Just a quick thought...

“There is not one of us but what God’s love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save, and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes, and in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are the children of God, and that He has actually given His angels—invisible beings of power and might—charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping.”
-- Pres George Q Cannon
(Click here to view the entire talk by Pres. Eyring)

My Journey to... FAMILY HISTORY! (stop groaning!)

When the phrase "Family History" crops up, there are usually four responses:
     "(HUGE GROAN!) Not family history AGAIN! That's what grandparents are for!"
     "Family History... yeah, I look through scrapbooks occasionally."
     "What's family history?"
or, if you're in the 5% of the population:
     "FAMILY HISTORY! That's, like, my LIFE!"

I used to be in the first category. I was so tired of hearing people tell me about how fun Family History was.
That is, until I started doing it :).

It all started with indexing. Indexing is the manual transcribing of images of names to a digital record, making it possible to search them.
(If you'd like to try it for yourself, here's a link to help you get started)

I'd do these about once a week (more if there was a Census... especially a typed Census. You'll know what I mean when you do it). Then I kind of trickled off, and stopped doing it.

Recently, my grandparents (how are Family HIstory gurus, my Oma majored in Genealogy),  returned from Germany where they'd been serving a Senior Mission. While there, they started to help a woman do Family History. This woman (we'll call her Sis. Schmidt) had been forced out of her home during the French occupation of Germany, and had lost almost all of her records.
When they started doing her family history, they were able to search for names of people she did remember (ie, parents, grandparents) and because of the indexing people had done, they were able to find many more of her ancestors and distant cousins.

After I graudally stopped indexing, I went for a year or so without doing anything besides listening to the talks and grumbling. But then, a friend showed me how to use the "Descendancy Chart" on familysearch.org . HOLY COW! It was amazing!
It's easy, fast, and a contribution. What more could you want?

Basically, using Descendancy Chart takes one of your ancestors, and shows you their descendants (no, duh :)). Next to the list of names are little icons telling you that this person needs more research, or that their *temple work* has already been done, or that you can request their ordinances.
Here's a video with a more coherent explanation. 

If you'd like to learn more about family history, here's a lesson outline that gives you all sorts of resources: https://www.lds.org/youth/learn/ss/marriage-and-family/history?lang=eng

I know that through my work, I'm continuing the work of salvation. I challenge you to do it to.

** Don't know about temple work? Read at one (or both!) of these sites:
https://www.lds.org/topics/baptisms-for-the-dead?lang=eng
http://www.mormon.org/faq/baptism-for-the-dead

Standing Firm! (Joan of Arc)

Do you have any pet peeves? Things that pick at you like popcorn caught in your teeth? One of my met peeves is personality tests. I have taken at least 5 different types of personality tests, and every time, the response is the same: for the color test, I'm tested "White," I'm peace loving. "Now for those who are white, remember that you can still stand up for yourselves." Animal test: Golden Retriever, loyal. "Now, for those who are Golden Retrievers, remember that you can still stand up for yourselves." Introvert, shy. "Now, for those of you who are introverts, remember that you can still  stand up for yourselves." Instead of "Golden Retriever" I should have been "Camel," because I can be very contrary. So when I have all these tests telling me that I don't like sharing my opinion, or that I enjoy going along with what everyone else says, I'll fight against that. It probably turned out to be a good thing, but it was still annoying.  

This pet peeve of mine could be called a 1st-World Problem. But I believe that on a bigger level, it's a universal problem. Not my irritability whenever a new personality test is brought forth, but rather, the problem of people not standing up for themselves. 

While it's perfectly fine to not care which game you play or what your going to do that night, it's not acceptable to be wishy-washy when your taking a stand about principles, family, or religion.  

We face a lot of pressure today: with gay marriage,  bad music, taking prayers out of schools, and pressure to take drugs, smoke, or drink-- it's hard. 

There's a song that goes, "I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything." Another song, by Fun, talks about this man giving in to all the wrong things, and how terrible his life is, and the refrains goes like this: "What do I stand for? What do I stand for?" 

I believe there are three basic things that everyone should stand for, no matter what race, religion, or background they may have. As the personality test coordinators stressed to me, You need to stand up for yourself! If you're just going along with what everyone says, how can you stand up for anything? Along with that, you need to stand up for other people. That is the basic first thing you need to stand up for-- other people, including yourself.  

You should stand up for your country, and your freedom. As people today just 'go with the flow' on elections, our country is falling apart. Love of their country and freedom is a driving factor in almost all revolutions. Many soldiers show that love through the sacrifice of their lives. 

Finally, you need to stand up for your beliefs, what makes you you. Your religion, or you morals, should help to guide you in different situations, when you're deciding whether or not to take a stand. 

Once upon a time, there peasant girl who, during each of the three stages of her life, exemplified each of these aspect of standing firm in one form or another. 

This girl was born in Domremy, a small village in English-occupied France. She grew up learning how to knit, sew, tend sheep, and cook meals just like any other farm girl. But unlike other farm girls, she had a light in her eyes, a fire in her heart, and a foundation that she was standing on. This girl's name was Joan of Arc. 

One night, when she was still young, a fierce blizzard was raging outside her parent's small hut. Suddenly,  a stranger burst in. He was a poor man, and had a sad, hungry look on his face. As Joan was about to offer him her bowl of porridge, her father stopped her. "You must not feed that man," he told her. "He is a mischief-maker who will only cause trouble." Joan argued back, "Well father, if his hands caused trouble, should his stomach suffer for it?" A neighbor who had been visiting took up the argument from there, and eventually persuaded Jacques (Joan's father) to relent, and let Joan share her porridge. When she was given permission to share with the stranger, Joan blushed, and responded that she had already given the stranger her bowl, and that he was fast asleep by the fire.  

Later in her life, Joan had a much different example of helping others.  

In the village of Domremy, a mad-man was kept locked up in a cage. One day, as Joan was walking with her friends, someone came running, screaming out at them that the mad-man had broken lose, and was terrorizing the village. As the friends hurried along, they heard a crashing in the bushes behind them, and out came the madman, with an ax raised above his head. Most of the youth fled in panic, but Joan did not. Instead, she walked firmly up to the madman, and held out her hand for the ax. For a brief moment, the madman held the ax above her small figure, but then, the surprise of all watching, he smiled, handed Joan the ax, and was lead docilely along back to his cage. When her friends caught up with her they naturally reprimanded her for her bold behavior. Joan explained to them that she would have been reckless if she had not made friends with the madman before that day, by feeding him, and talking to him outside his cage, and tending his wounds when the village boys threw rocks at him.  

Joan showed throughout her early life that she could and would stand up for people-- for the poor strangers, for her attacked friends, and for the abused madman.  

When she was 13, Joan was visited by Voices. It is disputed whether or not the voices were in fact physical, or simply in Joan's head, and you are free to believe what you will about that. I personally feel that she was led by the Holy Spirit, and that God knew the best way to reach her.  

These voices revealed to Joan that she was responsible for raising the siege of Orleans and crowning the Dauphin. Joan undertook her charge at once. When she was 16, Joan was instructed to begin her mission by visiting Robert de Baudricourt, requesting an armed escort to the Dauphin at Chinon. At first, she sent back home with insults and shame. But after more than a year, her request was granted, and through many more trials, Joan of Arc finally had a private conference with the Dauphin In which he was convinced about her mission. Weeks after this conference, the Charles the Dauphin named Joan the commander in chief of the French Armies.  

As she was fighting to regain a French fort (either Jargau or Patay) Joan was struck in the arm with a arrow. She fainted, and fell of her horse. When the soldiers couldn’t see her, they began to be fearful as they had been so often before. They started to retreat. When she came to herself, someone had taken the arrow out of her arm. Joan lept back onto her horse, and raced forwards, regardless of the fleeing host around her. When her friends and the generals saw her going to fight, they followed her to bring her back. But their forward motion drew the attention of the army, who, when they saw Joan back up and fighting, gained strength of heart once more, and went back to take the victory. 

Throughout this time of war and triumph, Joan shows everyone she meets that she is there to honor King Charles, and that she believes in France as it can be. To many people, she was  France, personified to them. She showed them the remarkable strength and power that came from patriotism, and standing by your country.   

After many victories, she led the Dauphin to Reims, where he was crowned, and her mission was completed. 

After her many services, she wished to go home, but that was not to be. King Charles wanted her to go on leading the armies, and so she did. During an unexpected skirmish, Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians. 

The Burgundians were the French who had sided with the English. They held Joan prisoner for almost a year to hear from King Charles, even though the English offered to buy her straight off. The Burgundians were waiting for the French to make their offer.  

And this is where the depth of King Charles’s weakness shows itself. King Charles was as wishy-washy as Joan was firm. Throughout her relationship with him, she was always trying to convince him, and to get him to hold an opinion for more than a day. Without her there to try to push him into taking a stand, he didn’t know how. King Charles never offered anything to save Joan of Arc. When she had plunged into battle to save France for him, and when she fought her way to Reims so he could be crowned, he promised her anything. But now, when she really needed something, he remained silent. 

For me, this weakness puts him lower than the low. I think more of Hitler than I think of this King Charles. Because Hitler fought for something, although it was a very terrible, sick, and wrong something. King Charles, however, sat on his behind, and watched his Commander-in-Chief, the Savior of France, be sold to the English. 

The reason we know so much about Joan of Arc, is because of her trial in Rouen, which was headed by Pierre Cauchon, the bishop of that city. The trial lasted for two months, during which time Joan was badgered, lied to, heard her words twisted, and was even threatened with torture. Once, a lawyer dressed up as a priest, and went to Joan for her confession, and then used her confession against her in the trial. 

As the trial opened, they tried to make her swear an oath to answer them truthfully on everything. Joan refused, telling them that she was forbidden to reveal certain things, but that she would answer them truthfully in everything she could. They eventually agreed to accept that oath, but had used up all of their time, so they adjourned until the next day. The next day they gave her the same oath that she had refused the previous day, and ordered her to swear to it. They repeated this over and over again, sporadically throughout the trial, but each time, she stood her ground, and would not answer those questions that she’d been forbidden to answer.  

Finally, a month later, after she had been deprived of sleep, of light, of fresh air, and of friendly company, she was convicted and taken to the stake. At the sight of it, she shrank, and for a moment, she lost her footing. She recanted everything she’d said. She’d been promised that if she did so, she’d be set free, or at least allowed a cell above ground, and some women for company.  

However, these promises were not fulfilled, even though the English had gotten what they wanted. A few days later, in her dark cell,  Joan recanted her recantation. She knew she’d done wrong, and that she’d stumbled. But she was on her foundation again, and she would not step down. On May 30th, 1431, Joan was led out of the prison to a cart, and driven to the stake. On her way there, a man ran up to her—the man who’d disguised himself as a priest and lied to her. Weeping, he begged her forgiveness. And Joan forgave him. On her way to her death that he had helped to plan, she forgave him.  

Then they arrived at the square. There, Joan was tied to the stake, and burned.  

Throughout her short life, Joan had stood tall. She had kept her fire in her heart, and had kept her feet on firm ground.  

We can keep our own fire in our hearts. Though the world may reach to drag us down, we can climb higher.   

Remember the words of Robert Service’s poem: 

Carry on! Carry on!---Fight the good fight and true; 

Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer; 

There’s big work to do, and that’s why you are here. 

      Carry on! Carry on!--- Let the world be the better for you; 

And at last when you die, let this be your cry! 

      Carry on, my soul! Carry on 

Depression-- This Post is Important to EVERYONE

Elder Jeffery R Holland spoke multiple times about depression, and finding a way out.
Here is his most recent talk (Like a Broken Vessel), with specifically addresses MDD, but offers comfort to everyone.
These two are similar in their comforting words, but may better help you, or those you know.
"Look to God and Live"
Broken Things to Mend

Please send at least this video to anyone you know or feel may be suffering. Please know that people love you and are praying for you. I know that angels are looking down at you, and cheering you on. It may seem bleak and hopeless, but as you open your heart, God will pour light into your life, and you can make it out of your dark places.

Worth Waiting For...

Pres. Uchtdorf also talked about this in his talk "Continuing in Patience":

In the 1960s, a professor at Stanford University began a modest experiment testing the willpower of four-year-old children. He placed before them a large marshmallow and then told them they could eat it right away or, if they waited for 15 minutes, they could have two marshmallows.

He then left the children alone and watched what happened behind a two-way mirror. Some of the children ate the marshmallow immediately; some could wait only a few minutes before giving in to temptation. Only 30 percent were able to wait.

It was a mildly interesting experiment, and the professor moved on to other areas of research, for, in his own words, “there are only so many things you can do with kids trying not to eat marshmallows.” But as time went on, he kept track of the children and began to notice an interesting correlation: the children who could not wait struggled later in life and had more behavioral problems, while those who waited tended to be more positive and better motivated, have higher grades and incomes, and have healthier relationships.

What started as a simple experiment with children and marshmallows became a landmark study suggesting that the ability to wait—to be patient—was a key character trait that might predict later success in life.

Patience can be seen as the mother of all virtues. If you don't have the patience to listen, how can you be teachable? If you don't have patience, how can you develope charity or faith? If you don't have patience, how can you maintain your chastity?
Impatience can also be the mother of all vices. Impatience leads to anger, pride, and insecurity.

Pres. Monson said: Oh, precious youth, please give life a chance. Apply the virtue of patience.

Here is one of my favorite poems:

 Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
or listened to rain slapping the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight,
or gazed at the sun fading into the night?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,
when you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow,
and in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,
'cause you never had time to call and say hi?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
it's like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life isn't a race, so take it slower,
Hear the music before your song is over

Absolute Truth

Tova Biesinger 

Sep. 16th, 2014 

Absolute Truth 

What is two plus two?  

"Four," would be the average response. But about all the unknowns? Two of what plus two of what? What type of equal are we looking for?  

For example, what if the equation was asking for the amount of apples on two apple trees plus two acres of apple trees?  

The world today is confusing, and it's hard to find absolute truth. But there are absolute truths out there. How do we find them? I thought you'd never ask... 

The first method is using your intuition; also known as your conscience or the Light of Christ. Although you can be trained to ignore this voice, it will always be there if you have the desire to listen. Deep within us we have a burning will to do what's right, we have a yearning for the truth. As long as we are humble enough to hear and heed that whisper, it will guide us. 

Another guide is the word of prophets, or spiritual leaders. Forms of scripture fall under this category. Scriptures assist you in fine-tuning your conscience. They offer experiences of those who've gone before, and words of God. That is another way to find truth. If it is the word of God, it is true. (Titus 1:2)  

The final way to discern truth, is to look at the results. The scriptures say that "… by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt 7:20) Hitler is a fine example. He came forward telling the Germans how wonderful he could make Germany. Did he use true principles? The "fruit" of his work was Germany in smolders, and millions of Jews and others inhumanely killed. One the other hand, Joan of Arc promised the same thing: to save France. Did she  use true principles? Her "fruit" was a free France, a stronger king, and an inspiring death.  

And there you have it: use the Light of Christ, the word of God, and try to see the results. By using those three tools, we can disperse the darkness that Satan is trying to pull over our eyes. We can see through the lies of the world, and find those precious truths that our souls desire so much. Not only that, we can search for our real selves. We can dig past the lies that we and others tell us, and become the royal child of God we were made to be.

(Follow-up on Last Post)

I found the list (well, my mom did. Isn't she amazing?)

7 Ways to make Today a Great Day!

In Sacrament Meeting today, someone shared 7 things they do each morning to help their day go well. I was really excited, because I'm tired of feeling sad and grumpy in the morning. Unfortunately, I didn't write the things down :S. So here are my own 7 things to do each day, and how I'll get them in in the morning:

1.Stand up for my beliefs; post here :) (btw, sorry I haven't posted in forever. Life got to me, I guess :S)
2. Remember who I am; listen to a beautiful song from Youth Music, and share it on my Remembrance blog.
3. Remember Him; pray (with a question, preferrably), read my scriptures, and journal about what I've learned.
4. Smile!
5. Lift someone up; send an email, write a note to someone I'll see that day
6. Fulfill my responsibilities; make a list of things to do that day.
7. Look up, and see God's hand in my life; journal a gratitude list.

Here are some other lists that people use.
Ways to be Happy:
1. Smile
2. Say something nice about someone
3. Do something nice for someone.
4. Thank God for as many things as you can
5. Become an anti-complainer
6. Spend time with someone happy
7. Do unto others

Behaviors that can make you Happy:
1. Listen to or read something that inspires you.

2. Make your body stronger and more resilient.

3. Review and hone your plans for the future.

4. Do at least one thing that's worthwhile.

5. Help somebody less fortunate.

6. Spend 20 seconds appreciating what you have.

7. Record at least one good memory.

If you'll notice, all of these lists have two things in common: gratitude, and service.

This makes sense, if you think about it. If you're forever grumbling about what you don't have, or not realizing how blessed you are, you won't find any reason to be happy, either. 

Along with that, if you're always centered on yourself, you don't get a chance to feel real happiness. Service allows you to step outside of yourself. There's a story about a girl who had a really hard time with her self esteem and happiness until she went to Zambia. While there, she saw how happy everyone was, even though (by our standards) they had every reason to be unhappy. That helped her put things into perspective.

I know that even if you don't officially set aside a time to do 7 things, if you at least have an attitude of gratitude, and take opportunities to lift others up, that you'll have a happier and more fulfilled life.

A BEAUTIFUL post by my mom

http://mylazarusquest.blogspot.com/2014/03/when-child-weeps.html

I absolutely loved this post when I read it. It reminded me somewhat of a talk in Church today that a missionary gave. He said that we often think of the Atonement just being there when we need to repent (which it is). But it is also there whenever we're in pain, or going through something bad. It's there for every negative cricumstance we may encounter, and it will help us get through it.

I LOVE EASTER!! :D

During Easter, I like to have lots of reminders of what Christ has done for us. 

So here are a bunch of videos and talks about Him, His Atonement, and His Life

 Here is the one the Church brought out specifically for this easter:  

http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694

Suffering in the Garden

Luke 22 

 

 Suffering on the Cross

Luke 23 

John 19

He is Risen!

Luke 24 

John 20

 

He appears to Mary Magdelene

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

 

He Lives!

He Lives (Richard G Scott)

His Sacred Name (from last Easter)

D&C 76: 22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the ^atestimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he ^blives!

 23 For we ^asaw him, even on the ^bright hand of ^cGod; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the ^dOnly Begotten of the Father—

 24 That by ^ahim, and through him, and of him, the ^bworlds are and were created, and the ^cinhabitants thereof are begotten ^dsons and daughters unto God.

He is Risen; John the Beloved's Witness of the Resurrection

He is Risen! (Thomas S Monson)

He is Risen (song)

The Messiah; the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Easter Performance

This Glorious Easter Morn (Gordon B. Hinkley)

There are many more, of course. If you go to this page, each Conference there has been something about Him and His Sacrifice. After all, this is His Church :).

https://www.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng

Priesthood and Womanhood

 (this post deals with the priesthood; for basic info on the priesthood, visit this site https://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood?lang=eng)

 Recently, around the Conference Center, there was a protest against the Church policy that women can't hold the priesthood.

Today, as part of my Young Women's church class, we discussed this. Why don't women hold the priesthood?

A couple of them brought up that women are more spiritual, or more intellectual than men, and that men need the priesthood to catch up.

I DISAGREE WITH THIS!!!!! I dislike generalities with a passion. I know plenty of girls who aren't spiritual, and boys who are very spiritual (and vice versa, of course :)). I know smart boys and girls, and not-so-smart boys and girls. 

But if the priesthood isn't for boys to catch up, why do they have it?

When I researched this on lds.org, it brought up this exerpt from "The Basic LDS Manual for Women:

“Priesthood is to be used for the benefit of the entire human family, for the upbuilding of men, women, and children alike. There is indeed no privileged class or sex within the true Church of Christ. … Men have their work to do and their powers to exercise for the benefit of all the members of the Church. …

“So with woman: Her special gifts are to be exercised for the benefit and uplift of the race” (quoted by John A. Widtsoe, comp., in Priesthood and Church Government, rev. ed. [1954], 92–93).

Men and women have different but equally important responsibilities in the home and the Church. Priesthood power can help each person perform those responsibilities for the benefit of all 

This is the comment I shared in our class: men and women have different roles. The role of the man is to protect, provide, and preside over the family. The role of the woman is to nurture everyone in her household and to help teach them. 

In order to fulfill these sacred obligations, they have different divine capabilities; the men bear the priesthood, and the women bear children. 

You may think "What? That's not fair. Women have to go through pain to bear children. What do men have to do?" 

Men have a big responsibity--they need to remain worthy of the priesthood.

Here are a couple of talks some of the leaders of the Church gave about worthiness in the priesthood:

Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood

The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood

If you want to read more about this, there was a page put up on a Church website: http://www.mormon.org/faq/women-in-the-church

I know that the priesthood is the power to act in God's name. I know that it is a man's responsibility to remain worthy of that calling, and a woman's responsibility to support him in that calling, and to pursue her own mission.