Surrender

For the last couple of decades of my life, I have had an uneasy relationship with the story of the young rich man spoken of in the gospels of the New Testament. (See Matthew 19, Mark 10) When the Savior tells him that in order to obtain eternal life he must keep the commandments, the young man replies, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?"

There have been several times in my life that I have come to the Lord with that very same question, and being convicted by the Spirit with certain aspects of my life that needed changing or forsaking, I would react just as the young man did-- saddened and unwilling to make the change. I wasn't quite ready to give up the proverbial summer cottage in Babylon.

In his recent General Conference address, Elder Robert C. Gay recounts the story of another rich and worldly man from the Book of Mormon who posed a similar question.  King Lamoni's father, being stirred by the words of the Lord's servant Aaron pleaded, "What shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit[?] ... I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy."

Aaron answered him, "If thou will repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest."

It was with this understanding that King Lamoni's father prayed fervently to the Father, "O God... I will give away all my sins to know thee."

As a teenager and young adult, I always admired this response from the Lamanite king and wished that I too had that same kind of resolve. But it always seemed too hard, too extreme. There was no way I could do it on my own.

And you know what?
I was right.
I couldn't do it on my own.

But with the help of my Savior, well, that's another story altogether.

I love these words from an apostle of the Lord, Elder David A. Bednar:

If I were to emphasize one overarching point this morning, it would be this: I suspect that you and I are much more familiar with the nature of the redeeming power of the Atonement than we are with the enabling power of the Atonement. It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us. That is fundamental and foundational to the doctrine of Christ. But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to live in us—not only to direct us but also to empower us. I think most of us know that when we do things wrong, when we need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives, the Savior has paid the price and made it possible for us to be made clean through His redeeming power. Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient and worthy and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully. I frankly do not think many of us “get it” concerning this enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement, and I wonder if we mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities. ("In the Strength of the Lord," Oct. 2001 BYU Devotional)

I have since learned that it is only when I lay everything I have, everything I am down on His altar and surrender all to His tender care, that I am transformed. Reborn.

And suddenly, those sticky sins that seem so very difficult to excise from our lives slip away without much struggle.

In the words of author John Pontius, "If we yield ourselves to His direction He will show us what to do first, and give us the power to do it. He will direct us, step by step, all along the way home. Additionally, as we obey Him, He will change and purify our hearts. As our hearts become single to His glory, we will find the changes we thought most impossible will just quietly, sweetly occur. The patience which previously eluded us, the gentleness we never knew, the love and brotherly kindness we thought unattainable, the powerful prayers and faith we yearned for, yet never attained-- all these and many more precious gifts will simply distill upon our souls." (Following the Light of Christ, Ch. 3)

I know this is true, because I have lived it.

Left to ourselves, we are weak, imperfect.
In Christ, we are made whole. Complete.

And all it takes to begin is that first step in His direction.

To quote Elder Gay once more:

The Lord loves our righteousness but asks of us continued repentance and submission.

This is the exchange the Savior is asking of us: we are to give up all our sins, big or small, for the Father’s reward of eternal life. We are to forget self-justifying stories, excuses, rationalizations, defense mechanisms, procrastinations, appearances, personal pride, judgmental thoughts, and doing things our way. We are to separate ourselves from all worldliness and take upon us the image of God in our countenances. (see Alma 5:14)

Brothers and sisters, remember that this charge is more than just not doing bad things. With an engaged enemy we must also act and not sit in “thoughtless stupor.” Taking upon the countenance of God means serving each other. There are sins of commission and sins of omission, and we are to rise above both. ("What Shall a Man Give in Exchange for His Soul?" Oct. 2012 Conference Report)

As a young mother of five small children, I frequently felt completely overwhelmed by all that I had to accomplish and never seemed to complete. My to-do list was just too long, and just the thought of adding in all of the spiritual elements that I knew were lacking in my day was incredibly daunting. It seemed absolutely impossible. I literally didn't think there were enough hours in the day. But when I made the decision to lay this burden at His feet a couple of months ago and seek out His will for me--nothing wavering, a gradual shift began to take place in our home. Things that were unnecessary and perhaps damaging began to slip away. In its absence, time was made available to center my days on the things that matter most-- and I have been amazed in how much of a difference just a few weeks can make.The difference has been palpable.

In Christ, truly all things are possible.
He strengthens us, helps us, and causes us to stand. In the midst of it all, He upholds us by the enabling power of His infinite and eternal Atonement.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

Where we are weak, He is strong. And if we so desire, He can make us new creatures in Him.

His promises are sure.

• • •

This post is part of a blog hop hosted by the Book of Mormon Forum!

Of Such is the Kingdom of God

Have you ever had one of those days when you just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep off the stresses and exhaustion of the preceding hours?

A few weeks ago, I had one of those days.
And playing the tired, pregnant mommy card, I did just exactly that.

So very tired, and so very worn down, I climbed under my covers much earlier than normal.
Fighting a bad cold, tending to the affairs of the day, and taking care of three ailing children had simply run me into the ground physically and emotionally.

Dishes were piled in the sink, and my living room was positively smothered by mountains of unfolded laundry.  It felt as though I would never be able to catch up on all the mundane chores I had to do, much less anything else.

I wanted to lay down and sleep until the world seemed right again.
As it happened, however, my brief moment of rest was interrupted by a small voice at my bedroom door.

"Mom?"

I rolled over reluctantly, to Taylor's searching gaze.  Bryson stood behind him, grinning ear to ear.

Yes?

"Come with me, I have something to show you."

Seeing Bryson's encouraging nod, I decided I had better get over myself and go see what it was that Taylor had to show me.  Taking my hand in his own little one, he led me into the living room.  At first, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be looking at.  Then it became crystal clear.  With tears in my eyes, I saw that my little boy had meticulously sorted and folded all the laundry all on his own-- in his very best, albeit rumpled six-year-old way. 

As I hugged him close and let my emotions tumble loose, I told him how grateful I was to him and how special his act of service was to me.  To my complete surprise, I saw that Taylor was in tears as well.

"I knew you weren't feeling well, so I wanted to do something to help you...  Oh, Mom," he exclaimed, "I just love you so much!" 

Over the past couple of months I have reflected on his little gift to me in a moment of difficulty often.

Taylor didn't need an assignment or some other reason to feel compelled to help.  He simply saw a need and acted out of love.

Speaking of our Savior, Elder José L. Alonso of the Seventy has remarked:

His was a life of service.  When we serve our neighbor, we help those in need.  In the process we may find solutions to our own difficulties.  As we emulate the Savior, we show our love to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and we become more like Them.

King Benjamin spoke of the value of service, saying that when we are "in the service of [our] fellow beings [we] are only in the service of [our] God."  (See Mosiah 2:17) Everyone has opportunities to give service and show love.

Each day we have the opportunity to give help and service-- doing the right thing at the right time, without delay. 
("Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time without Delay," Oct. 2011 Conference Report)

One of my favorite examples of service found in the Book of Mormon takes place when the Savior appears to the people of Bountiful after His resurrection.  Elder Alonso also refers to this event in his address, explaining that through His actions, the Savior gave us a wonderful example about not waiting to lend service to others when a need is evident:

Having taught the people, [the Savior] saw that they were unable to understand all His words.  He invited them to go to their homes and ponder the things that He had said to them.  He told them to pray to the Father and prepare themselves to come again on the morrow, when He would return to teach them.  

As He concluded, He looked upon the multitude and saw them weeping, for they longed for Him to stay with them.

"And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion toward you.

"Have ye any that are sick among you?  Bring them hither.  Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt... or that are afflicted in any manner?  Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion on you; my bowels are filled with mercy." (see 3 Ne. 17)

And they brought their sick to Him, and He healed them.  The multitude bowed down at His feet and worshiped Him and kissed His feet, "insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears."  Then he commanded them that their little children should be brought, and He blessed them one by one.  That is the model the Savior has given us.  His love is for all, but He never loses sight of the one.   

Jesus never does things out of obligation.  He serves because He loves, pure and simple.  He doesn't do the bare minimum, just so He can feel good about His token effort.  He sees a need and is moved to fill that need because of His innate compassion for us all. 

I stand in amazement when I consider His singular example to us all.

An example that my six-year-old boy reminded me of through his small act of love, freely given with all the compassion in his little heart.

• • •

This post is part of a blog hop hosted by the Book of Mormon Forum!

Finding Gratitude

Sometimes, being thankful comes naturally.

We look around us and see the bountiful blessings that have been freely given and praise God for His goodness.

At other times, however, we might search with discouragement, for God seems so very far away.  Life is not always a smooth and beautiful ride, laden with luxury and ease.

Sometimes, being thankful is hard.

I have been thinking a lot about my friend Paige, and the tragedies she and her family have been living through recently.  Even though I have been through some very difficult and trying times in my own life, I am uncertain how I would cope with the loss of one husband, let alone two.  I am pretty sure I wouldn't move through those tragedies with the same grace and faith as my dear friend.   

How is it possible to feel gratitude at a time like that?
Where is the justice and mercy of an all-loving God?

A few weeks ago, my good friend Hope sent me a link to an essay written by Carlfred Broderick, a therapist and former stake president.  In it, he tells the story of an event he attended for eleven-year-old girls who were matriculating from the church's Primary program to the Young Women's organization.  As part of the event, they had a beautiful, over-the-top program based on The Wizard of Oz.  An eleven year old Dorothy and her friends skipped down the smoothly paved yellow brick road on their way to Oz-- which cleverly was made to resemble a beautiful temple.  Once they arrived at "Oz," they had it made.  All along the way, there were no bumps in the road.  No missing bricks, no flying monkeys, no wicked witch, nothing.

At the end of the program, the Stake Primary President invited President Broderick to the pulpit to make some remarks.  He knew that what he was about to say would most likely not be especially appreciated by those who had put on the program, but he felt it was crucial to make a few points clear.

He said:

Girls, this has been a beautiful program.  I commend the gospel with all of its auxiliaries and the temple to you, but I do not want you to believe for one minute that if you keep all the commandments and live as close to the Lord as you can... that bad things will not happen to you.  And when that happens, I do not want you to say that God was not true.  Or to say, they promised me... that if I [was] very, very good, I would be blessed.  

When [tragedies] happen, do not say God is not keeping His promises to me.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is not insurance against pain.  It is resource in event of pain, and when that pain comes (and it will come, because we came here on earth to have pain among other things), when it comes, rejoice that you have resource to deal with your pain.     

Rejoice, because we have resource to deal with our pain.

Even in the midst of darkness and despair, we can be thankful-- for we are not alone.  We are not left comfortless.

President Marvin J. Ashton affirmed, "Sometimes as children we were told that everything would be all right.  But life is not like that.  No matter who you are, you will have problems.  Tragedy and frustration are the unexpected intruders on life's plans.  Someone has said, 'Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.'  It is important that we do not look upon our afflictions as a punishment from God.  True, our own actions may cause some of our problems, but often there is no evident misconduct that has caused our trials.  Just the normal journey through life teaches us that nothing worthwhile comes easy."
("If Thou Endure It Well," October 1984 Conference Report)  

A song that I have been listening to a lot these days is "Gratitude," by Nichole Nordeman.  The message in the lyrics is that even when we don't receive the blessings we so earnestly desire, that we can give thanks for the lessons we are learning as we diligently seek the Lord and strive to do His will.  It is a lesson I am continually learning piece by piece in my own life.

In the Book of Mormon, Amulek delivers this powerful testimony:

...Take upon you the name of Christ; that you humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions... with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions. 
(Alma 34:38, 40-41) 

I love that.

Even in the midst of afflictions-- deep and dark ones-- we are still blessed beyond compare.  For we are children of a King, and He will strengthen us, help us, and cause us to stand.  (See "How Firm a Foundation," verse 3)

Our personal road of mortality is fraught with twists and turns.  But just because we stumble and fall-- sometimes hard-- it doesn't mean that our journey is at an end.  It is only part of the process.

These words from Ammon from the pages of the Book of Mormon also fill me with a joyous hope:

Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said... bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, and all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.
(Alma 26:27,35) 

And for that, I give thanks.

• • •

 

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• • •

Of Salt & Sunrises: Discerning the Holy Ghost

In the final chapter of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni extends this invitation to all who might read his words:

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
(Moroni 10:4-5)

As a young girl, I often wondered just how the Holy Ghost would speak to my soul.
How would I know that the Book of Mormon was true?
I was pretty sure I wouldn't hear a voice. And an angelic visitation seemed pretty improbable.

But over time, I did discover for myself that the Book of Mormon was indeed the word of God.  I learned how the Holy Ghost communicates with my Spirit.  It was not in a dramatic physical manifestation, but in a quiet peaceful feeling that spoke to my soul.  Unlike my own emotions, the warm presence of the Holy Ghost seemed to wash over me almost as a wave from some unseen external Source.  Although it is sometimes difficult to describe exactly how I know, there is little doubt in my mind that I do know.

President Boyd K. Packer, of our faith's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once related a story that describes this experience perfectly.

While sitting on an airplane next to a self-professed atheist, President Packer felt prompted to bear his testimony to him that God does indeed live.  When the gentleman pressed him to explain exactly how he knew, President Packer found himself at a loss of words to effectively communicate.  The words prayer, faith, and discernment meant nothing to his companion.

He said, somewhat mockingly, "You see, you don't really know.  If you did, you would be able to tell me how you know."

At that moment, the Holy Ghost brought a sudden insight to President Packer's mind, and he then replied with a question.

Speaking to the atheist he said, "Let me ask if you know what salt tastes like."

"Of course I do," was his reply.  "I know what salt tastes like as well as I know anything."

"Then," President Packer countered, "assuming that I had never tasted salt, explain to me just what it tastes like."

After several attempts, he found that he could not do it.  While he would explain what it did not taste like, there were no words for what it did taste like.  He simply could not describe in words alone the everyday experience of tasting salt.

President Packer recommenced, "My friend, spiritually speaking, I have tasted salt.  I am no more able to convey to you in words how this knowledge has come than you are to tell me what salt tastes like.  But I say unto you again, there is a God!  He does live!"
(President Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, "The Candle of the Lord", Jan 1983) 

Similarly, those of us who have received the answer to Moroni's promise may not always be able to articulate the sacred impressions that have brought us to the knowledge we hold dear.  But that does not mean that the experiences we share are any less valid.

Much like the rising sun gradually illuminates the sleeping earth below, reading the Book of Mormon (as well as the Bible!) brings light and warmth into my life.  It imparts clarity and insight that I wouldn't otherwise possess.  Like salt, it adds depth and a richness to my life.  Something would certainly be missing without it. 

I know that God lives.
I know that He speaks to us in the pages of holy scripture, including the Book of Mormon.
And do you know what?
I know that you can know too.

And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.
(Moroni 10:7)

• • •

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To learn more about the Book of Mormon, please visit this website.

He Heals the Broken Heart

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?  Then he is not omnipotent.  

Is he able, but not willing?  Then he is malevolent.  

Is he both willing and able?  Then whence cometh evil?  Then why call him God?

- attributed to Epicurus, Greek Philosopher (341-270 B.C.)

• • •

This seeming paradox presented so long ago still rings true to many people in the world today.

Why is there suffering in the world if God is all-loving?
Why do bad things happen to good people?  (And good things to bad people?)
Why are some prayers answered and yet others seem to be completely ignored?

In other words:

Where was God when we needed Him most?

This is a question I have considered over the years as I have lived through heart-wrenching experiences in my own life.

A couple of years ago I wrote a post that touched on some of my thoughts about this topic, and many of those same thoughts have resurfaced this week as I read touching blog posts by my cousins Robin and Melanie about the loss of their brother Scott to an aggressive form of cancer that took his life just six short weeks after diagnosis.   He was twenty-eight years old. 

I remember sitting in church just a couple of weeks after Bryson and I lost one of our best friends to brain cancer, listening to a lesson on spiritual gifts.  Much time was spent in discussion of the gift of healing and story after miraculous story was shared about friends and family members who had been saved from injury and death.  It was like a knife to the gut.  

I clearly remember thinking, "If faith is all it takes, then where was our miracle?"

Jen was twenty-eight years old, too, just like my cousin Scott.  She left behind her devoted husband and adorable three-year-old little boy. 

And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

I reflect upon those close to me who struggle with real pain.  Deep pain.  Not just physical, but emotional too.  Trauma from the horrors of past abuse, chronic and unrelenting physical pain, debilitating illness, crippling depression... and the list goes on.

The question echoes, "Why would a benevolent God allow such suffering?"

The short answer is that this life was never meant to be an exercise in constant pleasure and frivolity.  Though God loves each of us completely and perfectly, we were not placed here just so we could enjoy ourselves and bask in that ever-present love.  Life is meant to be a learning experience, a training ground.  We are taught that opposition is a necessary part of mortality.

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.  If not so... righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.  (2 Ne. 2:11)

President Joseph Fielding Smith had this to say on the subject:

The simple fact is that we came here to partake of the bitter as well as the sweet, to gain knowledge and wisdom through the experiences which mortality affords...  It is a mistaken and foolish notion to think that mortality should be a place for the children of our Eternal Father that should be free from any pain, sickness, or trial of our faith, and eventually mortal death.  To come face-to-face with pain as well as pleasure, sickness as well as health, and eventually death-- we came here definitely to obtain these experiences.  They will be essential to our progress in the world to come, which progress would have been retarded if we had been freed from all these things.  It is absolutely essential that every soul should partake of these experiences.  They help to make us strong.
(Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 57, 60-61.)

Our trials can lead to a deepened humility that is conducive to greater spiritual growth.  If we do not allow ourselves to become closed off and bitter, suffering can be a purifying fire.  We can emerge from the difficult life experiences stronger and wiser.  We are filled with greater compassion and empathy for others.  We are more aware of the joyful and tender moments in our lives.  And along with a deeper spirituality comes a greater awareness of who and whose we really are.

But it is absolutely crucial to remember that even in the midst of our pain, God has not left us to suffer alone.

Always, our Savior stands ready to carry us when we feel we can go no further.

And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
(Alma 7:11-12)

He will bind the broken hearts, and strengthen the feeble knees.
He knows how, because He has been there before.
His miraculous Atonement not only paid the price for our sins but also all of our pain and suffering.

And in ways we are unable to comprehend, He can lift our burdens and heal our wounds.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks elaborated:

Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best.  Sometimes a 'healing' cures our illness or lifts our burden.  But sometimes we are 'healed' by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.  The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ-- whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them like the apostle Paul-- is available for every affliction in mortality.
("He Heals the Heavy Laden," October 2006)

Our Savior Himself explained, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

And also, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

I like the sound of that.

Solace amidst the suffering in this troubled world can be found in the all-encompassing embrace of our Savior.

He has not forsaken me, and He will not forsake you.
Of that, I am certain.

• • •

If your curiosity is piqued, and you would like to have a free copy of the Book of Mormon of your own, without any expectations or strings attached, please let me know and I will personally mail a copy to you.  

(Of course, if you want to have a couple of cute 19-year-olds hand deliver it to your door and answer any questions you may have, I am happy to arrange that too!  But that isn't necessary.)  

You can leave me a comment, message me on Facebook or email me at tiffanatee(at)gmail(dot)com, and I would be sincerely thrilled to do that for you.

To learn more about the Book of Mormon, please visit this website. 

This post is part of a Blog Hop hosted by the Book of Mormon Forum!  Please feel free to link up any posts you might wish to share on the post below:

{five things • vii}

This past week, the kids and I took the opportunity to drive up the canyon one sunny afternoon to luxuriate in the natural fireworks display put on by the beautiful autumn leaves.  For my five things this Friday, I thought I would share a few of the photographs I was able to take from the car.  (Logan hasn't been feeling well, so we kept ourselves confined within-- away from the cool mountain breeze.)

Nature in its splendor always reminds me of the scripture found in the book of Alma:

...And all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion...and also the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.  (Alma 30:44)  

- one -

- two -

- three -

- four -

- five -

For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth over and around us lies

Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

(Foillot S. Pierpoint) 

• • •

And those are my five things for Friday!

To learn more about the Book of Mormon, please visit this website. 

This post is part of a series hosted by the Book of Mormon Forum!

Repost: Small and Simple Things

This is a post I originally wrote in September of 2009.
Reilly had recently turned three, and I was just a few weeks pregnant with my twins.
It will be a familiar story to those of you who know my family, but even two years later, it still clearly articulates my thoughts on faith and receiving answers to prayer.

• • • 

Truly, God answers prayers.
And not just the big ones.

One of my personal goals in life is to rely more on my Heavenly Father and to understand more fully the promptings of the Spirit.

It is most definitely a work in progress.

I have learned to act on certain feelings and impressions I have concerning friends and family-- although I wouldn't have necessarily considered them inspiration at the time-- and through these experiences have become increasingly aware that the Holy Ghost speaks to our hearts much more often than we might think.

Over the past few months I have tried to seek out a little more time for quiet meditation-- to turn off the TV, computer, music (that is a tough one for me!) and just reflect. I'm not always consistent with it, and I'm definitely not great at it, but over time it has made a considerable difference in my life.

This year there have been a lot of things to pray about on the grand scale. A dying friend. A newborn nephew's struggles. A beloved aunt having heart surgery. A favorite uncle suffering a horrible spiral break of his arm. A sister getting married. A horseback riding accident that seriously injured my mom.

It is easy to pray when the heavy trials of life come knocking.

Our faith tells us that God will hear our prayers during these times of adversity.
But-- for me at least-- sometimes it is difficult to remember that God stands ready to answer all our prayers.

Even the seemingly insignificant ones.

Last week we had the misfortune of Sheepie going missing again.
(Yes, again.)

It was late.
I was not feeling well and was completely drained of all energy.

Reilly was beside herself with grief for her missing friend, and Bryson could not find her anywhere despite his extensive search efforts both within and outside the house. He crashed on the couch, telling me that he simply couldn't look anymore.

There was nothing left in the tank.

He put Reilly to bed without Sheepie, and she continued to cry inconsolably in her room. I knew we would be in for a long night if we were unable to locate her. To complicate matters further, the next day promised to be long and hectic even without a broken night's sleep.

Not finding Sheepie just wasn't an option this night.

Feeling slightly silly but not knowing what other options we had, I took to my knees.
I prayed for the insight to find Sheepie.

Afterward, I got to my feet and instantly knew she was in Bryson's & my room somewhere. I had felt that impression previously, but now the thought was all-consuming. I knew she was in our room. I walked in our bedroom and immediately my eyes were drawn to Bryson's laptop briefcase. I couldn't help laughing to myself as I unzipped one of the compartments and rescued the poor, trapped Sheepie.

It was just so like Reilly to put her in a small zippered compartment (purses are actually one of her favorite hiding spots), but we would have never checked the laptop case in a million years. The kids *never* touch it. We had walked past it several times in our previous searches.

After that evening, I pretty much learned my lesson.

Our Heavenly Father is mindful of us, and knows our needs-- even the small heartfelt desires of a little child. So when the same thing happened just a couple nights later, my faith was already in place. After we did all that we could do, I said another simple prayer on Reilly's behalf.

However, this time I didn't get an impression of where Sheepie was; only that I needed to do a load of laundry. Tired and grumpy, I had no desire to do laundry-- and did not grasp the concept that my stray thought just might be related to the ongoing search for Sheepie.

We went to bed. Just after midnight, I awoke to Reilly's cry for her beloved friend. She went back to sleep on her own after a couple minutes, but I was left wide awake. I could not sleep. After deciding that lying in the dark staring at the ceiling was pretty pointless, I got up. I decided to get that load of laundry in the washer while I was at it. After the cycle was over, I opened up the washer, and much to my chagrin discovered Sheepie right on top of the clothing. I still have no idea when or how she arrived at that location.

Faith isn't something that has come easily to me all the time. I have a tendency to over-think, over-analyze, and rationalize that my emotions are just messing around with me. I wish I were more like Bryson, whose faith is an unshakable gift. I have difficulty not knowing all the answers to the questions that perplex me. It has taken practice to let go of that and simply hold on to the seed of faith.

I have a deeper appreciation for the words of Alma in the Book of Mormon:

Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. 

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
 (Alma 32: 26-28)


In today's society, it can be easy to dismiss God as an active participant in our lives. Some even doubt whether He exists at all. Religion is rejected as merely the opiate of the masses, and spiritual experience is believed to be nothing but a series of chemical reactions in the brain. However, I truly believe if even the smallest part of you wants to believe in Him-- if you work at it-- you can feel His continual presence in your life. Faith will replace doubt, and His love will flood every aspect of your life. Even the small and simple parts.


Take it from someone who's been there.

• • •

To learn more about the Book of Mormon, please visit this website. 

This post is part of a series hosted by the Book of Mormon Forum!

Miraculous, Not Ridiculous

"We love the goofiness of Mormon stories.  Some of them are incredulous, and we loved almost all the Mormons that we had ever met.  So this was sort of this conundrum that we like to talk about-- we think what they believe is really, really ridiculous, and yet they seem like pretty happy people."

- Trey Parker, creator of the irreverent Broadway musical 'The Book of Mormon'

• • •

In the past when people have discovered that I am a Latter-Day Saint, I have often been met with open curiosity.

The look on their face more times than not has seemed to say-- in a similar vein as Mr. Parker:
"Um, seriously?  But you seem pretty well-educated and normal.  How could you believe such an unbelievable story?"

Would you like to hear my honest answer?

To me, believing that Joseph Smith truly had a vision and received golden plates is no different than believing Moses spoke to a burning bush and received the Ten Commandments.  Both accounts are-- upon first glance-- unbelievable.  To the believer, however, both accounts are simply miraculous.   

Unlike a 2006 article from Slate Magazine which asserted, "One may object that all religious beliefs are irrational—what's the difference between Smith's "seer stone" and the virgin birth or the parting of the Red Sea? But Mormonism is different because it is based on such a transparent and recent fraud," I don't see why I should be branded as an imbecile for believing God spoke to a prophet in 1820 or even that He still speaks today in 2011.  What difference should a date in time make?  If God spoke in Old Testament times, I personally don't see why He would be incapable of speaking today.

(Many thanks to my friend Bryce for the quote from Slate, please visit his blog for an interesting post on this subject.) 

Critics of my faith would have you believe that Joseph Smith was a charismatic con man, seeking fame or power, or some other worldly accolade.
That the five hundred and thirty-one pages of the Book of Mormon, which were transcribed in approximately 75 days, are a complete and utter fabrication. 

Now, I like to think of myself as a writer of sorts, and that statistic alone boggles my mind.
75 days?!?!

In fact, as someone who writes fairly compulsively, there are many things about the Book of Mormon that cause me to take it seriously, even just from an authorial standpoint.  (Chiasmus, anyone?)  Acclaimed science fiction novelist Orson Scott Card has even written a pretty extensive article on this topic, which I have found incredibly fascinating.  

However, all these interesting little tidbits are not the why of my core belief in the Book of Mormon.  

My testimony comes from a spiritual confirmation that can only result from reading its pages and humbly petitioning the Lord in prayer.  I have read the Book of Mormon, every word.  And, like the Bible, I know it is an inspired book.  The peace I have felt while immersing myself in its pages has been life-altering.  It has answered prayers, and led me to a deeper and more meaningful relationship with my Savior.

That is why I believe.

And although many may scoff and wonder at the implausibility of the Joseph Smith story, I can only stand and wonder at the miracle of it all.  

“All the ingenuity of all the men under heaven could not compose and present to the world a book like the Book of Mormon. Its principles are divine—they are from God. They could never emanate from the mind of an imposter, or from the mind of a person writing a novel. Why? Because the promises and prophecies it contains are being fulfilled in the sight of all the earth.”


- President Wilford W. Woodruff  (1807–98), Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff (2004), 119.

• • •

To learn more about the Book of Mormon, please visit this website. 

This post is part of a series hosted by the Book of Mormon Forum!

{five things for friday • vi}

I was inspired by Kimberly's post last week (and guest post today at We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ!), so for my Friday Five today I'm happy to present five of my favorite verses from the Book of Mormon.

- one -

Helaman 5:12

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

This has been my favorite scripture ever since I memorized it for my early-morning high school seminary class.  

Although we may encounter seemingly insurmountable trials in this life, if we can remember to build our foundation on Christ we will not fail.  

I also love the use of the word "remember."

I have always been inspired by President Kimball's words, "When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is?  It could be 'remember.'  Because all of [us] have made covenants... our greatest need is to remember.  'Remember' is the word."

- two -

2 Nephi 4:15-35

This section of scripture is more commonly referred to as the Psalm of Nephi.

As it is quite lengthy, I won't quote it in its entirety, but here are some of my favorite snippets:

Awake, my soul!  No longer droop in sin.  Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!  O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies!  Wilt thou make my path straight before me!

O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.

 (That line has become my daily mantra.)

Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh.  Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness.

I completely relate to Nephi's lamentation of his own weakness, and his absolute dependence on the Savior for mercy and grace.  It is a beautiful chapter of scripture, one I turn to again and again.

- three -

Alma 5:14-15,19

Have ye spiritually been born of God?  Have ye received his image in your countenances?  Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?  Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this moral body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?  I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?

These questions which Alma the Younger poses to the people of Zarahemla are no less applicable to our day.  The idea of having the image of God engraven on our countenance is beautiful and poignant.  To me, it is a perfect description of what we should be striving for as we take upon ourselves the name of Christ.

- four -

Ether 12:6

And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because you see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

This is counsel I need to hear over and over again.

I like to have all the answers laid out ahead of me, but most of the time the Lord doesn't work like that.  We have to have faith enough to take a few steps in the darkness before the way is lit before us.  But eventually, the light will come.  It always does.

- five -

Alma 37:6-7

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

This counsel given by Alma the Younger to his son Helaman reminds me that it is often the small moments in our lives that are the most meaningful.  Especially as mother, I find comfort in knowing that the little teaching moments we find daily, the small acts of service I try to accomplish all add up in the long run.  This verse also encourages me to get back to basics when our family's schedule seems so very chaotic.  Having a perfect family home evening complete with laminated clip art and clever games is not as important as having the Spirit in our home and teaching our children with love.  The older I get, the more I realize that it really is the small and simple things in life that truly matter.

There are so many other verses that speak to my soul in the Book of Mormon, but those are a few that have great meaning to me in my life at this moment.  I am so grateful to have this beautiful book of scripture in my life.

• • •

And those are my five things for Friday!

If your curiosity is piqued, and you would like to have a free copy of the Book of Mormon of your own, without any expectations or strings attached, please let me know and I will personally mail a copy to you. 

(Of course, if you want to have a couple of cute 19-year-olds hand deliver it to your door and answer any questions you may have, I am happy to arrange that too! But that isn't necessary.) 

You can leave me a comment, message me on Facebook or email me at tiffanatee(at)gmail(dot)com, and I would be sincerely thrilled to do that for you. 

To learn more about the Book of Mormon, please visit this website. 

This post is part of a series hosted by the Book of Mormon Forum!

Onward, Christian Soldier!

It is not for us to say who, in the deepest sense, is or is not close to the spirit of Christ. We do not see into men's hearts. We cannot judge, and indeed are forbidden to judge. It would be wicked arrogance for us to say any man is, or is not, a Christian in this refined sense.
 - C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

The Christus statue at Temple Square in Salt Lake City

My good friend Jeanne reminded me of that quote last night from one of my all-time favorite books. If you haven't read Mere Christianity, you really ought to. It is a treasure trove of beautiful truths.

My thoughts over the past few days have returned again and again to the debate going on in the media about Latter-Day Saints.

Whether we are cultists.
Whether we are Christians.

This always just makes me want to shake my head and sigh. 

What exactly do Latter-Day Saints believe?

The full name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
We profess to be a restoration of the original church founded by the Savior himself.

Not a reformation, a restoration.

For that reason, we do not share some of the same doctrine that evolved over time in the centuries following the death of Christ and His apostles.

We are Christians.

Each and every Sunday that we attend church we make a solemn covenant to take upon us the name of Christ when we partake of the sacrament (communion).
We pray in His sacred, holy name.
We accept Him as our Savior, our Redeemer, our Friend.
We are partakers of His amazing and infinite grace.
To use a phrase from a modern prophet, "He is the Lamb of God to whom [we] bow."

To listen to President Gordon B. Hinckley's beautiful testimony of Jesus Christ, please enjoy the following video clip:



I believe much of the curiosity and concern from the rest of the Christian community comes from our belief in additional revelation and scripture. That we believe a prophet again lives on the earth.

But we do not see how this invalidates our status as Christians.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of our faith's Quorum of the Twelve had this to say on the matter, and since he is infinitely more eloquent than I, he is quoted here at length:

Some Christians, in large measure because of their genuine love for the Bible, have declared that there can be no more authorized scripture beyond the Bible. In thus pronouncing the canon of revelation closed, our friends in some other faiths shut the door on divine expression that we in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold dear: the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the ongoing guidance received by God’s anointed prophets and apostles. Imputing no ill will to those who take such a position, nevertheless we respectfully but resolutely reject such an unscriptural characterization of true Christianity.

One of the arguments often used in any defense of a closed canon is the New Testament passage recorded in Revelation 22:18: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of … this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.” However, there is now overwhelming consensus among virtually all biblical scholars that this verse applies only to the book of Revelation, not the whole Bible. Those scholars of our day acknowledge a number of New Testament “books” that were almost certainly written after John’s revelation on the Isle of Patmos was received. Included in this category are at least the books of Jude, the three Epistles of John, and probably the entire Gospel of John itself. Perhaps there are even more than these.

One Protestant scholar has inquired tellingly into the erroneous doctrine of a closed canon. He writes: “On what biblical or historical grounds has the inspiration of God been limited to the written documents that the church now calls its Bible? … If the Spirit inspired only the written documents of the first century, does that mean that the same Spirit does not speak today in the church about matters that are of significant concern?”

We humbly ask those same questions.

Continuing revelation does not demean or discredit existing revelation. The Old Testament does not lose its value in our eyes when we are introduced to the New Testament, and the New Testament is only enhanced when we read the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. In considering the additional scripture accepted by Latter-day Saints, we might ask: Were those early Christians who for decades had access only to the primitive Gospel of Mark (generally considered the first of the New Testament Gospels to be written)—were they offended to receive the more detailed accounts set forth later by Matthew and Luke, to say nothing of the unprecedented passages and revelatory emphasis offered later yet by John? Surely they must have rejoiced that ever more convincing evidence of the divinity of Christ kept coming. And so do we rejoice.
(Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "My Words... Never Cease", April 2008 General Conference)

The Book of Mormon stands as a second witness alongside the Bible of the divinity of Christ. It does not supplant the teachings of the Old and New Testaments-- to the contrary, it compliments, clarifies, and confirms them:

Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved.
(2 Ne. 2:6-9)

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me.
He is my Rock, my Foundation, my God.
I love him with all of my heart.
And though I walk imperfectly in this life, I do my utmost each day to follow Him.

I am a Christian.

• • • 

If your curiosity is piqued, and you would like to have a free copy of the Book of Mormon of your own, without any expectations or strings attached, please let me know and I will personally mail a copy to you. 

(Of course, if you want to have a couple of cute 19-year-olds hand deliver it to your door and answer any questions you may have, I am happy to arrange that too! But that isn't necessary.) 

You can leave me a comment, message me on Facebook or email me at tiffanatee(at)gmail(dot)com, and I would be sincerely thrilled to do that for you. 

To learn more about the Book of Mormon, please visit this website. 

This post is part of a series hosted by the Book of Mormon Forum!

His Words Never Cease: Book of Mormon Blog Hop

The eighth and ninth articles of my faith state as follows:

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.  We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

The fact that Latter-Day Saints do not believe in a closed canon is a decidedly controversial topic in the Christian world.  Many reject the notion that it is in any way possible that God could speak through a living prophet today.  Perhaps it was more believable back in Old Testament times, but today in the modern age?  Does God really speak to men even now at the present day? 

Absolutely.

I grew up in a loving Latter-Day Saint home.  As a child I never doubted that the Book of Mormon was true.  Reading its pages never failed to bring a sense of peace into my young heart.  Even though my religion definitely made me unique in my suburban Chicago community, I never questioned that all of the books I considered Scripture were inspired of God. 

Then later as a young adult in my late teenage years, I had a crisis of faith.  Within a short period of time I faced many difficult trials that shook my core.  I dealt with a crippling and utterly debilitating depression.   Suddenly there were few things I was certain of anymore, my faith included.

I began doubting the tender feelings of my youth.  I wondered if they were simply an emotional psychosomatic response to the beautiful teachings I loved.  What if I couldn't trust the things I had felt?

I decided that the only way to proceed was to study, study, and study some more.  I read voraciously, especially within the pages of the Book of Mormon and the New Testament.  I took up the challenge of the Savior found in Gospel of John, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."  (John 7:17)  I chose to "experiment upon the word," as the Book of Mormon prophet Alma taught.  Through a study of these teachings I discovered that the only way to truly gain a witness of the truth of Gospel was through my own action.  A mere perusal of the facts and figures would not suffice.  I resolved to delve more deeply into the Book of Mormon and judge its teachings from that perspective.

That experience changed the trajectory of my life.

As I read its pages, the feelings of peace I felt in my youth returned.  I deeply considered the source of these feelings and came to understand that they were not simply my own emotions running amok.  I gained insights from the beautiful verses found within.  Insights I could never have arrived at with my own limited logic, that answered fervent prayers.  A handful of experiences such of these might be able to be passed off as mere coincidence, but over the past decade since I began my earnest experiment this process has repeated itself over and over again.

God speaks through the pages of the Book of Mormon, as well as the Bible.  This I know for sure.

Over 170 years ago, Ralph Waldo Emerson challenged students of the Harvard Divinity School to teach "that God is, not was; that He speaketh, not spake."  In a real sense, that is the same message of the Book of Mormon.  God lives, and He loves us.  We are His children, and He will speak to us if we choose to listen.   

Some Christians who believe differently than I would suggest that the Book of Mormon is nothing more than a clever hoax, or worse, a diabolic work of evil.  To that, I would challenge you to discover for yourselves.  Did not the apostle Paul teach that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established"? (2 Cor 13:1)  The Book of Mormon stands as a second witness alongside our Holy Bible.  Did not the Savior himself say that "by your fruits ye shall know them?"  (see Matthew 7:17-20)

Here is just a sampling of one of the fruits of the Book of Mormon:

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
(Moroni 10:32)

Despite what you may hear in various media outlets, Christ is the center of our faith.  He is our Rock, our Foundation, our Redeemer.  The Book of Mormon's main purpose, its raison d'être, is to testify of Jesus Christ.  

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ... that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

(2 Nephi 25:26)

God is.  And He speaks.  

And you can know this for yourself.  

For if you desire, He will speak to you.

And that is truly Good News.

• • •

If your curiosity is piqued, and you would like to have a free copy of the Book of Mormon of your own, without any expectations or strings attached, please let me know and I will personally mail a copy to you.  

(Of course, if you want to have a couple of cute 19-year-olds hand deliver it to your door and answer any questions you may have, I am happy to arrange that too!  But that isn't necessary.)  

You can leave me a comment, message me on Facebook or email me at tiffanatee(at)gmail(dot)com, and I would be sincerely thrilled to do that for you.

To learn more about the Book of Mormon, please visit this website. 

This post is part of a Blog Hop hosted by the Book of Mormon Forum!  Please feel free to link up any posts you might wish to share here: