Our Little House

We have a little house. Most of you know this. Some of you have seen pictures of my little house. I know some have smaller houses than mine, but as a general rule most people have much, much bigger houses than ours. It has been six months since we sold our previous home and we moved into our little rental house that is right across the street from our "land of inheritance" as Misfit Cygnet taught me it was.

We only have about two or three months and then we be moving to another little house (but still bigger) than the one we have now. We have decided to postpone building for another two or so years and move a "manufactured home" aka a single wide on our 80 acres and live debt free for a couple of years. Then we will build our house. Not having a house payment has been too enjoyable to go back too. So we have simply decided not to.

Blah, blah, blah. This post is about what I've learned in six months of small.

760 sq feet. That's the size. I LOVE IT!

There are a couple of little things that I would like different, but it's a rental and we are fine.

I have learned that I can live without a microwave. I have also decided that I don't want a microwave in any other house we get either.

I have learned that I like not having a dishwasher. I don't want to go back to having that appliance either. If not for any other reason than having my children have more work to do. I know they would disagree with me on that one though!

I like having only one room to congregate in. I only want a family room now in our new house. I no longer want a library room, office, music room, living room, parlor, and whatever, whatever. I've realized that these rooms separated our family. We are around each other more now. That means we talk, play, laugh, sing, read and interact with each other. Another good lesson learned.

I've learned we only need one bathroom. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get over ruled on only having one bathroom in our new house however. We won't have three or four now for sure though!

Having a big backyard, with trees a plenty and acres of free roaming space (complete with water flowing through it) is absolutely lovely for an awesome core phase!

We don't really miss our dressers. Everyone has rolling cubbies under their beds with their clothes in it. I want to get hooks/pegs for hanging up some clothing and old fashioned trunks for the rest of our clothing when we have more room in our 1200 sq foot house (the single wide). Dressers mean owning more clothing.
We got rid of a lot of clothing when we down sized and I realize we still have too much clothing. So I don't miss the clothing we got rid of.

This goes along with the previous thought. We don't need big closets. We won't be building a master closet in our new house and we will only put a small one in each room. Just enough for church clothes and three pairs of shoes (church shoes, tennis shoes and flip flops). In fact if I can get away with it I only want one bedroom closet for the whole house and have everyone's church clothes/shoes in that closet. So probably our bedroom because my husband needs some closet space for his business clothes. I'll just put the flip flops and tennis shoes in the mudroom. Yes, I like that idea quite a bit.

We want a big mud room! We will store our "weapons," laundry stuff, winter clothing, our Boggs (snow/mud/rain/irrigation boots), etc in this room. Liberty said she would give up square footage in her room to ensure a bigger mud room.

We are definitely glad that we brought the piano into the house (instead of putting it in storage). It's a little squishy in the living room, but two of the children have taken off on their piano since we moved here.
I do miss my/our books. We only have one bookshelf with books right now in the house. I did get rid of A LOT of books when we moved. I only left the classics. I got rid of Scholastic books, cartoony books, pop fiction, public school looking books/workbooks, and other twaddle. I haven't missed them. There is always the library to borrow from. I still have three bookshelves worth of books in boxes in the garage. I can access them and they've been gone through regularly. I look forward to having room for the bookshelves again. I don't waste my money at the thrift store on books anymore unless I know the book will be cherished and read and reread (a classic).

I like having less stuff in the kitchen. I think I am going to get rid of most of the extra kitchen stuff I saved just in case. More dishes and stuff just means more stuff to get dirty before you wash-pretty soon you just have a mess and it depresses you. I like washing as I go and always being caught up.

I love that all the art projects/crafts are gone. What a waste of resources with the glue, the markers, papers, crayons, glitter, paints, etc. etc! I am so glad they are gone!!!!!! I have found my children have learned to be creative in real ways. They make real things now like sewing, knitting, carving, etc. Their free-time play is also very, very creative. I think their creative juices flow on a much, much higher level now than ever before.
Really, I think they are doing just fine with no glitter and tubs of glue! I feel much better myself. I should post pictures of Liberty's quilts-very creative and beautiful. She has some pictures up on her blog for those who know her blog address.

We also downsized to one notebook and a sketch book for each child. They can get a new book anytime they have finished their old ones. They draw neater, they write neater and they do not waste. Amazing. I admit I was a little disbelieving with the whole concept, but it's awesome.

I like having a little house because since I am striving to have "family work" for several hours a day we definitely can deep clean the house and keep it clean always.

I have thrived in having less stuff around me in general. I will be getting rid of lots of stray boxes in the garage. If I didn't want it in the last six months I don't think I will need it now. I feel the freedom to live my life now instead of feeling like I needed to organize, clean and dust all of the time.

I will miss this house. Everyone always acts like I should be miserable living here though. However, it has totally changed my thought process and will impact the rest of my life.

Small is good. Simplicity is good. Having less "stuff" is very good!

Regular Disclaimer

Dear Fellow Readers,

It is that time again when I need to give my regular disclaimer. Usually I just throw it in as part of a blog post, but today I thought I would let it enjoy its very own topic.

It seems every once in a while I get a new round of blog readers that get a little nervous about what I write. I appreciate all my readers. You add much insight into my life! I hope that this helps answer some emails and blog comment questions! Keep asking and eventually I will check my inbox and get back to you. : )

I love to learn and seek knowledge. I love ideas. I love seeking truth. Sometimes when I discover some kernel of truth or some interesting idea I will write a blog post about it. I share only a fraction of my big grand ideas with the public. Most I keep hidden in my heart and discuss them with my husband and my dearest friends.

As I said sometimes I throw out my ideas in a blog post. Sometimes these things come in the form of writings by modern prophets, living and dead. Sometimes I comment on those thoughts and other times I just copy them straight out of the book and let you discover what you will from those writings.

The reason I write is to share the things I learn. I desire everyone to seek their own revelation. I don't believe that as we untangle ourselves out of the web of Babylon that we will be untangled the same way. We must learn line upon line and precept upon precept. Although the untangling power can only come through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Therefore I share things that may help you receive an "a-ha" that you can use on your journey "home." How we apply will be completely different from one person to the next. What is helpful in one family is not always helpful in another family.

A comment was made by a reader that I may be "looking beyond the mark." This is an interesting comment that of course deserves introspection. What does that reference really mean? The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob teaches us that the Jews "despised the words of plainness and killed the prophets, and sought for things that could not understand." Through this and their blindness which "came by looking beyond the mark" they fell. I believe this reference was also used by a Seventy in a talk several years ago were he likened it to "gospel hobbies." I don't remember for sure because I don't have the internet and can't look it up. So the question is, "Am I looking beyond the mark?" The answer to both is the same, no. What am I looking to? Jesus Christ. My goal each morning is to center my life on the "living Christ" and to submit to Him and His will to me. I rejoice in the words of plainness and in the prophet's words. When the prophet very clearly states something I take it for truth. It would seem to be that looking beyond the mark would mean finding a different meaning than, "if the Saints would know the will of the Lord they would stop eating swine's flesh." What about it being a gospel hobby? Hopefully the examples and explanation below will help.

Why do I wear a skirt? It helps me remember my role as matriarch. It helps me to feel the Spirit more. I do it because I notice a change in my heart. Not because I think I have too. Not because I think anyone else should either. In my own personal life it is a way that I can "raise the bar" and stay more focused on my role. I shared my experiences only to help others glean ideas for their own personal life. I also only shared quotes from 100 years ago from church leaders because they were pleading about modesty (and Sister Beck said to study the history). The quotes caused me to ask hard questions and I received personal revelation. Modern prophets have stated what the standard is for today, but what can I learn about that standard now and before? Where is my heart?

The Word of Wisdom. As far as I know I have never commented on what our family eats and doesn't eat online and especially on my blog. I had one post where I shared thoughts from Brigham Young, a prophet, on what he had to say about food. I made only a brief comment on that post to the effect that I think that our habits with eating were just as important as what we ate. So if any of that was extreme then Brigham Young was extreme because I only quoted him. Again, he was very plain. I didn't dispise his words of plainness or reject his message in my heart.

As far as what I wear and what are family eats I would say that it is not a gospel hobby. I think I spend less time thinking about what I wear and what food I eat/prepare than any other women I know. I absolutely do not think about food during the day. I pray in the morning about what I should fix and whatever I feel impressed to do I make the necessary preparations and no other thought goes into it. For public record we do eat meat, but not very much.

I deeply appreciate these thought provoking questions that cause me to reflect and strive to keep myself firmly centered in my Savior Jesus Christ, and seeking Him as my Living Center.

To summarize I seek to share my ideas that may or may not help you in your journey of being a mother who knows. However with Christ, the Spirit and the Sisterhood we share on our blogs hopefully we will each be propelling forward, onward and upward to our Heavenly Home.

Love always my friends,

Deanna

The Headgate Revisited

About a month ago I realized that I hadn't read "The Headgate" article in quite a long while. Somehow in my move it had been misplaced. I emailed and received a new copy. It was the one thing I did read while on our latest trip. I have been pondering it this last month.

So just what are my thoughts now after a year of first being introduced to it? Still love it! I came away with a strong impression again about how true the principles are. These principles aren't new, they've been around a long time, but I respond to the way she articulated the principles in her article.

Through rereading it I was able to review and look back over the changes we had made the last year and say we grew and changed significantly in our family. What a year of growth we had. I didn't do wonderful with all the principles but there was a great awareness and application that took place. Below are the five aspects of The Headgate. I have "scored" how I thought I did this past year. I will then talk about each principle.

1. Create a House of Order Score: Good
2. Require Work Score: Okay
3. Inspire Daily Score: Good
4. Understand Lessons and Daily Application Score: Fair
5. Close the Headgates Score: Great
   

Create a House of Order. I gave myself a good on this. Most of this step was something that I thought that I already knew, understood and applied. I didn't really focus on this step and so I think I missed some application that I now understand.

I did learn a lot about this subject this past year in other readings I pursued. I learned about gender roles, modesty and submission. There were some examples of this step on her website that at the time (a year ago) I didn't accept. I don't know now that I agree with here absoluteness on those situations, but I am much, much more in agreement with her now. I realize that I need to embrace my role of wife and mother and not pawn it off on my husband because I'm tired, etc.

Another thought I had while striving to do a better job of letting my husband preside and protect me was that often I tend to jump in and "man-handle" the situation since I felt my husband couldn't. Upon reflecting I thought about the word "man-handle." That was exactly what I have been doing, and that is very wrong. I am now striving to submit and embrace my gender role. In that process I have seen more order in my home as well as finding that I am finding greater happiness personally.

I am rereading this step again now with more understanding. More thoughts have come on how I can improve.

Require Work. I only gave myself an okay on this step. I was asked recently by a reader how I have done with requiring work in our little house. We have really improved overall from where we were at a year ago, but still we haven't done so hot. This is a powerful principle that has been the very hardest for me to apply. When I'm not focused it's easy to just end up doing school work in the morning instead of working. I have long since jumped off of the conveyor belt but sometimes I can see traces of it still popping up in random places. When we buckle down and work we get an amazing amount accomplished and we all feel great (despite sometimes an initial grouchy attitude). I see instant results when I refocus on work in our home. The kids cherish their free time and use it very wisely.

At least half of the boys' free time they choose to spend learning. They read a tremendous amount, but they also play hard outside. (Right now they are building a fort like the Sackett fort). Since rereading the Headgates I have reapplied this principle and again seen tremendous results.

The hard step in this is figuring out what to clean after you've cleaned everything very well. This is especially hard in this little house. There are only so many walls to clean! I strive for about two hours (hopefully in the morning) of work. If we have to go somewhere in the afternoon and they won't get their free time I usually let up on the morning work a little. As I've struggled to figure out work to assign the simple answer has been to pray for help to know what they should do. As always when I knock the Lord will give an answer. He cares what they do for work also! Involving Him in the daily work plan helps motivate me to stay on this path and not deviate back to old tendencies.

Another principle that I relearned was her way to teach work (which comes from Lara Gallagher).  First they work with, then near and then independently of you.

To recap: We did okay this past year, but I have a strong testimony that requiring work is vital. I am recommitted to this step!

Inspire Daily. We scored a good on this. This principle I have learned and studied about in great detail through TJEd. Since reading this article I have limited my momschool time with them to just reading the current read a loud. By this I mean that my momschool/kidschool does not include a long or short list of things to read, practice and get through with them. Usually after dinner (at noon) I read a couple of chapters to whoever wants to listen. This is most often just the middle two. My read a louds are targeted to them as they need the most inspiring. Liberty has no problem going off and reading by herself. The last couple of books we have read are the first two Sackett books by Louis L'Amour, The Red Scarf Girl, The Hiding Place and now we are reading The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. We have had great discussions and they have been inspired by these stories. My simple goal has been to have them reading hundreds of books on their own. While they haven't read anywhere close to hundreds of books they have read a great many.

My husband and I have discussed how that the last couple of weeks we really feel that we are seeing a tremendous fruit of our labors with our children. They have an amazing breath of knowledge and are very well behaved. (The 8 year old sometimes has a problem with the wiggles and giggles in Primary and Cubscouts. He is doing a lot better though). The fruits we have seen I believe can be traced back to the hours we have spent in the classics together. I also attribute their compressive knowledge of gospel doctrine and scripture events to the hours upon hours we have studied together in daily family scripture study. They have been inspired not only in the classics but in the scriptures and all of them read the scriptures daily on their own with often no prompting.

Understand Lessons and Daily Application. I gave myself a fair on this one. In all fairness my children already know how to read and write and so there weren't necessarily lessons that needed to be learned from a 3R's standpoint. So here again is a step I sort of glossed over thinking I had it down. In hindsight I realize that I did miss out on some things. I did hold some writing lessons a year ago, but I was bored and they were bored and we dropped it.

Some important principles in this step are the "return and report" model which I already had a testimony in. This is an important model to adapt to my life.

Another important part of this step is to only teach them information that they need right them. Her example of not vomiting all the phonics rules on the them in first reading lesson is very valid.

I have also agreed with her point of teaching them things that are the most practical and things they can get daily application out of. I have refocused on this and noticed that there are basics things that my kids didn't know. A simple, silly example of this is during family prayer. We sing a hymn every time we have family prayer and sometimes we need hymnals for the hymn that is chosen. We realized through a couple of events that our children didn't not know how to share a hymn book. It usually broke out into a fight. At church the pews we sit on hold four hymnals. One for each child and one for me to share with whoever is sitting by me. (Hubby is on the stand). Because of this I hadn't ever realized that they couldn't (or wouldn't) share. So we had a "How to share the hymnal properly with your neighbor-whoever that may be" lesson. Since then they apply that regularly when we sing for family prayer. Another silly lesson is that we also noticed they were putting their scriptures away while a speaker was bearing their testimony at the end of a FHE lesson or a talk at church. We taught them how rude this is and that etiquette required them to wait until after the meeting was over to organize their belongings. These are simple lessons that they apply on an almost daily basis now and so these lessons are understood.

There are many lessons I realize that I need to teach my children that have nothing to do with math and science, but are important for life. This is another step that I realize that there are many things I can still be working on with my family.

Close the Headgates. We did so fantastic at this! This was my focus the entire year. The concept was talked about continually in our family and also among our friends. It is a regularly understood term. We not only removed 75% of our personal belongs, but we also put up the TV and the Wii.  We do still have them though. In the 9 months or so since we put up the Wii we have gotten it out once and we didn't even really play with it.  (I think we will probably get rid of it soon?) We have gotten out the TV/DVD more than that, but it's a chore to get it and we have it narrowed down to a very select list of movies we watch. I'd say we average a movie once a month.

Are children really don't have any toys now. They don't even care. They have some army men. They play with those occasionally. Maybe once a month. Lego's? We still have them, but they are put up also. In the fall they got them out a couple of times but didn't play with them very long and asked if we could put them away. I think they'll want to get rid of them soon.

So what do they play with? They have their "high impact battle swords" (I think that name is funny and I always say it. Sorry). They also bought fowling pieces at Valley Forge a couple of weeks ago. They also play with sticks, rope, yarn (when they ask permission) and metal junk they find on our land in the old barns. They play hard and make forts and fight in wars together. Their weapons get "checked" at the door in the mud room because chivalry says you don't come into a home armed.

Gone are the electronic toys, gone are the art supplies, gone are the costumes, gone are the puzzles and gone is the junk! It has been so liberating and wonderful.

I can't neglect to add that I removed personal headgates from my life that I was "busy" with and it has allowed me to focus on learning, inspiring and living my gender roles. I can't begin to describe how life changing these concepts have been for our family
In Conclusion, The Headgate article has truly brought amazing changes to our family. We have seen wonderful growth. The principles that I applied have helped me understand the principles of Zion and it prepared me to receive so much further light and knowledge that I would not have received had I not closed my own personal headgates. Once I allowed our family to be released of some of society's trappings I found growth. I look forward to better applying the other principles that I skipped over before.

Joseph Smith as Scientist

Joseph Smith as Scientist: A Contribution to Mormon Philosophy by John A. Widtsoe is a great read to consider in your family. Elder Widtsoe discusses the basic principles of science and then quotes Joseph Smith and his teachings. Some of the subjects treated include: matter, energy, ether, astronomy, geological record, the sixth sense and evolution. This book will challenge you, but it will also increase your comprehension of what God has done for us.

I found the subject matter informative and very helpful.  I think it would be an important book for scholar youth.  It proves again that the scriptures truly do contain all subject matter and we can find ultimate truth by searching the scriptures. Elder Widtsoe points out that these teachings found in the scriptures from Joseph Smith were not known or accepted scientific laws at the time. It was only later that science came to "discover" them. The reader is also left with convincing "proof" in a temporal standpoint that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet.

The original chapters in the book appeared in installments in the Improvement Era in 1903-1904. In 1908 Elder Widtsoe had it published after a committee appointed by the First Presidency read the manuscript. That committee was Elders George Albert Smith, Edward H. Anderson and Joseph F. Smith, Jr. The point being that you can't get more official and authentic than The Improvement Era and approval from two future prophets.

In reading this book I felt that I was furthering my garnering of information about the History of Relief Society. This information was known and published among the Saints. With the revival of studying not only the History of the Relief Society but also the History of the Church I think we will gain some essential information needed to raise our children and to prepare for the Second Coming.

This book is available from Archive Publishers. The address is 754 East 50 North, Heber City, UT 84032. The phone number is 435.654.0824. The website listed is http://www.archivepublishers.com/ .

Holy Experiences

Mr. Patriot and I decided long ago that we would work and sacrifice to provide experiences for our children. We have been faithful to that goal. Over the years our quest for experiences has been changed a little though. We now seek holy experiences.

  The Sacred Grove 2011

 

We just returned home from two weeks filled with experiences. We were able to dejunk, paint and fix up grandma's house in the east. What a trip. We worked hard and had much fruit to show for our labors. I think our children came away with some valuable experiences and a new appreciation about things in life.

 

Palmyra Temple Baptism Trip 2011

We were also able to revisit the Sacred Grove and serve in the Palmyra Temple by doing baptisms. At grandma's house we taped maple trees and made homemade maple syrup. We reflected on the greatness of the patriots in the Revolutionary War as we walked the grounds of Valley Forge. We visited with family and strengthened relationships.

Taping trees at grandma's

Through our many travels we have had some holy experiences. Some of our holy experiences have included seeing the flag that hung over Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 on display at the American History Smithsonian; kneeling as a family at Adam-ondi-ahman and offering up a sacred prayer; standing in Carthage Jail and feeling the Spirit testify of Joseph Smith; and walking through Independence Hall and thinking about a new nation being born.

Valley Forge 2011

 We don't have to fly across the country to have holy experiences though. We've had holy experiences around a campfire telling family history stories; receiving Father's Blessings; doing Baptisms for the Dead; singing hymns together on the way to a friend's home; and reading great books like "The Hiding Place" together.

Valley Forge 2011

 

Sacred experiences are available to us every day. Today we had a sacred experience during family scripture study as we read about Mormon being a sober child that was quick to observe. We noted how this young fifteen year old was able to be visited and taste and know the goodness of Jesus Christ. We talked about where we were at. Are we sober? Are we quick to observe?

When we seek truth the Spirit will teach us. When we seek holy experiences we will have them.

Relearning from General Conference in 10/05

On the plane ride across the country as we headed home I reread most of the November 2006 Conference Ensign. I had found this brand new copy at the DI several weeks before. It appealed to me because it had no marks in and it was free for me to rediscover with new perspective. There were so many wonderful quotes I just wanted to share some random ones. I will most likely do a blog post or two on some specific ones that proved revelatory. For now though I share some thoughts to get your inspirational juices flowing.

"{The Latin root of disciple means pupil}…what is required of us is not to die for the Church but to live for it…Our true claim as disciples comes when we can say with certainty that His ways have become our ways." Faust page 20

"Return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures…That time is now. This world needs the scriptures today." Hales 24

"{Laman and Lemuel} didn't accept anyone's authority to correct them. They didn't value spiritual things. They easily resorted to violence, and they were good at playing the victim...It is a wonderful aspiration for a boy to become a man-strong and capable; someone who can build and create things, run things; someone who makes a difference in the world…" Christofferson 46

"In our uncertain physical environment, we need to increase our spiritual nutrients-nutrients that come from the knowledge and fullness of the gospel and the powers of the holy priesthood…Spiritual nutrients, which keep us spiritually healthy, can lose their potency and strength if we do not live worthy of the divine guidance we need…Much of the spiritual pollution that comes into our lives comes through the Internet, computer games, television shows and movies that are highly suggestive of or graphically portray humanity's baser attributes. Because we live in such an environment, we need to increase our spiritual strength." Faust 53

"We are on the Lord's errand, and therefore we are entitled to the Lord's help…Brethren it is in doing-not just dreaming-that lives are blessed." Monson 56

"There is not a man or boy in this vast congregation tonight who cannot improve his life…Eliminate the sources of pornographic material in {your} lives." Hinckley 59

"{The Pioneers} faith is our inheritance. Their faith is a reminder to us of the price they paid for the comforts we enjoy…In the ongoing work of this great cause, increased faith is what we most need. Without it, the work will stagnate. With it, no one can stop its progress." Hinckley 82

"We are to teach our children the moral standard…Those brethren on Ensign Peak knew that they were to live ordinary lives and keep the image of Christ engraven in their countenances…Some suppose that our high standards will repel growth. It is just the opposite. High standards are a magnet…Not only are we to maintain the highest of standards, but each of us is to be a stand, a defense, a refuge." Packer 85

"To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else…Thomas B. Marsh allowed himself to be acted upon…As described by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, the Church is not 'a well-provisioned rest home for the already perfected'…One of the greatest indicators of our own spiritual maturity is revealed in how we respond to the weaknesses, the inexperience, and the potentially offensive actions of others." Bednar 89

"I have thought about Jim Drinkwater many times and wondered how he came to be one that the Lord could trust…Do we really want to be instruments in God's hands? If so, our desire will permeate our prayers and be the focus of our fasts." Clarke 97

"In this day of moral relativism we must be prepared to take a stand and say, 'This is right, and this is wrong.' We cannot follow the crowd!...Do not flirt with evil. Stay out of the devil's territory. Do not give Satan any home-field advantage." Gibbons 102

"This reminds us that when those mists of darkness enveloped the travelers in Lehi's vision of the tree of life, it enveloped all of the participants." Holland 104

"We must not allow pride or vanity, selfishness or personal agendas to displace our reaching out to others in love." Parkin 108

Books for Teaching/Learning Government

I recently read the book, "10 Books Every Conservative Must Read: Plus Four Not to Miss and One Impostor" by Benjamin Wiker, Ph.D. Dr. Wiker presents a book list that would be worthy reads for those pursing further study in government. I appreciated his list of four extra reads-which are fictional literature-that portray the values of conservatism. One book shows women embracing the role of marriage and nurturing and another book shows men acting in courage to protect their family and their lands. The correlation between living strong moral values and having limited government were intertwined. I understood more deeply the importance of moral character in public life. We have slipped from this.

With each book he presents a short biography on the author, information about the work itself that he choose and why the author's message should still be impactful today. Dr. Wiker's writing may provide help as a mentor of sorts to wade through difficult readings. His thoughts were particularly helpful to me recently as I reread "The Abolition of Man." Perhaps you will find this list helpful. Here is his book list:

1. "The Politics" by Aristotle
2. "Orthodoxy" by Gilbert Keith Chesterton
3. "The New Science of Politics" by Eric Voegelin
4. "The Abolition of Man" by C.S. Lewis
5. "Reflections on the Revolution in France" by Edmund Burke
6. "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville
7. "The Federalist Papers" by Hamilton, Madison, Jay
8. "The Anti-Federalist"
9. "The Servile State" by Hilaire Belloc
10. "The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich August Von Hayek

Here are is four not to miss:

1. "The Tempest" by Shakespeare
2. "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen
3. "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. "The Jerusalem Bible"

I will let you discover his imposter for yourselves. He makes a great case against its use to teach conservatism. Besides the fact that is devoid of all moral codes.

Brigham Young’s Teaching on Health

As I have mentioned I have spent some time reading and studying The Discourses of Brigham Young compiled by John A. Widtsoe. I have been asked several times about my stance on health and eating. What does eating looking like Zion's way versus Babylon's way? I have a long way to go in this area. I have some opinions, but they are that, simply opinions. I believe that there is more to the Word of Wisdom than eat this or don't eat that.  I think an overall view should be looked at.  How do we view food?  What are our eating patterns? 

Since some of you do not have this book I will share various quotes from President Young on the Word of Wisdom. These are powerful quotes that have deep meanings and application in a profoud way.  Perhaps it will spark some discussion and/or lead you to your own ponderings to apply in your own life. I have omitted the extensive quotes about tobacco, tea and coffee, because I hope this is not a problem and thereby focusing on his other thoughts. The quotes are taken from chapter 16 of this book.

"Excessive eating, drinking, or exercise all tend to the grave."

"Rule your own passions, and exercise faith until you can govern and control your appetites…Permit your bodies to have natural forms; also take pains to have the bodies of your daughters grow naturally, and teach them what they are made for, and that they through faith, must overcome every besetting sin and every unholy passion and appetite."

"The strength, power, beauty and glory that once adorned that form and constitution of man have vanished away before the blighting influences of inordinate appetite and love of this world. The health and power and beauty that once adorned the noble form of man must again be restored to our race; and God designs that we shall engage in this great work of restoration."

"Then let us seek to extend the present life to the uttermost, by observing every law of health, and by properly balancing labor, study, rest, and recreation, and thus prepare for a better life. Let us teach these principles to our children, that, in the morning of their days, they may be taught to lay the foundation of health and strength and constitution and power of life in their bodies."

"By and by, according to the Scriptures, the days of a man shall be like the days of a tree. But in those days people will not eat and drink as they do now; if they do their days will not be like a tree unless it be a very short-lived tree."

"We are trying to become natural in our habits, and are striving to fulfill the end and design of our creation."

"The people have laid the foundation of short life through their diet, their rest, their labor, and their doing this, that, and the other in a wrong manner with improper motives, and at improper times."

"…good cold water…this is the beverage we should drink. It should be our drink at all times."

"As we got richer and built warm houses, and have lived more richly, indulging in sweet cake, plum pudding, roast beef and so on, we have had more or less disease among us."

"If the people were willing to receive the true knowledge from heaven in regard to their diet they would cease eating swine's flesh. I know this as well as Moses knew it, and without putting it in a code of commandments. The beef fed upon our mountain grasses is as healthy food as we need at present….Fish is as healthy a food as we can eat, if we except vegetables and fruit, and with them will become a very wholesome diet."

"The Americans, as a nation, are killing themselves with their vices and high living. As much as a man ought to eat in half an hour they swallow in three minutes, gulping down their food like the canine quadruped under the table…If you want a reform, carry out the advice I have just given you."

"When men live to the age of a tree, their food will be fruit….If every woman in this Church will now cease drinking tea, (etc.) and live upon vegetables, etc., not many generations will pass away before the days of man will again return. But it will take generations to eradicate entirely the influences of deleterious substances."

"{We should have} well ventilated dwelling-houses, especially the rooms occupied for sleeping."

"Study to preserve your bodies in life and health, and you will be able to control your minds."

"My mind becomes tired, and perhaps some of yours do. If so, go and exercise your bodies."

"Doctors make experiments, and if they find a medicine that will have the desired effect on one person, they find a medicine that will have the desired effect on one person, they set it down that it is good for everybody, but it is not so, for upon the second person that medicine is administered to seemingly with the same disease, it might produce death…I say that unless a man or woman who administers medicine to assist the human system to overcome disease, understands, and has that intuitive knowledge, by the Spirit, that such an article is good to that individual at that very time, they had better let him alone. Let the sick do without eating, take a little of something to cleanse the stomach, bowels and blood, and wait patiently, and let nature have time to gain the advantage over the disease."

"Sisters, you will take notice, … to adopt this rule-stop your child from eating meat, and especially fat meat;…let them eat a little more porridge; let them eat sparingly."

"Children should have milk, bread, water, and potatoes, and everything that would lay the foundation for disease should be strenuously kept from their stomachs, that no appetites may be formed for pernicious substance."

Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire

I have spent many hours in contemplation on how to make my prayers more meaningful. How may I hear heaven's voice?


Through my years in leadership positions I have heard a constant plea from the Bishops. "Counsel with those in your stewardships to pray. The majority of the membership is not praying, they must learn the power of their prayers." I have thought of this often. While I am praying, am I praying with a sincere heart? Do I understand the power of prayer? I am far from knowing everything but I have learned some ways to make my prayers more impactful in my life. Perhaps some of my thoughts will spark yours.


The Bible Dictionary provides a masterful discourse on the power of prayer. I share a small portion.

"The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings…

"We pray in Christ's name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ-when his words abide in us. We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ's name at all; they in no way represent his mind, but spring out of the selfishness of man's heart."

There are several profound and import lessons I learn from this.

1. God has blessings for us. He is willing to grant those blessings to us.
   
2. His blessings are contingent on our asking for them.
   
3. Receiving blessings necessitates are working and doing our share to earn them.
   
4. Prayer is work.
   
5. Prayer is how we obtain the highest of blessings.
   
6. We pray in Christ's name.
   
7. In prayer our mind must be the mind of Christ as we prayer.
   
8. In prayer our wishes must be the wishes of Christ.
   
9. In prayer our words must be the words of Christ.
   
10. When we have the mind, will, and words we may ask for things that are possible for God to grant.
    
11. Some prayers are unanswered because they were not offered with Christ's name.
    
12. Some prayers are unanswered because they represent our selfish heart.
    

For me this is an important list. There is plenty for me to work on! Many questions for me arise. Do I know what blessings God has for me? Have I asked for these blessings? Am I working to secure these blessings? Is prayer work for me? Do I sputter out a rote list of requests? Am I asking for those highest blessings? Am I praying in Christ's name in more than word only? Am I in tune with the mind, wishes and words of Christ so that I may know how to pray? Am I praying for the things I want or things God wants?


Here is another list of things that I have focused on that have added meaning to my prayers.

1. Pray out loud when possible. This helps to organize my thoughts better and requires more faith. Do I really have the faith to utter that thought out loud? This helps with understanding that prayer is work. I've began to see prayer as a "wrestle" with the Lord in which I go back and forth as He teaches me how to think and how to pray. He teaches me what to ask for. My prayers out loud would sound like a conversation that you could only hear the one side too. I have found my mute prayers end up just being a whinny list of requests with minimal effort and little revelation. With silent prayers it is certainly possible to still receive revelation, but my mind wanders and it is overall less effective for me. Even mumbled prayers are better in the bathroom then silent prayers.
   
2. Pray for specifics. This is one I know and understand but I don't always do. Why? Because it's hard and requires work. Sloth is bad. Sometimes I pray just so I can "check it off" for the day. "Yep, I said my morning prayers. I am good with the Lord." While that is good, there is something far better; communing with the Lord. Every single time I take the effort and "work" by asking for very specific things the Lord answers me. Each day I strive to ask for things as specifically as I can. "What can I do to help Leader understand how to count with money a little better today?" "What should I make for dinner today?" "Let me have an opportunity that I may learn what it means to allow my husband to protect me." "What may I do to help Sister Smith, my visiting teaching sister, feel your love today?" "How can I dress feminine today?" "Today I am going to town. We are taking the car. The kids will all be touching each other and it is inevitable that they will start fighting. How should I handle this when they do?" "I would like to start canning more this year. Are there jars somewhere that I could collect that someone may not have a need for any more?" (I did obtain 48 jars with the answer  I received to that prayer). "I am feeling sad (distressed, anxious, annoyed) today. I do not want to feel that way. What may I do right now to cast that sadness away that I may feel the hope of the Savior?" That is one that always seems to be answered. I must simply ask to have the feelings removed and then go and do and the feelings flee away. In the past I would pray to "have a good day," "have the spirit with me," and "be a good mom." That's well and good, and those prayers were always answered, but I have found when I do work and pray for specifics that the blessings are even greater.
   
3. Prayer about your roles/stewardships. I have come to realize that when I pray about my role as wife, mother, and homemaker those prayers are always more meaningful. I pray about my meals, how to be efficient in housekeeping, how to organize my day, how to teach an educational principle, how to teach, how to help my family feel my love, how to have the Spirit more fully in the home, how to recognize Satan's snares that are creeping into my home, how to fulfill counsel from my leaders that has specific relevance to my role in the home, how to help those who come inside my home feel welcome, how to let my light shine in motherhood, …. This also applies to my visiting teaching assignments, my church calling(s), my role as daughter, sister, aunt… I have learned that when I pray for things outside of my roles that I want (that's the selfish part they mentioned in the Bible Dictionary) that my prayers are rejected. I feel confused, needy, whinny, etc. I have realized when I focus on my divine role than I receive the blessings that He has promised to me. The moment I ask for things that the world says I should have by entitlement the Lord cannot bless me. (Again just like the Bible Dictionary teaches).
   
4. Gratitude. President Monson taught us well about this. We must always express our gratitude to Him the giver of all gifts. The scripture that always come to mind for me when I think about the importance of gratitude is in the Doctrine and Covenants 78:19, "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even and hundred fold, yea, more." I must remember to thank my Heavenly Father for my blessings. This also requires me to be specific. Am I specifically naming the blessings I have received that day?
   
5. Pray three times a day. Our stake president challenged us in our last stake conference to pray three times a day. This should have seemed obvious to me. How often have I read the story of Daniel and Alma where they prayed three times a day? Alma 34:21 says, "Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening." I have worked on this. I haven't been perfect, but I haven't given up. I am teaching my children to prayer three times a day as well. I have found that I have received some very specific revelation that I would not have received had I not made an effort to obey this counsel.
   
6. Repent. I must always be cleansing myself. Always repenting. Always striving to progress. To change my thoughts little by little. I feel this often when I wrestle with the Lord. He teaches me what my incorrect thought patterns are. He teaches me how to love. Sometimes I don't want to listen. I like my ideas and my agenda. This is how I lay it on the alter or how I take up the cross. Repenting should never be about us feeling worthless or stupid. When I have truly submitted to God and repented of my weaknesses, agenda, improper thought patterns, etc. I feel liberated! I feel free. I recognize a whole new world has been opened up to me!
   
7. Prayer in heart always. This principle is repeated throughout the scriptures. "Praying always that they faint not." (Doctrine and Covenants 75:11, 2 Ne. 32:9, Luke 18:1, etc). Sometimes in my weakness I say, "Must I always be heaven directed? Can't I never have my own thoughts or do my own thing? Does everything have to be spiritual?" Yeah, it does. That is if we want to inherit all the Father hath. We must give all to our Heavenly Father. Every last thought and every last deed. That's of course not to say we will be perfect anytime soon. But that is the expectation. That is why we move line upon line though. Walking. Progressing. Moving forward. Having faith. Believing Him.
   

I'd like to say I do these things all the time. I don't. Knowing what I should do is half the battle though. My friend says we aim for the stars and then we land on the moon, and Christ makes up the difference. Unless we do everything we can (work, faith) Christ can't make up the lack.


I love this hymn. It is truly a great poem. It speaks to my soul.


Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire Hymn #145

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.


Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near.


Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains
That reach The Majesty on high.


Prayer is Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heav'n with prayer.


Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"


The Saints in prayer appear as one
In word and deed and mind,
While with the Father and the Son
Their fellowship they find.


Nor prayer is made on earth alone:
The Holy Spirt pleads,
And Jesus at the Father's throne
For sinners intercedes.


O thou be whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way!
The path of prayer thyself hast trod;
 Lord, teach us how to pray.

Children’s Rights vs. Parental Rights

This little editorial appeared in our local newspaper, "The Camas Courier," in the February 9, 2011 edition. The world culture that is presented is that of an amoral society where "whatsoever a man does is no crime." This also brings to mind the prophecy from Isaiah that in the last days that evil will be called good and good evil. At the end they suggest contacting your local representatives. Did I do anything? No. My husband and I grumbled about it from home to ourselves. I'm not thinking that this helped in my public virtue quest. Perhaps you will find it interesting reading.

In the Netherlands, children enjoy an extraordinary amount of freedom. Famous for its tolerant attitudes toward drinking, smoking, drugs, and sex, the Netherlands extend much this of this tolerance to its children down to the ages of 4 with sex education. The age of sexual consent is twelve, and you can legally buy alcohol at 16. The result of this is that about 20 to 30 percent of children 12 to 13 years of age drink on a fairly regular basis (at least once a week), and around 60% of 14 to 15-year-olds drink regularly. Increasingly, these children also drink a lot (10% of 12-13-year-olds drink 5 to 8 drinks per occasion). Children can smoke pot, legally, at the age of 16 as well.

Sweden is also very good for children. Among other things, working parents have free child-care for all children between the ages of 1 and 12. The downside –sex education. Sweden already has very stringent requirements for sex-ed, but in 2008 the government started the process of eliminating all exemptions for parents (the "op out" policy), including parents with religious and philosophical differences. This change was primarily aimed at Sweden's large Muslim immigrant populations, many of who claimed religious exemptions for sex-ed classes.

In 2007, an Italian court ordered the parents of Friday Germano to rename his Gregory. When the parents refused, the court changed the child's name itself, over the parents' objections, because the judge felt that the name recalled the servile savage Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe, and because superstitious Italians consider Friday an unlucky day. The court picked "Gregory" after the saint whose feast day fell on the boy's birthday. Under Italian law, officials at city hall are required to report all "unusual names" to the Italian government, which then has the authority to change them-even over the objection of the parents.

Whether you like the lower drinking ages, or you think sex-ed is a good thing, or you agree that children should not be burdened with unusual names, none of these issues were decided by the people of these countries. These policies were the direct result of these countries ratifying a treaty called the "United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child." Strangely enough, the UN has told the Netherlands (the poster child of child rights) that they have not done enough to implement the UNCRC.

Out of almost 200 UN member nations, only two countries have ratified this treaty-Somalia and the United States. Why? Never mind that it is largely ignored by most of the ratifying countries, it would obligate the U.S. government to violate long held legal precendents of parental rights. This would happen because many courts in the U.S. already accept the idea that parental rights are not constitutionally protected, including Supreme Court Justice, Anthony Scalia.

So far, the U.S. has not been interested in ratifying this treaty, but there are many who believe we need a constitutional amendment to permanently protect parental rights-particularly given the events of the last two years.

This week, the Idaho House of Representatives will be voting on House Joint Memorial No. 1. If passed, it will send the message that the Idaho legislature wants Congress to pass a Parent Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

If you support this idea, contact your Idaho representatives today.