Fill In the Blank

Dear Sisters,

O.K. This is a multiple choice test...have fun with it...see if you can fill in the blank correctly:1. _____________will bring upon us the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

A. Disregard for the legal system
B. Lack of religion
C. Disintegration of the family
D. War and economic problems

So...do you think you know the right answer? It is in "A Proclamation to the World." It reads, "...we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."Wow! The success of the family as a unit of society is more important than our nation's military power, our healthcare, our educational system, our financial position, etc. What can we do as individuals to help ensure strong families? Elder Ballard made three suggestions in the 1995 November Liahona:"1. Be consistent in holding daily family prayer and weekly family home evenings. Both of these invite the Lord’s Spirit, which provides the help and power we need as parents and family leaders. The Church curriculum and magazines have many good ideas for family home evening. Also consider holding a family testimony meeting where parents and children can express their beliefs and feelings to each other in a private and personal setting.2. Teach the gospel and basic values in your home. Establish a love for reading the scriptures together. Too many of our parents are abdicating this responsibility to the Church. While seminary, auxiliaries, and priesthood quorums are important as a supplement to parental gospel instruction, the main responsibility rests in the home. You might want to choose one gospel subject or a family value and then watch for opportunities to teach it. Be wise and do not involve children or yourselves in so many activities out of the home that you are so busy that the Spirit of the Lord cannot be recognized or felt in giving you the promised guidance for yourself and your family.3. Create meaningful family bonds that give your children an identity stronger than what they can find with their peer group or at school or anyplace else. This can be done through family traditions for birthdays, for holidays, for dinnertime, and for Sundays. It can also be done through family policies and rules with natural and well-understood consequences. Have a simple family economy where children have specific chores or household duties and receive praise or other rewards commensurate to how well they do. Teach them the importance of avoiding debt and of earning, saving, and wisely spending money. Help them learn responsibility for their own temporal and spiritual self-reliance."It is exciting that in these troubled times each of us has a great role to play in the most important work that can be done on Earth or in the heavens...the work of building strong families! It is getting harder and harder...but there is One who is on our side...and I believe He will guide us completely as we humble ourselves and listen to His voice.

Love to all,
Sister A. L.
First Counselor Alexandria Stake Relief Society

And thus were they prepared

When the Lamanites were wanting to take the city Noah, they were surprised that they couldn't overthrow them. Why? Because the Nephites had obeyed the words of the Lord. They fortified themselves with the things the Lord gave them and hence had "all power over their enemies."

How many years have we been told to be prepared??? One year supply of food storage, keeping enough oil in our lamps, attend the temple often, nurture our family. It's not only to protect us physically, but spiritually as well. How much are we heeding to that counsel?

Wearing the Armour of God

I was reading about wars in the scriptures. In Alma 43 it talks about how Captain Moroni sought counsel from the prophet Alma to know what the will of the Lord was in this war against the Lamanites. Specifically, he asked Alma to inquire of the Lord where they should go in order to keep themselves and their people protected.

How can we know what to do to keep ourselves protected from today's evils? We can follow Captain Moroni's example and seek the counsel of the prophet to know the will of the Lord. We can do the things needed to wearing the armor of God.

1) What has the prophet spoken about recently? [Last general conference issue of the Ensign --http://www.lds.org/conference/apr2007/archive/0,20920,7545-1,00.html
or the current First Presidency message in this month's Ensign http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=02303bc909592110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=true

2) What are the things needed to do in order to wear the full armor of God? Last night in Family Home Evening (FHE), we discussed the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:11-17.
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/search?search=Ephesians+6%3A11-17)

• Girdle of truth
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Shoes helping us to walk in gospel truths
• Shielf of faith
• Helmet of salvation
• Sword of the Spirit

As we continue to keep our lamps fill our lamps with drops of oil everyday, we are in the act of wearing the armor of God.
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"Just as order gave life and beauty to the earth when it was dark and void, so it does to us. Obedience helps us develop the full potential Heavenly Father desires for us in becoming celestial beings worthy some day to live in His presence."

--James E. Faust, "Obedience: The Path to Freedom", May 1999 Ensign

I Love the Sabbath Day

Especially putting on church music on the computer so we can listen to it while we are getting ready for church. :-) I love this day of rest. I love being able to feel the Spirit as I go to church. I love being able to feel the Spirit when I'm there. I love hearing other peoples' testimonies. I love going to the classes and learning what the teachers have prepared for us.

There's something about going to church every Sunday. It's hard to explain. I come home feeling filled more than I was before. I feel a better person than before. I feel more happy than before. On Sundays like these I know I have filled my lamp with enough oil for the week. At least in that aspect of my life. It is what I am taught at Church that motivates me to do the things I need to. Like the "lamp oil" quiz below. I am so much closer to the Spirit as I have strived to work on the things I'm lacking on. It's the greatest feeling knowing that you have progessed spiritually than from last week...and that you are headed on the right path.

I think another blessing from following the council of the Lord is helping you see your strengths and faults...where you need to work on the most. I know that bc I've tried to keep close to the Spirit, my heart has been opened up to finding out these things about myself. And it's very liberating!! Knowing these things will have a positive ripple effect in life as I change my will over to the will of the Lord.

Will I have oil in my lamp?

A. Read Matthew 25:1-13 here

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/25/1-13#1

B. Take this questionnaire to see how much oil you really have in your lamp right now:

1. I read from my copy of the Book of Mormon: (please circle answer)
a. about once a month or less
b. about once a week
c. every few days
d. every day

2. I read from the other scriptures: (please cirlce answer)
a. about once a month or less
b. about once a week
c. every few days
d. every day

3. Do you take notes sometimes when you read the scriptures or any other material?
a.Yes
b. No

4. Generally speaking, do you read your Sunday School lesson before the teacher presents it on Sunday? (Please circle an answer).
a. Almost always
b. Often
c. Sometimes
d. Seldom
e. Never

5. Generally Speaking, do you read RS or Priesthood lesson before the teacher presents it on Sunday? (Please circle an answer).
a. Almost
a. Almost always
b. Often
c. Sometimes
d. Seldom
e. Never

6. Do you do your Visiting Teaching or your Home Teaching regularly? (Please cirlce answer).
a. Almost always
b. Often
c. Sometimes
d. Seldom
e. Never

7. Does your family get together daily for family scripture study? (Please cirlce answer).
a. Almost always
b. Often
c. Sometimes
d. Seldom
e. Never

8. Does your family get together daily for family prayer? (Please cirlce answer).
a. Almost always
b. Often
c. Sometimes
d. Seldom
e. Never

9. Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?
a. Yes
b. No

10.Do you hold regular Family Home Evening?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Irregular

11. Are you "quick to obey" the counsel we are given from our leaders or do you choose not to be strict in keeping the counsel (TV viewing habits, clean music, pornography, etc.)?
a. Quick to obey
b. Like to rationalize my behavior as "not that bad"

12. Do you take your callings in your home and in the Church seriously and strive to be better?
a. Callings are a chore
b. Callings are a chance to improve myself

13.Do you have a current temple recommend?
a. Yes
b. No

14. When is the last time you wen to the temple?

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C. Write down a list of the areas you need to improve on, makes some goals to accomplish those improvements, and Implement them!!

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I was reading in Alma 38 this morning and some verses stuck out to me. Alma 38:2-5
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/search?search=Alma+38%3A2-5

In these verses I felt it expressed Heavenly Father's feelings for me as I've kept my oil filled with oil to be prepared or as I have strived to keep it filled with oil. There is definitely room for improvement!