Scripture Power

Here are a few of my favorite scripture reading charts.  No matter how old I get, I still like marking our progress on a chart.

This is the one Isaac used when he read the Book of Mormon before his baptism. I love the picture of the Nephite children holding to the rod.  It's a little chaotic though as a scripture marking chart - hard to figure what to color and what not to each time.

This is my favorite Book of Mormon chart.  It's straight forward and can fit perfectly as a book mark. 

This is one I designed myself.  Our family is using it right now for our "100 days of scripture reading" challenge.  We each keep a copy in our own scriptures and mark off the 100 days as we go. It can be used for any scripture reading (not just Book of Mormon).  It can also be used as a book mark and checked off each time you read (not just when you finish a chapter).  We're all loving this one.

This is the first Book of Mormon reading chart I used when I read it with the kids.  It took us a long long time to complete (years!)  but out of the several charts I've seen similar to this, this one is my favorite.  I love the quote.  I love the layout.  I'm sure I'll be using it again.

Here's a picture I took in February 2011 when we finished reading the whole Book of Mormon together for the first time.

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness”

- Marion G. Romney (May 1980)

How can we afford not to read it?

A Filing Cabinet Full of Friends

Elder Richard G. Scott of the quorum of the twelve apostles gave a talk (in the October 2011 General Conference) entitled "The Power of Scripture".  It made such an impression on me.  He spoke about the power that comes by memorizing scriptures.  I memorized scriptures all through seminary when I was younger and in my religion classes at BYU. But that was a very long time ago.  After hearing this talk a few years ago, I have been trying to memorize scriptures here and there.  I carry them around on note cards.  I post them on my refrigerator.  And do you know what?  I feel the words more deeply.  I feel strengthened because of them. There is power in memorizing scripture.  
Here's what Elder Scott said:

"Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

The scriptures provide the strength of authority to our declarations when they are cited correctly. They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.

Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change.

Pondering a scripture like that gives great direction to life. The scriptures can form a foundation of support. They can provide an incredibly large resource of willing friends who can help us. A memorized scripture becomes an enduring friend that is not weakened with the passage of time.

Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one’s ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior. They can accelerate physical healing.

Scriptures can communicate different meanings at different times in our life, according to our needs. A scripture that we may have read many times can take on nuances of meaning that are refreshing and insightful when we face a new challenge in life."

This year our whole family has been memorizing scriptures.  We work on memorizing one scripture a month by posting that scripture throughout the house (the bathroom is a great place!) and working on it together at mealtimes and family night. At the end of the month, whoever can say the scripture by heart gets a sticker on the chart.  Eliza of course gets a sticker if she can repeat back to us line by line.  But everyone else has been memorizing. I love when I hear bits and snippets of scripture weave their way into conversations (even arguments) between the kids. The words are becoming a part of them.  A part of us. We kind of slacked off over the summer, but we're ready to finish out the year with a few more memorized scriptures under our belts.  Wish us luck.

Look at this, our chart for next year will include Lydia!  Our family is growing up. 

Heavenly Father Answers Prayers

            Heavenly Father Hears and Answers My Prayers

Primary Talk by Clayton - August 11, 2013

Doctrine and Covenants section 112 verse 10 says, "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers"

Last week I learned a lot about prayer after reading the First Vision in Joseph Smith History.  When Joseph Smith was fourteen years old, he was confused about which church he should join.  Then he read a scripture in the Bible that said, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.”  So he decided to do what the scripture said and pray for an answer.  In Joseph Smith History verse 13, he says:

“At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.

So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.”

While he was praying a dark force tried to stop him but then a light appeared above him, brighter than the noonday sun.  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and answered his prayer.

One of the things I love about Joseph Smith, after reading this, is his determination to pray for a right answer.  I am also impressed with his courage to pray – which was something he’d never done vocally before. And I especially love his faith that his prayer would be heard and answered. 

Sometimes the hardest part about praying is thinking to pray.  And knowing what to pray for.  I hope that I can have determination, courage, and faith like Joseph Smith did.  One of the things I learned after reading about Joseph Smith is that Heavenly Father expects us to pray. He wants us to pray.  That's how we communicate with him and show our faith. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

For Lydia

I found this as I was going through old Ensign magazines. I thought Lydia would like to have it someday.  It's beautiful.  The caption says:
She Worketh Willingly with Her Hands, by Elspeth Young
Lydia was a seller of purple in the city of Thyatira.  Like the virtuous woman described in Proverbs, Lydia worked "willingly with her hands", (Proverbs 31:13)  She was among those who listened to the Apostle Paul and "whose heart the Lord opened" (Acts 16:14) After she and her household were baptized she invited Paul to come to her home and further teach them (see Acts 16:15)

I also found this book at the library called, Tapestries: Stories of Women in the Bible by Ruth Sanderson (one of my all time favorite illustrators).  Here is the page about Lydia.

What the Prophets Teach Us

Isaac is my one kid who I have actually never really helped write or prepare a Primary Talk.  I don't know why I have always dropped the ball on him.  Maybe I'm just lazy because he's so good at winging it - he can make anything thrown together and last minute sound pretty darn good (which is why I don't have any text from his last talk on here).  Anyway, it was fun to actually sit down with him at the computer and put this talk together - not that it turned out any better than he could have done winging it, but at least I have some prepared text to blog about.  The Theme in primary this month is, "Prophets teach us to live the restored gospel."  Here is the talk Isaac gave in Primary today.  It's interesting to think about the incredible wealth (of testimonies and knowledge) we have at our fingertips with the scriptures and accessibility (through the internet and church publications) to the teachings of our living prophet and leaders.  We are the benefactors of hundreds and hundreds of years worth of treasure.  What a great day and age to live!  We are truly blessed.

Amos chapter 3 verse 7 says, “The Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

The scriptures are a record kept by prophets called by God to teach and guide His children here on earth. The scriptures remind us of things that have already happened and tell us of things that are yet to come. They contain commandments that we must obey in order to live with Heavenly Father again.

For example, the last book in the Old Testament was written by the prophet Malachi. He told of the last days—our time—and gave us a promise from the Lord that if we will pay our tithing, the Lord will “open the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

 

In the New Testament, the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ recorded His life, His teachings, His death, and His Atonement. John, one of His disciples, wrote that the Savior asks us to “love one another, as I have loved you.”

 The prophets in the Book of Mormon wrote about the people who came to the American continent. One of them, Alma, led his people during some really difficult times. He wrote of their experiences and said, “Learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.”

 

  The Prophet Joseph Smith received many of the revelations contained in the Doctrine and Covenants. In one of them Heavenly Father teaches him about the Sabbath Day and taking the sacrament.  He says, “Go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day.”

 One of the prophets in the Pearl of Great Price is Enoch, who told his people to “Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.”  His people listened to his words and have given us a wonderful example to follow.  The scriptures are full of the Lord’s words, given to us through His prophets.

  Today we have a living prophet.  I have learned a lot about kindness and serving others from President Monson.  He said, “Perhaps when we face our maker, we will not be asked, ‘How many positions did you hold, but rather, ‘How many people did you help?”

I know that Heavenly Father speaks to us through his prophets.   And that I can read the scriptures to know his words.  I also know that we have a living prophet on the earth today.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

A Letter From Grandma

 My Grandma Joycie is absolutely the most adorable, straight out of a storybook grandmother you can imagine.  For one thing, she's short.  By age eleven, I was already  taller than her.  She's very classy and always wears stylish clothes.  When I was growing up, she baked oatmeal cookies and served popcorn and root beer at every visit.  She had fancy dishes for every holiday and exotic soaps in all her bathrooms.  She is the perfect hostess.  She entertained us all by telling stories "in her funny voice" and singing songs.  She let us girls have full access to her closet of furs, and fancy old-fashioned hats, and gaudy jewelry - the best dress-ups imaginable. She took me shopping for Easter shoes every spring and attended every single dance recital, orchestra concert, school musical, and play.  When I was really little she used to take us on picnics at the park where she'd roll down the hill, swing on the swings, and slide down the slides right along with us.  I have a few memories of her forgetting to put her feet down at the bottom of the slide and landing right on her rear end.  I just figured that's how grandma's did it.  Now that I am grown and live far away, she is still a storybook grandmother to me.  She writes me diligently with her beautiful handwriting.  She always tells me what good mother I am and gives me encouraging advice.  I am so blessed.  She sent me this excerpt of something she'd written with her last letter.  I loved reading this story.  Smiling, being friendly, getting to know people seem like such simple things but sometimes they can make the biggest difference.  My grandma has always had a talent for caring about others and taking time to really get to know them.  She smiles at complete strangers and treats everyone she meets like a good friend.  This is something I am not very good at, but that I'd really like to be. This letter tells a remarkable story about one of many people I'm sure that have been touched by her kindness.  Thank you for sharing this with me Grandma Joycie, I'll treasure it always.

Lehi's Dream and Jesus Christ

Brigham gave a talk in Primary on Sunday.  The theme for the month was "Jesus Christ is Our Savior".  He got most of his talk from the church website which (surprising to me) referred him to Lehi's Dream. I have thought about Lehi's Dream in a lot of ways - particularly a lesson on scripture study.  But I had never connected the meaning of the dream to Jesus Christ as our Savior.   In Lehi's dream there is one way to the tree of life.  And that one way is only made possible through Jesus Christ.  So simple. I loved Brigham's talk.  And his drawing.

Jesus Christ is Our Savior

Talk by Brigham - March 31, 2013

John 14: 6 says “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Before Heavenly Father sent us to earth, He chose Jesus Christ to be our leader and Savior. We all chose to follow Jesus Christ before we were even born.

When Jesus came to earth, He taught the gospel and set up His Church. He kept His promise to be our Savior. He suffered and died and was resurrected so that we could be resurrected and live again with Heavenly Father and our families.

The scriptures teach us about all the blessings made possible by Jesus Christ. Do you remember the story of Lehi’s dream? I have been reading about that in the Book of Mormon.  Lehi saw a tree. The tree represents the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. On the tree was fruit that would make people happy. Lehi tasted the fruit, and it filled him with great joy. Lehi wanted his whole family to taste the fruit. The fruit of the tree represents the blessings we receive because of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. We taste of the fruit when we have faith in Jesus Christ, when we are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, and when we live the gospel.

This is why Jesus Christ is our Savior.  He saves us from our sins.  He saves us from death.  He also saves us from sorrow.  Because of Jesus Christ, we can receive great blessings.  And just like Lehi, we can be filled with great joy.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.