Church History Tour- Religion Prior to the First Vision

One of four churches on four corners
 in downtown Palmyra, New York 

• We all know that the country was founded upon  liberty to think, speak, live, and worship according to the dictates of our own conscience.
•  The Pilgrims who came to this country were Bible-teaching, Bible-believing folk who feared God and wanted to walk uprightly before Him. 
• 45% of Pilgrims were original ancestors to the Mormon Pioneers.
• There were great social pressures to be religious, God-fearing people who  belonged to a church. If you did not, you were thought of  as "of the world" and looked down upon by society
• If someone joined the "wrong" church, the others would say they were in error.  The only church that said one was right, was they were following.  They each witnessed against one another and none were like the Church of Christ as it once existed.

Two main branches of Christianity were Calvinism, and Arminianism. In New England, most churches were strongly Calvanistic.

"The system of Calvinism adheres to a very high view of scripture and seeks to derive its theological formulations based solely on God’s word. It focuses on God’s sovereignty, stating that God is able and willing by virtue of his omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, to do whatever He desires with His creation. It also maintains that within the Bible are the following teachings: That God, by His sovereign grace predestines people into salvation; that Jesus died only for those predestined; that God regenerates the individual where he is then able and wants to choose God; and that it is impossible for those who are redeemed to lose their salvation. 

Arminianism, on the other hand, maintains that God predestined, but not in an absolute sense. Rather, He looked into the future to see who would pick him and then He chose them. Jesus died for all peoples' sins who have ever lived and ever will live, not just the Christians. Each person is the one who decides if he wants to be saved or not. And finally, it is possible to lose your salvation (some arminians believe you cannot lose your salvation). " The Five Points of Calvinism

Calvinism known as T.U.L.I.P-the acronym for their beliefs:

Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)

Unconditional Election of certain people

Limited Atonement (also known as Particular 

Atonement)"Jesus died only for the elect"

Irresistible Grace-"there is nothing you can do about it"

Perseverance of the Saints (also known as Once Saved Always Saved)

5 Points of Calvinism

Joseph Smith's Answer to Calvinism-BYU Studies

The Smith Family's Religion prior to the Restoration

The restoration of the gospel began with the formation of this country where one could worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.  The Pilgrims came here seeking religious freedom.

Interesting note: 45 % of the Pilgrims were the original ancestors to the Latter-Day Saint Pioneers.

 One thing I have noticed in my study of the Smith family and others of their time period, is that they were  fiercely loyal to God, religion, and liberty. Where you found one trait, you found the  others. They were never one without the other.  Just a personal observation.

I have not done a lot of study of Joseph's ancestors, just brief insights.  What I have learned is that they were intensely loyal to their country and faithful God-fearing people.They were Bible-teaching, Bible-reading, Bible-believing folk who were  searching earnestly for Christ's church as it was once was upon the earth, but could not find it.  Some joined churches regardless, others did not. 

Robert and Mary French Smith (born in1648) Joseph Smith Jr.'s Great-Great-Great  Grandparents "participated fully in the community's religious life"  They are also listed to be in "full communion" in the Topsfield church records. [Joseph Smith: An American Prophet, John Henry Evans]

Congregational Church in Topsfield Massachessets

Congregational Church founded founded in 1663 where 4 generations of Smith worshipped, though not members.Calvanism was what was taught in this church.

Asael Smith, Joseph's Grandfather, became dissatisfied with religion.  Although in the early part of his marriage he and his wife Mary actively participated in organized religion in Topsfield, Massachusetts. He felt the religions of his day were seriously lacking and he became the "hinge of religious dissatisfaction in the Smith family"  As a result he began a three generational drift from traditional religion:  grandfather-father- young Joseph Smith. 

They were very religious minded and were yearning for truth to be restored to the earth. Asael Smith firmly believed that one of his family members would bring this gospel to the earth and be a great benefit to mankind.

Joseph Sr. like his father, Asael, was passionately religious, but was not quite sure what to do with it.  The religion he was seeking, was not to be found according to him.  He had 7 dreams or visions of spiritual nature where he was trying to save his family or find Christ's true church.  He did not join any church or accept baptism as his wife Lucy did.  He was an un-affiliated Christian.  This was an uncomfortable place to be in their time as one with out a church or religion was thought to be "of the world". With his father and brother Jesse he helped found the Universalist Society in Tunbridge whi ch promoted the belief that everyone would receive salvation regardless of their beliefs.

Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph's mother was also brought up to fear God and to walk uprightly before Him.  Her soul yearned for the truth and light of Christ. Her salvation was very important to her.  After a serious illness at the beginning of her marriage, that almost took her life, she covenanted with God that she would will serve Him and do His will. After this experience she became even more consumed about religion, life and salvation. She believed that baptism was required for the remission of sins.  So within the Joseph Smith Jr. home, there were a few different religious views and beliefs.

My own observation*  There was a conflict on the earth about religion and truth, there was conflict in the town of Palmyra about religion and truth, and there was a conflict within the Smith home-although not obvious as they were a close loving family, about religion and truth.  You can see how this environment and time in history that  young Joseph Smith was brought to the point he was of wanting to know what church was true.



Church History Tour- Who Were Joseph Smith's Ancestors?

For generations before Joseph Smith was born, his ancestors were God-fearing men and women of integrity who sought God, lived by faith, and layed the foundation for the gospel to be restored-without knowing it necessarily.  It is fascinating to me.

I am a visual person and like pictures. The pictures I am using in this series of posts are from my personal picture file, from these very sacred sites.  I don't claim to be a photographer. So there is the disclaimer.

Interesting to me, being a western girl, I had never stood in places with so much history.  Besides being blown away by just seeing dates past the 1800s, you could literally FEEL the spirit of these places and what happened there. If I closed my eyes I could see them there bustling around.  I KNEW they had been there, and that made it so life-changing for me.  It is one thing to learn about history in a book or from word of mouth, but it is a whole different level to be there in person walking where they walked and smelling what they might have smelled, and envisioning it all first hand.  It really was life-changing for me.

The pictures are feelings more than places which is hard to capture with a camera. I tried, and I hope you can be inspired by it. Or at least learn something new. 

This first part is just of Joseph Smith's paternal side from his Great-Great-Great-Grandfather to his Grandfather.  We'll go into more depth about Joseph Smith Sr.  That deserves it's own post.

1626-Robert Smith-Mary French (10 children)

·         Son of a nobleman

·         Migrated from Toppesfield, Essex, England at 12

·         Settled in Topsfield, Massachusetts . Topsfield was closely associated with Salem village and other small villages of that area. The Salem Witchcraft trial occurred near there, with many of the Smith neighbors as well as one of the Smith's as accusers in that trial. The Topsfield citizens also took strong positions for their liberty starting with the Boson Tea Party and the Revolutionary War.

·         Joseph Smith’s first American Ancestor

·         Listed as in “full communion” in the Topsfield church records

1666-Samuel Smith Sr.-Rebecca Curtis

·         Carpenter

·         father in law was a corporal in the militia

·         Samuel known as a “gentleman”

·         sold farm and moved into large 2 story frame home, 4 generations of Smiths lived in this home: Samuel, Samuel,  Asael,  Joseph Smith Sr.

·         one of the accusers in the Salem Witchcraft trials of that era,  along with many of their neighbors

1714-Samuel Smith Jr.-Pricilla

·         Village assessor, selectman, town clerk, delegate to the Provincial Congress, moderator of town meetings

·         Chairman of the Topsfield Tea Committee

·         So notable in public affairs, that a granddaughter to Joseph Smith remembers gaining entrance into many historical patriotic societies by demonstrating her connections to Samuel.

·         Obituary read: “a man of integrity and uprightness,…a sincere friend to the liberties of his country, and a strenuous advocate for the doctrines of Christianity”

1744-Asael Smith-Mary Duty (11 children)

·         Moved from Topsfield to New Hampshire around 1772

·         Enlisted and served one year in the Revolutionary Army in 1776

·         His father died and he inherited ½ of the Topsfield farm. The farm was worth less than the debts owed, so he moved his family back to Topsfield to pay the debts of his father and honor the Smith name. After 5 years, they sold the farm to help pay the debts.  He secured enough to buy 83 acres in Vermont and moved his family to Tunbridge.

·         Began a 3 generational drift from traditional religion: Asael-Joseph Smith Sr.-Joseph Smith Jr.

·         Although had very religious sentiments, he was dissatisfied  with the religions of his day and found them seriously lacking

·         Had a premonition that the Lord would soon raise up from among his family someone to be a great benefit to mankind.

·         Read and believed the Book of Mormon

One of the original Book of Mormons. Notice the uneven type-set

God's Hand of Providence

 

Columbus Day was on Monday, and it seemed to kind of come and go without even a thought.

What are your feelings about Columbus?

To me, he was a man who was guided and directed by God who had an important work to do in his time. And he did what he was fore-ordained to do.

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi actually had a vision of a man who we believe to be Columbus.

1 Nephi 13:12 "And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and ^awrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land."

* note that the Spirit came upon him

Others, like Columbus were also led by the hand of God:

1 Nephi 13:13 "And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters. "
 

The Lord had a purpose for His children and for this earth, and these people were key in that plan.

President Gordon B. Hinckley in his talk Building Your Tabernacle said this about Columbus:

"I recognize that in this anniversary year a host of critics have spoken out against him. I do not dispute that there were others who came to this Western Hemisphere before him. But it was he who in faith lighted a lamp to look for a new way to China and who in the process discovered America. His was an awesome undertaking—to sail west across the unknown seas farther than any before him of his generation. He it was who, in spite of the terror of the unknown and the complaints and near mutiny of his crew, sailed on with frequent prayers to the Almighty for guidance. In his reports to the sovereigns of Spain, Columbus repeatedly asserted that his voyage was for the glory of God and the spread of the Christian faith. Properly do we honor him for his unyielding strength in the face of uncertainty and danger."
 

To add another perspective, in the Book of Prophecies [a book I want to own] Columbus tells how he was visited by an angel. Did you know also that Columbus was a Jew?  Kind of interesting!

George Washington prays while at Valley Forge

Columbus wasn't alone in this.

 George Washington says he was visited by an angel while at Valley Forge.

These were men of God, who trusted Him and had an important mission to perform on this earth. So important that "an angel visited them" !  Very awesome thoughts.



Other miraculous experiences :

• Paul Revere claims to have been "saved by the moon" during a lunar anemone which caused the moon to go to the south behind some buildings which allowed him to go by in a boat-undetected.

• Weather played a significant role in the revolutionary war in protecting our troops such as the freezing of the Delaware.

• Balls of the Revolutionary War would bounce off of the ships and fall out. The Hand of God definitely at work.

 As we think back to the days of Columbus, George Washington, the Revolutionary war, Civil War,and so on... we are awe-struck by who they were and  the times they lived through.

 We are living in times that THEY would have wanted to read about and see. The times we live in now are as exciting and epic as in any time time period in history

The Lord has always had His Hand of Providence over His people during all time periods of the earth.

He is in charge--a very comforting thought.

Good, Better, Best in Motherhood

Alyssa is in the middle

This week we have added in two new activities. Our daughter Alyssa who is just ending her Cross-Country running season, started piano lessons today, and starts the high school swim team tomorrow.  She is a Freshman in High School and the girl is busting with talents.

Many times she has to choose between several good things.  That can sometimes be the hardest choice.  What do you choose?  What do you leave out? They are all good.

She really wanted to be in the Jr. High play.  Really badly.  It is all she has talked about since the last play she was in. She has always liked to be up in front of others.  She also has been waiting for 2 years to join the High School Swim Team.  If that wasn't enough, Alyssa also decided she needed to up her expertise on the piano by taking lessons from a hard teacher.  OK!  All good, right!

With all the good choices in front of her, we had to help her choose the BEST choice for the BEST reasons. 

It was hard.

There were tears.

There was heart ache at leaving one choice behind, but feeling good at choosing another.

The question arises:

How involved do we allow our children to be in extra activities?

What do we consider too much?

Here is my checklist:

• Do I feel like this is right for them,  and our family?
• Do they have a true gift?
• Do we have enough money in our monthly budget to incorporate this expense?
• Does their activity schedule make sense for our family?
• Is there benefits involved like, scholarships, part-time jobs, building self-esteem?
• Is this strengthening our family?
• Is it strengthening them?

 If I have to answer no to any of those points, then we need to re-evaluate our purpose and priorities.

As mothers, we all want to see our children excel and do well in life. We want to give them every opportunity we can.  We want to see them reach their full potential! 

What is good? What is better, and What is the best?

Elder Oaks talk: Good, Better, Best is a must read talk about establishing priorities and purpose with all that the choices and activities we have in families.


He states:

"We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them."

"In choosing how we spend time as a family, we should be careful not to exhaust our available time on things that are merely good and leave little time for that which is better or best."

"The amount of children-and-parent time absorbed in the good activities of private lessons, team sports, and other school and club activities also needs to be carefully regulated. Otherwise, children will be over scheduled, and parents will be frazzled and frustrated. Parents should act to preserve time for family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, and the other precious togetherness and individual one-on-one time that binds a family together and fixes children’s values on things of eternal worth. Parents should teach gospel priorities through what they do with their children. "

A paragraph from The Family: A Proclamation to the World resembles this above statement:

"Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations."

Soul-searching questions for parents:

• Are my child's extra-curricular activities  for me so I can "fit in" with the motherly trends of the day?
• Do they want to do this?
• Am I doing this so my child will be popular? 
• Is there anything about this choice that I have to keep secret from my husband? [like the total cost, uniform cost, expenses for out of town trips]  I would encourage  you to stay up front about all of it, before signing up.
• Is the atmosphere, of the activity or peers they will associate with, where I want my child to be?
• In 10 years will this be a positive experience and memory? Will I have any regrets?
• Is this bringing us to Christ now?

Choosing between many good things, is one of the hardest choices we have! 

 

My twins and two of their friends feeling pretty happy!

Being Free from Addiction

As I am approaching my 45th Birthday....I can't help but think back over my life...and all those experiences that have had long lasting affects upon me.  A few stand out.

One in particular comes to mind...with a lesson attached to it.

When I was nine years old, we lived in Bemidji, Minnesota.

If you are unfamiliar with where this is...this is in northern Minnesota . COLD country!  The Land of 10,000 Lakes, 10,000 mosquitoes and the best childhood you could ask for.

 We had a Paul Bunyan Amusement Park in our hometown...everyday!  We were a short distance from Lake Itasca State Park, the place where the Mississippi River begins.

Our lives revolved around the lakes that literally dot  that area.  In each town you will find many lakes, some right in your back-yard. We floated down canals, fished, swam in the lakes, skied, ice-skated, and ice-fished.

It was mandatory for every child to take swimming lessons.  I had  swimming lessons all year long. In the summer we were taught in the lakes, and in the winter as part of our PE coarse we were taught in pool which was a part of our Jr. High. When we weren't in swimming lessons we were just in the water.  I didn't dance, play soccer, or play any sport whatsoever. We swam, and swam, and swam. We didn't have time for all the other extra-curricular activities. We were having too much fun just swimming and being in the water.

When I was nine years old I did something really dumb.  I know, hard to believe.

It was in the late fall, and my younger brother and I were checking to see if the lake behind our house was frozen enough to walk on.  We did this by just looking, but also by walking a certain distance to see how far we could go. 

We were in full Minnesota gear, which was a necessity due to to the cold Minnesota weather.  The average Minnesota day can be 30 below.  Minnesota gear was a full snowmobile suit and boots designed for the temperatures. I remember them being warm, but clunky and heavy.

 As we were walking near the shore of the lake, a neighbor came out, and noticed our precarious activity. He specifically warned us to not walk on the lake because it wasn't frozen yet. {note to nine year old self:  great advice!  Wished I would have listened.} 

You know how WISE  a nine year old can be. They aren't always known for having the best ideas or using the best judgement. They are also beginning to think they know what they are doing and can take or leave certain advice. That would be me that day.


We left the view of the neighbor and walked closer to our home. Being the oldest, I walked out on  the ice the furthest, precariously stepping and getting lucky. 

My luck suddenly wore out. You know where this story is leading... I fell  through the 'not frozen yet lake', into the icy waters.

There was the initial shock of cold icy waters consuming me.

The waters were only chest high, but an overwhelming heighth for a frozen nine year old who is just learning to swim. 

Could I reach the ground?  I remember the tippy-toes of my boots barely being able to touch the bottom of the lake. I was far enough away that that wasn't a leverage I could count on.

So I grasped, splashed, and thrashed for a good amount of time trying to save myself. This was highly unsuccessful.  Each time I tried to get up on the ice around me, it was just break making the area I was in bigger and bigger.

The water seemed very deep and completely overwhelmed me.. The Minnesota gear I was wearing was completely saturated, very heavy, and difficult to move in. My boots were like a dead weight on each foot, pulling me down further and further.

I could see my brother on the shore, and longed to be where he was, safe and sound on solid ground.  Because of the precariousness of the icy lake, he couldn't get close enough to help me.  I can still see him standing on the shore screaming my name.

I honestly don't know how long I was in the water.  It probably wasn't as long as I remember it being. I do remember this: the last thought I had while I was stuck in my predicament- "well, I guess this is how I am going to die"  Very dramatic, but nonetheless, my last thought.

Then, suddenly out of no where, I  miraculously pulled  myself up onto the frozen ice around me.  How I did that, I dont' know. But it was very timely and I was so grateful. 


Why do I tell you this story? What is this all about?

This story has many lessons and has been an experience I have learned countless principles from. Mainly about the Atonement, and how the Savior saves.

Today, this leads me to think about addictions and how consuming and overwhelming they can be to those who struggle to free themselves.  We all know someone or of someone 'stuck' in an addiction. 

It doesn't have to be pornography, although that is destroying a lot of families right now. It could be perscription drugs, food, games, TV, computer time, sugar, or what ever has taken over your ability to stop the behavior and choose for yourself.

There is a feeling of hopelessness, of despair, of I cannot get out, of giving up. 

If you'll allow me to be symbolic for a moment:  in my nine year old story, I  got myself into a terrible situation through my own foolishness.  I got there on my own doing, but now I was stuck somewhere I didn't want to be. And I could not get out by myself.

Try as I might, I could not save myself.  The circumstances were too much. The water was too icy,  my Minnesota gear-too heavy, and I was too inexperienced to know what to do.

Like in an addiction, our options become very narrow, and actually narrow down to only one source: The Savior.

In my situation that is who ultimately saved me, and continues to save me time and time again.

Through the  Atonement of Jesus Christ  we can be freed from the addictions we find ourselves in.

If you are in an addiction, turn to the Lord.  Call upon His name, who is mighty to save. And have patience as this is a long process.

I am not an expert in this area, and don't have the answers except to turn to the Lord...He Will Save You.

As we walked back home, frozen, and me wet, we sang the song from the Alka-seltzer commercial of that day: "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz"  We tried to tell our mother of the experience we just had...but how do you describe to your mother an experience so frightening, you came desparetly close to not coming home at all.


After taking off my wet gear, I climbed into  bed with a warm electric blanket covering me. Nothing has ever felt so good.   Like the sweet feelings and power of the Atonement that covers each one of us,  that day, I was delivered and saved.

 _________________________________
Other posts I have written on the Atonement:

The Atonement is Like a Blanket
In the Strength of the Lord

Proclamation FHE Chart

It is the 3rd day of the 3rd Annual Celebration of The Family: A Proclamation to the World.   Have you joined in or checked out the  wonderful blog posts that have been written?  They are all testimonies of how others are applying the principles of the Proclamation into their families!  LOVE it!

Here are the blogs hosting this family celebration:   

We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ

Diapers and Divinity

Chocolate on my Cranium

Middle-Aged Mormon Man

 

Today is a blog-hop sharing any crafts, Family Home Evening ideas, or other creations inspired by the Family Proclamaion. Here is mine, and this comes from a previous post. 

I really wanted a Family Proclamtion FHE Chart

to make  the Proclamation the focus of our Family Home Evenings.

 

 

Our previous Family Home Evening board was out-dated and was needing a face-lift.

I am not the most creative crafter out there by any means. I am not a scrap-booker, although I have a thing for buying scrap-book paper. The desire is there, I just don't know what to do with it all.

I knew I wanted the Proclamation on our chart, front and center.

I grabbed my scrapbook paper and pretty much let the creative juices flow.

I used my same FHE board and painted it black. 

My board is 9 X 24 to accomodate our family of 10. 

 

 

You will notice my previous hook holes, which I will need to use again.

Grab some Mod Podge and sponge paint brushes. You will notice that I have something under my black board. Don't forget this. Mod Podge is not Elmer's Glue, and will not come off of your wood tablIe. I found  that it does come off of the counter, but why  give yourself another job? If you keep your surfaces covered you are safe.

Your next step, if you haven't already done this, is to pick out the scrapbook paper you want to use on your board. This is the pack I used. I bought it at Wal-Mart for $5.

After you have selected your paper, cut your bottom piece to the right size and set it aside. You want to have it ready. Paint Mod Podge on your board. Work fast because it dries quickly. 

 

Adhere your bottom piece of paper to your board.

I think I actually did mine the hard way and cut my paper after I "adhered" it.

Craftiness to me is living and learning as I go along.

Mod Podge has a way of bubbling-up. This roller worked extremely well with the bubbles. Mod Podge did get on the roller part, but it came off easily.

Select your contrasting paper and cut your Proclamation into parts.

You will need to cut your contrasting piece in half, and use just one of them.

I like the torn edge look, so next I tore my edges and Mod Podged it (that is a verb) to my paper.

Next you need to decide how you want it to look, so play around with different layouts, then Mod Podge that layer.

You will need to cut some paper for the names of your family. I wanted a border, so

this is how I did mine. Add those to your board along the bottom edge, and

Mod Podge those before you write on them.

When you are done, sand the edges down a little. This gives it a cool antique look and also gets rid of any messy paper edges you may have

Screw small cup hooks in and add your FHE pieces and you are done!

God's Way/My Way

I know it is tempting sometimes to want to make all of our decisions alone ["My Own Way"] It is interesting though, that the picture depicting  two signs," God's Way" and "My Own Way" are perpendicular signs, not parallel. One denotes pride and the other humility.

Now we don't consciously WANT to do everything alone. We think we know what is best and what we want. There are times when  we don't want anyone getting in the way to tell us different because we know. We forget to turn to the Lord and rely on Him.  In that case, we are doing it alone, or our own way.

I have personally been reminded several times, to rely on the Lord. Which leaves me with the same "a-ha" moment:  "oh, YA!"  It is so easy to forget that there is someone who knows better and more, and we should rely on His wisdom more than our own.

God is our Father in Heaven and has known us before we were born for an infinite amount of time.  Think about that for a moment.  OK here is the next principle:  our Savior Jesus Christ, Atoned for our sins, our pains and sufferings of life. He also knows what it feels like to be us, and what we experience. He has felt it.

 In Doctrine and Covenants 38:1-2  it describes how God has the whole picture before Him at once.  He sees the whole picture from the beginning to the end and knows how to succor us, lead and guide us for our greatest happiness.

1 Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great ^aI Am, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made.

2 The same which knoweth all things, for all things are present before mine eyes;

God knows all. Sees all.  All at once. This can be difficult for our mortal brains to understand.  'All things are present before His eyes.'   He sees our pre-mortal past, our earthly past, the present, and our future in one view. AND He can do this  without ever touching our free agency to choose.  Mind boggling isn't it!

Let's use this description taught to me by a friend: 

God is standing on top of a mountain where He can see endlessly in all directions. From where He is standing, He has the whole view before Him at once. He sees the past, the present, and the future.

We, on the other hand are at the bottom of the mountain  where all we see is what is directly in front of our eyes:  the rocks, the trees, and part of the pathway.  Our view is extremely limited! 

Sometimes this theory plays tricks with my mind and I get mind boggled over it!  But I know it is true.

The Lord has the whole picture.  He knows us, knows what we are going through, and will go through.  If we turn to Him, and choose His way, He will write a story for our lives that is better than anything we could ever come up with on our own. 

Proclamation Series: By Small and Simple Things

I love  The Family: A Proclamation to the World  and everything it stands for!  It's powerful, it's true, it teaches us what families have always been and should be. The paragraph above, I love especially because it teaches us timeless principles we need to have in our families, in order to be happy and successful.

We are reminded  that the family is ordained of God and that our families are our greatest blessing.

  All of my warmest memories are associated with  family

Favorite childhood memory:   I had to go back really far, and I saw myself sitting on the couch next to my Dad.  I was maybe 3 or 4 years old.  If you wonder what 3 and 4 year olds think about...I looked over at my Dad  and noticed how the couch cushion sunk down around where he sat...and with all the wishes of 4 year-old girl, I couldn't wait until I was BIG enough to make the couch cushion sink down when I sat.  I love my Dad and have always wanted to be just like he was.  And I am proud to announce, the couch cushion now goes WAAAAY down when I sit!

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Food memories...the good, the bad, and the ugly...are also associated with home and my family. Ironically, or not, all of my siblings and I share the same food memories.  We all unanimously detest acorn squash and beets, and remember being forced to eat them as children.We were told that eating these foods would do amazing things to our hair,  eyes, and our growing abilities. We also love the same meal of meatball and scones made classic by our mother. We think of this meal...and we all melt and think of Mom and home. I  can't think of a family meal where we weren't sitting with all of our feet under the same table.  These are warm memories that I cherish.  I have always felt that the greatest way a mother nurtures her family is through food and family meals together.

Memories of  vacations and time together: ...there's many, but the top memory would have to be the year  when we were all grown up and came back home for Christmas.  I was still a single college student, but my older brothers were young marrieds with small children.  As soon as the little ones were all asleep, we "adults" stayed up and video-taped an impromptu version of "A Christmas Carol" complete with costumes and commercials.  We were crazy nuts. However, this has become a family classic that all the grand-kids and big kids love to watch. 

Working together was also time well spent.  We always had Saturday jobs, lots of work outdoors clearing rocks out of our yard, weeding the garden, laying sod for our Dad's landscaping business, as well as cleaning bathrooms and bedrooms.  When straightening up the house, my mother made up the word "razmatazz" which is a quick 15-minute-everyone-help clean-up that we still use in my family  today.  We sometimes forget that not all families use this word.

Memories of faith...were behind everything we lived. Reading scriptures, Family Home Evening, kneeling in prayer before school, attending Church, and preparing for missions and temple marriages.  Watching my parents quietly live the gospel and serve in the church, were all small and simple things for which great things came to pass. Alma 37:6

Elder Oaks in his talk Good, Better, Best, gave us guidelines that parallel the teachings found in The Family: A Proclamation to the World.  He said,

"The First Presidency has called on parents “to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles. … The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place … in … this God-given responsibility.” The First Presidency has declared that “however worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform.”

"The Family Is Ordained of God and Central to the Creator's Plan for Eternal Destiny of His Children...Happiness in Family Life is Most Likely to be Achieved When Founded Upon The Teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ." The Family: A Proclamation to the World