"OUR" Walk to Zion

                                                                                 

Remember and keep track of all the good things you do everyday for you or someone else.  We are walking to Zion and for each service rendered it gets us 1 mile closer to the Salt Lake Valley.  This includes exercise, eating right, drinking enough water, serving you family, and serving others.  I think this is a great way to help us realize all the good things we do everyday!!!  Keep track and be sure and mark it in the roll on Sunday. 

Thought for the day...

                                                                LOVE THIS!!!

Update on Lynette and Mary

Lynette is doing so much better.  She is getting her old smile back.  The doctors have still asked to not visit and not food.  She is limited to what she can eat.  So please stay away for a few more days and then we can shower her with good things. 
Mary Blankenship has neck surgery this last week.  She is doing much better too.  She is so grateful for the visits and food.  She also is trying to recover and so maybe wait for a few more days to visit there too.  Our ward is so amazing with the service you render.  Thank you so much for all you do!!!

Things to know for the month of October

There is a blood drive on the 2nd.  You need to sign up for a time if you are interested.  Please call me if you can donate. It's at the Rock Church. 

 

Remember General Conference this weekend--4th and 5th. 

 

Ladies night at the temple--Wednesday the 8th--Meet at the church at 6. 

 

Family History Fair--Tuesday the 21st.  It's at the Stake Center from 6:30-8:30.

Spirituality---

                                                                                  

Mary Ellen Edmunds---(LOVE HER!!)  She says:  I can remember a Sunday School teacher telling me once that I wasn't very spiritual.  Looking back, I think she was probably concerned because I had trouble sitting quietly through a whole lesson.  At the time, I didn't know what she meant.  But it didn't sound like a compliment, so I went home and thought about it.  I figured that maybe spirituality meant being quiet, especially on Sundays.  I wanted to be spiritual, but I needed to know what it meant.

SInce that time, I have contunued my search to understand spirituality and make it more a part of my character.  One day I read Elder Bruce R. McConkie's statement that "no other talent exceeds spirituality."  This idea, that spirituality is a talent, put my search in perspective.  There's probably nothing magical about achieving spirituality.  More likely, we develop it much as we develop other talents---through hard work, difficult decisions, critical choices, enduring through hard times, trying again, not giving up.

Foremost in my mind, spirituality implies DOING!!  That makes it difficult for me because I'd much rather sit in a comfortable place and think about it, or discuss it, or read a book about it.  But spirituality is God's asking---his inviting--and our responding--our doing.  It's getting on with it without waiting around for more details.

How is action an integral part of spirituality?  We do things because we want to demonstrate to our Heavenly Father that we really mean what we say.  That we meant it when we made baptismal covenants with him.  That we mean it when we have the privilege of entering a holy temple and making other covenants.  That we mean it when, in our quietest, most private moments with him, we ask for his help and make additional promises.

 

Joe J. Christensen--Regardless of our age or stage in life, one of the genuine needs we all have in order to live happier and to be more successful is to increase our own spirituality.  If you can respond more positively each time you ask yourself the following 10 questions, you will be increasing in spirituality.  You will be happier, and in those things that matter most in life, you will be more successful.  That is a promise!!!

1.  Do I read scriptures daily?  We are commanded to "feast upon the words of Christ" and not just nibble!!  (2 Nephi 32:3)

2.  Do I really pray and not just say prayers?  Am I really communicating and not just repeating trite expressions?  (Alma 34:17-27)

3.  Is my fasting meaningful?  Do I do more than just go hungry?  (D&C 59:13-23)

4.  Do I go to bed early and get up early?  If you do, your body and mind will become rested, and then in the quiet of those early-morning hours, you will receive more flashes of insight and inspiration than at any other time of the day--Pres. Harold B. Lee  (D&C 88:124)

5.  Am I essentially a happy person?  SMILE!!  Force it if you have to.  Count your blessings!!  (D&C 31:3)

6.  Do I work hard?  Laziness and spirituality don't go together. The most spiritual people known are also some of the hardest-working people too.  Work hard!!  (D&C 4:2)

7.  Am I more concerned about how than where I serve?  Remember that even the Savior performed the humblest acts of service.  (John 13:12-17)

8.  Do I love everyone--even enemies?  People who love people have an easier time being spiritual.  (John 13:34-35)

9.  Do I strive for oneness with others as well as within myself, between my ideal and actual self?  In order to become one, we need to engage in the process of the "at-one-ment."  If we are moving in that positive direction, the Spirit will be with us.  (D&C 38:27)

10.  Do I share my testimony with others?  When we are bearing testimony of truth, the power of the Holy Ghost confirms that truth within our hearts.  Even if others don't choose to accept truths, we are nevertheless helped spiritually.  (D&C 33:7-10)

May we lift and love and nourish and smile.  May we visit and share and sing and serve until joy fills our souls to overflowing. 

Great lesson--President Monson--Be Strong and of a Good Courage!!

Thank you Carol for a great lesson...
A few quotes from President Monson's talk--(which was given in the priesthood session of last General Conference)

Inasmuch as the trend in society today is rapidly moving away from the values and principles the Lord has given us, we will almost certainly be called upon to defend that which we believe.  Will we have the courage to do so?

 

We can help ourselves in our desire to do what is right if we put ourselves in places and participate in activities where our thoughts are influenced for good and where the Spirit of the Lord will be comfortable.

 

The call for courage comes constantly to each of us.  Every day of our lives courage is needed---not just for the momentous events but more often as we make decisions or respond to circumstances around us.  Said Scottish poet and novelist Robert Louis Stevenson:  "Everyday courage has few witnesses.  But yours is no less noble because no drum beats for you and no crowds shout your name!!"  (LOVE THIS ONE!!)

 

Courage is not limited to the battlefield...or bravely catching a thief in your house.  The real tests of courage are much quieter.  They are inner tests, like remaining faithful when no one's looking...like standing alone when you're misunderstood. 

 

Courage is doing the right thing even though we may be afraid, defending our beliefs at the risk of being ridiculed, and maintaining those beliefs even when threatened with a loss of friends or of social statue.  He who stands steadfastly for that which is right must risk becoming at times disapproved and unpopular!!

Carol asked us several questions and then gave us time to think and respond. 
1.  Think of things that you need to have courage to say "NO" to...
2.  Think of things that you need to have courage to say "YES" to...
Great discussion.  We also thought of great examples in the scriptures of those that had great courage to stand for what they believed---which in most cases, wasn't popular at the time!!!

The Prophet Joseph Smith:  Chained together and held in an unfinished cabin next to the courthouse in Richmond, Missouri--Parley P. Pratt recalls the event. 
"We had lain as if in sleep till the hour of midnight had passed, and our ears and hearts had been pained, while we had listened for hours to the obscene jest, the horrid oaths, and dreadful blasphemies and filthy language of our guards.  I had listened till I became so disgusted, shocked, horrified, and so filled with the spirit of indignant justice that I could scarcely refrain from rising upon my feet and rebuking the guards, but I had said nothing to Joseph, or any one else, although I lay next to him and knew he was awake.  On a sudden he arose to his feet, and spoke in a voice of thunder, or as the roaring lion, uttering, as near as I can recollect, the following words:

"SLIENCE...In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still, I will not live another minute and hear such language.  Cease such talk, or you or I die THIS INSTANT."

Joseph "stood erect in terrible majesty," as described by Elder Pratt.  He was chained, without a weapon, and yet he was calm and dignified.  He looked down upon the quailing guards, who were shrinking into a corner or crouching at his feet.  These seemingly incorrigible men begged his pardon and remained quiet.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!!! 

 

Update--Lynette

Lynette is home and doing better.  Because of some complications due to her surgery, the doctors have asked that she have no visitors and no food brought in.  Bummer!!!  She loves all of you and wants everyone to know that she so appreciates your concern, your thoughts and your prayers in her behalf.  She has a smile on her face and she's got a great attitude.  Just as always!!  Please continue to keep her in your prayers and we will let you know when the ban has lifted...
I told her that we will send good vibes her way!! 
                                                                               

Hopefully that will cheer her up!!!