Jesus Christ

In today’s world, people often wonder, “Who is God?” The next questions that often come up are: Does He know me? Do I matter to Him? These are age-old questions, and really the questions of life. If we know the answers to these questions, then we can put our life on earth into perspective. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church, I believe that God is my Heavenly Father. In the Articles of Faith (13 points of belief that outline basic teachings and ordinances in the Mormon Church), the first one is: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” They are three separate and distinct beings. God is our Eternal Father, our Father in Heaven. If you look “God” up in the Latter-day Saint version of the Bible Dictionary, it says: “[God is] the supreme Governor of the universe and the Father of mankind.” ‘Our Father... Read the rest of this entry »

What is the definition of peace? I recently watched General Conference (a conference for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes mistakenly called the “Mormon Church”) and was impressed by one of the talks by a member of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Quentin L. Cook, who spoke on peace. He said the peace that he was talking about was “not a temporary tranquility” rather, he said, “[peace] is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment” (Conference Report, April, 2013). How Can I Have Peace? About two years ago, I went through one of the hardest trials I have faced in mortality. It was one of those that you feel like the whole world is crashing down on you. The issue has yet to be resolved; but my heart has. How? I found solace not by buying expensive jewelry or seeking power, but by drawing nearer to my Savior Jesus Christ through prayer, scripture study, and service. I testify that as I sought Him,... Read the rest of this entry »

Former Relief Society General President Julie B. Beck said that learning to comprehend and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost is one of the most important things we will do in our lifetimes.  I converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often mistakenly called the Mormon Church) when I was sixteen.  I’ve now celebrated my fiftieth year in the Church of Jesus Christ, and I know what she means that communing with Holy Ghost is a learning process. The gift of the Holy Ghost is something unique to members of the Church of Jesus Christ.  It is the permanent residing of the Holy Spirit within a person who remains a worthy vessel.  The Holy Ghost may manifest himself to anyone at any given time, especially to lead him or her to a solid faith that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, but the permanent gift comes only after baptism by immersion by one having true authority from God, and the bestowal of the gift (called “confirmation”)... Read the rest of this entry »

Who is the Holy Ghost? “The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a personage of spirit, without a body of flesh and bones. He is often referred to as the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, or the Comforter” (see Gospel Topics). We know of key attributes of the Holy Spirit from the scriptures: 1) The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead. The Godhead consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. They are “one” (in purpose and intent and knowledge) yet are separate beings; the former Mormon prophet (president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes mistakenly called the “Mormon Church”), Joseph Smith, stated: … these three are one; or, in other words, these three constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things; by whom all things were created and made … and these three constitute the Godhead, and are one” (Quoted in Bruce R. McConkie,... Read the rest of this entry »

In the summer of 2007, my husband and I moved our kids almost 1,000 miles from one Rocky Mountain town to another several states away. We knew spiritually it was right. And it was a great move for all of us in every way…except financially. It was the largest dichotomy I have ever experienced. I had a strong support network in our new town. My kids had friends. It was really a great move. But financially, we went down in flames. My husband and I have never been rich (in terms of money), but we always made it. We had one credit card on which we owed and a home mortgage. We had moved in 2003 and were able to buy a house before the real estate market in our little resort town boomed. So in 2005, we used some of the equity in our home to make a “sure thing” investment: We bought a vacant lot in our neighborhood and were planning to build on it. We thought we could make enough money to buy a bigger house for our growing family, ensuring our longevity... Read the rest of this entry »

I have had as many miscarriages as babies born: four of each. After I survived a foreclosure and bankruptcy, I thought I could handle any trial that the Lord sent me. So He tested me, and boy, was I wrong. The financial trials were humbling, but the next wave of adversity hit me to the very core of my being. I have always known when it was time to have a child. And, for the most part, I knew who was coming. I felt confident in the spiritual connection I had with my babies before they were born. My husband and I even chose their names before we ever had the first one. The first three came relatively easily. I had a miscarriage between the third and the fourth. That was heart-wrenching, but I got pregnant again within a few months. And I soon saw the reason for the delay in my son’s coming— the pregnancy I lost was due in July 2007; but in July 2007, we were in a state of transition and chaos. So it was a blessing. In June 2009, my husband came to me... Read the rest of this entry »

For someone who wanted a bunch of kids, I was certainly not looking forward to a third pregnancy. I was puzzled by my feelings. My first two pregnancies had been uncomfortable but uneventful, and there was no real reason why I should dread a third one. But here I was, looking at pregnant women as if they had leprosy or some sort of terminal illness. Why would anyone choose to be pregnant? The thought crossed my mind often. But I’d better get started, I thought. My number two will be four by the time number three is born, so it’s about time, right? No sooner had I taken a pregnancy test than things started to go awry. In gratitude, I will tell you now that I have been very fortunate in bearing children. This not a story of life-threatening complications, but of surrendering one’s will for the benefit of another — in this case, mine for my baby’s. So, at two months along, I looked five months along… you get my drift. At four months along, my... Read the rest of this entry »

What value have our worldly possessions? Surely, we need food to eat, and shelter from the elements. How much more do we need? How much effort, how much sacrifice should we make to have useful, or even pretty things? My parents were solidly middle class, although my mother had been raised higher than that and always sought to climb the social ladder. They were dutiful. We were all vaccinated and saw the dentist every six months, got braces on our teeth if we needed them, had new dresses for prom, and money for college. Now I found myself with three young children, heading into bankruptcy. My husband’s business was failing, tax collectors visiting, creditors calling. Although under stress, my husband was still able to see these things in objective business terms, but for me, it was a moral morass. I was worried, embarrassed, confused. Looming before us was the prospect of losing all our worldly possessions. I saw no way out, and the fear of losing everything... Read the rest of this entry »

My mother hated her mother. She used to tell me some of the awful things her mother said to her as she was growing up. My grandmother lived in Philadelphia and was estranged from everyone, except my uncle, and he could barely tolerate her. We had begun our family life in the east, but had moved west, and my mother refused any contact from my grandmother. I had never in my life met her, and was to live my entire life without ever meeting her. Once a card arrived in the mail. “My dear sweet daughter,” it read. My mother flew into a rage and telephoned my uncle. “Find out what she wants,” she yelled, “and take care of it!” He did. She wanted money, I guess. Narcissistic Personality Disorder happens because of nurture, not nature, and my mother had it, although I was not able to find a name for her problem until I was a grandmother myself. Everything was everyone else’s fault, never her own, and she took credit for everything good. Not that... Read the rest of this entry »

After New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day is the most celebrated holiday around the world. Most people associate Valentine’s Day with sending or giving valentine cards and gifts to those they love, receiving valentine cards and gifts from those they love, seeing store shelves stocked with heart shaped boxes of chocolates and other candies, receiving a gift from an anonymous valentine, or spending time with that “special” valentine. But, the holiday may not necessarily be one of joviality for everyone. For some, Valentine’s Day means another day spent alone. However, no one has to be alone on Valentine’s Day. Robert Heinlein, an American science-fiction writer once stated, “Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” Even if a person is single and does not have that “special” valentine sweetheart to spend the day with, there are still things that... Read the rest of this entry »