Looking back, looking ahead

I'm so blessed.  I have so many things for which to be thankful.  I'm at a very good spot in my life right now and I recognize that fact.  Sure, I have some health concerns that bother me.  I have some relationships with people that I wish were better and some relationships that I would like to put more energy into strengthening. And I have a lot of relationships with family and friends that are very comfortable, satisfying and enjoyable. I've been able to see a lot of different people in different situations over this past summer and it has strengthened my faith in humanity.  There are always going to be bumps along the way.  I have some things I want to improve on and some things I feel like I've pretty much mastered and I don't have to even think about those things anymore.  I have such a desire to learn and grow and to spend my time wisely.  So far, my retirement years are going very well.  We have more money to do some things that need to be done around the house, to travel, to help other people when we find out about a need.  We are in a good place, and I recognize that fact.

I have a faithful husband who has been with me for over 39 years.  He is my best friend. We celebrated our anniversary in June. This fact alone is my number one blessing.  I recognize that this long-term type relationship and marriage is harder to find and to hold on to in this day and age.  It makes me feel safe and secure to know that he has by back and that he is my biggest cheerleader (maybe sometimes even a little too much!) It has given our children stability and has helped them launch their own successful marriages.  We are fortunate to have been born into homes where this type of relationship was modeled.  Our own parents gave us a fabulous foundation upon which to build our own family.  Rick and I talk about this often.  We were so fortunate to have been born to goodly parents.  And they were each born of goodly parents.  And so on it goes.  It's all about families and keeping those ties that bind strong and being a strong link in the chain of generations.

We have four amazing children who married four amazing spouses.  We love them all so much!  Each one brings their talents and abilities to the family and we celebrate their strengths, their differences, their good lives and the choices that they make.  They are solid and are making great homes together with their children. The have brought us 10 (gong on 11!) darling grandchildren who we love and adore. 

We have had a very busy summer.  We traveled a lot.  Really, almost too much.  Three east coast trips and one west coast trip in eight weeks is a bit much. We've been able to see more of this beautiful world of ours and to spend time around people of all different backgrounds.  Hence, my belief in humanity.  People are generally good and willing to help their fellow man.

It's been wonderful to spend so much time this summer with family and friends.  Those are really cherished times (which I know sounds cliche, but it true.)  We got to spend a week in NC with Dave, Courtney and their children.  We went to Rupert to see Janet and Dave and their family (who we love so much!) and had a great time there. We went to Rhode Island for four days and explored that beautiful state.  We went on a cruise from New England to Montreal, Canada with Rick's mother and siblings.  We went to San Diego while Rick attended a conference and Carol got to go with us.  She and I had a great time exploring around while Rick was in meetings (poor guy.)  We got to see Andy and Chelsea in CA, and they came to town for a number of days.  Dave and Courtney and family stayed with us for a week and we had non-stop fun with them.  And of course, I went to Israel for two weeks with Jordan and a group of friends in May for an incredible experience there.

I value my husband, my children, my daring grandchildren, my siblings and their spouses, our mothers, Rick's family, my long-time friends and some newer friends, and my friends from church and community associations.  Life is Good!

Now, we are looking forward to what comes next.  So much of what comes next is up to us!  We get to choose where we spend our time, with whom, doing what we enjoy, serving, fulfilling our church callings, having fun and trying to eat healthy and exercise.  We get to choose our attitudes. 

There are also a lot of unknowns that lie in the future.  We are contemplating those changes.  What will we do when Rick retires?  Go on a mission?  Should we continue to fix up our home or move to a different one? What will be the end story with our aging mothers?  What health challenges will we face?  How will our children and grandchildren grow and develop and what challenges and successes will they have?

My thought is that we prepare as best we can....we put our faith and trust in the Lord...we work towards our goals....we adjust when things don't go according to plan....we forgive...we ask for forgiveness....we keep learning and improving...we help and serve others...we love and find joy in every day living.  There is so much good going on and so much to be enjoyed in life.  I'm so grateful for the one I'm living!

They shall deceive the very elect

I've had this post bouncing around in my head for several years now.  It's a tough one.  I want to put it down in words so that I can process it better. I also hope that anyone reading this who has a desire to talk about it with me will do so.  I really do want to understand better those people with a different point of view from mine.  I don't have a large readership according to Google Analytics and I'm not sure who reads this blog any more anyway.  So here goes.  I'm not setting out to offend anyone or change their opinion.  I'm just stating my opinion based on my experiences and observations and to hopefully get a better perspective.

I cannot, for the life of me, understand why active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apostatize and leave the church.  I just don't get it.  I don't understand how people I know and love who were baptized as eight-year-old children, who grew up attending church with their families, often serving LDS missions and teaching and testifying to other people about the truths of the gospel, and then marrying in the temple and making sacred covenants, can leave.  Just like that.  Gone.  The End. Or so it seems.

They may struggle with the decision and hesitate telling people of their decision, but in the end, they do announce their exit and then walk away and often expect those around them not to react in a way that will make THEM feel uncomfortable.  In fact, their leaving generally makes everyone around them feel uncomfortable, distressed and terribly sad.  Make no mistake, it is the biggest of deals.  I wonder if in our desire to be so accommodating and not offend, we who remain with the faith give the impression that we are either neutral about their action in leaving or that we don't want to get involved because of the possible unpleasant consequences that could harm family relationships.  I think that parents have every right to say how they feel in a loving way, but to say what they feel about this major shift in belief. We may feel limited in expressing our true feelings because finding the right words at the right time can be difficult.  People have agency and they can use that agency however they want.  But they can't choose the consequences of their choices. Why should family dynamics change to accommodate the one who left?  My thought is that traditions and religious observations should go on as usual since most family members remain true to the faith.  The one who leaves can decide if they will participate.

Often promises are made to the parents when a young man asks for a young lady's hand in marriage.  Are those expectations to be disregarded now?  What if one spouse leaves and one spouse stays?  What happens to the children and their future religious prospects?  These and many more are very challenging problems that I have seen play out more than I would have imagined.

There may be other church members who are relatively new to the gospel as converts who haven't had decades of church membership in their family lines.  There may be some who only attended infrequently, and who never gained for themselves a strong conviction of the truths of the restored gospel.  Those situations I understand a little better.

It makes me feel so incredibly sad.  Sad for them.  Sad for their spouses (if one leaves and the other one doesn't.)  Sad for their children, parents, extended family and friends.  Sad that they are forgetting (as I see it) their birthright.  I'm trying to figure out if they have truly stopped to weigh and measure the consequences, eternal consequences, by walking away.  What of the covenants they made in the temple and at baptism? Are those of no consequence now?  Did they not really mean it when they made them?

I've always liked the thought of being a strong link in the chain of family members over generations.  I remember hearing this talk given by Elder David B. Haight in 2000.  It created in my mind and heart a desire to ALWAYS be a strong link in the chain binding my past family relations to my future ones.  I never wanted to be the one who broke the chain.  I'm fortunate to be the 5th generation of a chain of believers who accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ in their home lands in Europe.  I've now passed that belief on to two more generations.  President Hinckley spoke to the students at BYU years ago.  He made the statement that life is a great chain of generations, link following link, until the end of time.  In talking to the students, he encouraged them not to be a weak link but to be a strong link in their family generations.

I realize that there are as many different circumstances for people leaving as there are people.  In my experience, here is what I've noticed from some of those who have left. Some have been offended by other members or a church leader, others don't like church policies or the way the church leadership has handled certain aspects of church history.  Some can't reconcile inconsistencies in early church history.  Some may lack faith or don't actively maintain their faith and it slips away. Others get hung up on polygamy that was practiced in the church over 100 years ago. Some don't like the burden of keeping the commandments.  Some just don't want to try anymore.  Others think that Joseph Smith was a fraud and a liar. Some may believe that grace is sufficient to be saved and that works don't matter.  Some don't like the church stance on the family, particularly the definition that marriage is between a man and a woman.  Some want a 10% raise by not paying tithing and a full two-day weekend by not having to attend church.  Some are lazy and don't want to make much effort. Some have made mistakes that are of such a serious nature that they have determined that they are outside of the healing power of the atonement.  They excommunicate themselves. They don't want to confess their sins and forsake them, so they just quit coming.  Some become atheists or agnostics. Some women have issues with priesthood authority only being given to men and their supposed hierarchal leadership over women in the church. Some don't understand the doctrine as taught by the Savior in all its fullness.  Some never really had testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the first place.  They may feel like they were deceived and that all a person needs to do is Come to Jesus.  Maybe they don't believe in God anymore because they have suffered a terribly hard experience and think that He wasn't there for them.  Others become too smart for their own good.  They pursue higher education in very liberal institutions and let those institutions and professors and other influences change their ways of thinking about religious things.  They are made to look odd or weak for having faith, because faith is old school and can't be proven. These and many more are all possible, and understandable, reasons to struggle. I get it.  We all have doubts of various things along the way.  It's what we do with those doubts and questions that matters.  Do we feed them or do we push them out with action to build and maintain our faith? I love what Elder Uchtdorf said some years ago: Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.

But there are so many more reasons to stay.  Where do I even start?  Gospel living will make our lives go better.  Not problem free, but better because we will have the tools to deal with challenges when they come.  We have a clear view and understanding of the plan of salvation - where we came from, why we are here struggling along, and where we can go if we prove faithful.  The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us something to shoot for, something better than our "natural man/woman tendencies."  We will have fewer addictions and health problems because of our health code and living practices.  Our children will turn out better (not problem free, but more grounded in morals and values.)  They will be successful in life because they have an anchor and a guide to live by that brings them and us greater happiness and perspective.  We will have opportunities to serve others on a regular basis, have teaching and training for our children, and enjoy youth opportunities in a safe, caring environment, friendship and watch care of other adults.  We have LDS temples dotting the world where we can go to do saving ordinances for our kindred dead and thereby strengthen the chain of generations.  We can be sealed to our spouses for time and all eternity by one having authority to do so.  We care for the poor and needy in meaningful ways on a very large scale.  We learn of the value of education and self-reliance and we take care of our own needs. We strive to improve ourselves and be better people of good judgement, with high moral standards.  And we strive to share the good news of the gospel wherever and whenever we can.  With all these blessings (and more) that come through gospel living, why wouldn't we want to share it?  After all, what else has any lasting value in the world?  If we were to leave, where else would we go that offers what this church offers?

Another questions is WHERE do people turn when they have questions or doubts.  Do they turn to trusted family members, friends of faith, leaders, and those with whom they have had significant spiritual experiences over their lives, or, do they turn to strangers with the end goal of turning their faith into ashes.  Some podcasts, books, live chats, newspapers with liberal agendas, and of course the internet which is the font of all the is true and correct (wrong!)  People will find what they are looking for.  Maybe it will be an essay written by a former institute teacher, a disavowed leader, a blogger with an anti-Mormon agenda, or members of some standing in the community, or the incitements of other churches that play catchy music and dance in the isles.  There are many carrots dangling from what appears to be better and more interesting ways of being religions.  But do they have the authority and power to bind on earth what will be bound in heaven?  I believe that the key is to look UP not around.  Seek personal revelation directly from our Heavenly Father.  Seek for His confirmation, not from worldly sources.

I don't intend to judge people when they leave, but I would like to understand more about why they leave.  I want to understand, primarily because their leaving changes the dynamics within family, friendships and neighborhoods, especially if those relationships have been long-standing over decades.  What was once a shared commonality now becomes an awkward adjustment in trying to find new common ground.  What can be discussed, what must be avoided?  What will offend?  What were once joyful shared experiences, now become taboo or greatly altered in trying to ensure that  no one feels uncomfortable.   This is very hard to manage. How is this best navigated?

Of course I know it is through love that all things can be accomplished  Love is the great common ground.  It is the great equalizer.  It opens doors and it opens hearts.  It heals and it comforts.  But there also needs to be honest communication.  Talking openly with trust with loved ones helps to bridge the gap.  Setting up new ground rules and new ways of doing things so that no one steps on a land mine would be so helpful.  It takes maturity and careful maneuvering to pull this off, but it can be done.  What other ideas could be suggested?

We are living in the last dispensation of the fullness of times.  Satan is abroad in the land.  He is trying with all his might to trip up, stop, discourage, lie to, deceive and plant seeds of doubt into the hearts and mind of the believers in Christ.  He is waging full out battle.  He stops at nothing.  He is going to find a little crack in the armor of long-time members of the church and he is going to chip away, chip away, here a little, there a little, until he succeeds in pulling down the faith and belief of a follower of Christ as a member of this church.  This was prophesied in the scriptures:

Matthew 24:24 - For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

To my dear loved ones, family members and friends, don't be deceived!  Hold on to your faith!  Do the daily practices that build faith including the basics like prayer, church attendance, service, going to the temple and staying within the bounds the Lord has set.  The best thing I know of to keep a testimony of this restored gospel is to read the Book of Mormon daily.  I doubt that someone who is actually reading the Book of Mormon daily is going to walk away.  The power and pure gospel teachings of that book are too strong.  It cannot be denied.  Our past beloved President Monson, with his last general address to the church, pleaded with the membership of the church to read the Book of Mormon daily.  It is one sure way to keep the faith.  He said:  This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teaching in our lives.  The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.

Yesterday we attended the temple sealing of our dear family friends (Tyler and Kenna) in the Provo City Temple.  As I sat there, I could feel the spirit confirm to me once again that this is Christ's church.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the power, authority, teachings and blessings we need to enjoy life now and in the life to come.  We have a living prophet and  twelve apostles who receive inspiration and follow our Savior and our Heavenly Father. Through sealing ordinances in the temple, what is bound on earth will be bound in heaven. I have felt that spiritual confirmation again and again and I can never deny it.  This is where I plant my flag and I will not be moved.  Andy attended the wedding with me and Rick and as we walked out he said in essence: "This is where we stand.  This is what we believe.  This is who we are."

John 14: 26-27, Peace I leave with you...

Stake Women's Conference

Presentation of the theme: John 14: 26-27

My intro talk about our theme

Our desire today is that you will feel our Savior’s love for you as a dear daughter of God who is valued and cherished and watched over and guided.  We hope that when you leave the conference later today, you will be buoyed up, with new ideas and ways of looking at the challenges in life.  We hope that you will be more appreciative of the joy that comes to you in your life.  Many of you are looking for peace and comfort and it is our fervent prayer that you will be inspired by the Holy Ghost to attend the classes today that will best meet your needs and give you the peace you are seeking.  Our presenters are all well prepared and have sought the guidance of the spirit.  One class will be taught in Spanish for those who would like to hear this beautiful language, either because it is their native  language or because it was their mission language.

After seeking the guidance of the spirit, our presidency has chosen the theme found in John 14: 26-27.  In this chapter, Jesus is preparing his disciples for the time when he will no longer be with them.  He has taught them well and then states in vs. 25: “these things I have spoken unto you, yet being present with you.”  But he wasn’t  always going to be present with them and of course he isn’t physically present with us either.  But then he tells them of a great gift he is going to leave with them and says “But the Comforter, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

The footnotes tell us what we probably already know, that the Comforter is the Holy Ghost.  Each of you here today who have been baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been give this gift!  Are you using it to bless your life?  Are you accessing the power and help that comes through this incomprehensible gift?  Are you underutilizing this precious gift and are you looking for help for challenges and answers elsewhere? Are you letting The Holy Ghost teach you and bring all things to your remembrance?  Are you letting it teach you how to deal with challenging children, stressful work situations, aging parents, unhappy marriages, financial difficulties, mental health issues, loneliness, infertility, too much fertility, and so on and so on?  Are you letting it bring to your remembrance all the good times of the past that you have enjoyed with family and friends, the joy of a wedding day, the time when you felt the spirit for the first time; the time when you knew that this church was Christ’s church restored on the earth for the last time, or the time when you read the Book of Mormon and felt the truthfulness of it burn into your heart and know that is was the word of God? 

How much time do we spend being taught by the Comforter and letting Him teach us continually the teachings of Christ?  How often do we invite the Comforter to comfort us?  Let the Comforter do his job!  Invite him to comfort YOU!

Going on in vs. 27 Jesus says:  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the word giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

We receive peace through Christ!  He gives his peace in a unique and special way, tailored for our individual needs and circumstances.  But sisters, we have to ask for it.  We have to actively seek it.  We have to look for peace in places where he has said we will find it.  Places like our homes, the scriptures, through prayer, by going to the temple, at church, listening to general conference, doing Family History work, going on a family reunion and connecting with our loved ones, praying with our spouses or alone if no spouse is readily available for a time.  We may find answers and peace through chats with trusted friends, or through professionals who are trained in the skills of sorting out the challenges in life.  We find peace in The Savior’s words, following his example, and truly trying to be more like Him.  Peace is available to them who seek it.  Simple enough, right?  If only it were so.

The world cannot give us this peace, and it never will.  The world is lead by the great destroyer will tell you that you’re not good enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not desirable, not talented and that you have nothing to offer.  Don’t listen to this con artist, the teller of lies and the great deceiver.  He wants you to join his ranks and he will stay at it, chipping away at your peace and comfort with great skill and patience.  Turn him away and tell him that you’re on the Lord’s side!

We just sang a rousing hymn, “There is Sunshine in my soul today.”  I loved to hear you sing with gusto! Let that light, which is Jesus shine in your life!  Because as the next line says: And Jesus listening can hear, the songs I cannot sing.”  He is the only one who knows the songs you cannot sing, the desires of your heart and your innermost yearnings.  Reread Elder Holland April 2017 talk for valuable insights.  He says:

Brothers and sisters, we live in a mortal world with many songs we cannot or do not yet sing. But I plead with each one of us to stay permanently and faithfully in the choir, where we will be able to savor forever that most precious anthem of all—“the song of redeeming love.”¹¹ Fortunately, the seats for this particular number are limitless. There is room for those who speak different languages, celebrate diverse cultures, and live in a host of locations. There is room for the single, for the married, for large families, and for the childless. There is room for those who once had questions regarding their faith and room for those who still do. There is room for those with differing sexual attractions. In short, there is a place for everyone who loves God and honors His commandments as the inviolable measuring rod for personal behavior, for if love of God is the melody of our shared song, surely our common quest to obey Him is the indispensable harmony in it. With divine imperatives of love and faith, repentance and compassion, honesty and forgiveness, there is room in this choir for all who wish to be there.¹² “Come as you are,” a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, “Don’t plan to stay as you are.” We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be.

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal, cure or remove.*
(from the hymn, Come, Ye Disconsolate)

My testimony.

Stake Women's Conference - year 2

Brian Kershisnik is the artist of this beautiful oil on canvas called "She Will Find What is Lost."  Of his oil painting Brian wrote: "many unseen forces are interested in you, love you, and work to influence matters for your profound benefit.  Most of what we all do is resist it, misinterpret it, or mess it up, but my experience indicates that these unseen efforts persist impossibly. 

 I thank God for that."

 We got the artist's permission (and paid him a small commission) to use this picture on our invitations and throughout the conference as we talked about the scripture found in 

John 14:26-27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.

Not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

I can't say enough good about these women!  They all served with heart and soul and carried out their responsibilities above and beyond that was needed.  

Melinda was over the decorations (she worked with a woman in our stake who owns a catering business and she graciously let us BORROW,

 free of charge, all of the beautiful decorations you see below!),

Kathleen was over the printed invites, programs, publicity and signage,

Dana was over all the set up, take down and technology needs,

I was over the luncheon.

Our stake has had the tradition for 22 years of organizing and offering a half-day conference for the women in the stake that is planned and carried out with their needs in mind.  Last year, this was the conference, and this year we decided to go a different direction. We had a general session first with a beautiful musical number (Come, Ye Disconsolate), an intro of our theme (which was taken from John 14: 26-27) and short talks by our stake president and his first counselor and then we divided into the break out sessions.  

We wanted this conference to provide real help for real latter-day saint women who are living in 2018.  We hoped that the presenters would share experiences from their own lives and how those experiences relate to the gospel of Jesus Christ and how we can feel peace and comfort in our lives, even amid challenges and difficulties.  Each presenter had 45 minutes to speak and the women who attended the conference chose three of the classes to attend.  It was a very difficult choice for them to choose only three classes! The teachers were all so well prepared and the classes were excellent.  These were the topics of our classes:

1.  Helping children find happiness living the gospel
2. WWJD: Christ's example of radical inclusion
3.  Hope and resources for those dealing with depression
4.  Finding peace and joy amidst life's challenges
5.  Living with a grateful heart
6.  Feeling God's peace through music
7.  Finding peace and hope when a loved one chooses to live an alternative life style
8.  The Family Proclamation: A battle worth waging
9.  Keep on the covenant path - tips for the trail
10.  Sean creyentes y felices y no se desanimen todo saldra bien
11.  Is happily ever after a fairytale in marriage?  No!!
12. Education for life: finding peace by preparing you, your daughter, and granddaughters for their unknown futures
13.  Accessing the Holy Ghost in times of trial
14.  Combating loss with creating: service and charity (especially) during the rough times
15.  The miracle of family search

BYU take-out food did an excellent job preparing the shredded chicken and seasoned ground beef for our build-your-own taco salads.  We had all the trimmings and everyone could choose their own preferences.  We also had a huge bowl of Clementines (cutie oranges) and key lime tarts for dessert, also prepared by BYU food-to-go.  We had priesthood men help set up the chairs and tables, serve the luncheon and help with clean up.  They were wonderful!  Rick was a huge help in picking up the food and being a over all great helper that day.  Our High Counselor over Relief Society was wonderful as well.  The saying that many hands make light work was very evident this day.  I'm so grateful to ALL those who served, who attended and who shared their personal experiences and their lives.  We felt like the conference was time well spent and we received great feedback that the conference was helpful to many sisters.  We estimate that over 300 attended that morning, as their time permitted. This was our goal - give our sisters concrete ideas of how to find peace, joy and comfort in their lives.  We feel like this goal was accomplished! Success!!

Welcome 2018!

I'm ready for a new year.  2018 looks promising.  I love turning the page and starting new beginnings.  I love my life!  I'm so grateful for the people around me, for my wonderful husband and for the comforts of life that I enjoy and the opportunities I have to do some things that matter to me. I'm grateful for our children and their spouses and our wonderful grandchildren. We have meaningful relationships with one another and I hope those continue forever.  I love learning.  I love visiting with people and coming to know them on a new level.  I value my faith and the comfort and direction it gives me.  I value relationships and endeavor to keep them strong and interactive.  I love to travel and have some new adventures awaiting this year.  I want to strengthen the relationships I have with loved ones. I want to read more, I want to sew more, I want to learn how to machine quilt.  I want to garden more, cook more and entertain more.  I want to gather people more. Those are all things I enjoy and they bring me a lot of happiness.  Here's to a successful, happy, productive and interesting 2018!

We had a fun London New Year's eve party and made plenty of noise about 8:00 pm.  I'm sure our neighbors were checking their clocks and wondering what was going on.  We were all tucked into our beds sawing logs by midnight.

These ten little ones bring us such JOY and happiness. 

 I love being a Grandma Vonnie to them. 

 It's a JOY to watch them learn, grow and progress. 

 Their parents are doing a wonderful job raising them.

Temple covenants

As we have attended the weddings this year of two nieces and a nephew, I'm reminded again of the importance of doing what we say we will do.  If we make a commitment, a promise or in the case of an LDS temple marriage, a covenant, we promised to do certain things.

Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me (Job 27:5).

Temple ordinances lead to the greatest blessings available through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  They  are those ordinances necessary for our exaltation in the celestial kingdom.  As we strive to keep our covenants, our feeling of inadequacy and imperfection begin to fade, while the ordinances and covenants of the temple come alive.  Everyone is welcome to walk that path to eternal life.

I'm so grateful for the covenants I have made in the temple and for the opportunity I have to receive guidance and blessings in my life.  I want these same blessings for my children and grandchildren.  Doing what we say we will do in this world is becoming more and more difficult.  Nothing brings me more JOY than watching my children teach their children about Jesus Christ and helping them walk in truth through their own examples and through their teachings.  At this Thanksgiving time of year, this may very well be my greatest blessing:

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 

(3 John 1:4).

Andy and Chelsea's temple - Los Angeles, CA

Jake and Jordan's temple - Mt. Timpanogos, UT

Rich and Claire's temple - Provo, UT

Dave and Courtney's temple - Salt Lake City, UT

Rick and Vonnie's temple - Salt Lake City, UT

The baptism of two cousins

It is pure JOY to watch our grandchildren join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  Since both girls turned eight years old, the age of accountability, they chose to take this important step. Honestly, I love the simplicity of the ordinance of baptism,  and the importance of the sacred covenants that are made at the time of baptism.  Lizzie and Ada were born about 22 hours apart in age.  One in Phoenix and the other in Albuquerque.  Unseen forces have brought them together to now live in the same city.  They are the best of friends.  Their families coordinated to have them baptized on the same day, October 28.  So many family members were in attendance to celebrate this special day with them.

Lizzie was baptized by her dad R and Ada was baptized by her Grandpa John.  Grandpa Ricky gave Ada a blessing and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  We missed Ada's daddy Jake.  We talked of him, we cried, we remembered, and we know that he is so proud of Ada and so happy that she could join Christ's church.  We felt him near and know that he is aware of this special day. Grandma Barbara gave a wonderful talk on baptism and shared a touching story of when Jake was a little boy.  He made a wrong choice, repented and made it right.  It was such a great example of how to repent and change.  Grandma Vonnie gave the talk on the Holy Ghost.  I gave each of the girls a warm, comfy blanket with their names monogrammed on them with their baptism date to always remind them of this day and the comfort that comes from the Holy Ghost in times of sadness, trials, and pain (one of the many gifts they receive through the power of the Holy Ghost being conferred upon them.)  I didn't get a picture of me with Ada and her pink blanket, but hope to get one soon.   

Jake's brothers Matt (and Jessica), Christian, sister Jen (husband Taylor) came from out-of-state, along with James (and Jenny) and their family who live in town.  R's brother Westin (wife Rachel), his sister Elise (and family) and Grandpa Richard came to support Lizzie, along with great uncle Harmon and cousins. We know and love all these extended family members and love to spend time with them whenever possible. Great-grandma Pat was also in attendance and we all love and appreciate her.

It was a beautiful, fall day and the spirit was present in great abundance.  The girls were beautiful in their white dresses. Two beautiful daughters, two adorable grand daughters, a large loving and supportive family. It was just a wonderful day, not soon to be forgotten!  I love these two darling grand daughters so very much.

Working Mormon women

I've been involved in the Women's Success Center at UVU for about four years now.  It's been a privilege to serve with an organization that I really feel strongly about.  It's my time now to step down after serving on the board with some amazing women over the years.  Our last fund raising effort was another huge success, thanks in large part to my cousin Janis, who along with her husband Corey and his associated business, were sponsors of the event. Over $300,000 was raised at one luncheon for the educational pursuits of women attending UVU.  Through my tenure, I got to serve with two of my cousins - Rebecca from my dad's side of the family and Janis from my mom's side of the family.  Serving together with them was a lot of fun and I will remember many wonderful shared experiences in mentoring other women and learning and growing together as we worked to advance the achievement and success of women.

Helping women succeed in whatever they want to do is very important to me.  I have seen so many women struggling along in life without the preparation they needed to be successful in supporting themselves and their families and in finding fulfillment and joy in their journeys. Women should have options and plans to succeed in whatever field of study or combination of jobs outside or inside of their homes that they choose to do to contribute to society, their families and their neighborhoods. I'm a believer in preparation, knowing that it leads to success and choice.  Freedom to choose instead of having limited options and low paying jobs.

The Deseret News has been running a series or article about the gender wage gape in Utah.  The articles are fascinating to me. They are well researched and present some interesting statistics and information.

The truth about Utah and the nation's gender pay gap.
Mormon women navigate cultural pressures around work, family and faith.

I have lots of thoughts on this topic and maybe I'll share them later.  What do you think?