Saturday, January 29, 2022

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

For such a time as this

 I try to continually use my food storage to keep it fresh, but now I find it harder and harder to replace.

It's not terrible, but spotty availability and higher prices does make you wonder if it is a harbinger of things to come.

After this last coupled years, I have decided that slowly getting used to not getting things might be the way it goes, and at what point to do pull out what is in storage? When do I decided to pull out those dried berries rather than spending increasingly on fresh/frozen berries out of a decreasing cash allowance?

Are you prepared? what do you need to gather? What do you see now that you didn't see eariler?

Is it time to learn to darn your socks?


How's your spiritual storehouse?

Would you have all you needed if you lost internet? Is your lamp full of oil?

Are you ready to fasten your seatbelt? 

Are you taking your vitamins?

Do you understand what is docterine vs cultural practices?


Can you create a house of order out of the chaos of the world?

Do you pray for guidence to be a light in the world each day?

For the spirit to guide your little ones as they navigate the schoolscape?

Do you check for worldy attitudes entering your thoughts each day?


Have I asked enough questions yet? What questions do you need to ask yourself?

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Genisis 3:16

Many people consider this curse a curse on Eve, but our Heavenly Father wont curse us. This is actually more like explaining the best way to handle the natural consequences of the fall.

 This verse naturally causes pause in feminist-minded people. We can understand the labor/sorrow/childbirth reference and accept that as a translation similarity, in fact, it is easy enough to understand desiring your husband. It's that darn word "rule" that gets us. What does that actually mean and how many men in the history of the world have used that word as an excuse to dominate the opposite sex? Or worse yet, women using it as an excuse to stay in relationships where they are dominated.

After looking across translations "rule" is consistently the word, so what does it mean? Then I remembered how that section of the scene plays out in the temple. That we will harken to our husbands, as they harken to Christ. 

But modern prophets always have the best understanding available on such subjects: (and I am copying from an explanation  of Brad Wilcox. See here for more)

President Spencer W. Kimball offered this valuable insight regarding the phrase “thy husband … shall rule over thee”: “I have a question about the word rule. It gives the wrong impression. I would prefer to use the word preside because that’s what he does. A righteous husband presides over his wife and family.” (Ensign, Mar. 1976, p. 72.)

Also we remember the man the Lord was talking about when he said these words to Eve. Adam was the great Michael, he who had helped Jehovah create the earth, the great first prophet of the Lord on earth, a most righteous son of God. Those who interpret God’s blessing upon Eve as a punishment have not understood the meaning of scripture. The Lord was telling Eve that she would be watched over, cared for, and protected by the righteous love of a noble husband as she entered the fallen world. In the misunderstandings typical of mortality, how ironic that many men take this verse and use it as license to exercise unrighteous dominion and to rule over their wives instead of treating their wives in a manner to encourage a spouse’s desire toward them.

In October 1993 general conference, Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve said: “Should a man ‘exercise control or dominion or compulsion … in any degree of unrighteousness,’ … he violates ‘the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.’ … Then ‘the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved.’ … Unless he repents he will lose his blessings.” (Ensign, Nov. 1993, p. 22; see D&C 84:39D&C 121:37.)

In the general Relief Society meeting held prior to general conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard, also of the Quorum of the Twelve, said: “God has revealed through his prophets that men are to receive the priesthood, become fathers, and with gentleness and pure, unfeigned love they are to lead and nurture their families in righteousness as the Savior leads the Church (see Eph. 5:23). They have been given the primary responsibility for the temporal and physical needs of the family (see D&C 83:2). Women have the power to bring children into the world and have been given the primary duty and opportunity as mothers to lead, nurture, and teach them in a loving, spiritual environment. In this divine partnership, husbands and wives support one another in their God-given capacities. By appointing different accountabilities to men and women, Heavenly Father provides the greatest opportunity for growth, service, and progress. He did not give different tasks to men and women simply to perpetuate the idea of a family; rather, He did so to ensure that the family can continue forever, the ultimate goal of our Heavenly Father’s eternal plan.” (Ensign, Nov. 1993, p. 90.)

Sunday, January 09, 2022

on the process of creation:

 When we plan out, practice, and release, are we creating these things spiritually before they become physical?