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Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart... It is Christmas morning. No remaining details to be attended to. All is silent. The soft light from the Christmas tree casts a warm glow over all that it touches, including the picture that hangs over my fireplace of Mary and her precious child. I love this picture. How many times have I kissed my babes and many other babes in such a way(oh sweet pangs of time gone by, sniffle, sniffle). I often think of Mary at this time of year. I try to imagine what she must have been like, her goodness, her depth of heart. Greeting a newborn into this earthly world always carries with it a portion of heavenly satisfaction. How great must have been Mary's joy to hold the precious infant Jesus! To know that He was partly hers and partly Heaven's gift to the world. I am filled with gratitude for such a woman as Mary. Through her goodness and the goodness of a loving Heavenly Father, I am blessed with a Savior, a brother, a friend, a...

Well look at that! Six months have gone by and I have not written a thing on this blog. I feel like this barren tree. The mists of my life swirling all around me and not a word of it recorded or written down. I have been suppressing that little nagging voice in a few areas and it is time to listen. For me, nothing helps that little nagging voice speak louder than listening to General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I feel the Holy Ghost directing me personally as I listen to a living Prophet and living Apostles of Jesus Christ. Allow me to relate my experience from attending this magnificent meeting to that of an orchard, or rather, a single tree in that orchard. Would a hopeful and enthusiastic owner of an orchard leave his trees to grow at will, without any thought or effort placed in preparing them to meet the demands of pending elements? No, a wise owner of an orchard knows that without training and pruning, fruit trees will not develop proper shape ...

This weekend is the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We will hear from the mouthpiece of the Lord for all the world in our day. I add my witness to the many that have witnessed and will yet witness that this man, President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. Come and listen to Prophet's voice.

Disobedience to the Lord’s commandments allows Satan to deceive us, and we forget the light and truth we have previously learned. President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency described this dangerous condition: “One of the effects of disobeying God, seems to be, the creation of just enough spiritual anesthetic to block any sensation as the ties to God are being cut. Not only [does] the testimony of the truth slowly erode, but even the memories of what it was like to be in the light [begin] to seem . . . like a delusion” (“A Life Founded in Light and Truth,” Brigham Young University 2000–2001 Speeches [2001], 81). It is always good to be aware, even when it is painful, of the areas in our life that need adjusting.

So, in conjunction with the previous post, I read this scripture: 2 Nephi 1:20 Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence. I posed the question below "What think ye if Christ?" This is just a passing thought, I do not claim it to be right, but if Christ is far from my thoughts could it be because I have not followed commandments and therefore have been cut off from His presence. Would that not make it easier to go about my doings without a second thought given to Him who saves? How then is it all the more important for me to be as in verse 21 "determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that [I] may not come down into captivity". It makes sense why the prophets and apostles teach daily prayer, daily scripture study. The more often we are reminded of the Savior, the closer He will be in our thoughts. I don't know if that thought ma...

1 Nephi 19:7–9 I know I have mentioned the book The Hiding Place in a previous post, but reading these scriptures from the Book of Mormon have brought it to mind once again. I was impressed with the family of Miss Ten Boom and their regard for a loving Heavenly Father. Not only did they fear God and desire to act in a manner that would be pleasing to Him, the description that was given of the people they associated with also loved God and His Son. In reading this I mentioned to my Hubby that we no longer live in a God fearing society. Gone are the days when the majority see their wrong actions as something that might bring the wrath of heaven down upon them. If the question was posed today "What think ye of Christ?" (Matt 22:42) would the answer be "I really don't think of Him at all." Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said "Comparatively, brothers and sisters, it matters very little what people think of us, but it matters very much what we think of Him." My ...

I am playing the song "Praise to the Man" today at a baptism. I chose this song because all over the world primary children learned this hymn and sang it with power in their primary programs several months ago. My children love this hymn and sing it with gusto. Several years ago at a child's baptism, my own testimony of the boy Joseph's experience in the Sacred Grove was solidified. To know that Joseph Smith was chosen by God to restore His gospel is fundamental in the building of a testimony. I hope that through song my testimony of this man will bring the spirit into the meeting to be felt by the children who have chosen to be baptized today. Through all the persecution and ridicule that Joseph Smith received while on this earth, he remained true to his call from the Heavens. Today I echo the words of the hymn written in his honor and give "praise to the man that communed with Jehovah"!