Precious Doctrine

Yesterday morning I had a discussion with two gentleman of another Christian faith that focused mostly on the nature of the Godhead.  While we both shared a belief in the Bible, I recognized how much precious knowledge they lacked because of errors or deletions in the translation of that book of scripture.  I feel so much gratitude for the understanding that I have of such a simple and fundamental gospel doctrine.  I feel so much gratitude for the Bible and The Book of Mormon.  I feel so much gratitude for Biblical Prophets and living Prophets in our day.  These additional sources of inspiration found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints give me clarity of understanding in the true nature of the Godhead.

During our conversation these obviously devoted, God-fearing men were puzzled when I used the word "Savior."  They did not understand the meaning of the word or understand to whom I was referring.  When I use the word Savior, I am referring to Jesus Christ, who is, our Savior and Redeemer from death and hell.  His infinite Atonement offers salvation to all men, women, and children who have ever lived on the earth.  Truly, there is no other way to overcome the effects of sin and return to presence of our Father in Heaven except through "the merits, and mercy and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life" (2 Nephi 2:8).

God the Father, is the Father of my spirit, and so I am, quite literally, a child of God.  He is a perfect, loving, forgiving, merciful Father who hears and answers my prayers.  I pray to my Father in Heaven, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and I know I am heard.  The Father and the Son are separate, distinct beings with bodies of flesh and bones, as tangible as my own.  And yet, they are completely unified in purpose; their collective work and glory is the immortality and eternal life of all their children.  They are resurrected, glorified beings who delight in honoring their children for their obedience.      

The Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead, is a personage of Spirit.  The Holy Ghost witnesses of the Father and the Son, testifying, in a still, small voice to the heart of any earnest seeker of truth.  The Holy Ghost can teach, bring to remembrance, warn, comfort, and strengthen.  Those who receive the gift of Holy Ghost following baptism by the laying on of hands, are entitled to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost according to their faithfulness. 

These simple truths are precious to me.  I feel confidence in my purpose here on the earth, knowing that I am a child of God who can pray.  I feel immense comfort knowing that because of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, my sins can be forgiven, my weaknesses can be made strong, and all unfairness in life can be made right.  I feel gratitude for the reassuring voice of the Spirit helping me to keep the faith and recognize truth. 

When I Least Expected It

I was asked to be on our church's Halloween trunk-or-treat committee, and preparations for the party have hijacked my week.  The party is tomorrow--thankfully, and it should be nippy, but fun for all.  We have six different kid activities planned, a smorgasbord of homemade goodies, plus trunk-or-treating.

At the last minute, I was tasked with creating nine Halloween-themed table centerpieces with a budget of $15 (spending less than that was also desirable).  Thanks to a magazine idea and some frugal creativity I did it for $11.68.  Not bad says I, not bad.

Earlier in the week, I was out hunting for 40 tiny pumpkins for the decorate-your-own-pumpkin activity.  I discovered a pumpkin patch not far from home and found exactly what I needed.  The pumpkin patch manager and I were chatting a little, and he asked my son's name.  When I replied, he was quiet for a moment, and then responded, "The only other Ezra I have ever known was the Secretary of Agriculture when I was kid, and his name was Ezra Taft Benson."   

Hah!  What are the chances!  Hello open door!  So, I walked in and we had a brief, but concentrated talk about what Ezra Taft Benson did later in life; namely, as a servant of God and the Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I was hunting pumpkins and had a gospel discussion--what a good day!  Three cheers for being a committee member!    

Tomato Bumper Crop?

If you have an abundance of tomatoes, like we did, and have already shared with all the neighbors on more than one occasion, and still don't know how to use all your tomatoes, perhaps you might try this bruschetta recipe.  (I used all garden tomatoes rather than the fancy red and yellow type that the recipe recommends.)

My sister turned me on to bruschetta and it is party-in-your-mouth delicious.  We had bruschetta on toasted baguette and Italian meatballs for dinner recently and it was quite delectable.   

Fall Leaves and Other Discoveries

Our warm-season summer vegetable crops have perished.  There are still warm days yet, so I cleaned out the garden beds and planted a few fall crops (Swiss chard, beets, snow peas, and some pansies for color).  They are doing remarkably well, despite the occasional frosty morning.  Thankfully, our plethora of sunny days quickly perk them up again.
When I work outside, I often give Ezra a spoon so he can play in the dirt too.  Now that all the big summer vegetable crops are gone, his quantity of accessible dirt has doubled, which, of course, he wants to eat.  This is his adorable, slightly mischievous, "I probably shouldn't have done that, but I'm so glad I tried it!" look.  What a sweetie boy; he makes me laugh.

 The Ash trees were among the first in our area to change color and drop their leaves.  Ezra was most intrigued with the crunchy piles of yellow leaves at the park near the house.  He loved grabbing a fistful and flinging them in the air.  At thirteen months, everything is fascinating and everything needs to be explored.  The pea gravel base at the playground is fascinating.  Flowers are fascinating.  Animals are fascinating.  Flying birds are fascinating.  The flight-for-life orange and red helicopter is especially fascinating.  And the lawnmower is an obsession.  We have to touch the lawnmower every time we go outside.  The vacuum cleaner and the hair dryer need to be examined on a regular basis too.    

 

 Ezra says hello and goodbye to everyone, random passerby, grocery store check-out lady, children playing at the other end of the block.  He is fascinated with people, though, usually only at a comfortable distance.  Ezra's latest trick is identifying his "tummy" with affectionate pats.  He will now say "na-na" for banana, which he often eats at breakfast.  "Out" is a favorite word (as in get-me-out-of-this-crib/highchair/carseat), but his version of "out" sounds more like angst-y vowels with marbles in the mouth.  I get it, though.

He is a joy!  A happy, curious, intentional learner, who is truly in love with life.  Oh, and very ticklish, especially on his feet--just like daddy.

Hastening

As always, General Conference weekend was a bit of heaven.  I was just back from my trip to Salt Lake City and enjoyed all the watching via comfy couch next to sweet husband.  Ezra's nap schedule allowed us to fully enjoy the morning sessions while he slept.  Ezra was fascinated by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (who wouldn't be!?), and recognized President Thomas S. Monson's face!  (We had talked about him, and looked at his picture half a dozen times.)  When President Monson spoke Ezra got excited, pointed and called to him.  Very cute.

It takes me some time to process all the doctrine-dense content, but as a cursory comment, I am so impressed by the active, vibrant, forward-motion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  During the Saturday morning session, President Monson announced (optional) changes to the minimum missionary age for elders and sisters.  In the press conference between Saturday sessions to further discuss the new missionary-age announcement, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland commented on the "hastening" and "accelerating" work in the kingdom.  A completely new youth curriculum, which will take effect in January 2013, was also announced.  The new curriculum for youth focuses more intensely on core doctrines of the church, emphasizes spiritual self-reliance, and active gospel learning.

It is an exciting time to be a parent in the church!  I see so much effort on the part of the church to safeguard, prepare, and teach the rising generation.  I acknowledge that the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, who have been called as prophets, seers, and revelators, can see and understand so much more than I can.  I am so grateful for their foresight to both invite younger men and women to serve missions, and, at the same time, prepare them with pure doctrine more earnestly.

It is also a humbling time to be a parent in the church!  As the work accelerates and hastens, as temptation is more pernicious and prevalent, so the teaching in the home must be all the more focused and consistent.  I have been impressed lately, that there must be teaching for understanding; teaching that touches the heart, and brings conversion.  The influence of the Holy Ghost is vital in this kind of teaching!  Teaching for understanding means that children act for themselves, respond to invitations to know for themselves, and have personal experience with gospel principles.

I am inspired by this thought from Elder Neil L. Andersen:

In our world today, each child, each young man and young woman needs his or her own conversion to the truth. Each needs his or her own light, his or her own “steadfast and immovable”  faith in the Lord Jesus Christ independent of parents, youth leaders, and supportive friends.

The stories of Jesus can be like a rushing wind across the embers of faith in the hearts of our children. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  The stories of Jesus shared over and over bring faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strength to the foundation of testimony. Can you think of a more valuable gift for our children?     

Tour de Temple Square

Ezra, Grandma, and I visited Temple Square, mostly for the purpose of finding one of my friends, a former roommate and a fellow intern at The Holden Arboretum from 2001.  She is now one of those really special few-and-far-between people who get to be gardeners on Temple Square.  She is on the crew that takes care of the Relief Society Gardens near the Church Office Building.  One of her co-workers helped us locate her; she was in a cherry picker stringing lights in preparation for the Christmas display.  (Yes, they have already started, in fact, they started putting the lights up August 1).  She is just as cheery and happy as ever; so nice to make connections with old friends!

Ezra loved the tour de Temple Square and was probably overstimulated a dozen times over.  There were golf carts, buses, trains, lots of water, fountains, and flowers all colors of the rainbow.  The little guy had plenty to look at and oodles to point at, and I think he wore himself out with all the observing.  He conked out in his car-seat after about 2.5 minutes in the car, slept all the way home, and took a two-hour nap when we got back to Grandma's house.