100 Years Later & Family Is Still Important!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Elder Quentin L. Cook (from the Quorum of the 12 Apostles) stated: "How we preserve time for family is one of the most significant issues of our time." Which leads me to my topic for the day: Family Home Evening! The reason I chose to talk about this topic is because 100 years ago President Joseph F. Smith (6th President of The LDS Church) stated: “We advise and urge the inauguration of a ‘Home Evening’ throughout the church, at which time fathers and mothers may gather their boys and girls about them in the home and teach them the word of the Lord. …

“This ‘Home Evening’ should be devoted to prayer, singing hymns, songs, instrumental music, scripture-reading, family topics and specific instruction on the principles of the gospel, and on the ethical problems of life, as well as the duties and obligations of children to parents, the home, the Church, society and the nation. For the smaller children appropriate recitations, songs, stories and games may be introduced. Light refreshments of such a nature as may be largely prepared in the home might be served."

Family is central to The Lord's plan for us- no wonder He asks us to gather weekly as families to council together, learn, grow, share experiences, study His divine word, laugh, and make precious memories. It makes sense: if you are to spend eternity with these people we call our family, don't you want to have a strong desire to serve them and love them like The Savior would? That is what Family Home Evening is all about.

Family home evening has blessed my life and the life of many families around the world. Family home evening is exactly that: a night with you family! Yes, it is not always easy, but anything we don't have to make a sacrifice for isn't worth much to us. I was once told by a close friend: "We sacrifice things for what we love and we love what we sacrifice things for." If we are sacrificing "our" time for our families and for God: we will learn to love each other and our Heavenly Father more deeply and unconditionally.

In closing I want to share with you two pages that might help you and your families with family home evening ideas!
100 years of Family Home Evening
Family Home Evening

I just want to testify to you that I know that taking time for our families is such a blessing and strength. This program to spend time with our families is truly Heaven sent. Even though some nights it will end in discouragement and despair I plead with you to never give up. Always keep trying. The lessons you are teaching, the activities you are having, the scriptures you are reading: they are changing your children's lives. You are learning and drawing closer to the Savior together. "A family that prays together, stays together." By gathering weekly for personal family time, you are truly testifying to the Lord that you want to stay together with you family. Pray together daily as this helps you stay even stronger. Heavenly Father is pleased with you and your efforts to follow His prophets council. I know that this is true,
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha

Coming Up!

"The greatest blessings come after the Conference is over. We gather to hear the voice of The Lord, then return to our homes to live them." -Elder Robert D. Hales 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This week I would like to share some things that are coming up that are very important in my life- and how we can prepare for such things.

First- this is mostly an update for those who don't know yet: I will be having my final interview for my mission papers this Tuesday so I will be submitting my papers on WEDNESDAY!!! I am so excited! (Please pray all goes well and that I will really be able to submit them this time! Thank you!)

2. This is what I would like to share about today! LDS General Conference is coming up!! Oh boy am I excited or what?! I've even requested the weekend off of work! It's gonna be AMAZING!

For those of you who don't know: General Conference is a "series" of special meetings for the LDS members where we gather -every 6 months- to hear the voice of The Lord through His chosen Prophet and Apostles. It is held in SLC Utah and broadcast throughout the world via satellite. There are 4 two hour meetings open to everyone of all ages, then there is a Women's meeting and a Priesthood meeting. (Both men's and women's sessions are available to hear by anyone after the conference via lds.org) If anyone would like more information on these conferences and how to participate in your own home or with family and friends, click here

I would like to remind you about how important, not only the actual conference is, but the preparation, and action after are as well. Let's start with these videos:
Find Answers To Questions
Seek Receive Act

I want you now to think of some questions you have for The Lord. Think about you life- what have you been struggling with? What has been on your mind a lot recently? What would you have Heavenly Father tell you right now? I want to invite you to start praying about these questions and inquiries. Ask Heavenly Father to help you hear His words for you so that you may change as He needs you too. Here is the key though: you must listen with sincere intent and a desire to learn as the Apostles of The Lord speak to us in the coming weeks. Then you must ACT! There is no good in hearing His divine word and His divine direction for you if you are not willing to act on His council. No- it may not be easy: but it will be worth it.

To close, watch this video about how Ryan changed His life after Conference. Revelation
Sometimes it may just be the small simple things you need to fix- with dedication you will change and Heavenly Father will use you as His instrument to do His divine work. You will come closer to Him and His Son, and you will be happier. So: What will you do with Conference?

I testify that we have living a living Prophet- Thomas S. Monson, on the earth today. I testify that we have living apostles on the earth today. God has not stopped talking to us. We are literally His children- He loves us. Why would He leave us here on earth without a means of speaking to us? I know that He speaks to us still. Will you be listening??
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love, Samantha

Little Life Lessons From On High

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Lately I have been learning a lot about what it is going to take to be a full time missionary for The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. As I have been doing this Heavenly Father is teaching me simple- yet very important and profound lessons that will help me not only on my mission preparation, and service: but also in my life. My message this week is about one of those lessons.

Completing mission papers- for any prospective missionary, can be quite a hassle, even without unforeseen problems. I didn't expect to have problems with my papers, as I know that I am quite healthy and ready for a mission. However- I have seen some delays, and boy were those delays faith testing for me. I can truly testify from recent experiences that The Lord truly does have a plan for each of us and His timing is certainly not our timing- but His is perfect and we have to trust Him.

So- my experience is as follows:
I finished my portion of the mission papers, had my meeting with my bishop and walked away with some new information about the whole mission papers process that sort of put a kink in my time line. You see, in my interview I was told that prospective missionaries are being asked to have an evaluation with a therapist to determine if you have any problems with depression, anxiety, etc. (Things that would keep you from being successful in the mission field.) At first I thought: "Okay no big deal, I'll get my appointment with LDS family services tomorrow and have my evaluation later in the week. We will be only be a few days delayed if at all. It's okay. No biggie."
Well, the next day I called and got my appointment: except for apparently it's almost impossible to get an appointment any sooner than a month out. I got lucky and only had to wait 2 weeks. But still that put me behind schedule: so instant bad attitude about the whole thing.

Along comes my appointment, everything goes fantastic! I'm feeling great, the therapist I met with even told me that there were no problems and that we wouldn't need further meetings: I was clear to go! I was on cloud nine. Finally! I could submit my papers! It was only Thursday, so the guy could write my evaluation that night or Friday morning and send them to my bishop and then I could have my last interviews Sunday or Tuesday. Great! Well, that's not what happened. Come to find out: it takes 1 to 2 weeks for them to write your evaluation and send it to the proper people. Are you kidding me?! I had a time line people. Work with me! So I started praying even harder that my evaluation would hurry and get written up and sent to my bishop so that I could submit and find out where I was going on my mission because I wanted to know right now!

Well the days start ticking by, and I'm just waiting around being concerned about only "my" timeline. (Very selfish I know..) Then on Thursday- one week after my evaluation, I was sitting in my institute classes. I had just had a conversation with my best friend the night before about how frustrated I was and how I "knew I had to be patient because obviously the Lord was trying to 'teach me a lesson'". Then in all 3 of my classes guess what the subject was? Yup you're right! It's all about being patient. From Mission Prep class: "Patience is a manifestation of our faith and trust in God."
From Foundations Of The Restoration class: "Don't run faster than you have strength just because it's a good cause."
From Book Of Mormon class: "Press forward with Faith" and "Don't be distracted or deceived."

Finally leaving my last class- I had a pit in my stomach. "Okay I get it Heavenly Father.. I need to really be patient, and not just say 'I'm being patient.' I understand those are two separate things." Getting in the car to go home, I pondered class and what my next step of action would be. I went to the temple with my best friend that night and continued to ponder. Upon arriving home, I knew what I needed to do. I needed to seek my Father's forgiveness and His divine help in prayer. So to my room I went. I apologized and acknowledged that the "flesh is weak, but the spirit is willing." I asked Heavenly Father to help me be patient, and for the first time I honestly told my Father in Heaven that I knew my timeline was not perfect and I knew that His was- and if I was to wait longer than I had hoped to receive my mission call: that if that was His timing I was okay with it. That I'd refocus on preparing to go on my mission the best I could and that I would wait until He knew I was ready.

The next afternoon I was sitting watching a movie with my mom while we had lunch. I got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize and guess who it was?! It was the therapist telling me my papers had been sent to the proper people and that the next step was my last interview! Humbled and overjoyed I told my mom the good news. Then excusing myself to my room I prayed with great joy a prayer of thanks. When The Lord had seen that I had truly submitted my will to His, He was willing to give me what it was that I had been praying so hard for.

To wrap up, I want to share with you this video: Continue In Patience

I just want to end saying: although all our prayers might not be answered as quickly as we had hoped, even after we submit our will to His, I know that the Lord's timing is perfect. I know that He will bless us with what we desire (as long as that desire is what He sees best for us) in HIS time. Not ours. I know that if we render patience we will be blessed. I know that no matter where I serve my mission for The Church it will be the best mission for me. It will be where I am needed. It will be the best thing I've ever done and I know that I will love the people I am called to serve. I am so thankful for this opportunity to serve my Father and my Elder Brother. I am so eternally thankful for the gospel and I testify of its truthfulness:
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha

The "Trade Mark" of The Lord's Love

Tender mercies are real- how do you recognize them?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

What is a trade mark? The dictionary says:
 "a distinctive mark or figure of or identified with a person or thing. synonyms: logo, brand, emblem, sign, mark, stamp, symbol, badge, crest"
So let's take the synonyms "sign, mark, emblem, symbol" and ask our selves: "What is the trade mark (or symbol/sign/mark/emblem) of The Lord's love for us? Here is my story:

This week I was sitting in one of my Book Of Mormon institute classes and we came across a verse in 1 Nephi Chapter 1 Verse 20. It reads: (with emphasis added) "...But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

Brother and Sisters: the "trade mark" of The Lord's love for each of us are the Tender Mercies He showers upon us according to our obedience.

Elder David A. Bednar from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explains tender mercies in this video: The Tender Mercies of The Lord

I just want to testify that The Tender Mercies of the Lord are real. They are usually very simple and sweet ways of Heavenly Father telling us that He is still there- and He is watching out for us and He loves us deeply. I testify we are not alone and we are not forgotten. He is with us. What are you doing to show Him you are thankful for His love through His Tender Mercies? Write them down, hold them dear, and be someone's tender mercy today. Smile, be kinder, and let Heavenly Father use you to be a tender mercy in the life of His children. I know this is true. Remember: sometimes our tender mercies come as blessing in raindrops, healing through tears, and a thousand sleepless nights is what it could take to know He is near. Trials in this life are our mercies in disguise. What are you doing to seek them and hold them dear? Open your eyes and heart to His love, He won't stand in front of you yelling and flashing signs for your attention. They will come as simple, small, quiet acts of love. Don't take them for granted. They will get you through some of the hardest times. He loves you more than you know. Of this I testify,
In our Savior's Holy name,
Amen

Love,
Samantha

ps. I love this song: and thought you would enjoy it too. (Sorry I couldn't figure out how to put it on here other than using YouTube.) Blessings- By: Laura Story