a crisis of faith

My heart goes out to LDS members who are struggling with a crisis of faith. As I've watched some family members and friends, I'm sorry that they struggle because it is a painful struggle and sometimes the outcome is devastating to themselves and many of their family and friends. Our religion is a demanding religion. It requires work, dedication and service from its members. Like most religions, to stay strong and faithful takes effort and a willingness to work at maintaining and strengthening belief. It takes determination and faith. It requires much of us and I believe that by so doing, we are better people because of it. Not in the sense that we are better than anyone else, but in the sense that we are stronger people individually as we do our part to assist in this work and to advance the cause in which we believe. This is not an easy assignment for anyone and sometimes people struggle with the responsibility for many reasons.
We as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ was newly restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith and organized on April 6, 1830. I've been blessed to strongly believe this. I won't go into all the details, but through personal revelation I have come to know for myself. I had to do my part. I had to ask and follow through with the feelings I received. This process is personal and it is very real. But it is not a "one time only" process. I have to maintain my belief through continually demonstrating my faith and enduring to the end. This is done through my actions, through my choices, through my words, through my deeds, through living my life in a way that I demonstrate my belief in Jesus Christ and my desire to follow Him. I fall short, but I get back up and try again. As long as I'm living, this process of building and maintaining my faith will continue. Just as my physical body needs to be feed to continue healthy and strong, my spirit needs to be feed as well. I know what I need to do. My belief and faith are deep and they are wide, but they aren't infallible. However, I'm very comfortable staying within the mainstream of the church which I believe is a big tent and allows for individual accountability. I believe that we are taught correct principles and that we are left to govern ourselves. Agency is a major tenant of our religion.
There are some aspects, events and historical occurrences in our religion that are hard to understand. That is a fact. In reading and studying more about these topics, it can become overwhelming. There aren't easy answers to many of them and most have to be taken in context of the time and place in which they occurred. Mountain Meadows is a prime example. These past events and other current events can be troubling to some members. A lot of it needs to be taken on faith, believing that some day the answers will be given. Some members may want a place to discuss their questions, and frankly, those opportunities aren't readily available. That is why I paid attention when I saw the newspaper earlier this week, and read this article in the local newspaper entitled "web site is refuge in Mormons' crisis of faith." "You are not alone," an introduction page at StayLDS.com reads. "We are here to listen and offer advice. We openly discuss problems in history, doctrine, practices and culture. We also openly discuss solutions that have helped people in the community reconcile themselves, and find a new, personal path of active faith within our rich LDS tradition."
The Web site is not sanctioned or endorsed by the LDS Church, nor is it staffed by experts in religion, psychology or communications. Instead it's run by and used by Latter-day Saints trying to provide comfort and support for the disillusioned.
I think it's commendable that a group of people are trying to find a way to help people stay LDS.

My office

Welcome to my office! I work in a great environment with wonderful people. Meet Bryan my receptionist and Stacie a student secretary. We work in a beautiful new building that is only about five years old. There is a wonderful courtyard just outside of our windows and it's always enjoyable to see what is going on in the courtyard with the water feature and park-like surroundings. We get our work done but we also have a good time and we love to chat with all the people who come to our office to be helped. I've had some special visitors (family and friends) stop by and we enjoyed eating some treats out of my hidden stash. It's a interesting place in which to work and I especially love my flexible working hours. All of our children have gone to school here and it's been a highlight of my employment to be near them while they have been in college. Their visits to my office, shared lunch hours, opportunities to meet their friends and to just be here as a support to them has created some cherished memories. One more son to help educate and then maybe I'll be done working. Sometimes the work is tedious, but that's just what work is sometimes. I've learned some great new programs and added some updated skills to my resume. It's secure, in an intellectually stimulating environment and enjoyable and I'm grateful I have an opportunity to work here and financially help support our children with their goals in life and accomplish a few of my own goals as well (which includes lots of travel...)

one small step for man

I was 14 on July 20, 1969. I remember hurrying home from night sacrament meeting to watch the landing. On the way home, traveling from the church to our house, I remember looking up at the moon and thinking - wow, there are guys up there walking around. It was an incredible thought and an incredible accomplishment for the NASA space program. We all got home and sat down in front TV to watch the black and white footage of men landing on the moon. I remember my parents emphasizing for us to remember this day because it was such an historic event - the first time that any human being had stepped onto another world besides our own.
I also recall over the next few years as more Apollo missions returned to the moon in the early 1970s. There was NOTHING America could not do, and there was no one else in the world that could do the things that America was doing. Oh, how times have changed. America is in decline. "We are no longer the envy of the world, and the N. Koreans are firing ballistic missiles on our Independence Day, flaunting the fact that we cannot stop them from ignoring our warnings.India and China are mocking our economy, and own more of America than America does. There are still many things that are great about America but the gap has narrowed - soon we won't be the only superpower. "

Curves

I'm kind of proud of myself. I've been going to Curves for almost a year now and I recently earned my 100 workouts shirt...not a big deal I know, but for me the exercise hater, it is monumental!

I've found some secrets to success:

• go with a friend (Vicky)
  
• go first thing in the morning
• reward yourself for making progress (not with food!)
  
• set a goal and make realistic advancements towards it
• don't get too discouraged if you have set backs

Some things I like about going to Curves:

• I know a ton of the women - former PTA friends, former city planning friends, ward friends, neighbors, former YW leader friends, MTC friends
  
• the staff at our Curves is great. Friendly, motivated, funny, encouraging.
• I love the stretch out "bars" they have to stretch after the work out
• it's just enough strength training, but not too hard
• I've lost inches and body fat and some weight
  
• I can go and do the workout and get home in one hour M, W, F
• I walk for another hour T, Th with a different friend - Patsy
  
• I do feel better. Some of my other "body issues" have gone away or have become less bothersome.

I still hate exercising, but there doesn't seem to be any other way to receive these benefits!

Our Savior's Love

My favorite hymn. We sang it today in church and I was reminded how much I love it. It is such a hopeful, peaceful, loving message about the Son, the Holy Spirit and God our Father.

1. Our Savior’s love
Shines like the sun with perfect light,
As from above
It breaks thru clouds of strife.
Lighting our way,
It leads us back into his sight,
Where we may stay
To share eternal life.

2. The Spirit, voice
Of goodness, whispers to our hearts
A better choice
Than evil’s anguished cries.
Loud may the sound
Of hope ring till all doubt departs,
And we are bound
To him by loving ties.

3. Our Father, God
Of all creation, hear us pray
In rev’rence, awed
By thy Son’s sacrifice.
Praises we sing.
We love thy law; we will obey.
Our heav’nly King,
In thee our hearts rejoice.

Words & music by Crawford Gates & Edward Hart. Greg Olsen art.