Love of Others

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
- Abraham Lincoln

Hands of the Lord

I am totally in the hands of the Lord.
- Gordon B. Hinckley

Heritage

Heritage is passed heart to heart. Henry B. Eyring

When I read this quote, I had to think about it a little. The things I love about my grandmother and great-grandmother are the things I came to love. They both had a committment to the Savior; they both loved to read; they both lived by the Spirit.

It made me think about the things I'm teaching my grandchildren that are important to me. What is important to you? Are you passing your values on to those who come after you? I hope I am.

Carving with Angels

Carving Angels - Behind the Wood Shavings

I love a background story.
Just as I love the secondary characters in a movie.
Each adds . . . substance.
And, let's face it, the lead story and the lead characters have all been done to death. The world is looking for something fresh and new.
But who says that fresh and new can't be siphoned off of the old and overdone?
Carving Angels came from just such an idea.
I was looking at a picture of Santa Claus, riding in his famous sleigh.
Pulled by his equally famous reindeer.
And the thought struck me - 'Huh. I wonder where he got his sleigh?' It is such an integral part of the whole 'Santa' story, but no one has ever explained where it came from.
Did he mail order it?
The number of stamps alone would be mind-boggling.
Visit 'Sleighs R Us' on one of his weekend getaways to New York or places south?
Possible, but doubtful. For one thing, I've never seen a 'Sleighs R Us' store.
Even in Edmonton.
I sincerely doubt that one could find a Sears or Costco at the North Pole.
The only other solutions seemed to be either union-made (elves), or non-union 'constructed in someone's shop' (also elves).
Bingo.
I had my premise.
Santa's sleigh was constructed by elves.
Or more particularly, by an elf.
A very gifted elf.
But what kind of gifts?
A metal worker/welder?
I'm sure they have them in abundance at the North Pole. After all, who else could construct the plethora of things metal that appear under our tree on Christmas morning?
Okay, that's one possibility.
Computer whiz.
Handy, especially when it came to interior bells and whistles.
But, let's face it, a virtual sleigh, though it might look good on the silver screen, really couldn't pass muster when it came to actually carrying the big guy and serving as a repository for the all-important toys and gifts.
Computer whizzes - out.
Wait. What about a wood carver?
We're talking about a night spent in an open sleigh in sub-zero temperatures.
Okay, yes, I know that many of Santa's deliveries are to tropical and sub-tropical locales, but we should plan for the frozen-est, rather than the warm-est, right?
Moving on . . .
Hmm. Wood vs. metal.
Wood is so much warmer than metal.
Anyone who has done the all important/stupid frozen metal-tongue test (and I'm not saying I have) knows that wood, even when frozen solid, simply does not have the sticking power of super-cooled metal.
A definite plus for the wood argument.
Let's go with that.
So. A wood-carving elf.
Now, how can we make him (or her) special.
And at the same time make his (all right, I've decided he's a guy) accomplishment just a bit . . . tougher. Harder to imagine.
Or believe.
We'll give him a handicap.
Something to overcome.
Something that will make his achievement that much more astounding.
Age?
Good.
Infirmity?
Better.
Blind?
Perfect.
And we'll drag in his tiny little granddaughter because she is so sweet and cute and because she is equally handicapped by age.
And because we need someone to help on the rare occasions when our carver actually needs to 'see'.
So now, all we need is a bit of background: A former career as Santa's chief carver, followed by ten years of despair.
And the story is set.
Carving Angels is born.

Loved Ones

I met a dear friend at the temple this week. I haven’t seen her for a few years, and it was so good to renew our love for each other. She is happy, upbeat and full of testimony and spirit. Her life has not been easy, and that has given her strength. It was an inspiration for me to bask in the maturity of her spirit.

She talked of angels being with her. Our conversation caused me to wonder about my own life. Do I acknowledge the angels in my life—on both sides of the veil. There are many times I feel their presence.

D&C 38:1, 2, 7 “I am . . . the same which knoweth all things, for all things are present before mine eyes; . . . I am in your midst and ye cannot see me.”

Light

This week I met with dear friends of mine in the temple. To be with loved ones who add light to your life and to be in a place of light fills one with feelings of great joy. God has promised us all things if we have faith and believe.

And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:88)

Service

"May we show our love and appreciation for the Savior’s atoning sacrifice through our simple, compassionate acts of service." M. Russell Ballard

Service

Send out in abundance and abundance will return to you.

"For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again." Alma 41:15

Doing Good

I just reread President Eyring's talk in the last Ensign. I hope and pray that I can do a small measure of good each day. I want to help make the world a better place so this week my quotes will concern service, which I know I spend a lot of time talking about, but I do love giving.

"A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return." Melvin J. Ballard.

Abundance

We have a new grandson in our family. He wasn't due until the end of May, but he was anxious to begin his new life and made his grand entrance yesterday. We have all rearranged our lives to welcome him here. He is precious, perfect and reminds me of the abundance of love in my life.

"For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored." Alma 41:15

As we love him, he will love us and others. Love will abound.

Have a Nice Holiday

I wish you the best! Have a wonderful time connecting with your family and friends. Send lots of love into the Universe. I send lots of love to you.

Filled with Love

I can picture Moroni copying this sermon of his father Mormon onto the plates and being filled with the love of God and love for his great father. I'm gratefull God gave us such wonderful prophets to guide us. Mormon and Moroni loved us enough to devote their lives to bringing us inspiring scriptures.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons [and daughters] of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. Moroni 7:48

Encircled in the arms of God's Love

Oliver Cowdery and Lehi received the promise of being encircled with God's love. If you and I live well, that gift can be ours also. I love to image God's arms around me when I need Him.

I will encircle thee in the arms of my love. D&C Section 6:20
I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love. 2 Nephi 1:15

Love One Another

Every day I try to remember to love those around me.  I want to be born of God and know Him. Sometimes I fell short, but I'm working on it.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7

Daughter of God

John, the Beloved, tells us we are loved of God. When Christ shall come, we shall be like Him. What greater gift of love could He give us?

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons [and daughters] of God. . . . Beloved, now are we the sons [and daughters] of God, . . . we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:1 - 2

Love of God

I love this scripture. Christ is getting ready for His great Atonement and He takes time to teach us about the Love of God. To be loved of God as Christ was - can I even comprehend that?

. . . that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:23

. . . that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:26

As I Have Loved You . . .

In the hustle and bustle of this busy season, may we turn to Christ who loved us first and taught about love through example and word.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34

Christmas is time of Love

At Christmas time our thoughts are turned to others in celebration and love. May we keep this spirit in our hearts all year long.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Knowing God

He who knoweth his own self, knoweth God. Muhammad

As you radiate positive energy, it will come back to you. It will return even an hundred fold.

                         Try it!
                         Look for the 'Godliness' in those around you.

A Disciple

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Jesus, Bible John 13:34-35