Hands....continued

I am an incredibly emotional person, and those emotions generally filter any circumstance (not that I'm unique in this). Right now my biggest emotion is hollowness. I don't mean any melodrama with this; I simply feel very hollow after taking AJ to the airport today. I'm missing something huge and vital in my life. This is the lens through which I read this talk just now.

So the things that come to mind are instances where AJ has been the Lord's hands for me. AJ loves me unconditionally. AJ is always on my side--which does not mean that he thinks I'm always right. It means that when I'm wrong, he reasons with me, and does it in a loving manner: he's on my side, so he's always rooting for me, never trying to prove me wrong or waiting to see me fail. He's always encouraging, always supporting, always loving. And by always, I mean 98% of the time. He's not perfect at it, but he's awfully darn close to perfect and a whole lot better than I am.

I love you all, and maybe I can try another post (not that this one isn't valid, it just simply didn't go very far) when it's not as late and not the day I had to walk away from AJ.

Love,
Emily Kate


(By the way, it says this posted at 6:30. Not so. That's when I started, which was not late. I finished the post at 10, which is late.)

the hands thingy

So, mom and I read the talk...and pondered how to serve better...we understand the "can make poems, songs, sermons etc" part (not a very direct quote mind you, but ya'll know what part I am talking about)....and we know the message of serve better, love unconditionally, don't judge, etc. And we realize that we have work to do (speaking for my half at least). It does take constant thought and work to make sure you are NOT treating someone as 2nd rate. (even fat smelly people who cut their own hair with scissors and talk to themselves) It is not "natural" to want to spend time with wackos.

So, I have work to do.

A couple of examples of people giving service to us (our family)

While working at Equitable (not much money), the Raemakers brought over a food basket...just garden produce and stuff so they could help out.

Members helping with both Moe's and Elizabeth's missions

The Millers willingness to do a family service project...and retrieve a busted Volvo from Rye Patch...a two hour drive out and two hours back....then jumping to help when Stella tried to swim through a puddle.

Sister Crabtree (an old lady...actually the wife of one of the counsellors in the bishopric in Auburn) sitting us down and telling us how AJ needed to be taught reverence...and how to do it.

All of these examples have one thing in common....My first thought was I don't need your help...or this much help, or I can do it myself. But because of love and a willingness to serve...they helped. So, mom and I have made a simple plan to bring people over for dinner so we can say we helped....no wait, that wasn't it....so we can learn of people to help, and so we can share with others...we already have the first two families picked.

I also have increased our fast offerings....many people need help, and we CAN help that way.

Love you all

PS, AJ really needed to be taught how to be reverent.:)

You are My Hands

By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Last week in Relief Society we had a lesson on this conference talk. As we discussed it, a memory was brought to the front of my mind.

My junior year at BYU was a hard one. My best friends had all left on missions and I was alone. I also was very confused. I had some big decisions I continually prayed about but couldn't seem to receive answers to. One night I cracked. I had come home from a ward activity to a dark, empty apartment 40. A place that just a year before brought me so much joy was now the catalyst to my tears. Lost, lonely and confused I cried. I was so confused and lonely that I could not even feel my Father's love…or rather I didn't know how to calm down to feel his loving arms. I needed something though. What? "Call your brother," came to my mind. I did. All I said was, "AJ, can you come over?" He came in 30 seconds. He walked in, saw me, said nothing, and wrapped me in his arms. He just held me as I wept. That day AJ became the Lord's arms and hands for me. Today, I know that the Lord loves me. That day, I did not. Because I could not feel him he sent my earthly brother to act in His stead. AJ comforted and loved me as the Lord would. Thank you AJ for being sensitive to the spirit, thank you for being such a good brother and thank you for being His Hands when I needed them.

This talk is so beautiful! After reading it share an experience where you have felt someone else act as the Lord's hands in your life

Attempting the Impossible

This is the talk I picked for our next discussion. I don't have any prompts for it yet; feel free to post one if it strikes you. I really like having this blog; it's a positive influence for me between Sundays. Mom, I want to hear your voice on these, too. Do you have a google account?

Peaceful Uprooting

I remember when our family was considering moving to Nevada. I prayed about it, a lot! I had prayed many times and felt the spirit, I had prayed for comfort and received it, but I had never really prayed for a specific answer. On my own, for the first time, I received an answer that our family should move, that there was much waiting for us in Nevada, much to learn and many blessing. I remember feeling such peace! Then I talked to mom and dad and they had decided not to move. As dad went to refuse the offer he had a "stupor of thought" and we moved (obviously). I think that the Lord gave me the answer because I needed it to be okay with the move. When people would ask if I was mad at my parents for moving me, I would say that I couldn't be, I knew that the Lord wanted us to go. We all know me to sometimes be a pill when I don't want to do something, but in this situation I didn't want to be because I knew that we were told to by the Lord. Also, because the Lord said go, I wanted to go! I was excited! After moving life wasn't easy, but whenever I was frustrated I knew that the Lord wanted us there and the Spirit continuously comforted me, that knowledge didn't take away the struggles, but it helped me through. I look at all the blessings and learning that came from moving, so many!

I know this isn't a new story to you, but it was my first life-changing spiritual experience.
During a Spanish class in my sophomore year at BYU I found out about the Disney College Program. A girl next to me had a flyer about it, telling when they were coming to recruit. You cannot imagine (okay, you probably can) how excited I was. It would be a perfect internship for my major, and I would get to work and live at Disney World?!?! And then, of course, I would apply for and get accepted to their next level of internship, the Advanced Management internship (which you can only do after having done the first one), and then I would stay on and work my way up to manage one of their resorts there (or at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, or move over to their cruise line). And at some point in there I would meet a good ol' Southern boy and that's that. Perfect plan. Except that it was my plan.

Well, I kept trying to make it work, but something kept coming up or I needed another class, and kept saying that maybe I can do it next semester. Then finally, in the fall of 2004, I actually applied and auditioned! I was so excited and stopped at Elizabeth's apartment on the way home to tell her all about it. She was so excited with me, which was really fun, except her brother was sitting there on the couch, too, listening to me ramble on and on about this, and for some reason I felt odd. But I could hardly wait for my letter to come in two weeks, that would for sure tell me I was accepted.

It was only a few days later that I was reading my scriptures when I read Helaman 10:4. "And thou hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments." I realized I hadn't prayed about going to Disney World, but I thought, "There is nothing wrong in going to Disney World; I don't need to pray about it." And I knew immediately that when I finally humbled myself to pray about it, the answer would be no. I ignored that for several days, because I wasn't ready for that. Then I finally prayed about it, and felt a very definite no. And then my letter came, telling me that I was accepted. And then I turned it down, which was hard, but my answer had been so clear that there was nothing else to do. And now I am sealed through the holy Priesthood to the best man in the entire world, with three beautiful, horribly obnoxious boys, and I love it!

That experience, above all, taught me that the Lord loves me and that He is very much aware of me, and has a plan for me, and that as long as I am striving to do as He would have me do, He will not let me unknowingly do something contrary to His plan for me. I very well could have chosen to go anyway, and I don't think that something horrible would have necessarily happened, but I do know what would not have happened, and that makes me extremely grateful that the Lord told me where He would have me be.

Clear Thought

While in the MTC I was trying to be perfect...not too unusual for me. I was human. I was trying to learn the Korean language. I was trying to be a perfect missionary with pure, perfect thoughts. I expected myself to have a perfect testimony. I wanted to remember every scripture, quote, concept that we were taught. etc. etc. Well...I kept failing. That was tough.

At some point, I don't remember which week, I was saying my personal evening prayers in Korean. I said, "I know thou doest love me." Immediately a very clear thought came to me, "Do you? Do you know I love you, daughter?" And then there was a feeling of 'because I do,' though there were no words. I started crying, of course...sort of like I am right now. I didn't know. I had been taught it my whole life, yet I did not know. I was trying to be perfect and was missing the main part of the gospel. God loves us. Me. Sometimes I still forget. When this happens I remember that night on the top bunk in an MTC dorm when Heavenly Father made sure I personally knew that He loved me. How grateful I am for the Holy Ghost and how He can teach and comfort us.

feeling promptings

so, I am new at this....blogging that is,
and this is the dad speaking.

Feeling a prompting should come frequently....I believe the Lord is constantly sending messages to us, but since we tend to be a fallen race (fallen men) we do not, as a general rule, do a very good job of receiving. President Monson is a fantastic living example of a son of God who follows promptings.

That being said, I do not compare very well to his example. But I have actually paid attention to a few promptings sent my way. One, I remember very well....

We were having stake temple day in Oregon...I had done several sessions that day...and it was one of the last sessions....
I was involved in the prayer thingy (not sure if you should talk to much about the ceremony lest you become casual about the temple...so I opt for "thingy")
Sister Martin was also there...and the guy giving the prayer said "bless those who came with a need for a blessing"....suddenly, as clear as a slap in the head, I had the thought "sister Martin really doesn't want to be blind" Now, that was a real shot...and I pondered how we often take our position in life for granted...not the ungrateful "for granted", but the "we can't change it" type of for granted. So I approached her, and had a great experience in giving her a blessing later that evening at her home (with Bro. Marshall) The Lord really blessed her, I am thankful I listen that one time to the Lord....."She really doesn't want to be blind" I hope we never want to be blind

Love Dad

New Talk: Prayer and Promptings

Hi-ya family.

It is time to change the conference talk. We are now reading Prayer and Promptings by President Boyd K. Packer. This talk is beautiful. Part way through the talk President Packer shares how the Spirit speaks to us. He starts by saying, "That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration..." Later he shares an experience of the Lord answering a prayer and says, "this process is not reserved for the prophets alone."

Family, we have each been baptized and confirmed into the Lord's church. This means that we have the gift of the Holy Ghost, what a marvelous blessing this is. We are not prophets, but we can still have our prayers answered and feel the Holy Ghost guide/teach/comfort us. Here is the prompt for you:

Based off of President Packer's quote teaching us what the Spirit feels like, tell an experience where you felt the Spirit. How did you feel it? What did He prompt you to do or what did He comfort you in?

You need not share experiences that are too sacred and reserved for only times when the Lord prompts you to share it with another person. I am sure there are plenty of other times you have felt the Spirit that you can share with us.

I love you family!

Share one thought

For this talk, just post one thought you had while reading the talk. I was going to share many of my thoughts as you can see by my numbering them, but took too long on one. You don't have to read it all though.
We'll do prompt questions as we become more familiar with the process and consistent in checking our blog spot.

Thoughts on Elder Scott's Talk

I am going to write a few thoughts that I had while reading through Elder Scott's talk.

1. I frequently wonder if something I feel is the Spirit or just me talking in my head. Because I am unsure I have a hard time following what I feel.

Elder Scott says that, "[My] confidence in the direction [I] receive from the Holy Ghost will become stronger...as [I] consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit."

This is true. I have heard similar thoughts expressed by others and have always believed their words. Only recently have I truly applied this principle though and have gained a first hand testimony of it. Learning to recognize and follow the Spirit takes a great deal of trust, humility and courage. It also takes a long time. Elder Scott said, "I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit." Those words were encouraging. My slow progress is not unusual, in fact, it is expected.

Here is my firsthand experience. Read it if you want to but if you don't have the time, I am not offended when you don't...and I'll never know. Here you go:
You all know that I have recently graduated and am trying to figure out what to do next in my life. I have consistently prayed and gone to the temple about my future. I have searched out many options and I feel the Spirit guiding me as I do so. More often than not I feel at peace even when there is nothing certain before me. This is very strange for me. Remember when I prayed about a major, going on a mission, Andy? I made myself ill over those decisions. I did not feel peace and could not feel the Spirits direction. Why the difference? I attribute it to my testimony in Heavenly Father's love for me and my willingness to listen and trust Him consistently.
I am learning more and more of God's love for me. He truly wants me to be happy. This is important to remember when it comes time to be humble and trust Him. He has told me to walk down certain paths and I remind Him that if I do then I can't do that or that. You see, I keep trying to weasel all my dreams into my immediate future. This is not possible. I decided to let Heavenly Father decided what I am to do next. Once I let go of my dream, my schedule, my choice, my life, peace came. I can now feel the Spirit guide and have the courage to follow Him because I do not have my own agenda.
Since graduating I have been more consistent in listening and following the promptings of the Spirit both when I ask for direction and not. I believe this is why I am recognizing the Spirit more often and have felt at peace more consistently than I ever have in my life.

Love you guys-

AJ's awesome idea!

So thanks to Elizabeth and Moe for the idea of having discussions on General Conference talks.
And thanks to AJ for the idea of doing it through this blog. And thanks to EK for actually setting it up. :) (and thanks to Mom and Dad for raising spiritually-minded children, teaching them to listen to the prophets, and sending them on missions. And having adorable grandsons.)

So here is the link for the first talk to be discussed: To Acquire Spiritual Guidance

Moe, as discussion leader for this talk, start a new post with thought-provoking questions and inspirational insights, which we will then comment on.

Each talk or subject will have its own post, with all of our subsequent comments attached to it.

I'm excited about this! I love you!

-Emily Kate