some bathrooms

Gage learning how to crawl Sept. 2010

Go Gage!

      What a cute face to pull for Grandma!

Dear family,                                                                        April 30^th, 2013

Last Tuesday April 23^rd I had a wonderful experience at the temple.  I had gone early to do an endowment for a relative from 1573!  I was so excited.  I went through the name booth, check.  I went through the check person at the door to the endowment room, and I sat through the session.  As I took the name card out of my pocket to go through the veil, to my surprise it hadn’t received any of the other ordinances.  Of course I couldn’t take this person through the veil, so I left the room to find an ordinance worker to erase the red check mark and then prepare to do the baptism, confirmation, and initiatory work needed. I was a little bummed to have wasted two hours until I saw an ordinance worker whom I felt I recognized.  I looked at her nametag.  Beverly Anderson.  I said to her, “You were my beehive advisor when I was 13!”(That was exactly 45 years ago.)  She said,” In Laguna Beach?”  “Yes”, I said.  “What is your name?”  She asked.  “It was Suzie Knudsen”.  “Oh Suzie!  Sit here, I want to tell you a story about what I remember about you.  I’ve told this story 100 times.”  She took my hand and sat me next to her and told this story.

She remembered a class where she was teaching the second verse of the hymn, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”.  She was a little frustrated by the meaning of the words of the verse.  She said I raised my hand and said I know what they mean.  She then quoted the second verse of the song and stopping at each stanza, she gave my reply to what each stanza meant. 

“He lives to grant me rich supply; He lives to guide me with His eye.”

(He watches over me all the time.)

“He lives to comfort me when faint.  He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.”

(Everyone needs someone to talk to.)

“He lives to silence all my fears.  He lives to wipe away my tears.”

(Can’t remember what she said.)

“He lives to calm my troubled heart.  He lives all blessings to impart.”

(Can’t remember what she said.  I’ll have to ask her next time I see her.)

I was amazed; amazed that she had committed this incident to memory and used it many times over the years; amazed that I said such things that were so noteworthy to this woman that I admired so very much.  I told her that I didn’t remember this incident,(although what follows suggests why this verse would have meant so much to me) but that an event far more meaningful to me unfolded at that time.

My memory of Beverly Anderson is cherished because my mom had a little nervous breakdown when I was 13 and Beverly Anderson was my advisor.  I was emotionally devastated by this event.  My mom was the glue that held our family together.  She was who I counted on.  She was the only foundation I felt I had at home.  That foundation crumbled for a time.  I was so scared and didn’t know what to do or what to think.  I was worried about my mother.  I didn’t know who to talk to or what to say or think.  My family was in serious turmoil and I couldn’t process what was happening. 

Somewhere in my 13 year old mind I thought of Beverly Anderson.  She was someone I looked up to.  She was happy, funny, and comfortable in her own skin.  She radiated faith in Jesus Christ and a true testimony of His gospel.  Somehow I found the courage to say something to her.  It wasn’t much, but it was enough to relieve some of the burden I was carrying.  One Tuesday night at mutual, and I can remember exactly where I was standing in the foyer when I spoke to her, I told her that my mother needed a friend and would she be my mother’s friend.  I remember feeling relieved, like I had passed the burden to someone else.  Beverly doesn’t remember the conversation.  I remember she didn’t really respond too much at the time, and that was okay.  I just needed to say the words I guess.

Beverly Anderson Is the only YW leader I remember from my youth.  The Lord gave her to me at a time when I desperately needed her.  He knew my need even before I did, and He provided for me.

Thought you guys might enjoy hearing this.

"HIS STRENGTH IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO US, BUT WE MUST ASK IT OF HIMTHROUGH OUR OWN FREE WILL.  IT IS A FREE GIFT, BUT WE MUST SINCERELY SEEK IT."

                                  
I HAVE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRACE AND ATONEMENT.  SO HERE IS GRACE.                       

GRACE.  BIBLE DICTIONARY:

DIVINE MEANS OF HELP OR STRENGTH, GIVEN THROUGH THE MERCY OF CHRIST.  IT IS THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS, MADE POSSIBLE BY HIS ATONING SACRIFICE, THAT MANKIND WILL BE RAISED IN IMMORTALITY.  IT IS LIKEWISE THROUGH THE GRACE OF CHRIST THAT INDIVIDUALS, THROUGH FAITH IN THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST AND REPENTANCE OF THEIR SINS, RECIEVE STRENGTH AND ASSISTANCE TO DO GOOD WORKS THAT THEY OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN IF LEFT TO THEIR OWN MEANS.
GRACE IS AN ENABLING POWER THAT ALLOWS US ALL TO LAY  HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE AND EXALTATION  AFTER WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST.
DIVINE GRACE IS NEEDED BECAUSE OF OUR WEAKNESSES AND SHORTCOMINGS, WE DO ALL WE CAN DO AND GRACE DOES THE REST.  IT IS TRULY THE GRACE OF CHRIST THAT MAKES SALVATION POSSIBLE.  THIS PRINCIPLE IS EXPRESSED IN JESUS' PARABLE OF THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES.  JOHN 15: 1-11

I  READ THIS PARABLE AND THESE SCRIPTURES STOOD OUT TO ME.

VERSE 4: "ABIDE IN ME AND I WILL ABIDE IN YOU.  AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT OF ITSELF, EXCEPT IT ABIDE IN THE VINE, NO MORE CAN YE, EXCEPT YE ABIDE IN ME."
VERSE 11:  "THESE THINGS HAVE I SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT MY  JOY MIGHT REMAIN IN YOU, AND THAT YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL".

IS HE TELLING US THAT THE KEY TO JOY IS KEEPING OUR  HEARTS ATTUNED TO HIM? THAT  THIS IS HOW WE ACHIEVE GRACE AND GRACE IS JOY?

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT GRACE IS A STATE OF BEING THAT CHRIST HAS ACHIEVED WHICH THEN MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO CHOOSE TO ATONE FOR OUR SINS.
I KNOW THAT I HAVE PRAYED FOR GRACE MANY TIMES IN MY LIFE AND RECIEVED THE STRENGTH, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY TO DO MORE THAN I WAS CAPABLE OF.  I AM DOING THAT NOW AS I STRUGGLE WITH THIS CALLING WITH THE YOUNG WOMEN.  WE CAN ALL PRAY FOR  GRACE EACH AND EVERY DAY.

ATONEMENT

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE ATONEMENT CAN HELP ME MORE IN MY LIFE SO I LOOKED UP ATONEMENT IN THE BIBLE DICTIONARY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IT.  THIS IS WHAT IT SAID IN A NUTSHELL.

ATONEMENT:  BRINGING ONE WHO HAS BEEN ESTRANGED FROM GOD BACK TO HIM, RECONCILIATION. ( AT-ONE-MENT).
SIN IS THE CAUSE OF ESTRANGEMENT.
ATONEMENT CORRECTS OR OVERCOMES THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN.
ATONEMENT IS CONDITIONAL.  IT IS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, REPENTANCE OF SINS, AND OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL THAT ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT MUST EXIST WITHIN US IN ORDER TO USE THE ATONEMENT TO OUR ADVANTAGE.
SIN IS LAWLESSNESS- THE REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO THE LAWS OF GOD.  BY TRANSGRESSION MAN LOSES CONTROL OVER HIS OWN WILL AND BECOMES A SLAVE TO SIN AND SO INCURS THE PENALTY OF SPIRITUAL DEATH, WHICH IS ALIENATION FROM GOD.  THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST REDEEMS ALL MANKIND FROM THE FALL OF ADAM AND CAUSES ALL TO BE ANSWERABLE FOR THEIR OWN MANNER OF LIFE.  THIS MEANS OF ATONEMENT IS PROVIDED BY THE  FATHER AND IS OFFERED IN THE LIFE AND PERSON OF HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.

President Monson  "BELIEVE, OBEY, AND ENDURE"  April conference 2012

"Most of you were taught the truths of the gospel from the time you were a toddler.  You were taught by loving parents and caring teachers.  The truths they imparted to you helped you gain a testimony;  you believed what you were taught.  Although that testimony can continue to be fed spiritually and to grow as you study, as you pray for guidance, and as you attend your Church meetings each wek, it is up to you to keep that testimony alive.  Satan will try with all his might to destroy it.  Throughout your entire life you will need to nurture it.  As with the flame of a brightly burning fire, your testimony --if not continually fed-- will fade to glowing embers and then cool completely.  You must not let this happen."

I have felt this truth in my life and so I do all I can to keep my spirit learning and growing.  Right now I have that opportunity with the young women as I begin my own personal progress workbook.  It is a great way to progress!
Love you- Mom