We Value People (part 5)

The fifth part of my family motto teaches what we can do to strengthen our family relationships.  Through loyalty, laughter, and love we can more fully nurture and enjoy the relationships we have with our families.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught that "the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty."  Our loyalty to our family is a manifestation of our love.  When we are loyal to someone it means that we are faithful and committed to them.  In the context of family relationships, loyalty means looking out for and standing up for your family.  It means being there for them when they are struggling and when they need help.

 

There is an excellent article in the September 2007 Ensign that talks all about the power of laughter.  (I would encourage all of you to read it!)  In this article the author says, "I have learned that the ability to laugh at everyday family difficulties helps keep life in perspective.  If we will learn to laugh and play more with our families, not only will we feel better but so will they."  One of my very favorite things to do with my family is to just talk and visit because I know we are without fail going to end up laughing.  Laughter bonds us as a family and it makes life more enjoyable all around.

 



Okay y'all I have something really embarrassing to admit.  You may wonder how this applies to my family motto, but I promise it relates.  As missionaries we don't get to listen to a large variety of music.  Because of this limitation, my companion and I have resigned ourselves to listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  (It's really not that bad.)  One of the CDs we have been listening to is their 'Showtime' album.  And on that CD there is a song called "Fill the World with Love" that I'm kind of obsessed with.  It drives my companion crazy.  Here's a video of MoTab singing it:

I don't know why, but I am so inspired by this song.  I guess because I want to be able to say at the end of my life that I "filled the world with love my whole life through." We can each do this by speaking kind, uplifting words to others and serving others in thoughtful, meaningful ways.  Elder M. Russell Ballard said:  "There is power in our love for God and for His children, and when that love is tangibly manifest in millions of acts of Christian kindness, it will sweeten and nourish the world with the life-sustaining nectar of faith, hope, and charity." 

We Value People (part 4)

My family motto continues on by teaching us about three guideposts we can follow in our lives so that we can someday return to live with our Heavenly Follow.  These three guides are prophets, the prinicples of the gospel, and the promises we make with God.

Because our Heavenly Father loves all of His children, He has consistenly sent, throughout the history of the earth, prophets to guide and teach us.  We can learn from ancient prophets as we study the scriptures.  As I have studied the Bible and the Book of Mormon, I have found answers to my questions and direction and guidance for my life.  And we are extremely blessed today to have a living prophet and apostles who continue to teach us and counsel us.  (Click here to read what the living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, shared just a few weeks ago.)

A principle is a basic doctrine, truth, or law.  In the fourth Article of Faith we learn that the first principles of the gospel are faith and repentance.  What is faith?  I have learned that faith in Jesus Christ means that we trust Him and we put our confidence in Him.  Our faith will grow as we read the scriptures and pray because we will come to know Him better and realize that we can absolutely, without hesitation trust Him.  As our faith in Christ grows, we recognize our need to repent.  Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be completely forgiven of our sins. We will experience lasting peace in our lives as we diligently exercise our faith in Christ and as we daily repent of our sins and shortcomings.

When we are baptized we make certain promises with God.  These promises are also known as covenants.  At baptism we specifically promise that we will take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end.  As we keep this covenant or promise, Heavenly Father promises us that we will always have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  It is a sacred privilege and responbility to make covenants.  In temples we have the opportunity to make more promises with our Heavenly Father.  Temples are holy places and are a source of great joy and peace in our lives.

 

Following ancient and modern prophets, the principles of the gospel, and the promises we make through sacred ordinances will bless our lives.  Our goal is to return to live with our Heavenly Father and following these three P's will guide us and keep us on the path that leads us back to Him.

We Value People (part 3)

The "O" of my family motto has taught me about three very specific characteristics that are important to develop: obedience, openness, and optimism.

Obedience is such a vital attribute to develop.  Through our obedience we are able to demonstrate our love for the Savior.  Christ said, "If ye love me keep my commandments."  And President Ezra Taft Benson : "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power."  So obedience is not only a manifestation of our love but it is also a source of power.



I have learned that open communication and service are essential to having a happy, rewarding relationship.  Whether you are trying to improve your relationship with your mom, dad, brother, sister, friend, significant other, mission companion, neighbor, whoever, one of the best things you can do is to serve them.  And there won't be nearly as many misunderstandings and incorrect assumptions if we will take the time to openly communicate about our feelings, concerns, and frustrations.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shared this about optimism and hope:

"I love what Elder Orson F. Whitney once said: 'The spirit of the gospel is optimistic; it trusts in God and looks on the bright side of things. The opposite or pessimistic spirit drags men down and away from God, looks on the dark side, murmurs, complains, and is slow to yield obedience.' We should honor the Savior’s declaration to 'be of good cheer.' (Indeed, it seems to me we may be more guilty of breaking that commandment than almost any other!) Speak hopefully. Speak encouragingly, including about yourself."

Life is much more enjoyable when we have an optimistic, hopeful attitude and outlook.  President Thomas S. Monson, our living prophet, has said, "Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith."  When our lives are founded upon the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can be optimistic about our future because our faith leads us to act. 

We Value People (part 2)

The second part of my family motto emphasizes personal growth and development.  An important aspect of our purpose here on earth is to learn and become more like our Heavenly Father.  Our Father in Heaven has a plan for us, a plan for our salvation and for our happiness.  In this plan, He provides us with countless opportunities and experiences so that we can achieve the potential that He sees in each of us.

The Lord has said, "Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." (D&C 88:118)  Lifelong learning is a hallmark of disciples of Christ.  As we continue to learn by study and by faith, we will be better prepared to face challenges in our lives and we will draw closer to the Lord.

This video demonstrates well the daily need to strengthen ourselves physically and spiritually.  Just as our bodies require sustenance each day, our spirits need the day to day nourishment we can only obtain through personal prayer and scripture study.

 

I absolutely love this quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley: 

"This is the great day of decision for each of us. For many it is the time of beginning something that will go on for as long as you live. I plead with you: don’t be a scrub! Rise to the high ground of spiritual, mental, and physical excellence. You can do it. You may not be a genius. You may be lacking in some skills. But so many of us can do better than we are now doing.  ...We are people with a present and with a future. Don’t muff your opportunities. Be excellent."

We are so blessed to live here on this earth at this time of great opportunity.  We don't have time to be lazy.  We can't just settle for being average or mediocre.  Our potential is so much greater than we can even imagine.  Our Heavenly Father will provide us with opportunities for education, for physical and spiritual growth, and for excellence as we diligently seek for such.

We Value People (part 1)

My family has a family motto.  You might say that is kind of lame, and you might be right.  Though I didn't realize it when I was younger, it has had a big impact on me in my life.  The name of the Smith Family Motto is "We Value PEOPLE."  "PEOPLE" is an acronym that explains our values and goals as a family.  Each letter has 3 statements associated with it.

The underlying principle behind the first "P" in my family's motto is agency.  Agency is the ability to choose.  Elder Russell M. Nelson just recently taught in General Conference that:

"Each day is a day of decision. President Thomas S. Monson has taught us that 'decisions determine destiny.' The wise use of your freedom to make your own decisions is crucial to your spiritual growth, now and for eternity. ...Each day brings opportunity for decisions for eternity."

Because the choices we make everyday are so important, my family motto helps me to more carefully consider the decisions I make.

Our relationships with our family members and friends are the source of the greatest happiness and joy we will experience in this life and the life to come.  Because these relationships are so important, we need to diligently and purposefully make decisions that will strengthen these valuable relationships.

The Lord has said, "Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness." (D&C 58:27)  There is so much we each have to offer this world.  There are countless opportunities to contribue through community service, humanitarian aid, and just by small, everyday acts of helping others.

All throughout the scriptures we are admonished to "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7)  God truly is our Heavenly Father and He wants to help us.  He will answer us, direct us, help us, support us, and warn us as we seek His guidance through prayer. 

As we are proactively strengthen relationships, productively contribute to society, and prayerfully seek our Heavenly Father's help, we are making decisions that will determine our destiny.

An Heritage of the Lord

A couple of days my twin sister gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.   Lily Ruth Ure was born October 11, 2013 at 12:01 am, and weighed 7 lbs 10 oz and was 20 inches.  In a month from today I will get to hold my  niece.  I already love this precious little girl so much!

With all of the excitement of having a newborn in my family, I just wanted to take this opportunity to share what prophets and apostles have taught about children.

President Boyd K. Packer has said, "Children are the past, the present, and the future all blended into one. They are consummately precious. Every time a child is born, the world is renewed in innocence."

The Psalmist wrote, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." (Psalms 127:3)


The Savior was very straightforward about the severity of abusing one of God's children.  He said, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew 18:6)

Children are so precious to our Heavenly Father.  He loves them because He truly is their Father.  He is placing His trust in us every time we have the opportunity to care for and influence one of His children.  We are responsible for His children and He will hold us accountable for our actions.

I am so excited to be an aunt!  I am looking forward to seeing sweet little Lily grow up and feel so privileged to be a part of her life. 

The Word Which Healeth the Wounded Soul

In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Jacob called the people together to teach them God's word.  He said that some of the people in the congregation had "come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul." (Jacob 2:8)

This weekend, we each have the opportunity to listen to "the pleasing word of God" during our semi-annual General Conference. During this 2 day conference, living prophets and apostles will speak to us. Their messages build our faith, inspire us to live God's commandments, invite us to repent, fill us with hope, and heal our souls.

I personally have been blessed on countless occasions by the counsel given by prophets and apostles.  Their words have changed my life and truly have healed my soul. 

 

My invitation to each one of you is to make the time to watch General Conference this weekend. I know that something in one of the messages that will be shared this weekend will touch your heart and will heal your soul.