Month: June 2014

In the scriptures the terms bear and bare are sometimes used synonymously. In modern times to bear is to carry and to bare is to reveal or “lay bare” for all to see as in baring your soul. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there are three bears we value: bearing each other’s burdens, bearing our testimonies, and bearing children.

 

We are children of our Heavenly Father. We came to this earth to gain a body and to learn from making choices. As a man and woman who are legally married bear children, they create bodies for the spirits still in heaven, learn about the love our Heavenly Father has for us by being a parent, provide a family which is the system ordained by God to raise children, gain experiences through sacrifice, and grow by their deep and selfless love for their children. While we value having and raising children, this desire sometimes has to be cultivated and then that righteous desire may not be fulfilled in the way or time we want. Abraham was promised endless posterity and had to wait until he was one hundred years old for Isaac to be born. When God told Abraham that Sarah would bear a child, this was Abraham’s reaction. “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?” (Genesis 17:17).

 

When we learn of the gospel and covenant to follow Christ’s teachings and be baptized, we are choosing to bear one another’s burdens.  Serving one another in the church is time and heart intensive. The men visit families as home teachers once a month. The woman visit sisters in the ward once a month. In both home teaching and visiting teaching, a lesson is shared and we find out what we can do to help the family. We listen, offer solace, do dishes, babysit, move furniture, decorate for a wedding, fold laundry… I don’t live near my family, so my ward is my family. The members of my ward have helped bear my burdens by leaving groceries on our porch when my husband lost his job, watching one child as we went to the hospital to have another child, stored our furniture and belongings as we moved, carried buckets of food storage, sewed runners for my daughter’s wedding, baked bread, cooked pasta, and other countless acts of love. Alma, a prophet of God from the Book of Mormon, teaches the people what it means to be baptized and become members of Christ’s church. “And now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?” (Mosiah 18:8-9). The Apostle Paul also teaches: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

 

Alma teaches the people that not only will they bear one another’s burdens, they will stand as witnesses of God. One way we witness is through bearing our testimonies. Usually on the first Sunday of the month, we have Fast and Testimony Meeting. We fast or go without food for two meals and during our sacrament meeting, where all members meet together for one hour and 10 minutes, members of the ward bear their testimonies instead of the assigned talks. After the sacrament, the time is open for any member of the congregation to testify. Many of us start our testimony by saying, “I want to bear my testimony.” I’m guessing we say this because we are baring our souls or testifying of what is most precious to us. A testimony can also be given during a lesson or a talk, at home with family during Family Home Evening, or when the missionaries teach. We testify or witness of what we know is true. Sometimes we are testifying of a belief that hasn’t become a knowledge. Some members of my ward bear their testimony almost every month. Some hardly ever. The way I know I should bear my testimony is that I get this sick but excited feeling in my heart and in my gut. It’s like there’s butterflies in the entire center of my body propelling me towards the front to bear a witness. I can try to anchor myself to my seat until the feeling passes or I can let my legs carry me to the pulpit. When I was a child you would stand up to indicate you wanted to speak. A young man would bring a microphone to you. I felt the desire often and would stand but couldn’t be seen because I was short. One time I stood several times until a microphone was brought to me. Later a member of my ward wrote me a note complementing my bravery. She was bearing my burden. The Lord told Ananias that Saul was meant to be a witness. “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

 

Today I would like to bear my testimony to you. Recently in the news, the practices of our church have been criticized. I will not defend or promote or explain my opinion, but I will testify of what I do know. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a current apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, “Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith” (Ensign, October 2013). I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that His gospel is on the earth today, restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Joseph Smith saw God, the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon through God’s power. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and contains the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that we have a prophet today. His name is Thomas S. Monson. Along with President Monson, there are other chosen apostles and prophets who speak with God and teach us what we need at this time to live the gospel. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contains the fullness of Christ’s gospel and is the only true church on the earth today. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

 

When I was junior in high school, a girl from my school and her boyfriend were killed while riding a motorcycle. The girl was a member of the swim team, and the swim team coach was my biology teacher. I wanted to offer comfort to my teacher as he grieved over the loss of his student. I gathered my courage and gave him a Book of Mormon, showing him the verses in Alma 40 which talk about what happens after death. “Now concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection–Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (Alma 40:11-12). My teacher listened as I read and then thanked me. I didn’t know how he felt about what I’d shared, but later during class, another member of swim team came into his classroom. She was crying. She’d been this girl’s best friend. My teacher scooped up the Book of Mormon from his desk and took the crying girl into the hallway where I could see through the window that he was reading her the scriptures I’d shown him. I was grateful that the words brought them comfort, and I was somewhat surprised that they didn’t have a prior knowledge of what happens after we die.

 

A couple of weeks ago, our family saw the movie, Heaven is For Real. A young boy’s spirit visits heaven as surgeons work to fix his body after a ruptured appendix. When he recovers, he shares with his family what he saw. The father and mother and community struggle to believe what he tells them. The movie is an exploration of what heaven is like and beliefs about heaven. While I enjoyed the movie, there were no new revelations for me about what heaven is like. I assumed most everyone had the same beliefs and knowledge as me. But that isn’t the case. Because of modern day revelation and the translation of the Book of Mormon, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe all that the family from the movie discovered and more.

 

We know we will be with those who’ve died before us. We know heaven is a beautiful place. I have a fantasy that in heaven, I will live in a large cabin in an isolated valley surrounded by a meadow and a stream that runs past. When I want to visit family and friends, I will just think where I want to be and be transported there. We don’t know exactly what heaven will be like or how we’ll live, communicate, and travel, but it is beautiful. We know that we are connected as families in heaven. We know that Jesus Christ, our Savior, is there. We know we will be welcomed and loved and taught.

 

Now, let me clarify our Heavenly Father’s plan for us after death. While we believe in the beautiful heaven I described above, we don’t believe that heaven is one place and the end of our story. We don’t believe in just one heaven and one hell. After we die, our spirits go to heaven which is spirit paradise or spirit prison. Those who have been righteous and followed the gospel of Jesus Christ will go to a paradise as described in Alma 40:12. Those who have been wicked or who have not chosen to follow God, will have a chance to learn about the gospel in spirit prison. They can then choose to follow Christ or not. Those in spirit paradise are resting from their troubles and sorrow but they’re not napping. They are teaching those in spirit prison. After the second coming of Jesus Christ, there will be a period of peace on the earth, 1000 years or the Millenium. And then there will be a final judgment and based on each person’s life on earth and what they’ve learned and chosen after they die, they will inherit a kingdom of glory. There are three degrees of glory: the telestial, terrestrial, and celestial. Those who have known Christ and denied him will be sent to outer darkness.

 

If you want to know more details about postmortal life, the millenium, judgment, and exaltation, read chapters 41-47 from Gospel Principles.

 

Heaven IS for real. Each of us who live or who have lived on earth will go there. I will see again friends from my childhood, grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings, friends from high school and college, and each of you. If you decide to visit, please send me a telepathic message that you’re dropping by before floating into my tranquil valley.

When I was a child, a woman showed up at our ward to find out about the church. A missionary asked her if she was an investigator, and she told him she wasn’t from a government agency. She just wanted to learn more about the church. As with sports or tech talk, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a lingo all their own. Here’s some words and their meanings.

 

Ward: The people who meet together at the same time to attend church are a ward or congregation. A ward is a mix of members of different ages within a geographical boundary. In areas where there are a lot of members, the ward boundaries are small. In large areas, the ward could cover many miles. The members within the ward take care of each other by teaching each other on Sundays and visiting each other monthly. Did you know that even if you aren’t a Mormon, you are still part of a ward? We consider anyone who lives within our ward boundaries, part of our ward family. Need something, ask? Want to ask questions, go ahead? Attend church? Of course. We’d love to share our beliefs with you.

 

Stake: This is not meat. This is a group of wards within a geographical area. This word comes from the type of stake you use to secure a tent. We are the stakes of Zion, the posts that reach out all over the world under the tent of the entire church.

 

Mormons: This is a nickname that was given to members of our church many years ago. The name comes from The Book of Mormon, a book of scripture abridged by an ancient prophet, Mormon. We are fine with being called Mormons as long as you understand that we do not worship Mormon. We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We follow Christ. We are Christians.

 

Priesthood: The priesthood is the power of God given to men to administer his church and ordinances. Men hold the priesthood. They are not the priesthood. Priesthood is a power. Men meet in quorums or groups with the same priesthood office. High priests have the Melchizedek priesthood or higher priesthood. They are usually older and hold leadership positions in the church. Elders also have the Melchizedek priesthood. Usually a young man receives the Melchizedek priesthood and is ordained an elder before he goes on a mission. That is why the missionaries are called Elders. Youth or young men who hold the priesthood are deacons (usually ages 12-13), teachers (14-15), and priests (16-17).

 

Relief Society: This is the organization for woman in our church. We are a relief-society, a group of woman who offer relief to women in the church and the community. We meet weekly on Sundays and once a month for a week night activity. We also visit each other once a month as Visiting Teachers. The motto of Relief Society is “Charity Never Faileth.”

 

Beehive: In addition to being the home of bees, a Beehive is a young woman, aged 12 and 13. When a girl turns twelve she becomes part of the Young Women program of the church. A Beehive is busy doing good things.

 

Mia Maid: A Mia Maid is a young woman, aged 14 and 15. “Mia” comes from the historical term for the youth program of the church, the Mutual Improvement Association. A maid is a young woman.

 

Laurel: A Laurel is a young woman, aged 16 and 17. The term comes from the leaves of the laurel tree which were traditionally woven into a crown and awarded for achievements. Laurels are preparing to be adults and to make and keep sacred covenants in the temple.

 

Primary: Primary means first. Children belong to Primary where they learn about Jesus, sing songs, and attend classes. Within Primary, children start with Nursery at 18 months, move onto Sunbeam classes (they are bright and shiny) at the age of 3, become a CTR (learning to choose the right) for ages 4-7, and are in Valiant classes (someone who is courageous in following correct principles) during ages 8-11.

 

Now you can use some of the correct lingo and speak like a Mormon. This can be useful when you too decide to investigate.

Wouldn’t girls like to know.

 

After writing last week’s blog about modesty, I thought about another aspect that I will never completely understand: how guys think. When I was a teenager, my mom and I shopped at a thrift store and found a beautiful blue dress with a long skirt and separate fitted sleeveless shirt. It fit me just right and I felt beautiful, attractive. I put it on to wear to school, anticipating all the compliments I’d get. At breakfast my dad said, “Docena, go put on something else. That sleeveless dress is not appropriate.” When I questioned him, he said, “You don’t know how boys think.” This was a line he used a lot with me from then on. And it bothered me, really bothered me. He seemed to be saying that all boys only think about sex and girls’ bodies. I had guy-friends. I had boyfriend throughout high school. I couldn’t believe, didn’t want to believe that they were thinking about me as an object. I thought my dad was too harsh.

 

Now that I’m married, I still don’t know how guys think, but I have a better idea. I know that all of the boys/guys I dated, my husband was the only one who respected me enough to be slow and careful about our physical relationship while we were dating. I know that guys respond more to visual attractiveness than girls. I know that girls want to be loved, not just lusted over. Girls want a lasting, forever relationship. Lasting, forever relationships have much more to do with respect, values, and trust than physical attraction. And I know that when you save that physical relationship for marriage, you are more likely to respect, trust, and be committed to one another. Modesty or dressing so that others see all of you and not just your physical assets, will win you someone that you’ll want to be with forever.

 

Girls, you may not know how guys think, but you can help them think about you as a person and not an object by saving the sight of your physical assets until marriage. Guys, complement girls on their beauty as they dress appropriately and continue to keep your eyes in the right place and your mind clean. And dads, you are the greatest influence on teaching your girls about modesty. Because you know how guys think.