Reflections for a New Year

It's a new year and I'm hoping for 2012 to be a new start. I have never been big on celebrating New Years Eve. Maybe it is just that December 31st is just not the time I tend to think about it being a "New Year." Just because it is the date that our paper calendar on the wall ends and we have to remember for the next 2 months what the correct year is on our checks doesn't make it significant for me.

I do like to take the time to reflect on the past year and January 2012 is becoming a month of cleanup and catching up, as well as getting some rest. I also have some goals, but really don't want to jinks them. I will definitely be revisiting them in a few weeks, but for now, I am going to tie up loose ends on my blog this month.

2011 was definitely a rough year for me. I was in the hospital 2 hours from home for 60 days of the year from the complications of my kidney transplant in July of 2010, was hooked up to an IV through May, and then had a fight with Guillian-Barre syndrome, which I wouldn't wish on anyone. I have been blessed that the second half of 2011 went much smoother and have been home. I was also able through the whole year to work a full 40 hours, and November 30th marked the final time I needed to apply for my PG license exam.

I completed the Value Experiences for Knowledge and Choice & Accountability, have 3 more Value Experiences to write up for Good Works, and I am working on finishing the Old Testament so I can start the Book of Mormon for both Sunday School and for the Virtue value of the Young Women's Progress. I also have been working over the past 2 years on the Value Projects and I am hoping to finish and post some of the write ups for those.

So lots to keep me busy and good things to look forward to in 2012.

Serving through Church (GW VE3)

In the church we have a number of opportunities to serve others. When we are baptized, we make a covenant to "bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things..."(Mosiah 18:8-9)

One of the ways we do this is through Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching. In the church, members are paired up with a companion. The priesthood pair up and visit the families of the ward while the ladies visit each other once a month. We bring a spiritual message and check on the needs of the individuals or families we are assigned.

The church also has periodic service projects and opportunities to serve both within the church and the community as a whole. When there is a major disaster, the church members are there helping to clean up and bring needed supplies to the area.

We also serve through our callings. Depending on the calling, our influence and ability to serve can vary. Nevertheless, we are able to teach and inspire those we are asked to serve through the spirit.

Service in our Families (GW VE2)

It is important to serve those that are the closest to us. And not only serve them but encourage them in positive endeavors.

A week and a half ago, we surprised my in-laws by decorating there house for Christmas. And this week, we went to a concert at Chiles and helped to support not only family but other youth from church and the community as a whole.

Sometimes, though, it is the small things that can make a large impact. Whether it is cooking a dinner when your spouse has had a rough day, playing with a child, or just listening to a friend, random acts of kindness become small reflections of our love for each other and help us to grow closer to each other.

We also must learn to ask for help as well as unselfishly help when asked and to be patient with others. We were placed in families for a reason. The primary one is to help us learn and grow. But these relationships will also follow us in the next lifetime, so even if we don't understand each other right now, we need to learn to also accept our personality differences and help each other progress.

Charity (Good Works VE1)

Charity is the pure love of Christ. I don't think it is a coincidence that it is also used as a synonym for service. The Savior taught us to love one another and to serve one another.

King Benjamin teaches that when we are in the service of our fellow man, we are in the service of our God. (Mosiah 2:17)

President Monson last night during the Christmas Devotional spoke of unselfish service as he recalled the story "The Mansion" by Henry Van Dyke.

1 Corinthians 13 is one of the most well known scriptures, and thought it would be an interesting exercise to read it by thinking about service and serving others.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Standards for Better Living (C&A VE6)

There are standards that the LDS Church encourages its youth to have. These standards include dressing modestly, remaining sexually pure, choosing uplifting media and avoiding offensive material (including pornography and profanity). Other standards include being responsible for the consequences of our actions, having gratitude, continually learning, building strong family relationships, and having friends with similar values, and being an example to others through service and faith.

These standards are found in the "For the Strength of Youth" Pamphlet. The first presidency says this about the standards in this pamphlet:

"We promise that as you keep these standards and live by the truths in the scriptures, you will be able to do your life’s work with greater wisdom and skill and bear trials with greater courage. You will have the help of the Holy Ghost. You will feel good about yourself and will be a positive influence in the lives of others. You will be worthy to go to the temple to receive holy ordinances. These blessings and many more can be yours."

These standards reflect the standards that are required to remain worthy to become a member of the church as well as to enter the temple and receive the blessings therein. On of these standards is following the Word of Wisdom, found in D&C 89. The Word of Wisdom tells us to avoid alcohol, coffee, tea and all substances that may be addictive, to eat meats sparingly, and to eat plenty of healthy fruits, grains and herbs in their season with a spirit of gratitude.

D&C 18-21 promises us that "all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen."

Even though I am a convert, I never really drank alcohol and coffee, and I believe I am healthier because of it and it has made my transplants much easier. Before my last transplant, I was able to also get in better shape and lost 10 pounds. I have since gained that back, but it helped me to recover faster from the surgery. I also know I can do it again and I am working right now on eating better and getting stronger.

After fighting CMV and Guilliame-Barre Syndrome, it has been difficult to do, but I have slowly been getting my strength back. I am just taking my vitamins, trying to watch what I eat, and exercising a little at a time. I hope in 6 months, I will be a little bit lighter and have less blood pressure meds to have to take.

Habits for Wise Choices (C&A VE5)

We are told to not only read the scriptures, but to really study them and take them in. "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do" (2 Nephi 32:3).

And through "feasting" on the scriptures, we can gain wisdom. Heavenly Father will not just give us all the answers, though. We must ponder it in our hearts and pray about it. He expects us to be able to make a concerted effort make an educated decision and then bring it to him.

"...behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong;..." (D&C 9:8-9)

My patriarchal blessing tells me to read my scriptures and to include the recent words of the latter-day prophets. It also reminds me to say my prayers, and to do the things I should be doing. I haven't been the best at scripture reading or saying my personal prayers, but Bryan and I always pray together and we are trying to get better everyday.

Being in the hospital, I thought would make it easier to read my scriptures, but it didn't. Now that I'm out and doing better, I'm definitely trying to start making better habits. Ultimately, I know that having good habits and being in the right places can lead to having the Spirit with us. And having the Spirit with us can help us when we do have the big decisions to make in our lives.

The Influence of the Holy Ghost (C&A VE4)

We all are able to be touched by the power of the Holy Ghost. After we are baptized, though, we are able to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. This gift allows us to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost if we live worthy.

It is through the power of the Holy Ghost that we can gain a testimony of the gospel, and as Moroni at the end of the Book of Mormon teaches us, "...when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:4-5)

I have prayed and received a testimony of not only the Book of Mormon, but of the truths that I have learned from reading it as well as the other works of scriptures. I know that the gospel has been restored in its fullness and that the heavens are open. Personal revelation is very real through the Spirit. He not only can warn us and give us inspiration but is a witness of truth. It is through this truth that we can find peace.

John 16:13 says, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

The one place I feel the Spirit the strongest is at the temple. There is a peace there that can't be found anywhere else. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). The Spirit speaks to us all differently, and if we are able to put our own thought aside for a few brief moments and listen, sometimes we can hear that still small voice of the Comforter.