is an important matter to consider at the start of a new year—and every day ought to be the start of a new year and a new life. Such is the wonder of faith, repentance, and the miracle of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The poet Robert Browning wrote:

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in his hand

Who saith, ‘A whole I planned,

Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!’ ²

Some of you may wonder: Is there any future for me? What does a new year or a new semester, a new major or a new romance, a new job or a new home hold for me? Will I be safe? Will life be sound? Can I trust in the Lord and in the future? Or would it be better to look back, to go back, to stay in the past?

To all such of every generation, I call out, ‘Remember Lot’s wife.’ Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the ‘high priest of good things to come’ (Hebrews 9:11).

Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever.”

Full talk at: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/01/the-best-is-yet-to-be?lang=eng

As you are traveling, we will be sending you messages, pictures, recordings, updates, and love from the US. =)

We love you! Please share and post your experiences somewhere so we can be there with you.

We are praying for you!

Love,

Sarah H and US