His Grace is Sufficient

I LOVE this talk!!!  It is one of the best illustrations of how grace works and how the Atonement works - and how they work together - that I've ever read.  I love it so much that I shared it on FB yesterday AND today.  I love it so much that I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes from it on here, but I found that I was wanting to quote the whole thing!  lol  So, I decided to just go ahead and post the whole thing. :)

*Update*  I have found the video of this talk online.  It is probably a little quicker to read the talk, so if you would rather do that, I'm leaving the written version below.  But it is very interesting to hear (and see) where Brad places emphasis on his words in the video/audio, so if you have a little more time, here it is.

His Grace is Sufficient by Brad Wilcox

Several years ago I received an invitation to speak at Women’s Conference. When I told my wife, she asked, “What have they asked you to speak on?” I was so excited that I got my words mixed up and said, “They want me to speak about changing strengths into weaknesses.”

She thought for a minute and said, “Well, they’ve got the right man for the job!”

She’s correct about that. I could give a whale of a talk on that subject, but I think today I had better go back to the original topic and speak about changing weaknesses into strengths and about how the grace of Jesus Christ is sufficient (see Ether 12:27, D&C 17:8, 2 Cor. 12:9)—sufficient to cover us, sufficient to transform us, and sufficient to help us as long as that transformation process takes.

Sufficient to Cover Us

A BYU student once came to me and asked if we could talk. I said, “Of course. How can I help you?”

She said, “I just don’t get grace.”

I responded, “What is it that you don’t understand?”

She said, “I know I need to ‘do my best and then Jesus does the rest,’ but I can’t even do my best.”

She then went on to tell me all the things she should be doing—“because she’s a Mormon”—that she wasn’t doing.

She continued, “I know that I have to do my part and then Jesus makes up the difference and fills the gap that stands between my part and perfection. But who fills the gap that stands between where I am now and my part?”

She then went on to tell me all the things that she shouldn’t be doing—“because she’s a Mormon”—but that she was doing anyway.

Finally I said, “Jesus doesn’t make up the difference. Jesus makes all the difference. Grace is not about filling gaps. It is about filling us.”

Seeing that she was still confused, I took a piece of paper and drew two dots—one at the top representing God and one at the bottom representing us. I then said, “Go ahead. Draw the line. How much is our part? How much is Christ’s part?”

She went right to the center of the page and began to draw a line. Then, considering what we had been speaking about, she went to the bottom of the page and drew a line just above the bottom dot.

I said, “Wrong.”

“I knew it was higher,” she said. “I should have just drawn it, because I knew it.”

I said, “No. The truth is, there is no line. Jesus filled the whole space. He paid our debt in full. He didn’t pay it all except for a few coins. He paid it all. It is finished.”

She said, “Right—like I don’t have to do anything?”

“Oh no,” I said, “you have plenty to do, but it is not to fill that gap. We will all be resurrected. We will all go back to God’s presence. What is left to be determined by our obedience is what kind of body we plan on being resurrected with and how comfortable we plan to be in God’s presence and how long we plan to stay there.”

Christ asks us to show faith in Him, repent, make and keep covenants, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. By complying, we are not paying the demands of justice—not even the smallest part. Instead, we are showing appreciation for what Jesus Christ did by using it to live a life like His. Justice requires immediate perfection or a punishment when we fall short. Because Jesus took that punishment, He can offer us the chance for ultimate perfection (see Matt. 5:48, 3 Ne. 12:48) and help us reach that goal. He can forgive what justice never could, and He can turn to us now with His own set of requirements (see 3 Ne. 28:35).

“So what’s the difference?” the girl asked. “Whether our efforts are required by justice or by Jesus, they are still required.”

“True,” I said, “but they are required for a different purpose. Fulfilling Christ’s requirements is like paying a mortgage instead of rent or like making deposits in a savings account instead of paying off debt. You still have to hand it over every month, but it is for a totally different reason.”

Sufficient to Transform Us

Christ’s arrangement with us is similar to a mom providing music lessons for her child. Mom pays the piano teacher. Because Mom pays the debt in full, she can turn to her child and ask for something. What is it? Practice! Does the child’s practice pay the piano teacher? No. Does the child’s practice repay Mom for paying the piano teacher? No. Practicing is how the child shows appreciation for Mom’s incredible gift. It is how he takes advantage of the amazing opportunity Mom is giving him to live his life at a higher level. Mom’s joy is found not in getting repaid but in seeing her gift used—seeing her child improve. And so she continues to call for practice, practice, practice.

If the child sees Mom’s requirement of practice as being too overbearing (“Gosh, Mom, why do I need to practice? None of the other kids have to practice! I’m just going to be a professional baseball player anyway!”), perhaps it is because he doesn’t yet see with Mom’s eyes. He doesn’t see how much better his life could be if he would choose to live on a higher plane.

In the same way, because Jesus has paid justice, He can now turn to us and say, “Follow me” (Matt. 4:19), “keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If we see His requirements as being way too much to ask (“Gosh! None of the other Christians have to pay tithing! None of the other Christians have to go on missions, serve in callings, and do temple work!”), maybe it is because we do not yet see through Christ’s eyes. We have not yet comprehended what He is trying to make of us.

Elder Bruce C. Hafen (BA ’66) has written, “The great Mediator asks for our repentance not because we must ‘repay’ him in exchange for his paying our debt to justice, but because repentance initiates a developmental process that, with the Savior’s help, leads us along the path to a saintly character” (The Broken Heart [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1989], p. 149; emphasis in original).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks (BS ’54) has said, referring to President Spencer W. Kimball’s explanation, “The repenting sinner must suffer for his sins, but this suffering has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose ischange” (The Lord’s Way [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1991], p. 223; emphasis in original). Let’s put this in terms of our analogy: The child must practice the piano, but this practice has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose is change.

I have born-again Christian friends who say to me, “You Mormons are trying toearn your way to heaven.”

I say, “No, we are not earning heaven. We are learning heaven. We are preparing for it (see D&C 78:7). We are practicing for it.”

They ask me, “Have you been saved by grace?”

I answer, “Yes. Absolutely, totally, completely, thankfully—yes!”

Then I ask them a question that perhaps they have not fully considered: “Have you been changed by grace?” They are so excited about being saved that maybe they are not thinking enough about what comes next. They are so happy the debt is paid that they may not have considered why the debt existed in the first place. Latter-day Saints know not only what Jesus has saved us from but also what He has saved us for. As my friend Brett C. Sanders (BS ’00) puts it, “A life impacted by grace eventually begins to look like Christ’s life.” As my friend Omar Canals shared with me, “While many Christians view Christ’s suffering as only a huge favor He did for us, Latter-day Saints also recognize it as a huge investment He made in us.” As Moroni puts it, grace isn’t just about being saved. It is also about becoming like the Savior (see Moro. 7:48).

The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can live after we die but that we can live more abundantly (see John 10:10). The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled but that we can be transformed (see Rom. 8). Scriptures make it clear that no unclean thing can dwell with God (see Alma 40:26), but no unchanged thing will even want to.

I know a young man who just got out of prison—again. Each time two roads diverge in a yellow wood, he takes the wrong one—every time. When he was a teenager dealing with every bad habit a teenage boy can have, I said to his father, “We need to get him to EFY.” I have worked with Especially for Youth since 1985. I know the good it can do.

His dad said, “I can’t afford that.”

I said, “I can’t afford it either, but you put some in, and I’ll put some in, and then we’ll go to my mom, because she is a real softy.”

We finally got the kid to EFY, but how long do you think he lasted? Not even a day. By the end of the first day he called his mother and said, “Get me out of here!”

Heaven will not be heaven for those who have not chosen to be heavenly.

In the past I had a picture in my mind of what the final judgment would be like, and it went something like this: Jesus standing there with a clipboard and Brad standing on the other side of the room nervously looking at Jesus.

Jesus checks His clipboard and says, “Oh, shoot, Brad. You missed it by two points.”

Brad begs Jesus, “Please, check the essay question one more time! There have to be two points you can squeeze out of that essay.” That’s how I always saw it.

But the older I get, and the more I understand this wonderful plan ofredemption, the more I realize that in the final judgment it will not be the unrepentant sinner begging Jesus, “Let me stay.” No, he will probably be saying, “Get me out of here!” Knowing Christ’s character, I believe that if anyone were to beg on that occasion, it would probably be Jesus begging the unrepentant sinner, “Please, choose to stay. Please, use my Atonement—not just to be cleansed but to be changed so that you want to stay.”

The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can go home but that—amazingly—we can feel at home there. If Christ did not require faith andrepentance, then there would be no desire to change. Think of your friends and family members who have chosen to live without faith and without repentance. They don’t want to change. They are not trying to abandon sin and become comfortable with God. Rather, they are trying to abandon God and become comfortable with sin. If Jesus did not require covenants and bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, then there would be no way to change. We would be left forever with only willpower, with no access to His power. If Jesus did not require endurance to the end, then there would be no internalization of those changes over time. They would forever be surface and cosmetic rather than sinking inside us and becoming part of us—part of who we are. To return to our metaphor, if practice were not required, then we would never become pianists.

Sufficient to Help Us

“But Brother Wilcox, don’t you realize how hard it is to practice? I’m just not very good at the piano. I hit a lot of wrong notes. It takes me forever to get it right.” Now wait. Isn’t that all part of the learning process? When a young pianist hits a wrong note, we don’t say he is not worthy to keep practicing. We don’t expect him to be flawless. We just expect him to keep trying. Perfection may be his ultimate goal, but for now we can be content with movement in the right direction. Why is this perspective so easy to see in the context of learning piano but so hard to see in the context of learning heaven?

Too many are giving up on the Church because they are tired of constantly feeling like they are falling short. They have tried in the past, but they always feel like they are just not good enough. They don’t understand grace.

There are young women who know they “are daughters of [a] Heavenly Father who loves [them], and [they] love Him.” Then they graduate from high school, and the values they memorized are put to the test. They slip up. They let things go too far, and suddenly they think it is all over. These young women don’t understand grace.

There are young men who grow up their whole lives singing, “I hope they call me on a mission,” and then they do actually grow a foot or two and flake out completely. They get their Eagles, graduate from high school, and go away to college. Then suddenly these young men find out how easy it is to not be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, or reverent. They mess up. They say, “I’ll never do it again,” and then they do it. They say, “I’ll never do it again,” and then they do it. They say, “This is stupid. I will never do it again,” and then they do it. The guilt is almost unbearable. They don’t dare talk to a bishop. Instead, they hide. They say, “I can’t do this Mormon thing. I’ve tried, and the expectations are just way too high.” So they quit. These young men don’t understand grace.

I know returned missionaries who come home and slip back into bad habits they thought were over. They break promises made before God, angels, and witnesses, and they are convinced there is no hope for them now. They say, “Well, I’ve blown it. There is no use in even trying anymore.” Seriously? These young people have spent entire missions teaching people about Jesus Christ and His Atonement, and now they think there is no hope for them? These returned missionaries don’t understand grace.

I know young married couples who find out after the sealing ceremony is over that marriage requires adjustments. The pressures of life mount, and stress starts taking its toll financially, spiritually, and even sexually. Mistakes are made. Walls go up. And pretty soon these husbands and wives are talking with divorce lawyers rather than talking with each other. These couples don’t understand grace.

In all of these cases there should never be just two options: perfection or giving up. When learning the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness (see 2 Cor. 12:9). When we understand grace, we can, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “continue in patience until [we] are perfected” (D&C 67:13).

One young man wrote me the following e-mail: “I know God has all power, and I know He will help me if I’m worthy, but I’m just never worthy enough to ask for His help. I want Christ’s grace, but I always find myself stuck in the same self-defeating and impossible position: no work, no grace.”

I wrote him back and testified with all my heart that Christ is not waiting at the finish line once we have done “all we can do” (2 Ne. 25:23). He is with us every step of the way.

Elder Bruce C. Hafen has written, “The Savior’s gift of grace to us is not necessarily limited in time to ‘after’ all we can do. We may receive his grace before, during, and after the time when we expend our own efforts” (The Broken Heart [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1989], p. 155). So grace is not a booster engine that kicks in once our fuel supply is exhausted. Rather, it is our constant energy source. It is not the light at the end of the tunnel but the light that moves us through the tunnel. Grace is not achieved somewhere down the road. It is received right here and right now. It is not a finishing touch; it is the Finisher’s touch (see Heb. 12:2).

The first company of Saints entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Their journey was difficult and challenging; still, they sang:

Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear; But with joy wend your way. Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day. [“Come, Come, Ye Saints,” Hymns, rev. ed. (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2002), no. 30]

“Grace shall be as your day”—what an interesting phrase. We have all sung it hundreds of times, but have we stopped to consider what it means? “Grace shall be as your day”: grace shall be like a day. As dark as night may become, we can always count on the sun coming up. As dark as our trials, sins, and mistakes may appear, we can always have confidence in the grace of Jesus Christ. Do we earn a sunrise? No. Do we have to be worthy of a chance to begin again? No. We just have to accept these blessings and take advantage of them. As sure as each brand-new day, grace—the enabling power of Jesus Christ—is constant. Faithful pioneers knew they were not alone. The task ahead of them was never as great as the power behind them.

Amazing Grace

The grace of Christ is sufficient—sufficient to cover our debt, sufficient to transform us, and sufficient to help us as long as that transformation process takes. The Book of Mormon teaches us to rely solely on “the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Ne. 2:8). As we do, we do not discover—as some Christians believe—that Christ requires nothing of us. Rather, we discover the reason He requires so much and the strength to do all He asks (see Philip. 4:13). Grace is not the absence of God’s high expectations. Grace is the presence of God’s power (see Luke 1:37).

Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said the following:

Now may I speak . . . to those buffeted by false insecurity, who, though laboring devotedly in the Kingdom, have recurring feelings of falling forever short. . . .
. . . This feeling of inadequacy is . . . normal. There is no way the Church can honestly describe where we must yet go and what we must yet do without creating a sense of immense distance. . . . 

. . . This is a gospel of grand expectations, but God’s grace is sufficient for each of us. [“Notwithstanding My Weakness,” Ensign, November 1976, pp. 12, 14]

With Elder Maxwell, I testify that God’s grace is sufficient. Jesus’ grace is sufficient. It is enough. It is all we need. Oh, young people, don’t quit. Keep trying. Don’t look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and His perfect strength. Don’t search for someone to blame. Search for someone to help you. Seek Christ, and as you do, I promise you will feel the enabling power we call His amazing grace. I leave this testimony and all of my love—for I do love you. As God is my witness, I love the youth of this church. I believe in you. I’m pulling for you. And I’m not the only one. Parents are pulling for you, leaders are pulling for you, and prophets are pulling for you. And Jesus is pulling withyou. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

No whining allowed!

I really do not like hate whining.  Yes, hate.  It's a strong word, but it is the right word in this instance.  Yet, at times, I, too, feel the urge to whine.

This morning, I was awoken early by cats fighting right outside my window.  And a migraine.  And... it was Monday.  :S

I was grumpy.  I hurt.  I banged on the window to scare off the cats.  I got up and took way more meds than I like to take, just to make the pounding in my head go away.  I knew that much medication would make me feel shaky and sick for most of the rest of the day, and even though I hate migraines more, that yucky drugged up feeling is almost as bad.  ... Did I mention, I was grumpy?

I got onto FaceBook and was tempted to gripe about just how awful I felt... but then I had a sudden flash of inspiration and posted this instead:

I feel like whining... But instead, I will think of some of my blessings. I am so grateful for my faith, my family, my home, my friends, and my country. I am thankful that each day is full of new possibilities and that I have the choice of how I will act, how I will learn, and how I will grow each day. I am grateful for the sunshine we had this weekend, and I'm also grateful for the rain we have today because I love the sound of it on my rooftop and the smell of it in the air - and besides, this is what makes my part of the country such a gorgeous place to live. I am grateful that, already, I don't feel like whining much anymore. :)

I was also immediately reminded of something my friend said in church last week.  Whenever she realizes that she got up on the wrong side of the bed, she literally gets back into bed and then gets up on the other side!  It's just so silly that it makes her laugh out loud and already she feels better.  

I have to admit, I did not get back into bed to get up on the other side, but just thinking about it made me laugh, too.  That, adding to quick acting medication and my little change of heart FB post, has completely changed how I feel today.

Today is a great day!  It is great because I am choosing to make it great.

Happy Monday, everyone! :)

T.H.I.N.K.

When we were at Acadia's Spring Orchestra Festival, which took place at the high school, I noticed this HUGE poster hanging in the gym.  It said:

Think before you speak!  Is it:

• True?
• Helpful?
• Inspiring?
• Necessary?
• Kind?

I loved this SO MUCH and I can't stop thinking about it.  How many situations/relationships would be much more pleasant if we all learned to follow this great counsel?

Today, I choose to be happy.

We can't always control things that go on in our lives.  For various reasons.  No matter how much we would like to. 

For several days I've felt sick over something that I have little control over.  What conrol I have, I believe that I've done my best with and everything in my power to help.  It was eating me up inside that it might not be enough and that things beyond my control might have reprocussions that I didn't want.  But after praying and pondering, I woke up this morning feeling peace.  I feel good about my role in what has happened, and though things are still out of my control, I have done what I can do. 

Today, I choose to be happy.  I choose to have faith and hope for good things.   I choose to be positive, friendly, and considerate.  I choose to respect others, even if I don't agree with them.  I choose not to play hurtful games or say hurtful words.  And I choose to forgive those who do.

There are many things beyond my control, but how I feel and how I act are entirely up to me.  "And that is an encouraging thought."  :)

Confidence

I've never had a lot of it. Occasionally, I realize a strength or talent in me and I try to embrace it. I allow myself to believe in it. And then I do feel confident. But with most things, at least regarding me and my abilities, I struggle to feel confident.

I am confident in my faith. I am confident in my God and His spirit when it promtps me to do something. I am confident in my husband, family, and friends. But I lack confidence in me in so many areas. So, I'm working on that.

Lately, I've been working on my health/body. I make sacrifices, work hard, focus on my goals, and I'm getting results. I'm not skinny yet. lol I may never be skinny. That's okay. But I am beginning to feel confident in the changes I've made. I am beginning to feel confident in how I am changing my body.

A couple of months ago, I did something kind of stupid. Except, I don't think it was stupid. I bought a pair of capris that were super cute but too small. I used them as an incentive. I wanted to fit into them. Today I am wearing those capris - they fit perfectly and I feel awesome! I need to go buy another pair of too small pants now. lol

Another area I'm tring to work on building my confidence in is photography. I love photography. I am not educated or experienced in it, I just like it a lot. I think I've got a little bit of a talent for it, so I'm trying to develop that, make it into something bigger and better.

This week, my cousin, Sami, asked me to take her Senior Portraits. I was excited, but nervous - I didn't know what I was doing. I was totally faking it! But I figured, she knew that, so I just kept faking it until we finished up and you know what? They turned out pretty good! Not as great as if I knew what I was doing. Not as great as they would if I really understood how to use aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, but they were good enough that she was very happy and today I got the announcement she sent out with the pics she chose... and they look pretty dang good!

And now, I'm preparing to head out to take her step-brother's senior portraits this evening. I still feel nervous, and I'll still fake it, but if I keep trying and keep practicing, I am confident that I'll get better and one day, I'll feel confidence everytime I aim my lens in someone's direction. ;)

I think it's good to be humble.  I also think it's good to work on improving ourselves.   And I think that it is good to feel confident in yourself and the things you work hard to accomplish. 

By Small and Simple Things Are Great Things Brought to Pass

Last week, my friends and I ran away for a few days for a road trip to Provo, UT to attend Women's Conference at BYU.  It was my second time going and I loved it as much as last year.  We have such a good time!  It is wonderful to go to this huge conference with thousands of other women, sing with hundreds of them in the "instant" choir, attend several classes that have been prayerfully prepared to spiritually uplift and inspire, participate in humanitarian projects, meet new friends, and strengthen bonds with the ones you came with.  We laugh A LOT!  We (I) cry A LOT!  It is a wonderful, WONDERFUL few days and I love it! 

I am so grateful that Ryan is so supportive of me going.  He takes time off, holds down the fort, and encourages me to go because he knows how much I love it.  I am so grateful for the friends that I go with.  We have great conversations, share thoughts and insights, and make each moment totally fun! 

I took a lot of pics (surprise, surprise) and I'm going to share a bunch of them here... brace yourselves. ;)

The drive there:

We left in the wee hours of the morning.  Ugh.  But it's nice to get on the road and start so early because then we get in at a decent hour and can take some time preparing for the conference to begin the next morning.  The drive was very pretty, it was especially nice watching the sunrise.

We like to sing in the choir, which is totally fun because you have to get up extra early to go to the one and only practice.  It's totally worth it - it's awesome to participate.  We like to wear matching shirts so we can spot ourselves easily if we managed to get on camera. lol  This year we used the same shirts we bought for last year, but we're planning on getting new shirts for next year.  The orange was fun though, and it matched the colors that went a long with this year's theme. ;)  The opening session's speaker was Virginia H. Pearce.  I love her!  She introduced the theme: By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.

All of the classes are fantastic and it's hard to get a bad class.  We were especially lucky though and got into one of the hardest classes to get into!  We're talking none other than John Bytheway!  Who doesn't love John Bytheway???  (And after the class he was lingering, talking to people so we went up and had our picture taken with him. :D )  He and his wife were great!   They spoke about cleaving unto the covenants we have made.  We also attended a class taught by Ruth W. Hill and Michael Wilcox about scripture heroines that I really enjoyed (even though Sariah wasn't among the ones highlighted, lol).  And then we attended a class about helping our youth as they transition to dating.  We went because Susan's daughter just turned 16, but all of us really enjoyed it and found it helpful.  The final session of the day was about the Legacy of the Relief Society, taught by Brother and Sister Tanner.  I really liked something that Sister Tanner said, that it is our turn to live up to our priviledge; it is our turn to add our story to Relief Society's history. :)

After the afternoon session, we hurried over to spend some time helping with the humanitarian efforts.  There are so many projects that go on during these couple of days!  We chose to help assemble hygiene kits.  Our table alone would finish 1600 kits during the two hours between the afternoon session and the evening's concert.  That, combined with the other tables, would make the total 16,000 hygiene kits!  Plus, there were other stations assembling newborn baby kits, and others assembling back-to-school kits.  Other areas on campus were making fleece blankets, others tying quilts, others making stockings, and there were many who took make-and-take projects to crochet scarves, shawls, baby caps, etc to work on during the talks and return at the end of the day.  A LOT of good gets done during this short amount of time.  When so many people are willing to pitch in just a little bit, great things do come to pass.

After about an hour, we left the humanitarian efforts to get some grub and get in line for the concert.  Along the way, we stopped for a couple of pictures.  We like walking along this little waterway because there are always baby ducks to watch.  So cute!!!

The concert this year was FANTASTIC!!!  I loved EVERY moment!  Everyone was great, every song was awesome!  I LOVED IT!!!

Kirby Heyborne was the host this year, and he was great!  He told just the right amount of jokes and sang a funny song he wrote about Sherry Dew.  David Osmond was so fun!  He was singing to an old lady in the front row - and she grabbed his face AND KISSED HIM!!!  ROFL!!!  He was like, "Um, my wife is sitting over there (pointing to the other side of the front section), and I'm thinking that right now it will be safer for me to stay on this side."  That lady was so funny!  lol... still makes me laugh! 

Another performer was Hilary Weeks - who I absolutely LOVE!  She said something that night that really struck me, and I think it's the one thing that stood out to me the most during the entire conference.  She told about an experience she had with her daughter where she realized that she will have eternity to know her as an adult, but she only has these precious few years to know her as a child.  It was something I think I needed to hear, I had never thought of it that way.  It made me want to value and treasure these moments with my girls more than ever before.  :)

Other performers that night:  Josh Wright.  I had never heard him before but let me tell you, he literally took my breath away.  He is a pianist and played a piece (I don't remember the name!) that had me holding my breath.  It shouldn't be physically possible to be able to move your fingers as quickly and accurately as he was!  At the end, I couldn't help but shoot to my feet - I think it was the one and only standing ovation of the night! - and it was like gasping for breath, all of a sudden I realized I wasn't breathing.  He was that good!  Another amazing performer was Jenny Oaks Baker, a violinist.  She was fantastic, too.  I wish Cadi could have heard her.  She made that violin SING!  And at one point, she and Josh Wright played together a duet, "Baby Mine".  It was really beautiful.  Two other performers were brought out for just one song each, to debut a new cd, "Women of Hope" which is made up of various female artists.  April Meservy was first, our family loves her music!  And then Cherie Call.  They were really great songs but the performances were pretty quick and then the concert moved on to the final performers, an acapella group, Vocal Pointe.  They were so fun!  I would love to get their cd, but even more, I'd love a dvd of their performances because they dance and choreograph so well that it's just as great as the music!  They were a blast!

Didn't we totally get great seats?  Made it super easy to get such great pics! :)

After the concert, we headed up to leave and as we exited the Marriot Center, Josh Wright was passing right by us, so I grabbed him and Christi took a picture of us.  Moments later, it was David Osmond!  And then, the one I really wanted to meet, Hilary Weeks!  It was so great!  So, they might not be the best pics of me (it was the end of a very long day), but I have to share! ...

The second day didn't start quite so early since there was no Instant Choir, that was really nice. lol  The opening speaker was Julie Beck, she talked about who we are and what our purpose is.  (Individually and collectively as members of Relief Society.)  We have a place in this work.  I liked this quote (might not be exactly word for word), "Until the history of who you are is in your hearts, you won't be as strong as you could be."

The first class we chose after that was about preventing our strengths from becoming our downfall.  After that, we went to hear a session about visiting teaching, one of the presenters was Mary Ellen Edmunds - we LOVE her!  She said, "So many miracles are waiting beyond the statistics."  She is always hilarious, we laughed a lot during her talk.  The other class we chose to attend was called "I did frankly forgive them." and it was really good.  It was taught by Brother and Sister Osguthorpe and they talked about how we can develop a forgiving heart.

The closing session was one we were very excited for, Elder Bednar and his wife spoke!  He talked about spiritual patterns of small and simple things, reminding us that measured steadiness is better and more effective than spurts of excess which then requires periods of rest to recover.  Become intelligent drip irrigators and avoid spurting. lol

And just like that, it was over!  The time just flies by!  After the closing session, we finished up some shopping business on campus, then headed out to meet up with a blog friend of mine, Klin.  I was SO EXCITED to meet her!!!  And in my excitement, I left my camera in the car.  Lame.  But she had one, so her daughter took this picture of us:

Klin is just as great in person as she is on her blog and on FaceBook.  I really wish we had more time to really visit. :S  But it was so great to meet her!!!  And I'm extra excited for her because yesterday she became a grandma for the first time!  Yay!!!  Congratulations Klin! :)

Early the next morning (but not quite so early as the morning we left Vancouver), we were up and getting ready to head out.  We thought it looked kind of bright for the hour, so we looked outside and found that Utah was giving us a real send-off! 

But it turns out this was the worst of it, at least for us.  Once we passed SLC, everything was smooth sailing, and even bright and beautiful! :)

No matter how great the trip, no matter how much fun you have and how much you love it, it is always good to be back home!  We love driving through the gorge, seeing familiar landscapes, our backyard that we love so much.  We love coming back to our husbands and children!  We even love getting back to normal life, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, etc. 

I can't speak for my friends, but for me, it isn't about running away from my family or my life.  It's just about taking a break to refill my bucket.  I never really want to leave my husband, and I don't even really want to leave my kids.  But this annual trip is so precious to me.  By going, even though I really miss them while I'm gone, I am able to come back a better wife and mom.  I feel so blessed to have been able to go and I am already looking forward to next year! :)

Good thoughts from a good friend.

I'm going to be honest, I had a rough week last week, especially the weekend, and I'm really glad it's over.  I vented/counseled with one of my counselors last night and this morning she sent me this e-mail.  It was just what I needed.  Thanks, Hanna! :)


A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... she fooled them all... "How heavy is this glass of water?", she inquired with a smile.


Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.


She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."


"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... pick them up tomorrow.


Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!"



1 * Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue!

2 * Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

3 * Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

4 * Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker..


5 * If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague


6 * If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it..


7 * It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.


8 * Never buy a car you can't push.


9 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.


10 * Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.


11 * Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.


12 * The second mouse gets the cheese.


13 * When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.


14 * Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.


15 * You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.


16 * Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.


17 * We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.


18 * A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.


19 * Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.


20 * It was I, your friend!


*Save the earth..... It's the only planet with chocolate!

Hey Mickey!

This weekend, this was my Facebook status:

Over the last week, I've spent early morning hours making hushed phone calls and connecting online with someone special, making arrangements for a future rendevous. His name is Mickey and he's a mouse! :D

We are SO EXCITED!!!

A few years ago, we mapped out some of our vacation plans for the following years and we knew we wanted to do this trip. But we knew that it would be expensive and we really wanted to wait until Rori was old enough to be able to fully enjoy it, so we penciled it in for this year. We saved and waited and saved and waited. We went on other trips, mostly small ones to see family, but reserved the majority of our vacation funds to be used for a dream vacation to DisneyWorld. It seemed like 2011 was so far away! But good things come to those who wait... we were patient and diligent, and finally, IT IS HERE!!!

Well, almost.

It's happening later this year... but it's so close now! Close enough that we've booked it all - and best of all, we saved enough to pay for the whole vacation package/flights/etc up front! It's such a good feeling! :) We have had a lot of fun looking through the guides, watching our home videos from our last visit, scouring websites for tips and tricks for the best planning, etc.

I really love the planning A LOT! It is so fun for me! I love it almost as much as the trip itself, and all the planning I get to do helps us to enjoy the trip that much more while we're there. So I am in total heaven right now! I JUST LOVE IT!!!

As excited as we are, we also feel exceedingly blessed and grateful! We recognize the many wonderul blessings that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with that enables us to do something like this for our family. A few days ago, I sat pondering the love of our Heavenly Father and I was overwhelmed with the feeling of His desire to bless us. Just as Ryan and I want so much to take our girls on this trip, to give them experiences that we know they will love, our Heavenly Father wants to give it to us, too. I felt like the little girl and that He, my Heavenly Father was the one taking ME to DisneyWorld - not because it's something that is important or necessary, but because He just knows how much I'll love it. That's all. He wants to bless me, He wants to bless us! And when we try to make good choices, the choices He wants us to make, He is able to do that. For some it is a trip to DisneyWorld, for others it's some other wonderful blessing. It is awesome to feel His love in the blessings we are given, whatever they are.

It's a "go"!

I had such a great time at Women's Conference with my friends last year that I knew I wanted to go back this year, too.  But then we found out we were scammed and money became tight.  And we found out about a family trip and our vacation time became tight, too.  My friends were tight on money, too, so we all decided we would "be good" and not go this year. 

But that decision did not last long.  Within a couple of days we got our flyer in the mail and we lost our resolve.  We decide to MAKE it work.  We resolve instead, to not spend extra money on books/clothes/etc to keep our cost down, and I started to ask around for a babysitter for Rori so Ryan won't have to take vacation time.  Once we realized we could find ways to go without causing extra hardship on our families, we were so excited!  We ran our plans by the husbands and they all expressed that they had been hoping we could go, too.  So... Yay!!!

This week we registered, so now it's official!  And we can't wait!!!  Women's Conference 2011, Here we come!!! :D

John 14:27

We had great High Council speakers in church yesterday. One of them told of two experiences he had, both involving a great deal of work-related stress. The first was about a business trip that was supposed to be kind of a break, but ended up adding to his stress even more. By the time he got home, he just wanted to relax, so he spent the entire weekend laying around watching movies. He did go to church, but didn't do anything productive, didn't even help his wife with the kids or home at all. Come Monday morning, he was just as stressed as he had been at the beginning of the weekend. The same problems were still there and he was nowhere closer in solving them.

The second situation starts at the end of a very stressful work day. He was assigned to accompany the youth at the temple that night for baptisms and after his bad day at work, he really didn't feel like attending the temple. He wanted to back out but knew that he couldn't. (He was the only bishopric member available to go.) So, he went. As soon as he entered the baptismal font with the youth, a peace came over him and he had a wonderful temple experience. On the way home, he felt great! And he began to receive impressions about how to handle his work situation. The next day, he applied those impressions and things improved.

John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The way that the world tells us to seek peace is nothing compared to how the Lord gives peace. The Lord's way invites revelation and strengthens us to be able to deal with the things that weigh on us. Seek the Lord's peace when feeling overwhelmed, troubled, frightened, or discouraged. Seek the Lord's peace through prayer, scripture study, church and temple attendance, service, etc.

This message was such a great reminder for me. I am at times easily overwhelmed with the responsibilities that I have, many of which are church related. But the answer is to seek the Lord. I am so grateful for the Gospel and the many ways that it blesses and enriches my life. Even setting aside such things as eternal salvation, the blessings that come from living the gospel daily are worth it, alone. The peace that I feel when I'm living it, the revelation I'm entitled to, the joy I feel - all are blessings that can come from no other source.

I am sincerely and truly grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve the Lord in my calling. Though it is a very challenging and demanding calling, it has also been full of some of the most beautiful, spiritual experiences of my life. I have grown so much these past 3 years. I have felt great joy as I have served. And in case anyone is wondering now, I'm not done yet! ;) I'm looking forward to entering our 4th year as the Relief Society presidency in our ward, and I am excited and grateful to continue feeling the Lord's peace as my schedule is filled with His work. Following even the best suggestions that the world would tell me to do with my time could never bring the joys and blessings that the Lord gives me as I do His will. :)

O Come Let Us Adore Him

Every year, our church has a Festival of the Nativities where hundreds of nativities are put on display.  There is one huge display in the cultural hall of our building, a smaller, cozier display in the multi-purpose room, decorated to appear as though you've just stepped into someone's home, and two children's rooms where there are nativities to play with, stories to hear, crafts to make, costumes to try one, etc.  In addition, there are live musical performances held in the chapel, a live nativitiy one of the evenings, and even the lawn and foyers are decorated beautifully to welcome thousands of visitors.  The festival is a four day event and open to the public for free.  It's one of our favorite ways to start the holidays!

My mom came up a couple of years ago to attend the festival and has been hooked ever since.  She was back up this year, with my brother, Ben.  I wish I had taken more pictures, but here are some of the few I did take.  First of all, Ben was SO patient with Rori!  She loved having him here and I dare say, abused the poor guy quite a bit.  Proof:



Here are some pictures of the Festival:


These were taken in the first children's room.  In this room, there are nativities that are kid-friendly so the kids can play with them, trees decorated by the children in our church, a story corner, and my kids' favorite: costumes to dress up in and a stable scene to take pictures in:



In the other children's room, there is a craft to make, building blocks to play with, and a corner where wood whittling can be demonstrated.  This room is called Jospeh's Workshop:



We really love this event and are so grateful to be able to share it with our family.  This year, I had about 20 nativities/items displayed in the festival, including the handmade nativity that my cousin made me last year.  I love participating in it!  I love the spirit of the whole event: going to set up my nativities, seeing all the other contributors and volunteers putting it all together, hearing the beautiful music during the festival, seeing the hundreds of different kinds of nativities, watching the kids dress up as part of the Nativity story, feeling the spirit, seeing the community come to celebrate and worship our Savior, etc. 

Recently, my mom posted this and this on her blogs.  Good thoughts and reminders about our Savior during this season as well as every other day of the year. :)

Halloween FHE

Occasionally, I try to bring some sense of spirituality into the Halloween Holiday, like the year we had a FHE about how carving pumpkins can help us think about "letting our light shine".

This year, I've stolen an idea from my mom and kind of tweaked it a little for our family.  I share it because I know there are others who are always looking for new ideas for FHE.  So here it is (or at least the plan, we'll see how it all goes down later tonight). 

(We have paper ghosts already floating around our home, and five have taken up residence in our family room.)

What can you tell me about ghosts? 

We are going to talk about a special "ghost" tonight, the Holy Ghost.  How is the Holy Ghost similar to pretend ghosts?  How is he different?

The Holy Ghost is a gift given to us from our Heavenly Father to help us.  He goes by many names and he helps us in many different ways.  Tonight, we are going to talk about five of the names he goes by and how it helps us.  (After each scripture we'll have a short discussion on how this helps us and I'll ask if anyone wants to share an experience they've had.  I've printed out each scripture, so we'll tape them to the ghosts in our room to help us remember that the Holy Ghost is our friend and he helps us in many ways.)

• Comforter  (Romans 15:13)
• Protector (D&C 8:2,4)
• Teacher (John 14:26)
• Witness (Romans 8:16 and 3 NE 11:36)
• Revelator (2 NE 32:5 and Alma 5:46)

I'll end with my testimony and then we'll have a yummy fall treat. :)

Paul Cardall

Today I went to a book signing for Paul Cardall.  When he first sat down there really weren't very many people there, so we got to talk for quite a bit.  He was so nice. :)  He gave me a hug and we took a picture:



I've wanted to meet Paul for years so I'm so glad I was able to this time!  He actually came to our stake center to do a fireside a few years ago, but I was out of town that weekend. :P  But it worked out this time. :)

---

UPDATE:  And this is a big one!!! 

In our talking at Deseret, we talked about several things, where I was from, our kids (Rori is close in age to his daughter), his music, etc.  I remembered to ask for a hug, I remembered to tell him that Live to Love is one of my favorite songs and never fails to move me when I hear it, I remembered to get a picture taken with him, I remembered to have him sign a couple cds, his new book, and a songbook... but I forgot to ask him something I've been wanting to ask for years!

I've been on the hunt for a piano solo arrangment of How Firm a Foundation.  It is my favorite hymn and has so much meaning to me.  A large part of my testimony is summed up in the understanding of this hymn.  It has been my strength in times when I have been afraid, felt weak, overwhelmed, etc.  I. Love. This. Hymn.  But there are just no piano arrangments for it.  I've looked, and bought/tried everything I could find.  They are all either 1) super easy, like for beginners, 2) the more traditional melody, not our LDS version, or 3) meant for choirs and the accompaniment is not good for a solo.  Disappointment.  Many years and dollars later (I seriously buy any copy of How Firm a Foundation I see, just to see if this could possibly be the one.), I still have not found an arrangement that would work for me.  I've not given up though, I still look (and buy), but I've wanted, for a long time, to ask someone, specifically Paul Cardall as he is one of my favorite LDS artists and primarily does piano solos, to consider composing one.

And with all the time we talked yesterday, I totally and completely FORGOT!  I remembered as I was in the car heading home and was tempted to turn around but thought that might be a bit much since I had already talked to him for so long and there were others visiting with him now.  I had my chance... and could only hope for another one, someday.

When I got home, I uploaded the picture I took and shared it on FB.  I tried to post it to his FB page, but I think his page doesn't allow that (understandable), but I did tag him in the pic on my profile.  Then some of my friends made comments and I also commented about my unasked question/request.  This morning I checked my e-mail...

AND PAUL CARDALL RESPONDED!  He commented on the pic and said he would work on that song for me!!!  I realize he is busy, probably has many projects to work on already, this could end up being something he forgets or simply never has time to get around to.  And if he does, it may be years down the road... I'm telling myself this so I don't get too many of my hopes up. lol  But, there is a chance!  And he at least has heard my request and said he'd work on it!  Reading his comment totally made my day!  I was giddy like a school girl, literally ran down the hall to Ryan, giggling and jumping up and down.  (I want to say it's because I was still waking up and pretend like I wouldn't have been so childish if I had been more awake, but let's be honest... I totally would have! LOL)

So, here's to hoping!  And here's to Paul Cardall, I'm telling you, he is AWESOME!  (For so many reasons!)

Now, you may have noticed up in that pic that there was another person in the background... yeah, that garnered a few comments from my family and friends. lol  And so my friend, Heffalump, worked some magic, and now one of my best friends was there at Deseret with me instead!  ....



I admit, I much prefer this version! lol

That Kind of Faith

My sister posted on her Facebook status: "Are you going to take this experience with grace? Are you going trust me?" 

Then she went on to explain:  This is what a lady I know heard Heavenly Father say to her after she'd been robbed at gun point and shot at in her own driveway (a few blocks from me) this week. "You're on," she said.

I don't know anything else about that situation, but I kept thinking of this song, "That Kind of Faith", by Hilary Weeks:




We are not likely to be asked to sacrifice our child, but like my sister's friend, we often find ourselves in hard situations.  They can be painful, horrific, and sometimes we think there is no sense of it.  But if we will trust God and take it with grace, He can turn any situation into one that we realize we needed and are grateful for. 

That is the kind of faith I am striving for.

That Kind of Faith lyrics:

He rose up early in the morning, light of day breaking through the dark.
He was headed on a journey, so afraid that how it ended would surely break his heart.How could he break the news to Sarah?  Afterall, Isaac was their only son.
How long they both had waited, for a hundred years they'd waited, just to have it all undone.

Surely, God wouldn't make a promise he would break,
And Abraham, with that kind of faith, obeyed.

Three days journey to Moriah, Abraham knelt before the Lord.The sacrifice in place, he looked into his son's face,
Never had he doubted before.

Surely, God wouldn't make a promise he would break,
And Abraham, with that kind of faith,
Came to the alter, turning his will to the Father,
Finding the courage somehow, he raised up his hand,
To follow God's command, trusting beyond every doubt.

"Lay not thy hand upon the boy", those precious words came from above.
"I promise he will live and in blessing I will bless thee; forever worlds to come."

Surely, God wouldn't make a promise he would break.
And Abraham put him to the test.
Heaven above, please show me the way,
That I may live with that kind of faith.
Oh, that I may live with that kind of faith

Shine the Light

My aunt asked me to do the FHE while we were at the beach again.  Here is a copy of the lesson.  At the end, there is a link to a video that I played for everyone.  (For some reason I'm having a hard time posting video lately.  I hope this is a temporary problem. :S)

What is a lighthouse?  What is its purpose?  Who maintains it?

The lighthouse keeper would live at the lighthouse, often with his family. 

Today’s lighthouse keepers have radar, electricity, and radios to aid them in their important jobs, but for many years only simple lamps and diligent, dedicated lighthouse keepers kept many ships from wrecking. Every day at sunset the lighthouse keeper would climb many steps to the top of the lighthouse. He would light the wicks of the kerosene lamps in the lantern room. Then he would climb back down the stairs to operate the machine of weights and gears that turned the large glass lenses around the lamps. The light from the kerosene lamps shone through the glass lenses, making the light so strong that it could be seen from twenty miles away. On summer nights these lights often attracted hundreds of moths.

In the morning the keeper put out the lamps and filled them with oil for the coming night. He and his family would clean the smoke off the lenses, polish the brass, and wash the windows so that the light would stay bright.

Stormy days were the most difficult. The keeper had to keep the lights burning constantly, no matter how violent the storm. He also had to be on the lookout for ships in trouble.

The family of a lighthouse keeper usually lived in a home next to the lighthouse. Children learned to help and knew how to predict the weather from looking at the skies. They learned to sleep at night with the bright light from the lighthouse shining in their windows. And they learned to take responsibility for other family members, for the light in the tower, and for the safety of passing ships.

One young girl became famous for keeping the lights burning during a terrible storm. Abbie Burgess and her family lived at Matinicus Rock, off the coast of Maine, where Abbie’s father was the lighthouse keeper. On January 19, 1856, Captain Burgess sailed to town to buy supplies. He needed to buy oil for the lamps, food for his family, and medicine for his ill wife. He left Abbie in charge of the lighthouse.

Captain Burgess only expected to be gone for a few hours, but soon after he left, a huge storm came up that lasted four weeks, and he couldn’t sail home. During all those weeks, while her younger sister cared for their mother, Abbie kept the lights burning. All night she stood guard to make sure that not one light went out. She often had to scrape the ice off the windows so that the light could shine through. In the morning she would eat breakfast and then go to bed. When her father finally returned, he told Abbie, “Every night I watched for the lights. Every night I saw them. Then I knew that you were all right.” Like many lighthouse keepers over the years, Abbie Burgess was a brave and dedicated keeper of the light.

John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the ^alight of the world: he that followeth me shall not ^bwalk in ^cdarkness, but shall have the light of life.”

If we were to walk into a dark room, how would we make it light?  When it’s a dark night, how does the lighthouse keeper signal the sailors?  It is a physical law that light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time.  This is also a spiritual law.  Light dispels darkness.  Light will always conquer darkness.  The only way that darkness can overcome light, is if the light is extinguished or diminished first.

How do we make sure that the light of Christ is not diminished in our lives?  Prayer, scriptures, church, service, etc.

*hand crank flashlight*  Just like this flashlight, we cannot store light without continually working to keep it with us, it needs to be renewed through our efforts.  Day by day, moment by moment, through righteous actions, we can keep the darkness away.

D&C 93:28, “He that ^akeepeth his commandments receiveth ^btruth and ^clight, until he is glorified in truth and ^dknoweth all things.”

D&C 50:24, “That which is of God is ^alight; and he that ^breceiveth ^clight, and ^dcontinueth in God, receiveth more ^elight; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”

Why do we have to pray every day?  Why do we have to go to church?  Why do we have to keep the commandments?  Because “unless you are fully engaged in living the gospel—living it with all of your ‘heart, might, mind and strength’ —you cannot generate enough spiritual light to push back the darkness.”  (Robert D. Hales)

And in this world, darkness is never far away.  And if we allow the light to flicker or fade, the darkness of the adversary will come in.  In the dark, we stumble along, and if we’re there long enough, we become accustomed to the dimness and we forget what it was like to walk in the light.
Can you imagine how dangerous it would be if a lighthouse did not shine it’s light?  How devastating it would be if it failed? 

As those who have the light, It is our responsibility to share it with others.  To help them find their path to the light so they can have it too. 

Matthew 5:15-16, “Neither do men light a ^acandle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 “Let your ^alight so shine before men, that they may see your good ^bworks, and ^cglorify your Father which is in heaven.”

(Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy Hymn #335)  The light from the lighthouse helped guide sailors away from rocks and toward the harbor, but on foggy nights, they often still had a hard time making it to the docks.  People would light candles in the windows along the harbor so the sailors could follow the "lower lights" to safety. 

What are ways that we can let our light shine?

I hope that we will work to keep the light of Christ in our life, and then work to share it with others.  The Savior said, “For ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall ^bheal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.” (3 Nephi 18:32)

CLICK HERE for the Be the Light video.