Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Mothers, do not doubt
That your needs are known
As you journey about
You are never alone

Though your work is very hard
You are equal to the task
Know, through faith, you will go far
Pray for more strength where you lack

Direct Your Thoughts

Look away. Turn it off. Avoid it at all costs. Your covenants must be sought Let faith direct your thoughts Do not accomodate Temptations caused of porn The temple doors await Be spiritually reborn Pornography "Don't accommodate any degree of temptation. Prevent sin and avoid having to deal with its inevitable destruction. So, turn it off! Look away! Avoid it at all costs. Direct your thoughts in wholesome paths. Remember your covenants and be faithful in temple attendance." —Dallin H. Oaks, "Pornography" Topics: Pornography

I am His daughter

See the daughters
Of God on high
Virtue matters
And here is why

There is a light
Shone in their eyes
When all is right
It never lies

No Not a Bit

No, not a bit
was he spared
He suffered it
As one snared

Not a moment
Was there fear
The atonement
Brought Him near

To each of us
As the scapegoat
He took our sins

Then gave up the ghost

Home is a Feeling

Home is not a place
It's a feeling,
It's a warm embrace,
Safe for healing

Home is where you are known

Life's memories lie there

It is where love is shown

And you let down your hair

 Prather, California 

We Were on a Roller Coaster

We were on a roller coaster
Exciting and thrilling
The ups and downs jarred to closure
With lessons instilling...

Of shameful attacks,
Shallow scrutiny,
And slips through the cracks,
All hollow and tinny

Still, passion was there
America awoke, bold
Seeing, all aware
We were about to be sold

We came up short, we lost
The slow purchase was subtle
Basic freedom, the cost
We are flat out in trouble



Pondering
The New Yorker

MARCH 4, 2013

ANN AND MITT ROMNEY’S LOST FAIRY TALE

POSTED BY AMY DAVIDSON
Looking back on the campaign, Romney said, “We were on a roller coaster, exciting and thrilling, ups and downs. But the ride ends. And then you get off. And it’s not like, Oh, can’t we be on a roller coaster the rest of our life?” 

Even When We are Unaware

Even when we are unaware,

Heavenly Father is always there. 

Look outside yourself and see 

great power and tender mercy.

You Never Took a Breath

You never took a breath,
Little one of worth;
So premature your death,
Still, I gave you birth.

I held you for a moment
And touched your tiny hands and face.
Remember me, your mother,
My thoughts of you, will never fade!

For Christ's Sake

For Christ's sake
We must write on
And forsake
What we do wrong

For His sake
We teach anew
And awake
Covenants to do
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/1?lang=eng

 Jacob1:1 For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a ^acommandment concerning the ^bsmall plates, upon which these things are engraven.

 2 And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should ^awriteupon ^bthese plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.

 3 For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his ^aother plates, and that I should ^bpreserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.

 4 And if there were preaching which was ^asacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the^bheads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people.

 5 For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should^ahappen unto them.

 6 And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of ^aChrist and his kingdom, which should come.

 7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to ^acome unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his ^brest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not ^center in, as in the ^dprovocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the ^ewilderness.

 8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men^anot to rebel against God, to ^bprovoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his^ccross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.

 9 Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon ^adie; wherefore, he ^banointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people now, according to the reigns of the ^ckings.

 10 The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the ^asword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare—

 11 Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his stead were called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatever name they would.

 12 And it came to pass that Nephi died.

Conversion

Conversion is a process
For learning to become
Repentant then to progress
From the things we have done.

The atonement thus can work
Unto a change of heart,
Through faith nigh to the Word
We find light does impart.

This comes through a desire
That is sought for in prayer.
The spirit will inspire
As truth and light shall bare.

Through diligent study
Being unafraid to ask
Confidence becomes steady
Gaining strength where ere you lack

Inspired by a return missionary talk: Darrin Stewart

The Bottom Line

Conspiracy?
Or terrorist?
Diplomacy?
Here lies the twist:


The bottom line
Who should we fear?
But Jesus Christ
His words are clear
The end draws near

When the Wind Blows an Ugly Direction

When the wind blows an ugly direction
With whom or where will you stand?
How will you assure your own protection
Save through the spirit at hand

Pondering;
"Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific assurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." [Page 260-261]Obama's Audacity of Hope

Moments Before

Moments before
Tragedy came
Who can ignore
Or see life the same?

O Come, Emmanuel - Christmas Version - ThePianoGuys

When I die
I would not to review
My own life
But Christ's own, to view!

Whosoever Will Lose His Life for My Sake Shall Find It

Jesus taught of His impending death,
But poor Peter wished things another direction.
Jesus wasted not a single breath,
To reprove and then offer loving correction.

 For what is life without the soul,
Or faith without good works?
Deny yourself, complete your role.
Do not avoid what hurts.

 Pick up your cross.
Serve and  follow Him.
Heed the words of Christ.
See that you do them.

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of
righteousness, and of judgment: 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not
on me; 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see
me no more; 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is
judged.

Bible Videos

He Raised His Hand

He raised his hand

And light shone through

His purpose grand

For me and you.

Keep Every Commandment

Keep every commandment
And God will bless you
Be more benevolent
There is work to do

Maturity

Age is the high price
For maturity
Here's my best advice
Avoid self-pity

Leaving the Church What Should I Do?

Leaving the church
From hurts... to search
For something else
But all else pales
To the light shone
From what is known

What should I do?
Pray, seek anew
Experiment
What this once meant
Find the gospel
Not the people

I am patient
Light will be sent
To brighter days
Through doubts that haze
A word, a deed
A void to feed

Then, I realized
My thoughts had lied
I had not prayed
or read for days
Light can be lost
Doubts are the cost

One thing's for sure
I must endure
Trials do pass
This will not last
In this journey
Of restoring

You'll Do Okay

There are rules and laws
To help to ensure
Our physical safety
To hold on and endure

Look for examples
Believe you'll do okay
And follow the prophet
He is here for our day

Coarsening

We live in a much coarsening day
Meekness has been lost along the way
Little matters have now become quite large
Because we think we are the one in charge

Meekness

Meekness is all
but vanished away
It is our call
The Lord shows the way

Parental Impact

Parents, how you react
To each of your child's faults
Will make  a huge impact
Help him up when he falls

See it as a chance
To bond with the Lord
And  also enhance
The strength of your word

Baptism Smile

 A million dollar smile
Lit his face up bright
There, on the wet tile
He was clean and white

When Life Throws You a Curve Ball

When life throws you a curve ball
What do you do?
Hold on and give it your all
You are not through!

I Still hear the Door

I still hear the door
Slamming in my ears
You said you want no more
This, the worst of my fears

I woke up with this and wrote it down.  Barely readable...Part of a dream?  I don't remember.

Meekly

Meekly, He observed all who stood around
Not a bit of hatred within Him was found
He prayed to the Father for each of them, to
"... forgive them for they know not what they do."

Luke 23:34

www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/23.34?lang=engShare

34 ¶Then a said Jesus, Father, b forgive them; for they know not what c they do. And they parted his d raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding.

Highlights: General Conference April 2013

Ever has it been
Always shall it be
Our call has been given
To go forth preaching

President Monson quoting Joseph Smith..
http://www.lds.org/new-era/2012/11/called-to-serve?lang=eng

Developing Christlike Characteristics

When Jesus fasted long ago

Alone, in the wilderness

His thoughts for John overcome His own

When news came of his sentence

Angel ministrants had come to Him

To comfort Him in His weakened state

But,  filled with compassion in His bosom

He knew John the Baptist's needs could not wait

Pondering the weakened state of Jesus after fasting forty days and nights and having been tempted of Satan.  I can not comprehend how He was still alive!

Jesus sent angels to minister to John the Baptist. (compare Matthew 4: 11)

  11 And now Jesus knew that John was cast into prison, and he sent angels, and, behold, they came and ministered unto him (John).

Developing Christlike Characteristics

Hastening Along

Let us build His kingdom strong
As we hasten His work along
Like Peter and John running at dawn
Towards the Savior  let us journey on

Paying Tribute to Elaine Dalton

Golden, you've put a smile on each face
And transfered energy for life's race
You've set us on a course filled with light
To the Savior with our virtues bright

Anyone want to thank Sister Dalton for her energy and leadership?
http://mormonwoman.org/2013/04/06/tribute-to-lds-woman-leader-elaine-dalton/


click on label below to see poems she has inspired through the years.

Networking

I have a dear friend
I need you to know
His trials descend
You can help one go

Here is my dear friend
That I recommend
He'll do the work right
He's been tested for might

Who out there is ready to hire a lawyer fresh out of school?
He has been tested for staying power and is ready to work!

The Wrinkles Tell

The lines on my forehead
And across my face
Tell how I have lived
And what I embrace

Fear, worry, and regret
Wear upon the skin
Things we wish to forget
Show more as we thin

The pucker becomes a purse
Surprise, a scary scowl
Gravity is a curse
As all things must fall south

But look beyond all this
There still is a warm glow
A light that you might miss
From the good things I know

The Road was Rough and Long

Even though the sky was cloudy 

And the road was rough and long.

In the dawn there was no doubting

What I awoke to gaze upon!

The horizon had burst aflame

And hope had colored the sky.

As, for my path, I could not wait.

It was golden with glory nigh!

Look for Greg Olson on Facebook and share him with all your friends. You will be amazed!
Even when the sky is cloudy and the road is rough there is always hope on the horizon.

Meekness

I stepped into the word
And looked every which way around.
I discovered the Lord.
He was everywhere to be found!

One who is selfless in service
And squares his shoulders for the task.
Who but follows his known purpose
And, through every trial, he does pass.

As a willing participant,
He enjoys his life and learning.
When called for, he is indignant,
To show God's love, he is yearning.

He is able to take criticism
And knows when to be silent.
He is a model citizen
Because he is self-reliant.

His goal is but to please
And he endures ingratitude.
His soul is filled with peace
From a positive attitude.

He is observant most of all
And finds nature is his tutor.
As all things point to God
He is hopeful for the future.


Pondering Meekness- A Dimension of True Discipleship
By Neal A Maxwell
BYU Address 1982

I also learned what meekness is not: pursuing worldly trends, vanity, insincerity, uncertainty, saving our "image", defensive, ego tantrums, demanding, feeling entitled, indulgence, status, being first, worrying about being taken advantage of, sarcasm, pride, self-conscious, persecuting others, contending with adversaries, scorning others, look down on others, speaking down, coarseness, selfishness, machismo

Here is a great site detailing scriptures:  http://www.gospelway.com/christianlife/meekness.php

I Was Your Victim

In pain full of strife
I was your victim
You cut like a knife
Striking deep within

But, only the Savior
Can feel all that pain
He alone can save you
From yourself again

Wherever You Place

Wherever you place
Challenge on, more
Your progress to trace
Make that high score

One of those rare times that a poem wakes you up.  Thinking about work at Challenger School...

Heed the Call

Heed the call, great and small
Domestic or abroad
Conquer pride, give your all
And share your praise of God

Do You Hear that Voice?

Do you hear that voice
Calling from the light
Helping you rejoice
When you do what is right?

Every sin is a hindrance
To the joy you will find
The light whispers guidance
And brightens well, your mind

Heed the Call

Heed the call
Serve the Lord
Give your all
And His Word

My Heart Delights in Feeling

My heart delights in feeling
God's love from on high.
From His word there is healing
I can not deny.

I enjoy reading other blogs when I have time.  An article in this one touched my heart...
http://delightinscripture.blogspot.com

Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess - Instructions Book Trailer

All good paths lead to home
and warn you of what lies ahead.
Remember, you are known
Listen and you will be led

Blueberry Girl - New from Neil Gaiman

This book is awesome, ladies of all ages!

Ladies you are
Of royalty.
Bright to go far
You've charity

Of all the rare things of worth
That are to be found upon earth
It is you I choose to treasure
You have value beyond measure

Once and For All

For every person who ever lived
The Lord has prepared a gift;
For each immortality
The soul of man to lift.

The Lord, once and for all
Did what we could never do.
He redeemed us from the fall
To call us home anew.

Too, in truth, He did much more!
He suffered all of our woes.
Sweating blood through every pore
As for our sins and pain He posed.

With us, He mourns as one who knows;
As all our burdens, He bares too.
He saves us from ourselves and foes
When we pray in faith, anew.

Forgoing Cancer Treatment to Save Her Unborn Child

Forgoing cancer treatment
Only one would survive
Showing what true love meant
The babe lives on to thrive!

It was the perfect moment
That merged life and breath
The veil briefly opened
To bless... lest we forget!

The baby so premature
Was brought unto her mother
Whose days were now unsure
Once...there would be no other...

http://youtu.be/wPD1TS56AuY

He is the Way

He is the Way
He is love
Apart away
From above

Lifting, guiding,
Offering
Strengthening, binding
buffering

He Sets Us Apart

Jesus stirs the heart
And brings us unto light
He sets us apart
To serve with all our might

He Stirs Our Heart

Jesus ministered
And shared from within
That is how hearts are stirred
We are to follow Him

Jesus Ministered and Shared From Within

Jesus ministered and shared from within
He loved, taught, and prayed for us to God
From the Holiness that framed Him
He showed us how to forgive and why...

There is no limit to what this can do
As He taught us how to be a friend
From this ripple effect we are blessed anew
And feel close to Him as hearts blend

Easter Is

Easter is life's renewal
A time to return home
To ponder life eternal
Where we are truly known

Emulating the Savior

From the Savior's ministry,
We have much to emulate-
Following Him earnestly
To know things He did and spake.

He loved the sinner's soul
Without excusing the sin.
He invites to make us whole
Our journey with Him to begin.

90:10 The single most important thing you can do for your stress

Picture words in your mind
This will help you change
Through processing you will find
Thoughts can rearrange

May you experience your worst
To want change more than anything
For what do you hunger and thirst?
Make that your bucket list and dream

This is the Work of the Lord

This is the work of the Lord
And we are to follow Him
Be His light, spread His word
And share that the veil is thin

The Book of Mormon is True

The Book of Mormon is true
It testifies of Christ
It teaches of Him anew
And offers us more light

Its people were of Jerusalem
They left from there long ago
They took the word of God with them
And kept records of their growth

They cycled in and out of pride
While their prophets taught of Christ
He came to them when He died
And when He left, how they cried!

Behold the Church of the Lamb

Behold the Church of the Lamb
Its numbers are quite few
Yet they go forth to each land
Sharing the Lord's good news

Don't Be Surprised!

Don't be surprised if more is found
For He said there were other sheep.
What record lies beneath the ground
Hidden away for angels watch keep?

Apostasy once covered the Earth
The prophets had been taken away
With authority given, truth is unearthed
As God wills, through living prophets today

All Alone

No one person could save a soul
Not even his very own
No wealth or power could pay in full
Yet, Jesus did all alone

The Greatest Gift of God to All Man

The greatest gift of God to all man
Was the atonement of our sins
That we can one day live again
In Heaven, with all our kin

Armed with Righteousness

Armed with righteousness
God's glory, love, and power
Stand firm and witness
This is the eleventh hour

Faith is the Only Sure Thing

Uncertainty floods the Earth
Faith is the only sure thing
Fairer days have turned for the worst
For those not found enduring

What Grander Way?

What grander way to show His love
Than to bear the pain of sin
To take our ugliness thereof
And lead us home to Heaven

Beyond Anything We have Dreamed!

Jesus atoned for all mankind
Even as many who will repent will be redeemed
Through obedience we may find
Eternal joy beyond anything we have dreamed

The Life of the Flesh is Shed

The life of the flesh is shed
In the pure blood of the lamb
The firstling without blemish
Was sacrificed for all man

Christ the Lord Was Exemplary

Christ the Lord was exemplary
He taught us how to live
Loving kindness and long suffering
Eternally, He does give

Repent and Be Converted

Repent and be converted
That Christ can heal your pain
Keep what you have covenanted
Peace and comfort to gain

The Shedding of Blood Began

The shedding of blood began
In the garden of Gethsemane
The weight of sin of each man
Was then atoned for in Calvary

He, with all our sins upon Him
Was the scapegoat cast out to die
He was completely closed off from heaven
As He was disowned, betrayed, and denied

Still, He forgave each enemy
And prayed for them to Father above
From birth to death He was exemplary
His life- a perfect message of love

The Savior Wants to Forgive - Craig A. Cardon - April 2013 General Confe...

He forgives us again and again
till the repentance is complete.
Helping our hearts and minds as a friend
as we place our sins at His feet.

His Willingness to Forgive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ClSQ2SkS-uE

The Savior Wants to Forgive - Craig A. Cardon - April 2013 General Conference

LDSGeneralConference·

He forgives us again and again
Till the repentance is complete.
Healing our hearts and minds as a friend
As we place our sins at His feet.

A Nation Will Rise No Higher Than the Family Can Afford

“This Thing Was Not Done in a Corner”

GORDON B. HINCKLEY

President of the Church

A nation will rise no higher

Than the family can afford

May each parent never tire

In teaching the ways of the Lord

Vessels of Mercy

May richness and honor come
As the vessels of mercy flow
Have faith that you can become
Glorious for Heaven, to go

Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who

hath resisted his will?  9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that
repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed
it, Why hast thou made me thus?  9:21 Hath not the potter power over
the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another
unto dishonour?  9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to
make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of
wrath fitted to destruction: 9:23 And that he might make known the
riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore
prepared unto glory, 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the
Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  9:25 As he saith also in Osee, I
will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved,

which was not beloved.

A Malleable Heart

A heart can ache
Without self-pity
Pray it not break
But become as putty

To be more, yet
Malleable and
Compassionate
In the Master's hand

No Matter Your Color -Unto All the World - Mahmud's Story

No matter your color
There's a glow from within
As Jesus, our brother,
Helps us be more like Him

I Feel It As My Own

I see the joy on your face
And feel it as my own.
In this gospel we embrace
We are never alone.

Thou Art the Christ

paperbullet1945 1 day ago

Although Peter witnessed many miracles performed by Jesus, he did not come to a sure knowledge that Jesus is the Christ until it was revealed to him by his Father in heaven. The same is true of each of us. Each of us can receive a testimony that Jesus is the Christ by obeying His commandments, following His example and praying earnestly for the revelatory power of the Holy Ghost to give us a sure knowledge of the truth of all things, all this being done in faith and humility.

You may witness many things,

But sure knowledge comes from God.

Through the Holy Ghost He brings,

The Son, the greatest truth of all!

You Can Call Us Mormons

You can call us Mormons
We don't mind.
But there's more about us
You will find.

Knowing who we are

Sheds truth's light

We follow our star

Jesus Christ!

In the Latter-Day

We're His saints

We've roles to play

Souls He saves

Click on the image to go to LDS.org and read the article that inspired this poem.

Hi I'm Kelly | Mormon | 2SQM

Hi I'm Kelly | Mormon | 2SQM

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Kelly answered...

I have been pondering how women and men are different and how the priesthood relates to this. I think of a loving heavenly Father putting a perfect plan in place for us to come to know Him. For us to need each other and to serve each other so home can be a little bit of heaven on earth. 

 Men hold the priesthood, yes.

To be the hands and voice of God.

 Not to control but to bless 

As a vehicle of service to all.

Women bear, nurture, and school 

Teaching children their worth. 

Her divine role is beautiful 

As a vessel, she is fruitful. 

 The man cannot bless himself 

Nor can the woman "do it all." 

Each are in need of the others help 

To fulfill their parental call.

Jesus' Hope for Us

Even as it should be
Jesus' hope for us
Is that we truly seek
His example, thus

Giving service
Doing what's right
Lighting purpose
Through faith made bright

The Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ - Ensign Apr. 2013 - ensign

www.lds.org/ensign/.../the-mission-and-ministry-of-jesus-chris...

The best evidence of our adoration of Jesus is our emulation of Him. ... Russell M.Nelson ... Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are but a small minority among those who claim to be Christians. ... Let us review these two components of His life—His mission and His ministry. .... That is His hope for us