In a way we can understand

Emily Freeman

On Saturday night Greg tried to fix the bathroom sink. The one that won't drain.

Oh, he tried everything.  When nothing worked he opened the cupboards and took the whole thing apart.  When that didn't work he shut the cupboard and went to bed. Grace and I were having a girl's night out when all this took place.

Needless to say, we had no idea about the sink project left undone. Until Sunday morning.

It was after we had gotten ready for the day.  After the washing faces, brushing teeth, cleaning out the sink.  It was when the cupboard door magically opened by itself and water came spilling out all over the bathroom floor.  That's when we realized there had been a sink project.

I thought to myself, sometimes you have to call in the professionals.

This is probably one of those times.

This week I will rely on the help of professionals.  I'm flying to Texas on Friday.  On Thursday I will have a full skin check like I do every six months.  Today I'm going to work with someone who is brilliant with social media.  And there is the issue with the bathroom sink…

Each of them are experts in their field. I don't know what I would do without them.

But this morning I was reminded of a professional that we sometimes overlook.

It was shortly after seminary started.  In the dark hours of the morning, before the sun had  a chance to rise.

A boy named Adam stood up at the front of our class and 30 kids all waited to see what he had to share.  He read a scripture and then said one simple sentence…

"The Holy Ghost is a professional at what he does."

The thought sunk deep.

A professional. At touching the heart. At giving warnings. At sending promptings.
At speaking to each of us, in our own language, in a way we can understand.

I thought about my day, and about my week, and about my life…sometimes you have to call in the professional.

And sometimes I forget.

"We like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibilities upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities."

Eliza R. Snow

"Compared to the perfection of God, we mortals are scarcely more than awkward, faltering toddlers. But our loving Heavenly Father wants us to become more like Him, and that should be our eternal goal too. God understands that we get there not in an instant but by taking one step at a time."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"We make our own happiness no matter what trials, tribulations, or sorrows we face in this life. We choose based on our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to be of good cheer."

Mary G. Cook

"Our knowledge of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Atonement helps us to endure our trials and to see purpose in suffering and to trust God for what we cannot comprehend."

Neal A. Maxwell

Always remember that there is really a time and a season for all things. The Lord doesn't expect us to run faster than we have strength, but He wants us to be diligent, and to always be engaged in a good cause. I know that agency and the right to choose are divine gifts that we have to learn to use correctly in order to gain eternal life and exaltation. Some of those choices are hard to make, but if we put them in the proper perspective, always seeking first the kingdom of God, the things that matter most for us will never be at the mercy of things which matter least. Strive to

have your small daily choices show clearly what you truly value. I have a testimony that these things are true, and I pray that each of you will pray for the Lord's guidance in discerning which of life's choices will bring you the most lasting happiness. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer. I know that God lives, that He loves each one of us because we are His children, and that He has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide us, lead us and direct us in the choices we make that will have eternal

consequences. And of this I testify to you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Silvia H. Allred

Happy Thanksgiving

A little step

"…To be happy and to avoid misery, we must have a grateful heart."  
Henry B. Eyring

 Gratitude can change not only your day, but your life. 

As you keep the faith, you will find yourself invited by the Lord often to serve someone in need when it will not seem convenient."
Henry B. Eyring

Rendering service is one of the hallmarks of a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

I invite you to not only love each other more, but to love each other better."  

Bonnie L. Oscarson

"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven."  
Thomas S. Monson

A little step may be the beginning of a great journey.

thanks giving

For so many blessings

Pure Love of Christ

"The "pure love of Christ" refers not only to our love for the Savior 

but to His love for each of us."
Bonnie D. Parkin

"The Savior… endured the agony of Gethsemane, of inquisition, cruel beatings, and death by crucifixion on the cross at Calvary. Recently, there has been a great deal of commentary about this, none of which has made clear the singular point that no one had the power to take the Savior's life from Him. He gave it as a ransom for us all. As the Son of God, He had the power to alter the situation. Yet the scriptures clearly state that He yielded Himself to scourging, humiliation, suffering, and finally crucifixion because of His great love towards the children of men."

M. Russell Ballard

"The Savior's entire ministry exemplified love of neighbor…A blind man healed, the daughter of Jairus raised, and the lepers cleansed—all were neighbors of Jesus. Neighbor also was the woman at the well. He, the perfect man, standing before a confessed sinner, extended a hand. She was the traveler; He was the good Samaritan. And so the caravan of His kindness continued. What about our time and place? Do neighbors await our love, our kindness, our help?"

Thomas S. Monson

"Enduring, or carrying on, is not just a matter of tolerating circumstances and hanging in there, but of pressing forward. I know that's what most of us find difficult – to endure joyfully."
Marvin J. Ashton 

"Those who are filled with the love of Christ do not seek to force others to do better; they inspire others to do better, indeed inspire them to the pursuit of God. We need to extend the hand of fellowship. We need to be kinder, more gentle, more forgiving, and slower to anger. We need to love one another with the pure love of Christ. 

May this be our course and our desire."

Howard W. Hunter

"We are loved by the pure love of Jesus Christ, 

and He wants us to fulfill our potential."

"Each of us is an innkeeper, and we decide if there is room for Jesus."  

Neal A. Maxwell

"If you really want to be like the Lord, . . . you will remember that your adoration of Jesus is best shown by your emulation of Him. "
Russell M. Nelson

Height of the waves

Future that only He can see

"Those who have felt the touch of the Master's hand somehow cannot explain the change which comes into their lives. There is a desire to live better, to serve faithfully, to walk humbly, and to be more like the Savior . . . Having received their spiritual eyesight and glimpsed the promises of eternity, they echo the words of the blind man to whom Jesus restored sight: 'One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see' John 9:25."    

Thomas S. Monson

"Every experience God gives us is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see."

Our fallen soldiers--gone but not forgotten 11.11

Veterans Day

Forget me not

When life is hard, remember - We are not the first to ask why. 

"It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's atonement shines." 

"See the good in yourself."

"We are infinitely more than our limitations or our afflictions!"

"Christ knows better than all others that the trials of life can be very deep, and we are not shallow people if we struggle with them." 

Tears are alright. They are the price we pay for love, care, and compassion in the world. One day God will, in great victory, "wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." One day our calamities will be over and past.  
Jeffrey R. Holland

Forget Me Not 

Think of Zion

Its a coming

As David, the Lord is my rock

Five Stones and One Mighty God

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation... Psalms 18:2

"In a moment of weakness we may cry out, 'No one knows what it is like. No one understands.' But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens." David A. Bednar

...The stone of COURAGE will melt the Goliath of fear. The stone of EFFORT will bring down the Goliath of indecision and procrastination. And the Goliaths of pride, of envy, of lack of self-respect will not stand before the power of the stones of HUMILITY, PRAYER, and DUTY."
Thomas S. Monson

1 Samuel 17

Emily Freeman
When you don't know what to do with what you've been entrusted with, give it your best effort(and by that, I mean your most authentic effort). Then trust God to perform His glory.  It's what I've been thinking about since I left church today.  Actually, I've been thinking about David.His story.  His Goliath.
For some reason all the little pieces of that story came together in a big way for me today. You remember the story.  How a giant of a man wielding a javelin, a spear, and a sword called out to an entire army challenging one man to a single combat.  How David, a humble shepherd boy answered the call ––in defense of His God, in an effort to show the whole world that there was a God in Israel.
God gave David a great responsibility.  It required David to do something.  To be faithful to the call. In preparation Saul fitted him for the task with armor, a helmet of brass, and a coat of mail.  Then David girded his sword upon his armor and made ready to go. In that moment something important happened.  Something I haven't ever paid attention to before.  Something that has caused me to think all day today.
David stopped in his tracks.
Then he turned back to Saul and said, "I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them.   And David put them off him."  (1 Samuel 17:39) He picked up his staff and his shepherd's bag, and took 5 smooth stones and the name of the Lord and his faith… And then David ran to meet the Philistine. He entered the challenge as his most authentic self, bringing the skill and experience and gifts and abilities God had blessed him with.
He brought what he had to offer and he left the results to God.
We live in a world that rages with the battle between good and evil.  On a daily basis we are called out in single combat to fight for the cause of the Lord . . . It's tempting to try on their armor.
But the invitation to receive inspiration and guidance came with counsel.  Be authentic and consistent.Like David.

You have His power within you to sustain you. You have the right to ministering angels about you to protect you. Do not let Goliath frighten you. Stand your ground . . .Gordon B. Hinckley
"Should there be a Goliath in our lives, or a giant called by any other name, we need not 'flee' or be 'sore afraid' as we go up to battle against him. Rather we can find assurance and receive divine help from Him of whom David wrote in his inspired psalm: 'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. … Yea, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.' (Ps. 23:1, 4.)" Thomas S. Monson
"Hang on the walls of your mind the memory of your successes. Take counsel of your strength, not your weakness. Think of the good… you have done. Think of the times when you . . . carried out . . . a dream or a desire for which you had deeply longed. Hang these pictures on the walls of your mind and look at them as you travel the roadway of life."Whister
"No one can make us angry. It is our choice. If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry . . . May we make a conscious decision, each time such a decision must be made, to refrain from anger and to leave unsaid the harsh and hurtful things we may be tempted to say." Thomas S. Monson

He noticed

by David Butler

When I imagine the widow walking through the temple, I see her with her head slightly bowed.

 It is not heavy with shame, but rather meekly fixed on her destination.  Her hand reverently drops the coins into the treasury–the muted sound barely bouncing off the stone walls. "And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:"

Not even the faithful disciples noticed the offering.

But He did; and perhaps He had a lesson to teach.  A reminder, really, of a truth that would carry them in future days.

The day was far passed.  The twelve, the Master, and throng of thousands had gathered to a desert place.  They had not noticed the sun inching its way to the distant horizon.  Souls were filled to overflowing, but hunger came anyway.

"Give ye them to eat," He suggested. "And they say unto him, 'Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworthof bread, and give them to eat?'" There was not enough.   There would never be enough.  These were common folk without much to offer.

"How many loaves have ye? go and see." A meager meal awaited the closest disciples, but even that would leave them wanting through the night.  The counting didn't take long.

Five loaves.

I wonder if embarrassment lead to wonder.  Perhaps in weaker men it would have even bordered on cancerous pride.  Companions to the Creator left without substance?  They would have to turn the people away.

The miracle that followed would provide an anchoring memory for these men of Galilee. Go ye into all the world the angels said.

How can fishermen, tent makers, and tax collectors build the kingdom of God? How could they be ambassadors for Jesus.  They had so little to offer.  They would never be enough.

But maybe on a particularly difficult evening, when the weight of the world rested on their shoulders, and questions piled up more than answers, and they sensed desperately how much they lacked–they would remember baskets filled with remnants.

They would remember the curious tug on their hearts when they placed small barley loaves into His hands.  All five.

Perhaps they will recall what they felt as He blessed them so graciously.

The Savior simply wants our heart.  Whatever we have to offer will result in abundance.  5 loaves. 2 mites. 3 hours. An extra to spare.  It is enough.  You are enough.

The seed of faith

Heart, might and mind

Cherry Pistachio Lemon Cookies

Ingredients

Makes: 2 dozen cookies

1 box lemon cake mix

1 box (4-serving size) instant pistachio pudding mix

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted

1⁄2 cup coarsely chopped pistachios 

1 container (4 ounces) candied red cherries, coarsely chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a bowl, stir together cake mix, pistachio pudding mix, and salt. Beat in eggs and butter until a soft dough forms. Stir in pistachios and cherries. 

Roll dough into 1 1⁄2-inch balls and place on cookie sheet 3 inches apart. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges just start to brown. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes on pan before transferring cookies to a wire rack.

Good Shepherd

The Lord's hand is in our lives;
if we will but feel for it, in the darkness,
we can grasp it and be lifted thereby.

James E. Talmage

We may not know what lies ahead of us in the future years, nor even in the days or hours immediately beyond. But for a few yards, or possibly only a few feet, the track is clear, our duty is plain, our course is illumined. For that short distance, for the next step, lighted by the inspiration of God, go on!

James E. Talmage 

A true faith in Christ is more than just knowing about Him or even believing He is divine. It is knowing that His Atonement is real, that its purpose is to transform us, that it will be available as long as that perfecting process takes. We have a Savior who covers us, a Redeemer who changes us, and a Good Shepherd who is willing to come in search of us again and again continuously. 

 Brad Wilcox

Although our experiences cannot be compared to the Savior's suffering as He wrought the Atonement, that concept of Gethsemane speaks to my heart. We all face monumental periods in our lives when we turn to the Lord and pour out our souls, for the pain is too great for us to stand alone. Sharing our burdens with our Savior is part of the process of perfection. 

Elaine L. Jack

Love has no end and no limits. It remains when all else fails; it grows as hearts are knit together in the bonds of kindness, selflessness, and compassion; it simply endures. And just as true love never quits, it also never counts or itemizes; it flows freely from an abundant heart.As we strive to show and grow our love, let us remember that our expressions of love are echoes of the continuous and unlimited love of God. For as we truly love, we come to know His perfect love.

Lloyd D. Newell

the Hush before winter

Hello November

(Almost) Swig Sugar Cookies

(Almost) Swig Sugar Cookies

A Bountiful Kitchen

dough:

1/2 cup butter (1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup Butter Flavor or Regular Crisco)

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

sugar

frosting:

1/4 cup butter, room temperature

1 tablespoon sour cream

2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoons vanilla

dash of salt

1 drop red food coloring

1-2 tablespoons milk**

Preheat oven to 325 convection or 350 regular bake.

Take butter out of refrigerator and microwave for about 15 seconds. Place butter, shortening and cold sour cream in a mixing bowl. Mix for about one minute. Add sugar and vanilla, mix until smooth. Add all dry ingredients at once. Mix just until flour disappears and the mixture comes together in a ball of dough, about 1-2 minutes on very low speed.

Spray the cookie scoop with a little cooking spray. Scoop the dough onto a cookie sheet. I use either a 1 3/4 inch or a 2 inch scoop. A two inch scoop will produce a cookie similar in size to the Swig cookie. If you don't have a cookie scoop, roll the dough into a ball about the size of a golf ball.

Place about 1/4 cup sugar into a small bowl.

Flatten the cookies with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar (press the bottom of the glass against the cookie first, then dip it in the sugar so the sugar will stick) . Press the cookies so they are flattened a bit, twisting the glass as you press to produce a jagged edge.

Bake in oven for about 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden and cookies are slightly firm to the touch. Remove from oven, let cool. Place the cookies in the fridge and chill.

Prepare the frosting:

Beat together the butter, sour cream, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt. When all ingredients are incorporated, add the drop of food coloring and milk if the frosting needs to be thinned.

Frost after the cookies are completely chilled.

Makes about 14 small or 8-10 large cookies.