"The Shaking Jar of Life"

A few months ago in a large missionary meeting the President of our mission, President Craven, shared an object lesson that I have not quickly forgotten. As we gathered together, he pulled out a glass jar full of hundreds of black beans. Sitting atop the pile of beans were four large, round walnuts. After pushing the walnuts beneath the surface of the beans, President Craven began to shake the jar. As the beans rattled around, low and behold, the walnuts rose to the top. Once again he shoved the walnuts back underneath the surface, but this time he took a small bean from the very bottom of the jar and placed it on top. He shook the jar. As expected, that tiny little bean disappeared to the bottom as the walnuts rose to the surface. Over and over the beans were positioned, the jar was shaken, and the walnuts reappeared. 

In life, we often take one of two positions- either a small black bean lost in a jar, or a large round walnut sitting on top. Sometimes we find ourselves a small bean at the bottom of the jar and with wishful thinking fantasize of a better life amongst the surface. We may think "If I only had more money", "If I only had more time", "If I didn't have so many things to worry about!". Sometimes we may reach that surface but at the slightest tremor, sink right back to where we began. We may try time and time again, but as our jar starts shaking, we become lost in the same discouragement. Other times we find ourselves a large round walnut, who no matter how far or how many times is pushed below surface, rises to the top as the shaking begins. In life, the only way we are going to stay on top is to get bigger. It's not the size of the bump that may come, but the size of ourselves. If we are small in soul, we sink at every shake. If we are continually growing, we rise. The larger we expand our souls, the greater our capacity to combat the shaking jar of life.

But how do we grow? In the New Testament, Peter urges the Saints to strive for this capacity and provides a clear ladder. He says,
"And beside this, giving all diligence,
                           add to your faith, virtue;
                                and to virtue knowledge;
                             And to knowledge temperance; 
                                          and to temperance patience;
                                                    and to patience godliness;
                                     And to godliness brotherly kindness;
                                                        and to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-8).

This ladder that Peter describes is simply a stepping path of Christlike Attributes. As we live the characteristics of Christ, live as He did, we grow- Our souls are enlightened, our priorities change, our desires and diligence are strengthened. We grow. We become students of the process, always striving to be better, to BECOME who our Father in Heaven wants us to be. Our loving Heavenly Father never intended us to rattle to the dismal bottom. We are children of a King and therefore we are not mediocre! We posses the characteristics of God- filled with the capacity and potential to rise during even the greatest of tremors.


The Jar of Life is ALWAYS shaking, but it is our choice where we find ourselves resting. 

The House of the Lord

I don't think I've seen a day where I haven't thought of the Temple. It's beauty and sacred nature draws and inspires me. It is truly the House of the Lord. There is a safety and protection offered in that sacred home that is unparalleled in this modern world. Since the early 1800's the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been a Temple building church, but why?

President Thomas S. Monson has said, "The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified" (lds.org).

The Temple is a house of God- a place where families are united eternally, individuals are taught and improved, and the love of God is ever present. I testify that it is only through the sacred covenants made in these holy edifices that we will be able and prepared to return to our Father in Heaven- prepared to stand before His face- perfected, worthy children of a King.

"Power of the Pause"

A disgusting picture for an equally disgusting story...

Every morning I begin my day with prayer. One morning last week was no different. I knelt down beside my desk and spent a few minutes with my Heavenly Father. As I went to get up my head began to rush (which happens all the time, I think it's a defect of being tall?) so I steadied myself against my desk to let it pass like they always do. The next thing I knew however, everything went black and my face came crashing down into the corner of my desk. Long, gross story short, I took a huge gash out of my gums above my top teeth and spent the morning in the Emergency Room. The doctor gave me a couple stitches, some antibiotics and sent me on my way. After the treacherous morning, I couldn't help but replay the events through my mind. Had I not had enough water? Was I exhausted? Did I eat breakfast? Did I just stand up too fast?


I was reminded of a great lesson that day- "The Power of the Pause". I have made it a habit in my life to pause and reflect quietly after I pray and listen for my Heavenly Father. Prayer itself is two-way communication with God. As we share the thoughts, desires, hopes and needs of our lives, He listens. But just as a loving Father, He has His own words of advice to give a worried child. It is in those quiet following moments that He sends His Spirit to answer. Sometimes He is quite, sometimes He is encouraging, sometimes He teaches. But how will we ever know if we don't stop to listen? God is our loving Heavenly Father and He has more wisdom than we could ever find here on earth- He is patiently waiting to dump that wisdom upon us, but He can not without our permission. I know that as we humbly pause and give Him a moment, we will be shocked beyond compare at just how much is waiting for us.

"But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."

2 Nephi 32:9 

To my dearest friend:

I received news today of the passing of an incredible man I had the privileged to know. After a rigorous battle with stage 4 lung cancer, he finally returned to his Father in Heaven. So many days were spent in the home of his wonderful family, spreading and feeling the Spirit that was there. My heart goes out to his wife and children. I can't pretend to know the grief they now face, but my knowledge of life after death brings me so much peace and consolation. I know that God loves each of His children individually. I know that He has a specific plan in store for each of them. Whatever Roy's journey was in life, he was welcomed home with loving arms.

It's times like these where I have to take a step back and just let my mind go. How easy would it be to climb under covers and forget it all? How easy would it be to scream and blame everyone who passes by? But what good would that do anyone? Instead, I choose to turn to my Savior. There is no one who better understands grief or pain. There is no one who better understands our sorrows and struggles. It is only through the power of His Atonement that we can truly be healed. I will never understand everything that He did not only for me, but everyone who would ever come to this earth. He alone was central to the Father's plan of happiness for His children. Without Jesus Christ, we would have no hope of a better life, no goal for what we strive for. Being our loving Father in Heaven, the only thing He wants is for each of His children to return to Him. He knew that could only happen with the sacrifice of His only Begotten Son. It is Christ who makes this life worth all the pains and struggles. I testify that He is the only way to return to our home in Heaven. He is the source of comfort, peace and healing.

Walk With Him

I will be the first to admit I have never been a "blogger" or much of a writer in any form of the word. AP English my Senior year of high school was just about the death of me...I stare at a blank page and stare and stare and stare. And yet, here I am, and I feel an introduction is in store. I'm Whitney! Sister Wright, currently. I am a 21 year old who loves quality music, all things cake decorating and anything to do with mountain trails. I am a Mormon, born and raised, and I owe who I am to my Heavenly Father.

Once upon a time I was attending school studying to be a mathematician when I realized the big man upstairs had something different in store for me. I decided to put MY life on hold and turn it over to Him. I am now serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Serving my Father in Heaven and being a representative of my Savior Jesus Christ is the best decision I have made in my entire twenty-one years of life. Every day I get to walk with my Savior.

One of my favorite hymns reads as follows:

"Abide with me, 'tis eventide. The day is past and gone; The shadows of the evening fall; the night is coming on. Within my heart a welcome guest, Within my home abide. O Savior stay this night with me; Behold tis eventide. Abide with me, 'tis eventide. Thy walk today with me has made my heart within me burn, As I communed with thee. Thy earnest words have filled my soul and kept me near thy side. O Savior stay this night with me; Behold tis eventide." 

-M. Lowrie Hofford

 

I'm not sure what this small blog will be or become, but if nothing else, I hope all who read it, know that I have a testimony of Jesus Christ. I know that He alone is our Savior and Redeemer. He is the light. I know that His gospel, His church, has been restored to the earth by our loving Father in Heaven through a modern day prophet. I know that Joseph Smith was a man of God. I know that the Book of Mormon, that holy scripture, is the convincing evidence that we can return to our Heavenly Father. I know that it is only by obedience to the laws and ordinances of His gospel that we can fully be forgiven of our mistakes and weaknesses and become as He is. His gospel is perfect. God's plan for each of His children is perfect. He knows us and He loves us, I humbly testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, amen. 

A Forever Family

Being so far away from family makes you think about a few things.


                              How grateful you are that your mother taught you how to do laundry
 How much you really did appreciate the younger brothers waking you up in the morning
                                               How badly you wish you could share your sister's clothes
                                                         How much you enjoyed eating lunch with your dad


But above all, it makes me think about what matters most in my life. That no matter where I go, no matter what I do, no matter who I choose to be, my family will be there in every milestone. That's what they do as family. They support. They love. They teach. I look back on the learning experiences I had as a child, as a teenager, and how much easier it would have been if I had just listened. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who gave me my family to be there no matter what. He knew I would make mistakes. He knew I would need direction. He placed me in the best possible position to grow and learn and prepare to live with Him again. That is the position of my family. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that I can be with them for time and all eternity.

No matter what may happen here on earth, because of the covenants my family has made by the power of the priesthood and sacred acts in the Temple, they will never leave me. I know that this power is real and has been brought to the earth by a loving Father in Heaven through a prophet of God. Without that power I would be lost- without any rhyme or reason. It is in my home and with my family that I have learned what it means to be a disciple of Christ. It is there that I have learned that I am a daughter of God. With Jesus Christ the very center of our home, my family was different. He is a silent listener at every meal, in every conversation, in every interaction. He alone has shaped my family into the blessing it is today. In an article titled The Family: A Proclamation to the World, put forth by the First Presidency of the Church of  Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are taught that "In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally."

                     There is no greater joy I have found than that surrounding my family.
               They are my world and I count my blessings every day for the knowledge
                                                  that they are also my eternity.