In my thoughts today

When I initially started blogging I wanted to do a blog about "nothing." I wanted it to be full of random thoughts and everyday observances. I am SO breaking that resolve with this post. Oh well, I've never been much for resolve anyhow.

"Concepts such as sin and wrong have been condemned as 'value judgements.' The lack of internal control by individuals breeds external control by governments. Policemen and laws can never replace customs, traditions and moral values as a means for regulating human behavior. At best, the police and criminal justice system are the last desperate line of defense for a civilized society. Our increased reliance on laws to regulate behavior is a measure of how uncivilized we've become.

In the end, it is only an internal moral compass in each individual that can effectively deal with the root causes as well as the symptoms of societal decay."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Read Elder Christofferson's talk in it's entirety HERE

I love the picture this invokes:

"Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope? Yes! Is that charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ. If something is buried in the past, leave it buried. Don't keep going back with your little sand pail and beach shovel to dig it up, wave it around, and then throw it at someone, saying, 'Hey! Do you remember this?' Splat!

Well, guess what? That is probably going to result in some ugly morsel being dug up out of your landfill with the reply, 'Yeah, I remember it. Do you remember this?' Splat.

And soon enough everyone comes out of that exchange dirty and muddy and unhappy and hurt, when what our Father in Heaven pleads for is cleanliness and kindness and happiness and healing.

Such dwelling on past lives, including past mistakes, is just not right!"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"The Best is yet to Be" January 2010 Ensign

"He who has repented of his sins,

the same is forgiven,

and I, the Lord,

remember them no more"

D&C 58:42

Sunday:

(pronounced /ˈsʌndi/ or /ˈsʌndeɪ/ ( listen)) is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday. In most Christian traditions it is considered the "Christian Sabbath"

Last fall my husband and I attended our stake conference in which the visiting authority encouraged us to be better at keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. He gave specific suggestions, like turning off the television and engaging more with our children. He said that Sunday became his children's favorite day of the week and that our relationship with our own children would be strengthened if we would follow this counsel.

The following Monday our family sat down and made some Sunday goals together. No television, no movies, no computer . . . no electronics as a whole. We would listen to only classical or church music and my husband and I promised not to nap the day away. We've implemented our goals and here are the results:

• less arguing
• more sharing
• lots and lots of family board games
• more talking
• more connecting
• more peace
• more laughter
• more time

In a nutshell, it has brought more of what we've been longing for and less of what we've needed to rid ourselves of

and suddenly Sunday has become our favorite day too.

One of my favorite thoughts from church yesterday:

"The scriptures are full of whatever is on your mind while you are studying them."

President Kyle McKay

Thoughts on God

I was sitting in a waiting room last week and I picked up a women's magazine sporting a beautiful photo of an ex-wife of a popular 90's rock star. (did you follow that?) There was a four page article on her recent weight loss, her current boyfriend and her newfound relationship with Weight Watchers. But then things got really interesting . . . she mentioned finding God. It was brief, tucked into one short paragraph, and it left me confused. Just as soon as she used the word "God" she started backtracking, making sure that the general public doesn't see her as, and I quote, "a religious nut."

I've been wondering, am I apologetic when talking about God?

I've made a 2010, new decade, sort of decision. I'm going to be a self proclaimed "religious nut" and talk about God anytime I feel so inclined.

Hopefully it's quite often.

Shaping my new years resolutions:

"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute more to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

(1:30 new years morning they finally gave out)