How to get a guy to like you.

As we approach Valentines day, allow me to address all the single ladies out there.

Hello, single ladies.

Now allow me to turn you over to someone else to address you, who will tell you how to get a guy to like you.



Anything else to add?

Thought for Friday.

I'm going away for a bit, then returning to a bazillion Christmas events and musical stuff to organise.


But for now, know this:  YOU are a child of GOD.

I love this video :)

The Book of Mormon will answer your questions - part 3.

Most of us have some hard questions in the back of our minds – the kind no one else can really answer for us.  Some are far-reaching questions about the nature of our existence …


Why is the atonement necessary? 

Okay, I’ve been avoiding answering this question – only because it is such a massive topic!

But my procrastination has resulted in my guilt.  I should just look directly to the scriptures, and start there.

For I know that ye have searched much, many of you, to know of things to come; wherefore I know that ye know that our flesh must waste away and die; nevertheless, in our bodies we shall see God.

…

For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs comes unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement… (2 Nephi 9: 4, 6)

We are stopped from returning to God’s presence by two deathly obstacles: physical death and spiritual death.

“Physical death is the separation of the spirit from the physical body. Because of the Fall of Adam, all mankind will suffer physical death.” [1]  Spiritual death when someone is “cut off from the presence of the Lord” (Alma 42:9).   Both these deaths are a result from the Fall of Adam and Eve.

That is, because Adam and Eve (and thus all mankind) were literally kicked out of the presence of God (in the Garden of Eden), we are separated spiritually from God.  And we are also mortal, and will die, so we are physically separated from God also.

All of God’s children who lived in mortality will overcome physical and spiritual death through the powers of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.   This principle was also taught later in the Book of Mormon by Samuel the Lamanite (see Helaman 14:17).  In fact, the Book of Mormon is filled with scriptures proclaiming the Saviour’s atoning mission. [2]

Jesus condescended (lowered himself) to live on Earth and be subject to ridicule, torture.  He took upon Himself all the pains and sufferings of all mankind.  It took place in the Garden of Gethsemane, and it was very real.   He was later crucified, but rose on the third day (the Resurrection), overcoming both spiritual death and physical death for us.   This is what we call the Atonement.

The Atonement is central to God’s merciful plan for us.  It basically ransoms all mankind from the Fall (overcoming spiritual death).  Jesus, as our Saviour, will pay the price necessary for justice to be carried out, and we will all be saved from death, hell, the devil etc. (overcoming physical death).

The leaders of my church - the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles – have declared to the world the central role of the Saviour and His influence on all mankind:

“We offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

“He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. . . .

“He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

“We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world”. [3] 

“Our salvation depends on believing in and accepting the Atonement. Such acceptance requires a continual effort to understand it more fully. The Atonement advances our mortal course of learning by making it possible for our natures to become perfect. . . .

“. . . Any increase in our understanding of His atoning sacrifice draws us closer to Him. Literally, the Atonement means to be ‘at one’ with Him. The nature of the Atonement and its effects is so infinite, so unfathomable, and so profound that it lies beyond the knowledge and comprehension of mortal man. . . .

“We long for the ultimate blessing of the Atonement—to become one with Him, to be in His divine presence, to be called individually by name as He warmly welcomes us home with a radiant smile, beckoning us with open arms to be enfolded in His boundless love. How gloriously sublime this experience will be if we can feel worthy enough to be in His presence! The free gift of His great atoning sacrifice for each of us is the only way we can be exalted enough to stand before Him and see Him face-to-face. The overwhelming message of the Atonement is the perfect love the Savior has for each and all of us. It is a love which is full of mercy, patience, grace, equity, long-suffering, and, above all, forgiving.” [4]

There is no need to worry.  The scope of Christ’s Atonement is infinite and eternal.  Literally.  “Its effects cover all men, the earth itself and all forms of life thereon, and reach out into the endless expanses of eternity.” [5]  It is without end.  And it is infinite beyond human comprehension.

The Book of Mormon offers us clarity and comfort:

And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.

For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.

But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.

Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the claw of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.

And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea infinite and eternal.

And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.

Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;
(Alma 34:8-17)

O how great the plan of our God!

“If physical death should strike before moral wrongs have been made right, opportunity for repentance will have been forfeited. Thus, ‘the [real] sting of death is sin’ (1 Corinthians 15:56).

“Even the Savior cannot save us in our sins. He will redeem us from our sins, but only upon condition of our repentance.  We are responsible for our own spiritual survival or death (see Romans 8:13–14; Helaman 14:18; D&C 29:41–45).” [6]

This leads beautifully into my next question that the Book of Mormon can help answer…  



If you wish to order a free copy, let me know or click here.
Feel free to read or listen to it here.


[1] Earl C. Tingey, Ensign, May 2006, 73
[2] see 2 Nephi 2:9–10; 9:15, 22, 38; Alma 11:43–44; 12:12–15, 24; 42:23; 3 Nephi 26:4
[3] “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” Ensign, Apr. 2000, 2–3
[4] James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 2001, 18, 20
[5] Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 64; see also Moses 7:30
[6] Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, May 1992, 73

The Book of Mormon will answer your questions – part 2.

Most of us have some hard questions in the back of our minds – the kind no one else can really answer for us. Some are far-reaching questions about the nature of our existence …


What is my purpose? Why do you believe we exist?

The Book of Mormon teaches us: Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

Read all about it here.

“Adam fell” is referring to the expulsion from the Garden of Eden.  When he and Eve ate the fruit, it was an act of disobedience and they were cast out of God’s presence.  But it was a necessary act – for they were then able to have children.

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained why the Fall was necessary:

“The Creation culminated with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They were created in the image of God, with bodies of flesh and bone. Created in the image of God and not yet mortal, they could not grow old and die. ‘And they would have had no children’ [2 Nephi 2:23] nor experienced the trials of life. . . . The creation of Adam and Eve was a paradisiacal creation, one that required a significant change before they could fulfill the commandment to have children and thus provide earthly bodies for premortal spirit sons and daughters of God.

“. . . The Fall of Adam (and Eve) constituted the mortal creation and brought about the required changes in their bodies, including the circulation of blood and other modifications as well. They were now able to have children. They and their posterity also became subject to injury, disease, and death”. [1]

So Adam fell that men might be … and we exist so we might have joy.

JOY is a word I have always wondered about – it seems too high and glorious to comprehend or explain.  But thankfully, the scripture continues on the subject:

And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.  And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God have given.

Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. (2 Nephi 2:25-27)

This scripture from the Book of Mormon is key in understanding how the Fall affected (blessed) us, and how we are capable of experiencing joy.  Adam and Eve’s posterity were likewise banished from the physical presence of God, but we are all innocent from the original sin because we had no part in it.  “It was therefore unfair for all of humanity to suffer eternally for the transgressions of our first parents, Adam and Eve.  It became necessary to settle this injustice; hence the need for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus in His role as the Savior and Redeemer”. [2]  It is possible of every soul to obtain forgiveness of sins – to have them washed away and be forgotten!  The transcendent act of the Atonement saves us from the fall, and we are free to know the joy of our redemption, to know good from evil, and to act for ourselves.  And to have kids.


Do you believe we are saved by grace?

Grace refers to the divine help or strength given to us through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.  The grace of Jesus is made possible by his atoning sacrifice, enabling mankind to be raised in immortality, receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life.

It is also through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we may receive strength and help to do the good that we cannot on our own.  It is an enabling power that allows us to “lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after [we] have expended [our] own best efforts”. [3]

This is what the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi meant when he said:  For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. (2 Nephi 25:23)


It is truly the grace of Jesus Christ that makes salvation possible.  This principle is expressed in Jesus’ parable of the vine and the branches (John 15:1–11).  But grace “cannot suffice without total effort on [our] part” – hence Nephi explaining we will be saved by the grace of Christ after all we can do.

“Some Christians accuse Latter-day Saints . . . of denying the grace of God through claiming they can earn their own salvation. We answer this accusation with the words of two Book of Mormon prophets. Nephi taught, ‘For we labor diligently . . . to persuade our children . . . to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do’ (2 Nephi 25:23). And what is ‘all we can do’? It surely includes repentance (see Alma 24:11) and baptism, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end. Moroni pleaded, ‘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’ (Moroni 10:32).

“We are not saved in our sins, as by being unconditionally saved through confessing Christ and then, inevitably, committing sins in our remaining lives (see Alma 11:36–37). We are saved from our sins (see Helaman 5:10) by a weekly renewal of our repentance and cleansing through the grace of God and His blessed plan of salvation (see 3 Nephi 9:20–22).” [4]

What happens to us when we die?

Rather than a short form answer, which may very well raise further questions, I want to answer this as comprehensively as my little bloggy can go.

Both the Book of Mormon and the Bible are pretty clear that we lived with God before we were born.  The Bible refers a lot to people being chosen and ordained prior to being born on Earth (see Ephesians 1:3-4  and Jeremiah 1:5, where prophets were comforted, knowing God knew them before they were born).
And good old Job was not only told he was around when God laid the foundations of the earth, but that we all shouted for joy when the creation was planned and done! (Job 38:4-7)

And clearly for Satan and his minions to be cast out of heaven into the earth, we all had to be in that heaven to begin with. (Revelation 12:9)

The Book of Mormon refers to our pre-mortal life in more detail:

And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. (Alma 13:3)

This is such a wonderful piece of knowledge!  You must read about it here.

So we know we lived in heaven a long time ago.  And that our Heavenly Father created a plan for us all to live on Earth, have experience and joy, be tried and tested, and to be given the choice of returning to Him.

The scriptures are also clear we will live after we die.

We know that when we die, our body and spirit separates.  Where our spirit goes is another great question (go on, ask me ...).  But the atonement of Jesus Christ conquered death, making it possible for us to be resurrected after death.  Woo!  AND such resurrection is a free gift to all!  Double woo!

This is what the prophet Alma is talking about here:

Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.

What a happy thought for the disabled, the handicap, the bald.

The prophet Alma then goes on to explain the relationship between our lives on earth and where we end up afterwards:

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil. (Alma 40:11-13,23)

This is another sound example of how the Book of Mormon helps us to understand what we already know from the Bible, and in greater (perhaps even simpler?) detail.  Do you agree?

Note: I’ve tried to make this answer as simple as possible.  I’m sure it raises further questions and thoughts, for example I’ve totally skipped over the Judgment part and Christ’s role as our mediator in determining ‘were we end up afterwards’.

But know this: we existed before this life, and we will continue to exist after it.

We are currently in Act II of a 3-part play.

“The assurance of resurrection gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love, such things as the physical, mental, or emotional deficiencies we bring with us at birth or acquire during mortal life. Because of the resurrection, we know that these mortal deficiencies are only temporary!” [5]


Why was Christ baptised?

Jesus Christ is the perfect example.  Being holy and without sin, Christ physically showed us how to be baptised and why.  What an example of humility and obedience – for that is what it was; an act of obedience.

Although Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptist far away from the Americas, the people there knew this event was taking place.  Prophets taught (and recorded in the Book of Mormon) the people of baptism, and carefully taught why their Saviour would do so:

Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.

And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!

And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

Know ye not hat he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.

And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them. (2 Nephi 31:4-9)

We believe that “entering into the kingdom of God is so important that Jesus was baptized to show us ‘the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which [we] should enter’ (2 Nephi 31:9).” [6]
“Born of a mortal mother, Jesus was baptized to fulfil His Father’s commandment that sons and daughters of God should be baptized. He set the example for all of us to humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father. We are all welcome to come into the waters of baptism. He was baptized to witness to His Father that He would be obedient in keeping His commandments. He was baptized to show us that we should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“As we follow the example of Jesus, we, too, demonstrate that we will repent and be obedient in keeping the commandments of our Father in Heaven. We humble ourselves with a broken heart and a contrite spirit as we recognize our sins and seek forgiveness of our trespasses (see 3 Nephi 9:20). We covenant that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and always remember Him” [7]

Good thing the Book of Mormon expands upon this subject, as the Bible isn’t quite as clear …


Why is the atonement necessary?


Do you believe we are accountable for our choices or actions, and to what extent?

These are big topics, but the Book of Mormon can answer these questions too.
I’ll show you soon …


Can you see just how useful companion scripture can be?  The Bible and the Book of Mormon go hand in hand.  Once we have a testimony that they are both indeed the word of God, we can then dive into the life and teachings of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  I love reading the scriptures!  I love the happiness I feel when I understand something more fully, the enlightenment I feel and the peaceful assurance that brings.




If you wish to order a free copy, let me know or click here.
Feel free to read or listen to it here.

[1] Russel M. Nelson, Ensign, Nov. 1996, 33
[2] James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 1988, 12
[3] Bible Dictionary, “Grace,” 697
[4] Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, May 1998, 56 - bold & underline added
[5] Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, May 2000, 14
[6] Robert D. Hales, Ensign, Nov. 2000, 7–8
[7] Ibid

The Book of Mormon: the answer to your every question

Can the Book of Mormon answer your every question?

We all have great questions - questions of the soul – but for a single book to literally answer all your questions?  Come on, peoples, surely not.  Surely some questions are just … unanswerable?

Well, I served as a missionary on Temple Square – church HQs, if you like.  It is the mecca for Mormons – where our prophet and other church leaders live, where General Conference is held and publically broadcast bi-annually, and where we all flock at least once in our lives to visit the iconic Salt Lake Temple, to hear the Mormon Tabernacle choir sing live in their never-ending radio program, and to see where Brigham Young said those famous words:  “This is the place”.

This was the place … to put the Book of Mormon to the test.

As a missionary, I carried the Book of Mormon in my hand every single day.  From 9am to 9pm, we were there, available to answer questions.  And I can promise you, we were asked heaps of questions every single day.  There were the typical questions, asked almost daily, and we could easily refer to the Book of Mormon in our hands for answers.  Other questions were quite left-field, and further study and reflection was needed, or sparked great discussions and study topics for further conversations.

Here are a few examples:

Common questions regarding our belief in the Book of Mormon:

1. Does the Book of Mormon replace the Bible?  Doesn’t the Bible contain all of God’s word?  My answer here.
2. How can I know if the Book of Mormon is true?  My answer here.

Questions testing us on our doctrine:

1. What is my purpose?  Why do you believe we exist?
2. Do you believe we are saved by grace?
3. What happens to us when we die?
4. Why was Christ baptised?
5. Why is the atonement necessary?
6. Do you believe we are accountable for our choices or actions, and to what extent?

Other questions during conversation:

1. How can I balance my family and career?
2. How can I strengthen my relationship with my spouse?
3. How can my family find peace and unity?
4. How could I/we possibly avoid the evil that threatens the family today?
5. Does God even know me?
6. Does God hear and answer my prayers?
7. What does Christ expect of me?
8. Is there life after death?
9. How could a belief in Christ help me?
10. Why does God allow suffering?

Here is where the fun begins.

I’m going to answer these questions – and more, if you ask me – this month.  It’s a great month to focus on the Book of Mormon, after all.

Perhaps your ‘great questions of the soul’ include:  Is there really a God?  Did I exist before I was born?  Will I live after I die?  What is the purpose of life?  Is Jesus really the Saviour?

They may include questions regarding more temporal needs:  How can I improve my relationship with my spouse?  How can I help my teenagers avoid drugs or immorality?  How can I find work to support my family?

Let me show you that the Book of Mormon DOES answer your every question.

If you wish to order a free copy, let me know or click here.
Feel free to read or listen to it here.

Time Out for Women - Choose to Become [review part 10]

A recap of the messages I heard and felt.



… the continuation of review part 9, and final in this review series.

The next part of Sheri Dew's presentation was a highlight.  She illustrated a few of the tactics Satan uses on us.  This was such a highlight for me, because for the past year I have been doing a lot of research on Satan.  I’ll let you know when the book is out.

Candid Camera clip

Watch this.

This is a funny clip, experimenting with people and illustrating that they so easily conform to the behaviour that is around them.  Is it showing us peer pressure, and the oh-so obvious influence of others?  We all have influence.  Who are you influencing?  And who is influencing you?  Do they have the ideal goals; are they heading in the right direction?

That actually reminds me of another talk by John Bytheway entitled No Brainers.  ‘Choose your friends wisely’ was no-brainer number one, something I’d love to explore more about another time.  He said this: if someone asked you “do you want a ride?”, you typically ask back “where are you going?”.  It’s the question parents ask teens as they leave the house: where are you going and who are you going with?  This is a great question to ask with an eternal perspective.  Think big, and ask yourself where to you want to go?  Heaven?  Some place with maximum happiness?  Maximum freedom?  Alright then, how are you going to get there?  Are you with people that are going that direction?

Note: once you get in the car, you’re going where they’re going.  You become the ‘passenger’ to your peers.  Fill in the blank: If your friends are doing _____, then chances are you are doing _____.  If your friends compromise their standards, then chances are you are too.

Dove commercial

Watch this.

A lot of the world we live in is an illusion.

The words in the clip are spot on: “No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted”.  We are so tempted every day to question our body and image, but the model doesn’t even look like that!

Sheri quoted Temple President Douglas L. Callister of the Bountiful Utah Temple: “When we enter the temple, we leave the world of make believe.”  How do you think this is so?  Have you ever been past a Mormon temple?  They will be different designs in terms of architecture, but their design will always exude symmetry and order.  They will always be white; a constant beacon to all of purity and cleanliness.  The gardens will always be structured and tidy.  And all this reflects the inside of the temple – clean, orderly, pure, calm, and holy.

Last month’s theme in Primary was My Body Is a Temple.  I saw how simple illustrations of how we can keep our bodies clean and healthy taught the children that they were just as holy as the nearby temple.  Of course, it helps if we are taught from a young age the important of showering, eating fruit, saying no to smoking and tattoos, and humming a favourite hymn to wipe bad thoughts away.  Yet as we grow up, it is so hard not to feel influence from peers, magazine covers, and colourful fashion trends.

Sheri asked us: “Are we taking influence from the world? At some point, that’s a problem.”

President George Q. Cannon was pretty clear when he said we were reserved for this day.  This brings to mind my absolute favourite talk ever, by a man named Hyrum Smith (not that Hyrum Smith, this Hyrum Smith).  He spoke at Ricks College (now Brigham Young University Idaho) about the apostasy, and his testimony as to why the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored when and where it was restored.  Seriously brilliant.  Gosh I love the apostasy (another research project of mine).  At the conclusion of Elder Smith’s remarks, he tells us listeners that the cosmos didn’t just blimp, and out we came when we were born.  No!  We were born when we were born because that is exactly when we were meant to be born. 

He then reiterated a story: President David O. McKay was not busy one Sunday evening, and so he and his wife went to a local stake centre and found a stake president speaking to a group of youth.  He came in, sat down in about the eight row, and the stake president almost died.  Or as Elder Smith said “he about swallowed his tie”.  The stake president continued speaking, and then some time during his remarks, he stopped.  And said, in Elder Smith’s paraphrasing words: “You know, young people, I feel impressed to tell you that before the world was; you were all captains and generals in the Lord’s army.”  And then he continued on with his talk, it had nothing to do with his talk.  Afterwards, the stake president felt President McKay’s eyes drilling him, and so he approached and asked if he had said anything that was inappropriate.  “You were just inaccurate.  There were no captains here tonight.  They were all generals.  And don’t you forget it.”  President McKay then walked out and left.

What is my point?  My point is that we were somebody before we got here (hence being reserved for this day) and we are somebody now.

We are here now because we are meant to be.  And the Lord knew we could do what He wants us to do.  Therefore, we need to keep FOCUSED.  Make sure you are concentrating.  No illusions, no distractions.

Why not go and ask Him to turn your weaknesses into strengths?


End of Time Out For Women 2011 review.

Time Out for Women - Choose to Become [review part 1]

A recap of the messages I heard and felt.



Making change happen = choosing it to happen.  It really does sound so obvious to say that:  to make something happen, we have to do something about it; ...and yet common sense isn't always our strong suit.
But Laurel Christensen went further than that.  She didn't just talk about having goals and getting them done.  Instead, the words potential and power were thrown around.

Laurel was the first presenter of the day.  Also the women in charge of TOFW.  Um, cool job.

Elder Todd Christofferson (a living Apostle), she said, said that Heavenly Father is a God with high expectations.  Good grief - has the bar been raised again?!  No.  The Creator of our minds and Father of our spirits knows each and every one of us so brilliantly well that He has always known our capabilities; our potential; our limitations.

Pause.  Let's flesh that out for a moment.  Our relationship with God is clearly a crucial element in having faith in the change we want to make.  Do we comprehend just how much of an all-knowing, all-loving figure God is in our lives?  And that He is literally our Father?

This brings to mind one of great John Bytheway talks (Whose Values Do You Value).  He once spoke to youth about their individual worth, the third of the then-seven Young Women values.  In relation to that topic (and referencing Stephen Covey's book Spiritual Roots of Human Relations), he looked to the book of Moses.  Look to the beginning of Moses chapter 1, to the verses that relate to the synopsis:  God reveals himself to Moses - Moses is transfigured - he is confronted by Satan.  Moses was caught up into an exceedingly high mountain, and spoke to God face to face.  And, behold, thou art my son.  "Moses just learned [Bytheway said] from a very good source who he was."  Wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of main hands...I have a work for thee, Moses, my son.  Again, Moses is told who he is!  But wait for it ... and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten.  What does that mean?  Bytheway told the youth:  It means "Moses, you are my son, and you look like Jesus."  What a nice thing to say.  If you are reading the chapter, you will find that Moses is told who he is several times.  He is a son of God.  And we too can say: 'I'm a daughter of God', which is "the most wonderful title in the world", he says.

Bytheway then described how long our average family tree could be on paper. You start with yourself, then it splits into two for your parents, and then it splits again for their parents, etc.  If, he worked out, four generations is 100 years, if each line is 2 inches on the paper, then going back 7,000 years (which is 70 generations) means the pedigree chart would be 46.6 feet long.  That's 14.2 meters for us advanced people.  That's the pedigree of your family, your body.  But .... the pedigree chart for your spirit has only one line.  There's you, there's your Heavenly Father (the father of your spirit), and a fat line joining the two.  Is that empowering knowledge?  Leaves you in awe?  A direct, straight line, peoples; a direct line from God to you.

I slip that highly paraphrased illustration in here to emphasise the point that we should be feeling intimacy in our relationship with Him, in our prayers.  Who are you?  I'm a son of God.  I'm a daughter of God.  God, the Omnipotent, that all mighty and powerful figure in the clouds with what feels like an endless supply of lightning and thunder bolts (Fantasia the original, anyone?) is our Father in Heaven, who loves me, who knows me, who has - as Laurel quoted - high expectations of me.  Does it seem more real now, those expectations?  How about more realistic, more obtainable?

Laurel then went on to talk about her action plan in obtaining her goals.  Goals that would bring about good change; help her improve; become.  Lucky for me, the goals foremost in my mind at the moment are similar to Laurel's ('weight', she whispers).


The remainder of my review of Laurel's remarks to come ...

In the meantime,  go here and watch this.  And then do something with the feelings you feel.
Me, I've extended a challenge to myself : to have extra meaningful prayers this coming week, to primarily express gratitude, and to then write about it all in my journal.