No Greater Protection

I want to start off with saying I am so so sorry for not posting on this blog in literally FOREVER. (Translation: 3 months).  With Girl's Camp, 2 Family Reunions across the country, marching band camp and the start of school I have been so very busy.  I promise I'll try to do better now :)

At last October's general conference, Richard G. Scott said:
"Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life."

Let's think about that again:

no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life 

Doesn't that coincide with what we all desire in life? Wouldn't we all love to be protected from sin and temptation? Is this not an essential step in our eternal progression?

Family history work is so empowering that there is no greater protection.

Last night I decided to read from a binder containing some journals and family history records from my mom's side of the family.  It was so much fun taking a step back into the past and learning about what life was life for my ancestors.  They didn't care about some of the insignificant things that concern us today.  They were truly concerned with their families. If they had food to eat and roof over their head, they were happy. 

 Some of the stories made me laugh.  Others were so heartbreaking that I wanted to cry.  But each one made me feel a greater connection to those who came before me.  

 My challenge to you is to start.  Start somewhere.   Start anywhere.  Read a family journal.  Index names.  Go on family search.org.  Prepare family names to go to the temple.  Go to the temple.  Whatever it is, I have a testimony that it will give you protection in this life.  It doesn't have to be a dreaded experience.  It can be an amazing, empowering, exciting experience if that's what you make it to be.   
 

 

To end I want to share one last quote from Elder Scott:

"This work is a spiritual work, a monumental effort of cooperation on both sides of the veil, where help is given in both directions. Anywhere you are in the world, with prayer, faith, determination, diligence, and some sacrifice, you can make a powerful contribution. Begin now. I promise you that the Lord will help you find a way. And it will make you feel wonderful."




 

Through His Eyes

Yesterday I was babysitting for a family with three little boys and a baby girl. The kids were really good for me, but, being little boys, of course had their moments.  One kid decided to continuously turn up the volume of the movie really loud, while another tried to eat everything he could get his hands on.  It was after the kids had camped out in the living room after Friday movie night that I started to put things in perspective.

1. We all make mistakes.
Yes, it is frustrating when a child doesn't immediately do what you ask, but don't we do the same thing? Our Heavenly Father gives us commandments but we are not perfect.  In fact, sometimes it takes us a long time before we do what we know is right. I think Jeffrey R. Holland summed it up perfectly.

 

2. Being a mother is a ton of work, but so worth it.

 I will never truly know until I become a mother myself, but from my experience babysitting multiple families over the years, I have started to pick up on what a parent goes through for their child. Each time I care for children, I gain a deeper gratitude for my mom and the endless hours she has spent raising me, making my dinner, doing my laundry, driving my everywhere, buying me clothes, signing papers,etc. The list could go on forever.  Even though being a mother is such a huge responsibility, I know it will be such a blessing to me. I saw this quote on Pinterest the other day and wanted to share it because it works so perfectly.

 

3.  Our Heavenly LOVES us, despite those mistakes that we make.

 As I put a blanket on top of each child and watched them slowly drift to sleep, I thought about how much my Heavenly Father truly loves me. No, they weren't my kids and I have no comprehension of the love a parent must feel for their own child. I do know, that no matter what I do, He will always be there for me.  And because Christ loves me with a perfect love, I can repent and return back to live with them again.  

So, to all the mothers out there.. Please don't ever feel that you are not enough because in the eyes of your child you are SuperMom.

And to everyone out there.. Know that you are loved with a pure and perfect love. Nothing you could do can ever take that away.