Greatest Mission

Benjamin Naim at 12 days old

"The greatest mission of woman is to give life, earth-life, through honorable marriage, to the waiting spirits, our Father's spirit children who anxiously desire to come to dwell here in this mortal state.  All the honor and glory that can come to men and women... is but a dim thing whose luster shall fade in comparison to the high honor, the eternal glory, the ever-enduring happiness that shall dcome to the woman who fulfils the first great duty and mission that devolves upon her to become the mother of the sons and daughters of God."

-Melvin J. Ballard

Draper Temple Open House

My friend Christina from Oklahoma and I had the opprotunity to go the the Draper Temple open house last Thursday (before LDS temples are dedicated they are opened up to the public to walk through). We have been plotting and planning to drive out for the open house for months. It took a bit of scheming but we made it. And it was well worth the drive!

The temple is a small one and is tucked next to the mountain in the southern part of Salt Lake Valley. With the snow and the dormant trees the temple really blends into the mountain scape but when you drive up to it it beautifully stands out. The interior is even more breath taking. The beauty of the building, inside and out, the symbolism throughout, and the doctrine of temple work are central to our religion and I was very excited to share then with Christina who is a recent convert to the church. The temple truly is the House of the Lord. It is a building where His spirit can be strongly felt.

A Sad Farewell to Primary

Today was my last day teaching the CTR 5 primary class. It was sad to say good-bye to my class (two of which weren't even there because they are on vacation). I just found out yesterday. It's a big change, really fast. I will miss the energy and smiles of my class; I'll miss the primary songs and being able to watch Elijah in sharing time; I will miss teaching and learning with these amazing kids.

My new calling is in the Relief Society as a co-enrichment leader. I am excited to be doing enrichment (though I'm not exactly sure what I've gotten myself into). It will be nice to be able to attend Relief Society regularly, something I haven't done for almost 5 years.

I am grateful for a church that gives us callings and assignments. Every member is given the opprotunity to serve one another and the assignments change from time to time. I know that these callings are directed by the guidence of the Holy Ghost to our priesthood leaders and that they come from God. I am grateful to be able to serve where ever I am called.

Analogy of the Cookie

Today Josh and I got to sit together in church for the first time in the last month! We have either been out of town in separate places or have had sick kids and haven't been able to go together. Granted the kids were with us too (which makes for a busy sacrament meeting) but it was nice to be back in the family going to church together groove again. I've missed it.

Someone in church today gave an analogy about a cookie as part of their talk on the blessings of prophets. She had us, and all the kids, imagine our most favorite cookie, be it an oreo, or chocolate chip cookie, or grandma's sugar cookies, and then imagine that we were allowed to take only one little bite of that great big imaginary cookie. Would you feel satisfied with just one little bite? Of course not! I probably wouldn't even be satisfied with just one cookie let alone just one little bite! She then likened this to other churches who have good, true teachings of Christ, that are sweet to the taste, but many times are not satisfying and leave you with questions wanting answers. This is in contrast to the restored gospel found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS/Mormons) which gives you the opprotunity to eat the entire cookie, to have the answers to satisfy your questions and desires. We have a latterday prophet and modern day revelation that guides the church today. We know what we need to do in order to be happy in this life and gain happiness eternally in the next. For this I am very grateful!

general conference

General conference, especially in the spring, is my favorite time of year. I love being able to hear the words of the prophets and general authorities. I always leave with a greater desire to be better. Being in Utah we have the great blessing of being able to watch in the comfort of our own homes (a great blessing when you have small children).

Yesterday we had the opprotunity to sustain our new prophet, Thomas S. Monson, in solemen assembly. It was moving to watch all of the different groups of people stand and sustain our leaders. As I watched President Monson, I could imagine what this ment to see all the people sustain him. It was a powerful moment to raise my own hand to the square. I am so grateful that we have a living prophet on the earth today that guides the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that if I follow his teachings I will be doing what the Lord has commanded. I'm grateful for conference which gives me the opprotunity to hear the words of the prophets and learn how I can be better.

phew! we made it home!

we safely made it home Tuesday. There were a few moments that I was sure we just weren't going to make it but prayers were answered and we are all home again. our day consisted of Elijah throwing up, pouring rain, a flat tire, a dead battery, switching cars, rushing to the airport-grateful that my flight was 2 hours late, standing in two lines before I actually knew I was going to be able to get on the plane, and flying with two tired boys. phew!

Our trip to Oklahoma to visit the Reeds was a whirlwind roller coaster, full of twists and turns, ups and downs, with some throwing up along the ride. (i think i'm ready for a vacation after my vacation) unfortunately my blogging fell by the wayside and now you get a massive jumble.

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to go to the ward in Ponca City with Christina and all four boys. I'm sure we were quite a spectacle sitting in sacrament meeting of the small ward wrestling the boys to be reverent and quiet. It was a relief when we survived. I am so grateful for Josh! I haven't had the opportunity to visit many wards but it was reaffirmed to me that the Church really is the same everywhere. It is just amazing that where ever you are you can find a ward to attend, feel welcomed, hear the same gospel teachings, and feel the spirit.

The topic of religion was one that came up and was on my mind a lot during the trip. Ponca City is dotted everywhere by many different Churches. The town has a population of around 30,000 and you can't drive down any major street without passing at three or four different churches. I have a hard time just figuring out what denomination they all belong to and how they all fit together. It is just boggling to me.

Presley has decided that he wants his family to attend the First Baptist Church in Ponca City (so named because it was the first Baptist church in town, there is a Second Baptist Church in town too). Christina has been stuck in the middle and thrown back into the Baptist religion. It has been an eye opening and frustrating experience for her. (I'm convinced she needs to write a book)

The beginning of last week was rather rough. Poor Caleb got really sick with an ear infection and eventually ended up in the hospital for a night because he wasn't keeping fluids down. While all that was going on, I was lucky enough to get the 24 hour flu, complete with nausea and fever. Poor Presley was left with three boys and a store to juggle. I am very grateful no one else got sick and Caleb was able to come home sooner than predicted but the whole scenario left Christina and I wiped out.

The rest of the week Christina and I kept busy keeping the boys alive, doing family history, touring Ponca city, visiting Enid and Christina's old stomping grounds, watching some good movies (more on that to come later), and talking religion. I was also able to attend the Baptist church.

It turned out to be a whirlwind trip made crazy with four boys, three and under. By the end Christina and I were ready to run away and leave our kids with the highest bidder. I am grateful that we were able to go. It was sooo good to be able to see Christina and see where she is living and what she is up to. I miss that girl so much! We are scheming to get both of us in Utah this summer, hopefully kid free!