Happy Birthday DEAR CHRIS-topher

IAT = I am thankful

1. Birthdays to remember and celebrate.
2. My beautiful second son.
3. The blessing of children.
4. New goals.
5. A sold house.

Today is my wonderful son Chris' birthday. I think I should write about all of my kids on their birthdays. So, I am.

 Only two months old

His best friend. I never regretted having them 15 months apart.

 Sweet cheeks

 Doing his favorite thing

Still best friends

 So grateful he loves me

 Always good to his siblings

Such a handsome man

One of the funny things I remember when I was expecting this wonderful child, was that we had one baby boy. And he was still a baby. And it was amazing to me how much love I had for that little baby boy. And I wondered if it was possible to love another one that much. I shouldn't have worried. In real life, all things being equal, love multiplies. Where 1+1 should =2, it doesn't. 1+1 feels like 10. So imagine how 7 feels.

I wanted to name him Christian, but as was the case several times with my children SOMEONE, (the bish) didn't like the name. So I insisted on Christopher, which means Christ Bearer. He is an example of the believers and some of the attributes he shares with his Savior are, humility, charity, love, obedience, faith, endurance.

He was a very energetic little guy as a boy. Some days he truly wore me out, but his enthusiasm and energy always came out in a happy way. We have lots of pictures of him with a big smile pasted on his face. He still smiles warmly and broadly and it lights up my world.

The RM, as he is currently called, is still so much fun to be around. He's loved by his friends and siblings. He has always had a heart for the plight of others. He has dreams and he's pursuing them. He has taken to success principles and I know because of it, he will be a great success. He has a forgiving heart.

 One of my very favorite things about this beautiful boy is how unashamedly he loves his family. I remember when he was in high school, and there would be a need for me to come to the school, if he saw me, rather than ducking behind the building or going back inside so he didn't have to be seen with me, he'd come RUNNING across campus, calling out to me, give me a big hug and often planting a kiss on my cheek. I have always wondered at that. He's never been embarrassed to show his affection to me, and still does.

He always felt bad for the underdog. His heart is so tender for others in trouble. I LOVE that about him.

He wants to know what he is doing with his life so he can go for it. When he got off his mission, he said words to the affect, "I don't want to waste time trying to figure out what I'm doing, get my schooling done, make money, and THEN find a wife. I want to find her and get married!" I was surprised by that, but he has been in pursuit of that goal, and when a young woman seemed to be hesitant to that idea, it was simply..."NEXT!" We think maybe that pursuit is almost over. :-)

I could go on for a very long time, but will finish with one more. He's always had an athletic ability, but for whatever reason was overlooked in sports. I don't know how or why that happens. He's only had one coach in his whole life, who saw him as a senior, saw his ability, and knew he could do something with it. He became one of the star players on his team in basketball his senior year, when previously he had mostly sat the bench. The following year, we were all surprised when taking a basketball class at the college, the coaches asked him to try out. And he made the team. I doubt basketball will be a permanent part of his future, but I've never seen someone so in the spiritual moment of basketball through his teens. What I mean by that is he seemed to be playing basketball in every moment. When he wasn't actively engaged in something else, he had a real or imaginary ball in his hand and he was scoring. I think the coach was only the vehicle for what he had already created in his mind.

And all success is like that. We create it spiritually in our minds and hearts, and then it moves into our physical space. Most of my teen years I dreamed of a happy marriage and family. And now that is a reality in my life. As long as I stay in the spiritual reality, I believe it will continue to be a physical reality.

Well, I'm off track. Christopher, and you will always be Christopher to me, I love you so dearly. Thank you for coming into our lives. And happy 22nd birthday. I love you!

Why the LDS Church is one of the FEW still Growing

IAT = I am thankful

1. My hot blooded well guarded temper that reminds me I am alive and care deeply about things.
2. Just enough of the mom worry gene to be concerned enough to love my children, but not so concerned that I interfere too horribly with their lives.
3. New opportunities.
4. New friends.
5. Old friends.

So, I read this article recently Mormons beating Evangelicals

The article gave six reasons why the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is growing, when other faiths are declining.

 Current Church membership

 Projected LDS growth

I'll summarize the article for you and add a few reasons more I think we hang on to our membership and continue to grow.

Six Reasons Evangelicals Leave:

1. The church is overprotective.
2. Their experience of Christianity is shallow.
3. Churches seem antagonistic to science.
4. The church's approach to sexuality is judgmental and simplistic.
5. They wrestle with the exclusivity of Christianity.
6. The church feels unfriendly to those who doubt.

 Reasons the "Mormon" church is growing. (Read the referenced article for explanations)

1. Mormons have bigger families.

2. Mormons have lower divorce rates.

3. Mormons share their faith.

4. Mormons are "orthodox."

5. Mormon leaders ask a lot of their members.

6. Mormons are less selfish.

Here are my personal thoughts on additional actions or benefits offered by my LDS faith that help keep us faithful.

***Missions for young men and young women. It was mentioned in the article the conversion of those who serve missions. Even though only 1/3 of young males serve missions for the church, the experience is invaluable for them in converting and retaining a testimony. They spend 2 years denying themselves of their own selfish pursuits to think of others, serve others, and teach them Christly principles. Many of the 2/3 that do not go, however remain active. And more and more young women are also giving themselves to 18 month missions. As members, we get to feed the missionaries and enjoy a message and respond to the invitation of who we can invite to fellowship with us.

***Seminary and Institute. I'm not sure anyone would argue that when children hit their teens and beyond that college, the influences of the world begin to take hold and it can be difficult to maintain the faith their parents have so painstakingly tried to instill. For most other faiths, if you aren't doing something to actively offset that influence, good luck maintaining their faith!

This was brought home to me a couple of years ago with my then senior son. I asked him, other than LDS, were there any other teens in his high school, who were faithful, and everyone knew they stood for something. That for example, because they were Catholic, or Baptist, or ________ people knew that they would have certain standards. According to his perception, the answer was a clear no. He was fair to admit that there were LDS youth also not living their standards. But he said the ONLY youth that others knew there were standards for, were the LDS teens. I was so deeply saddened to think that either, those teens were not living their faith in a public way, or the influence of faith has simply disappeared in this little corner of the world. (Having said that, I believe I live in a deeply religious small town, and I don't make these comments to disparage any faith, it is simply to explain my point of why there is a difference).

Every day beginning in 9th grade, LDS children in my and many other communities across the world, can either walk across the street from school during the day, or go to a local church early before school starts to enjoy and hour of religious instruction and discussion. Every day. For one hour. Every day. They join with their like minded friends, invite others to join them as well, to immunize themselves if you will, against the influence of the world that runs contrary to our faith. I am so thankful for that influence! And I sincerely wish other faiths had a similar program for their youth. It continues in college. Most college campuses in the US have an "Institute" program, to continue where the seminary program left off.

When a student attends a non LDS (think BYU campus) college and are exposed to ideas and philosophies they may not have ever pondered, Institute can be a very grounding place. Instead of being swayed by established "intelligent" professors, those ideas can be balanced with their own principles of faith. And it really helps! I have the added benefit of being married to a seminary and institute professional teacher.

***Visiting and Home Teaching. This falls under service mentioned in the article, but I consider this so HUGE as to mention it on its own. Every family in every ward, active or potentially active, is offered home teachers (2 men for the family) and visiting teachers (2 women for the women only) to watch over, provide help in need, to teach, inspire, and befriend. I have loved being a visiting teacher and having my own. Some are better than others, but I have met and come to know so many wonderful men and women through these programs.

As a young mother, on bed rest multiple times, I had faithful sisters visit me, bring meals, help clean my home, and care for my children when I could not do so. When I had the flu and another time a miscarriage I was able to ask a home teacher to assist my husband in giving me a blessing of strength. You can't imagine the comfort it brings to know you can call on someone in a time of difficulty need or sadness to be a help.

Conversely, I have been able to offer help, tears, friendship, and comfort to those who I have visited. And I have made friends I never would have. Particularly older women who were so fascinating and wonderful. It brings a richness to my life that would not be there without this awesome program.

***Relief Society. Relief Society is the world's largest women's organizations, if I am not mistaken. An organization who's motto is Charity Never Faileth. The visiting teaching program is run through Relief Society. There are ample opportunities for leadership through RS as well as other organizations in the church. The women in the LDS church are greatly cherished and upheld. Sometimes it's a little embarrassing how much we are fussed over. Because I feel like I could be doing a lot better. And yet I know that when I am in a leadership position, my opinion is respected and valued, I have always been treated with respect, and I have never felt talked down to, or belittled by anyone who has any leadership authority over me. In addition, I know that I can go to any LDS church in the world, and there will be a roomful of "sisters" who immediately want to know who I am, if I'm moving in :-), and how I can be made comfortable. Some places are better than others at this, which is to be expected.

And finally, ***covenant making. I know this exists at some level in other faiths, but this is something that is at least a weekly occurrence in our services and rituals. The first covenant made is at baptism. Every time we make a covenant, we are promised blessings. After baptism and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can partake of the sacrament (the emblems of the body and blood of Christ) each week and renew the covenants we made at baptism. So every week, it can be as if we are clean again, if we partake, repent, and allow the grace of Jesus Christ to bless us. After baptism, young men make priesthood covenants. And at marriage men and women both make temple covenants of obedience, virtue, and cleanliness all with an eye single to the glory of God, which can be renewed by returning to the temple as often as desired.

I'm very grateful for the way my faith helps me to be stronger spiritually, closer to my family, more faithful to my God, and more aware of those around me. It's a great blessing.

On Family Unity

IAT = I am thankful

1. When life is slow.
2. My boy is coming home after being gone all summer.
3. I'm in an awesome place in my life.
4. Rain!!!
5. Brownies. :-) I didn't taste! Hahaha

It's been almost a month that I wanted to post this. I've probably forgotten a lot of it. But these are thoughts from a talk the Bish gave in church last month. He spoke about unity.

I appreciated that he began by saying we had a lot of things in our community that were not unifying, and he was not going to speak to any of those. He also wanted everyone to know that he was not speaking to anyone in particular, but everyone. And he didn't want anyone else thinking, oh, so and so should be here because they need to hear this. :-) And hopefully the Spirit would touch those who needed the message. The purpose of his talk was to speak to family unity.

He started by quoting from Elder Eyring's talk on Hearts Knit as One. "We see increased conflict between peoples in the world around us. Those divisions and differences could infect us. That is why my message of hope today is that a great day of unity is coming. The Lord Jehovah will return to live with those who have become His people and will find them united, of one heart, unified with Him and with our Heavenly Father." He quoted Mosiah 18: 21

And he commanded them that there should be no ^acontention one with another, but that they should look forward with ^bone eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts ^cknit together in unity and in love one towards another.

 and Moroni 7: 48:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

He said he believed our "eternal welfare rests on being able to get along."

He quoted Elder Eyring, "The joy of unity He wants so much to give us is not solitary. We must seek it and qualify for it with others. It is not surprising then that God urges us to gather so that He can bless us. He wants us to gather into families. He has established classes, wards, and branches and commanded us to meet together often. In those gatherings, which God has designed for us, lies our great opportunity. We can pray and work for the unity that will bring us joy and multiply our power to serve."

He spoke about an institute teacher he used to have that often said, "I may not say everything I think, but I think everything I say." He encouraged us to pray to Heavenly Father and ask him to help us think before we say things. And that just because something was true, did NOT mean we need to say it. He encouraged us to see others in God's perspective. To take off the glasses we wear that we see others through.

 One of his favorite scriptures is:

• Jacob 4:13

  13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.

Truth is things as they REALLY are. (Not how we may think they are). We see others differently than the truth. The self sufficient tend to be critical of those who are not. Examples: how the bishop uses fast offerings, a spouse who does things differently than a parent. (Dawn's note: I know my husband's biggest struggle as a bishop is the proper use of fast offerings and that he would much rather err on the side of generosity than caution. He is very aware of his accountability on this point. Would you like to bear that burden?)

He said we need to pray for the gift of discernment. Here is a quote he used to define discernment. Very enlightening.

 Stephen L Richards: “First, I mention the gift of discernment, embodying the power to discriminate … between right and wrong. I believe that this gift when highly developed arises largely out of an acute sensitivity to impressions—spiritual impressions, if you will—to read under the surface as it were, to detect hidden evil, and more importantly to find the good that may be concealed. The highest type of discernment is that which perceives in others and uncovers for them their better natures, the good inherent within them."

(I was impressed that discerning included uncovering the better natures of others. I LOVE that.)
He encouraged us to see the good, not the evil, and see as God sees. He quoted D&C 18: 10. Remember the ^aworth of ^bsouls is great in the sight of God; and encouraged us to come to a point where the worth of souls is great in OUR sight.

The Bishop said we have more in common that we have differences and we need to pray for humility. He referred to Ether and his telling us that we have weaknesses that we will be humble. He said we need to focus more on ourselves than on others. We need to change our own selves and focus on our own issues. (This is a theme I come back to again and again. When I am upset with someone or circumstances, I remind myself that the only person I can control is me, and what should I do to change me?)

He referred to the fact that the word busybody is in the New Testament. And that it often seems easier for us to fix others problems. But we need to be humble and fix ourselves. He counseled to resist the urge to gossip. That we should be "repositories of information." In other words. When someone shares something with us, we need to hold on to it. We need to not share it with others. It will not create unity and it separates and divides. If we must share something, he said to call someone far away who doesn't know the participants. Aunt Edna in Connecticut for example.

He encouraged us to develop charity. 1 Corinthians 13. Charity is the more excellent way. We should act, speak, and feel and the Savior would. Moroni--pray with the energy of the heart that we may be filled with this love. And then he made a promise. "I promise that if we do, we will come to feel about our families and ward members differently." He said to love our enemies, pray for those that spitefully use us. We can do that. We can get to a point where we can honesty say I love you to our enemies and bless them. (Easy peasy, uh-huh. Dawn)

When charity becomes real for us, we want to extend it to others. He encouraged us to do as scripture says and take up our cross. Once we have, we can forgive others. We ought to learn to get along (families) not just for eternity, but for joy in the now.  As we follow how we are prompted, he promised we would be able to change.

Much needed words of wisdom from my bishop.