Freedom

I was recently preparing for the Ezra Taft Benson lesson #3, "Freedom of Choice, an Eternal Principle." I read through the lesson and then I read 3 of the referenced talks from the lesson notes (The Ensign article from a BYU devotional address: The Constitutions-A Glorious Standard, Sept. 1987; Not Commanded in All Things, April 1965; and Protecting Freedom—An Immediate Responsibility, Oct. 1966). Instead of being able to go to Relief Society and share the lessons I learned I was asked to substitute in primary (by 2 different teachers, so I know I was supposed to be in primary last week!). I learned so much though that I wanted to share my thoughts here!:) Maybe they will be of benefit to someone!!:)

My first thought actually comes from the book. Ezra Taft Benson shares the scripture from D&C 58, "he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant." God feels our agency is so important that he won't tell us everything that we are supposed to do. So why do we feel that we need to micromanage everyone else around us? I see this happening in HOAs. I know of 2 HOAs, one in Lehi and one in Herriman. With a big desire to make sure their house value doesn't go down, they "compel" everyone in the neighborhood to be the same...you must have so many small, medium, and large bushes in your front yard...you can't have fruit trees (because fruit falls on the ground)...etc. and if you don't we are going to fine you. Another one is common core. Everyone must learn the same thing at the same time. These feel very similar to Satan's plan to me. "Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;" (Moses 4:3) Ezra Taft Benson later said, "Those spiritually alert look at the objectives, check the guidelines laid down by the Lord and his prophets, and then prayerfully act—without having to be commanded “in all things.” This attitude prepares men for godhood."  So often we think we have all the answers and know what is best for everyone, when really we know what is best for our family. 

I love this quote from the BYU devotional address: "If we accept the premise that human rights are granted by government, then we must be willing to accept the corollary that they can be denied by government. I, for one, shall never accept that premise. We must ever keep in mind the inspired words of Thomas Jefferson, as found in the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”  How scary is that, if we allow the government to give us our basic rights, we also allow them to take away those rights...life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness...

As I watch the laws being put into effect in our country I think how far we are staying from the Constitution: "The powers the people granted to the three branches of government were specifically limited. The Founding Fathers well understood human nature and its tendency to exercise unrighteous dominion when given authority. A Constitution was therefore designed to limit government to certain enumerated functions, beyond which was tyranny."  I see conditions similar to Pre WW2 in the United States and I wonder if we too will accept a Hitler figure by degrees. 

Ezra Taft Benson then asks if we have held true to the principles contained in the Constitution and declares that we have not.  He says if we want to save the Constitution we must do 4 things: 1 -We must be righteous and moral. 2-We must learn the principles of the Constitution and then abide by its precepts. 3- We must become involved in civic affairs. 4-We must make our influence felt by our vote, our letters, and our advice.  I know that I definitely have some work to do on these instructions.

From his talk in 1965: "The devil knows that if the elders of Israel should ever wake up, they could step forth and help preserve freedom and extend the gospel. Therefore the devil has concentrated, and to a large extent successfully, in neutralizing much of the priesthood. He has reduced them to sleeping giants."  What a wake up call for me that was.  How am I standing up for my freedoms?  Am I just leaving it to other people?  Am I allowing my freedoms to be taken bit by bit because I am too scared or busy to stand up for truth?

From his talk in 1966: "Efforts are being made to deprive man of his free agency, to steal from the individual his liberty . . . There has been an alarming increase in the abandoning of the ideals that constitute the foundation of the Constitution of the United States"  Remember this was given back in 1966.  If our freedoms were being robbed back then they are even more so now.

How are we standing up for our freedoms?  I know I need to be better.  I need to write to my senators/representatives and tell them how I feel.  I need to be more educated on exactly what our freedoms should be.  The constitution was an inspired document (if you don't believe me read, "Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution") we need to adhere to the principles that were fought for.  

God lives! He hears and answers prayers!

I have been studying the missionary manual "Preach My Gospel" and as one of the activities it encourages me to write an article about the message of the Restoration.  As I thought about this activity, I felt I needed to put it up on my blog...so I have been procrastinating doing it for 2 weeks, but I am finally here writing this up!:)

"God's not Dead" is a Christian film that recently came out (mostly loved it!:);  I like the name, but  God's not dead is only part of the story, the real story is God lives.

When I think of something that is not dead, it doesn't exactly mean that it is alive. Right now I have some plants that aren't dead, but they aren't producing flowers, or fruit, they are in a dormant state,  an 'I need a break' stage.  But to live, means so much more!  To live is to have life, to be vibrant.  God lives, He is really involved in our lives and He cares about us.  He knows our names!  He cares about our choices.  He is sad when we make bad choices and rejoices when we make good choices.  He gives us ample opportunities to choose good, to choose His Son, Jesus Christ, but he will never force us to choose good.  You can see that he lives in the rainbows that come after a rainstorm, in the helping hands that show up to help after a disaster, and in the random acts of kindness done throughout the world!

Not only does God live, but He hears and answers prayers.  Sometimes the answer is no, even if we really think we deserve our request.  God knows exactly what we need and he has the wisdom that we lack to give us exactly what we need.  Sometimes he lets us experience failure by answering yes.  Sometimes his answer is not right now.  Sometimes we must work for our prayers to be answered.  However, I know that God does answer prayers.

Oftentimes you don't realize that God has really answered your prayers until you look back on those times when you were crying out in desperate need and you look at the outcome of that event.  They say that hindsight is 20/20, and when it comes to prayers I totally agree.

Just because you didn't get the answer you wanted doesn't mean that God didn't answer.  I challenge you to look at the times in your life when you were struggling and see if you can find God in the details.  He will be there, if you look hard enough!

Challenges

During my reading this week I found this gem in the July 2014 Ensign: "I began to see similarities between my struggles and other people’s seemingly unrelated challenges. I discovered that often their problems, like mine, followed the pattern God set for Adam and Eve when he said to them, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; … thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; … in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground” (Genesis 3:17–19). In other words, Adam and Eve had to consistently and recurrently work very hard to tame things that spontaneously grew out of control in their lives, but in a sense, God cursed the ground and caused the thorns to grow for their sakes. This insight helped me to recognize the numerous blessings I had experienced in my life by working through my challenges."

I loved that thought!!:)  I love the idea that the things that we constantly have to tame (like for me: yelling at my kids, going to bed on time, organizing my day, exercising, computer addictions) are to help us grow, they are our thorns and thistles. Everyone has thorns and thistles in their lives. And thorns and thistles aren't the same for every person.  As we turn to God then we receive the help that we need to tame our thorns and thistles, but it takes sweat (work) to overcome. Although I am often frustrated by my inability to overcome my thorns and thistles, I am grateful for my body and for the opportunity to work to overcome them.  After all, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phillpians 4:13)

Change is good!!:)

When Chad and I were first married, we waned to be "newlyweds" forever!!:)  I remember anytime someone asked us how long we'd been married, we were just so giddy!!:)  And then something changed, I don't know what, but people don't ask us how long we've been married anymore, we aren't young newlyweds anymore and I was feeling sorry for myself.  Then I read Gift from the Sea, (I've already done a post on this amazing book) and now it makes sense why I can't be a newlywed anymore and why it is okay!!:)  She compares it to shells on the beach, but I think it really is just stages of life.  The newlywed stage is an amazing stage, full of new love and life, but it wasn't meant to last.  The stage of life I am in right now is a trying stage, but if our marriages don't have trials, then how can we grow?  We are building, building careers, families, raising children, busy.  We are devoted to each other, even if our time isn't always spent together.  I love this quote from the book, "Love is looking out together in the same direction, working outward."  If our love isn't growing then it must be withering away.  And I would say that my love is growing!!:)  I definitely love DH more today than ever before!:)  I love him for different reasons though, my love isn't just the infatuation, butterflies in the stomach love (although I have those too!:) I love him because he is so good to me, I love him because we sacrifice for each other, I love that he is so willing to serve me, but in turn I serve him too, we are equally yoked.  I love him because of who he is, not just how he makes me feel!:)

Another great quote from the book, "we shouldn't judge our relationships on how they used to be."  So I am now satisfied with my relationship!!:)  I don't need to be a newlywed anymore, because I'm not and that is okay!!:) I'd rather have my relationship growing than withering away, because honestly nothing ever stays the same!

Cleaving

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)  I thought I had this scripture all figured out, but I was recently reminded to put my husband first!

I know that I am supposed to be part of this school group.  I have prayed about it over and over and every time I think about it I just get a feeling that I am supposed to continue on with this school group.  Well a few of them have read Skousen and are really big into the details of the Second Coming, many of which are not detailed (at least not to the point that they detail them in the scriputres).  They are constantly talking about these events with such surety it is hard to not believe them.  And I believe that they are all spiritual women, leaders even.  DH however, has a hard time with all that they are saying.  He wants the proof.  (I've never been good with proofs, kind of ironic for a math major!!:) 

So last week after classes and hearing all this information, I came home and talked to DH on the phone for lunch, and I just went on a rampage, a rampage I didn't even know I had inside.  I chastised DH for not having an open heart and refusing to listen to what this group had to say.  I asked him to open his heart more and pray about these things before declaring unequivocally that they were not true.

After our conversation I didn't feel super good, but I didn't realize it.  I did however have this impression to call one of my amazing friends. I had no idea why I needed to call her, but I did!!:)  So I talked to her for a bit, and she kept digging and all of a sudden all of the "trial" came out to her.  She told me some of the exact same things that DH had said: stick to the basic doctrine, deep doctrine and speculations are not necessary for our salvation. She reminded me that I needed to talk with DH about the things that I learned and then we could study it out for ourselves and pray about it, but the decision that we come to is our decision and I need to support my husband in this.  I need to cleave to him, not my friends.

It was so powerful and a good reminder what my place is.  I know that when I start hearing all of these "prophecies" I start to worry that I still have so much to get ready and I am not at all ready, but this week, I've been reminded that I am doing what is right for me.  A lot of these moms are farther down the path then me and the expectations for them are going to be different than the expectations for me.

Since heeding that advice, I have felt so much clearer and free!:)  I am so glad for friends that give me the advice that I need (who are truly ministering angels!!:), and especially for a Heavenly Father who knows me and what I need and inspires me to follow His path to fulfill my personal mission!!:)