The Forty Day Fast

  Helaman 3:35    Nevertheless they did ^afast and ^bpray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their ^chumility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the ^dpurifying and the ^esanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their ^fyielding their hearts unto God.

This is the scripture theme of the 40 day fast, which we will talk more about.  
Na and I were talking recently my trek experience and her mission.  For both of us these experiences were extreme spiritual highs for us.  We both felt closer to God after these experiences.  We talked about while you are affected by these spiritual highs you have an increased hunger for knowledge and to share your knowledge of the gospel.  We change and become better.  But it is not always easy to stay this way.  As we go through daily life, we realized, that sometimes we seek heaven to obliquely.  This negatively affects us spiritually and causes us to lose the desire to seek knowledge which causes us to lose more of the spirit. A damning cycle that we must not get into, but we all do. thankfully for all of us an atonement was made so we don't have to stay in this cycle, we can get out. The Lord has given us many ways to help us keep the spirit and progress on His path, one of these ways is through fasting and prayer.  In this life all of us are striving to over come the appetites of the natural man, fasting gives us the opportunity to develope self-mastery.  In fasting we put our spirits before our bodies, in doing this we are learning to "yield our hearts unto God".  The Savior set his example of fasting with His forty day fast.  We can do the same, but of course we cannot go that long without eating but we can do this in our own mortal way here is how it will work.
     It begins with prayer even before you start the fast. In Alma 46, Moroni prayed to know where to sanctify his cities. As we humbly come to The Lord and seek to know what is keeping us from truly being close to Him, He will surely guide us.(examples: negative thinking towards your self or others, being quick to anger, rude speech, and many others) We will be inspired to know what we need to change and how we can apply His Atonement to make this change. Write it down. This will be the spiritual focus for your fast.
You will also need to decide what you will fast from physically. This can be anything. (Examples:going without chocolate or sugar in General, waking up earlier and studying more going without worldly media, really anything the spirit guides you to do).
You begin the fast by actually fasting (two consecutive meals),such as on fast sunday. Each morning during this fast pray about the things on your lists and ask The Lord for help. Each evening report to The Lord on how you have done. Give thanks and repent where needed. Continue for forty days and then end with a fast just as you began.
We invite all of you cuties to experience your own forty day fast. We know that as you do this you will feel an increased measure of the spirit. You will come even closer to Christ. We know that He desires to be close to us but we must make the choice every day to be close to Him. We know the changes we experiences are only possible through the Atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We love Him and we love you all.
Love, Cheeseman and Miss Na
Just a note to say... By small and simple things are great things brought to pass .  But by striving prayerfully to improve each day we show The Lord that we want Him in our lives. Which brings us an increase in the spirit which always brings an increased desire for knowledge which brings us to more repentance and increase in spirit. A cycle we want to be in and because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be in.

It's a jolly holiday with Mary

Just thought I would post these pictures of Mary because well isn't she just delightful? If this doesn't put a little extra joy into your season I'm not sure what will.

Almost every time I turn she's showing off her superman pose. We're not sure if she's doing her daily workout or if her belly's just way too big for her to lay normally.

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Also here is the link to the neighborhood kids choir that Grace and Anna formed for their Christmas service. They went and sang at a Senior living place acroos the street. It was adorable! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC0hfIUV7ts&feature=youtu.be

And here's another if you want to see their Sat. morning dance concert they came up with. If you'll notice Anna is wearing the leotard we bought her like 5 years ago when Brielle Emily taught her dance in the basement. But I think the real treat is watching Emilyne.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlxI0PnZMpo

Acting and Faith

I have started to read Elder Bednar's book Increase in learning.  And in it he talks a lot about action and faith. It made me realize that that is why I love this blog so much.  As I have posted I never knew what I was going to write in advanced, I simply acted on faith. As I wrote I learned, writing gave the Holy Ghost the opportunity to teach me.  I feel we all had this same experience when wrote on the blog.  So I got this idea. What if each week or so we all read a conference talk or had a subject assigned to read about, and then we post what we learn from it and questions we found.  I feel that this will give us increased opportunity to act because we will have an assignment to do.  I realized from Bednar that we truly increase in learning when it becomes ours.  Take math for an example.  Has anyone noticed that you can't learn math until you actually do it.  You can see you teacher do all the problems it the world. But it is not until you act and do the  hours of homework, that you actually learn it.  This is because when you do the math homework it becomes yours.  From doing those seemingly ridiculos hours of algebra it has become mine.  Its not something someone made up, it is something that I did, that is apart of me.  I feel this same principle will apply to us if we start unitedly reading the conference talk or studying whatever, the words of the prophets will become our words as we strive to teach it to each other and question it with each other.  In the comment section of the blog I have learned a lot as others have added to what I or others have said, because it builds on the principle and helps me to act, by seeking to understand better, thus fore making the words mine.

So I hope you all consider this and give me some feed back on it.  If you want to do it or not or how you want to do it and then we can go from there.  Make sure you comment because we're expecting everyone to participate so we are expecting everyone to comment on how they want to do it.  So we can best do this to make the most out of this blog we can.
-fo cheesial my nizzle

Ammon's Address

Elder Tidwell
6500 Atherton St.
Long Beach 90815

So I loose Ammon's address constantly and I thought putting it here would be good for me and anyone else who needs it.

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee..

A long time ago, okay, it seems like a long time ago but let's be real here; I haven't hit 30 yet so it wasn't that long ago when I was in the MTC. I had two wonderful companions, one of whom is now in MoTab and she's incredible. She's the one I want to talk about for a minute. One Sunday night at our weekly MTC fireside/devotional she sang this very song. I had heard this hymn before but I had never felt such a strong spirit as when she sang it that night. I love the first verse:
Jesus the very thought of thee
What sweetness fills my breast
But sweeter far thy face to see
And in thy presence rest
The second verse is also one of my favorites;
Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the mem'ry find
A sweeter sound than thy blest name,
O Savior of mankind!
I'm sure we all have a hymn or perhaps have felt the Spirit impress upon our minds and hearts a reminder of how much we love the Savior at some point in our lives. It may have been a Primary song, an EFY song (those always make Tyler get emotional ;) ), or maybe just listening to a hymn can cause us to have a reaffirmation of our testimony. That night was one of those moments for me in the MTC. I can't hear that song without feeling that same strong spirit I felt when my sweet MTC companion sang it. It reminds me how even thinking of our Savior can bring a certain spirit into our lives, our words become kinder, our actions become more meaningful, and it truly fills our minds and hearts with a peace, sweetness, and longing to meet our Savior and find rest with Him in the presence of our Heavenly Father. I can't think of Pres. Faust without connecting him to "This is the Christ" and Pres. Hinckley to " My Redeemer Lives." Music has a powerful influence and we are blessed to have hymns that can bring a sweet reminder to us of our love for our Heavenly Father and the Savior especially when we are in need of said reminder.
Switching gears a little bit as I was reading in Mosiah this week I love Mosiah but I enjoyed Chapter five a little more this time. Maybe I'm in need of something and found whatever my soul was hungering for in its verses. I love the reminder we have that we are made free and offered the granted the gift of salvation because we have made covenants and will be found at the right hand of God based on our obedience of course. I can't forget this simple phrase in verse 12 that I need to remember as I go through life each day.
" Retain the name written always in your hearts."
Going back to the effects of the hymn that I love so dearly because it awakens my spirit to a remembrance of my love for the Savior, is it His name written in my heart? I surely believe that it is though sometimes if one were to  look it may be slightly faded as I do err daily. I want you all to know I do have a testimony of our Savior, of the power of His example, the Atonement, and of His love for each of us.  Love you guys, hopefully my jumbled thoughts make some sense :)
Kelly Kelly

His Peace

     I've dreaded these past four months since Travis started school 3 1/2 years ago. I mean come on it’s no secret that I am CUH-RAZY about that 6’1” tower of awesomeness and being away from him sounded miserable. (I don’t know how you all can be away from him on a regular basis) And while yes I would never in a million years choose to be apart this long I think I will cherish the things I've learned in the past few months forever. I could write a million posts about everything I've learned but I think a 4 word sermon could sum up the most important thing Go to the temple! Well ok you guys know I can’t say anything in just 4 words so I’ll expound a little bit.

    When Travis started school we made a goal to get to the temple every month. I’ve watched as this goal has helped us have a more eternal perspective on this whole med school experience which in turn has taken away so much potential stress.  Well I thought I would be exempt from this goal during these months he was away. I told myself Karen you have 4 kids a nursing baby a two hour drive to the closest temple and no husband. You’re excused for these 4 months. However the spirit said “um… haven’t you learned anything about the peace the temple brings, you need the temple now more than ever. “ So I put my faith in the Lord that if I kept my goal of monthly attendance a way would be provided. Somehow each month it has continued to happen and I have once again been reminded that in this gospel there really is no such thing as a sacrifice because we are “unprofitable servants” and every attempt we make to sacrifice something, the blessings will come back a hundred fold.

President Monson has said that “ As we go to the holy house, as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation. The temple provides purpose for our lives. It brings peace to our souls.” I have felt that peace carry me through what I thought was going to be a huge trial for me. As I have seen my bond with Travis only grow stronger I have been reminded that the only true way to strengthen our relationship with our spouse is to strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ.

     In the Lectures on Faith Joseph Smith outlined the three things necessary to understand our relationship with God in order to exercise Faith in him they are “First; a knowledge that God exists second ;correct ideas of his character, perfections and attributes and third that the course we are pursuing is according to his mind and will”. I don’t think anything helps to accomplish those three things and in turn strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ more than the temple. It testifies of him, teaches us about him and his true nature and shows us how to become like him.

     So much of the temple from the outside of the building to the baptistery to the endowment is symbolic. I think I’ve always thought that symbols must have 1 specific meaning that I’m supposed to figure out.  This last time I finally came to a realization that that is not true. There is not some test I’ll ever take to figure out what all the symbols mean. What I’m supposed to be learning is whatever the spirit teaches me that day and use it to draw closer to Christ with the understanding it may be something completely new and different next time. We’re so used to a specific set of correct answers that it becomes easy to over think the gospel and the temple. I think the purpose of symbolism is to take a normal object or sign and find out how it testifies of Jesus Christ and then bring that mentality out into the world. Look at the general authorities and how they are able to use almost everything from sports, street signs, jobs, sickness, art projects, planes and even pickles to find symbolism in to help bring them closer to God.  I believe that is a result of the training they receive in the temple that all things good testify of the Savior.  

     I have felt the spirit of the temple in my life and experienced the peace it brings. It is the ultimate pure form of service beside parenthood that we have to offer. It is the one place as Elder Bednar puts that “we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ.” It is where we find His peace to get us through whatever awaits us outside its walls. 

"The Language of our Fathers"

In the first chapter of 1 Nephi, Nephi talks about being taught in all the learning of his father including his language which we know was reformed Egyptian which they used to engrave the plates. Later in the chapter Nephi speaks of another part of the language of his father.

14 ....Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!

15 And after this manner was the language of my father....

In the March Ensign of 1994 there is an article entitled "Helping Children Hear the Still, Small Voice" in it there is a paragraph that Karen shared with me that really got me thinking. It reads: Many teachers of foreign languages believe that children learn a language best in “immersion programs,” in which they are surrounded by other speakers of the language and called upon to speak it themselves. They learn not just to say words, but to speak fluently and even to think in the new language. The proper “immersion” setting for a spiritual education is in the home, where spiritual principles can form the basis for daily living. “And thou shalt teach [the Lord’s words] diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:7).

I feel this is precisely the experience Nephi had with his parents and I know this was the experience we had being raised by Tid and Rose. I would encourage all of us to make this a part of our homes to ensure that our children are being immersed in the gospel. There is a great talk by Elder Holland entitled "A Prayer for the Children" that speaks of this that I would encourage all of you to read.

Oh That I Were An Angel

     Saul and David are returning home after David has slain Goliath and Saul begins to be very upset.  His rages increases when some people praising them say "Saul has killed his thousands but David has killed his tens of thousands." At this moment Saul begins to be jealous of David, but the most interesting part is that he tears down his own accomplishments because someone else performed better than him.  

     We all have these Saul moments and so did Alma in Alma 29.  He says his famous oh that I were an angel speech. But let’s think about where he was coming from. His best friends had just returned from the Laminates with ridiculous amounts of success in bringing the laminates to the truth. Alma had just returned from Ammoniah a city that had to be destroyed because of its wickedness. It can be assumed that Alma was a little jealous of his friends and probably started to tear down his own accomplishments.  But Alma being the great guy that he is catches his self just as we all must when we have our Saul moments.  First he realizes all the blessings in his life. Then he realizes that God knows his purpose, and God will give him what he needs to accomplish those things. The result is in Alma 29:14 "but I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi" This is amazing to me, what was once bringing him down suddenly becomes  a part of his joy.  Counting our blessings doesn’t just make us more joyful in our own blessings, but also in the blessings of others. 

      I was amazed when I learned this in seminary and started to examine myself for the Saulness in me.  As you all know Ammon is my closest sibling in both age and relationship. We always had the same friends and spent a lot of time together.  What you all also know is that Ammon is an incredible people person, everyone loves him because he has a fantastic personality.  If you were to ask me before today if I ever got jealous of him I would say never.  But upon examining my self today I realized how often I tore down my blessings because of Ammon's blessings.  I always wanted to be a great communicator and for the past few months have been praying for that gift.  As you could probably guess by talking to me, I am still don’t have that charismatic personality. But after learning about Alma I realized that I was praying for the wrong reasons, sure my intentions were good just as Alma's but we both sinned in the fact that we let other peoples success get in the way of realizing our own blessings.  I was praying not to be the person God wanted me to be but was tearing down the person I was.  It wasn’t about improvement it was about changing myself.   God knows us each individually He knows what gifts we need to accomplish our purpose.  

       When we look at what we have and would accomplish, we would not give it up for what we wish we had.  As you can guess my prayers are a little different now I do not pray to have a charismatic personality I pray for the ability to accomplish the tasks I need to fulfil His purposes.  We have all the energy in the world to be ourselves but once we try to be someone else we become exhausted.  So examine your lives and have an Alma moment whenever you have a Saul moment because we all get jealous, but what’s important is that we don’t let is consume us. We need not say oh that I were an angel or oh that I was charismatic or oh that I was in this financial situation.  All need to say and work towards is Oh that I was the Eli (you fill in your name instead of mine) that God wants be to be and then work with him to be it.
-Cheesy "the blog hog" Tidwell

p.s. sorry if you read this before I edited it I think is was confusing before

p.s.s sorry for being a blog hog but I keep learning a lot of lessons about myself that I feel I need to share.

p.s.s.s I am glad I am related to all of you. Your testimonies strengthen me so much and you have done things for me for which I could never express.  I’m so grateful for this blog! It seems like you guys post things right when I need them the most and you’re all so full of insight and testimony.

Do We Know What We Have?

Dear precious ones, I'm thinking how very gratful I am for the power in the Priesthood.What a powerfull manifestation of Heavenly Father's love for us. Homework from mother and grandmother: Read and ponder Gen. Conf. talk by Carole M. Stephens, Do We Know What We Have? Know that I pray for each one of you every day, you are all so very amazing and I'm am so thankful for you all. Stay true to the Faith the Way back to Father in Heaven, because of our Savior's selfless Atonement. I   love you all so very, very eternaly much. Love, Momma and Grandma

Purity

Here's a little philosophical food for thought. :)

A few weeks ago I took my niece to a fireside where Sheri Dew was the main speaker. At one point in her talk she briefly mentioned how we should all be on a quest to become more pure--more pure in the way we dress, the things we say, the things we read, watch, and listen to etc.--then she moved on to other topics.

I was struck by the word pure and pondered it for a while after the talk was over. After pondering I discovered why I was so intrigued by Sister Dew's word choice. I usually think in terms of "good" or "bad" when I'm deciding whether to watch, listen to, read, wear, or say something. This is problematic though because so many things are a combination of good and bad. I usually deem something "good" if the uplifting and true parts in it outweigh the negative and false parts of it, and something is "bad" if the opposite is true.

But what would happen if I started thinking in terms of purity instead? Something can only be pure, by definition, if it is completely untainted. It cannot be a mix of good and bad parts. It has to be all one or the other. Purity is such a clear standard. It is easy to decide if something is pure or not--much easier than determining if something is good.

Striving to participate in and surround myself and my family with only pure things is such an inspiring, and incredibly difficult, goal. But I think I'm going to go for it.

Your devoted fan,

Sarah

Tender Mercies

In Elizabeth Smart's book, My Story, she tells of a time when something had happened, when her captures had been down in the city, that made them extra nervous to go down to the stream, their only water source up in the mountains. They tried to ration the water, but of course, it soon ran out. They had gone a day without water, and Elizabeth was hot and miserable. Night came, and she fell asleep. Something woke her up, she looked around and there, right next to her pillow, was a yellow cup, full of cold water. She wondered where it had come from, it obviously wasn't from her captures, there was none in their camp. The only explanation was that it was a tender mercy from God. Why would He do it though, she asked herself. She wasn't going to die, her captures wouldn't have let it go that far. It was God showing her that He loved her, he wouldn't leave her. No, He couldn't take away her captures agency, but He could comfort her, He could lift her with His tender mercies. God loves each of us so much, and blesses each of us with tender mercies. They may not be as obvious as finding a yellow cup of water by our pillow, but they help us through our trials just as much. I know that God lives and will not leave us comfortless.

Love,

Brielle Emily 

The McFlurry of Life

     I have recently learned to love the story of Zeezrom.  In the beginning he is described as being expert in the devices of the devil and eventually become a really great missionary all though we never get to hear about it.  But there is a city named after him so he must have been pretty cool.  Anyways after Amulek is able to show Zeezrom of the wrong of his ways Zeezrom asks a question (in verse 8) that I think we all ask at least to our selfs every once and awhile, he basically asks and pardon my french "am  I screwed" or "does God really want me after what I have done?".  Alma answers his question with the Plan of Salvation.  He tells the story of how Adam and Eve were tempted by the Devil to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Now why would satan want to do that? He must of known that if they never partaken of the tree that they would stay in the garden of eden and he would have won because no one could have progressed, no one would ever be born etc.  But what his plan was, was to have them partake of the other tree in the garden, the tree of life, right after they partook  of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. What he was trying to do was to eliminate the state we are in, which is the probationary state. Now luckily for us God is on our side and he guarded the tree of life with a cherubim and a flaming sword. (still have no idea what a cherubim is). So we are all in a probationary state. Now I know at least for me that that sounds like a bad thing because of the context "probationary" is often used in.  But in reality, as Alma points out, it means a learning or preparatory  period.  If you got a job at McDonalds for the first week or so you would be on probation which would mean that it was a time for you to learn how to do the job.  So if you messed up on your first McFlurries it was okay and also expected of you.  That probationary state is not for being perfect it is the time for you to learn and to prepare for when your off probation.  Although life is much more difficult than making a McFlurry this principle still applies, not only are we allowed to make mistakes but were expected to that is why we have an Atonement.  So when we get down on our selves about not being perfect we are actually being counter-productive, and we need to do is to learn from our mistakes so that when it comes time for us to be able to make the McFlurry we are ready.  And also on the flip side we have the McFlurry protégée on our side who is not there to make us look bad but to teach us what he knows about McFlurry making (John 3:17). Its interesting to me in the Book of Mormon how Mormon out of all the stories that he had available to him he chose to include several stories of people like both the Alma's and Zeezrom and even Amulek who wasn't  bad but wasn't   living to his potential. God didn't just shun these people off He wanted them to repent and helped them to do so.  I think Mormon put these stories in because He knew in our day that we would need to know the true nature of God and that He knows us and loves us and wants us to repent, He doesn't expect us to be perfect but He does expect us to have that  desire to be perfect. If we never work on the McFlurry we never will be able to make it. But its not yet time for us to have it down.  We learn Grace for grace, first we learn how much milk to add then how to mix it etc.
      I know I go on forever but this is my last though the scriptures talk a lot about how God is all knowing and powerful and just awesome God is, because He is. But they also talks a lot about how much God loves us.  Put those two things together.  The Person who knows all loves you, He knows what is worthy of love, he knows what is true greatness.  And He loves you!! You are worthy of His love He knows who you are inside and who you can become, better than you do.  He knows and loves you because you are worthy of His love you are a Son or Daughter of God and are capable of what only He fully knows, but it must be great.  For a long period of my life I struggled with loving others because I struggled with loving myself. My view of God was distorted and I defiantly didn't try to bring him into my life and often pushed Him away to dangerous distances, even trying to convince my self that He didn't exist.  It wasn't until trek that I prayed to know if God loved me.  Immediately when I did I was filled with His love, as if He were there holding me and telling me so, that changed everything for me. My trails never left me and I still make a lot of mistakes but I know who is on my side.  I think this is what 1 John 4:7-8 is all about. God really is love and when we feel at times He isn't,  its our view of Him that is distorted and we need at those times to pray to know if God loves us.  So I challenge you all to pray any time you feel that your not loved to know if God loves you He will answer and it will change everything. I am so Grateful for my Savior and His Atonement because I can "become" what He wants me to be and to be with my Heavenly Father who loves me.  I am so grateful for all of your examples you have set for me and all your support.  I truly do love all of you and am so glad I am in this family.  The Church is true. God speaks to the Prophet because He loves us. God provided us the scriptures and the plan of salvation because he loves us.  I know this, and am so grateful of all of your guy's support in helping my testimony to grow. In the name of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ Amen
--Eli Pearson Tidwell

We Belong!

Have you ever felt like you don't really fit in with the organization you belong to in the ward? Is Relief Society too old,  is Primary too childish, is Young Men's too weird, are the High Priests too old? I don't know about you but when I first went to Relief Society I felt like the women in there were too old and some were of the elderly kind but most were not. Little did I know that being over the age of 25 makes you feel incredibly old when you see Young Women come in or being 25 and up you are viewed as "old" by the Young Women sometimes. I guess that's what I get for being so judgmental and not having the vision the Lord wanted us to have of the organizations in the church. President Packer in a Conference address in 1998 was talking about Relief Society but I think his words can be applied to anyone and everyone. He said, "Too many sisters, however, think that Relief Society is merely a class to attend. The same sense of belonging to the Relief Society rather than just attending a class must be fostered in the heart of every woman. Sisters, you must graduate from thinking that you only attend Relief Society to feeling that you belong to it!"How often do we make a conscious effort to participate in the lesson, to consciously sit by someone instead of by ourselves and expect someone to talk to us. It can be very difficult. Maybe none of you are as self-centered as I tend to be and sometimes I fall into that trap of not moving after Sunday School to sit by another sister , talk to her, and then the lesson starts and I enjoy the lesson but never let anyone know I have a testimony of what is being taught. Hey, I'm human and in this I do constantly err. I think that's why the Lord inspires my local leaders to assign me subjects for talks on things like forgiveness and repentance, etc. It is time for me to recognize and truly believe that I belong to Relief Society always, no matter what calling I have been given that may take me out of the meeting on Sundays. We made a covenant at baptism that includes these things that I just loved to share with my investigators and members on my mission which can be found in Mosiah 18:8-11.
   8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

 10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

 11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

There is so much strength, joy, and love to be found by knowing and believing that we belong and that we have made the choice with our friends and family to belong. We belong to the true church on the earth, we belong to a wonderful family, we belong to our respective organizations, and mostly we belong to our Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally. I know we can be a greater force for good as we share our testimony, our experiences, and our love for each other in our meetings but also as we recognize we belong and act accordingly.
I tend to, ok, so I always ramble but I love you all and I hope this wasn't too confusing.
Kelly Kelly

A great year

Yesterday I went to the temple.  I had a thought in my mind, how many of the people around me in the temple, turn down callings.   I know there are more than I could emagian.  I was told that it is the strength of there conversion.  When a calling is given, they look at it as a responsibility, not a opportunity of growth that it really is.  They also look at it as a calling from a bishop, not from a Heavenly Father who knows our needs and the needs of others we can effect.  We may not be in a calling that is needed by anyone else but for our growth.  We may also be in a calling that will just save one person.  I want all my children, and Grandchildren to know that God knows us. He knows our strengths and weaknesses and will give us challenges to progress.  The callings we receive, and the challenges we face in this world, are there for our benefit, not to punish us or beat us down.   We will not have any challenge in our life that we can't do, or that is more than we can overcome.   We can also know that Our Savior is with us, holding us up and sometimes carrying us.   At the beginning of this year, I felt like this was going to be a great year.  In this time, I have had more pain than I ever have had in my life.  It has been frustrating to me, but in this time, I have found a closer relationship with my Father.  I know the times when I have had bad times with pain that I didn't think I could get through, I felt his hand in my life helping me get through it.  Because of that, I don't pray to have this gone.  I know he will take care of that when the time comes.  This has been one of the hardest years in my life, but it is a great year because of the testimony that I have received through it.   I now know I can do hard things.   Always face problems not feeling sorry for ourselves, ( I do have a few episodes of that) but remember that This life is for growth not just to be easy.   Remember that Our Savior went through more than us.  We are not greater than he is.  We all need the challenges to make us strong.  Alway fact them in that attitude.  we will be better when we pass through them.   This has  been my Year and a Great one.  I am so proud to be the Parent of such amazing Children and Grandchildren. You are my Reward for any good I have done.   Thank you all for your strength and wisdom.      

Papa Tid

No need to fear

Sorry to have back to back posts but I was reminded of this quote this morning and wanted to share. Shannon shared this quote with me a couple of years ago and it's now one of my favorites. 

"Some years ago we visited a country where strange ideologies were taught and “pernicious doctrines” were promulgated every day in the schools and in the captive press. Every day the children listened to the doctrines, philosophies, and ideals their teachers related.

Someone said that “constant dripping will wear away the hardest stone.” This I knew, so I asked about the children: “Do they retain their faith? Are they not overcome by the constant pressure of their teachers? How can you be sure they will not leave the simple faith in God?”

The answer amounted to saying “We mend the damaged reservoir each night. We teach our children positive righteousness so that the false philosophies do not take hold. Our children are growing up in faith and righteousness in spite of the almost overwhelming pressures from outside.”

Even cracked dams can be mended and saved, and sandbags can hold back the flood. And reiterated truth, renewed prayer, gospel teachings, expression of love, and parental interest can save the child and keep him on the right path." Spencer W. Kimball

I love that quote because it goes along with one of my favorite scriptures in 2 Sam. 22:2-4

 2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my ^bshield, and the horn of my salvation, my high ^ctower, and my ^drefuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

 4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

It reminds me of Rolinda's saying "Faith in Christ is still the answer!" and always will be.

God Bless the USA

      60+ hours of driving across 11 states without anyone in the passenger seat gives you lots of time to think.  As I prepared for this trip I kept checking on the government shutdown to see if all the sights we were going to would be opened. To be totally honest I was a little frustrated that my trip was going to be limited because the politicians of this country couldn't get along. I think in general over the last few years part of my patriotism to this country has been a little tainted by all the never ending fighting in Washington.

     Well that all changed this last week as I was reminded that this land truly has been blessed by the hand of God to bring forth his gospel. As I drove through the Appalachian Mountains in full autumn bloom I was reminded that all things beautiful testify of Christ. As we walked the streets of New York City I asked Grace “can you believe that Jesus knows and loves EVERY single one of these people?” In Philadelphia I was reminded how little I know about the founding fathers and their yet I could feel the spirit testifying that they did in that very room of Independence Hall was guided by the Holy Ghost.

      In D.C. I took the kids to see “THE Star Spangled Banner” (the flag that hung over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem) It was there that I was reminded that even the fighting that takes place in Washington is a sign of the Lords hand in this country. It was the bombs bursting in air that gave proof to Francis Key that the flag was still there. As long as there was fighting going on he knew we were still a country. I thought of how that applies to us now. As long as there are differences of opinions that are allowed to be spoken we are still a free nation. As crazy as it sounds the constant fighting is proof of our freedom and agency in this blessed country.

      The other thing that struck me from the anthem that I’d never noticed before was that it ends in a question mark. “Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave or’ the land of the free and the home of the brave?  “  It reminded me of a quote from Thomas Jefferson “ the price of freedom is eternal vigilance”  Every time we hear the National Anthem we should be asking ourselves are we being “the brave” and doing our part to preserve the freedoms we enjoy in this beautiful country.

     

      I’m not a really political person and I cringe when I hear a talk that mentions how we as Latter day Saints need to be more involved in the political process.  I’m easily swayed, I just go with whoever seems nicest, I think people should just all be left alone and I’ll lose any debate I ever enter so I just stay out of it. I learned this week what I need to do to do my part.  It’s the same pattern as the gospel. I need to recognize the Lords hand in all things, learn the history of those who have gone before me, appreciate what already exists while finding ways to make it better and finally making that happen with the guidance of prayer.

     

       I feel like this trip really helped me on my path to recognizing the Lords hand in this country. The landscape, the people, the history and even the politics! It all testifies of our Savior and I am so blessed to be a part of it!  -Special K

Drink It and Be Strong

 "If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead"  This was said by Jeffery R. Holland in this last Conference. I after reading Kelly K.'s post and talking about Alma's people being brought into bondage in seminary, have been thinking a lot about adversity.  Alma's people even thought they were living righteously were brought into heavy slavery even to the point that they were not allowed to pray. But God made this Covent with them that if they endure their trial with cheerfulness and faith in Him that He would eventually bring them out of bondage and that until that day He would make them STRONG so that they could lift their burden. God also makes this promise to us. And remember in Mosiah chapter 26 Alma (and probably countless of his people) were promised Eternal life. One of the many blessings of trials is that they are the way The Lord tunes us to be the kind of person worthy and fit for the Kingdom of God.  Jeffery R. Holland also told another story in some conference which I could not find so I will just summarize. ( if anyone knows which one it is I would greatly appreciate it if you would post it in the comments section) He Told the story of when He was a young father and was moving his family across the country to go to graduate school.  They had almost no money and were running on fumes of faith. On their way across the country their car broke down twice and Holland had to walk for miles to the nearest town to get help. Holland said that as he drives by the place where he broke down he often see's that young family broken down at the side of the road and wishes he could tell that young frustrated father not to give up and to tell him of the many years of happiness ahead and how this time of trial will be as a small moment compared to the happiness of the future.  I feel that if we all look back on our past trials we will see how small they seem to our happiness we have had and how much better they had made us.  Like Kelly K. said it is in the times of our trials that we see the love of God the most. So I hope we can all remember that when we go through our next, because even in my short 18 years of life I have learned that trails don't stop coming so we need to ALWAYS rely on our Heavenly Father.

 Thank you Kelly K. for your post it really meant a lot to me at that time. I am grateful for all of you and I really do love you guys and I'm grateful for your examples. This weekend when I was hunting with Josh I realized how blessed I was to be one of the younger kids.(sorry guys) I have so many great examples in my life who are so willing to show me the way by their example. I know that this Church is the true church of God and we are truly blessed to know who are Father is. 

-Cheesy McNeilis

Blessed by the Service of Others

I can't hide it from anyone, I didn't really watch Conference this time around. Jenna was passing out snacks and I'm pretty sure I missed every single one. Maybe I'll post on Conference later when I get my thoughts all sorted out. We've been very blessed, almost an overwhelming amount by the people in our ward, and within our little LDS student community out here in Iowa. Everyone has offered to help as I've transitioned to having two kids and with my mom dislocating her knee cap plus my C-section recovery it's been interesting to say the least. My friends and of course Karen come and take Landon so I can just lay around all day like a bum which I am very grateful for. We were showered with offers of dinner, friends brought meals, freezer meals, and took Landon for a few hours or more to play. Karen carried Landon upstairs so I wouldn't have to make the extra trip and put him down for a nap. I think of the Savior often as I am blessed by the service others have offered me. I can feel his love for me and my little family as I see others doing as He would do. I am reminded of the scripture in Joshua 24:15 which says, "...choose you this day whom ye will serve..but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." I know that those who are even now still offering the great gift of service have chosen to serve the Lord because they are doing as He would do if He was here right now. He would succor those that are in need, and do things for me that used to be so simple like pick Landon up and carry him around when he needs to be. I usually have a hard time receiving any kind of service from others and it is only now not being able to do everything I used to that I have truly been humbled and blessed by the great love my friends and family have for the Savior, and my family.

Kelly Kelly :)

Trust the Lord

  I am so grateful for life, the ups and downs and all! I feel like over the past couple of years I have been asked to do "hard things". It would be cake walk for the rest of you but for me I have really had the opportunity to learn to trust the Lord.

  When I got called to teach Gospel Principles, I asked the Bishop 5 times before I left if he was joking. Then when I would pray and think about it, I got kind of excited when my answer was "weak things will become strong". I was excited because I was going to become a great teacher and no longer afraid to speak in front of people. Well, that never happened. I did become stronger in my trust in the Lord and my love of the scriptures grew and I learned more of how much  Heavenly Father loves his children and He did bless me to love those I taught. 

  I am grateful for each day Heavenly Father gives us to learn and grow. I can see the wisdom in hard things more and more. I know the Lord speaks peace to our souls even in the hour of the hardest trial, if we let Him. I am grateful for prayer. And I KNOW a loving Father in Heaven hears and answers prayers!! Sometimes when I pray He refers me to Jacob 4:10. And when I take counsel from Him wonderful things happen and His arm is revealed.

  In conference I learned to work hard to strengthen my testimony and help others to do the same. "You must become the rock the river cannot wash away" Richard J Maynes. 

Love you all!

Shannon

  

It Never Was Between You and Them Anyways

People are ofter unreasonable, illogical and self-ceentered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish motives;

Be Kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you;

Be Honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough;

Give them your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It Never Was Between You And Them Anyway.

-Mother Theresa

I love this quote because it's so true. How often do we not do what we know is right because we're afraid of what people think. But we "need not fear, only Believe" God is on our side when were doing whats right and that is the only friend we really need. Even if everyone else leaves us we will still have him and that is the greatest comfort in the world.

we need not fear

We need not fear the future, nor falter in hope and good cheer, because God is with us!... When our only desire is to please him, we will be blessed with a deep inner peace. -Elder Bruce D. Porter

Small and Simple Things

I just wanted to second  the anonymous writer and how much this blog has strengthened me. You all have no idea how many times I have asked myself how in the world did I end up in this family. And to be able to read through your testimonies whenever I want has really helped me. I was cleaning up the toy room the other day and I found Graces conference journal. For any of us who thinks we don't have something important to write I think her notebook pretty much sums up small and simple things.

"I know that He loveth His children!"

Amen to all that has already been shared. Thank you for the examples you are to me. Your testimonies strengthen mine.
This General Conference has caused me to contemplate many things, and I am grateful. The thought that keeps coming back to me comes from 1Nephi 11:17. I agree with Nephi, "I know that He loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."
Before returning home from serving in beautiful North Carolina I had planned what I want to be and what I need to do to become that. After being home for a few weeks I realized I hadn't fully lived up to that plan. I felt like I was failing The Lord in many ways. In preparing for General Conference, I prayed that these feelings would leave me and that I would be able to get back up and be what He needs me to be.
Conference was wonderful and ALL of it was inspired, but there was a moment when I truly felt my prayer was answered. Elder Scott said The Lord sees weaknesses different than rebellion. He always treats weakness with mercy. It wasn't so much what was said, but the Spirit testifying to me that it was true. I knew that this applies to me. The Lord is merciful! All of us have weaknesses. That is why we have been provided a Savior, Jesus Christ. I will praise His name forever. Because of His Atoning sacrifice we can overcome our weaknesses. One of my favorite scriptures is Ether 12:27 (in the Book of Mormon- a MUST read),  this scripture reminds us why we have weaknesses and how we can overcome them. I am a believer of applying what I learn. I have been shown many of my weaknesses so now I need to apply what the Prophets have taught that I need to do to fortify. As I have been praying about this I have felt more love from my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the sweet companionship of the Holy Ghost than I can describe.
I have once again been reminded that it isn't what I thought I should be that matters; it is what The Lord needs me to be. I may not always live up to it and I don't know all that I would like, but I know that He LOVETH His children. Because I know this, I will be what HE wants and needs me to be.

~Sister Na

Just a note to say...

Last night as I was reading my scriptures I realized how great this blog is. I was reading in 2 Nephi 27 where it talks about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. That story is like this blog. None of us are professional writers and we are all on different writing levels, yet in all of the blog post that I have read I have felt the Spirit very strongly. As The Lord says in verse 29 He can do his own work. meaning he can get the spirit across all you need to do is take the leap of faith and post what you are lead to do. Now this being said others have posted on the blog things that I really needed to hear at that time. The fight with sin is real and what you say could be the means to preventing your brother and sister from falling or to help them get up. Remember by small and simple things doth The Lord confound the wise. So please do not be afraid to post on the Blog I or one of your other siblings will need you in the future and how great will be your joy if you are the means The Lord works through to  help your brothers and sisters. So Please! Post no matter how short and simple it is. Even if it is just a quote you liked. You dont have to even sign your name if your worried about people judging you (which they won't).
    Thank you Travis for following the inspiration to start this blog it has helped me come closer to the Savior and to my family.
--?

Choice and Consequence

This weekend I had the opportunity to visit Palmyra. I went to the temple there and also saw a few of the sights including the Smith family homes and the Sacred Grove. I had a thought which started while I was in the temple and that continued as I walked through the Sacred Grove. The thought came from two examples one was mother Eve and the other Joseph Smith. What these two have in common besides the obvious is that they were both faced with very big, world changing, choices (I would argue two of the three most important choices in the history of this earth) and both were left to the consequences of those choices both good and bad.
Mother Eve was presented with the choice whether or not to partake of the forbidden fruit. She new that by so doing she was going contrary to what she had been told but she also in her "counter intuitive way", as Elder Maxwell put it, saw that this was what was necessary to bring about Gods plan. And so they where thereby kicked out of the Garden of Eden and here enters death and pain and sin and sorrow and so forth. Her consequence? This story being passed down through the ages. She has been looked at as both gullible and naive for listening to the serpent and manipulative for getting Adam to join her. Furthermore I believe that the way women have been treated throughout the ages is at least in part a direct consequence of this. What most of the human race does not understand is what Lehi teaches us in 2 Nephi 2:23; "...they would have had no children...having no joy...doing no good..." In other words Gods plan would have been void. So she made the choice and partook perhaps knowing all the while both sides of the consequences of her decision but forgetting herself she chose the higher road.
Joseph Smith was given ten years between the First Vision and the organization of the church to contemplate the consequences of his choice. But in paraphrasing his words he had actually seen God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and they had spoken to him. He knew it and he knew that God knew it and he could not deny it. Well his consequence for this was years of persecution and eventually his "untimely" death and his name is still being mocked by much of the world. But like Eve he saw the bigger picture and because he was also willing to forget himself, through him came the restoration of all things.
We all face choices every day that carry with them consequences. Although we are free to make our own choices we are not free to chose the consequences. Some of the consequences for choosing what is right are often very hard to bear. But I testify that the choice to forget ourselves and consecrate our will to our Heavenly Father carries with it the ultimate consequence of eternal happiness in the presence of our Father.
-Travis

I Have No Greater Joy Than To Hear That My Children Walk In Truth

    I think this blog is wonderful! Thank you Travy boy! Out of small things are great things brought to pass. What I got most from general conference was the incredible love Heavenly Father has for ALL His children. And speaking of love I love you all very much "Lo, children are an heritage of The Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his (or her) reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are the children of the youth. Happy is the man (or woman) who has his/her quiver full"
My beautiful Arrows, The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy! Be strong and of good courage, keep the faith and never give up it will be well worth it. Praise God from WhomALL blessings flow.
Tids wife and the Arrow's Mother and Grandmother

Live in the world and not of the world

As I listened to the radio and hear all the things that are going on in the world if can build up a fear.  I don't so much for myself, but for my kids and grandchildren.  As I listened to conference, my notes were all about how to protect ourselves from the influences in the world.  We have that protection as we listen to the words of our Prophets and not just think how we felt then, but we need to put them into our lives.  We all need to act.  Or as Jenna puts it to become.  I learned we need to have added Scripture study and prayer.  We need to be able to say that Our Savior is our friend.   We have to be like minded in this.  As I was reading this morning i read 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.   (Galatians 5:9-10  As I read this I thought how we can influence people just like leaven, we can effect others for good or bad.   We will be judged for how not only what we do to ourselves, but how we effect others.   To be protected we need to live in the spirit at all times.  We need to be guided in all we do to have the protection of the spirit. We need to make the promise that President Monson has made, to never ignore the promptings of the spirit.  We all need to take the noise out of our lives to be able to hear.  Another thing I learned was to look at our aflictions as a way to gruth, not a punishment.   I think about the pain I feel now, and I am greatful for it because it alway keeps me thinking about my Savior.   I don't pray for it to be taken from me because of that reminder to me.   I do sometimes pray for a little break from it and it has been lifted many times from me to let me rest.    That is another mirical in my life.   Live in the spirit and serve our Father and our brother and sisters.   This Gospel is the strength to get us through trouble times.       Father of the Blogg master

Christ's Grace is Sufficient

Usually listening to Conference leaves me with renewed hope and determination to be better. In contrast, this Conference left me feeling a little condemned. I was so keenly aware of my weaknesses as I listened and could easily recall recent moments when I had obviously failed to live up to the Lord's standards of compassion, charity, and self-control. Basically, I felt ashamed.

A few nights after Conference ended I was reading an article in the September Ensign by Brad Wilcox about the way Christ's grace works. I have listened to the BYU devotional version of the article, read the BYU devotional transcript in full, read the book about the same topic by Brad Wilcox and attended a Relief Society dinner where he spoke about Grace--but for some reason, as I read the Ensign article I felt like I was learning the truths for the first time.

Brother Wilcox said, "There should never be just two options: perfection or giving up....Growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ's Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness" (September 2013 Ensign, p. 37).

My weaknesses were still real after I read the article, but my perspective on them had changed. I no longer felt condemned. I knew again that Christ knows my weaknesses and loves me still. I knew again that because of the covenants I have made, He is walking WITH me, not yelling at me to catch up. I'm so grateful for the Atonement, and always marvel that it is a real power that is working in the life of little me.

The loving wife of #4

There is a safe place.

In my search for where we want to live for the next three years, I am always concerned about it being a safe place for our girls. I know they are young and I don’t need to worry so much, still there is so much bad in the world. I love my children more than I can describe and I don’t want anything bad to happen to them. I don’t want them to be led astray by bad teachers in school or bad friends. I don’t want this confused world to take influence on my innocent children. Thoughts like this make it difficult to live anywhere. We are very blessed to live in a time when the Heavens are open. God speaks to us. He answered my prayer through one of his apostles. During conference Pres. Packer addressed the exact concern that I had. In one simple sentence that spoke straight to my heart. “There is a safe place. It is in a gospel-centered home.” It doesn’t matter what the world is like outside. It matters what it is like in our homes. I am very grateful to have grown up in a gospel-centered home. I hope to make my home a gospel-centered home.

#4  

Opa you can do it now!

This conference helped me remember how simple and profound the Gospel is. One thing that stuck out to me was Elder Uchtdorf's priesthood talk. He told the story of how he had fallen when skiing and he couldn't get up until his grandson said to him "Opa you can do it now!". Because of the atonement of Christ I know I can do hard things. I can face the future with confidence because through the atonement I can change and become a better me. With this knowledge I should always be  someone who tries to encourage others and inspires them to be their best selves. We are all children of a Heavenly Father with a greater potential than we realize. With having a testimony of the Savior we should be positive and uplifting people with ourselves and those we associate with.

Tyler T.

If your Cheeseman and you know it raise your hand!

  One thing that was on my mind before conference was a quote by C.S. Lewis in his book The Great Divorce (a must read), He said "In the end there are two kinds of people, those who say to God thy will be done and those to whom God says thy will be done." I found this quote to be true we can either align our will with Gods and enjoy the consequences or we can have it our way and suffer the consequences. After all God is all knowing and only wants the best for his children and again he knows what is best for his children. So coming in to conference I was slightly discouraged at the difficulty of the task ahead of me. It sounds so easy to do the right thing but when it came down to it I always seemed to find a excuse not to do it.  Thankfully conference gave me some good advice and encouragement on the subject.
    First, Boyd K. Paker said "Be not afraid, only Believe". This meant a lot to me because I realized that one of the things holding me back was my fear of failure. I thought that if I tried to do Gods will and failed then I would be worse off then if I didn't try. This is not true and I felt the Gods love at this time and reassurance that any effort I put in he would be proud of and any failure I made could be repented of.
     The next thing that helped me I believe was by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. I don't know how many of this he said exactly, but I got the impression to keep in my journal each day ways that I did Gods will and ways that I did my own will. Doing this has helped me realize my progress and inspires me to improve each day by realizing what areas of my life I am weak in. But to do this you must remember that you are only human and God loves you no matter what, because at least for me the mistakes side can get pretty big. But I know that I can repent and through the Atonement of Christ I can be better the next day.                -Eli "the blog master's brother"Tidwell

Spiritual Ears

Wow! That's all I can say about this conference. I kind of thought going into it that I wouldn't really be able to listen. Me alone with 5 kids and a tiny computer screen just didn't seem like much listening would happen. But as I've seen time after time over the last few months little miracles happen. The kids were insanely good and I feel like I was able to listen better than I have in years.

Part of the reason I think this happened was due to Elder Hales' talk. When he spoke about how he takes notes to what the spirit teaches him and not necessarily what the speaker says it changed the way I listened to conference. As I looked back through my journal at the end of conference there weren't alot of direct quotes but there was a lot of direction given by the spirit specifically to me. I came in with 2 questions 1) How can I be a better mom and 2) How can I focus better on important things and let go of the unimportant time wasters in my life.

Even though I don't think I heard the word mentioned in a single talk the word temperance appeared in my journal over and over. To be totally honest I've never really studied temperance and always assumed it was just the equivalent of moderation. However ,in looking at the definition I found that it also means restraint among many other things. I think that is so fitting for both of the things I'm working on. As a mom I need more restraint from getting upset too easily, the urge to be lazy, being too social, judging others, and a million other weaknesses I have. As far as wasting time and not focusing more on spiritual matters I think temperance pretty much sums up what I need in order to strengthen my relationship with the Savior.

So who knows maybe the kids weren't as quiet as I thought they were. Maybe because Elder Hales' talk taught me to listen with my spiritual ears instead of my physical ears I was able to tune out any excess noise. Either way I'm grateful for the way this past weekend went and I can't wait to study temperance more in depth and apply it to my weaknesses. I also can't wait to learn from all of your experiences.
-Karen

Conference Inspiration

This is one thought that I wrote down as I listened to Elder Vinson speak. I'm not sure how much he actually said an how much were my thoughts but here it is.
How would I feel if someone promised me something every week and never kept the promise? How long would I take the promise seriously? Every week as I partake of the Sacrament I promise to keep the Lords commandments and to always remember the Savior. What kind of effort am I putting into keeping that promise every week? True I am not expected to be perfect right now but I am expected to put my best effort in every day.
-Travis "blog master" Tidwell