Behold Thy Mother

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As I studied our readings about the Savior this week I was reminded of the talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland about the connection between a mother's love and the love of the Savior.

The link to Elder Holland's talk is above.  

I have felt that intense connection.  

I have felt the power of it, and I have felt the pain of it.  

I am impressed with the connection that Christ makes between himself and mothers.  

Isaiah's words describes a woman with a sucking [nursing] child. 

Isaiah 49:14-16

14.  But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

15.  Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

16.  Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.  

Anyone mother who has ever nursed a child knows that a mother cannot forget that child. 

Her body will literally not allow her to.  

The mother's milk will come in, and before long the mother will be in pain if she does not feed her baby.  

This is the example that the Lord gives to us, and even uses his own body to emphasize that, 

"thy walls are continually before me."  

For anyone who wants to understand the love of the Savior better, examine the love that your mother has for you, or the love that you have for your own child.  

This truly is a great love, beyond earthly comprehension.  

Marriage and Family- A LABOR of LOVE

Matthew 21: 28-32

28.  But what think ye?  A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.  (In relating this to family, let's call the vineyard our own homes)

29.  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 

30.  And he came to the second, and said likewise.  And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 

31.  Whether of them twain did the will of his father?  They say unto him, The first, Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.  

32.  For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward that ye might believe him.  

Every general conference I notice how many talks are related to the family.  

Here are some of the things I took note of from the last General Conference:

Simplify!  "I wonder if we as Church members might also benefit from asking ourselves from time to time: "Is my experience in the Church working for me?  Is it bringing me closer to Christ?  Is it blessing me and my family with peace and joy as promised in the gospel?"  President Uchtdorf

Sabbath day observance!  "All of us are blessed when the Sabbath is filled with love for the Lord at home and at church.  When our children are taught in the ways of the Lord, they learn to feel and to respond to His Spirit.  We will all desire to attend each Sunday to partake of the sacrament when we feel the Spirit of the Lord."

Prepare for marriage!   "The track that lead to marriage passes through the terrain called dating!  Dating is the opportunity to lengthy conversations.  When you date, learn everything you can about each other.  Get to know each other's families when possible.  Are your goals compatible?  Do you share the same feelings about the commandments, the Savior, the priesthood, the temple, parenting, callings in the Church, and serving others?  Have you observed one another under stress, responding to success and failure, resisting anger, and dealing with setbacks?  Does the person you are dating tear others down or build them up?  Is his or her attitude and language and conduct what you would like to live with everyday?  That said, none of us marry perfection; we marry potential.  The right marriage is not about what I want; it's also about what she- who's going to be my companion- wants and need me to be."- Elder Hales

Appreciate Mothers!  "Today I declare from the pulpit what has been said here before: that no love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ that the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child." -Elder Holland

The Lord understands your work!  "Heavenly Father will allow you to feel that He know you, that He appreciates your service, and that you are becoming worthy of the greeting from the Lord you wants so much to hear:  "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." -President Eyring

Live the commandments!  "Throughout our lives will will need to nurture strong testimonies by studying the scriptures and by praying and by pondering the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  When firmly planted, our testimonies of the gospel, of the Savior, and of our Heavenly Father will influence all that we do..as we prove to be examples in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity, we will qualify to be lights to the world."  -President Monson

Be a woman of faith! "My dear sister, you who are our vital associates during this winding-up scene, the day that President Kimball foresaw is today.   You are the women he foresaw!  Your virtue, light, love, knowledge, courage, character, faith, and righteous lives will draw good women of the world, along with their families, to the Church in unprecedented numbers." 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is structured as a family network!  "Beginning with Adam, the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached, and the essential ordinances of salvation, such as baptism, were administered through a family-based priesthood order.  As societies grew more complex than simply extended families, God also called other prophets, messenger, and teachers.

After conference I made goals about what I learned from conference.
Goals such as these:

Simplify my worship, and get rid of unneeded things.
Help my family keep the Sabbath day.
Be a better mother, and appreciate my own mother.
Realize that the Lord helps me in this work.
Live the commandments better with my family.
Be a great woman of faith in bringing souls to Christ.
Care for my ward family.

I may have the best intents to follow the promptings of the spirit, but do I follow through?
I don't know if this applies to this parable...but it gives me something to think about. 

Cleave

Cleave is such an interesting word, isn't it?   

Initially when I thought of "cleave" I assumed it meant to hold onto something tightly, however, if you look up the word this is not the first definition that you find.      

CLEAVE

* To split or severe (something) especially along a natural line or grain.  

* Split (a molecule) by breaking a chemical bond.

* Make a way (through) something forcefully, as if splitting it apart.  

  
Interesting...

Here is part 2 of the definition:

* adhere strongly to (a particularly pursuit or belief)

* become very strongly involved with or emotionally attached to (someone).

Some might say that the only definition that applies to marriage is the second definition, but I actually feel that they both are applicable in what the Savior is teaching the Pharisees in Matthew chapter 19.  

Matthew 19:3-6

3.  The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4.  And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 

5.  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6.  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Let's put this together and see if we can learn something about the two meanings of the word cleave....

God made a man and a woman that they might be one flesh. 
 The man and woman create a child 

This child is literally "tied" to the mother and father.
 (even the sharing of molecules and chemicals)

The child grows, and is now commanded to [cleave- split or severe- especially along the natural line] from the mother and the father.  
He will now find a woman and is commanded to cleave [adhere strongly to,  have a strong emotional attachment], and the two will become one flesh- 
and thus, the cycle of cleaving begins once again.  

These two definitions seem to go together very symbolically.

The question that the Pharisees asked Jesus was whether or not it was lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause.  
(They are challenging the him on the law of divorcement) 

The Savior's response is perfect because what He is telling them is that nothing is more important than your relationship with your wife, and you would know this if you were cleaving unto her.  

When cleaving (adhering strongly to, emotionally attached to) your wife, (or husband), more than anything else, you will become "one", and if truly one, you would never consider putting away your wife.  

Forgiveness in Families

This week I've been thinking a lot about forgiveness. 

It's also what we discussed in my discussion group this week.  

I've had to ask for forgiveness a lot in my life.
I've also had to forgive a lot.

But you know- I'm grateful for these opportunities.  
They've made me a better person and a much easier person to live with.
 It's also given me an opportunity to improve in my ability to ask for forgiveness, as well as my ability to forgive.   

Here are some of my favorite talks on forgiveness. 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/finding-forgiveness?lang=eng&cid=twitter-shared …

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/forgiveness?lang=eng&cid=twitter-shared …

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/the-healing-power-of-forgiveness?lang=eng&cid=twitter-shared …

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2003/04/forgiveness-will-change-bitterness-to-love?lang=eng&cid=twitter-shared …

Families require a lot of forgiveness.
The Savior taught a lot about forgiveness in our readings this week.
One way to get better at forgiving is to study the topic of forgiveness.
Forgiveness usually doesn't just happen, however, the power and ability to forgive can be increased.
Studying helps.  

PARABLES

Can I just tell you all that this is such an excellent time to be a student of MARRIAGE and the FAMILY!

Let me tell you why...

First of all, the FAMILY has never been more under attack, not in all the history of the world, than it is right now.  

(And listen- it's going to get worse.)

Which makes this the perfect time to ARM yourself with eternal truths about the FAMILY.  Yes, ETERNAL TRUTHS are armor!!

 -lest we be like "...children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive..." Ephesians 4:14 

It's time for those of us who want to avoid these whirlwinds and pitfalls dug by the adversary himself to grow up spiritually and really come to know the doctrine of Jesus Christ.  

This week the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints made an announcement that the Church's Administrative Handbook had been updated with needed clarifications about same-sex marriage, and children living with same-sex parents.

This, of course, sends some of the "on the fencers" into a frenzy.  Some even say things like, "That's it! That's the LAST STRAW- you hateful FAMILY BIGOT Mormons!" (ok-I made that name up)

Is it just me or does it seem like these controversies have been happening a lot lately? 

Well, I- like everyone else, spent a lot of time on social media reading all of the emotional blogs, news stories, and videos- including the very informative video with Elder D. Todd Christofferson, which helped me to understand the context of these updates.  Remember that they are UPDATES- not changes in doctrine.  

Here is the video if you didn't see it. 
 http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/handbook-changes-same-sex-marriages-elder-christofferson …

Yesterday I put my headphones on and went for a long walk with my dog and listened to our reading assignments for the week.  

I was amazed.  
It's like it was the most perfectly picked reading assignment for the circumstances of the week.  
Perhaps this was because I was spiritually searching for some added peace in this troubled world.   

I felt my convictions strengthened, peace came into my heart and finally my spirit felt rest.   
Especially as I heard these loving and compassionate words of the Savior:

Matt. 11: 28-30
28.  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  

I also LOVED the parables taught by Jesus!!

In an Ensign article written by Frank F. Judd Jr., he explains why the Lord spoke in parables:

"One day when a great multitude was gathered to hear His teachings, the Savior taught in parables.  Soon thereafter the disciples asked Him, "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?"  He responded, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given" (Matt. 13:10-11).  Alma taught Zeezrom the same principle:  "It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God...according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.  And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full"  (Alma 12:9-10; emphasis added).

Those who heard the Savior's parables of instruction, therefore, were able to understand those principles they were prepared to receive.  Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, "As the Master Teacher, Christ tailored His tutoring, depending upon the spiritual readiness of His pupils."  In this way the parables both reveal and conceal at the same time.  The Savior was was so concerned with concealing when He used parables of rebuke.  To His enemies, He said, "Unto you that believe not, I speak in parables; that your unrighteousness may be rewarded unto you" (JS Translation, Matt. 21:34; emphasis added). 

The Master Teacher's parables show both the justice and mercy of God at work among those who hear them.  "Two men may hear the same words," wrote Elder James E. Talmage (1862-1933).  "One of them listens in indolence and indifference, the other with active mind intent on learning all that the words can possibly convey; and, having heard, the diligent man goes straightway to do the things commended to him, while the careless one neglects and forgets.  The one is wise, the other foolish; the one has heard to his eternal profit, the other to his everlasting condemnation." 

It seems like maybe we need to be taught in parables today as well.  
So many people, even members of the church, "listen in indolence (laziness) and indifference (lack of interest, concern or sympathy)" concerning the eternal truths of doctrine taught by the Savior and his modern-day messengers.  

If we want to stand firm in these Latter-Days, we must choose to be one that listens with an "active mind intent on learning all that the words can possibly convey; and having heard, [diligently] goes straightway to do the things commended to him...[listening] to our eternal profit".  
I'd add that we may have to do so even when our dear friends and members of our own families will not.  

How many times over the years have we read this powerful quote and either thought we understood, or perhaps wondered what that time would look like?

"To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves.  The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall.  If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it.  
If you do not you will not stand...The time will come when no man, nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light.  
Each will have to be guided by the light within himself...If you don't have it you will not stand; therefore seek for the testimony of Jesus and cleave to it, that when the trying time comes you may not stumble and fall." (Heber C. Kimball, counselor to President Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, 1967)

These are those days folks, and this prophesy is happening right now. 
We know what we must do to stand- we must know the doctrine for ourselves.  We have been warned for as long as I can remember.  

We must choose to seek it and not cease until we obtain it. 

There is no way that we will be able to stand against the ongoing persecutions regarding the FAMILY unless we do.  

As I write these words, I am reminding myself.  
No one is safe from this subject.  The more personal it gets, the more difficult it will become.  

That's why I love my major- I put on the ARMOR of ETERNAL TRUTH concerning the family every day, 
and I'm convinced that this armor is absolutely necessary to remain standing.  

It's All About Family

My name is Kristi and I am an online student at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
I am in the Marriage and Family Science program, so everything in my academic world seems to lead my thoughts back to the family.  
I am also a wife and mother to 5 beautiful children.  

The reason why I chose this major is because it's the one subject that I can't seem to get enough of. 
I absolutely love the topic of family!

This blog is for a New Testament class, but even the New Testament is about family...
Just look at how it begins, with a family.  
In fact, the first chapter of Matthew begins with a lengthy genealogical tree leading to the Savior.  
I find this fascinating!  

As I study the New Testament I will be looking for 
Principles That Apply To The Family

This week I would like to share some of my thoughts about the first public miracle that Jesus performed, which is found in John chapter 2.

1.  And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2.  And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 
3.  And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.  
4.  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee?  
(Mother, what can I do for you?)  
mine hour is not yet come. 
(I still have time to help you) 
5.  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 
6.  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 
(A firkin is equal to 10.8 US gallons)
7.  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water.  And they filled them up to the brim.  
8.  And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.  
And they bare it. 
9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,  
10.  And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: 
but thou hast kept the good wine until now.  
11.  This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.  
12.  After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.  
13.  And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 
14.  And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15.  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of them temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16. And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
17.  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of think house hath eaten me up.  
18.  Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign she west thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19.  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.  
20.  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21.  But he spake of the temple of his body.
22. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.  

This past week I had the privilege of attending the World Congress of Families convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.  
This was the first time that this convention was held in the United States. 

   Representatives of all faiths, from all over the world, were attending- all of which advocate for the family. 
  
I was interested to hear what the first speaker, Elder M. Russell Ballard, would say to start the week.  
I wondered how he would address this very large and very diverse crowd. 

He spoke, unapologetically, of the Plan of Salvation.  
He explained that in the Pre-Existence we lived together as a heavenly family, with Heavenly parents.   

He spoke about our purpose here on earth, that man and woman are intended to enter holy temples where we make [and keep] sacred covenants with our God in the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage.

He spoke of leaving the presence of God and our heavenly home, in order to create earthly families and earthly homes, while utilizing the atonement of Jesus Christ so that we may return to live, once again, with God as eternal families. 

He concluded that the reason that we care so much about the family is because from beginning to end-
our doctrine is all about the family.  

He was bold and unashamed in his convictions.  
It was awesome! 

Why must there be such mighty warriors who must fight for the truth about the family? 

Because the adversary knows that the family is essential to The Plan of Salvation, The Plan of Redemption, 
and The Plan of Happiness.   

He seeks to destroy everything about that plan, starting and ending with the family. 

Man and woman are commanded to leave their father and mother, cleave to each other and none else and "be one",   
however, the prospect of a man and a woman being "one", with all of our uniquely divine differences, seems almost as impossible as the prospect of turning water into wine.  Especially since the adversary loves to work on those differences and confuse every issue possible that relates to a man and a woman. 

On our own, the battle simply cannot be won.  
But with Christ, everything is possible.  

With so much controversy in the world today, and with such a mighty battle to fight, many are asking, 
'why is this the perfect plan for a man and a woman?'

I love how Elder David A. Bednar answered this question in his June 2006 Ensign message entitled Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan: 

"Reason #1:  The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation." 

"Reason #2:  By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children."

Christ's first public miracle is performed at a ceremony with a man and a woman entering a covenant with God to be one, which will require the same miraculous and symbolic power as turning water into wine. 

Did you know that this is why the Catholic Church calls their mandatory Marriage Prep course "Pre-Cana"? 
The name is derived from this miracle performed by the Savior at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee.  
Isn't that cool?  I think it is!

Christ's response to the disrespect shown to the temple is even more evidence of how sacred these things are to Him.  
These two accounts of the Savior speaks volumes to me about how much Christ cares about marriage, families, and the holy temples where sacred and binding covenants are made.  

I have been married for almost 26 years. 

I love marriage, even though it is not easy. 

It's been 26 years of literally watching the miracle of water slowly turn into sweet wine. 

These miracles have taken place inside of us, slowly changing us, and miraculously molding our marriage into a unified "one". 

The temple is the place that I gain the perspective and strength needed to fight for my marriage and my family. 
I must never forget that family is worth fighting for!

The reason that every book of doctrine points to the family is because from beginning to end- it's all about family.