A Prayer of Faith

What touched your heart?

I wanted to open up the opportunity to those who had a chance to see the General Relief Society Broadcast last night to share thoughts and feelings about the meeting. What touched your heart the most? What stuck in your mind? What will you want to remember during the next few weeks and months? Did you find yourself setting any goals as a result of the counsel and inspiration we received? Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve arrived to the states 32 weeks pregnant and I am pressed with the dilemma of a birth plan. I have had a baby in Germany and in Maryland, and now I am in Salt Lake City evaluating my priorities and wondering what my options are. I have had two similar experiences where my water breaks early and then I need pitocin and an epidural. Based on my past experience, I was wondering if I should stick with a doctor or go with a midwife or maybe a doula/doctor combo.

Any experiences you could share would be helpful in my decision making at this time.

This was something sent to me by my brother-in-law. I was deeply moved by his words; I asked if I could share them here. He kindly consented. -Michelle

I recently attended a Sunday School class in which the teacher solicited stories of personal sacrifice. She had no takers. Most of us shifted awkwardly in our seats and hoped that somebody else would raise a hand. As I considered my own reticence, I realized that I don’t really think of everyday obedience as a sacrifice. For me (and for many, I imagine) paying tithing, obeying the word of wisdom, and keeping the Sabbath day holy don’t really feel like sacrifice because I give up so little and get so much in return. In almost every instance, obedience to gospel principles seems less like a sacrifice than an investment. And a pretty solid investment, at that. Rarely do I worry whether I will be blessed for keeping basic gospel laws or covenants. The peace of mind and spiritual happiness that immediately follow my obedience provide plenty of payoff, and this initial return is often compounded by fairly tangible increases—in health, in wealth, and in wisdom.

Nevertheless, sacrifice is supposed to be a central part of every saint’s life. Indeed, we are all under covenant to render sacrifice to the Lord. If everyday obedience, however, is less a sacrifice than an exercise in enlightened self-interest, where does this sacrifice occur? What do stories of sacrifice sound like? Read the rest of this entry »

I thought I would share a poem that I wrote last year. This was written after attending the temple. And it was written during a particularly difficult time. (It has been modified slightly from the original.) Read the rest of this entry »

I just added a link in the sidebar to a really interesting blog post about the blessing the Internet can be, especially in furthering the Lord’s work. The author of the post shares many thought-provoking quotes and thoughts. Consider the following, for example:

I believe this modern explosion of inventions and technology really puts us in “new pioneer times.” In 1862, President Brigham Young said, “Every discovery in science and art, that is really true and useful to mankind, has been given by direct revelation from God. … We should take advantage of all these great discoveries … and give to our children the benefit of every branch of useful knowledge, to prepare them to step forward and efficiently do their part in the great work.” (Deseret News, 22 October 1862, 129)

Read the rest of this entry »

I thought I would share about my absence this past couple weeks. My family and I live in Albania where medical care is no more than basic. My son had been sick for some time with a low grade fever and general grumpiness. He then developed a few very swollen glands that were hard to the touch. We visited a couple of doctors here who decided to fly us to London within one night’s notice to see a specialist. My son was admitted to the hospital immediately for intervenes antibiotics for infected lymph nodes. I was distressed once I was informed that I had to be away from my daughter and husband for two weeks alone in a place I had never been with a sick child while six months pregnant. Well, to my surprise, my in-laws from the states were conveniently visiting London on business at the same time! My mother-in-law subsequently was able to stay for my entire visit there. My own mother warned me not to take this coincidence for granted. ”God puts people places,” she said. Pondering further on her comment I grew tears in my eyes in gratitude for the people God has put in place in my life to help me overcome or make up for my many weaknesses. I also wonder what places He has put me in order to be of help or comfort for others. I hope to be more in tune to recognize opportunities to be there for others.

(Sorry this has been so long in coming. I’m now back from vacation (sigh) and I am anxious to get this posted.)

In Part 1 of this little series, I shared part of a conversation my husband had with a bishop of a young single adult ward (whom I am calling Jerry). Jerry spends most of his time counseling those who have broken the law of chastity. (He was actually warned beforehand that he would do little else as a bishop of this ward.)

Not only was I struck by how many people in his ward had succumbed to sexual sin, but I was also stunned to hear Jerry’s answer to my husband’s question (which is where we left off in Part 1): “What do you think is driving such a high percentage of young adults to break the law of chastity?” Read the rest of this entry »

I have to say that I am one of those people who absolutely dislikes summer.  I honestly have a hard time finding anything good about the summer heat.  I don’t like to go out, don’t like to go to family reunions, and get sick most of the time.  My husband laughs at me because I can tell him when the temperature hits 80 degrees.  You would think after all these years of living in a place with hot summers that I would be used to it. There is one thing I do look forward to when summer comes–BYU Education week.  When I can go, I go. Read the rest of this entry »

I am not a gifted storyteller. I can’t take you on the painful and overwhelming journey of discovering and admitting there was something “wrong” with my son. He wouldn’t talk and was socially withdrawn. A possible autistic spectrum diagnosis would go through the mind of anyone who knew enough about it, but language was our primary concern. Over the years he has changed and developed and perhaps the most accurate diagnosis is Specific Language Impairment. Read the rest of this entry »

My husband recently had a discussion with a friend (I’ll call him Jerry) who is a bishop in a young single adult ward. Trying to make conversation, my hubby asked Jerry about his calling. Imagine my spouse’s shock when Jerry told him that, at any given time, there are about 50 to 75 young adults in his ward who have committed serious sexual sins. Suppose the ward has about 200 members and…well, you do the math. Jerry has delegated everything possible to his counselors so he can dedicate his time to counseling — to try help these young people deal with the fallout of their choices and avoid such pitfalls in the future. Read the rest of this entry »