Prized Possession

Shelby Lee 3

     This morning I was reading in the book of Mosiah.  King Mosiah taught some powerful things to his sons. What struck me as most important was his admonition to read from the plates.  He said "If it were not for these plates, which contain the records and commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing God or the mysteries of God."  Wow!  Do we feel that way about our scriptures?  We have so much more than they ever had.  Do we realize that we too would be in complete ignorance at this time in our lives if we did not have them?  I realize that over the years I  did not put a  priority on the scriptures.  I have had great excuses, I was raising 7 children, I have to cook, clean, carpool, help with homework, scouts and PTA.
      We tried to read a chapter each morning before they left for school, but no one's heart was into it, especially mine.  It was always a relief on the weekend not to have to read scriptures.  Scriptures did not hold a priority at all.  I just had no idea of their value.  Being raised in the church since birth they have always been around and I have taken them for granted.  Yes, they are the word of God, but that was about the extent of my excitement for them.
     Then something changed, or maybe I just changed.  I value them highly as they have become a prized possession.  Why? Staring death right in the face, your perspective changes.  Big changes take place and the "Words of God" means everything.  It doesn't matter which book of scriptures I am reading, they all seem to apply directly to me as if my name is written on them.  I can't survive spiritually from day to day if I don't get some of God's words into my mind and heart.  All my problems just seem to disappear, and nothing seems to disconnect me from my link to my Father in Heaven as I can deal with all things.  Also the spirit always seems to speak to me as to how I need to apply His words into my life.
     Don't get me wrong, there are days when  it is difficult to find the time to read.  On those days if I tell the Lord my time constraint in prayer, and read regardless, I find treasures of great value in just a single verse, which is enough to sustain me for my busy day.
     I realize we are only one generation away from apostasy.  Yes, apostasy.  If we fail to teach our children the words of God, they most likely will not see the importance to teach their children and our link will be broken.  I do not want to be held accountable for failing to teach my children (no matter what age they are).

Influence

       Have you ever been caught in a blizzard that you cannot see 1 foot in front of you.  Add that to being out in the middle of no where and the temperature turns way below zero. The worst storm of the century and what do you do?

      I read a wonderful book a few years ago, which I recommend to young and old alike it's called “BLIZZARD”  by LR Lehmann.  It is a true story of an incredible human being.  I suspect it will change your life.  It changed mine. 

     Michael, who lost his mother at age 10, had to quit school because his father, who wasted his money drinking, lost their home and the two of them worked as dishwashers on a river boat for board and room.  What he does with his life is an inspiration to the world.

     When I read stories of real life heroes, it inspires me to want to be a better, stronger more courageous person.  It’s not just the disadvantages this young man had, but the courage he mustered when all the adults in his community gave up on him, that makes him a hero.  Where did he get this courage?  His mother inspired him at a very young age.  He wouldn’t give up on life just because of his disabilities even though everyone else did. 

     The book taught me, as a mother the incredible responsibility I have to inspire all children around me.  Just one phrase, can change a child’s life forever.  This book proves that point so well.  We never know the influence we can have on the children we meet in life.

This would be a great summer reading book for the whole family.

POWER

     Is there POWER in the scriptures?  There is for me.  Power for what?     Power to influence me and change my life for good.  Today I taught a lesson in Relief Society to the sisters in my ward on the scriptures, the POWER of the scriptures that is available if we but study, ponder and memorize  the words of the Lord.  I learned so much from the sisters in my ward as they shared the scriptures that had influenced their life during difficult times. 

     When I was ill with cancer, and things did not look well for me, I memorized this scripture, which changed my life forever. 

    “I am God.  I am a God of miracles.  I will show the world that I am the same yesterday, today and forever.  And I show not my power unto the children of men, save it be according to their faith.”

     What that meant to me was that God does perform miracles today just like he did when he walked upon the earth.  And he wants to show the world he is the same God today, as he was yesterday.  But he refuses to show his power to those who don’t have faith.  I needed that faith, I believed, but belief is only the beginning stage of faith.  Faith is much more.  Many times during that time of my life I prayed and asked my Heavenly Father to help strengthen my faith, and help me to be a woman of strong faith. 

     I now look back over that period of illness in my life, and testify that God is a God of miracles and that He was there for me in so many ways and He healed me as my belief changed to faith.  The scriptures all testify that our Heavenly Father loves us and He wants to give us all he has, if we will turn our lives over to him and TRUST him completely.

Hunger Games

    We went to see the movie "Hunger Games". If you are hungry for child abuse perpetuated by the government, don't miss this movie.  If you are hungry for a movie with violence and blood, it's a must see.  I noticed as the sold-out crowds of people left the theater, that no one was smiling.  I wasn't the only one that felt a bit melancholy. Don't take me wrong, I read the series when they first came out, and it is very well written, meaning the author keep my attention from page to page.  Should a well written book be my criteria?

   The books made me think, and think hard...about where we've been and where we're going as a global society. Similar atrocities for sport, gambling and entertainment has happened in the past. A symbol to its violence still stands today: The Roman Coliseum where victims who were killed for fun while their fellow human beings watched on. 

     Good and evil are everywhere: the world is full of it.  I was reading the book of Abraham just yesterday and I was reminded that child abuse was prevalent thousands of years ago as they sacrificed young virgins to their many Idol worshiping Gods.  Or in the end of the Book of Mormon when the men were killed by their enemy, then fed their husband's bodies to their wives and children to eat while in bondage.

     Opposition has been with us since the beginning of time and has been recorded in the scriptures, as well as other documents. Evil is in the world we live in, I just don't need to see it in a movie. It's hard enough to keep life light and uplifting.

    It is definitely not for children.  I remember seeing the move "King Kong" as a 10 year old and being frightened to be alone anywhere in my house for over a week.  I still remember the emotions I felt from that movie over 50 years later.  But children killing children is just too much for me.  What is a movie like this doing to our young people?  What do they think?  Can it happen in real life? You bet it can.  Do we need to fill our minds with it? Definitely not. I know I felt dark inside after the movie and it will take some time to remove it from my mind.

The show depicts these points of control:

 • Control over food: Residents of the 12 districts are not allowed to eat more food than they are allotted 
    by the government. Being caught catching a squirrel for food results in severe punishment.

 • Control over land: The 12 districts are fenced off with high-voltage power lines, much like you might

    find in North Korea today.

 • Control over the media: The government controls all media, and every broadcast is a staged

    theatrical event, completely fabricated by the government to serve the interests of the government itself.

 • Control of DNA: Residents of the districts are identified through the taking of DNA blood samples.

 • Control over life itself: The government toys with human life and seems to be amused by 

    expressing   heartless power over the masses.

     In the film (and the book), the government is obsessed with total oppression of the people, denying them food and resources and carrying out mind games against them that sap their courage and convince them they have no personal power.

     I can't help comparing my night at the movies to the dinner party we had at our home the evening after.  It was as different as night and day.  At the the dinner party we laughed and enjoyed getting to know everyone better, it was fun and uplifting. 

     It's not just this movie, this movie made me wake up, and I must speak up against evil. Satan uses media to deceive me by making what is wrong and evil look normal, humorous, or exciting.  He tries to mislead me into thinking that breaking God's commandments is acceptable and has no negative consequences for me.  I know better than to view anything vulgar, immoral, violent or pornographic and I feel bad I didn't walk out of the theater.  Why? Because it drives away the spirit, and I need the spirit to direct me 24/7, as the Liahona directed Nephi's family.

The choices of media can influence  
thoughts and actions now and in the future.

Pain

Granddaughter Megan 2

     Have you ever felt horrific pain?  I have. Cancer to car accidents, one time my appendices exploded for almost 3 days before it was diagnosed.  I know people who have suffered much more than I, and much longer than I, yet as terrible as pain is, there are pains from other sources that are worse.  And that is spiritual pain. It can fester and grow much worse than physical woes.


     Easter, having just passed, I was again reminded of the pain my Savior suffered for me.  I still cannot imagine what he went through, but I know he did. Out of love for His Father and love for me, my Savior allowed Himself to suffer beyond the capacity of mortal man.  Even as God, his suffering caused him to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, why? It all boils down to His love for me and you.  All that is required on my part is that I repent and obey His commandments.  After all, this is His earth, His air I borrow from moment to moment to sustain life.  His water and food that is provided to keep me going.   


     My Savior broke the bands of death, and because of that event,  I know that I will too, and my daughter and two sons, father and two brothers who have left this earth are not in the cold grave but live.  


     This is my testimony and I know it to be true.   Justice has been met by the atonement of Jesus Christ and I will always be in debt to Him for his Mercy extended to me.