Week 12 :What Have I Done for Someone Today?

For spring break we took a trip to visit my inlaws in Utah and Wyoming. On the long drive home (did I mention it was long....like 14 hours long) my kids began to get a little out of hand. They were tired of sitting, tired of being next to the sibling they were next to, done with the movies, done with the stories, done with the treats....well basically they were just done. It's an incredibly difficult task to keep 5 kids happy in a mini-van for 14 hours while you, yourself are confined to the front seat, believe me I know. I was out of things to entertain them with when my husband, the wonderful priesthood holder that he is suggested that we turn on the October 2009 General conference sessions he had saved on his Blackberry. At first, my children thought it was a punishment, torture really, but after the opening hymns by the choir and a few short messages everyone seemed to quiet down and begin to enjoy the spirit that filled the car. Being able to re-listen to those conference talks was so powerful. I'd almost forgotten about the amazing talk given by Elder Holland where he bore his testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, or the talk given by Bishop H. David Burton on Virtues and letting virtue direct your thoughts always. There was one talk in specific that inspired me, lifted me, made me think of ways I could change and I just KNEW this was the talk that I was to share with you this week. This talk was "What Have I Done for Someone Today?" given by President Thomas S. Monson during the Sunday Morning session. As you listen to this talk I challenge you to ask yourself, What Have I done for someone today? My hope is that we may find ways to serve others throughout the next week, and throughout our lives.

 MP3 Link

What Have I Done for Someone Today?

President Thomas S. Monson

The needs of others are ever present, and each of us can do something to help someone.

My beloved brothers and sisters, I greet you this morning with love in my heart for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for each of you. I am grateful for the privilege to stand before you, and I pray that I might effectively communicate to you that which I have felt prompted to say.
A few years ago I read an article written by Jack McConnell, MD. He grew up in the hills of southwest Virginia in the United States as one of seven children of a Methodist minister and a stay-at-home mother. Their circumstances were very humble. He recounted that during his childhood, every day as the family sat around the dinner table, his father would ask each one in turn, “And what did you do for someone today?”¹ The children were determined to do a good turn every day so they could report to their father that they had helped someone. Dr. McConnell calls this exercise his father’s most valuable legacy, for that expectation and those words inspired him and his siblings to help others throughout their lives. As they grew and matured, their motivation for providing service changed to an inner desire to help others.
Besides Dr. McConnell’s distinguished medical career—where he directed the development of the tuberculosis tine test, participated in the early development of the polio vaccine, supervised the development of Tylenol, and was instrumental in developing the magnetic resonance imaging procedure, or MRI—he created an organization he calls Volunteers in Medicine, which gives retired medical personnel a chance to volunteer at free clinics serving the working uninsured. Dr. McConnell said his leisure time since he retired has “evaporated into 60-hour weeks of unpaid work, but [his] energy level has increased and there is a satisfaction in [his] life that wasn’t there before.” He made this statement: “In one of those paradoxes of life, I have benefited more from Volunteers in Medicine than my patients have.”² There are now over 70 such clinics across the United States.
Of course, we can’t all be Dr. McConnells, establishing medical clinics to help the poor; however, the needs of others are ever present, and each of us can do something to help someone. Read the rest HERE

Week 11: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

Hey there! 

As I read and listened to this talk - these words pierced me ... "If I had lived in the days of these prophets of old, would I have believed on their words?  Would I have had faith in the coming of our Savior?"   
WOULD I?
Would you?
“To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.“To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.” 3

Enjoy this talk!  May we all come to deeply believe and then KNOW that HE is the Son of God and our personal Savior!

Your Sister in Christ  - 

MP3 Link

Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

Robert D. Hales

Only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement can bring us peace, hope, and understanding.

Believing in the Savior and His mission is so essential that it is the first principle of the gospel: “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 What is faith? In his epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul taught that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 2 And how do we gain faith? How do we gain evidence of our Savior, whom we have not seen? The scriptures teach us:
“To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
“To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.” 3
From the beginning of time, prophets have known that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, of His mortal mission, and of His Atonement for all mankind. Sacred records give the prophecies of thousands of years, not only of the first coming of our Savior but also of the Second Coming—a glorious day that will most assuredly come.
If we had lived in the days of these prophets of old, would we have believed on their words? Would we have had faith in the coming of our Savior?

Read the rest of this talk HERE

Week 10: The Virtue of Kindness

A week ago our family took a vacation to the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland. We had perfect weather and perfect crowds. It truly seemed like the happiest place on earth with all the smiles and laughter coming from everyone. My husband and I love that place and were discussing why on our long car trip back to Utah. We noticed that everyone there wants to be there. Most people have worked hard and saved a lot of money to come and want to make the most of their experience. I made the comment that it is a place of non reality were you can escape your troubles. When we wondered further what makes us feel this way we recalled two things. First the impeccable cleanliness and second the kindness almost everyone expresses. From the ticket sales to the grounds keepers and guests most people are so kind. Experiencing so much kindness can fill ones heart with such joy and love no wonder it is hard to leave.


There is another kingdom where kindness is paramount; the celestial kingdom. "Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes...Kindness is the essence of a celestial life." Joseph B. Wirthlin. When I this week's talk it appeared to me that the non-reality of Disneyland can become a reality in our lives as we daily treat others with kindness. I believe that to the degree of kindness we show others we will be treated the same. Sometimes the kindness we show must start within ourselves. How can we see the good in others and the world around us if we cannot be kind to ourselves or to those in our most intimate circle, the home? Elder Wirthlin also said this, "Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes." I am grateful to those who have been kind to me and who have taught me by their example how to be kind. I am excited to realize that I don't have to go to the Magic Kingdom to experience kindness!

CHALLENGE: Follow Elder Wirthlin's advice and let kindness permeate all of your words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes this week. Enjoy life by being kind. Smile more and criticize less. Give hugs freely and point out the good you see in others to them. Notice how it feels when you allow kindness to be central in your course of action each day. Encourage your family and friends to take on the challenge with you. Feel free to comment on this blog post any experiences you've had.


Much love and many hugs,

MP3 link

The Virtue of Kindness

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others.

Many years ago, when I was called as a bishop, I had a desire for the bishopric to visit those who were less active in the Church and see if there was anything we could do to bring the blessings of the gospel into their lives.
One day we visited a man in his 50s who was a respected mechanic. He told me the last time he had been to church was when he was a young boy. Something had happened that day. He had been acting up in class and was being noisier than he should when his teacher became angry, pulled him out of class, and told him not to come back.

He never did.

It was remarkable to me that an unkind word spoken more than four decades earlier could have had such a profound effect. But it had. And, as a consequence, this man had never returned to church. Neither had his wife or children.

I apologized to him and expressed my sorrow that he had been treated that way. I told him how unfortunate it was that one word spoken in haste, and so long ago, could have the effect of excluding his family from the blessings that come from Church activity.

"After 40 years," I told him, "it's time the Church made things right."

I did my best to do so. I reassured him that he was welcome and needed. I rejoiced when this man and his family eventually returned to church and became strong and faithful members. In particular, this good brother became an effective home teacher because he understood how something as small as an unkind word could have consequences that extend throughout a lifetime and perhaps beyond.

Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes.

Read the rest HERE

Week 9: Remember Lot's Wife

Hello Friends,

This week's talk is "Remember Lot's Wife," a devotional given by Elder
Jeffrey R. Holland in January 2009 at BYU. I appreciate Elder Holland's
insights about how to move forward with faith and the dangers of living
in the past. He counsels us to reach forth for things which are
beyond. Let go of past hurts and shortcomings. God has great things in
store for each of us and the best is yet to be. I especially enjoyed
his recounting of his lack of courage as he was a BYU student. Somehow
it gives me greater courage to do hard things, knowing he struggled too.
"Faith builds on the past, but never longs to stay there." May our faith
and confidence in the future grow as we "trust that God has great things
in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the 'high priest of
good things to come.' "

Best Wishes,



MP3 Link

Remember Lot's Wife

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

The start of a new year is the
traditional time for us to take stock of our
lives and see where we are going
measured against the backdrop of where
we have been. However, I don’t want to
talk to you about New Year’s resolutions
per se because you only made five of
them and you have already broken four. (I
give that remaining one about another
week.) But I do want to talk to you today
about the past and the future, not so
much in terms of New Year’s
commitments, but more with an eye
toward any time of transition and change,
and those moments come virtually every
day of our lives.

Read the rest HERE.