Not a whole lot has been going on lately. I finished the Gospel of Luke and started reading John. I've only read a few chapters so far. It was interesting to realize that John 3:16 was part of a conversation with Nicodemus, the Pharisee. I never knew that...
On Thursday the missionaries went over the plan of salvation. I was already pretty familiar with it, but I think they just wanted to be sure. They left me an Easter basket on my front porch, and I saw it as I was driving off to church this morning. That was pretty unexpected. Here are the messages they left.
"Now... the thing of which I am certain, and of whitch I bear witness, is the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without it life is meaningless... There would be no Christmas if there were no Easter." - President Gordon B. Hinkley
"[This] week the Christian world will celebrate the most significant event in world history... 'He is not here for He has risen, ' was the first confirmation of the literal resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The empty tomb that first Easter morning brought comforting assurance, an affirmative answer to Job's question, 'If a man die, shall he live again?' --He shall live again -- 'I am the resurrection and the life,' spoke the Savior. 'He that believeth in me though he were dead. Yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." - President Thomas Monson
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Long Road to How I Got Here
1984
My very first introduction to the Church happend when I was about ten years old. My 15 year old sister went on a drinking binge with her friends, and when she was dropped off at home she wasn't breathing and her heart had stopped. My mom performed CPR until the ambulance arrived. While my dad was in the ER waiting room, he was approached by a group of Mormons who were there waiting to for a youth who had broken his leg during a baseball game. They offered to pray with him, and gave him a copy of The Book of Mormon. He was soon meeting with the missionaries.
I remember sitting in on at least one of the missionary lessons. I don't remember the lesson, but they let me ask a question when it was over. I asked if there were people who lived on other planets. I'm sure my Dad was rolling his eyes at my question, but the missionaries were very kind. They told me that they did believe there were people who lived on other planets, and that they were children of Heavenly Father too.
My Dad later told me that he read The Book of Mormon three times before he was baptized. He felt like he had "finally found the truth". I was there when he was baptized, and I remember parts of it quite vividly. I remember the white polyester jumpsuit he wore. I remember him being immersed, and I remember the laying on of hands when he received the Holy Ghost. He also told me later that he "saw blue light" during his confirmation. All in all, he had a PROFOUND experience.
My Mom was not happy with any of these choices my Dad had made, but she did go to church with him once. I went too, and remember a few things about it. I remember when the Sacrament was passed, and my Dad was VERY adament that I not take it. I rember the lesson in Sunday School. We learned about how Brigham Young was chosen to be the Prophet after Joseph Smith was killed. I was very impressed by that story.
After that I'm not exactly sure what happend. My Dad became inactive, and eventually requested that his name be removed from the Church rolls, which means he was excommunicated. My grandparents gave us anti-Mormon books, The God Makers was one that I read, so I'm sure they had something to do with my Dad leaving the Church. Later, he told me that The Salamander Letters had a negative influence on him, but he had no idea that those turned out to be forgeries.
1994 - 2000
When I was in college, my next door neighbor, Shari was an inactive memeber of the Church. She introduced me to her friend, Michael, who eventually sent me a copy of The Book of Mormon. I wanted a copy without having missionaries show up on my doorstep.
2002-2003
I read part of The Book of Mormon. I made it about halfway through the book of Alma.
2004
I belong to an online email mommy group where I met Venita. Her 6th child, Christian, died when he was 13 months old. He had a congenital brain abnormality that caused fluid to build up around his brain. By the time anyone realized what was wrong, it was too late. Venita mentioned that her husband had given her a blessing that gave her some comfort. When I read that message I had a very strong urge to find out about this blessing. I didn't want to upset Venita by asking about it, but I just had to ask. The second I hit "send" I regretted it. Well, Venita had me call her, and she read the very long blessing to me through her tears. The condensed version is that Christian's life was so short "to remind people that Christ exists for them, to be a light unto peopleand bring them to Christ." Venita wanted me to go back to church, any church was fine, but she wanted my to learn more about her church as well.
I found the Gospel Principles book online at LDS.org, and I started reading it. I continued my study on and off for a while.
August 2006
I was on a Mormon kick, and I'd been reading some interesting books that could definitely be classified as anti-Mormon. I was in the middle of one that I really wasn't enjoying at all, something about it really made my skin crawl. Someone rang the doorbell, and there stood two LDS missionaries. My heart just about leapt out of my throat! They asked if I had read The Book of Mormon, and I told them that I'd read some of it and I owned a copy. They were a little surprised by that. They asked if they could present a lesson, and I said "yes". My husband was out of the country for a week, and I took that as an opportunity to take my kids to church and have 2-3 lessons. I ADORED going to the LDS church. I couldn't believe how welcome I felt. Wrangling Elijah (14 months) on the front row wasn't great, but the people were.
Pete came home from Mexico, and I admitted what I had done. He was livid. All of my experiences fell flat when I tried to explain them to him. I asked if I could attend for a month to see if I still liked it, but he asked that I not. He was afraid he would lose me to this "Mormon cult". He didn't out and out ban me, so I took the kids one more time. We went for the entire 3 hours that time. After that I decided it was too big of a strain on our marriage.
Summer 2007
The missionaries again knock on my door, and I explain that my husband wants me to have nothing to do with the church.
Sept 2007
I found out about something that Pete did, and I decided he no longer had the authority to decide where I did or didn't go to church. I was so upset and hurt that I took my kids back to the LDS church purely out of spite. The wards who meet in the building had swapped times, and I actually attended the wrong ward. Everyone was just as welcoming as they'd been the year before. I started attending regularly (with the correct ward, lol) at that time. The missionaries (one remembered me from knocking on my door a month or so earlier) weren't quite sure what to do with me, and just left me alone for a while. I finally decided that it was time to continue the discussions, and I talked to the missionaries sometime in November.
My very first introduction to the Church happend when I was about ten years old. My 15 year old sister went on a drinking binge with her friends, and when she was dropped off at home she wasn't breathing and her heart had stopped. My mom performed CPR until the ambulance arrived. While my dad was in the ER waiting room, he was approached by a group of Mormons who were there waiting to for a youth who had broken his leg during a baseball game. They offered to pray with him, and gave him a copy of The Book of Mormon. He was soon meeting with the missionaries.
I remember sitting in on at least one of the missionary lessons. I don't remember the lesson, but they let me ask a question when it was over. I asked if there were people who lived on other planets. I'm sure my Dad was rolling his eyes at my question, but the missionaries were very kind. They told me that they did believe there were people who lived on other planets, and that they were children of Heavenly Father too.
My Dad later told me that he read The Book of Mormon three times before he was baptized. He felt like he had "finally found the truth". I was there when he was baptized, and I remember parts of it quite vividly. I remember the white polyester jumpsuit he wore. I remember him being immersed, and I remember the laying on of hands when he received the Holy Ghost. He also told me later that he "saw blue light" during his confirmation. All in all, he had a PROFOUND experience.
My Mom was not happy with any of these choices my Dad had made, but she did go to church with him once. I went too, and remember a few things about it. I remember when the Sacrament was passed, and my Dad was VERY adament that I not take it. I rember the lesson in Sunday School. We learned about how Brigham Young was chosen to be the Prophet after Joseph Smith was killed. I was very impressed by that story.
After that I'm not exactly sure what happend. My Dad became inactive, and eventually requested that his name be removed from the Church rolls, which means he was excommunicated. My grandparents gave us anti-Mormon books, The God Makers was one that I read, so I'm sure they had something to do with my Dad leaving the Church. Later, he told me that The Salamander Letters had a negative influence on him, but he had no idea that those turned out to be forgeries.
1994 - 2000
When I was in college, my next door neighbor, Shari was an inactive memeber of the Church. She introduced me to her friend, Michael, who eventually sent me a copy of The Book of Mormon. I wanted a copy without having missionaries show up on my doorstep.
2002-2003
I read part of The Book of Mormon. I made it about halfway through the book of Alma.
2004
I belong to an online email mommy group where I met Venita. Her 6th child, Christian, died when he was 13 months old. He had a congenital brain abnormality that caused fluid to build up around his brain. By the time anyone realized what was wrong, it was too late. Venita mentioned that her husband had given her a blessing that gave her some comfort. When I read that message I had a very strong urge to find out about this blessing. I didn't want to upset Venita by asking about it, but I just had to ask. The second I hit "send" I regretted it. Well, Venita had me call her, and she read the very long blessing to me through her tears. The condensed version is that Christian's life was so short "to remind people that Christ exists for them, to be a light unto peopleand bring them to Christ." Venita wanted me to go back to church, any church was fine, but she wanted my to learn more about her church as well.
I found the Gospel Principles book online at LDS.org, and I started reading it. I continued my study on and off for a while.
August 2006
I was on a Mormon kick, and I'd been reading some interesting books that could definitely be classified as anti-Mormon. I was in the middle of one that I really wasn't enjoying at all, something about it really made my skin crawl. Someone rang the doorbell, and there stood two LDS missionaries. My heart just about leapt out of my throat! They asked if I had read The Book of Mormon, and I told them that I'd read some of it and I owned a copy. They were a little surprised by that. They asked if they could present a lesson, and I said "yes". My husband was out of the country for a week, and I took that as an opportunity to take my kids to church and have 2-3 lessons. I ADORED going to the LDS church. I couldn't believe how welcome I felt. Wrangling Elijah (14 months) on the front row wasn't great, but the people were.
Pete came home from Mexico, and I admitted what I had done. He was livid. All of my experiences fell flat when I tried to explain them to him. I asked if I could attend for a month to see if I still liked it, but he asked that I not. He was afraid he would lose me to this "Mormon cult". He didn't out and out ban me, so I took the kids one more time. We went for the entire 3 hours that time. After that I decided it was too big of a strain on our marriage.
Summer 2007
The missionaries again knock on my door, and I explain that my husband wants me to have nothing to do with the church.
Sept 2007
I found out about something that Pete did, and I decided he no longer had the authority to decide where I did or didn't go to church. I was so upset and hurt that I took my kids back to the LDS church purely out of spite. The wards who meet in the building had swapped times, and I actually attended the wrong ward. Everyone was just as welcoming as they'd been the year before. I started attending regularly (with the correct ward, lol) at that time. The missionaries (one remembered me from knocking on my door a month or so earlier) weren't quite sure what to do with me, and just left me alone for a while. I finally decided that it was time to continue the discussions, and I talked to the missionaries sometime in November.
Green Jello
The missionaries stopped by and brought green jello for St Patrick's Day. They said it is a Utah Mormon favorite, lol. They also gave me another scripture.
1 Nephi 8:12
And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.
I am about halfway through the Gospel of Luke right now. I hope to get another 1/4 read today.
1 Nephi 8:12
And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.
I am about halfway through the Gospel of Luke right now. I hope to get another 1/4 read today.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Newest scripture and thought for the day, compliments of the missionaries
Doctrine and Covenants 59:9-10
9 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;
10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
***
Quaking Aspen: A tree when standing alone has no strength against the wind... and will fall because their roots are shallow; when more than one stand together, their roots intertwine and when the wind blows the trees will sway and sway, but because of the strengthened roots the trees will not fall. So it is with church - a place where we can go to strengthen out roots in Christ.
***
I finished reading Mark, and have now started Luke. I never knew that the Gospel of Mark was so similar to Matthew. I know that Mark was the first Gospel that was written, and that Matthew was patterned after it... I just didn't realize HOW much.
9 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;
10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
***
Quaking Aspen: A tree when standing alone has no strength against the wind... and will fall because their roots are shallow; when more than one stand together, their roots intertwine and when the wind blows the trees will sway and sway, but because of the strengthened roots the trees will not fall. So it is with church - a place where we can go to strengthen out roots in Christ.
***
I finished reading Mark, and have now started Luke. I never knew that the Gospel of Mark was so similar to Matthew. I know that Mark was the first Gospel that was written, and that Matthew was patterned after it... I just didn't realize HOW much.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
A lot has happend...
Be careful what you wish for!! A couple of days after my last post, the new missionaries showed up on my doorstep to meet me. My husband answered the door, and well, I can't say he was terribly pleased. The next day, they brought brownies. Over the next week, they left me scripture cards on three different occassions, and brought cookies. I was pretty shocked, but I don't feel ignored anymore.
The scriptures were
Matthew 11:28-30
"28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
D&C 6:22-24
"22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?
24 And now, behold, you have received a witness; for if I have told you things which no man knoweth have you not received a witness?
Alma 32:21
"21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
They left the Matthew card the day I was reading Matthew (I've decided to read the New Testament now that I finished the Book of Mormon). The D&C passage REALLY spoke to me, and was quite powerful. Alma 32 is always a good one for me.
I missed the stake conference because Leah was really sick. I really wanted to go to that after Vanessa told me about it. I'm looking forward to chuch tomorrow, it's the ward conference. I'm not sure what that entails, but I'm sure the speakers will be good... they usually are.
I think I will be baptized by the end of the month. It just seems like the right thing to do.
***
I had a question that I posed to my friend, Kim. She's pretty much the only objective sounding board I have. I wondered if satan could create something that did lots of good things but in the end led people away from Christ. The LDS church says that satan can't do anything that is good, he can only do evil. I wasn't really convinced until I read the following in Matthew 7.
"15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them"
The scriptures were
Matthew 11:28-30
"28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
D&C 6:22-24
"22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?
24 And now, behold, you have received a witness; for if I have told you things which no man knoweth have you not received a witness?
Alma 32:21
"21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
They left the Matthew card the day I was reading Matthew (I've decided to read the New Testament now that I finished the Book of Mormon). The D&C passage REALLY spoke to me, and was quite powerful. Alma 32 is always a good one for me.
I missed the stake conference because Leah was really sick. I really wanted to go to that after Vanessa told me about it. I'm looking forward to chuch tomorrow, it's the ward conference. I'm not sure what that entails, but I'm sure the speakers will be good... they usually are.
I think I will be baptized by the end of the month. It just seems like the right thing to do.
***
I had a question that I posed to my friend, Kim. She's pretty much the only objective sounding board I have. I wondered if satan could create something that did lots of good things but in the end led people away from Christ. The LDS church says that satan can't do anything that is good, he can only do evil. I wasn't really convinced until I read the following in Matthew 7.
"15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them"
Monday, March 3, 2008
What's going on
Yesterday, I had a talk with the mission president. I explained that while the missionaries are nice, and everything, I feel very frustrated with them. Several times they have cancelled lessons, or failed to show up. They have lost my phone number on more than one occassion, and often try to avoid me during Sunday school. The mission president agreed that these boys are not as pro-active as he would like. The two wards that meet in our building are getting 3 new missionaries this week, and the one left will be moved to the other ward. So, hopefully the next batch will be a little easier to work with.
We also discussed where I am spiritually right now, and I felt a bit better after talking about it. Today, I finished reading the Book of Mormon. I have to say that I really did feel the Spirit when I was reading that last chapter of Moroni. So, now it's up to me to make the commitment, and get baptized.
We also discussed where I am spiritually right now, and I felt a bit better after talking about it. Today, I finished reading the Book of Mormon. I have to say that I really did feel the Spirit when I was reading that last chapter of Moroni. So, now it's up to me to make the commitment, and get baptized.
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