Abide in Him always

The world's in commotion.

My world's in commotion. 

How to get it all done? 

The constant grind of prioritizing and reprioritizing, knowing that much of tomorrow's challenges depend on how much I can do today.


The trade offs that happen are real. Even if I am saving the world in one area—for instance taking a sick child to the Instacare, if I forget to switch my laundry from the washer to the dryer, it still sours. 

Carpool. Bills. Appointments. Birthdays. Dinner. 

As demands stack up, it is hard not to feel bogged down. 

Some say they wish they had more hours in a day to get things done.

I don't. 

I don't want any more hours to responsibly navigate. I have problems enough. More hours isn't going to solve my sleep deprivation problems. More hours will only make me more weary, more stressed, more pressed.

 So, how can I get done what needs to be done, and feel at peace for everything that doesn't get done?

 The realistic acknowledgement of this problem, from one very wise woman, Julie B. Beck, caught my attention and has ever since been ringing in my ears: 

"A good [man or] woman knows that [they do] not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things [their] heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most [men and] women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important.” 

So, how do I, on a very practical level prioritize what is most important? 

Again, Julie Beck: 

“Years ago I began using a system that works for me, and maybe it will work for you. There was a time when I needed to prioritize, and in one of those sacred meetings between me and the Lord, He gave me three categories that I have worked from, and they have been a guide in my life. The categories are the essential things, the necessary things, and the nice-to-do things. I started writing those things down.  

“I asked, “What has to go in the category of essential?” What things must be taken care of, and if I don’t take care of them, the blessings of eternal life won’t be mine nor will they be my family’s.” 

The top of her list—revelation. 

"The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in life."

 "With personal revelation [we] can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently."


What it is hard for me to understand and follow the Spirit? What if I am weak?


"With the Lord's Spirit weak and simple [men and] women can know what to do....They can discern His will, solve major problems, and feel peace, comfort, and guidance in their lives. Education is wonderful, but being able to feel the Lord’s power and Spirit upon us is the highest education we can achieve.” 

How do I receive the companionship of the Spirit?

We worthily make covenants, including baptism, to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost:

Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?

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 you should do.

Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock...

For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way [of baptism], and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do. (2 Nephi 32:2-5)

How do we obtain and receive revelation? 

We take time to learn the voice of the Lord. We take time to commune with Him. We take time to listen and ponder. 

We take time to be holy:  

Take time to be holy, Speak oft with the Lord;
Abide in Him always, And feed on His word.
Make friends with God's children, Help those who are weak,
Forgeting in nothing His blessing to seek. 

Take time to be holy, The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, Let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, Whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, Still follow thy Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, Still trust in His Word. 

Take time to be holy, Be calm in thy soul;
Each tho't and each motive Beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above. 

(Take Time to Be Holy, lyrics by William D. Longstaff, circa 1882.)

As President Russell M. Nelson promised:

"When you reach up for the Lord's power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him--when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life--you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do."

What a powerful promise from a prophet of God. 

By doing the essentials "you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do."

Will it be enough?

We'll finish up with Sister Beck:

When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves. We can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when we feel the Spirit working through us. Peace, joy, and hope are available to those who measure success properly.

Feeling the Spirit the way how to measure if we are on the right track. I can do that.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)

I Will Save Thy Children

New Narrative (Reordering) of Isaiah 49 (see 1 Nephi 21):

...Because of the wickedness of the pastors...

Thy children whom thou shalt have... shall...say: The place is too strait for me that I may dwell.

Then thou shalt say in thine heart:...I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? And who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where have they been?

Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught and in vain.

The Lord hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me--

but he will show that he hath not.

...In an acceptable time have I heard thee,...I helped thee; and I will preserve thee.

For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? 

Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee...

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; 

thy walls are continually before me.

...and I will save thy children.

And I will feed them...

They shalt not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers...and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful O earth;...break forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

For...I will save thy children.

I'm Glad that I Live in This Beautiful World

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: I thank Him reverently
For all His creations of which I'm a part--Yes I know Heavenly Father loves me. 
("My Heavenly Father Loves Me" By Clara McMaster)

This morning I was enjoying the sunshine and the beauty blooming from a world during springtime when I saw a bird perch on a tree. The words came:

Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,

 It was then I knew then I needed to share this story.

Over a year ago I started having some health issues, digestive issues, that has taken me on a humbling journey that was as unexpected as it was painful.

Once I realized the problem I felt like I was on a wild goose chase to find healing, going from one doctor to another. Suddenly the woman with the issue of blood took on very personal meaning to me (see Luke 8:43-44).

Placed on restrictive diets my body grew weaker and weaker, my mind grew cloudier and cloudier, while the demands of family life became heavier and heavier.

I began studying as much as I could to alleviate my symptoms, while simultaneously working on a business project to alleviate our family finances.

I started working harder and harder, often having 20 hour days, without the ability to sleep in or catch up.

I knew I was burning the candle from both ends, but I didn't know how to do less--the sheer work of running a large family and household while having multiple children with both extremely complicated food needs and behavioral challenges, coupled with a tremendous gap between the methods and perspectives between my spouse and I exhausterbated my already fragile constitution.

One night my body and mind were so weary from stress and fatigue that they gave out, forcing me to crawl into bed and lay motionless as I pondered my situation. At that point I felt transported into some spiritual realm, ethereal in nature, and sublime in feeling.

I felt loved. I felt peaceful. I felt heaven.

I knew it was a place I could rest, and I wished with all my heart I could stay.

Over the next few days, as I was the target of tantrums, or as I surveyed the mountain of laundry and piles of dishes, or as we had more needs than resources, I longed to go back.

As some of my children were frustrated at our situation and my inability to meet their needs, and channeled there anger towards me, I longed to go back.

Then the unique difficulties of those with physical and behavior challenges required super-human effort to meet, and as they were either unwilling or unable to contribute in any meaningful way towards the running of the household especially when visitors were expected, I longed to go back.

I felt increasingly isolated. Church and family events that normally had been my lifeline lost their appeal as I was unable to partake of any part of a meal and requiring the enormous burden of special planning and preparing and diligent effort to ensure those with dietary issues were not exposed to non-approved food items, I longed to go back.

Lost in the avalanche of problems bigger than I could handle, I would day-dream of returning to that place of peace, and this time hoping to stay permanently in that state.

I felt guilty harboring even for a moment such selfish thoughts. I knew to go back and stay in such a heavenly state, it would mean a lifetime of heartache and challenges for my husband and family, but it was so peaceful I no longer felt afraid of even dying.

It wasn't so much that I was willing to be reckless, or wanting to either, I just wondered if I should try to fight the fight to live as disappointments mounted and when so many of my efforts seemed so inadequate or fruitless.

I knew, deep down, that those feelings weren't healthy or helpful, but I was overwhelmed and lost the hope that I or my family would ever be able to function happily or that I would ever be able to fulfill the demands and expectations placed on me.

I desperation I prayed that I would have the desire to want to live, to want to be alive.




Answers from heaven often catch me off guard, as they are answered in totally unexpected times and totally unexpected places, but to this plea I gained yet another witness that God does hear and answer our prayers.

The following Sunday I was at the piano accompanying the younger children's Singing Time during our church services. They were playing a game which started and stopped in different places to learn and review the song "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," by Clara McMaster.

I had grown up with this sweet song and cheerfully played the familiar, well-beloved melody, but then I was stopped in my tracks--

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: I thank Him reverently.

This was it!

This was God speaking directly to me.

Life was a gift He gave me. My heart, my mind, they too were His gifts to me.

I needed to thank Him reverently.

There was no way the message was lost on me, especially as it finished:

For all His creations of which I'm a part.
Yes I know Heav'nly Father loves me.

Yes! I know that Heavenly Father loves me.

He created this beautiful world for me. He gave me ways to enjoy and appreciate it--through my eyes, my ears, my touch.

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

Clara McMaster

1. Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by our lilac tree,

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heav’nly Father created for me.

2. He gave me my eyes that I might see

The color of butterfly wings.

He gave me my ears that I might hear

The wonderful sound of things.

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:

I thank Him rev'rently

For all His creations of which I'm a part.

Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.

(Notice that none of the senses mentioned in the song even had to do with taste or food!)



I immediately prayed in my mind and repented in my heart: Dear Father, I am so sorry I did not want to live. Please forgive me. I am so thankful for my life, my mind, my heart. I will thank Thee reverently.

The funny thing is because of the game we kept repeating this section over and over. Repetition is a law of learning. There was no way Heavenly Father wasn't going to let me be absolutely sure I got this message.

I did.

Suddenly my whole outlook changed and with joy and "fresh courage take" I was reminded that "our God will never us forsake (see Come, Come Ye Saints)."

I think of the words of President Nelson:

"If we focus on the joy that will come to us, or those we love, what can we endure that presently seems overwhelming, painful, scary, unfair, or simply impossible?

As our Savior becomes more and more real to us and as we plead for His joy to be given to us our joy will increase.

Joy is powerful, and focusing on joy brings God's power into our lives. As in all things, Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar, 'who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross' (see Hebrews 12:2)."

And of course, there is Lehi's powerful discourse on the need for opposition in all things, and that "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy (2 Nephi 2:25)."

If Adam was willing to fall from the presence of God for our joy, and the Savior was willing to endure the cross for the joy that was set before him, I too can find joy in the middle of my seemingly impossible challenges, and I thank Him reverently.

I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heav'nly Father created for me. 

We Write of Christ

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ...and we write.... to persuade [others] to believe in Christ. (2 Nephi 25:26, 23)

In our worship service this past Sunday, a group of beautiful teenage girls (or Young Women) sang so  words with such conviction that have made such an impression that I have not been able to get out of my mind. The intensity of its message has only increased with each reminder--inviting me, urging me, calling me to testify of Jesus Christ.

I Testify of Jesus Christ

Lyrics: John V. Pearson

I testify of Jesus Christ, My Lord, My King Omnipotent,

Who framed the worlds and scattered stars throughout the firmament.

Who from the dust of earth formed man and gave us breath that we might move.

And gave us laws to serve our God and live with Him in love.

I testify of Jesus Christ, My God, My Unseen Comforter,

For I have sought Him oft through prayer and found Him waiting there.

I have not touched His wounded hands nor yet beheld His holy face

But I have felt His love for me and heard His gentle voice.

I testify of Jesus Christ, Beloved Savior, Precious Friend,

Who suffered death and hell’s abyss to ransom me from sin.

Who came when demons sought my soul and banished them with sword of light.

And when despair would steal my hope His presence stilled the night.

When with all flesh my eyes shall see my blessed Savior face to face

My witness then shall not exceed the truth I know this day.

For God has written Jesus’ name with pen of flame upon my soul

And how can I but testify of Jesus Christ my Lord?

I Testify of Jesus Christ

Over the past year, a promising piano student has been working on her own lovely arrangement of the tender melody by Janice Kapp Perry. I have felt blessed to be buoyed up by those words each time she has come into my home to create her own way to testify of Christ.

I wondered how I could testify of Him?

As the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) President and Prophet leader Russel M. Nelson advised, "We begin by learning about Him." We can then draw upon the power and authority of His words.

For example, the convincing power of the lyrics of this song by cannot be taken lightly.  They describe Christ's love in His roles as Creator, Comforter, and Redeemer.

They describe my own experience of coming to know my Savior:

I have not touched His wounded hands
nor yet beheld His holy face
But I have felt His love for me
and heard His gentle voice.

As I struggle through the disappointments and perplexities of daily life, it articulates the hope I feel, allowing me to move forward with the peace that passeth all understanding (see Philippians 4:7):

And when despair would steal my hope,
His presence stilled the night.

These words have been my call to action:

When with all flesh, my eyes shall see my blessed Savior face to face
My witness then shall not exceed the truth I know this day.
For God has written Jesus' name with pen of flame upon my soul
And how can I but testify of Jesus Christ my Lord?

Now it is my turn to testify of Jesus Christ.

For we labor diligently to write, to write to persuade [others] to believe in Christ. (2 Nephi 25:23)