In a recent General Conference Address, Elder Dallin H. Oaks talked about the unselfish service that the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints uniquely practice. It isn't that others don't practice unselfish service, but as a group we are unique in the extent of our unselfish service.
How many other organizations send tens of thousands of young adults and seniors into full-time missionary service all over the world at their own expense for up to 2 years? Hundreds of thousands serve in the Temples that dot the earth to give unselfish service as workers and patrons with no thought of "what's in it for them" other than to have the privilege of serving their fellowman both living and dead. We serve in unpaid positions throughout the Church in all kinds of callings from Stake President to teacher, to librarian, to nursery work and everything in between. We work on welfare farms and humanitarian aid. Home bound members make blankets, toys, hygiene kits and other items they can donate to the humanitarian aid programs of the Church. We serve part time service missions throughout the church in such capacities as LDS Social Services workers, Employment specialists, Family History specialists, Bishop’s Storehouse, Deseret Industries and many other opportunities.
We believe this is part of the covenants and commandments make and keep so we can return to live with our Heavenly Father in the Celestial Kingdom. Bruce R. McConkie lists them as:
“We are under covenant to live the law of obedience.
“We are under covenant to live the law of sacrifice.
“We are under covenant to live the law of consecration.”
In a conference talk given in April of 1975 he described living the laws of consecration and sacrifice. They go hand in hand. He said:
“It is written: ‘He who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.’ (D&C 88:22.) The law of sacrifice is a celestial law; so also is the law of consecration. Thus to gain that celestial reward which we so devoutly desire, we must be able to live these two laws.
“Sacrifice and consecration are inseparably intertwined. The law of consecration is that we consecrate our time, our talents, and our money and property to the cause of the Church: such are to be available to the extent they are needed to further the Lord’s interests on earth.
“The law of sacrifice is that we are willing to sacrifice all that we have for the truth’s sake—our character and reputation; our honor and applause; our good name among men; our houses, lands, and families: all things, even our very lives if need be.
“Joseph Smith said, ‘A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary [to lead] unto life and salvation.’ (Lectures on Faith, p. 58.)
Of course we are not usually called upon to sacrifice all things; but, as Elder McConkie says “we must in fact live them to the extent we are called upon so to do.
“How, for instance, can we establish our ability to live the full law of consecration if we do not in fact pay an honest tithing? Or how can we prove our willingness to sacrifice all things, if need be, if we do not make the small sacrifices of time and toil, or of money and means, that we are now asked to make?”
The Lord has said: “If you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.” (D&C 78:7.)
I love how Elder McConkie phrases our opportunities to serve. He says, “It is our privilege to consecrate our time, talents, and means to build up his kingdom. We are called upon to sacrifice, in one degree or another, for the furtherance of his work. Obedience is essential to salvation; so, also, is service; and so, also, are consecration and sacrifice.
“It is our privilege to raise the warning voice to our neighbors and to go on missions and offer the truths of salvation to our Father’s other children everywhere. We can respond to calls to serve as bishops, as Relief Society presidents, as home teachers, and in any of hundreds of positions of responsibility in our various church organizations. We can labor on welfare projects, engage in genealogical research, perform vicarious ordinances in the temples.
“We can pay an honest tithing and contribute to our fast offering, welfare, budget, building, and missionary funds. We can bequeath portions of our assets and devise portions of our properties to the Church when we pass on to other spheres.
“We can consecrate a portion of our time to systematic study, to becoming gospel scholars, to treasuring up the revealed truths which guide us in paths of truth and righteousness.
“And the fact that faithful members of the Church do all these things is one of the great evidences of the divinity of the work. Where else do the generality of the members of any church pay a full tithing? Where is there a people whose congregations have one and two and three percent of their number out in volunteer, self-supporting missionary work at all times? Where does any people as a whole build temples or operate welfare projects as we do? And where is there so much unpaid teaching and church administration?
“All our service in God’s kingdom is predicated on his eternal law which states: ‘The laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion, for if they labor for money they shall perish.’ (2 Ne. 26:31.)
“And every member of his church has this promise: That if he remains true and faithful—obeying, serving, consecrating, sacrificing, as required by the gospel—he shall be repaid in eternity a thousandfold and shall have eternal life. What more can we ask?”
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Attitude
In just the few short posts I done to Cathartic Muses I have already seen an improvement in my outlook. I don't know if it is because the sun is shining or I'm blogging, but whatever the reason, life seems to have a brighter outlook. Maybe it is a combination of both.
With the nicer weather I have been walking again at lunch. It has been far too long since I have done that and it feels good to walk again. I am sure out of shape and really need the exercise. I work at a small airport so it makes for a very interesting walk to see all the small planes around. I occasionally see people working on their aircraft. I haven't got up enough nerve yet to stop and talk.
With blogging I find myself looking at my days differently. I wonder if this or that may make an interesting blog. Blogging is different than keeping my journal. For one thing I get to add pictures. I have a different mindset when writing. I want to make it somewhat interesting to the reader. With my journal I am writing to myself or some future generation who won't even know me. Yes, it is a way for them to get to know me, but my blog is for the here and now. Live readers with immediate feedback. In a way it is a little scary and in another way it is kind of exciting.
I think attitude makes all the difference in how we live. A poor attitude leads to poor quality of life and a good attitude leads to a joyful and happy life. Too often we let outside influences affect our attitude. Some of these outside influences we have no control over, such as the weather. Why should we let several rainy days make us blue? Other so called outside influences we have complete control over, such as choices we make, things we do, or how we react.
I have been very guilty of excusing my attitude based on outside influences. For example, I have been overeating for some time now. I gripe and complain about how overweight I am. I get downright depressed about it, but it is something completely in my control to do something about it. When I take charge of my attitude and do something about those things I can change, I feel better and happier. Consistency is the key. Walking one or two days is not going to let me loose 20 pounds. However, if I walk consistently and watch what I eat I stand a good chance of seeing 10, 20 or more pounds drop off over time. As I do that my attitude will stay more positive and I will feel more joyful and happy. That will also lead me to improving other areas of my life, such as more diligent scripture reading or more sincere prayers.
Now by putting this in my blog, I may be more inclined to keep it up, because it is out there for others to read and maybe even encourage me in my quest.
With the nicer weather I have been walking again at lunch. It has been far too long since I have done that and it feels good to walk again. I am sure out of shape and really need the exercise. I work at a small airport so it makes for a very interesting walk to see all the small planes around. I occasionally see people working on their aircraft. I haven't got up enough nerve yet to stop and talk.With blogging I find myself looking at my days differently. I wonder if this or that may make an interesting blog. Blogging is different than keeping my journal. For one thing I get to add pictures. I have a different mindset when writing. I want to make it somewhat interesting to the reader. With my journal I am writing to myself or some future generation who won't even know me. Yes, it is a way for them to get to know me, but my blog is for the here and now. Live readers with immediate feedback. In a way it is a little scary and in another way it is kind of exciting.
I think attitude makes all the difference in how we live. A poor attitude leads to poor quality of life and a good attitude leads to a joyful and happy life. Too often we let outside influences affect our attitude. Some of these outside influences we have no control over, such as the weather. Why should we let several rainy days make us blue? Other so called outside influences we have complete control over, such as choices we make, things we do, or how we react.
I have been very guilty of excusing my attitude based on outside influences. For example, I have been overeating for some time now. I gripe and complain about how overweight I am. I get downright depressed about it, but it is something completely in my control to do something about it. When I take charge of my attitude and do something about those things I can change, I feel better and happier. Consistency is the key. Walking one or two days is not going to let me loose 20 pounds. However, if I walk consistently and watch what I eat I stand a good chance of seeing 10, 20 or more pounds drop off over time. As I do that my attitude will stay more positive and I will feel more joyful and happy. That will also lead me to improving other areas of my life, such as more diligent scripture reading or more sincere prayers.
Now by putting this in my blog, I may be more inclined to keep it up, because it is out there for others to read and maybe even encourage me in my quest.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day
The greatest joy I have in life is being a wife and mother and now grandmother. There is a bumper sticker that says "If I'd know having grand kids was so much fun, I would have done that first." I think I'd like that bumper sticker, although I thought having kids was pretty fun too.
Oh, there were times when it wasn't much fun, but overall, I think it was great. I don't know if I just have selective memory in my older years or what, but I recall many more good times than bad.
I remember Family Home Evenings when we would lay a sheet on the floor and put the Stir Crazy popcorn popper in the middle of the sheet and leave the lid off so the popcorn would pop all over the living room. That was a "fun" refreshment. I remember playing "volleyball" in the living room with a balloon for an activity. I remember an object lesson where we made the biggest cookie with salt instead of sugar to point out not everything is what it seems.
I remember each of the children having chores before and after school. Some were simple like making their beds and picking up clothes and toys. Others were harder like emptying trash or vacuuming. I think they all complained about why they had to do chores when their friends didn't. Then one day Douhet came home from school and actually thanked me for making him do chores, because he could do something at school that one of his friends couldn't do, because he had learned to do it as a job.
I remember fun trips to the art museum and parks. I remember mid week primary. I remember playing office and school in the summer summer. I remember Season making his own credit cards and trying to be like "The Great Brain". I remember Wonder Woman, R2D2, C3PO and Spiderman all wrestling Daddy. I remember everyone playing on the water bed every Saturday morning. I remember reading together nearly every night. I remember Scripture reading with a German, French, or Chinese accent. I remember lots of teenagers at our house at all hours of the day night whether working on the school newspaper or playing games after a football game or play.
I remember supporting family members in basketball games, track meets, tennis matches, baseball and softball games, band concerts and plays and anything else they wanted to participate in. I remember a broken arm after a mud football game and a broken leg after sliding down an icy ramp after Seminary. I remember chicken pox and a smashed face after Sierra fell off the monkey bars and landed face down trying to emulate Mary Lou Retton from the Olympics. I remember being so scared Sierra would loose her eye after having a whip antenna hit her in the eye.
I remember drive in movies and camping in our big family tent. Most of all I remember long talks late into the night.
And now I get to experience many of these same things all over again with our beautiful grand kids. We have slumber parties and family reunions. Concerts and games. Balets and piano recitals. And above all lots of snuggle times with Grandma!!!
I LOVE being a mother!!!
Oh, there were times when it wasn't much fun, but overall, I think it was great. I don't know if I just have selective memory in my older years or what, but I recall many more good times than bad.
I remember Family Home Evenings when we would lay a sheet on the floor and put the Stir Crazy popcorn popper in the middle of the sheet and leave the lid off so the popcorn would pop all over the living room. That was a "fun" refreshment. I remember playing "volleyball" in the living room with a balloon for an activity. I remember an object lesson where we made the biggest cookie with salt instead of sugar to point out not everything is what it seems.I remember each of the children having chores before and after school. Some were simple like making their beds and picking up clothes and toys. Others were harder like emptying trash or vacuuming. I think they all complained about why they had to do chores when their friends didn't. Then one day Douhet came home from school and actually thanked me for making him do chores, because he could do something at school that one of his friends couldn't do, because he had learned to do it as a job.
I remember fun trips to the art museum and parks. I remember mid week primary. I remember playing office and school in the summer summer. I remember Season making his own credit cards and trying to be like "The Great Brain". I remember Wonder Woman, R2D2, C3PO and Spiderman all wrestling Daddy. I remember everyone playing on the water bed every Saturday morning. I remember reading together nearly every night. I remember Scripture reading with a German, French, or Chinese accent. I remember lots of teenagers at our house at all hours of the day night whether working on the school newspaper or playing games after a football game or play.
I remember supporting family members in basketball games, track meets, tennis matches, baseball and softball games, band concerts and plays and anything else they wanted to participate in. I remember a broken arm after a mud football game and a broken leg after sliding down an icy ramp after Seminary. I remember chicken pox and a smashed face after Sierra fell off the monkey bars and landed face down trying to emulate Mary Lou Retton from the Olympics. I remember being so scared Sierra would loose her eye after having a whip antenna hit her in the eye.
I remember drive in movies and camping in our big family tent. Most of all I remember long talks late into the night.And now I get to experience many of these same things all over again with our beautiful grand kids. We have slumber parties and family reunions. Concerts and games. Balets and piano recitals. And above all lots of snuggle times with Grandma!!!
I LOVE being a mother!!!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
My Happiness Challenge
Last night I attended a Relief Society meeting put on by the Stake for the two wards in our building. They discussed the building blocks of happiness. I found myself going through several stages during the course of the meeting.
Stage 1. What am I doing here? This isn't going to help? I know what they are going to say and it is only going to make me feel worse because I'm not doing everything I can to be happy.
Stage 2. I do need to listen to this because I need to be reminded that Heavenly Father's plan is a plan of Happiness. Maybe I just need to be reminded of the things I can do to improve my own happiness.
Stage 3. I appreciate the comments the others are offering. I'm not alone. Maybe others are feeling the same way. It helps when we come together like this. We can boost each other up.
Stage 4. I can contribute to the discussion. I can share things I have done in the past to help me over hard times. I can rededicate myself to those same things and help myself again. I can recognize that this too, shall come to pass.
Stage 5. I'm going to start working on ways to improve my own happiness. No one can make me happy or unhappy, it is up to me to choose. There are lots of things I can do everyday that will help me to find joy and happiness each day. I am going to start being a happier person.
Some of the things I learned (or relearned) are as follows:
Stage 1. What am I doing here? This isn't going to help? I know what they are going to say and it is only going to make me feel worse because I'm not doing everything I can to be happy.
Stage 2. I do need to listen to this because I need to be reminded that Heavenly Father's plan is a plan of Happiness. Maybe I just need to be reminded of the things I can do to improve my own happiness.
Stage 3. I appreciate the comments the others are offering. I'm not alone. Maybe others are feeling the same way. It helps when we come together like this. We can boost each other up.
Stage 4. I can contribute to the discussion. I can share things I have done in the past to help me over hard times. I can rededicate myself to those same things and help myself again. I can recognize that this too, shall come to pass.
Stage 5. I'm going to start working on ways to improve my own happiness. No one can make me happy or unhappy, it is up to me to choose. There are lots of things I can do everyday that will help me to find joy and happiness each day. I am going to start being a happier person.
Some of the things I learned (or relearned) are as follows:
- We were sent here by Heavenly Father to be happy.
- Satan will try to steal our happiness if we let him. He knows our weaknesses and will plant negative thoughts in our minds.
- I am not the only one to have trials and unhappiness.
- Heavenly Father will prepare a way to see us through if we trust and have faith in the atonement.
- Happy people have a gratitude attitude. I can be more sincere with my thankful journal. I can also review to remind myself of all the wonderful blessings Heavenly Father has given me.
- Happy people CHOOSE to have happy thoughts. I have to control my thinking and quickly replace any negative thought with a positive one. I have to TRAIN myself to have happy thoughts.
- Relationships are important to happy people. I know that the relationships I have keep me going when times are tough. I need to nurture them more and strive to make them even better.
- Happy people find passion and purpose in their daily activities. This one will be a challenge to me as I can't think of anything in my daily activity to be passionate about. I enjoy my job and I suppose I get passionate about that sometimes, but perhaps I need to concentrate more on my purposes each day and not make things so much of a routine.
- Happy people laugh easily. I remember a time when I didn't laugh at all for years. I suppose I am in much better shape then I was then as I do laugh more. I still don't laugh as often as I could or should, so it is still something I need to work on. I need to find the funny side of life, even in my trials.
- Happy people find great joy in trying new things and in creating. Well, my new thing is this blog. So far I am finding joy in being able to put down my thoughts and feelings. I have not got enough courage to tell anyone about it yet so perhaps that will be my next NEW thing. Maybe I'll tell someone in a email I have done this and give them the URL. ... then again, maybe I'll wait a little longer.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Jump on the band wagon!
I've been thinking about this for some time now, and decided to finally jump on the Blog band wagon.
I've been impressed with my children and friends who have blogs and the wonderful insight into who they are I have received from reading their blogs. We don’t always share our thought and feelings out loud, but it is sometimes easier to put them in writing. Hence the title of my blog…at least at this time.
My kids will know their father picked the title; because he is known for his “big” words. He thought Cathartic Muses would be a good title; because it is a way to purge myself of deeper thoughts and feelings that don’t always come out. I may find that I will delete some of my muses before they ever get posted because deep down I won’t want anyone to read them, but the exercise of writing them will have the same, “healing” affect. At least that is the theory.
I guess the jumping off point came after I reread my daughter’s blog on thirty something and her sister’s blog on a similar topic. They both mentioned that now they are 30 something they should feel and behave grown-up, after all they are adults now. Well, it got me thinking about myself. I’m way past thirty something and even getting to the upper end of fifty something. I related completely to both of their comments. The scary part was I didn’t just relate to their comments when I was thirty, but I am still relating to their comments. Am I who I should be? I keep wondering what I’m going to be when I grow up. Oh, I’m still growing, that’s for sure and sometimes the growing pains are very painful. I certainly expected to be in a far different position at this age then where we are. In many ways I feel we are starting over again, hopefully far wiser then we were at 20 something.
I’m not sure I have met any of my expectations of who and where I thought I would be. I still have so many of the same shortcomings I had when I was younger. I’m still impatient, prideful, critical, and a number of other caustic characteristics. Have I made any improvements? I think I am more thankful then I used to be. Years ago I discovered the great blessing of expressing my gratitude to Heavenly Father on a daily basis. I keep a thankful journal everyday. I try to look for something different each day to be thankful for. It is especially helpful on bad days, because it forces me to recognize my blessings. It is also very beneficial to go back and review my blessings from previous days, weeks and months. I am also working on overcoming my critical nature. When I think and pray about that I do much better and I’m able to keep that “nature” under control. I do think I’m a better person that I was 30 years ago. I’m definitely more patient with my 14 beautiful grandchildren then I ever was with my 4 children. I guess while I’m trying to look for the good in others in my effort to not be so critical I need to also look for the good in myself and recognize how far I’ve come.
I think maybe my cathartic muses will be good for me, whether anyone reads them or not. If for no other reason then to help me purge and heal it will be worth it.
My kids will know their father picked the title; because he is known for his “big” words. He thought Cathartic Muses would be a good title; because it is a way to purge myself of deeper thoughts and feelings that don’t always come out. I may find that I will delete some of my muses before they ever get posted because deep down I won’t want anyone to read them, but the exercise of writing them will have the same, “healing” affect. At least that is the theory.
I guess the jumping off point came after I reread my daughter’s blog on thirty something and her sister’s blog on a similar topic. They both mentioned that now they are 30 something they should feel and behave grown-up, after all they are adults now. Well, it got me thinking about myself. I’m way past thirty something and even getting to the upper end of fifty something. I related completely to both of their comments. The scary part was I didn’t just relate to their comments when I was thirty, but I am still relating to their comments. Am I who I should be? I keep wondering what I’m going to be when I grow up. Oh, I’m still growing, that’s for sure and sometimes the growing pains are very painful. I certainly expected to be in a far different position at this age then where we are. In many ways I feel we are starting over again, hopefully far wiser then we were at 20 something.
I’m not sure I have met any of my expectations of who and where I thought I would be. I still have so many of the same shortcomings I had when I was younger. I’m still impatient, prideful, critical, and a number of other caustic characteristics. Have I made any improvements? I think I am more thankful then I used to be. Years ago I discovered the great blessing of expressing my gratitude to Heavenly Father on a daily basis. I keep a thankful journal everyday. I try to look for something different each day to be thankful for. It is especially helpful on bad days, because it forces me to recognize my blessings. It is also very beneficial to go back and review my blessings from previous days, weeks and months. I am also working on overcoming my critical nature. When I think and pray about that I do much better and I’m able to keep that “nature” under control. I do think I’m a better person that I was 30 years ago. I’m definitely more patient with my 14 beautiful grandchildren then I ever was with my 4 children. I guess while I’m trying to look for the good in others in my effort to not be so critical I need to also look for the good in myself and recognize how far I’ve come.
I think maybe my cathartic muses will be good for me, whether anyone reads them or not. If for no other reason then to help me purge and heal it will be worth it.
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