Tag: #HearHim

Daily Answers: Jacob’s Ladder, One step at a time

Posted on by docena
Ek Balam, The bottom, December 2021

It’s tax season. If you know our family, you know what that means. We own a small CPA firm, Treasure Valley CPA. During tax season which is January through April 18 this year, my husband, Alden works from about 6 am-8:00 pm Monday-Friday and most of the day on Saturday. He meets with clients about their taxes from 8:30 am-6:00 pm every half hour with maybe a 30 minute break for lunch. We have three permanent employees with four seasonal employees this year. I work during tax season five days a week and the rest of the year one to two days a week. We have one child still at home who is fifteen so I’m trying to be here for him and get him where he needs to be. This year I’ve taken on more responsibilities at work and have felt overwhelmed. There are not enough hours in the day and especially enough hours at work to finish my tasks. And I love to complete tasks.

This morning during my scripture study, the question I asked was “How do I prioritize?” I can’t complete everything at work and home in the way I want. So what comes first? How do I accomplish all I need to do? I read in Genesis 28 about Jacob’s ladder and the Spirit taught me why Jacob dreamed of a ladder. A ladder has rungs and while you might have long legs and be able to bypass a step, you still have to climb to the top, step by step. You can’t fly up. You can’t just be at the top instantly. You have to go through the steps one at a time to reach heaven. That was my answer. All I can do is step by step. One day at a time.

In December Alden and I took a vacation to Cancun and visited Ek Balam, a Mayan ruin. I’ve seen pictures of people walking straight up the steps of the Mayan ruins, but our guide, Vanessa, suggested we use a different method. The steps were shallow, not deep enough for my whole foot. And they were steep with more height between each one than the stairs in our home. Vanessa suggested we walk up sideways with our foot parallel to the step starting at one side of the ruin and going across, then turning our bodies and repeating until we got to the top. We did a zig-zag type of pattern from the bottom to the top. I put one foot in front of the other and concentrated on the step in front of me. The top seemed very far away and very steep.

Ek Balam, the middle

But then we reached the top, and it was glorious!

Ek Balam, the top

We could see the jungle all around. We saw mounds that were likely other ruins that had been covered by the jungle growth. The site at the top was worth the climb.

Then we had to descend. Vanessa suggested we go down step by step sideways, leaning in towards the ruin. You can see people doing that in the first picture. And again, one step at a time, we made it.

I so much want to do everything right all the time, but I love that Jacob was taught that we progress in this life step by step with our priority, our focus on the glorious goal of eternal life. I don’t have to be, cannot be, instantly at that goal. It takes one moment, one day at a time, with my focus on that step, that person, that moment with the grace of Jesus Christ to reach the top.

Thorns and Thistles: Applying the Fall to my marriage

Posted on by docena
Honey locust
http://identifythatplant.com/a-couple-thorny-locusts/

I regularly listen to two podcasts each week to gain more insight into the Come Follow Me lessons, followHim and Talking Scripture. Many of my friends also listen to these and other podcasts. I imagined a Sunday School lesson where we were sharing what we’d learned from podcasts passed off as our own insights. I have also shared what I’ve learned from podcasts with my husband and son, and the joke in our house now is that if you do something I don’t like, you deserve to listen to a podcast. Or more than one. So this past week as we studied about Adam and Eve and the Fall, I pondered what I’d truly learned. I was able to apply some teachings from these podcasts and my own study to my life, and in the application, my faith and testimony increased.

After Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, the Lord God told them, “Thorns also, and thistles shall it [the ground] bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field” (Moses 4:24). We have a thorn-less locust tree in our back yard that has thorns. It’s a beautiful tree, but you have to be careful when you walk past to not get caught. My husband and I have been married twenty-nine years and are still learning how to communicate and love and respect each other. There was tension between us this week, and I was feeling defensive. I listened to a couple of relationship podcasts and learned some good tools but also some that didn’t feel quite right. Then I asked in my scripture study how to fix the tension with my husband, and the answer I received was to pour out my soul to him. I did, and it was scary, not because he’s a scary person, but because it’s uncomfortable to be vulnerable. We had a good conversation, and I realized that the tension had built up because I wasn’t being open with him. I saw how a concept I learned from Dr. Shon D. Hopkin on followHim applied to my marriage. After Eve ate the fruit, she went to Adam and he ate the fruit. Eve didn’t hide what she’d done from Adam, and he didn’t reject her (Moses 4:12). Then when the Lord God asked about what they’d done, they admitted they’d eaten the fruit. The consequences of their choice was that Adam and Eve knew good and evil, were able to have children, had to work “by the sweat of [their faces], and would die (Moses 4:25). Then, as was always the plan, The Lord God provided a Savior to atone for our sins and the sins of Adam and Eve so that we can return to His presence. Through my actions and choices like Adam and Eve, I saw that as I worked through the thorns and thistles and involved the Lord in asking, I had joy in my relationship with my husband. I know that it is in the personal application of the concepts and insights from the lessons that I learn and grow. And I know that while podcasts and experts can help me understand and learn more, it is through the grace of Jesus Christ that my relationships are strengthened, and I become who He wants me to be.

What I know

Posted on by docena

A phrase I’ve found myself using a lot this past year is “I don’t know.” How am I supposed to know if I have COVID or the flu? Why do some people have COVID-like symptoms and test negative for COVID? How can one person in the family test positive for COVID and none of the others develop symptoms? Or they do develop symptoms and then test negative for COVID? How can I help my child be successful in school when he is constantly distracted with YouTube while doing online school? Is it responsible/safe to get together with my family for the holidays? For special events? If I stay home now and isolate will that protect myself and others? Does a mask really help? Are my rights being taken away? When will I get to attend the temple again? When will this pandemic end? So many questions with no definitive answers.

What I do know is that although this year has been frustrating, isolating, scary, and uncertain, I have received many gifts from God. I want to focus this December on all the gifts I’ve received in 2020. I want to focus on what I know. Today during my personal scripture study, I was reminded that I know I have the gift of the Holy Ghost. I was baptized when I was eight years-old and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. My father, who has the priesthood, laid his hands on my head and gave me that gift. Since then I’ve worked on learning how the Holy Ghost speaks to me. I have not seen my Savior, but I’ve often had the warm, tingly sensation from the Holy Ghost witnessing of my Savior and of other truths. I’ve learned that the Holy Ghost gives me promptings or ideas to act on and that when I act on that idea, the results are simple but astonishing. So this past Sunday as I pondered what I can do this Christmas season to share the gospel and light the world, I had the impression to share my gifts from 2020, the things I know.

I know that I am loved by my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as they communicate to me through the Holy Ghost.

https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world-2020

Daily Answers: By Small and Simple Things

Posted on by docena

As the pandemic and uncertainty continues, I feel restless and stuck. This week many of my scripture study questions have been about how to repent, how to improve, how to progress, how to become unstuck. The “Come Follow Me” reading for the week included the scripture, “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). As I’ve pondered this, I realize that I need to continue to do the small and simple things and recognize the benefits of small and simple routines. My daily scripture study has kept me anchored to my Savior. The consistent structure of family prayer and scripture study has built a foundation for my children who are grown and my child left at home. The Book of Mormon is a miracle created in countless small and simple acts from those who molded the plates, inscribed the words, passed them down, preserved, hid, translated, published, and shared. My progression is guided by repenting in small and simple ways. As I ask what I need to do to repent, to turn to Christ, to be humble, the answers are to appreciate what I have, appreciate others, recognize my blessings, speak kindly. I even asked one day this week, “What are the small and simple things I need to improve?” The answer was that my current daily scripture study and revelation are a great blessing to me and I need to continue.

Daily Answers: What can I do?

Posted on by docena

Today for my scripture study question, I asked, “What do I need to repent of?” I read Alma 5:14-33 and asked myself the questions Alma asked the people of Zarahemla. These are the questions that touched me today: “Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? And now behold, I say unto you…if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?..are ye stripped of pride?..stripped of envy?” And then the invitation, “the arms of mercy are extended towards [all men], and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.” I need to have faith that my heart and others’ hearts can change. I need to pray to be humble, to be stripped of envy and pride. I need to do my part which is to repent, and then the Savior’s arms of mercy will be extended to me and He will receive me.

While contemplating my daily answer and the current turmoil over racial prejudice, I wondered again, “What can I do?” I can repent, but how does that apply to making the world a safer place for everyone? What is my part?

At a recent book club meeting, we discussed the autobiography, “Reaching for the Moon” by Katherine Johnson. Katherine shared her experiences growing up “colored” and her determination to succeed. She was hired by NASA and was part of the group who prepared for the first moon landing. At our book club one member shared the idea of tribal evolution which means that our natural inclination is to judge each person as part of our tribe or not as a means for survival. When I discussed with my two youngest children what needs to happen in the world for us to rise above racial prejudice and brutality, my daughter said, “When we meet someone different from ourselves, we need to recognize that natural instinct and then re-think.” I love this. But we don’t have to do this on our own. This morning I listened to one of the last talks President Thomas S. Monson gave, “Kindness, Charity, and Love” (Ensign, May 2017). In President Monson’s brief talk, he repeated the words of the prophet Mormon, “And if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity. And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked…Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever” (Moroni 7:44-47). The way we receive charity is to “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love” (Moroni 7:48).

What I can do is to pray for charity, repent, and have faith. Faith that in this life and the next, the Savior of the world “healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds” (Psalms 147:3).

Daily Answers: How to serve my neighbors

Posted on by docena

My question in my scripture study today was how to help my neighbors who are experiencing physical suffering. I want to take away their physical pain and disability. We’ve offered to help with yard work and would run over there right away if needed. The answer I received was not how to help physically or how to take away the physical discomfort. I had an inspiration to offer to show them more of The Book of Mormon videos. They’ve watched some with us. My concern is that my neighbors will think we only want to talk about gospel subjects. I read in Alma 3 that after the war between the Nephites and the Amlicites, thousands of “souls [were] sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery” (Alma 3:26). This reminded me that I can offer to my neighbors and they have a choice. There is always a choice. Then in Alma 4 I read how Alma was sorrowful because of the afflictions and inequality of his people. He wanted to relieve their suffering. He didn’t do their yard work. Instead he gave up the judgment seat “that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty” and he saw “no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them” (Alma 4:19). My answer was to serve as Alma served and as Jesus served—to offer the gospel through my testimony.

I am concerned my offer will be rejected, but Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught us, “Understand that it’s not your job to convert people. That is the role of the Holy Ghost. Your role is to share what is in your heart and live consistent with your beliefs. So don’t be discouraged if someone does not accept the gospel message immediately. It is not a personal failure. That is between the individual and Heavenly Father. Yours is to love God and love your neighbors, His children. Believe, love, do. Follow this path, and God will work miracles through you to bless His precious children” (Ensign, May 2019, “Missionary Work: Sharing What Is In Your Heart”).

I will serve as Jesus served. I will share my testimony with my neighbors.

Daily Answer: What does personal revelation mean to me?

Posted on by docena

My daily question for my scripture study today was, “What does personal revelation mean to me?”

When I study the scriptures to receive personal revelation, I notice phrases and write those down. The phrases that I noticed today from Mosiah 24 were, “pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts,” “lift up your heads and be of good comfort,””stand as a witness,” and “the Lord did strengthen them.” Having the knowledge that the Lord knows my heart, comfort, the ability to stand as a witness, and strength are all blessings I’ve received from personal revelation. I also learned from the story in Mosiah 24 of Alma’s people being delivered from bondage. Alma was told by the voice of the Lord what they should do. Sometimes I “hear” a voice with direction. After Alma and his people escaped, “they poured out their thanks to God.” I received the personal revelation that I should kneel and thank the Lord for receiving personal revelation. As I did that, I received the understanding that I can talk to God. Isn’t that incredible? I, Docena Holm, can talk to God.

What personal revelation means to me is that through the gift of the Holy Ghost I can Hear God daily and often. He comforts me, gives me direction, strengthens me, and encourages me to repent and turn to Him.

Daily Answer: How do I disrupt myself?

Posted on by docena

My daily question for my scripture story was “How do I disrupt myself?”

I listened to a podcast about creating instead of competing by disrupting yourself. https://www.ldsliving.com/pages/allin-e77-whitney-johnson-create-compete

And this past weekend I joined many other writers in the 2020 Virtual Storymakers Conference. As with every conference I’ve attended, I hoped I’d propel my career forward with an agent and book deal. Instead I learned that I have a lot to learn . The classes offered encouragement and excellent writing tips and a connection with other writers. Since the conference was virtual, registration is still open. I highly recommend this conference. https://ldstorymakersconference.com/

For my daily answer I read Mosiah 20 and 21. I learned for myself that I need to humble myself, ask in prayer (cry mightily to God), and my heart needs to be soft. Ammon helped to deliver the people of king Limhi. I need to accept help from others. And I need to witness and testify of the answers I receive by sharing them with others.

I don’t need to turn my life upside down, but I need to be okay with feeling disrupted and uncomfortable. That’s how I will learn.#

Daily Answers: Emotional Connection

Posted on by docena

I have been writing and submitting to agents and publishers for about twenty-five years. Many of the rejection letters I’ve received say, “I wasn’t able to connect.” Today I gained a better understanding of that seemingly ambiguous statement.

This week I’m attending the 2020 Storymakers Virtual Conference. I participated in the first pre-session yesterday and learned from Jennifer Nielsen. She is amazing! I had the privilege to work with her at a Children’s Literature Conference in Boise a few years ago. I took her to several school presentations in the valley. She is a great writer, and she is compassionate and inspiring. I was impressed by her presentations which were uplifting and encouraging, but I was even more impressed with the personal attention she gave to each student during the book signings. She was genuine and kind. Jennifer was also encouraging to me about my writing.

During the session yesterday, Jennifer shared that after being rejected many times, she re-examined her writing and discovered that she needed to include more emotion in her books. Today for my scripture study, I asked the question, “What does my writing need?” I already knew that my writing also needs more emotion, but through my scripture study I was able to gain a deeper understanding of why. I read Mosiah 14 which is my favorite chapter in the scriptures. Abinadi taught Isaiah 53 which is about the Savior’s mission and atonement told in beautiful language. Here are the words which caught my attention this time, “grief, sorrows, wounded, bruised, despised, rejected, oppressed, healing, pleasure.” Strong, emotional words for what Jesus Christ experienced on this earth so that he could connect with us. C.S. Lewis said, “We read to know we are not alone.” Stories allow us to connect and the emotion in stories allows for a stronger connection. Jesus Christ experienced our sorrows so that he can not only connect with us, but so that he can succor us and heal us.

Today in my scripture study, I learned the importance of emotional connection in stories and was taught through the spirit a deeper understanding of how “with his stripes we are healed” (Mosiah 14:3-5).

Daily Answers: The Healing Power of Jesus Christ’s Atonement

Posted on by docena

My question in my scripture study today was about how to help my daughter who is struggling with physical and emotional issues. In Mosiah 13 I read that “were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish” (Mosiah 13:28) and “Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth? Yea, and have they not said also that he should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself, should be oppressed and afflicted? (Mosiah 13:34-35). These scriptures gave me reassurance that Jesus Christ can heal through the power of the atonement.