My thoughts about immigration. It isn't as cut and dry as many suppose. One LDS perspective.

In light of our recent election, I thought it might be interesting to those unfamiliar to LDS doctrine to know how the Book of Mormon came to be and who we believe the ancient inhabitants of North and South America were at the time of Christ’s resurrection.    We believe that Christ visited the American continent after his resurrection.  Christ, after his resurrection, had shared with his apostles in Jerusalem that he had other sheep, which were not of that fold, with whom he would soon visit.

 John 10:16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 

Latter-day Saints believe that Christ came here to this, the American continent, and visited the Lamanites and Nephites who originated in Israel.  We believe a man, Lehi, and his family and some close associates crossed the ocean and landed in the Americas.   We believe that he was a prophet who, among many, raised a warning voice about the need for repentance or they would be destroyed by their enemies.  After raising that warning voice, they traveled in the wilderness and eventually built a boat and came to what we believe to be a promised land. They kept a record of their history and passed it on from generation to generation.  That record, abridged by one of their prophets, Mormon, was the book that Joseph Smith was led to by divine revelation.  This book would become a second witness of Christ.  We believe this group of people had prophets among them, that let them know of Jesus Christ who would come to earth following his resurrection and that He would visit this righteous branch of Israelites, who were descendants of Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob.  We believe Christ did come and while he was here, he established more fully his doctrine and he gave them this land for their inheritance, the whole of North, Central and South America.  He then explained what would befall them until He would come again in the last days.  He explained that they would be dispersed by a Gentile nation.  The definition of a gentile nation according the LDS bible dictionary explains why America is considered a gentile nation in the Book of Mormon. 

Immigrants, starting with the discovery of America by Columbus, committed many vile acts against the original inhabitants of North, Central and South America.  In North America they were often forced to live on the most undesirable of lands.  Even in modern history the dispersion continues.    As our economy expanded we needed immigrants to work at jobs that Americans couldn’t or wouldn’t fill and so allowed immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America to come here to work.  We turned a blind eye to the fact that many came without visas because we enjoyed the cheap labor and resultant low price for goods and services.  Up to the present day, they continue to be seen in the most negative of postures.   Contrary to popular beliefs, even undocumented workers pay taxes more than they ever receive in benefits from the government.  Our government counts on funds they provide, which exceed $5 billion dollars a year to the social security fund alone, even though undocumented immigrants will never draw from it.

It is popular to believe that society spends lots of money on them for social services and that they are the major source of our crime element.  If you take time to actually look at the statistics you will find that immigrants, both legal and illegal, have a lower rate of crime than the rest of the population.  Much of our industry, even here in Utah, depends on them to survive.  Those immigrants I know personally have strong family values and good work ethics.  Many of them who live in the shadows were brought her as small children and don’t even speak Spanish well.  Often they don’t even know they aren’t legal until they try to get a driver’s license, a job when they turn 16 or they try to enter college. 

It is easy to say that they should just do things legally and they would if there were actually a way that they could do it but current law requires that they leave the country, friends and family and then wait a minimum of 10 years before they can apply for an immigrant visa.

The following article explains some of the difficulties they face. 

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/addressing-common-questions-immigration

President Obama did many things that I didn’t agree with, but one thing he did do that was humane and much needed was implement DACA.  This program allows certain youth to come out of the shadows by going through a criminal background check and getting identified so that they are able to attend school and work for a period of two years while we wait on Congress to reform our immigration laws.  DACA does not give legal residency, much less citizenship, it just allows those who are already here, through no act of their own, to work legally so they can provide for themselves and their families while we wait on Congress to act. 

The only way that some other undocumented immigrants can stay here legally is to first be the victim of a qualified crime, which if they report and cooperate with authorities they are able to get a work visa for 4 years.  After 3 years they can apply for residency if they maintain a clean record and meet certain other requirements.  Congress passed this law as a matter of public policy because it recognized that the undocumented community would not come forward to help apprehend criminals if they thought they would be deported.  Thus, crimes went unreported and the perpetrators were free to commit other crimes against the community as a whole.

There is another program that allows undocumented immigrants a “Waiver” for having entered and remained in this country for more than a year without permission but first they must leave the country for an interview in their country of origin.  When they leave they are immediately subject to a 10 year bar wherein they cannot apply for a resident visa.  Obtaining a waiver is the only way to avoid that 10 year bar.  To get the waiver they need to show extreme hardship for a qualifying family member if the waiver is not granted.  Being separated from your family for 10 years is not considered an “extreme hardship” according to immigration laws.  Doing things “legally” is easy to say but actually doing it is something else entirely.  If you were born in Mexico, Central or South American and your very survival and that of your family depended on your taking great risks to come to this country to avoid starvation or death, would you take those risks?  If you were brought here as a child and grew up here would you want to be forced to leave and return to your country of birth, whose language and culture you aren’t familiar with, and where you have no family? 

Consider the words of Christ as contained in the following scriptures in 3 Nephi, one of the books of the Book of Mormon.  

 10 And it came to pass that when they had all given glory unto Jesus, he said unto them: Behold now I finish the commandment which the Father hath commanded me concerning this people, who are a remnant of the house of Israel.

 11 Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that when the words of Isaiah should be fulfilled—behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them—

 12 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they shall be fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the covenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel.

 13 And then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them.

 14 And the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you this land, for your inheritance.

 15 And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—

 16 Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

 17 Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

 18 And I will gather my people together as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor.

 19 For I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. And behold, I am he who doeth it.

 20 And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the sword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles.

 21 And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O house of Israel.

 22 And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you.

These scriptures describe that these descendants of Jacob, those Lamanites who were scattered by our ancestors and we are oppressing once again, these same people were given this land as commanded by God, see verse 14.  So many of these people are being gathered and told who they are.  These are those who we are told by prophecy shall be gathered and blossom as a rose.   They are a part of your future if you intend to be a Zion people. 

Even Senator Sanderson, who was responsible for tougher laws against immigrants here in Utah has since repented of his posture.  Once he actually met with and got to know some young people who were brought here as children he realized that something needed to be done to provide a way for them to adjust their status and remain in this country legally. 

Maybe it is because I am not perfect and know I have need of repentance that my heart fills with compassion towards immigrants.  I know many of them personally and they are among the finest people that I know.  I support the posture the LDS Church takes which is to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to save souls.  They look upon undocumented immigrants with compassion, send them on missions and give them positions of responsibility within the church.  It is time for our government to take the same posture and to provide a way for undocumented workers to come out of the shadows, to treat them with dignity and to provide them with a reasonable path to become legal residents so that they can more fully participate in society and contribute to this country that they love.   To discount a significant population, that by in large has no legal or feasible avenue to citizenship, who actually contribute far more than they take away from our society, who we believe were the original inhabitants of North and Central America and have a prophesied major role in the establishment of Zion, does not seem charitable.

What does their future look like?

 

 

 

Many people were sad about our two main contenders for President of the United States.  There was something that concerned me more, it was the parties, made up of individuals, who chose them.  It concerns me that there are men and women who call themselves moral who rallied behind individuals that they knew were questionable in either their ethics or behaviors, in an effort to protect their political own interests and agendas. 
 

The election is over and where do we go from here?
 

I want to be law abiding and go forward in faith.  I will try to be more informed and let my thoughts be known to my elected representatives.  I will get involved.  I will seek to keep the Sabbath Day Holy and prepare myself to be more worthy to hear and discern the voice of the Spirit of Truth.  I will try to be just and true, and sensitive to the downtrodden.  I will do my part to make a better America.  I will teach my children truth.  We will read scriptures at night and discuss them during the day.  We will seek to not watch television that is unwholesome, even if that means not watching television.  We will not view unwholesome media or listen to music that fosters sexual impurity, drugs, lust or vigilantism.   We will seek to repent of our own pettiness, our own selfishness and our own sins. We will dress modestly and we will pray as a family and if we do these things, I believe we will be okay.   

We may eventually have war at our own front door.  We may become victims to terrorists or to gangs, but we don’t have to be like them.  We can believe that there are things worse than death, because we believe in life after death and a Creator who has the power to redeem the repentant.  This is a great time to be the best we can be.  This is a great time to set our hearts and homes in order.      

Oh, no! Not another Mom Letter!



MOM LETTERS
Mom letters are infamous in my home.  I maintain I send them just to share what I think I have been learning, but the recipients often see them as a forum for sharing what I think they are not doing or could be doing better, a written form of a "come to Jesus" meeting.  If they would read them a little more carefully, they contain things I want to do better.  Sharing our thoughts in written form is a great mental exercise and is most valuable, not for the recipients, (our children and spouses), but for the person writing them!   If people waited until they were perfect at understanding and implementing truth, we would have no scriptures and no novels. A mom letter is also an invitation to write back and share what they have been learning. 

WOMEN NEED OTHER WOMEN
Throughout my life, I have been blessed with several individuals who have kept me accountable in sharing what I felt I was learning.  First it was my sister, then there was a group of women who gathered on a regular basis, then it was a sister-in-law and finally, an intimate group of friends.   Throughout all of this time, I had children who were hungry to exchange dreams and spiritual experiences when we gathered each weekend morning, summer or times they were off track and there was pillow talk with older children when they came home from a date or work and on the way to Gramma’s house and back.    With these individuals, lunch, snacks, dinner and even fun, were always secondary to the spiritual sharing that took place.   What was so fun, is that the individuals involved expected something important would take place, they expected mutual edification.  They thought they would get something at the table from the individuals gathered and they felt they would contribute something of value.  

Current and future moms with whom I share regularly. 

 Photo of several of my daughters and two daughters-in-law with me in the center.

THE MEN IN MY LIFE.
 I am encircled about with men who see women as equals in spirituality and importance.  It is something they believe in their innermost souls.  No man can pretend what isn't there convincingly.   My husband, Bryan, has learned communication skills that have lifted my soul.  He is willing to hear me out and not rush in with solutions or condemn me for conclusions.  It is a powerful, powerful tool.  Parenting and marriage books promise that the one sharing is far more likely to consider options and see their flaws in thinking, far faster than when being compelled to do so.   It is so true!  But, I have found men are more reluctant to share deeply. 



Sometimes husbands see the invitation of "let's talk" as a hostage situation!  A photo of me with my husband, Bryan. 



KEEPING A JOURNAL IS ANOTHER WAY OF SOLIDIFYING WHAT WE ARE LEARNING ALONG THE WAY.

I learned from these ladies about an important principle which I have simply called “writing”.   It is simply to briefly record our morning prayer.  I literally write down my prayer and it begins with “Dear Father”.  I take a moment to recognize His hand in my life and my greatest questions and desires.   I also record any dreams I may have had, not knowing initially if they are meaningful or not.   After doing that, I just take some time to listen what comes into my heart and mind as if from His mouth.   These are primarily what are contained in my multitude of journals.  For example, I recorded what I saw as a miracle yesterday.  We had determined to get all of our things out of the basement to give Brett and Missy and their children more room in the basement.   I had suggested this as a goal, but  Dad determined we should do this yesterday.  He brought everything upstairs and I began to be faint of heart.  We have been used to having all or a portion of a basement to house some of 40 years of collected stuff.  When I saw what came up, I was overwhelmed.  I shared my concerns with my Heavenly Father, and received a  few short impressions.  They were simply that angels would help me in this task and it would be done in a day and I would joy and rejoice in the results.  Though our kitchen looked like we just moved in with box after box staring at me, I now approached this task with hope.  Hope is the biggest by product of daily sharing with the Lord when there is that expectation that you will get something important from that process.  For me it is different from just praying.  It is a form of accountability.

THREE IMPORTANT DAILY QUESTIONS FOR THE LORD.
In my written prayer, I ask three important questions in one form or another.  What am I prepared to learn today about the gospel?   I am basically asking God to tutor me.   Next, of all the things I need to repent of, bring into my view that which is most needful to address now.  Finally, what is the best use of my time and energies today?   I write down the feelings that immediately come as if from His own mouth.  Surely, many of those thoughts are my own, but I also believe many come from outside of me.  I am able to consider things I had not considered.  I feel the spirit and my hope doesn’t run out that day.  I feel the gospel is doable when I am consistent in this process. 

THE POTENTIAL OF SHARING VERBALLY WITH OTHERS

I just completed a contracted thirty school days of teaching 10 teenage boys who are in state's custody this summer for our local school district.   It is a new program where the boys have a chance to earn recovery credit and fill in any gaps in learning they may have.  I teach them math, language arts and study skills.   We talk about principles of learning every morning for just a couple of minutes.  I often feel strong waves of the spirit in that process.  In their eyes, though they have done all sorts of criminal acts, though they know little about the principles of Godliness, they expect to learn something and they think they have something to share.  This summer has probably been the highlight of my professional career.  Last week I shared excerpts of an article that appeared in Forbes Magazine that described 10 important characteristics of highly influential people.    Though I only got to read the first four, because I had to subscribe to the magazine to get the rest, these concepts literally made my heart sing because they happen to include what I also consider are the four most important elements of establishing a Zion Society.   The following is my interpretation of what she wrote about in my own words. 

The first is that those successful individuals are consistently engaged in an effort to learn more and improve.  The world is filled with individuals who grumble through life, hate their job and their circumstances and then there are those who love what they do and love their life.  These are primarily those who see life an a never ending opportunity to grow. 

The second was that these individuals were not content to have things remain as they are.  They always saw situations that needed to change and set about to change them.   My thought is that these individuals see what is going well, but also can see those ways that a situation or circumstance can improve and are not afraid to share those ideas.  They have faith in themselves as being an instrument of change and they believe in others' capacities to make needed changes. 

The third characteristic was that these individuals know that nothing great happens if it isn’t mutually beneficial.  It is never at the expense of those with whom you associate or work with.  The author said that the world is full of individuals who have a positive mindset and are shakers and movers, but if they are willing to get ahead at the expense of others, they really are simply narcissists.  Then there are those few who understand and are committed to the mutual benefit of all involved. 

 The fourth characteristic of these individuals is that they recognize the need for sharing and are open to others’ critiques.  They recognize the importance of synergy in making progress and getting things done.  My thoughts are that this will even occasionally include sharing with those set over us.   There is order in any church organization, any  business, and even in a family if you subscribe to a patriarchal order.  All members of any organization need to bring their best to the table.  Sometimes that necessitates having difficult conversations.  After collaboration and decisions are made by those in authority, all need to work together to make those decisions work to the best of their abilities.  

I only have to guess what the author included in the remainder of her list, but there are two I would add:   One is that there is a plan for us that is far more detailed than we suppose and that the circumstances in which we find ourselves, could be part of that "plan" and are often potential stepping stones to greater things, if we turn unto the Lord.   I have quoted Neal Maxwell numerous times:  "It does no violence to our frail human logic to observe that there cannot be a grand plan of salvation for all mankind, unless there is also a plan for each individual."    Seeking the Lord's input and view of what is to be a part of our lives and what isn't is actually a part of the repentance process.    Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what others think of us.  It doesn’t matter if they buy into our philosophies.  It doesn’t matter if others make needed changes.  What matters if that, with God’s help, we find out what our errand is exactly which often includes giving others their best chance of coming unto Christ.  Our plan often and will primarily  consist of opportunities to interface with certain individuals throughout the course of our lifetime.

The second I feel to share and this of course, this is not an exhaustive list, (though this post may seem a little exhausting), is that there are righteous priorities that are always in play.   Our first priority is our relationship with God for without that one, we are terribly handicapped in meeting other’s needs or fulfilling our life’s mission.  The second is our spouse or in the absence of a spouse, our focus needs to be in becoming “spouse” material rather than finding that spouse.  The third is our unmarried children, followed by our married children.   Then, our priority is the world at large with those closest to us and beyond.   Whatever choices we make, this order matters most.  As we seek to please the Lord, we need to keep an open mind, both as to what the Lord is going to ask us to sacrifice and what he is willing to give us or ask us to retain. 

Though I have ten children, this is my current nuclear family, as the rest of our children are married.



So how did things turn our yesterday?  The angels ended up being Audrie, Alyse and Bryan and intermittent thoughts from my Father in Heaven throughout the day.  The miracle was that things in my home were better organized.  We found a place for everything.  I now have many things all in the same location.  The garbage can is full.   Ironically,  I don’t feel more cramped, but rather more functional.  We found things we thought were lost.  I initially believed this was a hopeless task.  I don’t know what lies ahead in immediate futurity.  I only know that God is merciful and that His perspective will beat mine any day. 

Love, Mom

Teaching Faith

How does a mother teach her children faith?  I was blessed with someone in my life who introduced me to the principle of faith.  Now, over forty years later, I am stilling refining my understanding of it.  All I know if that my greatest blessings have been the fruits of faith. 

Son, Brett and his wife Missy, hold Family Home Evening each Monday Evening in an attempt to teach their children faith.

 

  My sister, 15 years my senior, taught me vital truths about the nature of God as I was approaching adolescence.   She began teaching me about the importance of studying scriptures and the words of prophets, key to building my faith.  On my birthday and Christmas, she gave me a doctrinal book to read and told me what book she wanted for those occasions.  She taught me how to study.  She explained that the careful student will look for blessings or attributes they want to acquire and then they should seek to find the laws upon which those blessings are based.  It became a type of treasure hunt for me.  My first experiment was to try to keep laws associated with specific blessings  surrounded Sabbath Day observance.  The blessings I sought were listed in Isaiah 58 which included an increased ability to hear direction from the Lord and increased light, which to me meant an increased ability to gain knowledge.  She had literally pointed out 16 blessings that Isaiah promised the faithful Sabbath Day observer.  She said that one of the blessings indicated one would be smarter."   I thought, how does a 13 year old keep the Sabbath Day Holy?  I decided that in addition to going to church, I could decline offers to go shopping on Sunday with my mother.  I could fast once a month for 24 hours and that I could make it more holy by  not doing my homework on Sundays.  After putting that principle to the test, I found myself doing much better in school.  I was on the High Honor Roll for the first time in my life.  I also felt an increasing ability to recognize promptings.   I literally became somewhat of a scholar receiving a host of academic accolades upon graduation from college.  But, much more importantly, I began to understand more fully the role of faith in both implementing commandments and realizing the subsequent fruits that obedience.   

 

It takes great faith to believe that the Lord can influence us in both big and small decisions we make in life.

 

Mormons subscribe to an incredible doctrine that separates them from many other churches.  It is the right of individuals to receive personal revelation.  It doesn’t just include divine guidance in one’s personal life and affairs, but knowledge about the mysteries of Godliness.    Joseph Smith taught, speaking of himself, "God has not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 149)." After receiving the revelation of the three degrees of glory he wrote a the end of section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants:  “But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us. . . which he commanded us we should not write. . . neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him.  To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves; that through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world.”

Bringing a child into what seems like an uncertain world takes great faith. 

 

One of my first significant dreams was a simple one.  It was a man coming up to me and asking if I wanted to see an ancient oil lamp.  I was excited to view one, as the parable of the wise virgins was one of my favorite parables.   He showed it to me and I loved seeing it.  Then he asked me if I wanted to see a modern day lamp.  To be polite, though less excited about this, I said yes.   He showed me an identical lamp.  I considered this might be a significant dream.  As I pondered and prayed about that dream, I felt the Lord was telling me that the same kind of faith required by the ancients would be required of me.  I would, if I determined to be a faithful saint, be asked to pass tests of my faith that would require me to go forward, not knowing the end from the beginning.   I would have my own Abrahamic tests and  Red Seas to cross.  How could it be otherwise?  They came and are still coming and I thank God for them. 

The Simplest of Matters

Have you ever learned something from a quote or a scripture that was life changing.   I like the LDS philosophy that anything that is uttered by the power of the Holy Ghost is scripture.   A quote that has uplifted and inspired me was authored by Lorenzo Snow, an LDS prophet.   He said,

There is a way by which persons can keep their consciences clear before God and man, and that is to preserve within them the Spirit of God, which is the spirit of revelation to every man and woman. It will reveal to them, even in the simplest of matters, what they shall do, by making suggestions to them. We should try to learn the nature of this Spirit, that we may understand its suggestions, and then we will always be able to do right. This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint. We know that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives.

In Conference Report, Apr. 1899, 52.

The part that inspired me most was the concept that I could ask God about “the simplest of matters”.  Whether it is about child rearing, how to best use my time, or just wanting insight as to why I am suddenly feeling stressed or fearful, I can seek the Lord's input through prayer.   That idea combined with the admonition in the Book of Mormon found in Alma 37:37 to “counsel with the Lord in all thy doings”, has convinced me that "checking in" with the Lord is not just a privilege, but rather a commandment.   Some limit the scope of their prayers to the really big decisions in their life, and life altering questions such as who to marry, where to live, and how many children to have.  But, I believe that it is in seeking the Lord's wisdom in the smaller day to day decisions that helps prepare us to recognize his voice when it comes to those all important decisions.

One of the things that is important to me is trying to set my home in physical order.  A measure of physical order helped me feel the spirit more abundantly.  Two years ago, we moved to a new home.  We really felt guided to our current address and felt to involve the Lord in the decisions we were making in relation to that new home.   When it was nearing time to move in, we wanted to have our furnishings look nice, but our current furniture just didn’t match as well as we liked.   We had all shades of brown and now we had a grey color scheme to deal with.   We went on lots of shopping trips, but never felt peaceful about purchasing new bedroom furniture.  Finally, the thought came to me to refinish some of what we already had.   I shared this idea with a neighbor and she steered me in the direction of a product that didn’t require sanding first.  I felt immediately peaceful about trying this and my husband was willing to let me try it out. 

This was our first attempt.  It had been a honey color.

We loved the results and ended up refinishing countless pieces of what we already had. 

The best part was not having any payments for furniture. 

We  had as Ethan Allen Set, but wanted a darker black brown set to match our décor.  We finished all these pieces with a color called Kona.  I even painted my lamps and added new shades. 

About a year after we moved in that we were able to host a daughter’s wedding reception in our home, another money saver.  

The wood frame above the cake was refinished, we simply added a new black and white print.

Chris and Corinne's reception was a success!

We found a new media cabinet, but painted this frame to match.

     We found that red was a perfect accent color that worked for all seasons.  Yellow becomes more prominent in the spring.

I found some great upholstery fabric, I used it throughout the house for pillows and refinishing this bench.

The effect was what we wanted.  Simple with pops of color.

This is a bench that comes in during the winter and returns to the porch in the spring.  We added several black and white picture frames to help decorate.  The coat rack not only kept with the theme, but was actually useful. 

There will be mistakes made in the process of trying to involve the Lord in our doings, there always are because we "see things through a glass darkly".  We let a man who came to our door promoting his cement business, convince us to use him in December to pour a parking strip.  It was a horrible job and we found out later, he was not even licensed.  The thought of a getting a good deal ended up costing us more than double the going rate when you added the removal of that cement.  Inspiration can be clouded by our own desires, wisdom and pride or the persuasive voice of fear or temptation.  At such times, we simply need to go back to the Lord in a spirit of humility and ask for more input.  The answer isn't to avoid the revelatory process because we aren't perfect at it. 

 

Additionally, it isn’t always about saving money, being prudent, choosing the hardest thing or conversely avoiding all stress, or any combination of the above.   We may have an answer that ultimately leads to a very challenging circumstance.   We may incorrectly assume that when things are rough, we must have made a huge  mistake or heard wrong.  Just maybe, the Lord led us into a course or circumstance that has the capacity to give us some graduate level knowledge about life and the gospel or perhaps smooth out rough edges that could removed in no other way.    It is rather about faith and seeking each day to involve the Lord in our daily lives and increasing our ability to hear his voice.  Repentance is that process of returning to our knees again the next day with a desire to hear and implement his influence a little better than the day before.   It is acknowledging his hand in our lives and trading our limited perspectives in for his divine and perfect perspective.   

I cry each time I take the tree down. Well, not really. .

Congratulations!   You survived another Christmas Holiday Season.  Years ago I became aware of a stress test wherein you could determine how likely you are to get really sick in the near future as determined by the number of points you score.  The premise is that the higher the score, the more likely you are to experience physical illness or another stress related malady.  For example, if you had a significant financial blow or lost or started a job, or added a new member to the family, etc., etc. you were assigned a certain number of points.  Understandably there are huge things that give you a larger number of points such as trouble with the law, divorce, and of course, a death in the family.  But,  I was surprised to find that simply getting through the Christmas season was one of the ways you could add points.  Even good things can add some stress to our lives, such as a promotion at work or a vacation.  So how did you do?  Was it the joyous season you hoped it would be or are you simply glad it is over?  I always like to take a minute at the end of the season to consider what went well and what didn't go so well and whether the person I was trying to honor during the Holiday was pleased or disappointed in my efforts. 

Honoring the Season:  I believe that we should honor and celebrate religious holidays and special occasions.  The Savior honored these kinds of traditions.  His first recorded miracle was performed at a marriage in Cana.  But honoring the season can be difficult if it involves extreme and costly preparations.  I think we should avoid the goal as mothers to make the holiday amazing for all within our stewardship.   We need to remind ourselves, and our children, that it will be a great season if we individually take efforts to stay close to our Father in Heaven, both in the creation and implementation of our plans.  While some claim that the season brings great feelings of love and increased feelings of the spirit, others struggle to maintain the spirit they have the rest of the year, because they feel so burdened by the holidays.  I try to remember that it isn't the Lord who over-programs me, I do that to myself.

A week before Christmas I fell into my bed exhausted.  We had four December birthdays and a daughter who completed her mission with all the excitement and gatherings that accompany that happy event.  Our returned missionary also had surgery on her foot the day following her homecoming talk and lots of follow-up care. I did a self-check and couldn't recall feeling the spiritl that particular day or even the day before.  I wondered if I was failing and displeasing the Lord in my offerings.  I cracked open the scriptures, began reading with honest intent, and the spirit returned.  I had been reading the scriptures, but in my "busy-ness" that exercise had become perfunctory.  I felt increased hope knowing that if I involved the Lord more, simplified my preparations and got more rest, I would make it through the season.

Honoring Relationships:  At Christmas time many people find themselves experiencing some genuine depression.  Often it is because this is that time of year where we consider the strength of our relationships with significant others.  We may feel like a fifth wheel if we are unmarried or not currently "in a relationship".  We greatly miss those who have passed on.   There may be family members who are estranged.   Some who have departed from the predominant faith of their families may feel judged and "cast out".   Gathering with loved ones who don't seem to be going through what we are going through can often be a painful reminder of our circumstance.  Even deciding how to recognize neighbors and how many to acknowledge can be stressful.  If this is a time when we are struggling financially, the holidays may seem particularly bleak. 
 

A Time to  Focus and Refocus:  At these times, we need to focus first and foremost on our own relationship with Christ.  One of my favorite traditions is to gather on Christmas Eve, where the focus is less on gifting and more on the Savior.  We do have all the siblings exchange names which rotates each year, and they exchange their gifts that night.   Grandma gives a gift to all the grandchildren.  The little ones do the manger scene as Luke is read.  But then we have adult guests from that first Christmas, dressed in costume, who share their stories with us.  They especially focus on how they individually prepared to receive the Savior.  The point is often considered that these individuals had relationships with the Savior before this great event occurred.  I think it doubtful that Mary had not had spiritual experiences prior to this time.  She was surprised at the Angel Gabriel's salutation, not at seeing an angel.  It is ludicrous to me to think that Joseph's revelation to marry Mary was his first spiritual experience. I believe he had enough spiritual experience to know and trust in that message from the Lord.  Every time I see my family members dress up, I consider that the individuals who received him were mortals just like us.  We too can make the decision to please the Lord, instead of pleasing men.  They had hope in the fact that pleasing God would lead to a glorious future in His Kingdom.   Like these great individuals in the past, we must proclaim what we believe to be true, live by faith, not seeing the end from the beginning, and allow those who hear us the choice to consider our testimonies or not.  It is to reach out in faith, knowing we need the atonement every bit as much as any being who has ever lived, except for Him, who made that atonement possible.  This may a time when we are given the opportunity to prove we will love and serve the Lord at every hazard, not caring too deeply about what other people think of us.

I always breath a sigh of relief when the decorations come down.  I feel the same way when I return from a trip.  I love normal life.  I love routine and simplicity.  But, this is the time of year for new beginnings.  It is the time to test what we believe to be true by being our best selves, being honest in all of our doings, forgiving and forgetting, and serving those whom the Lord, in his omniscience, placed in our family circles.  It is to consider that His return draweth nigh and it is time to prepare for that event by seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.  If we do this with singleness of heart, then then all these things shall work together for our good and His name's glory.   This was perhaps, one of the sweetest holidays I have ever experienced.   The best times were definitely those moments when I was just holding a baby, sharing thoughts with loved ones, or hearing about my daughter's mission and what she learned.  As I put the ornaments away, I was genuinely excited for next Christmas and wondered what might transpire between this year and next.  I don't worry about stress tests and my accumulation of points.  It isn't what happens to me that is all important, but how I respond to those stressors that will make all the difference.