This talk was written for Stake Conference of the Bloomington Utah Stake November 7, 2010. I was asked to speak on this topic for six minutes. When President Anderson called, he indicated that he thought it was harder to speak for just six minutes than for twenty because every word would be so weighted and the time so short. I indeed found this to be true. I struggled to cut this talk to just over six minutes. When I actually gave it, it took longer, because there were several places in the story that the audience laughed…. Don’t they realize I’m on a timer? I think it went over well. The audience was nearly asleep when I stood, I’ll just say they weren’t asleep after my first five minutes. Everyone had laughed a couple of times waking those snoozing.
This story is not mine, but I have felt prompted to share this story taken from the New Era September 1990. I hope you will find a way that you relate to this story, and consider how you would handle the situation if you were the characters.
The Junior Prom was just a few weeks away, and I was 16. This year I could actually go. All I needed was a date.
Finally, one week before the dance a nice young man asked to take me to the prom. All the way home, I felt as excited as a kid waiting for Christmas.
“Mom, you will not believe this. The most wonderful thing has happened.” The words burst out like firecrackers. “I’ve got a date for the Junior Prom!” I danced around the kitchen as my mother reacted with enthusiasm.
Then it hit me, and I said, “I’ve got a serious problem. I don’t have a thing to wear.” And I didn’t. I was one of nine children, and we didn’t have much money. I had a wonderful mother with many talents, but they did not include being able to take a piece of material and turn it into a beautiful prom dress. I knew I was asking for more than my share when I said, “Is there any way I could buy a formal?”
There wasn’t much opportunity to earn money with all the work I did helping out at home. The problem was presented to my dad, and my prayers had to have made the top ten Most Fervent.
“This is very important to you, isn’t it, sweetheart?” my dad said. And the tone of his voice made me feel another miracle was on its way. “We’ll find the money. You’ve got to have a formal.” I hugged him and proclaimed him to be the most wonderful father on earth.
The next day Mother and I went shopping. Do you know what the styles were in the 50s when I was 16? Strapless evening gowns. And President David O. McKay taught modesty then just as President Thomas S. Monson does today. Some things never change. Styles do, but the need to be modest never does.
As I stood in the dress shop that day, I knew these strapless gowns were not modest. But that’s all there was. We went to another shop, and again only strapless evening gowns. We went to yet another shop and found the same story. As I looked down the rack in the last shop, my eye was pulled to a beautiful peach gown with rows and rows of the kind of ruffles I’d dreamed of. I said, “Oh, Mom, look! It’s so beautiful. Can I try it on? I know I can’t get it because it’s strapless, but it’s so pretty. Can I just try it on, you know, to see if I really look good in this color?”
“Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to just try it on,” Mom said. And with that I was off to the dressing room. Quickly I put it on, zipped it up, and looked in the mirror. It took my breath away. I had to have this dress. And besides it occurred to me that if strapless was all there was in the dress shops then guess what everyone at the dance would be wearing. All of a sudden I wanted to be “in.”
I walked out wearing the dress and said, “Mom, we have searched everywhere and there just isn’t anything, so I guess we’re just forced into this purchase.”
She smiled and said, “No we’re not. But it is beautiful, and it does come up quite high. Maybe we could get some material and add to the top to make it modest.”
Feeling slightly foiled, I thanked her profusely. We bought the dress and the material and headed for home.
The next day, before my mother had a chance to make the needed adjustments for my dress, the phone rang. My brother and his wife, 400 miles away, called to say they had just given birth to the very first grandchild in our family and they needed Mother’s help. She was so excited, she was on a bus in a matter of hours and forgot all about making the additions to my dress. And so did I, sort of.
The night of the prom arrived, and Mother was still gone. The thought of going to the prom in my gorgeous new strapless evening gown created a pulse rate I could actually see. About 15 minutes before my date was to arrive I was ready and walked out into the living room. There was my dad.
He took one look at me and said, “Where did you get that dress?”
And I replied with feigned innocence, “Mother bought it for me.”
He was not convinced. “Mother would never buy you that dress without a plan. Now tell me the plan.”
“There was a plan, Dad. Mom was going to add some material to the top, but she didn’t get a chance before she left. And, Dad, I’m just sick about it, but I have to go this way.”
My dad was not persuaded. He firmly asked. “Where’s the material?” I could feel cardiac arrest coming on.
“Bring it to me, and a needle and thread and scissors, too. Quickly.” I went to get the items thinking, “I have never seen those big calloused hands sew anything but seeds.”
Dad held up the material and looked it over, then laid it on the table and folded it until it was a band about six inches wide. He then took one end of it and began sewing it to one side of the top of my dress, using tiny little stitches, the kind you can’t pull out. Then he wrapped it around my shoulders, cut off the excess, and stitched the end firmly in place on the other side. He fanned the fabric out, and I was modest.
As I stood there I thought, “Tonight is the night I die.”
I went to my mirror to look at the damage. To my surprise it didn’t look too bad. A ruffle hid most of the stitches. Just then the doorbell rang, and there was my date.
That night, as we danced around the floor amidst all those bare shoulders, something happened. Nobody else knew it happened, but I knew because it happened inside of me. Suddenly I was filled with an overwhelming love for my dad. It surprised me. Somehow, throughout my whole being, I knew how much my dad loved me. He loved me enough to insist that I not go to a dance dressed immodestly. It felt good.
I testify that “Parenting is not a popularity contest!”
Are we doing our Very Best?
With a missionary in the field, our desires have intensified as we have sought Exacting Obedience as Helaman’s army. I pray my children may indeed be firm and undaunted. That they may not doubt, their Mother knew and their father knew, deeply, such that they cannot deny it!
I testify that we should as Sister Dalton has counseled “Stand firm and let the very voices who cry for tolerance to not tolerate you and your view.” Hold tightly to the rod of iron, don’t get lost in the mist.
Follow the standards in For the Strength of Youth. Do not tune out… tune in with exactness. When you are experiencing turbulence, “slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials.”
“Be Strong and of Good Courage!”
“Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light.” President Uchtdorf
Indeed we have been sent to the kingdom for such a time as this! Queen Ester
That was the end of the time I was given. These notes that follow were great ideas that I simply didn't have time to include.
Let’s stand with Elder Boyd K. Packer for families. We have been counseled: Do not let the very voices who cry for tolerance to not tolerate you.
This isn’t my story, but I am grateful to have had a Dad like this. I always knew that he and my Mom would do whatever it took for me to be modest. I knew that they would rescue me from a party when an inappropriate movie was started. I knew they would be up waiting for me, worried and upset if I wasn’t in by the stroke of midnight. It was my Dad who knew the very date that the boy I had been out with once before was going to try to kiss me, and he warned me before I left to not fall to his prey, and allow him to kiss me. He cared enough to challenge me to keep my standards high, that if he was really a friend, he would respect boundaries, and honor me for staying pure and innocent. I am so grateful to him! That boy did try to kiss me that night. He tried, and tried again. I dodged and ducked, and at the end of the night returned home without having been kissed. I determined for myself after that date that any boy who truly cared about me would respect those boundaries that my Dad had helped me (even against my teenage heartache) to draw, my own line in the sand as it were where I would not cross. I remember well the stake conference like this when our stake president, President Hilton stood and challenged the families in our stake to not have two separate video closets. He proclaimed that videos not worthy of little children’s eyes were not worthy for adult eyes. I was proud that my family was one who would not have to do away with an adult closet of videos. My parents stood firm on that proclamation by our then stake president and prophet, and still do today. It is a mantra I have been given to not participate in movies at all not suitable for children, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
My Dad was like the country song says:
Now Daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along
Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on
He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light
But you could always find him standing up
For what he thought was right
He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
I recognize that for my parents, they saw that were times in my life I stood on the railroad tracks as Elder Lawrence mentioned in General Conference last month. They “heard the train whistle blowing… and warned (me) to get (me) off the tracks. They did not hesitate, worried that I might complain that they were being overprotective. They did what they felt they needed to to quickly move me to a safe place. My parents love for me, their daughter was more important than all other considerations. They valued my life more than my goodwill for which I will be forever grateful! They believed Elder Joe J. Christensen’s advice that “parenting is not a popularity contest.”2
I reminds me of the vision of the Book of Mormon prophets Lehi and his son Nephi. They saw a rod of iron which lead to a tree.
24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, aclinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the bfruit of the tree.
25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were aashamed.
26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the aother side of the river of water, a great and bspacious building; and it stood as it were in the cair, high above the earth.
27 And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the aattitude of bmocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
28 And after they had atasted of the fruit they were bashamed, because of those that were cscoffing at them; and they dfell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak aall the words of my father.
30 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the arod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
31 And he also saw other amultitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.
32 And it came to pass that many were drowned in the adepths of the bfountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.
33 And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of ascorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.
34 These are the words of my father: For as many as aheeded them, had fallen away.
Every generation of people have had their own version of the trogan horse. It has been said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Where are the trogan horses of today? We live in a time when it is well known that terrorists who truly do destroy look are cloked in clothes, hidden right in our mist. It would be much easier if the trogan horse would stand out, obvious and even vial as Goliath. Satan knows that’s not his way into our homes today. He knows we would not open the front door and allow that into our homes. Instead he has learned to find pathways to our hearts, others who point fingers of scorn at those partaking of the fruit.
Our prophets warn: “Be Strong and of a Good Courage!”
Esther come to the kingdom for such a time as this
Parents, I wonder do our children know as the Armies of Helaman? We talk of preparing them, teaching them, but do they know? Have they seen us take a stand, showing in word and deed that we KNOW, and do not doubt?
Be your own kind of beautiful
Keri’s yw –mom calling to have courage to tell daughter no
No place in the scriptures is there an example of parents letin children just roam.
Levels of understanding – levels of obedience – levels of courage challenge to take your obedience to a new level
Missionary total obedience have I modeled this? Now how can I lift my obedience to an increased level?
Increased level –
Elder Robert D. Hales has observed, “Sometimes we are afraid of our children—afraid to counsel with them for fear of offending them.”3
Challenge you to pull out an old fashioned pencil, and consider the values considered by many today to be old fashioned. Consider how you stand and if those around you know where you stand on the values of life? Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Are you doing your best? Everytime you pick up that trusty yellow pencil, remind yourself to do better than you did on those values yesterday.
Sheep poem – Charles dahlquist – when the sheep of the fold then the lambs?
Warrior scripture.
Parenting – if the spirit says “Don’t” – listen!
Sleepovers – be courageous – nothing good happens late at night!
I knew my Dad would be coming for me.
Elder Hales not old enough to go to the movie – be courageous
Stupid cow – teach our kids the grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence!
The biggest way to make a difference in the world is righteous children – Sister Dalton – can one person make a difference – resounding YES!
Constant prayer constant attention to detail it is in the details that we lose them. It is not usually one event that leads us astray, we are poisoned by degrees
Slowly lead away. We have goliaths we are facing.
The courageous parent is the unsung hero until we will be recognized by the ultimate judge our heavenly father
Our goliaths are open and obvious they often pose as friends.
Be strong and of good courage! 2010
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtous
See themes from past couple of years.
Unflappable - Persistently calm, whether when facing difficulties or experiencing success; not easily upset or excited.
hard to upset; imperturbable; calm; composed
Stars and Dots
A daughter of a King
“When stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be.”
“One of the characteristics of modern life seems to be that we are moving at an ever-increasing rate, regardless of turbulence or obstacles.”
“There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions.”
Next time you pick up a pencil or pen, I challenge you to think personally about your life, and ask if you are traveling at optimal speed? Good Better Best was the message from Elder Oaks October 2007 conference. Are you being courageous? Are you standing on, or watching as someone you love stands on the railroad tracks? Is that really Best? How many times have you been called to and warned?
Challenges and temptations are coming at our teenagers with the speed and power of a freight train.”
That is not the optimal place to stand! Get out of the way, and take your loved ones with you!
Find the “optimum turbulence penetration speed that will minimize the negative effects of turbulence.” The Holy Spirit will help you.
Leonardo da Vinci is quoted as saying that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”3
This story is not mine, but I have felt prompted to share this story taken from the New Era September 1990. I hope you will find a way that you relate to this story, and consider how you would handle the situation if you were the characters.
The Junior Prom was just a few weeks away, and I was 16. This year I could actually go. All I needed was a date.
Finally, one week before the dance a nice young man asked to take me to the prom. All the way home, I felt as excited as a kid waiting for Christmas.
“Mom, you will not believe this. The most wonderful thing has happened.” The words burst out like firecrackers. “I’ve got a date for the Junior Prom!” I danced around the kitchen as my mother reacted with enthusiasm.
Then it hit me, and I said, “I’ve got a serious problem. I don’t have a thing to wear.” And I didn’t. I was one of nine children, and we didn’t have much money. I had a wonderful mother with many talents, but they did not include being able to take a piece of material and turn it into a beautiful prom dress. I knew I was asking for more than my share when I said, “Is there any way I could buy a formal?”
There wasn’t much opportunity to earn money with all the work I did helping out at home. The problem was presented to my dad, and my prayers had to have made the top ten Most Fervent.
“This is very important to you, isn’t it, sweetheart?” my dad said. And the tone of his voice made me feel another miracle was on its way. “We’ll find the money. You’ve got to have a formal.” I hugged him and proclaimed him to be the most wonderful father on earth.
The next day Mother and I went shopping. Do you know what the styles were in the 50s when I was 16? Strapless evening gowns. And President David O. McKay taught modesty then just as President Thomas S. Monson does today. Some things never change. Styles do, but the need to be modest never does.
As I stood in the dress shop that day, I knew these strapless gowns were not modest. But that’s all there was. We went to another shop, and again only strapless evening gowns. We went to yet another shop and found the same story. As I looked down the rack in the last shop, my eye was pulled to a beautiful peach gown with rows and rows of the kind of ruffles I’d dreamed of. I said, “Oh, Mom, look! It’s so beautiful. Can I try it on? I know I can’t get it because it’s strapless, but it’s so pretty. Can I just try it on, you know, to see if I really look good in this color?”
“Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to just try it on,” Mom said. And with that I was off to the dressing room. Quickly I put it on, zipped it up, and looked in the mirror. It took my breath away. I had to have this dress. And besides it occurred to me that if strapless was all there was in the dress shops then guess what everyone at the dance would be wearing. All of a sudden I wanted to be “in.”
I walked out wearing the dress and said, “Mom, we have searched everywhere and there just isn’t anything, so I guess we’re just forced into this purchase.”
She smiled and said, “No we’re not. But it is beautiful, and it does come up quite high. Maybe we could get some material and add to the top to make it modest.”
Feeling slightly foiled, I thanked her profusely. We bought the dress and the material and headed for home.
The next day, before my mother had a chance to make the needed adjustments for my dress, the phone rang. My brother and his wife, 400 miles away, called to say they had just given birth to the very first grandchild in our family and they needed Mother’s help. She was so excited, she was on a bus in a matter of hours and forgot all about making the additions to my dress. And so did I, sort of.
The night of the prom arrived, and Mother was still gone. The thought of going to the prom in my gorgeous new strapless evening gown created a pulse rate I could actually see. About 15 minutes before my date was to arrive I was ready and walked out into the living room. There was my dad.
He took one look at me and said, “Where did you get that dress?”
And I replied with feigned innocence, “Mother bought it for me.”
He was not convinced. “Mother would never buy you that dress without a plan. Now tell me the plan.”
“There was a plan, Dad. Mom was going to add some material to the top, but she didn’t get a chance before she left. And, Dad, I’m just sick about it, but I have to go this way.”
My dad was not persuaded. He firmly asked. “Where’s the material?” I could feel cardiac arrest coming on.
“Bring it to me, and a needle and thread and scissors, too. Quickly.” I went to get the items thinking, “I have never seen those big calloused hands sew anything but seeds.”
Dad held up the material and looked it over, then laid it on the table and folded it until it was a band about six inches wide. He then took one end of it and began sewing it to one side of the top of my dress, using tiny little stitches, the kind you can’t pull out. Then he wrapped it around my shoulders, cut off the excess, and stitched the end firmly in place on the other side. He fanned the fabric out, and I was modest.
As I stood there I thought, “Tonight is the night I die.”
I went to my mirror to look at the damage. To my surprise it didn’t look too bad. A ruffle hid most of the stitches. Just then the doorbell rang, and there was my date.
That night, as we danced around the floor amidst all those bare shoulders, something happened. Nobody else knew it happened, but I knew because it happened inside of me. Suddenly I was filled with an overwhelming love for my dad. It surprised me. Somehow, throughout my whole being, I knew how much my dad loved me. He loved me enough to insist that I not go to a dance dressed immodestly. It felt good.
I testify that “Parenting is not a popularity contest!”
Are we doing our Very Best?
With a missionary in the field, our desires have intensified as we have sought Exacting Obedience as Helaman’s army. I pray my children may indeed be firm and undaunted. That they may not doubt, their Mother knew and their father knew, deeply, such that they cannot deny it!
I testify that we should as Sister Dalton has counseled “Stand firm and let the very voices who cry for tolerance to not tolerate you and your view.” Hold tightly to the rod of iron, don’t get lost in the mist.
Follow the standards in For the Strength of Youth. Do not tune out… tune in with exactness. When you are experiencing turbulence, “slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials.”
“Be Strong and of Good Courage!”
“Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light.” President Uchtdorf
Indeed we have been sent to the kingdom for such a time as this! Queen Ester
That was the end of the time I was given. These notes that follow were great ideas that I simply didn't have time to include.
Let’s stand with Elder Boyd K. Packer for families. We have been counseled: Do not let the very voices who cry for tolerance to not tolerate you.
This isn’t my story, but I am grateful to have had a Dad like this. I always knew that he and my Mom would do whatever it took for me to be modest. I knew that they would rescue me from a party when an inappropriate movie was started. I knew they would be up waiting for me, worried and upset if I wasn’t in by the stroke of midnight. It was my Dad who knew the very date that the boy I had been out with once before was going to try to kiss me, and he warned me before I left to not fall to his prey, and allow him to kiss me. He cared enough to challenge me to keep my standards high, that if he was really a friend, he would respect boundaries, and honor me for staying pure and innocent. I am so grateful to him! That boy did try to kiss me that night. He tried, and tried again. I dodged and ducked, and at the end of the night returned home without having been kissed. I determined for myself after that date that any boy who truly cared about me would respect those boundaries that my Dad had helped me (even against my teenage heartache) to draw, my own line in the sand as it were where I would not cross. I remember well the stake conference like this when our stake president, President Hilton stood and challenged the families in our stake to not have two separate video closets. He proclaimed that videos not worthy of little children’s eyes were not worthy for adult eyes. I was proud that my family was one who would not have to do away with an adult closet of videos. My parents stood firm on that proclamation by our then stake president and prophet, and still do today. It is a mantra I have been given to not participate in movies at all not suitable for children, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
My Dad was like the country song says:
Now Daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along
Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on
He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light
But you could always find him standing up
For what he thought was right
He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
I recognize that for my parents, they saw that were times in my life I stood on the railroad tracks as Elder Lawrence mentioned in General Conference last month. They “heard the train whistle blowing… and warned (me) to get (me) off the tracks. They did not hesitate, worried that I might complain that they were being overprotective. They did what they felt they needed to to quickly move me to a safe place. My parents love for me, their daughter was more important than all other considerations. They valued my life more than my goodwill for which I will be forever grateful! They believed Elder Joe J. Christensen’s advice that “parenting is not a popularity contest.”2
I reminds me of the vision of the Book of Mormon prophets Lehi and his son Nephi. They saw a rod of iron which lead to a tree.
24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, aclinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the bfruit of the tree.
25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were aashamed.
26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the aother side of the river of water, a great and bspacious building; and it stood as it were in the cair, high above the earth.
27 And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the aattitude of bmocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
28 And after they had atasted of the fruit they were bashamed, because of those that were cscoffing at them; and they dfell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak aall the words of my father.
30 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the arod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
31 And he also saw other amultitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.
32 And it came to pass that many were drowned in the adepths of the bfountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.
33 And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of ascorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.
34 These are the words of my father: For as many as aheeded them, had fallen away.
Every generation of people have had their own version of the trogan horse. It has been said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Where are the trogan horses of today? We live in a time when it is well known that terrorists who truly do destroy look are cloked in clothes, hidden right in our mist. It would be much easier if the trogan horse would stand out, obvious and even vial as Goliath. Satan knows that’s not his way into our homes today. He knows we would not open the front door and allow that into our homes. Instead he has learned to find pathways to our hearts, others who point fingers of scorn at those partaking of the fruit.
Our prophets warn: “Be Strong and of a Good Courage!”
Esther come to the kingdom for such a time as this
Parents, I wonder do our children know as the Armies of Helaman? We talk of preparing them, teaching them, but do they know? Have they seen us take a stand, showing in word and deed that we KNOW, and do not doubt?
Be your own kind of beautiful
Keri’s yw –mom calling to have courage to tell daughter no
No place in the scriptures is there an example of parents letin children just roam.
Levels of understanding – levels of obedience – levels of courage challenge to take your obedience to a new level
Missionary total obedience have I modeled this? Now how can I lift my obedience to an increased level?
Increased level –
Elder Robert D. Hales has observed, “Sometimes we are afraid of our children—afraid to counsel with them for fear of offending them.”3
Challenge you to pull out an old fashioned pencil, and consider the values considered by many today to be old fashioned. Consider how you stand and if those around you know where you stand on the values of life? Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Are you doing your best? Everytime you pick up that trusty yellow pencil, remind yourself to do better than you did on those values yesterday.
Sheep poem – Charles dahlquist – when the sheep of the fold then the lambs?
Warrior scripture.
Parenting – if the spirit says “Don’t” – listen!
Sleepovers – be courageous – nothing good happens late at night!
I knew my Dad would be coming for me.
Elder Hales not old enough to go to the movie – be courageous
Stupid cow – teach our kids the grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence!
The biggest way to make a difference in the world is righteous children – Sister Dalton – can one person make a difference – resounding YES!
Constant prayer constant attention to detail it is in the details that we lose them. It is not usually one event that leads us astray, we are poisoned by degrees
Slowly lead away. We have goliaths we are facing.
The courageous parent is the unsung hero until we will be recognized by the ultimate judge our heavenly father
Our goliaths are open and obvious they often pose as friends.
Be strong and of good courage! 2010
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtous
See themes from past couple of years.
Unflappable - Persistently calm, whether when facing difficulties or experiencing success; not easily upset or excited.
hard to upset; imperturbable; calm; composed
Stars and Dots
A daughter of a King
“When stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be.”
“One of the characteristics of modern life seems to be that we are moving at an ever-increasing rate, regardless of turbulence or obstacles.”
“There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions.”
Next time you pick up a pencil or pen, I challenge you to think personally about your life, and ask if you are traveling at optimal speed? Good Better Best was the message from Elder Oaks October 2007 conference. Are you being courageous? Are you standing on, or watching as someone you love stands on the railroad tracks? Is that really Best? How many times have you been called to and warned?
Challenges and temptations are coming at our teenagers with the speed and power of a freight train.”
That is not the optimal place to stand! Get out of the way, and take your loved ones with you!
Find the “optimum turbulence penetration speed that will minimize the negative effects of turbulence.” The Holy Spirit will help you.
Leonardo da Vinci is quoted as saying that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”3