None Were With Him

I cannot put it better than Elder Holland does.  He is such a powerful speaker and has the Spirit so strong with him.  I'm not going to add to his message.  Take the time to watch it and you will be greatly enriched and uplifted!  Remember the Savior this Easter!

Sunday Will Come



Why do we celebrate Easter?  We celebrate the coming of Sunday!  Christ was resurrected!  He defeated the grave!  He lives! We can each take comfort in this statement!  Our Savior overcame the grave, but he also overcame so much more than this!  Because our Savior went through that dark Friday, we can each experience that bright Sunday!  We can each be resurrected and return again to live with our Heavenly Father.  We will each have those Fridays in our own lives.  Those days where nothing seems to go right, where the world is falling in around us and where we may feel forsaken, but this is not the end.  We must stay faithful and continue on the path of righteousness, and Sunday will come!  I testify that this is true, that when we endure those hard times the Savior will save us.  He is waiting for each of us to allow Sunday to come.  We must invite him in to save us from that Friday!  I know this is true, because I have had those Fridays and I have seen the Sundays come! 

Think about all the Savior has done for you this week and all year.  He loves you.  He wants you to be happy.  He is there for you always.  He is with you on the Fridays and is bringing you the Sundays. 

Happy Easter!  The Lord is risen! 

An Easter Lesson

This story was in the Friend and I loved it!  It's called:  Mending Easter by Gwen S. Jones

Davey’s kindergarten class was going to have an Easter egg hunt, and he could hardly wait. He had talked to his two little brothers about the exciting event and had solemnly promised them that he would not eat any of the Easter eggs he found but would bring them home to share.

That morning, Davey stood by his mother, waiting for the school bus. It was hard to stay still enough to carefully hold the two boiled eggs he was taking to color that day. There would be lots of fun on this last day of school before the Easter holiday.

Finally the large yellow bus rounded the corner and stopped to pick him up. He waved and smiled at his brothers, who were watching out the window of their home across the street.

His little brothers’ faces were in the window again when the large yellow bus delivered him home at the end of the school day. Davey was usually the first child off the bus at this stop. But not today. When he finally climbed off, Mom knew that something was wrong. She hurried out to meet him on the front walk. She knelt and looked into his drooping eyes. He fell into Mom’s arms and sobbed.

“I’m so sorry … let my little brothers down,” he choked out. “I didn’t mean to … saved everything … didn’t eat even one.”

Mom held him close for a long time and then, when his body stopped trembling, led him inside. She and Davey and his little brothers all huddled together for a big family hug.

“Let’s start again, Davey,” Mom said reassuringly. “Tell us about what happened from the beginning.”

Davey arrived at school with his precious boiled eggs unbroken. When the time came, he colored them sky blue to match his eyes. When they were dry, he placed his eggs in his basket. After his teacher read an Easter story, everyone in his class ran outside for recess. When they came back in, the teacher told them that candy eggs were hidden in their classroom. All the children scrambled to look for the candy eggs. Davey was a good finder, and he helped other children find some. He found a yellow marshmallow bunny too. After the egg hunt, many of the children ate a lot of their candy eggs during the party, but Davey saved every one, just as he had promised his little brothers.

His class was late boarding the school buses after school, and his usual seat behind the driver was already taken. Davey walked down the long aisle until he found a seat near the back. He sat down, carefully cradling his basket of treasures on his lap.

When the bus pulled out, some big boys behind him began to tease him. He could hear them whispering about him. Then they tweaked his hair, ears, and neck. He used one hand to protect his candy; with the other, he tried to bat their hands away. With all the noise and confusion on the bus, the driver didn’t hear Davey’s small protests as the teasing increased.

Then his candy eggs began to disappear as he turned his head this way and that, trying to get away from all the hands that were pinching and tickling him. The worst teaser was the boy who lived across the street. Davey had thought that he was a friend, but today he had become an enemy.

By the time the bus came to Davey’s stop, his marshmallow bunny and all the candy eggs were gone, and both of his sky-blue eggs, so carefully carried and colored, were cracked and smashed.

Mom, Davey, and his brothers all looked at Davey’s little Easter basket. It was a sorry sight.

“Well, Davey,” Mom asked, “what shall we do to let these boys know that you forgive them?”

Davey’s mouth dropped open, and his eyes got wide. “Forgive them?”

“What is Easter about, Davey?” Mom gently asked. “Is it about colored eggs and candy, or is it about forgiving others for the pain they cause?”

Davey was surprised. He had thought that Mom would march right across the street and tell the big boy’s mother exactly how mean her son had been. “Why should I be the one to forgive them first when I didn’t do anything wrong?” Davey asked.

“The Savior didn’t do anything wrong, either. But He forgave those who killed Him. He taught us to forgive everyone because that is what will bring us the greatest peace,” Mom said. “How do you feel inside right now?”

Davey’s face was still very red and tear-streaked. Couldn’t Mom guess how he felt? “I feel mad and sad and …”

“And do you like feeling that way?”

“No.”

“Jesus taught us that when people do bad things to us, the only way we can really feel better is to forgive them, even do something good for them.”

“But stealing is wrong,” Davey protested. “You and Dad have always taught us that when we take something that isn’t ours, we should give it back and say we’re sorry. That’s what those boys should do!”

“Davey, we can’t choose what they will do. We can only choose what we will do. We can do what Jesus did, or we can choose not to.”

“But Jesus never rode the bus and got His eggs stolen. The scriptures don’t say anything about that.”

“The scriptures say to forgive others as you would want to be forgiven,” Mom pointed out patiently. “The lessons that the scriptures teach are true, Davey, not just stories. They really work. Shall we try them out?”

After Davey thought about it, he decided to follow his mother’s suggestion. Maybe then she would find out that the scriptures weren’t talking about someone who stole your brothers’ candy.

Mom and the boys decided to stir up a big batch of cookies as a forgiveness offering. Before Davey knew it, he and Mom were walking across the street to deliver the cookies. Davey could see the neighbor boy through the living room window. He looked anxious when he saw both Davey and his mother coming up his walk. When he hesitantly answered the door, Davey gave him the large plate of cookies and wished him a happy Easter. Nothing was said about the trouble on the bus. The boy had a relieved but puzzled look on his face. As he closed the door, Davey and Mom waved good-bye and started back home.

It was then that Davey noticed a new feeling inside his chest. He had been mad and sad. Now, however, his chest wasn’t tight with anger, it was calm and peaceful. When they arrived home and were eating warm cookies with milk, Davey asked Mom how it could be that he felt so different so quickly.

“Because,” Mom said, “no matter what is broken in your life—your heart or anything else—following Jesus Christ is the best way to fix things. At Easter we celebrate not only that He died for us, but also how He lived. He taught us how to live and be happy, and if we do what He taught, we’ll be happy and have the Holy Ghost to comfort us. Living the gospel works.”

Davey thought about that for a long time—and he decided that the scriptures did teach about stolen Easter eggs, after all.

Ok- now my thoughts on the story! :) Davey's mom was so right and she taught him such a valuable lesson.  The scriptures truly do teach us anything that we need to know.  The Holy Ghost has a way of allowing us to see exactly what we need to know from the scriptures!  The scriptures were written a long time ago, but they somehow relate perfectly to each of our own lives and our own personal trials and concerns.  It's amazing how the Lord knows us and knows how to help us.

Easter truly is the time to think about the way that our Savior lived and the example that he was!  He showed us how to love our fellow men and how to work through hard times.  He overcame all!  He was crucified for our sins and ultimately was resurrected so that we may each have this gift!  This week think about our Savior and his life.  Think about all that he has done for you personally and what a blessing he is in your life!

My To Be List

Well, here I go again with conference!  Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the seventy talked about what it is to do and what it is to be.  He said this, "Many of us create to do lists to remind us of things we want to accomplish. But people rarely have to be lists. Why? To do’s are activities or events that can be checked off the list when done. To be, however, is never done. You can’t earn checkmarks with to be’s. I can take my wife out for a lovely evening this Friday, which is a to do. But being a good husband is not an event; it needs to be part of my nature—my character, or who I am."  This is so great!  At home I made tons of to do lists, because at the end of the day I felt accomplished.  I felt accomplished even if they were dumb to do's such as putting a load of laundry in, or e-mailing that assignment into my professor.  They weren't hard, but it felt so great to check something off.  How great will it be when I finally realize that I have become the person my Savior expected me to become.  I have tried my best to be like him!  In order to do this I have created a to be list.  I know that I will not accomplish this quickly, but it is something for me to strive to be!

I thought to start my TO BE list I would start out with a few of my heroes.  Where better to start than the best qualities of the people I look up to!
I want to be like:

My mom, have a deep rooted testimony.
My dad, strong.
Mitchell (my "little" brother), forgiving.  After all I know the things I've done to him and he's forgiven me of!
Grandma John, non-judgemental.
Grandpa John, hard working.
Grandma Jensen, loving.
My trainer, Sister Frederiksen, faith-filled.
Sister Baird, perservering.
Sister Mace, willing to TAKE IT ON!
Sister Nez, diligent.
Sister Berry, patient.
Sister Williams, devoted.
Sister Green, passionate about everything.
RaeAnn, have a helping hand and a listening ear.
Sister Gardner, charitable.
President Gardner, close to the Spirit.
Ruth, loyal.
Esther, courageous.
Nephi, exactly obedient.
Moroni, make the powers of hell shake.
Alma the younger, willing to change for the better.
David, fearless in the Lord.
Ammon, willing to serve.
Abraham, willing to sacrifice it all.

These are just a few of my heroes that I want to be like.  Thank you for all my heroes that have showed me how to be.  Thank you for having Christlike qualities that I look up to.  I pray that one day I may have all these great qualities!  I ultimately want to be just like my Savior!  He showed us exactly what our to be list is!  What do YOU desire to be?

Revelation

This last weekend was a marvelous experience.  We as a world had the opportunity to watch General Conference.  We, at this time, are able to watch the 12 Apostles and the First Presidency speak.  There are others that speak as well, but what an amazing gift it is to be able to listen to these men speak to us and address the concerns that our Heavenly Father feels are important for us to hear.  There were many talks that really stuck out to me, but one that I particularly loved was a talk entitled: The Spirit of Revelation.  This talk was given by Elder David A. Bednar (quorum of the twelve apostles).  He speaks of some experiences that most, if not all of us have had with light.  He says, " I invite you to consider two experiences most of us have had with light.

"The first experience occurred as we entered a dark room and turned on a light switch. Remember how in an instant a bright flood of illumination filled the room and caused the darkness to disappear. What previously had been unseen and uncertain became clear and recognizable. This experience was characterized by immediate and intense recognition of light.

"The second experience took place as we watched night turn into morning. Do you recall the slow and almost imperceptible increase in light on the horizon? In contrast to turning on a light in a dark room, the light from the rising sun did not immediately burst forth. Rather, gradually and steadily the intensity of the light increased, and the darkness of night was replaced by the radiance of morning. Eventually, the sun did dawn over the skyline. But the visual evidence of the sun’s impending arrival was apparent hours before the sun actually appeared over the horizon. This experience was characterized by subtle and gradual discernment of light.

"From these two ordinary experiences with light, we can learn much about the spirit of revelation.

I pray the Holy Ghost will inspire and instruct us as we now focus upon the spirit of revelation and basic patterns whereby revelation is received."

Some of you may be wondering what revelation is.  No problem, let's take a minute and briefly define it:  Revelation is communication from God to us, his children.  It usually comes through the Holy Ghost.  It may come as thoughts, as feelings, or many other ways. 

Elder Bednar then says, "Some revelations are received immediately and intensely; some are recognized gradually and subtly."  I love this statement.  It makes so much sense to me! 

Joseph Smith's first vision, when he saw God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ  and was told that none of the churches were completely correct at that time, was an experience like turning a light switch on in a dark room.  I, personally, have never had an experience like that, but I have received personal revelation.  My experiences have been much more like the second experience.  I have had gradual, subtle experiences that have helped me to come to a knowledge of what my Heavenly Father would have me do.  Whatever case we have, God is speaking to US!  How mind boggling is it to think that we are of enough worth and value that Heavenly Father will take the time to answer our prayers and address our individual concerns.  Now, another note is that just because one time we have an experience like turning on a light bulb, this doesn't mean that we will continue to have experiences like this.  Joseph Smith later had gradual, subtle answers where he was taught "line upon line, precept upon precept."  We must constantly be listening for the promptings of the Holy Ghost in our own life.  We must be pondering on the things that our Heavenly Father would have us do.  Revelation doesn't always come right away, sometimes it takes time for us to prepare ourselves.  Don't give up!  Heavenly Father always answers our prayers, sometimes not exactly how we want them to be answered, but he answers them!  Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to communicate with us through revelation.  Allow him to speak to you!