chapter 95 : sharing the facts...

since i started watching tv again, occasionally i will watch the Nancy Grace Show. i used to really appreciate how she seemed to "fight for the victim" in the stories she reported about, but now i'm getting really FED UP with their stupid misreported facts about the FLDS polygamy saga and their religion's connection to Joseph Smith.
so tonight, after a 2nd false statement, i couldn't take it any longer. i am so PASSIONATE about things that are important to me and this is SO important to me. i would never want anyone to think that my religion is linked to something illegal and wrong like this. yes, in the past like 150 years they participated in polygamy as a commandment from our Heavenly Father, but the times were so different then. now though, we DON'T do that in our church and we do not condone abuse and isolation like the FLDS religion does. in fact our church doesn't support criticizing other religions at all, but we also don't believe in the illegal practices that they have in the FLDS church either.
so without further hestitation, i give you my "get the facts of stories right" email that i sent to the show...

"I have seen two separate shows of yours which link the FLDS church with Joseph Smith improperly. While I do not know the FLDS' exact correlation with Joseph, I do know that the things stated on your show about him are FALSE. As a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, whose first prophet was Joseph Smith and whose teachings we still study today, we no longer support polygamy or those who practice it. For instance, on your show tonight, April 28th, you state Joseph Smith's birthday as being on April 6th and that is why the FLDS church members honor that day. Well, I must inform you of the truth. His birthday is actually Dec. 23, 1805 and as stated in a previous show about the color red, we, the true followers of Joseph Smith's teachings, do not have anything against the color red or any color for that matter.
As someone who tries to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and also respect the life of a Prophet whom I know to be true, Joseph Smith, I ask that you please research your facts better before connecting my religion with one that certainly DOES NOT follow the true teachings of Christ and his True modern-day prophets on the earth now. If you would like a good book to get facts from, please read "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith," that is published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2007.
I have grown up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints my entire life and have never been taught anything like what the FLDS and Warren Jeffs teaches and in fact we abhor abuse, isolation and dishonesty.
Thank you for getting your facts straight in the future and may all of these children be shown that there is a better and safer life other than what they've been taught."

so i hope that they will do better research before nationally televising things about the first Prophet of my Church and falsely connecting the awful things that are going on in the FLDS church with the TRUE church.

yours truly.

chapter 89 : praise to the Man!

today in my religion we have our biannual General Conference meeting. it was such a wonderful experience. i LOVED the Solemn Assembly and wept from the beginning through the sustaining. part of me was even afraid that i wouldn't be able to stand due to feeling my emotions and the Spirit so strongly. i am so thankful to have a living Prophet of God on the earth who leads and guides our church. He along with the other leaders truly are called of God and i received that witness again today.
this conference, i was reminded of some things once again...

* i am so grateful for the way that the leaders of the Gospel never condemn us for our mistakes, but always tell us how well we are doing and urge us to do a little better. even though they sometimes speak on very strong and even challenging subjects, they always give their accounts in such a way that brings hope and helps me want to strive to do better, not only for myself, but for my family and those i come in contact with.

* the Brethren help me to feel loved like my Savior loves me. i know that they pray for us and are mindful of all of the members of Church and it brings such comfort to me to gain a little bit more insight into the way that Jesus Christ so selflessly loves and desires for my happiness. mr. clean made a comment like, "how could anyone listen to them and not know it's true?"

3 things that i hope to work on between now and the next conference are :
* to try to find greater balance in my life. i loved the talk by Elder Ballard in the last session. it was another testament to me that the Lord and his disciples truly are aware of what our lives are like and what we go through each day.
* i NEED to pray more and include my Heavenly Father more often. i remember hearing something to the effect that, "your need the extra help to raise your children. you can't do it alone!" this is SO true!
* use my time more wisely. i am the type of person that lives in extremes. i tend to either give 100% of myself to something or just barely get by. this goes for all aspects of my life from cleaning to getting ready and reading my scriptures to praying. my family and i deserve better than this and so do those i come in contact with as well, friends, acquaintances, etc., but most importantly, my Heavenly Father and Savior deserve better for all that they have done for me. without the mindfulness of my Father in Heaven, i know i wouldn't be who or where i am today and without my Savior, Jesus Christ and the Atonement, i would be lost!

the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored upon the earth and is here in its fullness. i am truly blessed!

yours truly.

*to see one of the most beautiful and powerful witnesses of Christ, go here.

chapter 82 : He lives!

today i am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to attend church and remember the Resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that without him, my life would not be what it is. i would not be happy. i probably would have never married my husband or have my sweet family. my life would be so different!
i am so grateful that i get to be with my family forever. what peace it brings to know and believe this...my children and husband are sealed to me for eternity. i am so thankful the Hope that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings and that there is a way for me to repent of my mistakes and try to become more like Christ.
earlier, i was thinking about the final judgement and how i feel in front of my Savior. right now, i feel like i would be kneeling with my head dropped, heavy with guilt for all of my sins i have committed and continue to make each day. But i also thought about how a loving and most kind, Savior Jesus Christ, perhaps would come to me and lift my chin and tell me to stop being so hard on myself and that i've done well and it would all be ok.

i could never ask for a better advocate in my defense for eternal life!

Oh how i truly love my Savior, elder Brother and Reeder, Jesus Christ. For without him i would be nothing!

a tomb like the one where His body was laid appearing to Mary Magdalene after He was resurrected

in His glory!
showing his apostles the prints in His hands and feet
ascending to heaven
the resurrected Lord!

I Know that My Reeder Lives!

from http://www.lds.org/ "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
Because Jesus died for us and was resurrected, everyone who has ever lived on the earth will be resurrected: "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:2022).
Resurrection is a gift freely given to everyone through Jesus Christ. But to return to the presence of Heavenly Father, we must follow the teachings of Christ and the example He gave us when He said, "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Heavenly Father's ultimate gifts to us come through His Son, Jesus Christ. These gifts are happiness in this life as we follow His light and eternal life in the world to come. (See John 8:12; John 11:25.)"

today in Primary (the classes our children ages 3-12 attend during church), we sang my favorite Primary song, I'm Trying to be Like Jesus. i couldn't get through the song. it touched me too deeply. although i'm not perfect and make many mistakes, i want to be like Him and find hope that i can come closer to it each day.

yours truly.

chapter 64 : got to get a little more out...

recently i've been sick. not just any kind of sick, but the kinds where you hack 5 times in a row until your throat is clear, sneeze three times, make your bed soaking wet because your crazy fever finally broke and blow your nose about 7 times in one try...ok maybe too much info for some of you, but i was SUPER sick.
during my worst night, while waking up for like the 16th time, i could have swore it was like 5:30 in the morning. i needed the greater part of the night to be gone and for it to be at least 5:30 am, but lo and behold, it was a mere 12:30. i had only been asleep for like 2 hours. i thought i was going to pass out, not from the balloon-head congestion (although i felt dizzy many times), but because the night wasn't even half over.
i decided it was time to put it in someone else's hands and rely on my faith to get me through. it truly was a wonderful reminder of how blessed i am to have the Priesthood so abundant in my life through mr. clean.
when the oil touched my head, my pounding headache calmed and i knew there was an end in sight.

i am also so grateful for the Holy Ghost and the subtle promptings i receive. they never fail me when i choose to follow them. a while ago, my baby K was playing and since she's started putting more things in her mouth, i try to be extra careful if there are small pieces around. this day, baby K decided to try a sticker and when i checked on her and by heeding a prompting, i could see she was chewing on something. i decided to swab her mouth and luckily i was able to remove the sticker. she definitely could have choked on it and i don't even want to think about what could have happened.

i am so grateful for the promptings that come through the Spirit and for the Priesthood. i am truly blessed.

chapter 59 : my moment of silence

tonight i am saddened by the loss of the prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. for more information on his life and legacy, please go here. what a beautiful and inspirational example of hope in times of desperation, of light in times of darkness and of positivity in times of despair. his call to strive to do a little better will always remain in my mind and heart. this world has truly lost it's present leader. he was truly a man of faith, honor, love and obedience. i am grateful and also look forward to who will be the next leader.

chapter 48 : all in favor

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