Look At This!

 July 2026. I am still here!

CHASING YOUR TESTIMONY

(Courtesy of Wilson Webb) 

When we are in grade-school and introduced to the concept of Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic each subject is taught independent of one another. We learn the 26 letters that together make an alphabet. By putting letters together we learn to spell words. Put words together and we learn to read. It takes a lot of practice. We learn to read sight words while also learning to "sound out" words. Dictionaries help us to pronounce words in a most difficult way by using signals to inform if the vowel is long or soft. We also learn of the odd existence of a "schwa" that is inconsistent between languages just like an alphabet is inconsistent between languages.

When learning our math, we first learn our numbers and again it takes practice to know that 9 follows 8 but comes before 10. After learning numbers and counting, we begin to play with the numbers. We begin by adding! Then subtracting, multiplying, and eventually dividing these numerals to solve simple equations. Basically, in grade-school we learn the basics, the standard for which all further equations will then build upon.

This can be compared to our Primary Lessons at church. What do we teach the children in Primary? The basics of the Gospel have conveniently been broken down into 13 Articles of Faith. This is akin to knowing our alphabet and our numbers. But what do we teach the youth in Young Men/Young Women? What do we teach the Adults? What do we do with a gifted child who already understands the concept of using letters along with numbers in a mathematical question? Who decided to add an X into my numerical equation? And why isn't X always the same value?? Who added a Y, so I am not only trying to communicate with numbers and one letter, but two letters, and neither has a stable or consistent value!? Augh! Someone decided to add exponents (or raising to the power). 

It infuriates me when I ask a question in Sunday School and I get a "Sunday School' answer, or the standard "Missionary Response." The basics will always be stable, and I propose that the basics of the Gospel are stable. But there is much more to know than 1+1=2.  And when I ask a question in Sunday School that has never crossed your mind before, do not treat me like an uneducated nincompoop and recite your sight words from the MTC. I know how to read, I know some math, and I could understand more, but only if I have a complete understanding of what each numeral, and letter represents. I cannot discuss with you the Beal Conjecture, mostly because there is only one reference to a number! The American Mathematical Society in Provident, Rhode Island, said that typical of many statements in number theory, they are "easy to say but extremely difficult to prove" Reminds me of children reciting that they "know" the Church is true; easy to say difficult to prove. We should all be chasing the proof of our testimonies. 

So what grade level would you identify your testimony at?? Are we all still in primary?? Children generally do not drop out of grade school. They drop out in the higher grades when the questions and concepts become harder, when life becomes broader, when search for self identity challenges the basics taught by the adults in their lives. There are multiple unsolved math problems out there and dedicated scientists continue to search for proofs. Don't drop out. Learn about exponents and raising to the power! Your power! Keep chasing your testimony and find the elusive solution - but look to a Higher Source of education because basics just are not cutting it anymore.

LDS Maeser Art - by a very talented son-in-law

In 1995 "The Family: A Proclamation to the World' was shared over the pulpit of the October General Conference. The title has since been simplified to "the family proclamation. This is unfortunate because it truly was a global call to repentance and should not have been interpreted to be a Utah issue, or a Mormon issue at all. In fact it clearly warns the world -as God's Prophets are often called upon to do: "We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/proclamation-on-the-family

In June 2015 the First Presidency of the Church released a letter to be read to congregations throughout the world. It begins: "Because of the recent decision of the United States Supreme Court and similar legal proceedings and legislative actions in a number of countries that have given civil recognition to same-sex marriage relationships, the Council of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints restates and reaffirms the doctrinal foundation of Church teachings on morality, marriage, and the family. As we do, we encourage all to consider these teachings in the context of the Plan of Salvation and our Heavenly Father's purposes in creating the earth and providing for our mortal birth and experience here as His children."  http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/top-church-leaders-counsel-members-after-supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-decision 

In August 2015, Michael Otterson, head of the Church Public Affairs Department gave an enlightening speech at the FairMormon Conference. In his speech, Mr. Otterson made the following observation: "...Can members have their own views on this topic and still stay faithful to the Church? That's a question we hear often, and it arises from a number of different scenarios. Can a member be a Democrat and a good Mormon? That one makes me smile, because if the members who ask it could travel to some countries of the world and meet faithful members of the Church who belong to their national communist parties I fear their blood pressure might be permanently damaged. Can I believe in women's rights and be a good Mormon? Can I think that our hymnals might benefit from a good revision? If I sometimes think that every minute of our three-hour block isn't entirely inspirational, am I on the road to apostasy?"  http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/full-transcript-michael-otterson-address-at-fair-mormon-conference

I am Mormon - Hear me ROAR!

Attempts to fall asleep following a long day inside child welfare records can often be challenging. I find myself singing primary songs or pop songs that worm themselves into memory. Last night I was reflecting on the philosophy of your areas of influence vs. areas of control as described by Steven R Covey. I recalled seeing an interaction between a mom and dad and their toddler.

Every child goes through their picky eating period just like every teen goes through their identity crisis. We know that children grow in spurts and it is common sense that their appetites reflect this. I read that a Tablespoon for every year of age is a good gauge for serving size, but I don't know if that is still true. Anyway, - I digress. What I observed was the toddler's plate prepared for the child and then the child given a cup with a drink in it. After the toddler spent some time slurping her drink through a straw, dad took the cup and encouraged his toddler to eat what was on the plate. But the child didn't want to eat, she wanted the juice back. So dad removed the drink as an option and encouraged the toddler again to take a bite of "food" and then she could have the drink back.

Remember, I am trying to fall asleep and this is going through my mind. I thought about how enticing the plate of food actually looked. It was pretty bland. Nothing compared to the colorful salads my hubby creates!! But the sugar in the juice was in a colorful cup. I imagined a plateful of orange carrots, red peppers, green peas, and berry colored cranberries - and wondered if a study had ever been done to see if children are more likely to eat colorful vegetables over the plate of frenchfries. Then I realized that sometimes it is the familiar and simple that draw us. What if the colorful vegetables had ranch dip? Something to dip into, like the french-fry is dipped into ketchup? Perhaps this would make that study more accurate in the findings. Again I digress - but this is how I fall asleep.

Then, in my mind I hear Heavenly Father's presentation to Adam and Eve of the Garden. Of all the trees thou may freely eat, but of THAT tree, thou shalt not eat because it rots your teeth. Nevertheless, thou may choose for thyself, but remember....

Oh Remember!! How often we are called to remember. Heavenly Father did not remove the tree as a consequence of Adam and Eve's choice but allowed the natural consequence to occur - the rotting of their teeth so to speak.  As a father, the dad did not remove the cup from the table, but put a protective measure in place by requesting that the toddler take a bite of something else first. But remember, thou may choose for thyself.

Even in the Garden, Eve did not approach the tree but was deceived into eating from the tree. I consider the role I play or my area of influence. I deceive grandchildren by hiding spinach in a smoothy. Without their understanding before hand, I give my grandchildren a good dose of iron and then tell them it is a mango smoothy!!

So...pulling the train of thought back to areas of influence and areas of control. It was easy to take control of the situation with the toddler by removing the option of having juice over the nourishment placed before the child. It would have prevented the toddler from getting into a bad eating habit, possibly even prevent tooth decay. But is this an area Heavenly Father would have interfered with and insisted Father knows best? As parents we continue to maintain an area of influence, but need to be cautious with taking control. Even something that seems so trivial on a daily basis will influence eternity.

There really is no correct way to respond to a toddler who is going through the picky eating stage of development. I don't think the dad was wrong for insisting the child take a bite of food. I just recognized that the circumstance and timing did not require control from the dad. Even so, I still catch myself thinking I need to control aspects of the world around me and need to remember that I don't. The patience exhibited by a Loving Father in Heaven astounds me at night when I am trying to put the world away.

A SWEET DONATION

 After using my wedding gown in the Nativity Production, I was left with beautiful material, lace, buttons, and silk. I had taken the skirt off of the bodice and used the skirt as my angel costume. What can I now do with that wedding gown?

I heard of several groups who took wedding gowns and made very tiny gowns and suits for infants lost at birth. I was lucky to find one nearby and boxed my gown up and sent it to them. Although I do not have a photo of an infant using the remnants of my gown, I imagine a beautiful little one in a satin suit, or gown with lace and know that even though my daughters did not use it for their weddings, another child is using it while awaiting their turn to return to their bodies. So grateful to those who are creative in providing a service to those who mourn, and grateful I was able to provide.