Time out for Tiaras

My father in Heaven is a the supreme creator of all things.  He is the King.  He controls all aspects of the universe, holds the power to heal, and understands perfectly the practice of unconditional love.  By virtue of being His spiritual offspring I am a being of divine worth.  My purpose here in this life is to live according to my Fathers commands so that I can return and live with Him in the courts most high.  In order to combat the evils that persist in this day it is only necessary to pause and reflect regularly on who I really am.  This past week I did just that.  I spent a night with a room full of equally divine beauties discussing the reality of our being.  We enjoyed food, laughter, and of course wearing hand crafted tiaras.  Nothing less will do for queens. 

"I have always loved the story of the son of King Louis XVI of France because he had an unshakable knowledge of his identity. As a young man, he was kidnapped by evil men who had dethroned his father, the king. These men knew that if they could destroy him morally, he would not be heir to the throne. For six months they subjected him to every vile thing life had to offer, and yet he never yielded under pressure. This puzzled his captors, and after doing everything they could think of, they asked him why he had such great moral strength. His reply was simple. He said, “I cannot do what you ask, for I was born to be a king.” 

Like the king’s son, each of you has inherited a royal birthright. Each of you has a divine heritage. “You are literally the royal daughters of our Father in Heaven.”  Each of you was born to be a queen." -Elaine S. Dalton

Reunions

Several times over the past 18 months I have envisioned the reunions that would be had with my beloved family.  There would of course be great joy, hugs, screams, tears, laughter, and a peace that comes from knowing we are back together at last.  These visions became a reality over this past week.  They were as wonderful and grand as I could have ever imagined them to be.  Here's a peek....  

Indeed, the Larsen clan has been reunited (minus one..only 3 more months till Elder Larsen's return).  It has been wonderful to be with them again.  I can not help but think about the reunion that will be had when we all make it to the other side.  We will all see loved ones that we have long since been separated from.  We will with great excitement be reunited.  The gospel of Jesus Christ provides us a plan that helps us to reach that point of eternal bliss.  The Savior set the ultimate example of being a faithful servant; obedient to the will of our Heavenly Father.  Following Him will grant us joyful reunions with those that we love.

Am I Turtly enough for the Turtle Club?

Well.  I have decided that I want to be more like a turtle one day.  Now I do not know to much about the thought process of the creatures, but from what I have observed they are worth admiring.  I can not even count how many of the little guys we have passed in our recent travels.  They are all just there.  Right in the middle of the road.  Some might consider them suicidal.  I choose to call them determined.  It takes a lot of dedication to ones end goal to endure facing so much danger.  I mean there are a lot of crazy drivers out on these Kentucky roads.  We all know they can not dodge those kinds of things.  And its hot, they could melt right on the spot.  The turtles however stay focused.   Maybe they know that a better life is just on the other side of that long stretch of pavement.  Maybe the mere hope of such an ideal is enough to drive them to act.  Maybe they trust their instinct so much it leaves no room for doubt.  They are determined to the end.  Sticking with what they know is right even when they know it may cost them everything.

Our challenge today is simlar to that of my turtle friends that patiently, and diligently maintain a larger perspective.  An eternal perspective you might say.  Often we do not know what promised blessings await us on the other side of that long and dangerous journey.  But if we stay fast to what we know to be true, trusting in those instincts that are greater than our own, our reward will be of infinate worth. 

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God adn of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

2 Nephi 31:20

Absolutely

"For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord. 

Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death-that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. 

But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord. 

Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosover repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to thins pertaining to righteousness."

Helaman 14:15-18

"I seldom use the word absolutely.  It seldom fits.  I use it now-twice:

Because of the fall, the Atonement was absolutely essential for the resurrection to proceed and overcome the mortal death.  The Atonement was absolutely essential for men to cleanse themselves from sin and overcome the second death; spiritual death, which is separation from our Father in Heaven, for the scriptures tell us...that no unclean thing can enter into the presence of God."

-President Boyd K. Packer

The Oak Tree

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A mighty wind blew night and day

It stole the oak tree’s leaves away

Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark

Until the oak was tired and stark

But still the oak tree held its ground

While other trees fell all around

The weary wind gave up and spoke.

How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you

Can break each branch of mine in two

Carry every leaf away

Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth

Growing stronger since my birth

You’ll never touch them, for you see

They are the deepest part of me

Until today, I wasn’t sure

Of just how much I could endure

But now I’ve found, with thanks to you

I’m stronger than I ever knew

Oh My Heart

My Mother

Is always so graceful when things get a little too deep.....

Has a passion for lighthouses and the beauty of the world.....

Raises really smart and attractive children....

Loves her calling as wife and mother....

Is the worlds best cheerleader....

Teaches by example what it means to be a righteous daughter of God....

Is my very best friend.

For all of these reasons and then some I love my mom.  She is my hero in every sense of the word.  Mostly because she epitomizes the following scripture...

Charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.  Moroni 7

The Power of Two Witnesses

I am grateful for the influence these two books have had on my life.  They have brought great peace and happiness.  They have taught me all things that I should do (2 Nephi 32:3).  They have helped me come to know the Savior, Jesus Christ.