PLEASE SHARE THIS, WHILE THINKING OF WHAT YOU CAN DO, TO DO THE SAME.....
LOVE FROM DIXIE :)
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Monday, November 10, 2014
Its All About the Cookie
Lately I've been posting just blogs on the lessons I've been teaching at church and I have forgotten about the Journey, so today, I think I will continue on about this trip called life and write a travel log as well as the other and hope it brings a smile and some light to those who read, or who would so graciously follow me here :)
So the deal was, I just wanted to eat, eat something good. That's how it started out anyway. Those of you who know me know my food allergies, and as I now let the list begin it may take you a half an hour to read it ;) The allergies are: Wheat, Milk, Peanut, tree nut, sesame, shellfish, egg, soy and possibly turkey as of late. I just wanted something good a cookie or something, it was Halloween and I wanted candy and cakes but not for me miss gluten diary everything free....and I must follow it religiously else the migraine headaches have the power to put me in the hospital. Which includes making sure the food items are not processed in facilities with my items, I can't even cook in the same pan as others, its literally serious business. So I watch, as you eat your pies and cakes, or even just a plain ole sandwich, thankful in a way that I can't eat anything I want but missing my favorites.... until two weeks ago.
Backing up a little I have recently moved to East Texas, small town East Texas where you can't buy a gallon of milk after 10pm let alone gluten free anything! :) and if your gonna by groceries at all its either Brookshires or Walmart, that's it no other choices therefore I was having to drive two hours back to Dallas if I wanted any groceries that I could eat. However, the gas and time it takes to do that was nearing impossible every week or two so the search began. After much research on the net I found three possible stores in Tyler that could help me and we went off on a Saturday morning adventure. And then it appeared....The huge sign that said "Fresh by Brookshires" yes it was Brookshires version of Whole foods and I was beginning to show signs of hope!
I walked in the store and saw that it was indeed like a whole foods or more like a central market and so I set out in hopes of finding those things that I need like special dairy free soy free butter, cold rice milk, light brown rice bread, tuna without soy, soy and dairy free Mayo, just your basics....then I saw it...the cookie aisle.....yes indeed there was a gluten free cookie isle, and not just a gluten free, but an everything free cookie ailse cookies with nothing in them!! Sounds insane right! Yes insane yet shown in my eyes the glimmer of a happy child anticipating a grand gift or box of candy.
I walked slowly down the isle seeing the old familars, those cookies that were everything free and about the size of a quarter tasting like buckwheat and cocoa....okay if you need something but not great and a hefty six dollars for a box of 12....no this was not what I had in mind but it was better than nothing so sadly I took a box off the shelf and looked at it, as out of the corner of my eye I spotted them. Boxes, big blue boxes of chocolate chip cookies, crunchy chips ahoy like cookies and it was then my mouth began to water.....really it did.....
I grabbed a box and gingerly turned it over prepared to read the ingredients and equally prepared to be disappointed as those words I so love came out in bold dancing in my eyes: nut free, dairy free, gluten free, everything free!! and processed in a dedicated everything free facility!! And only 3.99 a box!! HOT DOG I HIT THE JACKPOT.
Quickly I began filling my cart with blue boxes, hoarding them as if a golden treasure I had found when the store attendant walked by and asked if he could help me and I actually gave him a hug for I was so happy. He then led me to every item I came to purchase with a special emphasis on the milk aisle for a half a gallon of cold rice milk.....now I know what your thinking. Its just not the same, its not real milk and they're not real cookies in fact it sounds kinda gross right? Yes I agree I most likely does but let me tell you as soon as I got to my car and tore open a box and stuck the first bite in my mouth it was far from gross, it was a piece of Heaven on earth!! Oh the Joy!! It was a crunchy chocolate chip cookie melting in my mouth and it tasted good! How grateful I was at that moment that Heavenly Father gave someone the knowledge to make these cookies! YUMMMMMMMM!
I'm sure you can imagine what happened next, I had to have milk and so the carton came open and I chugged rice milk from the carton just like it was regular milk, yes my dear friends for one brief moment I was normal I drank from the carton and ate a whole box of cookies and I wasn't even depressed it was just plain fun! The best part, two cookies only have 120 calories and 16 carbs what a bonus, it didn't make me fatter!!! And the winning streak didn't end there as last week I found coupons on the net for those very cookies and went back and got a dollar off each box! WOW talk about tender mercies.
You might be thinking this doesn't qualify for a tender mercy that tender mercies come in bigger and different packages; but it is my belief that tender mercies are also those little gifts from Heavenly Father that may not be a serious need but something that would uplift us and make us feel better. This indeed made me feel better and has continued to make me smile for almost a month for I have had something nice to enjoy to go along with the boring things I have to eat. Sometimes it does become depressing and just miserable when trying to eat the way I do, so I felt that I was sent cookies, real cookies not fake yucky ones but real ones that would make me feel good and that they have. I can say I have had a spring in my step and all from the taste of simple cookie who would have thought.......
If your interested in these lovely cookies they are from Enjoy Life, that is the brand name and the are the blue box :) that says crunchy on it.
And there you have Dixie Dawn's adventure for this week....its the little things that sometimes make life so special don't ya think.....
Hope you enjoyed it, see you next week
Love, From Dixie
So the deal was, I just wanted to eat, eat something good. That's how it started out anyway. Those of you who know me know my food allergies, and as I now let the list begin it may take you a half an hour to read it ;) The allergies are: Wheat, Milk, Peanut, tree nut, sesame, shellfish, egg, soy and possibly turkey as of late. I just wanted something good a cookie or something, it was Halloween and I wanted candy and cakes but not for me miss gluten diary everything free....and I must follow it religiously else the migraine headaches have the power to put me in the hospital. Which includes making sure the food items are not processed in facilities with my items, I can't even cook in the same pan as others, its literally serious business. So I watch, as you eat your pies and cakes, or even just a plain ole sandwich, thankful in a way that I can't eat anything I want but missing my favorites.... until two weeks ago.
Backing up a little I have recently moved to East Texas, small town East Texas where you can't buy a gallon of milk after 10pm let alone gluten free anything! :) and if your gonna by groceries at all its either Brookshires or Walmart, that's it no other choices therefore I was having to drive two hours back to Dallas if I wanted any groceries that I could eat. However, the gas and time it takes to do that was nearing impossible every week or two so the search began. After much research on the net I found three possible stores in Tyler that could help me and we went off on a Saturday morning adventure. And then it appeared....The huge sign that said "Fresh by Brookshires" yes it was Brookshires version of Whole foods and I was beginning to show signs of hope!
I walked in the store and saw that it was indeed like a whole foods or more like a central market and so I set out in hopes of finding those things that I need like special dairy free soy free butter, cold rice milk, light brown rice bread, tuna without soy, soy and dairy free Mayo, just your basics....then I saw it...the cookie aisle.....yes indeed there was a gluten free cookie isle, and not just a gluten free, but an everything free cookie ailse cookies with nothing in them!! Sounds insane right! Yes insane yet shown in my eyes the glimmer of a happy child anticipating a grand gift or box of candy.
I walked slowly down the isle seeing the old familars, those cookies that were everything free and about the size of a quarter tasting like buckwheat and cocoa....okay if you need something but not great and a hefty six dollars for a box of 12....no this was not what I had in mind but it was better than nothing so sadly I took a box off the shelf and looked at it, as out of the corner of my eye I spotted them. Boxes, big blue boxes of chocolate chip cookies, crunchy chips ahoy like cookies and it was then my mouth began to water.....really it did.....
I grabbed a box and gingerly turned it over prepared to read the ingredients and equally prepared to be disappointed as those words I so love came out in bold dancing in my eyes: nut free, dairy free, gluten free, everything free!! and processed in a dedicated everything free facility!! And only 3.99 a box!! HOT DOG I HIT THE JACKPOT.
Quickly I began filling my cart with blue boxes, hoarding them as if a golden treasure I had found when the store attendant walked by and asked if he could help me and I actually gave him a hug for I was so happy. He then led me to every item I came to purchase with a special emphasis on the milk aisle for a half a gallon of cold rice milk.....now I know what your thinking. Its just not the same, its not real milk and they're not real cookies in fact it sounds kinda gross right? Yes I agree I most likely does but let me tell you as soon as I got to my car and tore open a box and stuck the first bite in my mouth it was far from gross, it was a piece of Heaven on earth!! Oh the Joy!! It was a crunchy chocolate chip cookie melting in my mouth and it tasted good! How grateful I was at that moment that Heavenly Father gave someone the knowledge to make these cookies! YUMMMMMMMM!
I'm sure you can imagine what happened next, I had to have milk and so the carton came open and I chugged rice milk from the carton just like it was regular milk, yes my dear friends for one brief moment I was normal I drank from the carton and ate a whole box of cookies and I wasn't even depressed it was just plain fun! The best part, two cookies only have 120 calories and 16 carbs what a bonus, it didn't make me fatter!!! And the winning streak didn't end there as last week I found coupons on the net for those very cookies and went back and got a dollar off each box! WOW talk about tender mercies.
You might be thinking this doesn't qualify for a tender mercy that tender mercies come in bigger and different packages; but it is my belief that tender mercies are also those little gifts from Heavenly Father that may not be a serious need but something that would uplift us and make us feel better. This indeed made me feel better and has continued to make me smile for almost a month for I have had something nice to enjoy to go along with the boring things I have to eat. Sometimes it does become depressing and just miserable when trying to eat the way I do, so I felt that I was sent cookies, real cookies not fake yucky ones but real ones that would make me feel good and that they have. I can say I have had a spring in my step and all from the taste of simple cookie who would have thought.......
If your interested in these lovely cookies they are from Enjoy Life, that is the brand name and the are the blue box :) that says crunchy on it.
And there you have Dixie Dawn's adventure for this week....its the little things that sometimes make life so special don't ya think.....
Hope you enjoyed it, see you next week
Love, From Dixie
Saturday, November 8, 2014
As Missionaries Do.....
Proclaiming the Gospel to the world; every member a missionary; how often as Latter-day Saints do we hear these statements. Why do we hear these statements?
We hear them because we have received a commission from the Lord that as members of the church we pledge ourselves to the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have promised to be missionaries.
But how do we do that in the right way without offending without pushing people away?
First we need to be mindful that there are good and devout people among all sects, parties and denominations and they will be blessed and rewarded for all the good they do. However we need to keep in mind that we alone as latter-day saints have the fullness of the laws and ordinances which prepare people for the fullness of reward in the mansions above.
Thus we must say to the good and to the noble, to the upright and the devout; keep all the good you have cleave unto every true principle which is now yours but come and partake of the further light and knowledge which that God who is he same yesterday today and forever is again pouring out upon his people. In this way we maintain and recognize their beliefs and the good in those beliefs while offering to add upon them.
The gospel is for all the people it is the sole hope of the world, the one way that will bring peace on earth. It is our responsibility to use our strength energy and influence to proclaim the gospel to everyone everywhere.
It is also important to remember that the Lord is using many, for his work is not confined to the Latter-day Saints alone. He has called many outside the church and given them power and inspiration to fulfill his work. Yet while remembering this we are not to forget that we as Latter-day Saints are a power in the earth for good and for the spread of the truth and the establishment of peace among all nations.
Our instructions for this our mission? First to remember our mission, which is to proclaim the gospel.
We are to preach the doctrines of salvation as they are in the scriptures With simplicity and directness prayerfully and guided by the spirit. We are to respect our Father's other children of all sects, parties and denominations and have no desire except to see them receive the added light and knowledge that has come to us by revelation and to become with us inheritors of the great blessings of the restoration of the gospel.
There are no cures for the ills of the world except the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope, the hope of the world, for peace, for prosperity, and for life in the kingdom of God is found only in the restored gospel. We must so let our lights shine with proper attitudes, living Christ like lives, then our examples will testify and thus our testimonies will save and grow the kingdom of Heaven.
Dixie Dawn Michelle 2014
Written for Relief Society November 2014 Lesson 22
Resources: Teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith
We hear them because we have received a commission from the Lord that as members of the church we pledge ourselves to the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have promised to be missionaries.
But how do we do that in the right way without offending without pushing people away?
First we need to be mindful that there are good and devout people among all sects, parties and denominations and they will be blessed and rewarded for all the good they do. However we need to keep in mind that we alone as latter-day saints have the fullness of the laws and ordinances which prepare people for the fullness of reward in the mansions above.
Thus we must say to the good and to the noble, to the upright and the devout; keep all the good you have cleave unto every true principle which is now yours but come and partake of the further light and knowledge which that God who is he same yesterday today and forever is again pouring out upon his people. In this way we maintain and recognize their beliefs and the good in those beliefs while offering to add upon them.
The gospel is for all the people it is the sole hope of the world, the one way that will bring peace on earth. It is our responsibility to use our strength energy and influence to proclaim the gospel to everyone everywhere.
It is also important to remember that the Lord is using many, for his work is not confined to the Latter-day Saints alone. He has called many outside the church and given them power and inspiration to fulfill his work. Yet while remembering this we are not to forget that we as Latter-day Saints are a power in the earth for good and for the spread of the truth and the establishment of peace among all nations.
Our instructions for this our mission? First to remember our mission, which is to proclaim the gospel.
We are to preach the doctrines of salvation as they are in the scriptures With simplicity and directness prayerfully and guided by the spirit. We are to respect our Father's other children of all sects, parties and denominations and have no desire except to see them receive the added light and knowledge that has come to us by revelation and to become with us inheritors of the great blessings of the restoration of the gospel.
There are no cures for the ills of the world except the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope, the hope of the world, for peace, for prosperity, and for life in the kingdom of God is found only in the restored gospel. We must so let our lights shine with proper attitudes, living Christ like lives, then our examples will testify and thus our testimonies will save and grow the kingdom of Heaven.
Dixie Dawn Michelle 2014
Written for Relief Society November 2014 Lesson 22
Resources: Teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Divine Kinship
"I think if all men knew and understood who they are and were aware of the divine source from whence they came, they would have feelings of kindness and kinship for each other that would change their whole way of living and bring peace on earth....." Joseph Fielding Smith
One Monday morning when Rob and Janet Arrived at school, they noticed that their teacher Mr May had an interesting smile on his face. "I wonder what Mr May is going to do today." whispered Janet to Rob. The other students in the class also seemed curious about what was behind Mr May's intriguing smile.
It seemed to take forever for class to begin. When the bell signaled the start of class, Mr, May said, "today I am going to give each of you three gifts. You may do whatever you wish with the gifts. But the object of receiving these gifts is to get more of them by the end of the week.
With that short explanation, Mr May gave each student three small pieces of paper. Rob quickly looked at each one. On one piece of paper was the word Smile, a second piece read Sincere Compliment, and the third simply read Help.
A student raised her hand and asked, "what are we supposed to do with these?"
Mr May smiled and said, "You figure it out."
Deteremined to get more gifts, Rob stuffed the pieces of paper into his pocket so no one would be able to take them from him. Then he spent the rest of the week trying to get gifts from other people. He poked fun at one of the other students in class and then looked around to see how many people had smiled at him. When he got a good grade on a spelling test, he showed his grade to several people hoping that someone would give him a sincere compliment, and he reminded Tom of a favor he had done for him once saying, "We'll be even if you will help me with my book report." By the end of the week, all Rob had was three crumpled piees of paper in his pocket and a sick feeling in his stomach.
Janet didn't really thinking about Mr May's assignment. She just went about her week as she always did. She greeted everyone with a smile. when she noticed that Emily had done especially well on a math quiz, she congratulated her. Later that week she noticed that Loren was having a hard time with his science project. She helped him with the problem that was frustrating him. By the end of the week, Janet was happier than she had been before, even though she had forgotten about Mr, May's challenge to get more gifts.
Rob was confused. He had tried hard to get more gifts, but he had failed. Meanwhile, he noticed that even though Janet had not done anything different everyone smiled at her. People were always giving her sincere compliments and when she needed help with something someone always seemed to notice and offer assistance.
After trying all week to add to his own store of gifts, Rob seemed to have less than he had when the week began; and rather than trying to get smiles, compliments and help from others, Janet gave those gifts away. In the process, she received them back from others and felt even happier than she had felt when the week began.
When we give of ourselves, when we loose ourselves in service, when we love the Lord with all our hearts soul and minds and when we love our neighbors as ourselves, we find that we don't loose anything at all, instead we receive gifts of love, friendship and greater happiness. And by doing so we are obeying the first two commandments; to love the Lord then love our neighbors as ourselves.
Let us this week ask ourselves this question: Can you say that you love the Lord with all your soul? Can you say you are concerened for the welfare of your neighbor as much as you are for your own? When we can answer yes to these two questions, not only will we fulfill the law, but just think, how glorious our days shall be........
Points to Ponder:
*With the Knowledge that God is the Father of all people, we should desire to love and bless others
*As we love and support one another in the Church we become a power in the world for good
*We express love for our fellowmen by serving them
*We need to appreciate and love people for themselves
*We we love the Lord with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves, we are in harmony with all sacred law
*What has Jesus Christ done to teach us love for each other, how can we follow his example
It is my sincere prayer that we can all, each one of us, love even as the Lord has loved us....
Thanks for reading :) see you next week
Love From Dixie
References: Preparing for Exaltation Lesson 36, Teaches of Joseph Fielding Smith Chapter 20
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Beyond The Doors
I am LDS (Mormon)and have been "called" as a teacher for our Sunday morning Relief Society Women's meeting. This post is one I wrote for a lesson I gave last month entitled Sealing Power and Temple Blessings, which is in regards to temple work. For more information and understanding of the Mormon Temple and the service we do there or for more information about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Relief Society Organization or any other questions or information you might want, please visit www.lds.org or mormon.org. There is also a wonderful Movie now playing in Theaters called Meet the Mormons that you might find interesting as well. I will be doing a post for each lesson I teach which will be the 2nd and 3rd Sunday's of each month. If you should have any questions feel free to contact me, if you would like to leave a comment please do so on this page! Thank you for following and visiting I will be doing my best to post something each week not just the lessons, but things of my journey that you might find of interest and I look forward to seeing you here :) Now on with the blog........
My Family has struggled with tragedy. It started with the death of my three year old daughter, and not to mention the parents, grandparents, and friends we've lost since then and in between; the last five years have been the worst with the death of my twenty year old son, my step-father three months later, my sister six months from that, then followed my father in-law, mother in-law and finally my 36 six year old step son who died this past July. So, a few weeks ago when the phone rang in the early morning hours with news that my two year old granddaughter, was in Cooks Children's Hospital with seizure activity and very sick, I became scared, that old anxiety kicked in and I could hardly breathe.
The first thing I did after hearing, was call the temple for prayer, and then not only knelt and opened my heart in prayer for my precious baby girl, but also and most importantly thanked heavenly father that we have the temple, and are blessed with those special prayers on behalf of ourselves and our loved ones. Immediately I had a sense of peace and though I was scared and knew she was sick and needed medical attention, I knew too that today was not her day to die and so I did my best with the help of my visiting teacher ( the women in the ward visit each other and help care for one another, each sister is assigned to another), to maintain, stay calm and carry on.
Our lives on earth can be so hard; in a personal sense, our struggles, whatever they be, are great for each of us and sometimes they can even become almost unbearable. Likewise, those that have passed on before us also may struggle. If for whatever reason they missed the opportunity to accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ while here on earth they might struggle with broken hearts, anxiety and fears; having gained a great knowledge in the spirit world. Their peace, their salvation, is now dependent upon the choices and charity of those living on earth to do family history work and attend the temple to perform sacred saving ordinances for them. However, like us; come what may, they must continue to carry on, they must find hope, they must press forward with steadfastness.
Beyond the doors of the sacred building we call the temple lies the hope, the strength, the peace and enlightenment of our lives. Beyond those doors lies Heaven on earth, if we will but open them. And in so doing we not only open them for ourselves, we open them for those that live beyond the veil. Thus our healing and our strength come as we loose ourselves in service.
It is imperative, not only to those how have died but to us all, to attend the temple, for our lives and living them depend upon gaining peace and strength, and our salvation, depends upon the salvation of those living in the spirit world with whom we must be joined in family ties.
With Love From Dixie
See you next week.....
©Dixie Dawn Michelle Oct 2014 all rights reserved
**Reference Material: The Teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith Chapter 17
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Eye of the Storm
First of all let me apologize for not having written in so long, in my human weakness I have fallen prey to stress, depression, fear, anxiety and and grief and this will be my first blog in over a year. I will do my utmost to not make it so long again for there is much in me to write about.....
Having said that, I moved to a new town and ward (I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we congregate in what is called wards www.lds.org) and it didn't take the bishopric long to latch on to fresh troops and my husband and I were called upon to speak.(In our church we do not have a preacher that speaks and teaches; rather members of the congregation are asked in advance each week by the bishopric who officiates, to prepare a "sermon" if you will, on an assigned topic and speak to the congregation.)
I like to post the talks that I have given here so that I have them in my journal and also so maybe someone else might like them. The topic I was given was to introduce and tell about myself integrated with the subject of Spiritual Whirlwinds. But, I'm going to skip the introduction part of myself because you reading already know me, you probably know most of the rest too but maybe there will also be something that will stand out and touch your heart. for me this is not one of my best but I did my best and I tried to keep in short because my husband has stressed recently that I talk too much.....I pray that anyone reading will have the spirit of the Lord with them and will receive the messages he has in store, and I welcome any comments or thoughts that you might have or want to share.
Thank you for reading!! See you next time! Love from Dixie!
I was a convert to the church at the age of eight. I know it sounds strange for that to happen at such a young age, But back in the day my daddy was a hardcore Texan. And being so hardcore in 1973 he landed himself in a bar fight in Houston and was left for dead. His daddy, the Mormon pioneer of our family, had converted a few years prior and upon rescuing his son, had a good ole southern come to Jesus meetin' and my dad was baptized shortly thereafter. What was really wonderful about this crazy event was that my dad, really believed in the message and teachings he'd received and when returning home to us, shared the gospel with my mom and a few months later we were baptized. This decision that he made to become a member of the church and to share it with my mom would be the one thing that would save me in the coming years, for no matter what would happen, I had a foundation.
I say that last statement because I consider myself to be a connoisseur of of trials and troubles. You see there have been times in my life that my mind was not opened, I didn't have good understanding of what I needed so my spirit, at times, fell in places that were indeed unimaginable. With temptations and sin on the rise and becoming more, and more socially acceptable; I having not prepared myself well, fell prey to the adversary and my choices created terrible storms. The kind that can uproot one from spiritual foundations yet, because I did have a gospel knowledge, I learned of the power of the Atonement and with true repentance I became converted, I became a new person, my mind became enlightened and I survived the storm. However, not all of my trials were of my own making. Some were do to the poor choices of others, and some were just because this is mortal life. Some examples are when my oldest daughter died in a playground accident at the age of three, and with this event the choices of others followed when my parents divorced and became inactive. My dad went back to drinking and the family was torn apart on many levels and still suffers with the inactivity of my mom and siblings.
I too had a lot of trouble as a grieving newly pregnant mother, and because I was having so much trouble, my middle son was born six weeks early. Just six months after the death of his sister. He was not only born early but also very sick and I was told he wouldn't live through the night and that I should make arrangements. But, after a miracle healing blessing from my bishopric, he lived to be twenty years old, then died as a victim of suicide on his sisters birthday.
After his death I developed some serious heath problems and was unable to work or hold down a job. One of my remaining two children was in jail, the other was fighting wounded in Afghanistan, my house was robbed and I lost everything of importance; and with a list of troubles too long to mention, I'll just say all of this was happening during the same eight month period of time. These are my most profound Spiritual Whirlwinds........
I know many of you like me, have or are suffering, maybe even from some of the same struggles that I've mentioned. And we know that these will not be the end for in coming to this life we must be tried and perfected before returning home. But we can take great comfort in the teachings of our leaders and as I ponder upon the words they give us I am reminded that I am not alone and there is purpose to this madness.
Elder Neil L Anderson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tells a story in his April 2014 General Conference talk that really hits home for me on this subject. He talks about Trees, those that grow up in windy environments and how they become stronger. He said that as the winds whip around young saplings forces inside the tree do two things. First, they stimulate roots to grow faster, and second the forces in the tree make the trunk and branches thicker and more flexible to the pressure of the wind. These roots and branches then protect the tree from the winds that are sure to return.
As he told this story I likened myself to the tree, for winds continue to whip around me yet for some reason I am still standing. And then Elder Anderson reminds me that we are more precious to God than a tree, we are his sons and daughters, and he made our spirits strong and capable of being resilient to the whirlwinds in life, which in return increase our spiritual strength and prepares us for the years ahead.
He tells us to remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer that we must build our foundation that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, his shafts in the whirlwind, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon us, it shall have no power to drag us down because of the rock upon which we are built. This is the safety in the whirlwind.
Though the whirlwinds I've spoken of are from my adult years, most of my youth was also spent in hail storms that did beat down upon me. As a young family we had many struggles, some very serious. I grew up from the age of 8-13 in Southeast Missouri where the word Mormon was dangerous and I was the only youth in a tiny branch. I struggled greatly in school and was a victim of bullying until the tenth grade and was in five different schools my eight grade year because my dad was part of the Navy. When I finally settled in Grand Prairie, I was 15 and I began to learn that the one thing that would save me from the struggles of my youth was the gospel of Jesus Christ. I had to have faith that it was all for a greater purpose and because I had begun to develop that faith at a young age, when the winds hit as an adult I was able to have hope and like the tree had strong roots that protected me.
In living through those whirlwinds as I built more firmly upon the rock of my redeemer, as I treasured up and learned more of his teachings, as I tried more diligently to follow his example and live his commandments and embrace more deeply his love, his mercy, his grace and the powerful gifts of the atonement, I have come to see these whirlwinds for what they are. They are part of my life to help me grow, and to strengthen me, thus I do rejoice in the Lord and find great gratitude for my experiences and what I've learned.
It is my prayer that the Lord will touch all of our hearts that we may receive all he has to offer us and that we may all be strengthened for the coming times, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
Having said that, I moved to a new town and ward (I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we congregate in what is called wards www.lds.org) and it didn't take the bishopric long to latch on to fresh troops and my husband and I were called upon to speak.(In our church we do not have a preacher that speaks and teaches; rather members of the congregation are asked in advance each week by the bishopric who officiates, to prepare a "sermon" if you will, on an assigned topic and speak to the congregation.)
I like to post the talks that I have given here so that I have them in my journal and also so maybe someone else might like them. The topic I was given was to introduce and tell about myself integrated with the subject of Spiritual Whirlwinds. But, I'm going to skip the introduction part of myself because you reading already know me, you probably know most of the rest too but maybe there will also be something that will stand out and touch your heart. for me this is not one of my best but I did my best and I tried to keep in short because my husband has stressed recently that I talk too much.....I pray that anyone reading will have the spirit of the Lord with them and will receive the messages he has in store, and I welcome any comments or thoughts that you might have or want to share.
Thank you for reading!! See you next time! Love from Dixie!
I was a convert to the church at the age of eight. I know it sounds strange for that to happen at such a young age, But back in the day my daddy was a hardcore Texan. And being so hardcore in 1973 he landed himself in a bar fight in Houston and was left for dead. His daddy, the Mormon pioneer of our family, had converted a few years prior and upon rescuing his son, had a good ole southern come to Jesus meetin' and my dad was baptized shortly thereafter. What was really wonderful about this crazy event was that my dad, really believed in the message and teachings he'd received and when returning home to us, shared the gospel with my mom and a few months later we were baptized. This decision that he made to become a member of the church and to share it with my mom would be the one thing that would save me in the coming years, for no matter what would happen, I had a foundation.
I say that last statement because I consider myself to be a connoisseur of of trials and troubles. You see there have been times in my life that my mind was not opened, I didn't have good understanding of what I needed so my spirit, at times, fell in places that were indeed unimaginable. With temptations and sin on the rise and becoming more, and more socially acceptable; I having not prepared myself well, fell prey to the adversary and my choices created terrible storms. The kind that can uproot one from spiritual foundations yet, because I did have a gospel knowledge, I learned of the power of the Atonement and with true repentance I became converted, I became a new person, my mind became enlightened and I survived the storm. However, not all of my trials were of my own making. Some were do to the poor choices of others, and some were just because this is mortal life. Some examples are when my oldest daughter died in a playground accident at the age of three, and with this event the choices of others followed when my parents divorced and became inactive. My dad went back to drinking and the family was torn apart on many levels and still suffers with the inactivity of my mom and siblings.
I too had a lot of trouble as a grieving newly pregnant mother, and because I was having so much trouble, my middle son was born six weeks early. Just six months after the death of his sister. He was not only born early but also very sick and I was told he wouldn't live through the night and that I should make arrangements. But, after a miracle healing blessing from my bishopric, he lived to be twenty years old, then died as a victim of suicide on his sisters birthday.
After his death I developed some serious heath problems and was unable to work or hold down a job. One of my remaining two children was in jail, the other was fighting wounded in Afghanistan, my house was robbed and I lost everything of importance; and with a list of troubles too long to mention, I'll just say all of this was happening during the same eight month period of time. These are my most profound Spiritual Whirlwinds........
I know many of you like me, have or are suffering, maybe even from some of the same struggles that I've mentioned. And we know that these will not be the end for in coming to this life we must be tried and perfected before returning home. But we can take great comfort in the teachings of our leaders and as I ponder upon the words they give us I am reminded that I am not alone and there is purpose to this madness.
Elder Neil L Anderson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tells a story in his April 2014 General Conference talk that really hits home for me on this subject. He talks about Trees, those that grow up in windy environments and how they become stronger. He said that as the winds whip around young saplings forces inside the tree do two things. First, they stimulate roots to grow faster, and second the forces in the tree make the trunk and branches thicker and more flexible to the pressure of the wind. These roots and branches then protect the tree from the winds that are sure to return.
As he told this story I likened myself to the tree, for winds continue to whip around me yet for some reason I am still standing. And then Elder Anderson reminds me that we are more precious to God than a tree, we are his sons and daughters, and he made our spirits strong and capable of being resilient to the whirlwinds in life, which in return increase our spiritual strength and prepares us for the years ahead.
He tells us to remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer that we must build our foundation that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, his shafts in the whirlwind, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon us, it shall have no power to drag us down because of the rock upon which we are built. This is the safety in the whirlwind.
Though the whirlwinds I've spoken of are from my adult years, most of my youth was also spent in hail storms that did beat down upon me. As a young family we had many struggles, some very serious. I grew up from the age of 8-13 in Southeast Missouri where the word Mormon was dangerous and I was the only youth in a tiny branch. I struggled greatly in school and was a victim of bullying until the tenth grade and was in five different schools my eight grade year because my dad was part of the Navy. When I finally settled in Grand Prairie, I was 15 and I began to learn that the one thing that would save me from the struggles of my youth was the gospel of Jesus Christ. I had to have faith that it was all for a greater purpose and because I had begun to develop that faith at a young age, when the winds hit as an adult I was able to have hope and like the tree had strong roots that protected me.
In living through those whirlwinds as I built more firmly upon the rock of my redeemer, as I treasured up and learned more of his teachings, as I tried more diligently to follow his example and live his commandments and embrace more deeply his love, his mercy, his grace and the powerful gifts of the atonement, I have come to see these whirlwinds for what they are. They are part of my life to help me grow, and to strengthen me, thus I do rejoice in the Lord and find great gratitude for my experiences and what I've learned.
It is my prayer that the Lord will touch all of our hearts that we may receive all he has to offer us and that we may all be strengthened for the coming times, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
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