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TRYING THE VIRTUE OF THE WORD OF GOD
As I contemplate the Savior, I couldn’t help but ponder on my testimony of Jesus Christ and where it took root – how have I been won over to his Gospel? I feel that I need to write and testify of the Book of Mormon because that was the instrument that brought my soul unto Christ. I love the Book of Mormon. The power and influence that this great book, and the remarkable men and women tucked inside its pages, has had upon my life and testimony of the Savior, is immeasurable – there truly are no adequate words, but I’m going to do my best to share! Elder Mark…
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A THANKSGIVING COLORING BOOK
One of our favorite traditions for Thanksgiving is printing this coloring book to read the story and color. It tells the story of the Pilgrims and the Puritans, and other righteous Founders of America. God fulfilled His promise to bring the lost tribes of Israel back to their homeland and we are their descendants—we are Israelites! This is our story! And we have the same charge to live in holiness on the covenant land, and to take the Gospel to every nation. Here’s a coloring book link to be able to print for your own family. Your kids or even grandkids will love it! (Credit for the coloring book belongs…
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TURNING THE HEARTS OF OUR CHILDREN
Walking around cemeteries has become a cherished thing we do as a family. The Spirit is overwhelmingly strong and the peace found there fills you up and stays long after. Our favorite part is the names on the headstones. While walking through we try to read everyone that catches our eye–a lot of times we’ll stop and talk about a name we saw that may have been unusual or even one that is common, and why they may have been named that. Sometimes we’ll discuss the special engravings or pictures on the headstones and wonder what their story was. These conversations are absolutely priceless. The importance of teaching the following…
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HOW MUCH DO I HATE SIN?
A good friend of mine and a wise scholar once made the statement that one of the biggest problems in society is parents who don’t hate sin. The apathy toward sin then contributes to the equally sinful and rampant lack of discipline. I remember agreeing wholeheartedly, but thinking that this didn’t apply to me–of course I hate sin! And I moved on. A few weeks ago, we found ourselves ill-prepared and in a bit of a bind–being hungry and two hours away from our home. We decided it’d be fun to stop at a popular homestyle restaurant that we had never been to as a family. We had been seated,…
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OPEN UP YOUR TABLE
I’ve been pondering a lot lately about the dinner table. Swimming through scriptures about how it’s used, what events took place, or doctrines taught while sitting at the table. Reading and learning about others and how they traditionally use their dinner tables and the fruits that come from an established place of rest. It’s fascinating. What fascinates me the most is the power it has in my own home. When there is disobedience, disrespect, or even unruliness that shows up in my children it can always be traced back to a dinner table that has fallen out of order. Almost every time. The minute we re-establish order, the door opens…
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TO KNOW OUR FATHERS IS TO SEAL OUR HEARTS
With my oldest turning eight next year, if ready, she’ll be making sacred baptismal covenants—-covenants have really been something I’ve put a lot of thought into lately. As a parent and mother, part of my stewardship is to prepare my children for these covenants to be learned, made, and kept. Growing up, the only pocket of persecuted Christians widely talked about in The Church are the Pioneers. Many of my ancestors are pioneers with life-changing stories—-but I wish I would have grown up hearing about other covenant-keeping Christians as well. One group that I have come to love is the Scottish Covenanters. The Covenanters zealously stood for the supreme Kingship…
