A friend called me this week to talk about the Come Follow Me reading assignment. We talked about deliverance, one of the big themes in the book of Mosiah. I also came across this short clip about being rescued. It’s too good to keep to myself.
Category: Faith
Ward conferences report
We finished a very intense ward conference season on Sunday and I feel a mixture of emotions. As stake Primary president, I have had speaking assignments, teaching opportunities, and ministering visits which have taken my energy and some of my health (cold and flu season stuff), but I miraculously rallied each weekend thanks to the prayers of good friends.
I have felt the love of God for his children, and Primary children in every ward were well behaved and anxious to participate. I have seen a leap in their knowledge and understanding during the past few years because families are teaching them from the scriptures at home. The Come Follow Me program has amazing results!
The passing of my first counselor Anne’s husband in the midst of these conferences has been a source of deep sadness. These words from the Book of Mormon are true of my inspired and faithful presidency, “But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless, they stand fast.” (Alma 58:40)
Here are some words from the song that I taught in each Primary that summarize my thoughts, “I know He lives, I will follow faithfully, my heart I give to him, I know that my Savior loves me.”
Parenting through the veil
I am remembering the anniversary of my grandmother’s passing, Rebecca’s passing, and now my counselor’s husband’s passing. My friend shared a quote with me and I have reflected on it a lot this week. President Nelson said this at his daughter’s funeral, directed to her children. So, this is not something he shared at General Conference. I find it very comforting and it affirms my faith that familiar angels minister to us.
“She can minister to you in what I call ‘parenting through the veil.’ She can see us more clearly than we can see her. We cannot forget her. We do not cease to love her. We are sealed to her by eternal ties. She loves us now more than ever. Her desire for our well-being will be even greater than that which we feel for ourselves. So, dear family, stay tuned.”
Russell M. Nelson
Good Shepherd
This is one passage that I enjoyed in this lovely book,
The only sheep I kept at the ranch house were “the bums,” as orphan lambs were called in sheep parlance. They needed special care and I needed them. At the homestead they had been given their bottles of heated milk before we left the cabin, and then they followed the bunch, never very far ahead of me, however. I am sure they looked on me as just another old ewe. They were an engaging and endearing group, gamboling along the trail, playing and jumping, appreciative to a degree, the gentlest of all pets, for that is what they grew into…
As grown ewes, the former “bums” never seemed to forget the care they had received and were often leaders, cooperative and usually obedient.
Margaret Duncan Brown
Sheep are generally prone to fear and panic. Like us, they follow the wrong paths easily. No wonder the Lord is called the Good Shepherd, because he knows where to seek his sheep. No one can find rest without his special care, and those who rely upon him most come to know him best.
The Good Shepherd never gives up on us. Will we have eyes to see his efforts to help?
I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick…
Ezekiel 33:16
Work in progress
I am getting pretty close to finishing this little project, which is based on a very famous painting. I know what it will look like when it’s finished, but it’s still a mystery to me how this is all going to come together. What a metaphor for my life.
I planning for a few months of ward conferences, so despite winter telling me to rest, I have a very full season ahead. My first counselor, on whom I depend so much, is carefully watching over her husband in his final days on earth. These years of serving in our stake callings have not shielded us from life’s challenges. My second counselor Susan passed away suddenly in 2022. Among the women in my presidency, which have changed over time, we have faced milestones along with the challenges. We’ve sent 5 missionaries into the world, had 3 children get married, and had 1 grandchild and one great-grandchild born. We have led during a pandemic and experienced two major surgeries with long recoveries. And now, my counselor’s husband is in hospice care.
There are some challenging days ahead, but if I have learned anything through my service, it is that my Heavenly Father will give me the strength to do what he has called me to do. He is doing the same for my presidency and for you.
For you.
I hope you will enjoy this new advent calendar that I prepared for 2023 about prayer.
If you click on the image, it will allow you to print or download the calendar.
Wishing you a very happy Christmas,
Angela
2023 Advent Calendars
Today I began delivering my 2023 scripture advent calendars to my friends. The theme of the calendar this year is prayer.
As I made my deliveries, the walk in the cold air and bright sunlight was lifegiving. This year, I am giving a small rock with each advent, so I was carrying a big bag of rocks, but it got lighter over time. 😂
These scriptures are meaningful to me and show what I have been thinking about this year. I’m not trying to correct anyone, but I want to share light.
Focus
I appreciated President Nelson’s words to new mission leaders, so I made this reminder to put in my kitchen.
This was the article if you want to do an Internet search for it:
A new piece of art in our home
What stands out to you in this painting?
For me, it is the woman’s sweet face and attitude.
Here is the artist’s statement,
This painting is a personification of justice being satisfied by the gift of Christ, symbolized by light, and of mercy claiming the penitent man. This stands for the grace extended to all such souls who put their faith in Christ. “For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved. What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God” (Alma 42:24; 25). These figures are complex, multifaceted symbolical elements in the composition. Further elements include a large spacious field representing the world, the sunset representing the end of the earthly life that each person eventually faces, and the balustrade separating mortal life from the next stage of existence.
from the Church of Jesus Christ website
The original painting is on display in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, and I ordered a canvas print of it from the Church History Museum gift shop.
I love what it teaches without words about Jesus Christ, justice, and mercy.
Consistent.
Here is a description I discovered this week of an early Christian sacrament meeting:
And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgiving, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.
Justin Martyr, First Apology, written A.D. 147-161
I feel a kinship with the early church when I read this. It is a precious gift to be able to participate in sacrament meetings in the Restored Church of Jesus Christ.