Summer Eve.

Days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter, school countdown chains are shorter, waiting is almost over.

Grills are being cleaned off, gardens are being prepped and planted, inflatable swimming pools are being dusted off, summer plans are on the mind.

I cannot help but smile as I sit here and think about the anticipation.

Moments like this are waiting in the wings.

Lemonade stands are starting to pop up.

My favorite shave ice place has unlocked the swinging doors.

I am legitimately giddy about it.

My favorite evening of the year is Sunday night after the last day of school.

Oh, I love it!

I sit on the back deck with good company and good views and just enjoy the fact that we will wake up the next morning to summertime.

I love the anticipation.

Anticipation for happy days.

Thinking about it today as I mowed the grass reminded me of this favorite quote of mine from Joseph Smith:

“The building up of Zion is a cause that has interested the people of God in every age; it is a theme upon which prophets, priests and kings have dwelt with peculiar delight; they have looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we live; and fired with heavenly and joyful anticipations they have sung and written and prophesied of this our day; … we are the favored people that God has [chosen] to bring about the Latter-day glory.”  

Of all the happy days we have anticipated, the happiest are yet to come.

We live in the Summer Eve of time.

A time soon before the day when the Lord will return to the earth and bring glory, and light, and peace, and joy with Him.

Prophets and priests and kings have looked forward to this time for thousands of years.

They have looked forward to a favored people who would get to live in the weeks and months and years proceeding His magnificent return.

A people who get to prepare the world for the coming of the Bridegroom–an event that will be so brilliant that even the days of preparation can be celebrated.

I hope today as you continue to enjoy the anticipation of the happy days of summer, you will also give room to enjoy the anticipation of the happy days to come.

We sure are lucky.

Living Deliberately:

I invite you to think often about the days we live in.  To think deeply about what it means to be the “favored people” who came to earth at the time and with the responsibilities we have been given.  I invite you to anticipate with joy what is coming.  To give it a little more of your heart.  And to get excited!

Relief Society: True Charity and Pure Religion

“I am so grateful for a part of mortality that we sometimes overlook: the intertwinings of our lives. I acknowledge the Lord’s hand in these intersections.

It should not surprise us, brothers and sisters, that Heavenly Father brings about these intersectings and intertwinings of our lives. So often (after something is over) we will say, “little did I realize” or “I had no way of knowing” in referring to these intersectings. But why should we be surprised? Each of us has circles of friendships, and within those lie the portion of the human family whom God has given us to love, to serve, and to learn from.

Within each of our circles of friendship there lie so many unused opportunities to love, to serve, and to be taught.  None of us ever fully utilizes the people-opportunities allocated to us within our circles of friendship. You and I may call these intersectings “coincidence.” This word is understandable for mortals to use, but coincidence is not an appropriate word to describe the workings of an omniscient God. He does not do things by “coincidence” but instead by “divine design.”

I am one who likes to know of happy ironies and happy intersectings.”  (Neal A. Maxwell, Brim With Joy)

Lately my thoughts have been filled with thoughts about this intertwining principle.

Looking back over the last several years I see how my life has been orchestrated in such a way that my circle of friendship has grown to include people that I admire and love.  They lift me, and encourage me, and strengthen me as they love and serve and teach me.  I hope I do the same for them.  I don’t think they were put there by accident.  I believe the Lord led me to the people who I would need to make it through this life.

I love those friends.  I don’t know what I would do without them.

As I think about their importance in my life I can’t help but reflect on my responsibility.

I depend on the people within my sphere.

Which makes me realize that people probably depend on me.

Lorenzo Snow said, “This is what we desire to instill into the hearts of the sisters—to be useful in their sphere and not be discouraged because of difficulties in the way, but trust in God and look to Him, and His marvelous blessings, I promise you, will be poured out upon you.”

Today I am focused on my sphere…my circle of influence.  I wonder, who needs me today?  Are there opportunities for me to love, to serve, or to teach?

I want to prepare my heart to recognize happy ironies and  happy intersectings so that I might be able to bless someones life today.

The way my life has been blessed so many countless times.

A simple text, thinking about you today.  A kind note of gratitude.  Someone dropping off a bouquet of flowers.

Happy intersectings.

Sometimes we wonder how we will know what to do…how to serve…what to say.

President Snow gives this suggestion, “We want you to exercise all the talents that God has bestowed upon you. And there is this about it in reference to your prospects of success. When a person commences to travel over a path that the Lord has marked out, and by which to accomplish good in His interest, he is sure to succeed. He is precisely where God wants him to be, and there is the place that you may, with the greatest propriety, ask God for His blessing.”  (Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 13)

What do you think?

Are you up for a Happy Intersecting?

Deliberate Discipleship:

Today walk a path that will allow you to accomplish good, to be on His errand.

Ask God for His blessing.

The very first time I sat next to my friend in Algebra she told me I wasn’t a Christian.

That was before the hello.

I was taken off guard, but politely disagreed with her.

“What is a Christian?” I asked.

“Someone who believes in Christ.”

“Oh perfect.  Then I am.”

“Well,” she corrected. “It is someone who believes in Christ and the Bible.”

“Oh good–now I am two for two,” I said.

“Actually,” she said now a bit flustered, “A Christian is someone who believes in Christ, believes in the Bible, and in no other book.”

“Well you must not be one either, because I see an Algebra 2 book on your desk,” I replied with just a dash of sass. (I got it from my Grandma).

She replied with an equally sassy grin and a clarification that other books refers to the Book of Mormon and “the other Bibles” we have.

So a Christian is someone who believes in Christ, believes the Bible, and doesn’t believe in the Book of Mormon or any other Bible like books of scripture.

I told her that although I don’t normally read the dictionary, I had never heard of that definition of a Christian before.

According to Webster, I am pretty certain I am a Christian.  But according to my friend Rebecca’s dictionary, I suppose I am not.

I cannot remember where the conversation turned at that point.

Hopefully it included the customary exchange of names instead of more religious definitions.

It must have since I have pleasant memories of the initial conversation and many more after.

We really did become good friends that year.

I remember that conversation because I think it is the first time that someone in a round about way defined me as someone who did not believe the Bible.

It has happened directly and indirectly several times since then, and it bothers me more and more.

I absolutely love the Bible.

I really, really do.

Some of my most favorite prophets, stories, verses, and descriptions come from the Bible.

Some people hang their favorite verses of scripture on their walls.

I want to hang the whole Bible.

(Even the book of Numbers–I do love the book of Numbers).

This week, the lesson in Gospel Doctrine is on the Plan of Salvation.

The list of the scriptures to study all come from the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

At first I was a little disappointed they hadn’t included any verses from the Bible.

Then I made a realization.

One of the reasons I love the Bible so much is because of the Restoration scriptures.

The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants help me understand and love the Bible even more.

I forget sometimes that what I know and understand about the plan of salvation was taught to me clearly from the Restoration scriptures.

Who doesn’t love this truth?

“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.” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:56).

Interestingly enough, that gem came from a vision the Joseph F. Smith had of the Spirit World while he was pondering his favorite parts from the Bible.

Then I think of how lucky I am to have all the scriptures I do.

Scriptures that teach me from different parts of the world at different times that I have a purpose in coming here, a purpose to live for, and a purpose driven departure when the time comes.

Now I want to hang all the scriptures on my wall.

Deliberate Discipleship:

One of my personal goals is to read the lessons and ponder the scriptures for my Sunday classes throughout the week.  You can borrow that goal if you want to.  See if you can come up with your own explanations for those three purposes I mentioned.  Here is the list of scriptures.

Hello again dear friend!

So sorry for the unexpected holiday!  A malicious code somehow found its way into the blog.

Brother Butler and I found ourselves missing you while we waited impatiently for the repairs to take place.

We checked back often throughout the day in hopes that we would be able to reconnect.

I realized, these past few days, that this blog has become a refuge of sorts.  A place where I can pause from the hurry of my day to reflect on sacred things.

I missed the pausing.

And I missed the knowing that you were out there pausing with me…to reflect on that which matters most.  To think of Him.

Elder Scott taught us, “Many voices from the world in which we live tell us we should live at a frantic pace.  There is always more to do and more to accomplish.  Yet deep inside each of us is a need to have a place of refuge where peace and serenity prevail, a place where we can reset, regroup, and reenergize to prepare for future pressures.”  (For Peace at Home)

I need places of refuge.

I want peace and serenity to prevail in my life.

I find myself drawn to the places that allow me to reset, regroup, and reenergize.

I think that is why I enjoy coming to this resting place daily.  It allows me to refocus my priorities.  To reset my pace.

The other day I went for a walk with a dear friend.  We pondered the importance of the Holy in our life.  We talked about making room for peace.  Within that conversation I realized how much I need the Spirit in my life right now.

The world is loud
The noise demands attention.

It calls my name and draws me in.

Torn between here and there I feel the pull everywhere, the pulse has constant access to my soul.

In the midst of the confusion
I want to hide
I turn inside

I feel still…

Hope like a whisper, a hush of comfort, silent Peace.  A holy gift poured out upon me, power fills me, joy surrounds me  ––this inspiration sent from Heaven is sweet solitude

leading me to You

still

I am weary
But I keep it all inside

It weighs on my heart and brings me to my knees

I feel the worry pressing down as the darkness settles ’round …this burden knows the depths of my soul

In the midst of the suffering
I want to hide
I turn inside

I feel still

Hope like a whisper… A hush of comfort …Silent Peace

A holy gift poured out upon me
power fills me,  joy surrounds me
inspiration sent from Heaven

Sweet solitude
leading me to You

still

Deliberate Discipleship:

Today find a moment to let peace and serenity prevail.  Take refuge in that moment.  Regroup.  Seek the inspiration that will come in that sweet solitude.

It was just the right weather for transplants.

So I dug holes, and I dug plants and filled holes, and watered plants.

I didn’t buy the hollyhocks.  They were a hand me down.  They came from Grandpa Garth’s home.  They were originally raised by a woman I never met.

As I knelt in wet grass and moved dark dirt I wondered about that woman.

What was she like?  Did she love the deep red of these hollyhocks as much as I do?  Did she kneel in wet grass and work her hands through the dirt?

I couldn’t help but wonder what else did her hands did…

It’s because my hands have been busy today.

They washed dishes and rotated laundry, and braided hair, and straightened bed sheets.  They turned holy pages, and carried a missing backpack into school five minutes late, and pulled the cord on the edger and pulled weeds.  They clapped at a lacrosse game, and captured memories with a camera, and sliced brussels sprouts for dinner.

And I realized something in that moment…you know what I loved most about my grandmother?

Her hands.

It’s the same with my own mom, and my mother-in-law, and all of the women I admire.  I can’t help but notice their hands.

They tell a story of love, and hard work, and compassion, and endurance.

I spent the afternoon looking through some photos.  What captured my interest was the hands of the mothers in each of the photos.

They speak of sacrifice.

Compassion.

Charity.

Love.

Nothing compares to a mother’s touch.  There is just something soft about a mother’s hands.

This weekend I celebrate mother’s.

The women who nurture and cherish and watch over and protect with hands that define the meaning of sacrifice.

My heart is filled with gratitude for my mother and my sisters and my grandmothers and my great-grandmothers…even the ones I never met.

Who left behind hollyhocks.

But more importantly, a legacy of love.

Spring has sprung.

Costco is my great indicator.

I am so glad they bring out their garden prep things right when I need to start thinking about it.

That is nice of them.

The only hard thing is wondering what to choose.

What colors should we have?

Which ones are hard to kill?

What combinations look good together?

What should I do???

I really am very indecisive.

So–I went to the temple.

No, not to pray about it–to look at their flower beds.

The temple always has the answer.

As I was walking around, I came across this.

Was all of this just for planting?

I was intrigued by what I saw.

Especially with how precise they were.

Very precise.

Everything was being measured, lined up, looked at, set, reevaluated, and then planted in place.

In the perfect place.

The gardener told me when they grow in, they will look even better.

I can’t wait to go back.

Back to the temple.

The word temple comes from template.

A pattern.

A perfect pattern.

A pattern for growing.

An opportunity to line up and measure and reevaluate.

To be placed in the perfect spot.

And with time, to become even better.

Did you catch when we stopped talking about plants?

It is no wonder the Lord invites us to come into temples.

What blessings await us from patterning our lives after the covenants entered into there.

What growth will come as we reach beyond ourselves to rescue those who have gone before.

What will we see blossom in our coming days as we are particular about our worship there.

“Be faithful, brethren and sisters, and persevering; come to the temple and do your work there, and you will enjoy yourselves, and be better prepared to resist the unpleasantnesses of the world…Those who [enter the] Temple with a pure heart and a contrite spirit [will] not come out of it without receiving peculiar blessings…” (Lorenzo Snow)

Deliberate Discipleship:

Perhaps their is a covenant we can all be more precise in keeping–a chance to receive a peculiar blessing.

Some days are unforgettable.

You know the kind of days I am talking about…

The ones that you wish would happen, but aren’t sure if they really will.

I had one of those days this week.

I have a friend.

She is a lover of quilts.  She has a way with colors, and designs, and patterns.  It is her gift.  She sews all of those pieces together and creates a masterpiece every time.

But that isn’t her only gift.

She possesses a kindness that is soft.  When it comes to compassion her first response is yes.  She is patient, tolerant, and sensitive.

Sometimes when I look at her my heart swells with gratitude for the Visiting Teaching program.  What began as an assignment quickly turned into a friendship that I cherish deeply.

We have laughed together.  We have cried together.  We have talked about raising children, raising gardens, raising spouses.

Our conversations have included verses of scripture, counsel from prophets, and tidbits from Instagram.

Her friendship is a blessing in my life.

Over the years it has become increasingly clear to me that I am not the only one her sweet life has influenced.

She has a remarkable way of touching peoples hearts and leaving an impression there.

On Saturday afternoon I walked up the entrance of the Mt. Timpanogos temple.

The gardens were bursting with Spring, a fitting celebration for the occasion at hand.

I walked through sparkling glass doors into a place of holiness.

Gathered within that sacred place were people whose lives have been touched as mine has by this remarkable woman.

It was her first time in the Lord’s house.  Unforgettable.

As we prepared to leave I looked at the faces of those who had come.  Each there to celebrate, but also to commune.

We stood, each of us shoulder to shoulder, and within the silence there was a moment of individual contemplation.  Reflection.  Peace.

“…and the offering up of your most holy desires unto me…”  (D&&C 95:16)

I stood there next to my friend…her offering up her most holy desires, and I offering mine.

In that moment my heart swelled again with gratitude.

God is good.

He has a way with people, and designs, and patterns.  He brings all of those pieces together and creates a masterpiece every time.

I thought of how this one remarkable woman had influenced each of our lives for good, and how somehow a loving Father orchestrated the events of our lives to match up.  Because of His goodness we had the opportunity to celebrate an afternoon that was unforgettable.

I wonder if He looked down upon us there in His House and smiled.

Deliberate Discipleship:

What are your most holy desires?  Perhaps you could set aside some time to visit His holy house.  Spend some time in the gardens, or the entrance room, or within the sacred walls and offer up those most holy desires to the Lord.

With time the celebration will come.

That day will be unforgettable.

Today you will have the chance to recommend something to a friend.

Since you are my friend, I want to share 4 with you.

First– you simply must try Cubby’s in Provo, Utah.  It is so good.

Second–Elder Holland’s new book, “For Times of Trouble” has to be read by you in the next month of your life.

Third–Sonic’s “Blue Coconut Cream Slush” might change your life.  There is no discount during happy hour for it, so go whenever.

Fourth–Never get a Turkish Massage.  I had one 2 years ago.  I am still scarred.

And now a bonus–and really the reason for the post.

This came as a recommendation to me this morning.

It is a better than a cream slush.  It legitimately could change my life.

Elder Craig A. Cardon, “The Savior Wants to Forgive” April 2013 Conference

Don’t you love that title?

The Savior wants to forgive.

I knew that was true the moment I read the title, but had not considered that part of His character much before.

Not only does the Savior forgive–which we talk a lot about–but he wants to forgive.

He can.  And he wants to.

It is not an annoyance or task He does grudgingly, but rather willingly and anxiously.

He was not coerced into Gethsemane.

He does not withhold mercy, nor is He a miser with his love.

When Peter asked him how often he should forgive, the Lord not only gave an answer and counsel to the Twelve, but also a peek into His character and heart.

It is beneath Him to consider forgiving someone less that 490 times; and never, ever just seven.

“This brings hope to all,” Elder Cardon said. ”Especially to those who feel that recurring human weakness is beyond the Savior’s willingness to help and to save.”

This is a truth we could all be reminded about.

Thanks for the recommendation, Guy.

Deliberate Discipleship:

An official fifth recommendation. Read this talk (maybe over a Dragonslayer burger at Cubby’s). Then pass it on to someone else.

I attended Women’s Conference on Friday.  One of the classes really stood out to me.  It was a class on how to be a better teacher with the Come, Follow Me curriculum.

I took a page of notes and after the class was over I read through them again and noticed that everything I wrote down had to do with the same principle.

Here is what I wrote:

Personal preparation from the teacher is essential.

You must be a living witness of this principle.

You must be able to say, “I’ve tried this in my life.”

Through study, you must come to an understanding of what the prophets have said, then live this principle.

This curriculum is more about teacher prep than lesson prep.

Do you see the overriding theme there?  Before we can teach the principle we must learn to live the principle until it becomes who we are.

This month we are studying prophets and revelation.

This week I want to learn more about revelation.  So I have spent some time pondering the five principles above.  I have decided my personal preparation will start by researching it in the scriptures. Today I read about revelation in the Bible Dictionary.  It was amazing.

“Divine revelation is one of the grandest concepts and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“Continuous revelation from God to his saints, through the Holy Ghost…makes possible daily guidance along true paths…”

“The Holy ghost is a revelator,” said Joseph Smith, and “no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.”

After I was done reading I started a list of the things in my life I am having a hard time figuring out on my own.  Things I need Heaven’s Help with.  Decisions that will require guidance and direction.  Questions that I cannot answer on my own.

There are nine items on my list.

I really need some help with those nine things.

So I am going to apply what I am learning this week.

I am going to try to live the principle at a higher level than I have before.

I want to prepare myself.

Until I become a living witness of revelation.

And through the process I will watch for answers, for Heaven’s Help, for direction…

for revelation.

Deliberate Discipleship:

What do you know about revelation?  How could you become a living witness of that principle?  If you are looking for some help with your personal study you could refer to this page:  Prophets and Revelation

If you are new–at the beginning of the year, my wife and I decided to focus on a new theme for our family each month .

We have a spot in our living room where we hang up a poster all month as a reminder.

This is what the frame looks like this month.

Yep.

I forgot.

Well, I remembered–but I remembered late at night–often.

I remembered with enough time to brush my teeth and think–I will do that tomorrow.

Even the kids brought it up.

“What’s our new theme?  Where’s our new sign?”

(On a side note–I was so happy they liked it enough to remember!  It is working…maybe).

I tried to play it off and tell them we would get a new theme when they mastered the last one.

I thought it was clever.

But I will own up to it–I just didn’t do it.

I was full of good intentions.

Enough to pave a road in fact.

I wonder where it would lead. 

All jokes aside the month just got away from me.

I like to think it was full of other things good.

And as I look back–it was–so I am ok with it.

Sometimes that happens.

Sometimes parenting is not as glamorous as blogs make it out to be .

Glorious, yes.  Glamorous? Hardly.

But I learned this little lesson from my empty frame.

An unintended reminder.

My days as a parent of young children are numbered.

My days in this calling I am in are numbered.

My days with my current neighbors are numbered.

I cannot let these moments slip away.

There is much good to be done in these moments.

Right now.  Today.

Each new morning brings new opportunity.

Opportunity that must be seized.

I think that is the whole idea behind “living deliberately.”

Monthly, weekly, daily deliberate discipleship.

So goodbye for now everyone.

It is the beginning of May–and I have a poster to make.

No empty frames this month!

Living Deliberately:

You know what you’ve wanted to do.  Today is the day.