I would like to share a recent “little miracle” that began in my life on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, and it is still reverberating in my soul today. I rarely get answers to prayers that come so quickly or that come in such a miraculous way. I was amazed! This was truly an “extraordinary event” and a “work of God.” Indeed, it was a tender mercy and miracle for me!
Read MoreOne of my favorite hymns is “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” I listen to it almost every morning while I fix breakfast. The words and music help me to re-center my life on the Savior. No matter how I wake up feeling that morning, no matter how I might have slept the night before, no matter what is on my to-do list for the day, I feel a little bit more energized and a little bit happier when I listen to this hymn!
Read MoreChristmas is always a wonderful combination of joy, a bit of stress, putting up old, well-loved decorations, trying to plan meals and festivities ahead of time, rushing at the last minute over something forgotten, love and laughter with family and friends, and truly appreciating the real reason for Christmas—Jesus Christ. How I love our dear Savior!
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
— Isaiah 9:6
Read MoreMy desire this year is to become more like Jesus Christ and to build a better life by using Him as my one sure foundation. I want the true meaning of Christmas to linger with me, day after day, week after week, month after month, throughout the whole year. When I read the article, “Jesus Christ—Our Firm Foundation” by Donald L. Hallstrom, I gained new insights on how I can build a spiritually strong foundation through “vision, commitment, and self-discipline.”
Read MoreI hope you will take a few minutes to watch this incredible music video, “Strong,” which was written for Sarah Frei. I’m sure it will be as life-changing for you as it has been for me. I believe that Jesus Christ can help each one of us to be STRONG.
Read MoreI admire John Hancock’s leadership, tenacity, and desire to use his wealth and influence to help America withstand the pressures it was facing and become the great country it is today. As men and women who live in the United States of America at the present time, it is now our turn to stand up and continue this legacy of faith.
Read MoreI have always tried to carry one-dollar bills in my purse or pocket to give to those in need. I know not everyone agrees with my attitude of giving to the poor, but I feel in my heart it’s the right thing for me to do. My son Jonathan was homeless at different times in his life, and I know he stayed alive from the handouts of other people. Whenever I give to someone in need, I think of Jonathan.
Read MoreI want to say how much I love being a mother and a grandmother! I made many mistakes with each of my children, and I’m grateful they have been so understanding and forgiving of me. This cycle of life is God’s plan. It truly is, “The Plan of Happiness.” I’m so happy I can be a part of it!
Read MoreHowever, having a few successful experiences of breaking through my fears did not bring me great courage. It was still not one of my emotional strengths. It was only through the pain of many disappointing experiences, where I totally lacked the courage I needed, when I resolved to change. I believe we can all learn to be courageous people who know how to, “DO what needs to be done WHEN it needs to be done WITHOUT hesitation.”
Read MoreFrom 1863 to our present day in 2021, not much seems to have changed since Lincoln’s time. With the passing of 158 turbulent years, our country could still be described with his words, “Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient….” Hopefully by our examples and teachings, we can help people in our communities, country, and even the whole world to embrace Abraham Lincoln’s ideals. His vision of peace and unity, along with his fervent proclamation to turn our hearts to God once again, can still be realized.
Read MoreEven as a child who had been born a slave, Booker T. Washington always had a great thirst for knowledge. When the slaves were freed, he worked as hard as he could while a young boy and saved all his money to get an education. Then he walked alone for days to a school that he had heard about for black children, Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Virginia, and worked his way in. After many years of sacrifice and a great deal of hardships, he graduated from this school.
Read MoreIf we want to really know Jesus Christ, we must study His life. When we study and ponder His life, we begin the process of becoming like Him. It becomes easier to love, forgive, and serve others as He did. Through reading (or listening to) the scriptures, good books, other articles about Him, and also viewing Jesus through the modern technology of film, we can see how He might have walked with, talked to, and served the people who were around him.
Read MoreWhen Dallin H. Oaks was called to have a leadership role in our church in 1984, I was delighted to begin hearing him speak again at every General Conference. In doing a little research about his life, I came across a cute anecdote by his sister Evelyn O. Moody:
“Whenever we got together for family parties, it was funny to watch because Dallin . . . was always the leader. He would tell who were the cops and who were the robbers . . . Before anyone else could turn two wheels in his brain, Dallin had the whole thing organized.”
Read MoreI always admire people who are willing to change for the better when they gain more experiences that point them toward true principles that govern life. When people have an unwavering faith in God, they courageously seek and do God’s will. George Washington was a person who was willing to admit when he was wrong.
Read More“. . . These four unique gifts will bring us more and more joy as we accept them. They were made possible because Jehovah condescended to come to earth as the baby Jesus. He was born of an immortal Father and a mortal mother. He was born in Bethlehem under the most humble of circumstances. His was the holy birth foreseen by prophets since the days of Adam. Jesus Christ is God’s transcendent gift—the gift of the Father to all of His children. That birth we joyfully celebrate each Christmas season.” —President Russell M. Nelson
Read MoreEvery year as December comes again, I always reflect on how I can bring the real spirit of Christmas—Jesus Christ’s humble birth—into our home. This year, I decided to collect the online videos of my favorite musical performances, songs, and stories about Christmas. I want to share these with my family and friends, which includes all of you!
Read MoreFor the past few years, I’ve been writing posts about each letter of the alphabet, A-Z, from my book, ABC’s for a Happy Marriage. I didn’t write these posts in alphabetical order—I just randomly wrote whatever I felt like writing at the time. I wanted to have all twenty-six posts written by the end of 2020, but I realized this month that I was only up to twenty-four letters of the alphabet. So, I decided to combine the last two letters, “K” and “S” together.
Read MoreOf course, the hard work of being parents is a 24/7 commitment, but the joy that each of our eleven children has brought us is well worth the effort. We learned that we had to always keep an eternal perspective on the hard/sad times. We also learned to sit back and simply enjoy the delightful/happy times. As David always tells people who are overwhelmed with the number of children we chose to have, “Even having one child is a wonderful gift.”
Read MoreUnity doesn’t come all at once, but it will come. Sometimes, you will need to “agree to disagree” on a certain subject, and that’s okay, too! Let time go by. Not all issues need to be resolved right now. Be loving. Be kind. Be patient. Keep your eye on the goal of unity as you each progress in your individual lives. Marriage should always be a “win-win” relationship.
Read MoreThe true Spirit of Easter is the sure knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He lived. He died. He was resurrected. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we will all be resurrected and be reunited with our loved ones once again someday. Jesus is the “Master Healer” who heals us from both sin and sorrow.
Read More
