Book of Mormon Reading: Mormon 1-6

What I read:

"Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands . . ." (Moroni 2:2).

What I learned:
The Lord strongly encourages those who hold the priesthood to pray before giving a priesthood blessing.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 12-15

Alma 13 is one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon (Okay, I have a LOT of favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon)!

Today, as I read about the Melchizedek Priesthood, I realized that I need to make God's authority and power a priority in my life!

At first, I thought of the different priesthood ordinances that I bless my life on a regular basis, but then I began to ponder different ways I could give opportunities to the priesthood holders in my life to use their power and authority to bless me and those around them.

This pondering reminded me of an experience I had many years ago.

I visit taught a sister who lived a few houses from me. She was inactive and so was her husband. This woman was very spiritual and dearly loved her children.

One day she called me and shared with me something that was deeply troubling to her. She was very distraught and could not find peace. Of course, the first thing that came to my mind was that she needed to receive a priesthood blessing. Who could give her a blessing? I thought. The bishop? Her home teachers? My husband? I tried to think of some key brethren who could "make a difference" at such a crucial time in her life! I told her I would call her back.

As I searched my mind, the Spirit gently whispered that yes, she did need a blessing, but the person she needed to ask was her husband.

What? He's inactive.

Yet, the Spirit pressed. And the Spirit taught me.

Because I followed the teaching of the Holy Ghost, this dear woman did petition her husband for a blessing and received one.

* * *

God is the Ultimate Planner.

Long before we even came to earth, He took into consideration every. single. detail. of our probationary state.

Individually and collectively.

Even down to our Final Celebration.

God's plan offered us a probationary state. A time to choose. A time to make mistakes. A time to learn from those choices. And, a plan of redemption.

A plan that would bring to pass the resurrection of the dead.

And a plan of repentance.

To make right our wrong choices. To act in faith. And to accept His Son as the Redeemer of the World.

Lucifer, on the other hand, had no plan.

None.

Instead, he wanted to hijack and distort Father's plan, claiming that the details of our earthly lives could be resolved quite easily by merely taking away our agency.

Thus:

God = Preparation = Happiness

Lucifer = No preparation = misery

Giving more meaning to this statement: "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Father's Blessings

For Family Home Evening we had the opportunity to have father's blessings pronounced upon our children as a new school year begins this week.

I am just beginning to understand that this is a BIG, HUGE deal!

For because where I grew up in a home where we just knew that a priesthood blessing from my Dad was always in order at the beginning of every school year. But my husband did not.

In fact, he did not receive one father's blessing for school - ever.

He had never heard of that until we got married, began our little quiver of children and it was time for our oldest to head off to the scary world of kindergarten.

And it was a very new thing for my husband to even think about.

And it was a very good thing for my husband to do.

But tonight, as my husband shared with out children that he never ever had a father's blessing given to him and my sweet children, feeling so sympathetic toward him, I began to think of all the wonderful families I know that for one reason or another don't have that same opportunity.

And while my heart  swelled with immense gratitude for priesthood blessings, it was also filled with a deep sense of longing to fill the void in all those mothers who hope for a blessing for their children, and for all those children who don't even know what they are missing.

But I am sure God is mindful, for He is the Father of all Blessings.

Tidbit Tuesday - Patriarchal Blessings

"Think of this—what does a patriarchal blessing say? Have you ever heard of one which says, 'I am sorry—you’re a loser. Do the best you can on earth, and we’ll see you in about seventy years.' Of course not! And you never will, because of the divine qualities each of God’s children has inherited. A patriarchal blessing is like a road map, a guide, directing you in your walk through life. It identifies your talents and the good things that can be yours."

-Elaine L. Jack

Appendectomy

Here are some of the things that happened which made my husband’s SURPRISE appendicitis-turned-appendectomy into a series of God’ tender mercies for our family for the past 24 hours . . .

1. The hospital was just 12 minutes away from home, so I could stay the night with my husband at the hospital and still get up to drive the boys to school.

2. My awesome parents came - at a drop of a hat (well, really a phone call) - to substitute parent for a night. That means they saw to it that my children were fed dinner, got bathed, went to bed on time, arose early enough for scriptures, ate breakfast, and were ready for school by the time I whizzed in to pick them up!

3. Our home teacher who also fronts as the Ward YM’s President, called my husband to let him know the logistics of Mutual, only to be informed by our oldest about his Dad being in the hospital.

4. Which, in turn, led to a call at the hospital from our wonderful Bishop, checking on our family who has somehow managed to make some surprise visits to the hospital since we moved here ten months ago!

5. An intern, who walked into our room to assess the condition of my post-op husband, turned out to be the husband of a sister missionary I shared a room with in the MTC decades ago. Today was their 20th happy wedding anniversary!

6. In calling a dear friend of mine, she willingly to sent a message to her husband to visit mine before we left the hospital. (Whose husband, btw, is a dear friend of my husband – although it sounds odd saying that about men, but since I don’t know what men say about “dear friends” that’s just the way I’m gonna put it).

7. Great doctors and great nurses who did everything possible to try to make my husband try to get over his splitting headache, stabbing abdominal pain and out-of-control nausea.

8. And finally - but not finally, because I really believe that God’s tender mercies will continue on - A priesthood blessing before our hospital journey (given in the what would be “noisy hours of the day”), quieted my children for just a few moments as we united our faith for a man whom we all love. Who came home a little bent over and a lot slower in stride, but come home he did!

Thank you Heavenly Father

for all the tender mercies I was able to see,

and forgive me for not seeing all the others

that you sent just for me.