My To-Do List of 2007

(I'm cleaning up my blog but didn't want to lose this list. )

My To-Do List
1. Take time for breathers
2. Fasting and prayer in times of solemnity
3. Action is required to build testimony
4. Don't get so busy you forget to enjoy the peace
5. Turn to my Heavenly Father for strength and support
6. There is no room for complacency in living the gospel of Jesus Christ
7. Be patient for answers to prayers
8. Humbling yourself is bettern than being compelled to be humble
9. Nourish a particle of faith
10. Don't get caught in the SuperWoman Syndrome
11. Have the Lord shine through my countenance
12. Don't give in or give up fighting for your values/standards!
13. Keep a more positive, productive, and loving attitude
14. Learn to love His law to bring greater peace into my life
15. Maintain my oil in my lamp
16. Strive to be merciful, deal justly, judge righteously and do good continually
17. Find, read, ponder, and act upon the current/recent words of our prophet today

Spirituality

Spirituality is the consciousness of victory over self and of communion with the
Infinite.

President David O. McKay

1. Desire to change
2. Pray for strength to change
3. In prayer, report on what you are working on that day in the morning and report your progress at night.
4. Post reminders
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Write down what FIRST comes to mind when you read the word(s) below:

1. Home
2. Smile
3. Messy
4. Temple
5. Your Bedroom
6. Darkness
7. Music
8. Parents

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We have the ability to control our attitude in:
1. Physical Environment
2. Attitudes of the Occupants

Righteous vs. Wickedness

As for the message, have you noticed that when most scripture-reading, church-going people talk about themselves, they consider themselves to be "the righteous" and others to be "the wicked?" I guess it is a natural tendency for all of us. But what kind of criteria does God use to determine if we are righteous or wicked? In 1 Nephi 16:3, Nephi lists several such criteria:
1. If we are willing to listen to the Truth.
2. If we are willing to make changes in our lives.
3. If we do not complain that God's ways are just too hard.

"And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us. " 1Nephi 16:3

Thoughts given to me on my Birthday that Touched Me

How to make a Beautiful Life: Reflections for a Daughter on Her Birthday

Love yourself.
MAKE PEACE with who you are
and where you are
at this moment in time.

Listen to your heart.
If you can't hear what it's saying
in this noisy world,
MAKE TIME for yourself.
Enjoy your own company.
Let your mind wander among the stars.

Try.
Take chances.
MAKE MISTAKES.
Life can be messy
and confusing at times.
but it's also full of surprises.
The next rock in your path
might be a stepping-stone.

Be Happy.
When you don't have what you want,
want what you have.
MAKE DO.
That's a well-kept secret of contentment.

There aren't any shortcuts to tomorrow.
You have to MAKE YOUR OWN WAY.
To know where you're going
is only part of it.
You need to know where you've been, too.
And if you ever get lost, don't worry.
The people who love you will find you.
Count on it.

Life isn't days and years.
It's what you do with time
and with all the goodness and grace
that's inside you.
MAKE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE...
The kind of life you deserve.

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

Standard of Truth

"You always hold the key of repentance to unlock the prison door. If they throw
the word diversity at you, grab hold of it and say, “I am already diverse, and I
intend to stay diverse.” If the word is tolerance, grab that one, too, saying,
“I expect you to be tolerant of my lifestyle—obedience, integrity, abstinence,
repentance.” If the word is choice, tell them you choose good, old-fashioned
morality."

--Boyd K. Packer, "The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected", Liahona Nov 2003, 24–27
D&C 101:78, True to the Faith, Hymn #254

Hope Grows Out of Faith

"As we put our faith and trust to work, hope is born. Hope grows out of
faith and gives meaning and purpose to all that we do. It can even give us the
peaceful assurance we need to live happily in a world that is ripe with
iniquity, calamity, and injustice."

--M. Russell Ballard, "The Joy of Hope Fulfilled", Ensign, Nov 1992, 31

As long as I can exercise my faith and trust in my Lord, in my family, and especially in myself...I can bring hope into my life...which is exactly what I need right now.