Happy Birthday Dad!

I sure love these two people. They were great examples to me. They had many trials and challenges in this life and they got through them in spite of it all. They showed great faith and perseverance. They were very selfless and would do anything for anyone. We often had people come by, and Mom would fix them a plate of food. We went with Dad on his runs with food to share with those in need. I was the recipient myself - when we were low on cash and out of work. Dad would show up with a bag of groceries and a $20 bill to put gas in the car. I took piano and organ lessons from a sweet lady in Herriman and she didn't have the money to pay her property taxes that year. She asked if I could help out, and I couldn't, but my Dad was able to. A complete stranger to him - but a fellow sojourner trying to survive financially. They also fed our sweet Aunt that lived next door and did all they could to help her. That's what it is all about - serving and loving others. Thanks Mom and Dad! I love and miss you!

Mary

This is my sweet sister Mary. She would be 62 years old this Friday. We did a lot together. She was my buddy. At Christmas, we always got the same dolls, different colored hair though, so we could tell them apart. She had type 1 diabetes and had to get a shot every day. I don't ever remember her complaining. I do remember how good she was. I was always getting in trouble, and wondered back then, how come she never got in trouble?

She was baptized when she turned 8 years old and in the spring she got sick, and was hospitalized.  

My siblings and I were taken around to the neighbors and relatives so Dad and Mom could be with her in the hospital. I was at Uncle Sherm and Aunt Ruth's home. I spent the night and went to school the next day. I was out playing on the playground, when a girl came up to me and told me Mary had died. I got in an argument with her, because that wasn't right. Someone took me to the office, and there were my siblings and our neighbors there to pick us up and take us home. Mary had died. 

I'm thankful Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and that death is not the end. I look forward to seeing Mary again. I love you dear sister!

Battle Hymn of the Republic

I'm working on choir songs for the new year and have decided to do the Battle Hymn of the Republic. We often hear it performed during patriotic events. I played the music and read the words and it is so powerful. I think it could be performed any time.

In Pslam 20, David prays that the Lord will hear in time of trouble -  In verse 7 it says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God."

Battle Hymn of the Republic

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible, swift sword; His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat. Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant my feet! Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me. As He died to make man holy, let us live to make men free, While God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on."

In Alma 5:50 it says: "Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men."

There's another great scripture reference in D&C 65:1-6.

I'm so grateful for the truths that can be found in music and the scriptures. I'm glad for this calling and the opportunity to sing praises to our Savior!

Love One Another

Throughout my life I have always been grateful for the charity extended to me on this journey. I have felt love and acceptance. Others have been patient with me in spite of myself and my failings and it taught me a valuable lesson.

The words of this hymn are appropriate:

"Should you feel inclined to censure faults you may in others view, ask your own heart, ere you venture, if you have not failings, too.
Let no friendly vows be broken; rather strive a friend to gain. Many words in anger spoken find their passage home again.

Do not, then, in idle pleasure trifle with a brother's fame; guard it as a valued treasure, sacred as your own good name.
Do not form opinions blindly; hastiness to trouble tends; those of whom we thought unkindly oft become our warmest friends."

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught:
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets."(Matthew 7:12)

And in a revelation given through Joseph Smith, the Lord said "See that ye love one another."
(D&C 88:123)

Meet The Mormons

Went to see this movie. It touched my heart.

Lucy

I love this sweet girl. She left us 3 years ago. She sure faced a lot of health challenges while she was here. She was pretty brave as far as I'm concerned. Her parents were pretty brave too. I can't imagine losing a precious child. All I know is that I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ who make it possible for us to be together again. 

I love to see the Temple...

I love to see the temple, I went inside today. I felt the Holy Spirit. I'll listen and obey.

I'm grateful for temples. I'm grateful for the opportunity to go and do work for those that have not had that experience.

I especially like how I feel when I'm there and I am grateful to have a temple close by.

Robert L. Simpson said this about temples in the November 1980 Ensign: "There you will find peace; there you will come to know what security really is. There, in the house of the Lord, you can learn what you need to know to be truly free."

In the book, 'The Abundant Life', Hugh B. Brown said, "We build temples for the express purpose of having a holy place into which the worthy may go to perform ordinances calculated to bind together the living and the dead. Personally I should not like to contemplate the hereafter without my wife and my children, my parents and their parents, my brothers and sisters. I should not like to contemplate an existence, especially one that is going to continue forever, if I could not enjoy that existence with those whom I love. And so we build temples in the name of the Lord."

Lastly I'll share what Gordon B. Hinckley wrote in his book, 'Stand a Little Taller'. "Everything that occurs in the temple is uplifting and ennobling. It speaks of life here and life beyond the grave. It speaks of the importance of the individual as a child of God. It speaks of the importance of the family and the eternity of the marriage relationship."

Thanks!

I am so grateful to Heavenly Father, my family and friends for helping me to bear and get through my burdens.   "....and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort,...."(Mosiah 18:8-9).

"The lessening of the load of another comes, in part, from our very expression of genuine concern transmitted to the burdened. Empathy expressed can do much to lift the heart of another. Objectively, in fact, the burden (the loss of health, a loved one) may remain, but the capacity to cope and to carry on is increased by our administering the adrenalin of affection." (Neal A. Maxwell, 'All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience')

I have felt that love, affection and support and know that I am not alone. I am grateful for the sacrifices and generous offerings of my sweet family and friends. I love and appreciate you all!

Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy

The message of this song is much clearer once we know of the story told by Dwight L. Moody, a revival preacher. (The story was the inspiration for the song.)
"On a dark stormy night...a boat, rocking and plunging, neared the Cleveland harbor. 'Are you sure this is Cleveland?' asked the captain, seeing only one light from the light-house. 'Quite sure,' replied the pilot. 'Where are the lower lights?' 'Gone out sir.' 'Can you make the harbor?' 'We must, or perish, sir!'
"With a strong hand and a brave heart the old pilot turned the wheel. But alas, in the darkness he missed the channel, and with a crash upon the rocks the boat was shivered, and many a life lost in the watery grave. Brethren, the Master will take care of the great light-house; let us keep the lower lights burning." (Quoted in Phil Kerr, Music in Evangelism p. 163)"

"The beam of light from the lighthouse, "our Father's mercy," never goes out. But some struggling people - metaphorically, the sailors lost on the dark sea - need more immediate aid than the distant beam of the lighthouse. Those who seek to carry out the will of the Father will keep the lower lights burning, so that anyone who wishes to find the safety of the harbor can turn at once in the right direction."  (Karen Lynn Davidson)

Love this song. Press on the following link to enjoy a beautiful rendition.

"Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy"

Let The Holy Spirit Guide

We sang this song on Sunday:

Let the Holy Spirit guide;
Let him teach us what is true.
He will testify of Christ,
Light our minds with heaven's view.

Let the Holy Spirit guard;
Let his whisper govern choice.
He will lead us safely home
If we listen to his voice.

Let the Spirit heal our hearts
Thru his quiet, gentle pow'r.
May we purify our lives
To receive him hour by hour.
(Penelope Moody Allen)


I'm grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. As the song says, he will guide us, enlighten us, testify of Christ, protect us, and comfort us with his healing power.

Grateful for the gift of music. Grateful for those that are inspired and share their messages with us.

Mountains to Climb

Grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. He helps us through any trial we may be facing.

Consider the Lilies

Another new song the choir will be working on. I wanted to share what Roger Hoffman said about writing this song from his web page.

"At the time I wrote "Consider the Lilies," my wife, Melanie and I had spent five years (now 26) following the Lord's commandment to put the kingdom of God first, believing that He would add everything else we needed. It seemed the Lord would send what we needed in the way of work or help, just when we needed it. Miraculously, we had survived!

One day, as I was sitting at the piano in our chapel, (we didn't have a piano at home) I found my fingers wandering over the piano keys. I noticed what I was playing and repeated it so I wouldn't forget it. Once the melody had become locked into my consciousness, words began to form in my mind,

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, how they grow."

I grabbed my pencil and began writing. As quickly as I could write, the words continued,

"Consider the birds in the sky, how they fly, how they fly.
He clothes the lilies of the field. He feeds the birds in the sky.
And He will feed those who trust Him, and guide them with His eye."

I was beginning to feel very excited! Here was a way to share this marvelous principle! The words kept coming,

"Consider the sheep of His fold, how they follow where He leads.
Though the path may wind across the mountains, He knows the meadows where they feed."

I thought of how Nephi and Lehi had been led on their way through 'the more fertile parts of the wilderness...' and how the seas had parted for Moses and the children of Israel. Again, the chorus re-assured me,

"He clothes the lilies of the field. He feeds the birds in the sky,
and He will feed those who trust Him, and guide them with His eye."

I was pleased that the message had been so well delivered, and gratefully acknowledged the power that had presented this song to my mind. I was about to rise from the piano bench and go home, when I felt a kind of downward tug, and sat down at the bench again. The message came clearly into my mind, "I'm not finished yet."

I sat down and the verse began,

"Consider the sweet, tender children who must suffer on this earth..."

I panicked. I was afraid to tackle so large a subject. I thought, "My pen is too small to deal with a problem so great." The thought came into my mind, "You're not writing this, anyway." I then remembered someone very dear to me who once said she had a hard time understanding why God would allow little children to be abused, and I had a great desire to help her understand this subject better and be comforted. This urged me on. So, tremulously, I continued,

"The pains of all of them He carried from the day of His birth.
He clothes the lilies of the field, He feeds the lambs in His fold.
And He will heal those who trust Him, and make their hearts as gold."

I wept profusely. I could not contain my feelings. The love I felt was so powerful that I was overcome. (In fact, for the rest of the day, I felt somewhat removed from this mortal sphere.)

My soul vibrated with the message I had just written, for my own suffering and weakness had been taken in hand by the Wonderful Counselor, and where once there was darkness, light by light, strand by strand, He rewove the fabric of my heart with threads of purest gold, so that my afflictions and sympathies have been, in a marvelous manner, enlarged and retrained to make me more like Him.

This is the way of the Master. He tells us plainly that He has given us weakness to bring us to Him. When we come unto Him, He teaches, counsels, and heals us, replacing evil with good, pouring Himself into us, a spiritual transfusion where His light replaces our darkness. The light He has put into us works its way through everything we know and feel and draws us to yet greater light.

One day, if we continue, we will be like Him, for His light will have chased every trace of darkness from us, and will have drawn into us all the light He has."


That's pretty powerful. I'm grateful for this beautiful song and for Brother Hoffman sharing his experience in writing it.

Consider The Lilies by GaleSong

Savior

We're learning a new song in choir by Melanie & Roger Hoffman:

"In my wilderness I'm not comfortless. He is there, Savior.
Holy Counselor, Friend and rescuer, He is hope, Savior.
In forgiveness He is wondrous. He is love, Savior.
He will hear me, comfort, cheer me, loves me dearly, Savior.
And I'll praise Him ever more. He opened heaven's door;
Give my heart to Him, He let me in.
In His kindness I feel gladness. He is joy, Savior.
Gave His life for me. Paid the price for me. He is my Savior.
He is my Savior!

So grateful for my Savior! He lives. He loves us!

I'm glad we can sing of Him.

Susan Marshall Bryant

My sweet cousin died June 21. She had breast cancer 12 years ago and it came back with a vengeance. Her funeral was yesterday and she told her son she wanted an unconventional funeral, and that it was.
The next post is the song, "Hallelujah" sung by Andy Fernuik. He sang it for the closing song at the funeral. It was absolutely beautiful!
I don't like that the people we love leave us, but I sure enjoy the family reunion we get at the funeral. I love my relatives and it was so nice seeing so many of them.

Hallelujah

A Child's Prayer

"Heavenly Father, are you really there? And do you hear and answer every child's prayer?
Some say that heaven is far away, But I feel it close around me as I pray.
Heavenly Father, I remember now something that Jesus told disciples long ago:
"Suffer the children to come to me." Father, in prayer I'm coming now to thee.

Pray, He is there; speak, He is listening. You are His child; His love now surrounds you.
He hears your prayer; He loves the children. Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heaven."

This is one of my all time favorite songs...I especially love hearing it sung by the children in Primary.



I want to share a story (From the book "Others" by Blaine M. and Brenton G. Yorgason as told to them by Don H. Smith) that had a great impact on me when I read it as a young mother.

"Suzie, our youngest child, was born with cerebral palsy, and has never walked a step in her life. So we had to have someone take care of her day and night. Our little boy Cory took over that assignment, day and night, for years.
When Cory was about nine we went to a ward Decoration Day picnic. When we got there Cory wandered over to where a man had several boxes of turtles and toads for sale. In a few minutes Cory came running back shouting, 'Daddy, Daddy, can I buy a horny toad?' Our boy had never seen any of those things, and he was very excited. He had one in his hand and he wanted to buy it.
I asked him how much it was, and he told me thirty-five cents. I am the last of the big spenders, so I said, 'Sure, son. Does the man have two?' He said yes, so I suggested that he buy one for Tommy, who lived across the street, and I gave him a dollar.
He came back proudly holding two toads. He took one over to Tommy, and over the next few weeks they played with them together, and they grew quite fond of them. So now he could watch little Suzie and play with his horny toad at the same time, and when we put him to bed at night we'd have to go in after he was asleep and take his little toad out of his hand, he loved it so much.
After Cory had it about two months, he and Tommy were playing out on the front lawn and Tommy's toad got away. It got under the house, and they couldn't find it. They were terribly upset about it. They looked for it for days, but they never did find it. So Cory got even closer to his toad.
About two months later Tommy came over and Cory hadn't come home from school yet. Tommy asked, 'Mrs. Smith, can I play with Cory's toad, please?' She said he could and told him to go ahead. He took it out and was playing with it in the back yard when his mother called him to come home. So Tommy just set the toad on the end of the diving board and ran home. Cory and I got home together about two hours later, and a few minutes later he let out this blood-curdling scream, and I ran out the back door to see what was wrong. He was standing on his toes, right on the edge of the pool, looking down at the toad which was stretched out on the drain. It had been there for two hours, and of course it was dead, and he just sobbed, 'Daddy, Daddy, what can I do?'
Cory's ears were under treatment at that time, and so he couldn't dive down and get it out. I wasn't really fond of the toad myself, and so I wasn't about to dive down to get it. But Cory cried and cried.
About that time his older brother, Terry, came out and said, 'I'm not going to touch that toad, it's dead!' But we convinced him that if it was dead, it really wouldn't hurt him if he would dive down and get it.
We got an egg carton and cut two inches off the end of it, and Terry dived down and brought the toad back up to Cory. I was standing at the edge of the pool when Terry brought the dead toad up and handed it to Cory, who just sobbed and sobbed as he held it in his hand. In desperation, Cory sobbed, 'Daddy, Daddy, what shall I do?'
Well, it about broke my heart, and so very sympathetically I said, 'Why don't you just throw it in the trash?'
With that, he just cried all the harder, and so I said, 'Son, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! There's nothing you can do for that toad now. It's been dead for over two hours. Why don't you just put it on the fireplace over there, and tomorrow morning you and I will go out and bury it.'
I started to walk away. Terry, who was a deacon then, was lying on the edge of the diving board, and he said, 'Dad?' I asked him what he wanted, and he didn't say anything, so I started to walk on. Again Terry said, 'Dad?' Again I asked him what he wanted, and again he didn't answer. So I was just ready to go through the door when he said, 'Dad?' I said, 'Terry, what do you want?' And he said, 'I was just wondering if you could give that toad a blessing.'
I said, 'Son, you can't give that little toad a blessing. It has been dead for two and a half hours.' He said, 'But Dad, when I was so sick at Christmas and the doctor couldn't help, you gave me a blessing and I got better right away. So I don't see why you can't give Cory's toad a blessing.'
I said, 'Because it's just a toad!' and went into the house. But then I asked myself, was it just a toad? Not to Cory, it wasn't. That little toad was one of the priceless things of his life. So he and Terry took it in to the bathroom, and I didn't hear this prayer, but I know that this is the gist of it. Cory got down on his knees, and he said, 'Dear Heavenly Father, please bless my little sister. Bless her that people will be kind to her, and that she will be able to have fun with other little kids. And please give me back my little toad.'
He then took the toad out and put it on the fireplace. About nine that night I told Cory to go to bed, so he went out and pushed his toad, and it was as stiff as a board. Dead. So he went up to his room and got on his knees again and said, 'Dear God, please bless my little sister. Bless her that people will be good to her so she can have fun, and please give me back my little toad.'
The next morning was Saturday, and we were all sleeping in, and Cory got up about seven o'clock and went out to his little toad that had now been dead for sixteen hours. It was still stiff and dead and withered up, so he picked it up and came back to his bedroom and got on his knees again. And he didn't just pray. This little boy literally talked to God.
'Please Heavenly Father, please bless my little sister, help her to have fun, and bless her that people will be kind to her so she can do the things that other little kids can do. And please give me back my little toad.'
Then he came out of his bedroom and took hold of me and said, 'Daddy, Daddy, look Daddy. My little toad was just asleep. See his eyes, he's awake now.'
That little toad was alive! Now I ask, who are we? Who are we? Does God love us? He does, and he blesses us according to our obedience, no matter how old we are or how unimportant what we are asking for may seem to others. I know!"

I, too, know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers!

True to the Faith

After viewing a movie tonight, we were discussing good vs. evil. How can we get through this life and the many challenges we face? This song came into my mind:

"True to the faith that our parents have cherished, true to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God's command, soul, heart, and hand, faithful and true we will ever stand." (That's the chorus of the song)

In 1 Timothy 4:12 it says: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (This scripture was listed as a reference to the song).

There is another reference in Alma 53:18-21:
18 "Now behold, there were two thousand of those young men, who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their country.
19 And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be their leader.
20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all - they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before Him."

I love this story of the stripling warriors - they were taught if they did not doubt, God would deliver them - and He did.

The verses of the song are:
"Shall the youth of Zion falter in defending truth and right? While the enemy assaileth, Shall we shrink or shun the fight? No!
While we know the powers of darkness seek to thwart the work of God, Shall the children of the promise cease to grasp the iron rod? No!
We will work out our salvation; We will cleave unto the truth; We will watch and pray and labor With the fervent zeal of youth. Yes!
We will strive to be found worthy of the kingdom of our Lord, With the faithful ones redeemed who have loved and kept his word. Yes!

I love the hymns and children's songs. I've enjoyed being part of the choir and am grateful for the power and messages of music.
I remember when we lived in the old neighborhood, some kids were walking past our home singing, "I Am a Child of God." It touched my heart and made me happy that they knew who they were at such a young age. They were children of God, as each of us are.