Last Sunday I gave a lesson on Combating Pornography that I have been preparing for 3 months. The way that the lesson plan fell together was interesting (as usual). Planning lessons is honestly one of my favorite things to do because, after much prayer and pondering, I can see the guidance of the Spirit very PLAINLY.
On Sunday morning, it was all ready but the DELIVERANCE, or so I thought. The beginning would talk about the DOCTRINES that combat pornography. The middle would be the gradual ways that Satan introduces pornography into our lives, based on a talk by Spencer W. Kimball. And the end would be a grand analogy given several months ago by our Stake President, comparing elephants to women and mothers (I'm good with that) and how they protect their young from the lions. A part of that analogy kept coming to mind. "They plant themselves firmly around the young and take a stand to protect them."
I thought that I could give special emphasis to this point in my serious voice (the one that always reminds me of Joe and the Jaw) and then move on. That would not be the case.
I woke up early that morning to read my own scriptures, and suddenly I knew what needed to be taught. It was such a teaching experience for me that I wanted to record it for my kids. Here Goes....
In Alma chapter 58, we find Heleman and his "sons", the 2060 stripling warriors in dire circumstances.
In vs. 1-4 he explains to Moroni that there is NO way they can go against the Lamanites they are WAY too small. They must sit and WAIT, hoping for help.
In 5-6 he explains that the Lamanites are getting bigger by the day, they are taunting us.
Vs. 7 - WE ARE STARVING TO DEATH, WHERE IS THE FOOD?
Vs. 8 - this is embarrassing.
Vs. 10-11 -In a situation that seems more hopeless than most that I can imagine, Heleman's first response is to turn to the Lord - "we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us..." Then.....He takes a stand!
Vs. 12. "And we did take courage with our small force...and were FIXED with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, our children, and the cause of our liberty."
Remember what the Stake President said, THE ELEPHANTS TAKE A STAND, and aren't we and they fighting for the same thing that Heleman was fighting for? To conquer our enemies, save our children and our liberty?
Taking a stand probably came pretty natural to Heleman. Remember that Heleman's grandfather was ALMA THE SENIOR. He took a stand against the Wicked King Noah, while staring at the face of death. And Remember Heleman's Father is ALMA THE YOUNGER. He also took a very difficult and personal stand, against his own son, Corianton in Alma Chapter 39. What about Heleman's kids? Did they learn anything from the righteous courage of their fathers? Let's just say that the lineage gets better and better. Until we arrive at Nephi, who receives the sealing power. In effect, the Lord was saying, I know you will do what is right, I will do anything you ask! This family was a family that nobody wondered about. Nobody had to guess Who's side they were ever on.....Especially not their own children.
There is another character in this story....Pahoran....We generally think of him as a good guy, and he was, but.....Well, let's see...In Alma 61 we find out the reason that there was no food or men coming to Heleman. There was an insurrection in the Capitol city, Zarahemla. And Pahoran, the man in charge, lacked the conviction to TAKE A STAND against those that were hurting their freedom and the lives of their soldiers. Vs 19 "He was "worried concerning what we should do, whether it should be just in us to go against our brethren." So he called in Moroni, and Moroni TOOK A STAND for him. Nobody really knew where Pahoran stood sometimes.
Does anybody know what happened to Pahoran's posterity. They end up dead...And why you ask? One of them was elected to rule, and instead of the rest of them TAKING A STAND for the right and supporting the brother that was elected, they killed each other. I wonder if Pahoran's wishy-woshy ways did anything to his children.
Maybe I loved this lesson so much because it solidified in my heart something I already knew. I always knew where my parents stood. I still do. Did their behavior affect mine, and generations to come.....IT IS TIME TO TAKE A STAND!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Ladder Leads to the Temple!
This week was one great big celebration. When I say week, I mean week! (And as a side note, before we get into the meat of this post, did the cake turn out cute or what!) Ally turned 8 on Thursday. As you probably know, 8 is a big deal for us. Baptism is on its way - in 6 days to be exact!
On Monday night we had Family Home Evening, and that is when it all started. We have been trying to prepare Ally for baptism FOREVER, but to get in one last "cramming session" we utilized Family Home Evening. I drew a large picture of a ladder. I had us on the bottom and a picture of the Savior on the top. I asked the following questions: "So let's pretend that this is us at the bottom and we need to get back home to live with The Savior again someday, what is the first step?" --Baptism--- "How many more "covenant steps" do you think there are?" --Three, the boys receive the Priesthood, we go through the temple, and then we get married in the temple-- "Do they have to be in that order?" -- Yes!-- "Do we only climb the ladder once? -- (This stirred up a little controversy, Jared thought way too deep, and well, I don't even remember what he said, but I said) --Yes! We climb it again every Sunday as we take the Sacrament and "repromise" Heavenly Father all of these things!
This little exercise stirred up some memories. My dad once spoke at a baptism. I was not there, but I got the full report afterwards via the telephone. He said, "This is a great first step! We all have to get baptized, BUT IF THIS STEP DOES NOT LEAD TO THE TEMPLE, IT WAS ALL FOR NAUGHT! YOU HAVE GOT TO GET TO THE TEMPLE!" To wrap up Family Home Evening, we talked about
that! THE ROAD (or the ladder in this case) HAS TO LEAD TO THE TEMPLE! So that was Monday! We anticipated for 2 days and then on Thursday we had cake and unveiled the "birthday activity."
The Activity = On Friday we would be going to St. George, Going to the Temple Visitor's Center, out to eat, and staying overnight at a hotel and SWIM!
It turned out really fun and a tradition that I think we will keep (However, next time we will not reserve through Hotwire and it will be all the more enjoyable).
I am grateful for the temple. Everything that is good and precious to me in this life is eternally linked to me there! I am a daughter, a grandaughter, a great grandaughter...a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother......These are the things that define me and the things that will be mine forever, all because of the temple!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Good Advice for my Kids
This morning while I was getting ready for the day I asked myself this question (I do this sometimes...I have great conversations with myself while I do my hair, oh, and when I bake, that is also prime pondering time): What is the best advice that you have ever been given?
Now, while I am not sure that this is the BEST advice, or that it applies to this audience, I will share it anyway. It will apply to my kids and I want it preserved for their future.
It may be a little known fact that I was once a teacher (in a formal setting). I taught for 4 years before I married Jared, and then 1 year before I had Ally. The first 4 years I taught at the COOLEST little Elementary school in Bear River, UT, called Century Elementary. My name was "Miss Foster!" and I loved it there! The community was great, the principal gave me all kinds of great opportunities, and the staff was the BEST. Looking back at it now, it was a priceless experience for me. I taught 4th grade and the other 4th grade teacher was Mrs. Joy Haws.
As it all came to an end, I started packing up my classroom because we were headed to Rexburg, ID to finish Jared's schooling. Mrs. Haws came in and I could tell that she had something she wanted to say. It started with small talk and then she came to the "Best Advice" part.
"Kathryn, do you always plan on teaching?" No, I want to have kids soon, and I want to stay at home when that happens. "Well, then let me give you this advice. Once you are at that point, DON'T EVER START TEACHING. Once you are making 2 salaries, you will never be able to make it on 1. If you start by making it work with 1 salary, you will always be able to make it on 1."
It is funny how Jared's check seems to be JUST ENOUGH to get us through. I bet it would be even funnier that if I were working, both of our checks would be JUST ENOUGH to get us through.
These are my thoughts for the day! I love being able to stay at home! I love my FULL TIME job!
Now, while I am not sure that this is the BEST advice, or that it applies to this audience, I will share it anyway. It will apply to my kids and I want it preserved for their future.
It may be a little known fact that I was once a teacher (in a formal setting). I taught for 4 years before I married Jared, and then 1 year before I had Ally. The first 4 years I taught at the COOLEST little Elementary school in Bear River, UT, called Century Elementary. My name was "Miss Foster!" and I loved it there! The community was great, the principal gave me all kinds of great opportunities, and the staff was the BEST. Looking back at it now, it was a priceless experience for me. I taught 4th grade and the other 4th grade teacher was Mrs. Joy Haws.
As it all came to an end, I started packing up my classroom because we were headed to Rexburg, ID to finish Jared's schooling. Mrs. Haws came in and I could tell that she had something she wanted to say. It started with small talk and then she came to the "Best Advice" part.
"Kathryn, do you always plan on teaching?" No, I want to have kids soon, and I want to stay at home when that happens. "Well, then let me give you this advice. Once you are at that point, DON'T EVER START TEACHING. Once you are making 2 salaries, you will never be able to make it on 1. If you start by making it work with 1 salary, you will always be able to make it on 1."
It is funny how Jared's check seems to be JUST ENOUGH to get us through. I bet it would be even funnier that if I were working, both of our checks would be JUST ENOUGH to get us through.
These are my thoughts for the day! I love being able to stay at home! I love my FULL TIME job!
Monday, May 23, 2011
From the Inside Out
Last night I was involved in Reader's Theatre. I quite enjoyed it! The script was based on Joseph Smith's life and written by S. Dillworth Young, a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for 36 years, starting in 1945. ElderYoung was a gifted author and poet. (By the way, I LOVE that President Packer carves wood and Elder Scott paints, it does my heart good! Like I have heard my friend Annie say several times, "when culture goes by the wayside, so do so many other things." I am paraphrasing Annie :) I think in many instances, art in it's truest form, is a spiritual gift...those are my deep thoughts).
Back to the Reader's Theatre. It was comprised of poems describing personal details from the life of Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Church. I had an instant attachment to the following verse that describes what happened to the 6 men who met in Fayette, New York on April 6, 1830 to organize our Church:
“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.”
I recently read an article about a man who won a 2 million dollars from a lottery ticket, yet still remains on food stamps.....As grave as the situation in our country appears, I think it might be time to start looking at HEARTS instead of CIRCUMSTANCES.
Back to the Reader's Theatre. It was comprised of poems describing personal details from the life of Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Church. I had an instant attachment to the following verse that describes what happened to the 6 men who met in Fayette, New York on April 6, 1830 to organize our Church:
Evening
All days must end;
This day of marvels
As all others do.
The darkening landscape
Has not changed.
Here and there
A candle twinkles forth,
Its tiny light a beacon
To home-coming men.
The new Church members
Look the same
As yesterday, when
Ordinary things were taking place.
They wend
Their slow way home,
Sobered, it is true,
And filled with awe
And wonderment,
Marveling at the
Things which have been
Said.
The stars come out,
The night birds call.
The early peppers
Trill in nearby ponds.
And tired men,
Their hunger satisfied,
Retire to rest
On corn shuck beds
To sleep the night away.
And morning comes and
Yet another day.
The land must still be plowed,
And planted too,
The livestock sheltered, fed,
The cows milled, clearing done,
Then
More land readied
For the planting
Things don't change.
But these few men-
Their lives would
Never be the same
Again.
It is interesting for me that the Lord took ordinary Men and CHANGED THEIR HEARTS. He did not change their circumstances, he lit a fire of testimony inside, that would change millions of people (14,131,467 living today). I have found in my own life that this principle is true. THE LORD DOES NOT CHANGE MY CIRCUMSTANCES, HE CHANGES MY HEART, THEN I CHANGE MY CIRCUMSTANCES. This poem instantly reminded me of a quote from President Benson, one of my personal favorites:
I recently read an article about a man who won a 2 million dollars from a lottery ticket, yet still remains on food stamps.....As grave as the situation in our country appears, I think it might be time to start looking at HEARTS instead of CIRCUMSTANCES.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
33 Random and Not So Random Reasons!
Jared turns 33 TODAY! Happy Birthday Jared! Everyone celebrate with me! Jared is 33 and still has hair, which is not really the Bolton family trend (sorry Trent)! Today I thought I would let all of you know (he already does know) why I love him! I will give you 33 Random and not so Random Reasons. Here Goes....
1. Jared doesn't have to be entertained. He is perfectly content with board games and Netflix :)
2. In 10 years of marriage, his only complaint about my cooking was, and I quote, "Maricle Whip shouldn't be baked."
3. He finds a way to fix EVERYTHING that is broken in our home.
4. He would rather be at home than anywhere else.
5. He is always asking what we can do to help my mom.
6. He is VERY COORDINATED. Thus giving my children a slight glimmer of hope in overcoming their mother's genes.
7. He likes BLACK FRIDAY as much, or more, than I do.
8. He never acts like a KNOW-IT-ALL, especially when it comes to the scriptures or teaching, even though he is a Seminary Teacher.
9. He never cared that I would call and ask my dad scriptural questions before I asked him.
10. He asks for my opinion when he is making important work or calling decisions.
11. He always UNBUTTONS his shirts before he puts them in the laundry.
12. He facilitates my love for going on good long walks.
13. If I send him to the store for my favorite treat, he always brings back Double Dipped Peanuts or Peanut M&M's.
14. He thinks the Cosby Show is cool.
15. He loves to Watch everything "Jane Austen" with me.
16. When he looks at me, I know what he is thinking.
17. He gets up at 4 a.m. to read his scriptures everyday :)
18. If the Prophet says it, it is as good as done!
19. He has never felt threatened by the fact that I talk to my mom 1to 2 to 3 times a day!
20. He likes my hair short!
21. He likes to make SALSA, and he is good at it.
22. He is brilliant at growing a summer garden.
23. When someone gets mad at him at work, he wont tell me who it is because he doesn't want me to feel differently about people.
24. He worries about people's feelings.
25. He loves his job, and he likes to grow roots (emotionally speaking).
26. He is a worker.
27. He makes sure that FHE, Family prayer, family scriptures ALWAYS happen! Tired or not!
28. He likes the fact that I am a bit (or more than a bit) blunt!
29. At age 33 he likes to snowmobile as much as I did at age 8.
30. He is perfectly content when I want to snowmobile, or sit inside and drink hot chocolate!
31. When I say Bear Lake, he says YES!
32. He likes to talk! And doesn't mind when I talk too much!
33. He has no hobbies at the moment, he is too busy with the kids, and he is OKAY with that!
For these reasons and many many more, I will love Jared even more next May 19th than I do this May 19th, even if he is one year older and bald too :)
1. Jared doesn't have to be entertained. He is perfectly content with board games and Netflix :)
2. In 10 years of marriage, his only complaint about my cooking was, and I quote, "Maricle Whip shouldn't be baked."
3. He finds a way to fix EVERYTHING that is broken in our home.
4. He would rather be at home than anywhere else.
5. He is always asking what we can do to help my mom.
6. He is VERY COORDINATED. Thus giving my children a slight glimmer of hope in overcoming their mother's genes.
7. He likes BLACK FRIDAY as much, or more, than I do.
8. He never acts like a KNOW-IT-ALL, especially when it comes to the scriptures or teaching, even though he is a Seminary Teacher.
9. He never cared that I would call and ask my dad scriptural questions before I asked him.
10. He asks for my opinion when he is making important work or calling decisions.
11. He always UNBUTTONS his shirts before he puts them in the laundry.
12. He facilitates my love for going on good long walks.
13. If I send him to the store for my favorite treat, he always brings back Double Dipped Peanuts or Peanut M&M's.
14. He thinks the Cosby Show is cool.
15. He loves to Watch everything "Jane Austen" with me.
16. When he looks at me, I know what he is thinking.
17. He gets up at 4 a.m. to read his scriptures everyday :)
18. If the Prophet says it, it is as good as done!
19. He has never felt threatened by the fact that I talk to my mom 1to 2 to 3 times a day!
20. He likes my hair short!
21. He likes to make SALSA, and he is good at it.
22. He is brilliant at growing a summer garden.
23. When someone gets mad at him at work, he wont tell me who it is because he doesn't want me to feel differently about people.
24. He worries about people's feelings.
25. He loves his job, and he likes to grow roots (emotionally speaking).
26. He is a worker.
27. He makes sure that FHE, Family prayer, family scriptures ALWAYS happen! Tired or not!
28. He likes the fact that I am a bit (or more than a bit) blunt!
29. At age 33 he likes to snowmobile as much as I did at age 8.
30. He is perfectly content when I want to snowmobile, or sit inside and drink hot chocolate!
31. When I say Bear Lake, he says YES!
32. He likes to talk! And doesn't mind when I talk too much!
33. He has no hobbies at the moment, he is too busy with the kids, and he is OKAY with that!
For these reasons and many many more, I will love Jared even more next May 19th than I do this May 19th, even if he is one year older and bald too :)
Monday, May 16, 2011
Trail of Despair
Last night I got home a bit late from a meeting (when I say late, I really mean to say 8:45 p.m.). Anyhow, the entire household was already asleep and I was not ready for that......so I fired up the computer and started to check out the usual Sunday night Blogs to catch up on everyone's lives.
I opened my sister's and sitting at the top was a piture of my dad and mom. I immediately felt like someone had knocked the wind out of me. For a brief second it hit me that it has been a REALLY long time since I have seen my dad or called and heard his voice on the other end. OHHH, I ached! Then I pursed my lips, swallowed hard, and squinted. This is what I do when I want to prevent the flow of tears and the journey down the TRAIL of DESPAIR.
It starts like this. No, he will not be sitting in his green lawn chair with his straw hat on when I pull up to Bear Lake this summer, No he will not call on my birthday, say "Happy Birthday Kathern," shortly followed by "Birthdays are just another day." No he will not offer just the right piece of advice the next time I call and explain all my problems to him. No NO NO! The trail could last forever, but it doesn't. Faith eventually wins out. Jared eventually says, "Kathryn, your dad was so GOOD. You could never have asked for more." I eventually hear myself saying, "Things could be worse." That was the case last night and then a memory flashed into my mind.
I was home for a brief visit. The phone rings. My dad answers and this is what I hear. "Now hold On! Okay Calm down, Calm Down! JUST CALM DOWN! (brief pause) Now listen, if he is going to have a disease, it is really a pretty good one to have."
That last comment has to leave a person wondering. On the other end of the line was one of his former students. She was calling for advice. Her husband had just been diagnosed with kidney failure. The exact disease that my dad would suffer with for 30 years, 3 transplants, surgery after surgery, sickness after sickness......but "if he is going to have a disease, it is really a pretty good one to have."
I went to bed last night saying to myself, "If I am going to have a trial, the death of THE BEST DAD, with sealing ties, knowledge of eternal life, a grand plan always in view.....this trial is a pretty good one to have.
I opened my sister's and sitting at the top was a piture of my dad and mom. I immediately felt like someone had knocked the wind out of me. For a brief second it hit me that it has been a REALLY long time since I have seen my dad or called and heard his voice on the other end. OHHH, I ached! Then I pursed my lips, swallowed hard, and squinted. This is what I do when I want to prevent the flow of tears and the journey down the TRAIL of DESPAIR.
It starts like this. No, he will not be sitting in his green lawn chair with his straw hat on when I pull up to Bear Lake this summer, No he will not call on my birthday, say "Happy Birthday Kathern," shortly followed by "Birthdays are just another day." No he will not offer just the right piece of advice the next time I call and explain all my problems to him. No NO NO! The trail could last forever, but it doesn't. Faith eventually wins out. Jared eventually says, "Kathryn, your dad was so GOOD. You could never have asked for more." I eventually hear myself saying, "Things could be worse." That was the case last night and then a memory flashed into my mind.
I was home for a brief visit. The phone rings. My dad answers and this is what I hear. "Now hold On! Okay Calm down, Calm Down! JUST CALM DOWN! (brief pause) Now listen, if he is going to have a disease, it is really a pretty good one to have."
That last comment has to leave a person wondering. On the other end of the line was one of his former students. She was calling for advice. Her husband had just been diagnosed with kidney failure. The exact disease that my dad would suffer with for 30 years, 3 transplants, surgery after surgery, sickness after sickness......but "if he is going to have a disease, it is really a pretty good one to have."
I went to bed last night saying to myself, "If I am going to have a trial, the death of THE BEST DAD, with sealing ties, knowledge of eternal life, a grand plan always in view.....this trial is a pretty good one to have.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
"You cannot kill time without hurting Eternity"
This week when we had the Laurels and Priests over for dinner, we started by having everyone share their best spiritual advice for the Seniors. I was the first to go, "Find a way to be happy at whatever stage of life you are in. Never catch yourself saying, 'I will be happy when I am married, after my mission, when I get rid of this psycho roommate....' Find a way to be happy now." I thought it was great advice, I mean, doesn't it sound profound? Then as the week followed I thought, if that is such great advice, why in the world haven't I taken it to heart yet?
I will admit, that I am not in an "easy" time of life, as my sister JoDee says, "young motherhood is not for the faint of heart." And sometimes when the daily all-consuming tasks seem a bit overwhelming, I find myself saying, "Oh if I can just GET THROUGH these next couple of years, life will be good." But the thing is, I don't want to just GET THROUGH anything.
I want to be my neighbor, Jeanie May who says to me, "Oh aren't little babies the best! I loved raising babies. Then all of a sudden, you have teenagers, and they are the best too!" Today the High Council man gave a FABULOUS talk, written just for me. It is funny how that happens when I have never even met the man. He quoted an article called, "As For Years" by John S. Tanner. I will give you a snippet of the essay and leave you wanting more.
“As for years”—I take this to be a D&C carpe diem. It invites us to seize the day, but with an eye toward the future. We are not merely to mark time in this life but, as the hymn suggests, to improve every shining moment, knowing that eternity is composed of such fleeting moments. To paraphrase Thoreau: You can’t kill time without injuring eternity.
The whole thing seemed vaguely familiar. Something like a C.S. Lewis Screwtape letter that talks about time. "Focus their time on the future or the past, but never on this MOMENT or on ETERNITY, because it is in this moment that they make their plans for eternity." (By the way, that is not a direct quote, I make up quotes in my mind and sometimes get them confused with the real author, but you get the point.)
I think that Jeanie May had it right. Babies are the most fun! Teenagers are too! Whatever stage you are at, that is where it is at. The fun is at your house, with your kids. Not at the neighbors house, or in 10 years from now. Seize the day, just because it is hard doesn't mean it isn't fun.
I will admit, that I am not in an "easy" time of life, as my sister JoDee says, "young motherhood is not for the faint of heart." And sometimes when the daily all-consuming tasks seem a bit overwhelming, I find myself saying, "Oh if I can just GET THROUGH these next couple of years, life will be good." But the thing is, I don't want to just GET THROUGH anything.
I want to be my neighbor, Jeanie May who says to me, "Oh aren't little babies the best! I loved raising babies. Then all of a sudden, you have teenagers, and they are the best too!" Today the High Council man gave a FABULOUS talk, written just for me. It is funny how that happens when I have never even met the man. He quoted an article called, "As For Years" by John S. Tanner. I will give you a snippet of the essay and leave you wanting more.
“As for years”—I take this to be a D&C carpe diem. It invites us to seize the day, but with an eye toward the future. We are not merely to mark time in this life but, as the hymn suggests, to improve every shining moment, knowing that eternity is composed of such fleeting moments. To paraphrase Thoreau: You can’t kill time without injuring eternity.
The whole thing seemed vaguely familiar. Something like a C.S. Lewis Screwtape letter that talks about time. "Focus their time on the future or the past, but never on this MOMENT or on ETERNITY, because it is in this moment that they make their plans for eternity." (By the way, that is not a direct quote, I make up quotes in my mind and sometimes get them confused with the real author, but you get the point.)
I think that Jeanie May had it right. Babies are the most fun! Teenagers are too! Whatever stage you are at, that is where it is at. The fun is at your house, with your kids. Not at the neighbors house, or in 10 years from now. Seize the day, just because it is hard doesn't mean it isn't fun.
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