Sunday, October 30, 2011
I Have Seen a Miracle
I have seen a miracle. A friend of mine's son died a week ago. Through modern medicine and the power of God he is alive today. After he died his heart was shocked back into working, but it was only working at 10%. His organ were shutting down and they had to cool down his body and then warm it up again. My friend was told first that they didn't expect him to make it. After they cooled his body down she was told that they didn't expect him to wake up. A friend of the boy, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, asked him if he would like a priesthood blessing. He said yes. I talked to my friend a couple hours before the blessing, she is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was so worried. Her son was awake, but was hooked up to tubes and monitors. She didn't know what was going to happen and she was so worried. The next day I got a quick note saying her son was talking and then the following day she told me he was going to be released the next day. I saw them on Saturday. He was walking, talking and acting like a normal 19 year-old boy. I wanted to cry happy tears. Me and my family were all praying for my friend and her son. I know there were many others praying as well. The doctors and nurses have never seen anything like it. His heart went from 10% to 100% in less than 5 days. He has suffered some memory loss, and they are still monitoring him, but his is alive and functioning. He can sit and visit with friends and family, he was playing with my daughter. It is a miracle, and I am humbled to see it.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday's Miracles
It's Monday again! I'm undecided on my feelings for Monday. I love that after a crazy weekend it's a chance to jump back into routines again, but it also means that I have to get back to doing laundry.
1. Shovels. Out here in the country they are especially useful
2. Straws. Did you know you can make a whistle out of a straw? My mom taught me that. I have not taught my children that yet, though.
3. Aunts and Uncles. My kids love theirs, and I am grateful for all they do for my kids.
4. Canning. I love that I can preserve my summer bounty to eat during the cold winter months. I also love that it tastes so much better than stuff I buy from a store.
5. Clear Vinyl. We put a map on our table and used some clear vinyl as a tablecloth. The kids love looking for countries and seeing the different flags of each country.
1. Shovels. Out here in the country they are especially useful
2. Straws. Did you know you can make a whistle out of a straw? My mom taught me that. I have not taught my children that yet, though.
3. Aunts and Uncles. My kids love theirs, and I am grateful for all they do for my kids.
4. Canning. I love that I can preserve my summer bounty to eat during the cold winter months. I also love that it tastes so much better than stuff I buy from a store.
5. Clear Vinyl. We put a map on our table and used some clear vinyl as a tablecloth. The kids love looking for countries and seeing the different flags of each country.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
My Right to Think and Believe
A friend posted a random question on Facebook that got me thinking. He asked if people believed free thinking would send them to Hell. A little off the wall question but the short discussion that followed got me thinking.
My basic answer to that question is no, I don't believe that thinking something through, or studying it will send you to Hell. I do believe that our brains were given to us for us to use. We should study things out and decide if they are good or bad. That being said, we are responsible for our thoughts. If we know something is bad and we continue to think about it that could have a negative impact on our salvation.
It was also asked why were some religious people taking it WAY too seriously? I don't have an answer to that. I know what I believe. I would consider myself a religious person. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, sometimes referred to as "Mormons". I go to church every Sunday. As a family we pray over meals and read scriptures together at night before kneeling as a family for prayer again. I attend our temples as often as I can and quite often participate in week day church activities. Yes, I would classify myself as religious. That being said, I realize that not all good people believe the same as I do. I know many people who would classify themselves as more spiritual than religious. These are good people. I believe in what our 11th Article of Faith says,
Of course I would be overjoyed if everyone in the whole world decided to join my church. I would love for the world to hold to the same virtues and standards and beliefs that I have, but that isn't the case. I will defend my beliefs and stand up for the things that I think are right and stand against the things I think are wrong. If someone tries to take away my freedoms I will defend that.
Case in point. A while ago there was a bill on a state's ballet that would legalize marijuana. Now, I am not a supporter of any addicting substances. I don't drink or smoke. For those reasons, I would have voted against the measure, but I can understand why people would vote for it. I don't believe that would have taken away any of my freedoms unless by passing it grocery stores that sell tobacco would also be required to also sell marijuana and I didn't want to do that. If it was telling me I would be punished for not agreeing to sell something I didn't believe in, that would be taking away my freedoms.
There has been a lot of discussion on Proposition 8 from California. As with the stance of my faith, I don't believe homosexuality is right. I grant that those feelings and urges are real for a number of people, but I still don't agree with it. I may believe that a relationship is wrong without believe that the people in the relationship are bad people. Going along with the above quote, I believe that people may think and choose according to the dictates of their own conscience, but please don't punish me for disagreeing with you. I don't care who you have a relationship with. I do care that you want me to have to accept it as okay and normal. If the state wants to accept such unions as valid, fine, but please don't make my church perform the union if we don't believe in it.
In summary to the discussion, we should all use our minds and intellect to think about and ponder issues. We should study it out in our minds and then act according to our conscience. We should also realize that others may come to a different conclusions, they come from a different background and may have different information. Above all, we should realize that all people should be treated with love and respect.
A quote a friend once told me in college really stuck with me. It was something like this "Please don't judge me because I choose to sin differently than you do". It's true. We are all sinners.
My basic answer to that question is no, I don't believe that thinking something through, or studying it will send you to Hell. I do believe that our brains were given to us for us to use. We should study things out and decide if they are good or bad. That being said, we are responsible for our thoughts. If we know something is bad and we continue to think about it that could have a negative impact on our salvation.
It was also asked why were some religious people taking it WAY too seriously? I don't have an answer to that. I know what I believe. I would consider myself a religious person. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, sometimes referred to as "Mormons". I go to church every Sunday. As a family we pray over meals and read scriptures together at night before kneeling as a family for prayer again. I attend our temples as often as I can and quite often participate in week day church activities. Yes, I would classify myself as religious. That being said, I realize that not all good people believe the same as I do. I know many people who would classify themselves as more spiritual than religious. These are good people. I believe in what our 11th Article of Faith says,
"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
Of course I would be overjoyed if everyone in the whole world decided to join my church. I would love for the world to hold to the same virtues and standards and beliefs that I have, but that isn't the case. I will defend my beliefs and stand up for the things that I think are right and stand against the things I think are wrong. If someone tries to take away my freedoms I will defend that.
Case in point. A while ago there was a bill on a state's ballet that would legalize marijuana. Now, I am not a supporter of any addicting substances. I don't drink or smoke. For those reasons, I would have voted against the measure, but I can understand why people would vote for it. I don't believe that would have taken away any of my freedoms unless by passing it grocery stores that sell tobacco would also be required to also sell marijuana and I didn't want to do that. If it was telling me I would be punished for not agreeing to sell something I didn't believe in, that would be taking away my freedoms.
There has been a lot of discussion on Proposition 8 from California. As with the stance of my faith, I don't believe homosexuality is right. I grant that those feelings and urges are real for a number of people, but I still don't agree with it. I may believe that a relationship is wrong without believe that the people in the relationship are bad people. Going along with the above quote, I believe that people may think and choose according to the dictates of their own conscience, but please don't punish me for disagreeing with you. I don't care who you have a relationship with. I do care that you want me to have to accept it as okay and normal. If the state wants to accept such unions as valid, fine, but please don't make my church perform the union if we don't believe in it.
In summary to the discussion, we should all use our minds and intellect to think about and ponder issues. We should study it out in our minds and then act according to our conscience. We should also realize that others may come to a different conclusions, they come from a different background and may have different information. Above all, we should realize that all people should be treated with love and respect.
A quote a friend once told me in college really stuck with me. It was something like this "Please don't judge me because I choose to sin differently than you do". It's true. We are all sinners.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Monday's Miracles
1. Babies. They are so cute and sweet and innocent. A good reminder of how precious life is.
2. A living prophet to guide us, encourage us, and teach us.
3. Heaters. I'm so glad I don't have to rely solely on fire to keep me warm.
4. Electric lights. Seriously something I take for granted way too often.
5. My vacuum. I seriously love that I have one that works. Since my husband and kids love all this carpet it's good to have a vacuum, especially when you have inside pets.
2. A living prophet to guide us, encourage us, and teach us.
3. Heaters. I'm so glad I don't have to rely solely on fire to keep me warm.
4. Electric lights. Seriously something I take for granted way too often.
5. My vacuum. I seriously love that I have one that works. Since my husband and kids love all this carpet it's good to have a vacuum, especially when you have inside pets.
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