No Greater Joy

The Family Proclamation states, “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” In a time when the world is filled with wickedness and society is lost in confusion we are so blessed to have latter-day Apostles and Prophets to guide us through all the chaos and commotion! 

One of my absolute favorite quotes ever is from President Hinckley who wisely and passionately counseled us to “work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it, because in fact, everything in life does count on it.” I know how true this is! I sat in the Salt Lake temple with all five of my children and their spouses to witness the eternal sealing of my son to his sweetheart and I can testify that everything in life does count on it! Moments, like being in the temple with your children, are moments that make every effort worthwhile.

The Apostle John claimed, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (3 John 1:4) 

These past couple weeks have caused me to reflect on the past 30+ years of teaching and raising my children. It hasn’t always been easy but it has been the most incredible and wonderful adventure ever! Again, President Hinckley’s words touch me the most, when he said: “I want to say that as the years pass, you will become increasingly grateful for that which you did in molding the lives of your children in the direction of righteousness and goodness, integrity and faith. That is most likely to happen if you can spend adequate time with them.”

Our little family has changed. My child rearing years have indeed passed, and that oftentimes makes me sad. However, and I am eternally grateful for the time and sacrifices we made as a family, and I made as a mother, to be there for my kids and to teach them “righteousness and goodness.” Isaiah said, “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” (Isaiah 54:13). That day in the temple - there was peace. My children felt peace. I felt peace. As a family we had the greatest peace and joy that can be found here on earth. 

I have such a strong testimony of the principles & doctrines contained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that by living these principles - in our families and in our marriages- we can have happy, eternal families. In this time, when the world is filled with wickedness and society is lost in confusion we are so incredibly blessed to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hearts Locked in Love

This post is dedicated to my True Love ~ Doug. We have had the most incredible past week with our son’s wedding. We had all 5 of our children and their spouses in the Salt Lake temple. My heart is filled to overflowing! And I know none of it would be possible without him. I am so thankful for Doug. I am so grateful for a husband who understands my feelings as a mother and recognizes my needs & desires to be here with my children and grandchildren ~ at least for a few weeks.

Elder Hales wisely counseled, “Be worthy of the priesthood which you hold, brethren, and use it to bless the lives of your family.” (General Conference, April 1999) I am eternally grateful for my husband who honors his priesthood and blesses our family. 

I love the words of President Hinckley who said, “I ask you men, particularly, to pause and take stock of yourselves as husbands and fathers and heads of households. Pray for guidance, for help, for direction, and then follow the whisperings of the Spirit to guide you in the most serious of all responsibilities, for the consequences of your leadership in your home will be eternal and everlasting.” I am eternally grateful for my husband who honors his priesthood and blesses our family. 

Hearts Locked in Love

Oh, how I love Paris, the most romantic city in the world

One would be hard pressed to challenge its claim

And yet, without my love, it isn’t the same

Its magnificent magic becomes miserably melancholy for me

Oh, how I love Doug, like the sun he lights my world

Seeds planted, blossoms grow, sunny days are spent

Children laugh and they cry, the years they came and went

His strong steady hands, his sturdy stable back, he is my rock and foundation

Oh, how the Pont de l’Archeveche’ holds hundreds of hearts

Brightly colored padlocks, declarations of devotion, glimmer on the railing

Holding fast to lover’s true love, endless, eternal and never failing

My heart is securely clasped, lovingly locked, and constantly committed to Doug

Oh, how Doug holds my heart like a lock upon the bridge

As waves ever gently roll his tender touch for me enfolds

His arms embrace, I’m always safe, my heart he ever holds

Hearts locked in love, on Parisian river railings, in warm pulsating chests, forever beating

Rainbows & the Supreme Court

In light of recent events in our country this week I thought it ironic that my granddaughter came home from church with this Rainbows wristband (she got from the Reverent Grab Bag). 

I'm so thankful my grandchildren are at church learning truths about God's wonderful  Plan of Salvation, His commandments, and that no matter what any Supreme Court says-marriage is divinely instituted between man & woman. (click here to learn more about God’s Plan: https://www.lds.org/topics/plan-of-salvation?lang=eng)

In The Family Proclamation our prophet and apostles “solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of his children.”

I'm thankful that my little granddaughter learned what Rainbows REALLY represent: God's love and that Noah & his wife and family were saved because of their obedience. 

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said “those who understand God’s plan for His children know that God’s laws are invariable, which is another great evidence of His love for His children. Mercy cannot rob justice, and those who obtain mercy are ‘they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment’ (D&C 54:6) … If a person understands the teachings of Jesus, he or she cannot reasonably conclude that our loving Heavenly Father or His divine Son believes that Their love supersedes Their commandments.” (General Conference, October 2009)

In addition, Elder Oaks stated, “The effect of God’s commandments and laws is not changed to accommodate popular behavior or desires. If anyone thinks that godly or parental love for an individual grants the loved one license to disobey the law, he or she does not understand either love or law. The Lord declared: “That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still.”(D&C 88:35)

Sadly, when people try to rationalize wickedness they don’t want to hear the truth and they certainly don’t want to admit it. Declaring the truth cost the Book of Mormon prophet Abinadi his life. 

He said to the wicked & rationalizing King Noah “Because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me… Because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad.” (Mosiah 13:4) Today, we hear things like “bigoted, narrow-minded, and old fashioned.” Society today is just like the Politically-correct-God-denying people of Isaiah’s day. “[They] say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things… Get you out of the way.” (Isaiah 30:9-11) They would rather reject God and His prophets than face the truth.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland wisely observed, “it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don’t rock the boat but don’t even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds. Talk about man creating God in his own image!” (General Conference, April 2014)

The Savior said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”

Elder Holland, speaking of love and obedience, went on to say, “So if love is to be our watchword, as it must be, then by the word of Him who is love personified, we must forsake transgression and any hint of advocacy for it in others. Jesus clearly understood what many in our modern culture seem to forget: that there is a crucial difference between the commandment to forgive sin (which He had an infinite capacity to do) and the warning against condoning it (which He never ever did even once).” (General Conference, April 2014 – Click here for the full talk: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-cost-and-blessings-of-discipleship?lang=eng&query=#9-10985_000_12holland)

And so as Rainbows cover TV adds, Facebook pages, and even the White House I stand for truth and righteousness. I share my witness that marriage is divinely ordained by God for man & woman. And, I am thankful for beautiful rainbows that remind us of God’s love and the need for obedience.

We Believe In Families

The Family: A Proclamation to the World teaches us, “the first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife.” I think that is significant! Surely, we can see in this that parenthood is a necessary and important part of Heavenly Father’s Plan.

In addition, the Proclamation declares that “God’s commandment for his children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.” And yet, sadly, society promotes, “zero population.”

Elder Neil L. Anderson said parenting “is a crowning privilege of a husband and wife.” The Gospel of Jesus Christ helps us to understand that it is not only a sacred privilege to bring sweet babies into the word, but we are actually helping fulfill Heavenly Father’s eternal purposes!

I am thankful for grown married children who understand these doctrines, who have been diligent and very successful at “multiplying & replenishing” the earth J, and who have blessed my life with the most adorable grandchildren ever! 

Eternal Life or Bust!

President Henry B. Eyring: “Because our Father loves his children, he will not leave us to guess about what matters most in this life concerning where our attention could bring happiness or our indifference bring sadness.

That feeling can come because what our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ want for us is to become like them so that we can dwell with them forever, in families. We know that from this simple statement of their intent: “This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

We must have the goal not just in our minds but in our hearts. What we want is eternal life in families. We don’t just want it if that is what works out, nor do we want something approaching eternal life. We want eternal life, whatever its cost in effort, pain, and sacrifice.” (The Family, BYU Address, 5 November 1995)

 

C. S. Lewis remarked, “For God is not merely mending, not simply restoring a status quo. Redeemed humanity is to be something more glorious than unfallen humanity would have been, more glorious than any unfallen race now is. . . . And this super-added glory will, with true vicariousness, exalt all creatures.”

4 Powerful Lessons Learned from Children

I have been privileged to meet and spend time with children around the world. As I have traveled and met many different children I have learned great lessons from them.

The scriptures teach “and a little one shall lead them…”  It is a common theological ideal found in many ancient forms of writing from Oriental writers to Greek and Roman. It is found throughout history and throughout the world because it is true.

A few lessons I have learned from the children I have met on my many travels are these:

1. “Bless that we will love everyone wherever we go” a thoughtful prayer uttered by a 10 year old boy in Cambodia. If only adults and political leaders could follow this boy’s example there might be peace throughout the world. What a sweet and simple, yet powerful, prayer to express each day. The Savior said “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34)  It’s all about love; loving everyone wherever we go.

2.  “My name is Pasco” announced the gentle 11 year old boy in the Philippines. He lived in absolute poverty, his name was Michael Luis but they called him Pasco. Now, that is only significant if you know what Pasco means. Pasco means Christmas. What an amazing lesson to be learned from such a young, impoverished boy. Pasco, who had nothing of his own, somehow managed to always have little gifts for his friends and family.  So much so that he earned himself the nickname of Pasco. He was always giving. He is charity in action.

3. I learned a heartwarming lesson from a sweet 3 year old girl in Mongolia. When we arrived she was very shy and clung tightly to her mother. We got busy and began visiting with the family and taking photographs. Slowly but surely she started to warm up. At one point, I was in the bedroom setting up for the next shot. I wanted to photograph the three sisters. All of a sudden, sweet little Yuki climbed onto my lap. It didn’t matter anymore that I was from America. It didn’t matter that I, at 5’8” with long blonde hair, looked completely different than her mother, or any other woman she knew, for that matter. She now realized I was warm and kind. I was a mother too and I could love her. A mother’s love and kindness breaks through boundaries, it crosses boarders and it speaks every language.

4. The darling Ho boys: Mao and Wang from Hong Kong taught me another lesson. Even if you traveled the whole world over you couldn’t find cuter boys than these two brothers. After spending several hours with this wonderful family these boys decided they really liked us. We were sitting around the table and they were hiding underneath. They would hide, then sneakily peak their heads out and shout “Boo!” We would act surprised and giggle. They would fall back under the table laughing hysterically. Over and over “Boo!” hee hee hee hee!  “Boo!” ha ha ha ha!  I’ve come to truly appreciate that children are the same wherever we go. They play and laugh and giggle just like other children. All children like to be happy. All children want to be happy. And all children, if surrounded by a loving family, are happy no matter where they live.

The Savior commanded, “Suffer the little children to come unto me.” (Mark 10:14) He knew the sweet innocent children were really the most worthy to be in His presence. As I traveled and met these sweet children around the world I was reminded why the Savior loved the children so. No matter where they were they taught me beautiful lessons. They reminded me what is most important in this world. It doesn’t matter where we live, the color of our skin, or the language we speak. We are all children of God. And children are kind & generous, humble & teachable. This is why the Lord said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 18:3)

Gentle Hands

With Mother's Day approaching this is dedicated to my Mother. She is a small woman, standing just 5’3”. But her soul is large and her heart enormous! I sometimes wonder how it all fits into her cute little body. J She serves quietly, diligently, and tirelessly behind the scenes. I once heard someone say that God will just look at our hands and be able to tell the kind of person we are.

One of my favorite quotes from Sister Marjorie Hinckley describes my mother perfectly. Sister Hinckley said, ““I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” That is my Mom!

My Mother will go to heaven with beautifully worn out hands! She’ll have scars from needle pokes and pricks as she mends torn clothes and sews brand new ones. She’ll surely have flour and dough stuck to her fingers from all the delicious homemade bread and sweet rolls she bakes. Her hands will be worn from the many years of serving others; cleaning, working, washing, fixing. Mostly, they will be soft, warm hands from all the love and giving.

 Gentle Hands

By: Kristen Rhead Sweeney

Gentle hands always serving

Working, Weeding, Sewing, Stirring

Never shouting words of fame

No awards, applause, acclaim

But still Serving, Loving, Working...

just the same

Gentle hands always Giving

Mending, Kneading, Helping, Healing

Never shouting words of fame

No awards, applause, acclaim

Bit still Playing, Sharing, Feeling…

Just the same