service

President Eyring has told us that our Savior considers us all to be his friends.

DC 84:77- "And again I say unto you, my friends, for from henceforth I shall call you friends, it is expedient that I give unto you this commandment, that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power."

As we serve others for Him, we become His friend. This is an intimate and special title. Jesus Christ is our perfect example of what it means to be a friend and we must follow that example if we are to draw closer unto Him. 

Everyday, all around us, there are people longing for the kind of comfort, guidance, and protection that only a true friend can offer. With the Spirit as our companion we can be that friend.

Pray for opportunities to be the kind of friend Christ needs us to be and then watch for those opportunities daily. Let you heart be open to making new friends through your service to them, or to serving old friends, ones you have known and felt close to throughout your whole life. The Spirit will speak to you. Prepare- through daily prayer and scriptures study- yourself to hear the still small voice and be ready to respond.

President Eyring expresses in his first presidency message for the month of July that, "Old friends have reached out to me across the miles and years to offer encouragement when only God could have told them of my burden."

We simply never know who's prayer we could be an answer to.

(based on President Henry B. Eyring's first presidency message "Faithful Friends" July 2010 Ensign)

a mom's divine role

Jesus loved the little children.

As I come closer to the day that I will become a mother I can't help but pray for the guidance and direction that will lead me to become the kind of mother that I long to be. Daily, I pray for this guidance, never really expecting it to come all at once, or even for it to come at all before the arrival of our little one. But, last night while listening to Elder L. Tom Perry's talk from this month's General Conference this prayer was answered and the exact guidance and direction I have been asking for was given.

Elder L. Tom Perry speaks of his mother and her role as a Relief Society instructor and most importantly her role as a teacher in her home. He says, "I believe it is [even] safe to say that while my mother was an enormously effective teacher among the sisters at Relief Society, her best teaching occurred with her children in the home... she prepared so thoroughly, first, to be an example to her children of diligent Church service and, second, because she recognized that what she learned from preparing her lessons could be used repeatedly for a higher purpose—teaching her sons and her daughters."

And suddenly I have a new reason to study and learn.


Elder L. Tom Perry continues, "I am not using my mother as a role model for parents in today’s world. Times are very different today, but while times may change, a parent’s teaching must never be devalued."

When we look to our future as parents, as we gain educations, start careers, and serve in church callings, we need to remind ourselves who we will someday be teaching- or who we are already teaching- our children.


"Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility."

I am so grateful for this most important and divine role.

(based on Elder L. Tom Perry's talk "Mothers Teaching Children in the Home" General Conference April 2010)

a pearl of great price

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

The title for the book The Pearl of Great Price comes from Matthew 13: 45-46,
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

this one pearl spoken of in the above scripture is symbolic of the gospel of Jesus Christ

And this pearl is of such great value that it is worth it to give up everything in order to possess it in our lives.
When I think of pearls, I think of the beautiful bracelet that my husband gave to me as a gift for our first anniversary. How special it is to me! It is one of my most valued gifts that he has given me- one that I will always treasure.
 
Today I started reading a book called The Old Testament Made Easier by David J. Ridges, and as I read the Introduction about The Pearl of Great Price I came across this "parable of the pearl" and it made me think of my bracelet of beautiful, glittery, white pearls. And then I thought of the gospel and how it is by far my most precious pearl. And I would give up anything for it.
 
And I would give anything to share this goodly pearl with all I know. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it is our responsibility to share this "Pearl of Great Price" with all those we know and come in contact with, so that they may also share the wealth of this one most precious pearl.

(based on the "Introduction" to The Old Testament Made Easier by David J. Ridges)

the CUTEST book covers

Need a new scripture cover? A girl in my ward makes these ones and they are super cute and a super good price! Plus, if your scriptures are a different size than the average quad you can give her measurements and she can make one that fits your scriptures- or any book for that matter! Click HERE to check out Lauren's etsy shop and see the cute materials she has to pick from! Lauren also makes some super cute flower headbands with interchangeable flowers!
AND, just for fun (since I'm not sure anyone even looks at this little blog of mine) I will give the first person who comments on this post a scripture cover for FREE! You can choose the material and make it a scripture cover or book cover, your choice, and I will buy it for you! :) Sound like a good deal? I think it sounds like a lot of fun! Seriously, I love my new scripture cover so much (aren't the lemons so super cute!) and I can't wait to get some book covers made! Check out her shop and I hope to hear from you soon!

no room?

The search for Jesus.

"Come Follow Me." The Savior said. "But how do we follow him if first we don't find him? And how shall we find him if first we don't seek him? Where and how should be begin this search for Jesus?" -President Thomas S. Monson, Pathways to Perfection (pg. 262)

The way in which we all can find our Savior, even Jesus the Christ, has and always will be the same, says our Prophet, President Monson, "the earnest and sincere prayer of a humble and pure heart" finds Christ.

During this time of year we are reminded of the little Lord Jesus lying in a manger and we remember why he was placed in such a cradle- there was no room in the inn. "No room. No room. No room." (pg. 263) This is the way it has always been.

In our homes we have rooms that serve so many purposes; a room for eating, a room for sleeping, a room to watch TV. Where is a room for our Savior? In our lives we make time for so many things; shopping, sleeping, gaming, working- the list goes on and on. Where is our time for Christ?

We must make room for Jesus in our hearts and time for him in our lives.

Once we find Christ we must be willing to give our whole self to him. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (pg. 214, Matthew 25:40)

This is a season of service. We feel it in the air. We feel it all around us. We hear it in the Christmas tunes playing softly in the background. We see it in our homes as we look at the lights on the tree and glance upon the baby Jesus in our nativity scenes. Let us all make it a point to make room for Christ during this holiday season, and throughout all our life. And let us also help others in their search for Jesus.

(based on "The search for Jesus" and "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Discourses of President Thomas S. Monson Pathways to Perfection)