My Testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith

Nov. 12, 2014

There has been a lot of talk and news about this article recently published by the church regarding Joseph Smith and plural marriage: https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo?lang=eng

I read the article and a lot of the information in it was new to me. I always kind of figured Joseph Smith probably practiced plural marriage but did not know there were "eternity only" sealings or that he was sealed to women who were already married. However, the article does not shake my faith regarding his validity as a prophet. I do not think he ever led the church astray. I feel he was doing his best to implement and live a very difficult commandment.

I love that in the most recent general conference, before these articles were released, we were given a challenge by Elder Andersen to find out whether or not Joseph Smith truly was a prophet:

"To the youth listening today or reading these words in the days ahead, I give a specific challenge: Gain a personal witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Let your voice help fulfill Moroni’s prophetic words to speak good of the Prophet. Here are two ideas: First, find scriptures in the Book of Mormon that you feel and know are absolutely true. Then share them with family and friends in family home evening, seminary, and your Young Men and Young Women classes, acknowledging that Joseph was an instrument in God’s hands. Next, read the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Pearl of Great Price or in this pamphlet, now in 158 languages. You can find it online at LDS.org or with the missionaries. This is Joseph’s own testimony of what actually occurred. Read it often. Consider recording the testimony of Joseph Smith in your own voice, listening to it regularly, and sharing it with friends. Listening to the Prophet’s testimony in your own voice will help bring the witness you seek" (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/joseph-smith?lang=eng)

I know that Joseph Smith restored the Church of Jesus Christ. I know he translated the Book of Mormon and that it is the world's most correct book. I have read it several times. I have put into practice the teachings contained in it, and they have brought me joy and peace. Even though I don't feel like my faith has been shaken, I plan to take the challenge given by Elder Andersen. I know that when you accept a challenge or counsel from the Lord's Apostles and prophets you will be blessed greater than you can even imagine. If your faith in the prophet Joseph Smith has been shaken, or if you've never gained a witness that Joseph Smith was a prophet, or even if your faith is strong, take Elder Andersen's challenge. Find out for yourself. I know it will bless your life.

-Mindy F. Sanders

Conference Store: General Conference Activity

Conference Store

Use conference cash to purchase snacks and treats from the conference store.

Ideas for your conference store:

• small piece of candy $1
• gatorade $5
• cookie $2
• soda $5
• candy bar $6
• fruit by the foot $3
• can of Pringles $10
• small bag of chips or chex mix $3
• markers $6
• coloring book $4
• Ritz cheese and crackers handi-snacks $3

Play around with the prices and items.  You want your kids to be able to earn fun stuff, but you don't want them to eat so many snacks and treats that they will get sick. :)

How to earn Conference Cash:

·        Take notes on the General Conference Journal Page.  You can earn $1 in conference cash for every talk if you write down:

a)   the name of the speaker, 

b)  what the talk was about, 

c)   and if you are present, reverent and quiet during the whole talk.  

You have to do all of these things to get $1.  

·        You can earn $2 in conference cash for writing about your favorite part of the session on your journal page.

·        You can earn $2 in conference cash for writing about how this session taught you to follow Jesus on your journal page.

·        Your mom or dad may randomly give out conference cash if you are very reverent during the prayers and/or if you sing nicely during the rest hymn.  

·        Younger kids who can't write get conference cash for quietly playing while listening.  Fun quiet activities include: coloring,  find the hidden pictures, play doh, dolls, blocks, legos, etc.

I Think The Lord is Trying to Teach Me Something

  Today in our family study Chad taught us about how Christ used parables to teach and then Chad shared the parable of the laborers and used excerpts from Elder Holland’s talk, The Laborers in the Vinyard.  A few minutes later while I was walking on the treadmill, I listened to some talks to prepare for my upcoming lesson to the young women in my ward.  One of those talks was The Challenge to Become by Elder Oaks. (Which is a FABULOUS talk by the way). In his talk he too talked about the parable of the laborers.  He have a wonderful explanation. He said,

"Like other parables, this one can teach several different and valuable principles. For present purposes its lesson is that the Master’s reward in the Final Judgment will not be based on how long we have labored in the vineyard. We do not obtain our heavenly reward by punching a time clock. What is essential is that our labors in the workplace of the Lord have caused us to become something. For some of us, this requires a longer time than for others. What is important in the end is what we have become by our labors. Many who come in the eleventh hour have been refined and prepared by the Lord in ways other than formal employment in the vineyard. These workers are like the prepared dry mix to which it is only necessary to “add water”—the perfecting ordinance of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. With that addition—even in the eleventh hour—these workers are in the same state of development and qualified to receive the same reward as those who have labored long in the vineyard."

"This parable teaches us that we should never give up hope and loving associations with family members and friends whose fine qualities (see Moro. 7:5–14) evidence their progress toward what a loving Father would have them become. Similarly, the power of the Atonement and the principle of repentance show that we should never give up on loved ones who now seem to be making many wrong choices."

Then this parable was brought to my mind a THIRD time later this morning when I was doing sealings in the temple. When deceased people are sealed to their parents or to their spouses they get the same blessing as those of us who were born in the covenant and who have tried to live right all our lives. It's interesting that when it comes to the blessings of the temple I don't think we ever feel slighted that people who have passed on get the same blessings as those who've been members their whole life. I think most who serve in the temple only feel joy to have helped bring them the opportunity to get those blessing.  

Heavenly Father loves me. I think he is trying to teach me that he also loves all the rest of his children--my siblings, my neighbors, the guy who cut me off, the lady who works at the grocery store, those who have different political view than me, etc. He wants me to be happy when they are happy. He wants me to mourn we they mourn. He wants me to bear their burdens when they are heavy laden. He wants me to do good to those who hurt me.  He doesn't want me to give up on others.  He wants me to love as he loves--to have Charity.  I need to apply the feelings of happiness I feel for others when I serve in the temple to other relationships and aspects of my life.   

Be Believing

September 3, 2014

In the first few verses of 1 Nephi 4, Nephi recorded an experience he had with his brothers where he was giving them a pep talk because they had expressed doubt that the Lord could deliver Laban into their hands.  Even after they had seen an angel, they still doubted.  Verse 3 particularly stood out to me, it says, “Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt?  Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians.”

The belief that the Lord could deliver him, made all the difference in Nephi’s life.  He Believed!  He was believing.  Or in other words, he had faith.  I know that the Lord can deliver me!  I know he can deliver you too!!

Part of what helped Nephi to have that faith is the fact that he REMEMBERED his fathers.  Knowing about our heritage can make a big difference in our lives.  It has made a difference in my life.  Reading about my great grandparents who joined the church even thought they were persecuted and learning that they stayed true to their faith even when things were hard gives me strength.  It helps me to believe, to be believing, to have faith.  I want to be like Nephi!!

This is my Great Grandmother, Gerda Alma Reinholdson Hendrickson.  She was the only member of her family to join the church.  Her mother did not like the Mormons and disowned her.  Her mother told her brother to begin introducing her around town as a harlot.  One day her brother went to her apartment and pointed a gun to her head and told her to deny her faith.  She said, "You may take my life, but never my faith."  If my Grandma could be faithful, so can I!!

Wasted Watermelons

August 18, 2014

Today I threw several watermelons away that rotted because I never harvested them.  Sadly, this isn’t the only thing I’ve grown that has gone to waste.  I do great at planting a garden and weeding the first month or so then when things get a little hot outside I get too tired, busy, lazy, etc. to go out and harvest the things that are there waiting for me.  This made me think about other blessings that I might be able to claim if I made a little effort.  What is keeping me from those blessings?  Laziness, being to busy, anger, resentment, low self-esteem, inability to forgive, pride, feeling ashamed, fear, retaliation, and vengeance are all tools of Satan to keep me from claiming the blessing that could be mine.

However, the teachings of Jesus Christ, which are the key to mostly likely achieving happiness in individual and family life, gives the antidote to those temptations.  Jesus Christ teaches, diligence, being still long enough to ponder, joy, happiness for others, individual worth, divine nature, reaching out to others, forgiveness, humility, asking for advice, heeding good advice, praise, faith, sympathy, turning things over to the Lord by using his atonement.

I also realize that I could have also blessed other’s lives if I would have shared my watermelons with my neighbors instead of letting them rot in my own yard.  The Lord wants me to claim blessings to bless my life and the lives of those around me.

Love,

Mindy

Hymns are Powerful Sermons

I love Hymns!  I love primary songs and sacred music.  I love that with only a few, simple words they can teach powerful sermons.  I love that they can penetrate deeply into my soul.  Several times in my life I have had words to hymns and primary songs come to my mind to give me comfort and peace and/or teach me the words of God.  On Monday morning as I was driving school carpool we were listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Pandora.  As they sang “Where Love Is” the phrase “'Tis love we get when love we bring” stood out to me.  To back track a little farther, on Sunday in my ward’s Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class, my friend Nicole Rudd shared that when we do good to others, we get good returned to us because it is a principle of the law of the harvest.  So on Monday morning that phrase stood out to me as another principle of the law of the harvest.  It also reminded me to give love in all my relationships and to teach my children to love others if they want to be loved.

Life Lessons

What life lessons have you learned?  A few weeks ago I was asked if I had any suggestions or wisdom about life. These life lessons are what popped into my head: 

1) Give sincere compliments to as many people as you can
2) Be confident
3) Read your scriptures daily 
4) Say your prayers every night and morning and keep a prayer in your heart
5) Look for opportunities to help others
6) Stretch yourself by doing hard things
7) Attend church every week and be on time so you can take the sacrament

These things have brought me happiness even through hard times.