You Stupid Cow!

I listen to the talks from General Conference on a regular basis and have come to love and apply the principles therein. On a regular basis talks or stories come to my mind that specifically apply to what I am going through at any given moment or something I need to know or remember to teach or share with others. The talk "What Have You Done With My Name" by Mervyn B. Arnold has been continually going through my mind so I feel like I need to share some of it, specifically a story he shares about his wife.

“When I was 15 years old, I often felt that there were too many rules and commandments. I wasn’t sure that a normal, fun-loving teenager could enjoy life with so many restrictions. Furthermore, the many hours spent working on my father’s ranch were seriously dipping into my time with my friends.

“This particular summer, one of my jobs was to ensure that the cows grazing on the mountain pasture did not break through the fence and get into the wheat field. A cow grazing on the growing wheat can bloat, causing suffocation and death. One cow in particular was always trying to stick her head through the fence. One morning, as I was riding my horse along the fence line checking on the cattle, I found that the cow had broken through the fence and gotten into the wheat field. To my dismay, I realized that she had been eating wheat for quite some time because she was already bloated and looked much like a balloon. I thought, ‘You stupid cow! That fence was there to protect you, yet you broke through it and you have eaten so much wheat that your life is in danger.’

“I raced back to the farmhouse to get my dad. However, when we returned, I found her lying dead on the ground. I was saddened by the loss of that cow. We had provided her with a beautiful mountain pasture to graze in and a fence to keep her away from the dangerous wheat, yet she foolishly broke through the fence and caused her own death.

“As I thought about the role of the fence, I realized that it was a protection, just as the commandments and my parents’ rules were a protection. The commandments and rules were for my own good. I realized that obedience to the commandments could save me from physical and spiritual death. That enlightenment was a pivotal point in my life.”

I too have felt the same things that Sister Arnold felt, but I know we have commandments, guidelines, principles, or whatever you may call them for our safety, well-being, and happiness. I thought the video called "Within Bounds" also was a great video to illustrate this point.

Service

I have been thinking about service for the last few days and thought I needed to write about it. A lot of people know that my parents have bad knees, so if it snows I get to shovel. Yesterday it snowed a lot and fast. I am in the process of packing and moving, so of course it wasn't convenient to shovel, but it has to be done. So I said I will pack some boxes, shovel and then load up my car. While I was packing I brought some boxes upstairs and found my Mom crying. I asked what was wrong and she said the neighbor had just snowplowed for us. What a great service that touched her, but I don't think she knew how much more it touched me. I was certainly tired and knew I would be exhausted at the end of the day. So thank you neighbor!!! We know who you are!

I was also thinking about my cousin who went into the Missionary Training Center today. I think it is an amazing thing that in our church members give up years of their life to serve the Lord and spread the gospel of good news. Sure it is hard to leave your family behind, but it is so much better to lose yourself serving your fellow man.
I heard someone talking about our church welfare program yesterday and what welfare means. I think we tend to think of food storage or money for the poor, but what touched me was her sharing that when we donate our time and services to others that is contributing the the Bishop's Storehouse or welfare program.

The scriptures say it best..."And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." Amen!

Every Hour

I was able to attend two great sessions of Stake Conference this weekend and sang one of my favorite hymns which I have thought about ever since then. I Need Thee Every Hour truly is in my top three favorite hymns. I don't think I realized until today that I really do need My Savior every hour! I honestly think about God, Christ, or the Holy Ghost every hour I am awake, more often my Savior.

There are 3 lines from the hymn that are particularly touching to me:
"No tender voice like thine Can peace afford...Temptations lose their power When thou art nigh...Come quickly and abide, Or life is vain." What great promises from a hymn. I truly, truly do need thee every hour.

Change of Focus

So I was sitting in the temple the other day and thinking about health issues and our bodies in general. I have to admit my first thoughts were bodies are annoying and just fall apart. Then it hit me…the sole purpose we are here on earth could not be accomplished without a body!

I had to quickly repent and silently thank Heavenly Father for the gift of our bodies. Without our body we could not be tested, have families, and do the important temple work that needs to be done for those who have passed on or lived in a time when there were no temples.

I thought of Doctrine and Covenants 2:2-3, which basically says if we don’t have families and do temple work the earth will be utterly wasted at His coming. Wow, pretty strong warning! I am so grateful, now, for my body and for that opportunity I have to help in the Lord’s work. I know we are all tempted, have health issues, and are constantly trying to be healthy, but maybe if we focused on the reasons we need a body things would just work out.

Ask and ye shall receive

Did you know that the most repeated theme in the scriptures is, "Ask and ye shall receive?" I know this because Elder Packer says so in his book "Teach Ye Diligently." It is in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.

So if it is in every book of scripture it must be pretty important! It is such a simple doctrine! Yet why is it so hard for us to do it?

Some of the words or phrases I noticed that are associated with asking are:
Believing, Desire, Receiving, Seek, Thanksgiving, Liberally, Upbraideth Not, ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, Faith, Which is right, Humble, What is expedient, shall be done, and we are commanded to call upon Him.

Wow, I am going to start asking for more, but try to remind myself to keep it righteous and in accordance with HIS will.

Drinking Deeply

Years ago my scripture study reminded me of drinking from a fire hose. I would gorge myself reading on an irregular basis and while I was spiritually nourished I realized that it is harder to drink massive amounts of water and I would rather drink deeply by using a "drinking fountain."

With that in mind I changed my habits and started reading daily, with an unspecified amount or time in mind. That was a few years ago and I can honestly say I have only missed a few days since then.

I had the opportunity to study the scriptures for several hours today, which hasn't happened in awhile. At first it reminded me of a fire hose, but I honestly needed it and felt okay about it since I have been studying regularly. I picked up some amazing insights.

President Thomas S. Monson said: “Participate in daily scripture study. Crash courses are not nearly so effective as the day-to-day reading and application of the scriptures in our lives. Become acquainted with the lessons the scriptures teach. Study them as though they were speaking to you, for such is the truth.”

Through the words of the scriptures, we can come to know and love our Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ. We can read Their commandments and, as a result, learn to see the difference between right and wrong. We gain strength to resist the temptation to sin. We increase our desire to obey God’s laws (The Scriptures Teach and Testify of Jesus Christ", Ensign, Jan. 2011, 14–15).

I know the scriptures are true, especially The Book of Mormon. I know this because I have studied them and prayed about them. I am so grateful to have the word of God in my life to guide and direct me.

It's always darker right before the dawn

I have been thinking a lot about the phrase "It's always darker before the dawn" a lot in the last week. This phrase became even more poignant when I read in 3 Nephi for my scripture study.

In chapters 8 and 9 in 3rd Nephi the darkness that is talked about is right before the Savior's coming. In one verse we are told that "there could be no light." That included torches, fires, candles, etc... I think it's important to notice that all the people went through this darkness, not just the wicked.

What is it that got the righteous through the darkness?

1-Their willingness to repent
2-Being able to hear the voice of the Lord in their lives
3-Their faith and endurance (they remembered the words of Samuel the Prophet)

Am I repenting, feeling the spirit, exercising my faith, and enduring? We all go through times of darkness, maybe if we were doing the above things it would make it a lot easier. Our temporary times of darkness now are to prepare us for another time of darkness that will come before the Second Coming. Then we will have the brightness of the Dawn in our lives.

*It is also interesting to note that there is silence before the Savior appears.