My ward split in April. In my previous 2 wards I was lucky enough to get to teach the 7-8 year olds and got to attend a lot of baptisms!!:) The first week they called and asked DH and I to do nursery. I was okay with that, then they made my DH the financial clerk, which meant he wouldn't be in nursery with me. Then again the second week they asked me to fill in (not a for sure thing that it will be your calling right). I didn't really want to do nursery without Chad. Then they gave me the calling Nursery Coordinator - basically in charge of the nurserys and buying supplies and what not. I figured I'd seen the nursery coordinator in our previous ward, and for the most part she didn't go into the classes, she just made sure all the classes had treats and took kids to their parents and things like that, filled in if needed...I thought I could do that. Then I found out in our ward we didn't have enough nursery leaders to do that, so I would need to actually teach. Then they never called anyone to be with me (they did eventually call to young girls, but there attendance is so crazy, that I can't often count on them...), so since April DH has done a majority of the nurserys with me and I have given a majority of the lessons. And lucky for me my 2 daughters who are nursery age (well DD3 just turned old enough today, but she has been going since April) have been in the other nursery class, so I haven't had to worry about them!!:)
I've been doing the older nursery, the one where the kids turn 3 this year and go into Sunbeams next year. The kids are so adorable. We struggled at first, but they all just love me and I know that some of those kids only come because of me. One of the moms told me that her daughter talks about me all the time at home, in fact if I leave her to go run an errand she cries if I don't take her with me. One of the kids who has been crying the last few times came in super happy!! And another kid who had to have his dad for half the time last week stayed the whole time today!!:) I know all of these kids so well and I love them so much!!:) They have adjusted beautifully to our routine!!:) So now that we are going to split the younger nursery and I am going to be teaching the middle class I am so sad. I'm going to miss my nursery kids so much. Who knew that I would like it so much!!:)
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Sunday, July 14, 2013
My freedoms
I hate that my freedom to raise my children how I see best is being taken away because everyone must be the same and because parents don't always agree on parenting techniques. Heavenly Father knows each parent and he sent them to live with parents that would be best from them. Who am I to say that a child holding a sign in the street didn't just
learn their lesson and that their parents really are loving? Who am I to judge another parent and say that they are doing it wrong? I in no means condone any abusive parent, but I think sometimes we claim abuse when the child is just fine. A friend of mine had CPS (child
protective services) come over to her house because a neighbor saw this friend's child playing outside with no shoes on in the rain. Was the child really in danger? Really? I feel like my neighbors could turn me in all the time (luckily none have yet...) It really feels like 1984 sometimes.
I hate that my freedom to eat healthy foods is being taken away because the government knows what is best for my body (or at least the cheapest to make and the most profitable for them). How can anything man-made be better than what God has made? Why is it so expensive to find good healthy food, oh wait, because the government likes it when people do what they say, even if it makes us sick, so they subsidize the conformists. :( I've heard that they want people to register their gardens so they can tax them or somehow control them (but that could just be rumors...) Why can't the government just leave my food alone?
I hate that my freedoms regarding health care are limited. I can go see a doctor yearly for free (well-checks are covered 100% by insurance), but if I want to see a natural healer it all comes out of my pocket. Basically if I don't want to pay for drugs (that really do harm my body) than it comes out of my pocket. Luckily I do have an HSA (health savings account) that covers these types of things, but insurance pays nothing and gives no discounts. And why do we have insurance anyway? Why do we not know how to save? Why do doctors have to charge so much (fear of getting sued)?
I hate that my freedom to educate my children how I see best is being questioned. Education is best done locally, the more local, the better the education. Our kids do not all need the same things to be successful in life. They are individuals, not robots. They need different things to accomplish their missions. Being thrown into a classroom full of 30+ students they can't get the individual attention that they need and then for the federal government to throw national standards at them. It just isn't what most kids need. They need to be themselves, learn at their own pace, who cares if they want to study butterflies instead of frogs? Who cares if they want to learn geometry before algebra? Who cares, as long as they want to study and continue to learn?
My biggest question is why have we allowed the government to control so much of our lives? How many of us have read the Constitution? The federal government has taken so much more control than it is authorized to control. All of the things that I have mentioned (and more) are given to the states to govern, yet the federal government has taken control, sometimes in small manipulative ways. What are we going to do to win back our freedoms? I know for me it starts with education, and then who I vote for, but I am sure that I could do more. Sometimes it seems like the constitution is getting closer and closer to "hanging by a thread."
After putting that last thought I decided to do a little research on that phrase and came upon a Wikipedia article that declares it the "White horse prophecy," but I really like some of these quotes...
"In 1855, Brigham Young reportedly wrote that "when the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the 'Mormon' Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it."[7][17]
In 1858, Orson Hyde (another contemporary of Smith) wrote that Smith believed "the time would come when the Constitution and the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and ... if the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the elders of [the LDS] Church".[7][18]
In 1922, the LDS Church's fifth presiding bishop, Charles W. Nibley, stated that "the day would come when there would be so much of disorder, of secret combinations taking the law into their own hands, tramping [sic] upon Constitutional rights and the liberties of the people, that the Constitution would hang as by a thread. Yes, but it will still hang, and there will be enough of good people, many who may not belong to our Church at all, people who have respect for law and for order, and for Constitutional rights, who will rally around with us and save the Constitution."[19]
In 1928, the LDS apostle Melvin J. Ballard remarked that "the prophet Joseph Smith said the time will come when, through secret organizations taking the law into their own hands ... the Constitution of the United States would be so torn and rent asunder, and life and property and peace and security would be held of so little value, that the Constitution would, as it were, hang by a thread. This Constitution will be preserved, but it will be preserved very largely in consequence of what the Lord has revealed and what [the Mormons], through listening to the Lord and being obedient, will help to bring about, to stabilize and give permanency and effect to the Constitution itself. That also is our mission."[19]
In 2010, Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke at a Constitution Day Celebration, warning about the importance of preserving the U.S. Constitution. To this end, he claimed that "all citizens—whatever their religious or philosophical persuasion" should maintain several responsibilities regarding the Constitution: understand it, support the law, practice civic virtue, maintain civility in political discourse, and promote patriotism.[20] "
protective services) come over to her house because a neighbor saw this friend's child playing outside with no shoes on in the rain. Was the child really in danger? Really? I feel like my neighbors could turn me in all the time (luckily none have yet...) It really feels like 1984 sometimes.
I hate that my freedom to eat healthy foods is being taken away because the government knows what is best for my body (or at least the cheapest to make and the most profitable for them). How can anything man-made be better than what God has made? Why is it so expensive to find good healthy food, oh wait, because the government likes it when people do what they say, even if it makes us sick, so they subsidize the conformists. :( I've heard that they want people to register their gardens so they can tax them or somehow control them (but that could just be rumors...) Why can't the government just leave my food alone?
I hate that my freedoms regarding health care are limited. I can go see a doctor yearly for free (well-checks are covered 100% by insurance), but if I want to see a natural healer it all comes out of my pocket. Basically if I don't want to pay for drugs (that really do harm my body) than it comes out of my pocket. Luckily I do have an HSA (health savings account) that covers these types of things, but insurance pays nothing and gives no discounts. And why do we have insurance anyway? Why do we not know how to save? Why do doctors have to charge so much (fear of getting sued)?
I hate that my freedom to educate my children how I see best is being questioned. Education is best done locally, the more local, the better the education. Our kids do not all need the same things to be successful in life. They are individuals, not robots. They need different things to accomplish their missions. Being thrown into a classroom full of 30+ students they can't get the individual attention that they need and then for the federal government to throw national standards at them. It just isn't what most kids need. They need to be themselves, learn at their own pace, who cares if they want to study butterflies instead of frogs? Who cares if they want to learn geometry before algebra? Who cares, as long as they want to study and continue to learn?
My biggest question is why have we allowed the government to control so much of our lives? How many of us have read the Constitution? The federal government has taken so much more control than it is authorized to control. All of the things that I have mentioned (and more) are given to the states to govern, yet the federal government has taken control, sometimes in small manipulative ways. What are we going to do to win back our freedoms? I know for me it starts with education, and then who I vote for, but I am sure that I could do more. Sometimes it seems like the constitution is getting closer and closer to "hanging by a thread."
After putting that last thought I decided to do a little research on that phrase and came upon a Wikipedia article that declares it the "White horse prophecy," but I really like some of these quotes...
"In 1855, Brigham Young reportedly wrote that "when the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the 'Mormon' Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it."[7][17]
In 1858, Orson Hyde (another contemporary of Smith) wrote that Smith believed "the time would come when the Constitution and the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and ... if the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the elders of [the LDS] Church".[7][18]
In 1922, the LDS Church's fifth presiding bishop, Charles W. Nibley, stated that "the day would come when there would be so much of disorder, of secret combinations taking the law into their own hands, tramping [sic] upon Constitutional rights and the liberties of the people, that the Constitution would hang as by a thread. Yes, but it will still hang, and there will be enough of good people, many who may not belong to our Church at all, people who have respect for law and for order, and for Constitutional rights, who will rally around with us and save the Constitution."[19]
In 1928, the LDS apostle Melvin J. Ballard remarked that "the prophet Joseph Smith said the time will come when, through secret organizations taking the law into their own hands ... the Constitution of the United States would be so torn and rent asunder, and life and property and peace and security would be held of so little value, that the Constitution would, as it were, hang by a thread. This Constitution will be preserved, but it will be preserved very largely in consequence of what the Lord has revealed and what [the Mormons], through listening to the Lord and being obedient, will help to bring about, to stabilize and give permanency and effect to the Constitution itself. That also is our mission."[19]
In 2010, Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke at a Constitution Day Celebration, warning about the importance of preserving the U.S. Constitution. To this end, he claimed that "all citizens—whatever their religious or philosophical persuasion" should maintain several responsibilities regarding the Constitution: understand it, support the law, practice civic virtue, maintain civility in political discourse, and promote patriotism.[20] "
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Some thoughts on same sex marriages
I recently read an interesting thought on a facebook comment on same sex marriage. The quote is: " It seems like if we tack towards [Brigham Young's] school of thought, a change in favor of gay marriage seems less probable (because gods and goddesses are procreating as they do on earth to produce spirit and psychical bodies in the hereafter, something that a gay marriage, in theory, could not). If we tack more towards [Joseph Smith's] teaching in the D&C that spirit is uncreated and co-eternal with God, like Abraham suggests God did not create us but found himself in the midst of uncreated, "inferior" spirits and helped bring us along, that removes some of the heterosexual element and seems to be more "friendly" to a gay version of that eternity." He also talked a lot about how blacks receiving the priesthood was talked about as never happening and then in 1968 that all changed.
We are a church with continuing revelation and that means that things do change. However my response to his thoughts about same sex marriage is this: concerning blacks and the priesthood, polygamy, or any church policies that have changed since 1930 I don't know of any official statements made by the Presidency of the Church and the Quorum of the 12 apostles (although if you know of any, I'd be happy to know about it!!:) however, concerning same sex marriage there is one. And it came out several years before the legalizing of same sex marriage ever became an issue.
"Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father...
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." (excerpts from The Family: A Proclamation to the World)
Even if as intelligences we had no gender, our gender was created as spirits. It is specific to our destiny and what our role is on earth. Heavenly Father looked at us as intelligences and knew what we could become, he created us to be what we are.
When we choose to follow our true divine destinies then we are truly fulfilled. Satan know our weaknesses and he is good at twisting ideas (like equality and discrimination) to thwart our eternal salvation.
And last of all, it is so unnatural for men to be with men and women to be with women. If you look into the animal world, you never see it happening, so I guess that puts us even lower than the animals.
I have never had sexual relations outside of my marriage, so I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure there is nothing better than a relationship where each is true to the one and serving each other faithfully, where each partner has separate roles, but they work for the good of their union. I've noticed that in many homosexual relationships one partner takes on the male roles and the other female roles. I just find that so fascinating! We do have divine roles and purposes!
We are a church with continuing revelation and that means that things do change. However my response to his thoughts about same sex marriage is this: concerning blacks and the priesthood, polygamy, or any church policies that have changed since 1930 I don't know of any official statements made by the Presidency of the Church and the Quorum of the 12 apostles (although if you know of any, I'd be happy to know about it!!:) however, concerning same sex marriage there is one. And it came out several years before the legalizing of same sex marriage ever became an issue.
"Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father...
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." (excerpts from The Family: A Proclamation to the World)
Even if as intelligences we had no gender, our gender was created as spirits. It is specific to our destiny and what our role is on earth. Heavenly Father looked at us as intelligences and knew what we could become, he created us to be what we are.
When we choose to follow our true divine destinies then we are truly fulfilled. Satan know our weaknesses and he is good at twisting ideas (like equality and discrimination) to thwart our eternal salvation.
And last of all, it is so unnatural for men to be with men and women to be with women. If you look into the animal world, you never see it happening, so I guess that puts us even lower than the animals.
I have never had sexual relations outside of my marriage, so I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure there is nothing better than a relationship where each is true to the one and serving each other faithfully, where each partner has separate roles, but they work for the good of their union. I've noticed that in many homosexual relationships one partner takes on the male roles and the other female roles. I just find that so fascinating! We do have divine roles and purposes!
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