https://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/10/religious-values-and-public-policy?lang=eng

Beautiful talk. So much there.

Unit 2, Choice 4 Acts 19-20

Unit 2 Choice 4:

Proper Authority and Ministering to the People

Priesthood Ordinances Paul performed:

1. Baptism by immersion. 

2. Giving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. 

3. Priesthood blessings. 

4. Administering of the Sacrament

5. Healing. 

1. What did Paul do for the Corinthian Saints because it hadn't been done right?

They had repented, but did not know that there was a needed ordinance. He baptized them with proper authority and immersed them in water. 

2. How does this help answer the question of many nonmembers of needing to be baptized when they have already been baptized?

They understand where the authority comes from. The authority comes down straight from God. They recognize the example that the Savior set as he was baptized, though a perfect Man. 

3. In what way did Paul bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost?

he laid his hands upon their heads. 

4. On What day of the week did the Saints meet to break bread? What evidence is there in John 20:1, 19 for why the Sabbath day was changed?

They met the first day of the week to break bread. 

It was changed to this because it was on this day, that Mary went to the tomb and Jesus was risen. Jesus came to the disciples that evening and said, "Peace be unto you". 

With the Sacrament we are to think of Christ and the Sacrifice he made for each of us, but to also know that he lives!

Unit 1, Choice 1: Acts 1-12

Unit 1, Choice 1:
Themes emphasized in the Book of Acts:

--There is order within the Lord's church.
--Truth changes hearts.
--Truth will prevail as we put our faith in the Lord and do his will.
--Eternal truths and principles are gained through acts not forms that man would desire (money).
--The Holy Ghost teaches and leads people to do good.
--Importance of Missionary work.
--The gospel will be spread to all the world.

What was Peter doing in the chapters of Acts?

Chapter 2:
-Testifying of the resurrection of Christ.
-Teaches of gaining Salvation and of the Holy Ghost.
-Converts many.
-Baptizes.

Chapter 3:
-Peter, along with John, heal a man who has been lame since birth.
-Preaches Repentance.
-Teaches of the restoration to take place before the Second Coming of Christ.
-Clarifies that Christ is the prophet of which Moses spoke.

Chapter 4:
-Arrested and before the council.
-Testifies that Salvation comes because of Christ.

Chapter 5:
-Continue the miracles of Jesus.
-Arrested (as well as John) and released by an Angel.
-Testify of Christ.

Chapter 8:
-Peter and John to Samaria, confer the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.
-Rebukes Simon for wanting to buy the gift.

Chapter 9:
-Peter heals AEneas
-Raises Dorcas from death.

Chapter 10:
-Commanded in a vision to take the gospel to the Gentiles.

Chapter 12:
-Peter is freed from Prison.
-Helps church grow.

Marriage

Okay, this might be cheap of me to do, but since I haven't posted anything in awhile I am going to just share a paper that I wrote for one of my classes recently, because it is the foundation of all of my thoughts lately. I just don't feel like I should devote time to articulate a bunch of my feelings right now, so this shall suffice.

Doctrinal Research Paper: Marriage

Abstract

Marriage is the basic foundation of the family in society. As rates of marriage decrease, other things also are lacking in the strength they previously had. The Family: A Proclamation to the World holds great truths that give us the standard of society that we should be standing for. If we are to return to our father in Heaven, we must maintain our families and let the truths be known to those we are around.

Key words: marriage, society, proclamation

At an ever increasing rate, people are choosing to cohabitate rather than to marry. Marriage is a time old event and decision that is now being questioned of its importance and significance. Our societies need to have a basic structure and that has always been found within the home, families. It is more than a simple tradition, it is a divinely purposed institution to help us return to our father in Heaven.

How Does the Lord Feel?

            God’s standards do not change. They never have and they never will. There have been many phases and trends that our society has gone through. In the 1970’s there was the “hippie” movement and they were all about just doing what you want and having a free life. They wanted to be completely unattached. Ever since that time there has been an evolution of the societal thought process concerning Marriage and relationships. In the Book of Saint Mark (10:6-8) in the Bible it says, “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.”  This scripture has had much meaning in my life recently. Being married, I know what it feels like to be one with your spouse and the power it gives you to increase your own abilities.

The world is so large and one of the biggest problems that people face is feelings of loneliness.  Heavenly Father has a beautiful plan, The Plan of Salvation that will guide us back to him.  Children are reared by loving parents and they have feelings of belonging. The home is a place to learn and grow. From that we continue on to adulthood and find someone who compliments us and us them. We do not have to be alone.

The Purpose and Roll of Family

            Every person needs to have relationships in which they can trust and in which they learn and understand life principles. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, it states: “We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”  In that statement we find that the family is the building block of society, a society that works and runs off of values. If you take out the foundation of something, it becomes weak and will not withstand trials that come its way.

            There are so many challenges that families are faced with each day as individuals strive to find their potential. An example was the beginning of the feminist movement in the 1960’s and 70’s. Women wanted to have a place in the workforce, not only that they wanted to start leading out. That is one place that I see the crumbling of marriage. What society deems important has continually been sliding marriage and family responsibilities out of the spotlight. 

            Elder M. Russell Ballard said,

We cannot and we must not allow the school, community, television,

or even Church organizations to establish our children’s values. The Lord

has placed this duty with mothers and fathers. It is one from which we

cannot escape and one that cannot be delegated. Others may help, but

 parents remain accountable. Therefore, we must guard the sanctity of

our homes because that is where children develop their values, attitudes,

 and habits for everyday living. (p.79-80)

            This is why the institution of family is so important. When there is the proper order, children learn how to function in society and have security while they develop into responsible, independent adults.

Satan’s tug

The fight of standing up for marriage and family has always been around. We are battling with ever increasing force as Satan does likewise. Within the church young adults are delaying marriages and concerned about having the absolute perfect situation in order to make that step in their lives. That is part of Satan’s tug on us to be miserable. In a talk given by Elder Holland in a BYU devotional he concluded about this topic: “Certainly do not give into that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. He wants everyone to be miserable like unto himself. Face your doubts. Master your fears. ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence.’ Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you.” (1999)  There is a huge part of us that wants to fit in, that wants to keep the peace, that wants to simply care for our own family. We think that we are safeguarded if we just care for our individual marriage and family, but that will not work as the fight is getting more and more intense. Heavenly Father has pure intent and reason in the proper structure and it is through this structure of marriage that we may return to him.

What is expected of us?

            We know that our entire responsibility is not only to take care of our own family and to have marriage be important to us. As members of the church, we are expected to share what we believe and to stand up for what is right in our community and within our sphere of influence. In 1995 we were given The Family Proclamation. We did not receive new doctrine within this document, but truths were reconfirmed.  In the October 2005 Conference, M. Russell Ballard said,

Today I call upon members of the Church and on committed parents,

grandparents, and extended family members everywhere to hold fast to

 this great proclamation, to make it a banner not unlike General Moroni’s

 “title of liberty,” and to commit ourselves to live by its precepts. As we

are all part of a family, the proclamation applies to everyone.

It makes sense to me that the fundamental unit of society is family, therefore marriage, because it is the overlying unit of society as we are all children of God and have a responsibility to care for and love those around us.

Not Being Married

            Part of the trend that we have is that of simply living together and not seeing the need for marriage, because we can still be a happy family. There are many things wrong with this idea. As I have already quoted the Family Proclamation, it expounds on the structure of family. It tells us that marriage is to be between a male and female and those future children have the right to be brought to this earth to parents who are legally and lawfully married.

            When we start to break the foundation we see so many parts that crumble on our structure. I found a list of “Benefits of family for children and adults” from familyfacts.org and two of the facts were,

Married mothers tend to create a better home environment for their

 infants. Married mothers also tended to interact more positively with

their infants compared to cohabiting or single mothers.

Married mothers are less likely to experience abuse and violence. Even

 when the very high rates of abuse of separated and divorced mothers were

 added into the statistic, the rates of abuse among mothers who had ever been

married were still lower than the rates of abuse among women who had never

 married and those who were cohabiting. Among mothers who were currently

 married or had ever been married, the rate of abuse was 38.5 per 1,000 mothers.

 Among mothers who have never been married the rate was 81 per 1,000 mothers.

There are many more statistics that show the benefits of marriage on all individuals in society/the family. Marriage is an important institution that has so much weight in the direction of our society.

            The choice to marry is more than keeping to a tradition. Marriage is ordained of God and we have to stand up while the society crumbles and do all that we can to maintain the foundational structure of family. Our goal is to return to our father in Heaven and this can only be achieved through the family unit.

References

Ballard, M. Russell (1991).  Ensign, May, 79-80.

Ballard, M. Russell (2005). What Matters Most is What Lasts Longest        https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/what-matters-most-is-what-lasts-           longest?lang=eng

Benefits of Family for Children and Adults. Retrieved from            http://familyfacts.org/briefs/6/benefits-of-family-for-children-and-adults

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Holland, Jeffrey R. (1999). Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence. Brigham Young             University devotional address. Retrieved from   https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/04/making-the-marriage-decision?lang=eng

Saint Mark, The King James version of the Bible.

I hope that was enjoyable!!! (=

Becoming a city on a Hill

A couple of nights ago my husband and I ended up talking late at night instead of getting enough sleep. These are always the best conversations. It began with me venting some about my frustrations at work. We were discussing passions and having strong opinions and what are they good for? I find myself getting so angry with passion at different topics that I seem to be on the losing side of. I like to have good meaningful conversations with people and share what I believe, but isn't it the hardest to do when it really counts?
So, being surrounded at work by people with contrary views and some very good points at times, I sometimes let my light become suffocated and flicker out. It's not that I don't still feel the same way, but I sit back and just listen. So in the conversation with my husband he was asking how can we give the scriptures Matthew 5: 14-16 a spot in our life?
I have been thinking a lot about that and I can't even begin to regurgitate in actual words all of what I feel. I have been blessed to feel very strongly about certain principles that are true and everlasting. There is great purpose in people being given such a love for certain topics. We are to be a standard for the nations. Let our voices be known. I probably will never be in a political position and have "such a big voice". I think the little voices many times contribute the most. We need to be active participants in everything. I am going to stand up against things I don't believe in, but even better of an idea is to stand up for something better and something that I definitely do believe in.
I will list a few things.....easy way of getting some of my thoughts out instead of writing a really eloquent post and spending hours on it....
Against----
1. the powers of Satan (yes, very broad)
2. video games---mindless, unproductive activities
3. dropping morals

Like I said, it's probably better to be for things so that list will stay short and maybe unexplained.

For----
1. God's laws
2. Charity
3. The institution of marriage ---please read ---The Family: A Proclamation to the World I LOVE this        document!
4. Having Children! Isn't it the most important and worthwhile? I don't know from experience yet, but      I am sure glad my parents thought so!
5. Quality Family time.!!!!  A MUST MUST MUST!!!!! Families are decaying. It is the most immediate attack from Satan and from all of society! Strengthen and shield your family. No, don't hide away and not let them experience the world, but teach them correct principles! Let them struggle some. They need to grow their own testimony....sometimes it's a little painful.
What is one thing in particular that was a strong protection in my family growing up? Well, there were many......there is one I will share right here and we have heard it plenty plenty some from people studying successful growth of children and most importantly from our LDS church leaders..... HAVE DINNER TOGETHER!! OFTEN! Maybe all you can do is have it once a week......Try harder. It is the best quality time! I know life is busy! My family didn't always have dinner at 6pm......that was rare. Sometimes it took until 10pm and we could finally gather for tacos...... how wonderful was that! Funny memories, belonging, a safe haven. JUST DO IT.
6. Reading! This is new for me I guess. I have always liked reading and read a book if I really get into it within the first 10 pages. Since I met my husband, my love for reading has greatly increased. We read all the time. We read informative books, fun books (which many times become very informative). It is a strengthening tool. You learn! Read out loud with your families. Spend $30 a month and buy some books. Read instead of watching T. V. every night for 5 hours. It is really fun.
7. Expressions of Love. Say it, and say it again. I grew up in a home where that was constant. My daddy always told me he loved me. We got big hugs and big kisses on the cheek. There were times, many times when I was really frustrated with my big brother, Isak because he loved to squeeze everything out of you. He was so lovey. UGH! Sometimes it was just to annoy, but is there a better way for an older brother to annoy and tease than with hugs and words of admiration? I got smothered with love. More kids need this. I am going to smother my kids with love too!

Okay, so there are many other things that I am for, but I think I may be getting off of my original topic. What good are my opinions doing if I keep them all to myself? They are doing much, because most likely I will share it with my family and many of my opinions are shared by others in my church, but why don't I stand up? Well, I am going to stand up. I don't have to be nasty and argue, but when one of my co-workers is going on and on about how she loves working with kids at work, but is so glad she doesn't have any because she wants to keep all of her time for herself and states that she is selfish......couldn't I reply? My reply should have been. Well, I can't wait to have kids! I am so selfish that I want to have 6 kids, because I am most happy when surrounded by bright little faces that adore me. ahaha. Just share your opinion. Sometimes it might be in a light funny way like that. Just do it. I am going to be an advocate for families. Lately that is all I think about. I want families to be strong. I want people to feel the value of the family institution that I have felt all my life. We can all have it. Just love!

Important. I have been collecting my thoughts a lot the last couple of days about this and this morning I found an old talk from a previous President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Hinckley. I read it through and it explains everything so well.  A City Upon a Hill I really encourage you to read it, because it explains so much better what I wanted to get across in the beginning, but it is difficult to express these things.  One little snippet from what he said, "For instance, as the integrity of the family crumbles under worldly pressures, our position on the sanctity of the family will become more obvious and even more peculiar in contrast, if we have the faith to maintain that position." 


Stand up for God's laws and the Morals that have lead this country in particular to greatness. We can't let it crumble without a fight. Another time I will go on and on about my strong opinions of other things. 
My last thought........ a poem. I love poetry. Eternal Families

Okay. So yesterday was a pretty darn good day. Of course I did spend 8 hours wiping noses and bottoms....but after work I ran home (I didn't really run, I drove) and curled my hair, put a dress on and went to pick Ryan up from work. My hair was half done and he took an extra 20 min to come out of work, so I guess I could have finished. So we got back to the apartment and Ryan got all suited up. We were on a mission. 6pm and we were ready to head to Boise to go to the LDS temple to do a session. Well, we knew we were going to be hungry so we went to Burger King; then were on the road. On the way, my awesome big brother Zzzzz called and we talked for a bit. We made it to Boise and we were in time for the last session of the evening at 8pm. The rush that always seems to come with getting to the temple is SO worth it.
Next...... we get out about 10pm and decide there are some things we need to get a the grocery store before heading back on our 45min journey. Winco it is!!! This is the place to buy bulk Gluten Free flour. While in the bulk section, we fell into the trap that we hardly ever escape. CANDY. Well, it's about halloween time I guess so there was CANDY CORN. I love the stuff. There was many tubs of it. So we were naming all of them. oh my! I thought there was only regular, chocolate, and the pumpkins!!!! SO MANY. I said I wanted some, but then said that we should hurry to the milk and get away from it. Well, Ryan is way too nice and said, " which one do you want?" I replied that the original would be great. He starts scooping some into a bag and says, "and what other one?" And oh my big mouth, I answer that I just want to try all of them. HA.........So this wonderful man starts loading up the bags and reading off numbers for me to label them with. !!! (= The ride home we were trying the various flavors and rating them. I just want to let you all know that Candy Corn is awesome.I will list what ones we got. Regular, Caramel, pumpkin spice, caramel apple (amazing), juju (weird, but awesome), and chocolate covered mixed with regular. The last one.......not great. They must have found 20year old candy corn in a warehouse corner or something and decided to chocolate cover them and charge twice as much for them as any of the others. Wooo. So, a candy corn adventure.
So, what is the point of me going on and on about candy corn? Well first off, it's good stuff. Really though it is because to me this is one of the reasons to love life. Such a simple thing. Candy Corn after the temple. I love the funny little things we do. The highlight of my night was going to the Temple. I love candy, but why I really love candy? It is probably because I am just like every other girl out there. I want to be skinnier than the skinniest girl. I want to lose 15 pounds. I am constantly thinking about it. Guess what? I know that I am just fine and what really matters is how I feel and that I should be exercising. The candy corn reminds me to calm down about all of that. Sometimes I do have a bit of a freak out, because Ryan is way too nice to me and if I say anything about liking a certain candy there he comes with a big one for me. Wow! Isn't he so fantastic? YES. I want so badly to be a health nut and workout crazy. I guess that's not me. The truth is, I think I used to be quite balanced in those areas. I love running and exercising.......Honestly, in the last 9 months I have eaten more candy that what I had previously in my entire life and been more sedentary than ever before, no exaggeration. I am SO happy. I have a wonderful husband, we live in a nice apartment that we can afford, we are debt free, and we have a garden!!! Blessings, blessings, blessings.
* I still want to start running again...........! Maybe once my job is over in  one and a half months and I am only doing online school. Maybe I will have time to take care of my body. ;) NO! Everybody, take care of your body so that you CAN enjoy candy corn once a year! (:

Hello to my blog

A few weekends ago my husband and I went hiking in the Pine/Featherville area in Idaho. We drove on back roads for a while trying to find the place I had decided we should go earlier this year. I had started looking into Letterboxing which is amazing. (Go to Letterboxing.org for details.) We previously decided not to go, because it was too early in the year and there was mounds of snow. Back to my story. We finally made it to the Trinity Lakes area and went a short ways on the trail, because we were running out of time for the day. While hiking I was saying how insanely out of shape I am . My sports bra was just so tight I felt like I couldn't breathe. He said, " Well, why don't you just take it off?" Sounded like a pretty good idea to me. I did it. He suggested I go off the trail a little ways to a rise so I could have some privacy. I said there was no need and wriggled my way out of it with no problem at all and left it hanging around my neck ( I didn't have any pockets on me). We discussed how maybe it would look odd if we passed anymore hikers, for me to have such a thing hanging around my neck. I concluded that it really just looked like a sports head band. This discussion turned into us talking about me creating a blog and writing about empowering women to drop the status quo that society has set up and stop wearing bras. Lets be honest, none of us are comfortable in them. So many hilarious things were said. We made up stories and such. I was going to call it mybra-g......But we decided that might not be so appropriate and I want to write about whatever I want to write about everyday. I just have a hard time understanding the point of me writing a blog, because there are so many out there. Hopefully I will just use this as a sort of journal. I am converting my previous blog, which I only had for a college course into my write whenever I want blog. Probably most people don't do an introductory blog post like this. Yes, I like to ramble. 

I want to introduce you to my small family. All I will show right now really is my husband and I. This was our wedding day. We were married in December in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple. It was like being in Hawaii, because the weather was absolutely perfect and we got Palm Trees in pictures. 

 I wanted to share this, because I feel like it describes a lot of my life. We see so many cute pictures all the time or wonderful things happen in people's lives and it just looks unrealistic. I think it is. haha. Right after getting married we thought we would take one of those cute pictures where we hold up the groom. Well, we dropped the Groom. We didn't smash his face, so that was a good thing, but honestly everything for me is more real. Everybody else somehow gets everything to look perfect, but where's the fun in that?

Lastly, I just want to share that I think "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication " ~Leonardo da Vinci

That is one of the many things I want to live by.