Category Archives: Divinity

The spiritual side of motherhood.

I’m thinking of changing my blog name to “Temples and Vomit”

Posted in Diapers, Divinity by

It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?  And it seems like a natural progression from “Diapers and Divinity” because it more accurately reflects where my life is today.  Or yesterday, if I’m going to be really specific.

Yesterday, my family went to the Brigham City temple open house. I love temples because they are peaceful and lovely and the only building I know of where the whole entire thing is an emergency exit. When life feels a little frightening or overwhelming, it’s a safe place for my soul. That’s why I wanted to take my children. Don’t tell anybody official, but we went through the open house twice in a row. Grant wanted to go again because “I like the way it feels.”  Me, too, buddy. Me too.

After we left, we stopped for dinner at a Mexican restaurant, trying to turn the whole event into a special Family Home Evening. In retrospect, when Grant said he didn’t feel very well, I shouldn’t have told him to eat his dinner anyway. I found this little journal entry he wrote on the couch this morning. I’ll let him tell you our tale of woe in his own words:

And you know? Such is life. One minute things are glorious and celestial, and another minute you’re spending an hour in a gas station parking lot trying to figure out how to get the smell of horchata and bean burritos out of your brand new car’s upholstery without vomiting yourself. If we’re honest with ourselves, it seems some days are more vomit than temple, or more diapers than divinity, but today I’m trying to look at it like it’s a penny jar. Every time we see a glimpse of heaven in our children or our blessings or ourselves, it’s like dropping a coin in a jar that we’re saving up for something special. I guess what we end up purchasing with it is a “vacation” if you want to look ahead as far as heaven, but I think we’re earning our wings with each penny. We’re investing in who we know we can be. And like a temple under construction, despite the garbage in the world (or day) around us, we can somehow find and be a safe place for the people we love most.

Countdown to Family Proclamation Celebration: 6 days

Preparing to be fed.

Posted in Divinity, General Conference Book Club by

It’s Fast Sunday, so it’s gonna be about food analogies today.

General Conference is only a month away. If you have any knowledge of this blog’s history, you probably know how much I love General Conference.  Becca has faithfully been nursing my General Conference Book Club over at her blog, and I’m so thankful to her for doing that. I recently saw that Mormon Soprano is hosting a 37/37 challenge at her blog. The idea is to (start like 3 days ago and) read one conference talk a day from the last General Conference as a way to get read for this upcoming conference.  I think it’s a great idea, and I’m going to try to do that.

Also, Michelle, who blogs at Mormon Women, recently suggested that it would be a great idea to read Daughters in My Kingdom as a way to prepare for our upcoming General Relief Society broadcast. We have a new general RS president, and, frankly, she’s got big shoes to fill. I feel for her, but know she has been called to meet a specific need that surely the Lord has prepared her for. Maybe studying Daughters in My Kingdom can help us to approach that meeting with a focus on our divine role as women and the Lord’s vision for the Relief Society.

What does this have to do with food? I think the more we prepare ourselves for the feast that General Conference really is, the more we will be fed spiritually. We will prepare our minds and hearts for God’s voice through His servants. So whether you want to try one of the ideas I mentioned above, or whether you want to start thinking through some of your own questions and concerns and start praying about them with a mind to receive answers at conference, or whether you have your own great ideas, the point is: people, get ready.

I looked up scriptures about preparing our minds, and this is what I found:

  • Alma 39:16

    16 And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.

  • Alma 16:16

    16 And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming—

  • 3 Nephi 17:3

    3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.

  • Alma 34:3

    3 And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he should make known unto you what ye should do, because of your afflictions; and he hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your minds; yea, and he hath exhorted you unto faith and to patience—

Many of these scriptures refer to preparing for Christ’s coming, which is referred to in the Bible as the wedding feast, and those who are prepared are able to celebrate with Him. It seems that while General Conference is not the same as His coming, it is a chance to hear His voice and feast on His words.

I was surprised today, even though I shouldn’t have been, how quickly the Lord will answer our prayers when we seek Him. I had something on my mind that has been bothering me. I knew it was a matter of my own attitude, and I needed some help to change my perspective and focus on things “as they really are.” It became the purpose of my fasting. As I sat in Relief Society today, as soon as I heard the title of the lesson, I knew I was being fed the answer I was hungry for. And so it is.

“If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?” Luke 11:11

Heavenly Father is so quick to feed us when we prepare ourselves to be fed. And I love Him for it.

If a blog die, shall it live again?

Posted in Diapers, Divinity by

Hi.

Um, remember me?

Of course a dead blog can live again!  It totally can. Right? I checked Google Reader, and some people are actually still subscribed here. It might be an accident, but still…. (Does anyone even use Google Reader anymore?) Plus, whether they actually mean to be or not, there’s still a handful of people that subscribe by email, so hello there long-lost inboxes.

Wow. So where do I start?  I have so much to tell you. Really. Let’s transition carefully back into blogging, shall we? I think I’ll start with a bunch of mini blog posts just so we can all get used to each other again.

Mini-post #1:  Guess What?

Remember how I only occasionally popped in during the summer to beg you to vote for me in that video contest?  Well, I don’t know how to tell you this without a formal plan to compensate you for your goodness, but I won!!!  I’m not even kidding– I won a cruise. Matt and I are going in October and I’m very excited about that. It took a little bit of manipulative creative negotiating to convince Clark that even though it was his story that won the trip, it would still be better for Matt and I to take the trip together.  I’m sure that with the passage of time and maybe a small amount of therapy, he will find it in his heart to not feel completely ripped off. And I will find it in my heart to sit on a ship deck and read books and drink virgin daiquiris.

Mini-post #2: No, Really, Guess What?!?

This part is almost too exciting to say. I’m truly afraid that by embracing it, I may somehow curse it. The reason I took a blog sabbatical in the first place is because I, honest to goodness, felt down in my soul that I needed to write a book. I had never before in my life imagined myself authoring a book, but I felt (select the word that you’re most comfortable with here–>) prompted/compelled/pushed/inspired/obligated to write a book about my testimony concerning motherhood. I have spent a good part of the last decade of my life studying motherhood in a gospel context, and I felt the pieces coming together little by little in ways that gave me new insight and purpose. Motherhood was still hard–it’s always been kind of hard–but I felt like I was starting to get it.  And then I felt like I should write it all down. So I did. And (here’s the exciting part) I recently got word that it’s going to be published. As in, printed by someone else in an actual book that will appear in LDS bookstores next Spring. I’m not the type of person that writes things like *squeeee!* or “yippee! yippee!,” but if I were, I would write that here right now. Other than the fact that I feel a tiny bit terrified, plus an equally tiny bit inadequate, I love the thought and hope that maybe, just maybe, my book might help some mom out there (especially a mom of young children) “get it.” And by “get it,” I really mean get herself–see herself and what she’s doing as she really is and how much it really counts. So, yes, yay for that.

Mini-post #3: In Which a Mom and Her Kids All Grow Up a Little.

Something unbelievably amazing has happened. Perhaps even more amazing than a cruise or a book deal. (I realize that this would be the easy place for anyone who’s having a bad day to hit the delete button real quick before my life gets any luckier, but please don’t. I promise I’m not bragging. And I think this next piece of news just might be some kind of balm for your weary soul. Maybe.) When I started this blog, all three of my children were in some stage of diapers. It is with no small amount of shock that I announce to you that last week, they all started school. All of them. From morning until early afternoon.  Look!  Look at this picture and tell me that they are not the cutest people you’ve ever seen. Just try.

Anyway, I’ve blogged a lot over the years about the stages of motherhood, and how sometimes times and seasons must be endured-slash-appreciated for what they really are. When my oldest went to kindergarten, I felt like I had entered Stage 2 parenting. There were glimpses of my children’s growing independence, and I found random bursts, no matter how brief, of “down” time, where I could choose to read a book, or nap, or hang up my clothes, or nap. Now, my friends, I think I have entered Stage 3. Yes, they are older, and make bigger messes, and more noise, and have developed some snarky habits, but trust me when I say: It is glorious. Do you know what I did yesterday? I did a workout video in my family room and then I cleaned my bathroom. I cleaned it for three and a half hours, and it is a masterpiece. I have not cleaned an entire room from start-to-finish in years. After that, I went to the library by myself and picked out books in peace. Then I went to 3 stores in a row and quickly returned some items, stopped at one more store, and picked up a few groceries. I came home and made chocolate chip cookies. When I got home, my house was just as clean as it was when I left in the morning. It stayed clean; do you get what I’m saying? When my kids got home, I hugged them and gave them cookies and helped them with their homework. I still got annoyed sometimes, but I felt ready to be there for them. I. am. loving. it. I am not trying to rub any of this in your face if you still have small children at home and you feel entirely drained. Nor am I trying to knock anyone who feels terribly sad when their children go to school. Not at all.  All I’m saying is that toddler and preschool mothering were quite challenging for me, and now I feel like I’m hitting my stride. I’m not foolish; bigger kids will mean bigger challenges, but if you are wondering if there’s any light at the end of the diaper tunnel, I’m here to tell you:  Good gravy, there is!  I can hardly believe it myself. Stage 3 just feels like it fits so nicely right now. Carry on, good moms everywhere, the stage that fits you best will come in good time.

Mini-post #4: More to Come.

I’ve got fun summer stuff to tell you. I’ve got some giveaways of things I’ve been saving up for you. The September celebration of The Family: A Proclamation to the World is coming up, and that will be epic. Basically, I’m excited to be back. This party ain’t over yet. Please say hi. I missed you.

Marriage

Posted in Divinity by

I came across this quote today.  I like it.  I acknowledge that there are exceptions for abuse or other extremes, but it is a sound principle we can all do better at.

“When people are married, instead of trying to get rid of each other, reflect that you have made your choice, and strive to honor and keep it, do not manifest that you have acted unwisely and say that you have made a bad choice,nor let any body know you think you have.  You made your own choice, stick to it, and strive to comfort and assist each other.”  Brigham Young, Deseret News, 29 May 1861, 98.

Tribute to Sister Julie B. Beck

Posted in Divinity by

Sister Julie B. Beck has served as the general president of the Relief Society, the largest women’s organization in the world, for five years.  While I look forward to learning from the new president, Sister Linda K. Burton, I couldn’t go without honoring what Sister Beck has done for me personally.

There are so many things I could say about the powerful influence that Sister Beck has had on my testimony, but I think the best evidence is this list of posts where I have quoted her or referred to some of her teachings and counsel:

pornography-satans-power-tool/

personal-revelation-and-testimony

the-lioness-at-the-gate/

dear-not-feeling-it/

the-anti-mom/

small-victories-and-normal-failures-a-few-days-in-the-life-of-a-supermom/

time-to-come-clean-lets-talk-about-internet-addiction/

gcbc-week-2-priesthood-and-handmaidens/

sunday-leftovers/

my-favorite-comma/

confession-and-clarity/

so-heres-the-thing-about-resolutions-or-how-children-ruin-everything/

guilt-the-motherload/

im-not-done-yet-or-continuation-on-a-theme/

sometimes-they-get-it/

womens-conference-final-chapter-intentional-parenting/

shut-up/

Thank you so much Sister Beck for helping me to better understand doctrines of Jesus Christ and better understand my role in His kingdom.  You have made me a better woman, mother, wife and disciple.  I’ll forever be grateful for that.