Defend the Family

As we celebrate Independence Day we are all grateful for the free country in which we live. Many have sacrificed their lives for our freedom.  I am reminded of Moroni raising the Title of Liberty to rally the people to defend their religion, to defend their freedom and to defend their families. “And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he wrote upon it – In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children…”   Alma 46:12. He prayed to God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren as long as there should be Christians. His fellow countrymen came running to Moroni in a purpose to defend their liberty and family. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we are Christians, we too have the need to defend our liberty, and family. Elder D .Todd Christofferson said “We need strong Christians who can make important things happen by their faith and who can defend the truth of Jesus Christ against moral relativism and militant atheism.” One of the things we need to defend, is the family as God intends for it to be. The Family Proclamation was given almost 21 years ago. As President Eyring said”…God won’t just tell us a few interesting things about the family; he will tell us what a family should be and why.”  Read and study the proclamation, truths will be revealed to you to strengthen your own family against the bombardment of the evil in the world today. 

The Family Proclamation text is in a earlier blog entry, dated may 14, 2016

English Essay #3 - Will Money Buy You Happiness?

     When I watch the Disney channel with my grandchildren we are bombarded with the message that having money to buy a lot of toys will make kids happy. Is it true that the more money you have to buy stuff the happier you will be? In the November 2014 Wall Street Journal it says that there is new research suggesting happiness is determined not by how much money a person earns, but rather, how one spends it.

       Research by Prof. Ryan Howell, associate professor of psychology at San Francisco State University has shown that some people think that buying material goods brings happiness. When buying something a person can experience a multitude of emotions such as joy, fulfillment, luxury, or satisfaction. Some people think that using their money to buy material goods as opposed to using their money for fleeting experiences is wise because it will last longer. An experience happens, then it’s over. When you buy something it’s tangible, and you can keep it.

       When in fact, research by Howell shows that experiences provide a more lasting happiness. Using your money, for example, on a vacation, concert, lunch with a friend, or some other experience will bring joy that lasts. As the saying goes, “you get more bang for your buck.” While thinking back or looking at pictures of an experience, all the memories and emotions you had during the experience come back. The material goods we buy often go unnoticed. A picture hanging on the wall starts to blend in. The dress you just had to have isn’t worn anymore, and hangs forgotten at the back of the closet.

       Sharing your money with others less fortunate gives a different kind of ‘money bringing happiness’ experience. It does a heart good to see that what you donate makes a positive difference in someone’s life. Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, made an interesting discovery. She gave money to people with the requirement that they spend it on themselves or share it with others. Dunn found those who spent money on other people were happier than those who used it selfishly.

     Having wealth in itself does not buy happiness, but how you use your wealth can be a key to happiness. The experiences you have in life with your family and sharing your money with others will give the kind of happiness that has lasting value. In the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 8:10 tells of a tree whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. The tree represents the love of God. Our Father in Heaven wants us to be happy. 2 Nephi 2:27 says, “men are, that they might have joy.”  When you choose to use your money to help others and have uplifting life experiences, money can buy happiness. 

English Essay #2 - I Believe in Family Vacations

        I believe in family vacations. What? I can sense that question coming from you as you read the first sentence. Maybe, just maybe, you believe that is a shallow, uninspiring, and selfish thing for me to believe. However, in my humble, underrated opinion, I do not. Let me tell you why.

       My life began in a family that had to work hard for every penny earned. I was born to my mother when she was 35 years old. Having a baby at 35 isn’t unique, though, having your ninth living baby at that age is more unusual. Then, making it more bazaar, is having that baby with your fourth husband at that ripe young age. Wait, it gets even better. Eighteen months later my baby sister was born, and then poof, another marriage was dissolved, which, leaves a single mother with 10 children. As you can imagine, we did not really vacation except for an occasional camping trip, of which I have few memories.

        I craved a nice normal family. Well, family exists, nice exists, but normal is a relative term. I joined a church at the age of fourteen that emphasizes family as central to God’s plan of happiness. My dark haired knight in shining armor, let’s rephrase that, my long haired knight in a trench coat, came to rescue me and take me to that place of forever families that vacations as nice, normal families.

        We did not go on a honeymoon, as Larry just got off his mission, and I had just completed one year at BYU.  We just didn’t have enough money. Because of that, Larry’s parents drove us to the Manti temple to be sealed, then we were dropped off at Hotel Utah in Salt Lake City for the night, and picked us up the following morning. Not much romance could happen with your in-laws in the front seat.

        As a young family, we started with tent camping, and then tent trailer camping, which was all good and fine but, then it happened, the non-tent vacation bug bit and I’ve been affected ever since. There is no cure, and it is all my husband’s fault.  After being married for almost ten years with four kids under our feet, he came home one day with a surprise out of the blue. We were going on our honeymoon. Yippee!  A cruise to the Islands of the Bahamas to calm the soul, deepen our love, get away from the phone, forget about work, take a break from the kids, and enjoy the ocean breeze running its fingers through my hair as I walked on the deck of the massive cruise ship, and lazily lounging on the beach chairs as someone else cleaned the toilet.

        As a family, we graduated to hotel vacations as the money situation improved. We went to the land where you can be a kid, we visited large cities and participated in activities that appealed to families. But, the vacation we like to call the vacation from hell, occurred. The tulip festival in the North West part of Washington. Let’s just say teenagers aren’t into tulip festivals, and we will never listen to my father in laws vacation advice again. We wanted the family to enjoy being together, not be squished in a hotel room bickering, so we bought vacation credits, and now we vacation all over and stay in condominiums. The. Best. Ever.

        I believe when families play and vacation together, families stay together, literally. We go places where we can play in and on the water. We’ve snorkeled in Hawaii, and we were sure we saw Nemo. We hike trails to see the beauty of the area, and ride bikes to places cars can’t go.

       Family vacations are fun! They help bond relationships, make happy memories, and teach of God’s love for us as we explore and learn about this beautiful world we live in. I wonder what kind of vacations are in the life after this? Snorkeling through cloud puffs? If it’s with family it’ll be great.

English Essay #1 - Love Letter to my Treadmill

I haven't had to write essays for over 35 years. I am actually enjoying my English class. I'm learning more now than I did then. I am enjoying the process of learning how to write better. I decided to post my essays I've written just for the fun of it. 

My Dearest Treadmill,

     Our relationship is one that will last for miles and miles. I appreciate that you are there waiting for me each day I need you. You are willing to go on a walk whenever I want, and I appreciate that you give me so much of your time. It could be raining, snowing, or one hundred degrees outside but you make me feel safe. The view I get to admire through the windows while I walk, of the meandering creek, the tall evergreen trees, the forest critters, and the birds rejuvenates my soul.

     I love so many things about you, your wide belt with traction that keeps my tennis shoes from slipping, the color of black you wear looks good on you and doesn’t clash with anything I choose to wear, also when I get too hot your fan will cool me off. You even let me choose whether to have it on high or low. Your willingness to let me take our relationship fast or slow lets me know you want what is best for me. On the days I play with my friend, Blue Bicycle, you don’t get upset with me. I love you all the more for that.

     My heart broke a couple of years ago when you left me. You thought I was using and abusing you. You were broken and refused to be with me. I felt awful. I researched with the treadmill doctors to see why you wouldn’t run for me. It was a miracle, but I found the part needed to bring you back to me. When it showed up at the doorstep it didn’t take long until our relationship was repaired. I was so grateful you forgave me.

     I am a better person because of you. You relieve my stress, and I am happier. I know you will help me to live longer. I treasure my moments with you so much that my mornings are scheduled around our time together. Let’s go the distance babe. When your power is turned on, your belt starts, and my feet get moving, my heart beats for you in a true musical harmony of love.

With Love, Linda

Family Is Where It’s At

I have been memorizing ‘The Family – A Proclamation to the World’ for extra credit in my religion class. The difference between reading something and committing to memory the words is a stark contrast. Words your read, and then you let them go until you read them again. When I memorize I need to repeat the words over and over, and then I add the words into sentences and the memorizing becomes personal.

I was memorizing the 3^rd paragraph which is

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enable family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God, and for families to be united eternally.

We are children of God. We came to this earth to gain a physical body. The next part I memorized I knew already, we came her to get a body and return to live with God. Committing it to memory and then repeating it out loud several times the Holy Ghost let me know by reaffirming with his spirit that I am an heir of eternal life if I do what is necessary in my earthly experience to progress towards perfection.  Who are we an heir of? An heir of our Father in Heaven.  Whose whole purpose is “… to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Mosiah 1:39. Everything He has done has been for our benefit.  

It’s interesting to me that we were part of a family - God’s and our Mother in Heaven- before we came to this earth. The ideal place for us to come to earth is in the same structure we left, a family, with a mom and dad. Our Father also set up a way that we can be with our family in the life after this through sacred ordinances and covenants we make in temples as it says in the proclamation.  

My husband and I began our family in the Manti temple and made those covenants we needed for our family to be a forever family. That's not a guarantee though. On a daily basis we need to keep God's commandments. Thanks goodness for repentance! 

In memorizing the words about the family it brings to me a sense of right, and an ownership of what I’m saying, and what it means.