Parker's costume

I think Parker's costume is just awesome.  He makes me laugh with his funny poses.

A talk on Strengthening families and homes

I was assigned as 1st counselor in the Stake RS to give a talk in my Ward today.  I had already given two talks in two other wards. Those talks were on visiting teaching, I made some minor changes.  It was amazing how I felt I needed to change them, the Lord knows the people and I could feel how I needed to make those changes.  I was going to give the talk on visiting teaching in my ward but one day I woke up and had the thought in my head that I was not supposed to give that talk, that I needed to talk on something else.  I started thinking about what I should speak on and then one of the purposes of Relief Society came to my mind.  I had already written about this in my blog not too long ago, about Elder Bednar's talk on conversion.  I write all my talks because I am not one of those people who can get up there and give a talk with just notes.  I am glad though that I write them because this talk is on my parents conversion story and it is perfect for my family history.  I can honestly say that I loved giving this talk, writing it and giving it has truly strengthened me! The Lord knows us and he knew I needed to give this talk and probably it was more for me than for my ward, to remind me of the example of my parents and how strong they were in the gospel.  I hope my children understand how strong their grandparents were, how hard it must have been to change their lives and yet they did it and never looked back.  I hope that my grandchildren and our posterity understand the sacrifices that were made so that we can be an eternal family. 

Not too long ago I had a dream.  I have been working on doing the temple work on many of my family members, most of them on my dad's side.  I was dreaming that I was walking on some sort of porch in front of some building and there were steps down from the porch, leading to a path. I was standing in front of the steps looking out to the path and there were people gathered there, in front of the building.  I looked down and saw my dad in the middle of the crowd smiling at me.  I went down the steps and gave him a hug.  It was so real!!  He then left. No words were said just a big hug.  I know he is watching over me and that he is happy with the work I am doing and that he is helping me along with my mom.  I still have not seen my mom, but I felt her presence in the temple and I knew she was there standing next to me!!!  I could not see her but I could feel her!!

  Good morning brothers and sisters.  I am happy to be here and for the opportunity that I have to speak to you this day, in my home ward.

            As I was pondering about what I should say today, I had the feeling that I should speak on one of the purposes of Relief Society.  So, today I am speaking about:  Strengthening families and homes. 

            I have been concerned with this for quite some time now.  I have been thinking a lot about “How I can do better than I am doing now to strengthen myself and my family.”  I have been taking a personal inventory of what I have been doing and how I can improve.  I have been thinking about how I can teach my children to be better prepared for when they face the temptations of the world we are living in, and how they can be better prepared to go on their mission.  Lately our family home evenings have been centered on gospel principles and strengthening their testimonies of Christ, because I want them to be strong and ready for the temptations and trials they will have to face.  As most of you know, I have 5 kids.  My 3 oldest are girls.  When the girls were younger, we did not have to deal with the internet.  Most people did not have cell phones, like we do now.  They had their struggles, but without the additional influence of the internet and cell phones.  My two youngest are boys, and the world is different now than it was, when their sisters were younger.

             Because I have been so concerned with this, when I heard Elder Bednar’s talk during General Conference, I felt as though he was speaking to me.  He said “Testimony alone is not and will not be enough to protect us in the latter day storm of darkness and evil in which we are living.” To me those were powerful words.  He said “Testimony is important and necessary but not sufficient to provide the spiritual strength and protection we need.  Some members of the church with testimonies have wavered and fallen away.  Their spiritual knowledge and commitment did not measure up to the challenges they faced.  The powerful combination of testimony and conversion unto the Lord produces firmness and steadfastness and provides spiritual protection.”

            Being steadfast means to be immovable, constant, dedicated, devoted, loyal, faithful, good, steady and true.  I want my family to be converted, to be firm and steadfast. 

          In a talk given by Sister Julie B. Beck she said that “In order to do our part as women under the Lord’s plan we must stand strong and immovable in faith, strong and immovable in family and strong and immovable in relief.” We do this as we, make and keep covenants with Him; are worthy and worship in His temples; Study the doctrines in His scriptures and the words of the prophets; Qualify for, recognize, and follow the Holy Ghost; Share and defend His gospel; Participate in sincere personal and family prayer; Have family home evening; Live principles of self-reliance and provident living.

            Now more than ever we need to stand strong and immovable, we need to teach our families to be strong and defend the gospel of Jesus Christ.

            In the Book of Alma chapters 17 to 26 we read about the missionary work of the sons of Mosiah and their companions and how the Lamanites are converted to the Lord.  We read of the conversion of Lamoni and his household, the conversion of his father, the king of the Lamanites and many other Lamanites. Ammon and his brethren went from city to city to preach the word of God and thousands were converted. Thousands of Lamanites came to believe in the traditions of the Nephites, and their prophecies, and had an awareness of their own sins.  Upon hearing the truth and feeling of the Spirit, they repented and were converted.  Those that were converted never did fall away.  They became so righteous that they laid down their weapons of war never to pick them up again.

            When I read this story in the Book of Mormon, I think of the story of my parent’s conversion.  My parents, my brother and I, were baptized when I was 8 years old.  Before they were baptized, my parents did not belong to any church.  They enjoyed entertaining and often had gatherings and parties at our home.  My parents were good people but did not have the gospel in their lives.  My uncle and aunt had been members of the church for a couple of years.  They invited my parents to go to church a number of times, but they refused. They allowed my brother to go with them.  They took me once but I was too little and they never took me again.  My dad had an alcohol and tobacco problem.  My dad developed emphysema and his doctor told him that he needed to quit smoking, or he would not live to see his children grow up.  At this point he became depressed about his life and felt he needed to change but did not know how. My mom seeing him like this told him to read from the Bible.  He read it and prayed.  I am not sure how long it was after he prayed, that the missionaries came to our home.  When my dad opened the door he told the missionaries “Come in, I have been waiting for you.”  That evening we started the discussions.  I remember vividly on the night the missionaries taught the lesson on the word of wisdom, they were probably a bit hesitant on this subject, the Elders taught my dad truth, they taught him that he needed to obey the word of wisdom.  They took his alcohol with his consent out to the gutter and dumped it.  They then took a match and lit it on fire and said “This is what you are putting in your body.”  My father never drank again.  It took him a little longer to quit smoking, but the night before his baptism he quit, and he lived for 31 more years.

            In Elder Bednar’s talk he said “Conviction, humility, repentance and submissiveness precede the abandonment of our weapons of rebellion.” When my mom and dad decided to get baptized, they buried those weapons of rebellion; much like the Lamanites did, and never did pick them up again.  My parents were converted and knew that the Lord would help them, so they humbled themselves, repented and had faith knowing that it would not be easy, but they were blessed.  My parents became strong members of the church because they were converted.

            Conversion is an ongoing process.  Elder Neil Andersen said “Our spiritual journey is the process of a lifetime. We do not know everything in the beginning or even along the way.  Our conversion comes step-by-step, line upon line.  We first build a foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We treasure the principles and ordinances of repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.  We include a continuing commitment to prayer, a willingness to be obedient, and ongoing witness of the Book of Mormon.”

            With our testimony comes an increase in personal accountability.  After my parents were converted they began an intense study of the scriptures and other church books.  At that time, which was 1974, we did not have much church literature translated into Spanish like we do now.  My dad who was retired from the US air force and had plenty of time, would spend hours sitting at his desk reading church materials in English and translating them into Spanish, to be used in talks and lessons. He knew it was his responsibility to learn and to strengthen his testimony.   In Doctrine and Covenants chapter 60 verse 13 it says, “Wherefore I give unto them a commandment, thus: Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury that talent that it may not be known.”  My dad used his talent and time wisely.

            My parents were a great example to me of what it means to be converted to the Lord and I hope that I can also be a good example to my children.

President Uchtdorf has said, “I hope that my dear sisters throughout the world-grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and friends-never underestimate the power of their influence for good, especially in the lives of our precious children and youth!

            We are living in a great season for all women in the Church.  Sisters, you are an essential part of our Heavenly Father’s plan for eternal happiness; you are endowed with a divine birthright. You are the real builders of nations wherever you live, because strong homes of love and peace will bring security to any nation.  I hope you understand that, and I hope the men of the Church understand it too. What you sisters do today will determine how the principles of the restored gospel can influence the nations of the world tomorrow.  It will determine how these heavenly rays of the gospel will light every land in the future.  Though we often speak of the influence of women on future generations, please do not underestimate the influence you can have today.”

          After we were baptized my parents wanted to take our family to the temple.  The nearest temple to Puerto Rico at that time was the Washington D.C. Temple.  My parents were not sure how they would pay for it.  In the summer of 1975, just a little over a year after we were baptized, my dad received a check that was owed to him by the United States Veterans administration, for $5,000.  My dad had no idea this was owed to him, so this was a surprise and an answer to his prayers. This was more than enough for us to travel to the temple.  On June 6, 1975 my family was sealed in the temple.

          My parent’s conversion meant that my life was changed forever.  They gave me a better life; a life of faith, hope and happiness, that only comes from having the knowledge of the gospel.  They did not only change my life and my brother’s life but the lives of their 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren and those that are yet to come.

          Brothers and Sisters we need to stand strong and immovable for that which is correct under the plan of the Lord.  Heber J. Grant said “without the devotion and absolute testimony of the living God in the hearts of our mothers, [and I will add fathers] this church would die”.

          I want my children and all of you to know that I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that I know this is the only true church on the earth.  I know that as we are converted we will then have the ability to strengthen our families and homes.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Nearly done with Parker's Eagle Scout project

We are almost done with Parker's Eagle Scout project.  We have about 5,700 diapers and our goal is 6,000. We should have no problem reaching our goal by the end of this week.

Box at the front office of Parker's former Elementary school

This is the box at his Elementary school.  We left it there last week and they asked if we could leave it another week so that those who still want to donate can do so this coming week.

The Zumba diaper drive was a lot of fun!! Tony Soto was awesome to help us with doing the diaper drive!!

Halloween party

Conner went to a Halloween party at a friend's house from school.  They had a photographer and they took this cool picture.

Halloween decorations

Conner loves decorating with spider webs 

Operation Christmas Child

At the YMCA they are having a Zumbathon "Operation Christmas Child".  We are each donating a plastic shoe box with school supplies and/or hygiene supplies.  I put a little bit of each. It made me sad when they said that the plastic shoe box is used by the children to get water for home.

My thoughts

I had been thinking a lot about testimony and conversion so when I heard Elder Bednar's talk I felt he was talking to me.  I have watched it so many times since conference and to me it was such a powerful talk.  When he said "Testimony alone is not and will not be enough to protect us in the latter day storm of darkness and evil in which we are living", to me that was so powerful.  This talk was so powerful to me that I used it for my spiritual message at our presidency meeting and then for family home evening this week.  I have been thinking about how to better help my boys to strengthen their testimony and become more converted and ready for their mission.  I think of my parents and how they "buried their weapons of rebellion" like the Lamanites.  When my parents were baptized they had to stop drinking, smoking, drinking coffee and tea and other habits that for many years they had become used to.  They had quit those things that were stopping them from being baptized. My dad was 49 years old and my mom was 38 when they were baptized.  My dad started smoking at 13 so it was a long time of having such a terrible habit.  My dad smoked his last cigarette the night before we were baptized and never touched another one again.  I think that is incredible considering how hard it is to stop, the Lord sure helped him.  My mom did not smoke but she occasionally drank and she loved coffee.  I remember how she would get headaches from not having coffee but she was strong and eventually those headaches went away.  To me there example of their conversion has strengthened mine.  I did not have to go through all that, it was way easier for me because I was 8 when we joined the church but I had to develop my own testimony and be converted on my own.  NO ONE can do that for you, it is your responsibility to study and learn for yourself.  My parents were always studying the scriptures and reading church books, they wanted to learn all they could.  My parents were strong members of the church.  I want that for my kids, I think it is harder for those who are born in the church. Those who join the church later have to study and gain a testimony.  I feel blessed to have been raised in the church and also have had the example of my parents conversion.  Just like Elder Bednar said, they buried their selfishness, pride and disobedience and exchanged it for conviction, humility, repentance and submissiveness, "they never fell away, buried their weapons of rebellion, they did not fight against God anymore".

So I was thinking about this and asked myself, What are my weapons of rebellion? None of us are perfect and we all have them.  I really want to try hard and get rid of those weapons. I think that when we do get rid of them,  then we can answer the question that Elder Holland said the Lord asks of us, Do you love me?"  When we love the Lord and we bury those weapons, we can truly say "Thy will be done" and go and do all that the Lord asks of us.

Another thing that I was thinking about today, I was reading my scriptures this morning on Mosiah chapter 24 and how Amulon was persecuting Alma and his followers.  Because of their afflictions Alma and his people cried mightily to God. They were forbidden to pray aloud by their masters, but they could not stop them from praying in their hearts.  In due time although not immediately the Lord answered their prayers.  The Lord comforted and gave them strength to bear their afflictions.  He said "I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs even while you are in bondage".  I thought about that and how we all have trials that seem never to go away, we want to have everything perfect but we know life is not perfect.  I have seen the Lord's hand helping me even when things seem so difficult to bear, life is still good and I continue to be blessed.  I have seen that in my life and in others.  He may not take away what ever it is that is afflicting us but he is there to comfort and bless us and make our burdens light.  I have been so blessed in my life. I have gone through some hard trials but I would not change any of it because I am so blessed today.