Benevolence

I'm working on the Christ-like attribute of being kind. This week my husband got me thinking that what I thought was being kind is more acts of service. I looked up the definition of kindness this what I found.

adjective, kinder, kindest.

1. of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person:

a kind and loving person.

2.having, showing, or proceeding from benevolence:

kind words. (I'm going to work on saying kind words this coming week)

3. indulgent, considerate, or helpful; humane (often followed by to):

to be kind to animals.

4. mild; gentle; clement:

kind weather

Then I found this talk called: "Remember This: Kindness Begins With Me"

by Mary N. Cook

Here are the highlights of that talk for me. 

“When I make Jesus Christ the center of my life, my day goes better,

I’m kinder to my loved ones, and I am filled with joy.”

“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent,virtuous, and in doing good to all men.” This beautiful list of Christlike attributes, found in the thirteenth article of faith, will prepare us for temple blessings and eternal life.

I would like to focus on just one of these words—benevolent.

Benevolent is a lovely word that we don’t hear very often. Its roots are Latin, and it means “to wish someone well.”  To be benevolent is to be kind,well meaning, and charitable. Many of you learned about the idea of benevolence when you were in Primary and committed this song to memory:

I want to be kind to ev’ryone,

For that is right, you see.

So I say to myself, “Remember this:

Kindness begins with me.”

Our Savior taught us about and lived a benevolent life.Jesus loved all and He served all. Centering our lives on Jesus Christ will help us acquire this attribute of benevolence. For us to develop these same Christlike attributes, we must learn about the Savior and “follow in His ways.” From the parable of the good Samaritan we learn that we are to love all.

A counselor in a bishopric recently shared an experience that teaches how important each neighbor is. While looking out over the congregation, he saw a child with a large box of crayons filled with a variety of different hues. As he looked at the many members of his ward, he was reminded that, like the crayons, they were very similar but each person was also very unique. He remarked: “The shade they brought to the ward and the world was all their own. … They had their individual strengths and weaknesses, personal longings, private dreams. But together, they blended into a color wheel of spiritual unity. …

Have you ever felt lonely? Do you notice those who are lonely, living in a black-and-white world? Young women,I’ve watched as you bring your unique color into the lives of others with your smiles, your kind words, or a note of encouragement.

President Thomas S. Monson taught us how to interact with our peers and everyone we meet when he told the young women of the Church, “My precious young sisters, I plead with you to have the courage to refrain from judging and criticizing those around you, as well as the courage to make certain everyone is included and feels loved and valued.” We can follow the example of the good Samaritan and“change the world” of just one person by being benevolent. I promise that if you will extend yourself beyond what is easy to do, you will feel so good inside that kindness will start to become a part of your everyday life. You’ll see that benevolence can bring joy and unity to your home, your class, your ward, and your school. “Remember this: kindness begins with me.”

Sometimes being benevolent is most difficult in our own families. Strong families require effort. “Be cheerful, helpful, and considerate of others. Many problems in the home are created because family members speak and act selfishly or unkindly."

Just in parts I copied from Sister Cook's talk she said benevolent eight times. As I'm working to on my Christlike attribute of being kind this week I'm going to remember Benevolent. In the last paragraph of Sister Cook's talk really hit home to me. I really struggle being kind to my kids at times and my husband. As I work to be kinder this week I want to see if others attitudes change as well.

Friends

FRIENDS

Through out this post I put pictures of some of my friends. However, I'm bummed that there aren't more pictures. I realized I need to take more pictures of those important friends in my life.

Kristen, Jeanette, Nicole, Brittany

Friends have always been important to me even when I was young. When I was in the 5th grade one of six best friends I had that live in my neighborhood was moving. She was moving all the way from Provo to Springville. I remember thinking that was so far a way, but I wasn't going to stop me from being friends. I must admit our mom's were amazing for driving us back and forth from each others houses. Once I turned 16 years old I was able to start driving myself out to her house. We are still good friends today. 

I have many situations where I don't see certain friends anymore on weekly base but I make the time and effort to keep connected with them because, their friendship means a lot to me. 

Sunday Dinner at the Moores and Katelyn

Sarah, Jason Priestly, Sif
at Jason Priestly book signing

Visiting one of six best friend
from childhood in Brooklyn, NY

My two girls have best friends that are sisters and even though we moved away to California for two years we kept in touch. Whenever we were in town we made sure they had a few playdates together. Now that we are back we aren't within walking distance of them but, we (mothers) feel like their friendship is important, so we make time for them see each other.  Our schedules are crazy so the other mom was able to get her daughter into the same gymnastic class as mine so, they could see each other once a week. I was so touched by that and really appreciated her effort to wanting our girls to stay close friends.

Other hand my two boys have a friend they have known since they were 4 and 5 years old. My boys have tried to stay friends with him over the three moves we have made. Have introduced their friend to an online game that they could play together so, they could stay in connected. Now that we are back we are about 20 minute drive from this friend. It's been really hard on my boys since we have been back because, we have been back for a month now and they haven't seen their friend. I have tried to set things up but, their friend is always busy with his friends in his neighborhood or cousins. I found myself telling my oldest son that you can't be friends with him anymore and, that you need to make new friends because you will hardly ever see him anymore. 

In the middle is my boys friend.
This was taken back in 2010.

Soul Sister Rachel, from Santa Monica. I don't know what
she is holding but doesn't she make
you want to buy it?

I just realized as I'm writing this how sick to my stomach I am because I said that to my boys.  Especially after how much I friendship mean to me. My oldest son has only had two really good friends in his 12 years of life. One lives miles and miles away and one lives 20 minutes away. I need to figure out a way to help him keep that friendship because it's important to him, so it should be important to me. I think will try talking to this friends mom and see if we can't figure out at least one Saturday month we can get them together. 

Rachel's hubby Josh was my target but
Lyncoln had to jump in.

Ames family won our Crack Off. Emily so mad this is only
picture I have of you and I can't even see you. Emily is another
Soul Sister from Santa Monica 

Notes on Alma 30 in the Book of Mormon

As you can see I like to write notes in my scriptures as I read. In my weekly post on my scripture reading I will be sharing those notes I wrote from one or more chapters. I'm doing this for two reasons, 1. In case something happens to scriptures I can have copy of my notes somewhere else. 2. I get credit for my Book of Mormon class for writing a blog post each week. 

In Chapter 30 this is what is going to happen.

Korihor, the anti-Christ, ridicules Christ, the Atonement, and the spirit of prophecy—He teaches that there is no God, no fall of man, no penalty for sin, and no Christ—Alma testifies that Christ will come and that all things denote there is a God—Korihor demands a sign and is struck dumb—The devil had appeared to Korihor as an angel and taught him what to say—Korihor is trodden down and dies. About 76–74 B.C.

Verse 6 

...Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, concerning the coming of Christ.

We have those kind of people today preaching against what the prophet is teaching. It's men and women that are teaching us to go against what the prophets are telling us, and members are listening and believing what they say is true.

Verse 8

...Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve.

Who do I serve on daily basis? FaceBook because I have been spending too much time on FB I deleted it from my phone. For me personally I was checking first thing I did when I woke up, checking when using the restroom(gross I know!), checking while I'm taking a bath, waiting in the carpool line to pick up kids, waiting at their gymnastic lessons, and then looking at it before I went to bed. It's too much for me. So I decided I only check it on my computer and I set my timer for 15 minutes. I'm addicted to FaceBook so I'm going to try to break that habit.

Verse 15 highlighted

How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.

 

Q. How would you answer those questions if someone asked?

A. Have you seen a million dollars? But you know it's real, same goes for my belief in God.

Verse 17 

...but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.

Wonder if this is how some of T's coworkers feel?

Verse 20

...they were more wise... (This is talking about how this anti-Christ went over to land called Jershon to try to preach against the church and this verse tells they were were more wise then others and didn't believe on his words.)

Would I be more wise? I hope so!

Verse 23

...bind themselves down under the foolish ordinances and performances which are laid down by ancient priests, to usurp power and authority over them, to keep them in ignorance, that they may not lift up their heads, but be brought down according to thy words.

I think family members that have left the church might feel like the church binds them down.

Verses 33-35

33. ...many labors which I have performed in the church, I have never received so much as even one senine for my labor; neither has any of my brethren,...

34. And now, if we do not receive anything for our labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoicings in the joy of our brethren?

35. Then why sayest thou that we preach unto this people to get gain, when thou, of thyself, knowest that we receive no gain?....

We never take money for church service.

Verse 42

...but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God.

How Satan works!

Verse 44

....Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets?....yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

Too, often I will tell Heavenly Father what I want Him to do. I get after my kids for making demands of me and say, "I'm not your maid!" Yet I make demands of Heavenly Father.

Verse 46

...Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed.

Is there hope for our loved ones that are like Korihor? Is there always hope?

Verse 47

...it is better that thy soul should be lost than that thou shouldst be the means of bringing many souls down to destruction, by thy lying and by thy flattering words;....

Those that lead God's children away, will be held accountable for those souls.

Verse 53 

....yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind;

Speaking to our carnal mind

....insomuch that I verily believed that they were true;

How Satan gets us. Tell a lie long enough you believe it.

Verse 60

...thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell.

Does Satan support his followers? No way!

Those are my insights for that chapter. 

Introductions

Hi I'm a mom of 4 kids and we recently moved from CA to UT, and I'm cold all the time now. It doesn't help that we moved in December. The sad thing is we are originally from Utah and only lived in Cali for two years, yet we have become weak to the cold.

We are in bit of limbo while we are trying to close on house and living with my wonderful in-laws. They have been more then great to us but it will be nice to have my own space again. Fingers crossed we will be in our home a week from today but, I'm worried that we won't be. We have had few hiccups with people selling us the house and I'm keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't turn ugly. I hate confrontation and it stress me out when it does happen. Along with buying home I'm back in school now that my youngest is in school all day now.

The main reason I'm doing this blog is for personal journal and to share my insight I get from reading the Book of Mormon each week. That is right I'm a MORMON, and proud to be one, but must admit I haven't always been. It wasn't until I moved out of the Mormon capitol (UT) that I really came to realize how important my religion is to me.