Spiritual Whirlwinds- Andersen

The first part of this talk reminded me of some of the Iowa memories of tornados.  Exciting times, but I don't miss that worry!  Oh, and the mascot name for my Jr High was the Whirlwinds!
GO TO:  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/spiritual-whirlwinds?lang=eng#watch=video

COUNSEL:

• Recognize that challenges sometimes happen because of the sins of others, and others are just part of life.
• Prepare for whirlwinds by building a strong foundation based on the Doctrine of Christ.
• Challenges can help us grow faster and stronger.
• Stick with the counsel of the law of chastity!  
• Love everyone, even if they do not believe the same way you do. 
• Read the Book of Mormon.
• Stand in Holy Places.  Go to the temple.
• Do Family History.

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• Challenges can make you stronger.
• No power can drag you down if you are on a strong foundation.
• Family will be stronger as we follow God's laws on family and marriage.
• You will be able to have peace in your life no matter what is going on.

"Harold B. Lee said: “The only safety we have as members of this church is to … learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet. … There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes. … It may contradict your political views … your social views … interfere with … your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, … ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you … and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you …’ (D&C 21:6).”

"As you do, I promise you that you will see the whirlwinds for what they are—tests, temptations, distractions, or challenges to help you grow. And as you live righteously year after year, I assure you that your experiences will confirm to you again and again that Jesus is the Christ. The spiritual rock under your feet will be solid and secure. You will rejoice that God has placed you here to be a part of the final preparations for Christ’s glorious return."

I add my testimony that real happiness can be found in living God's laws.  Sometimes it is hard...seems to some that we are out of touch with reality. We do have laws to follow.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ with the accompanying commandments, are for our eternal happiness.  I am grateful that I can be happy right here and now as well.  Times do get tough.  Things seem unfair at times.  But with a loving Heavenly Father and continued guidance through living prophets, I am confident I am on the right path.

Obedience Through our Faithfulness

Don't you just love L Tom Perry's voice?  He is assured and comforting at the same time.
GO TO:https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/obedience-through-our-faithfulness?lang=eng#watch=video

COUNSEL:

• Decide God is in charge- be ready to let him drive
• Be ready to receive the prompting and tugs of the Spirit
• Allow the Spirit to guide you in your decisions
• Teach your spirit and body to work together in obeying commandments
• We must be willing to alter our course

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• Heaven will be like living near to your relatives
• God knows the plan and wants to bless us
• The Holy Ghost will tug and prompt us to do what it right
• We will be guided to our eternal home
• When we demonstrate our obedience, God will rescue us
• We have insight, power and gifts when we rely on God instead of just on ourselves
• Blessings of eternal life are promised to the faithful and obedient

"Those who rely solely on themselves and follow only their own desires and self-inclinations are so limited when compared to those who follow God and tap into His insight, power, and gifts. It has been said that someone who is all wrapped up in himself or herself makes a very small package. Strong, proactive obedience is anything but weak or passive. It is the means by which we declare our faith in God and qualify ourselves to receive the powers of heaven. Obedience is a choice. It is a choice between our own limited knowledge and power and God’s unlimited wisdom and omnipotence."

Before our mission, I did not realize how important obedience is.  In this environment, we can quickly see the fruits of obedience, or the loss of direction with the lack of obedience.  I have gained a strong love for obedience.  Who would have thought?  Of all the things to really, truly love, that I would choose obedience, but I do.  In our mission we say "YOU ARE AS HAPPY AS YOU ARE OBEDIENT!"  I believe in that statement 100%.  Have a great week!  Cheryl

The Prophet Joseph Smith

We recently spoke with Elder Corbridge in a Stake Conference so it is always fun to hear a conference talk from someone familiar.
GO TO:  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-prophet-joseph-smith?lang=eng#watch=video

COUNSEL:

• ASK OF GOD!
• Prepare to ask God...make a plan
• Look for the opposition and you will find the truth
• Look at the revelations from prophets/Joseph Smith
• Follow the laws and ordinances of Gospel
• Have more than a passive belief in Christ- always remember him and keep his commandments

PROMISED BLESSINGS

• HE WILL ANSWER!
• Revelations come to prophets of God
• We can become like God
• Marriage and family can be forever
• You will have his Spirit to be with you

"Opposition, criticism, and antagonism are companions to the truth. Whenever the truth with regard to the purpose and destiny of man is revealed, there will always be a force to oppose it. Beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, down to the ministry of Christ, and on down to our day, there has always been and will ever be an effort to deceive, derail, oppose, and frustrate the plan of life."

I like that quote...I always wondered growing up why if someone had been LDS  or was LDS, they would say their religion if they had committed a crime or something...yet they would not say that someone was Lutheran or Catholic etc.  That is just one aspect...the bearers of the truth being opposed, but even the truth itself is often opposed; with Christ himself as prime example.  Joseph Smith is another example of someone very opposed and misunderstood.

"There is no dispute about what Joseph Smith accomplished, only how he did what he did and why. And there are not many options. He was either pretender or prophet. Either he did what he did alone, or he had the help of heaven. Look at the evidence, but look at all of the evidence, the entire mosaic of his life, not any single piece. Most importantly, do as young Joseph and “ask … God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given [you].” This is not only how you may learn the truth about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith; it is also the pattern to know the truth of all things."

I have prayed about the Prophet Joseph Smith and whether the Book of Mormon that he translated was correct and continue to receive my own witness in my heart and soul that they are honest and true.  It would be a waste of my energy to worry about method used to translate.  I have had way too many times while reading in that book that I have received help and answers to daily concerns.  This book is based on true principles, which do not change with time.  They were true when it was translated and are true now.
The biggest witness for me is in the living it...living what this translated record teaches.  I know without doubt that Christ lives, that he performed the Atonement, that he was the example in being baptized, that he left the Holy Ghost to be our guide and that by living his doctrine we can be truly happy.

Addie and Zumba and Pedicures Oh My!!!

 Well...this is not Addie or Zumba or Pedicures...but it is what President Taylor does while I am busy with Addie or Zumba or Pedicures:)


Yes, this lovely stack of paperwork piled up in the office this week just waiting for his signatures...and then I realized I had to sign most of them as well.

It is strange to now be signing letters being sent to incoming missionaries we will never meet on the mission.  We sign them and tell them they will love their Mission President and Wife!

Breanna's Kindergarten class was studying PETS this week so she arranged to have me bring Addie at the end of the day on Friday this week.

Addie was pretty patient with most of the kids letting them put their hand by her nose to smell them and letting them pet her...but after a while, she was done.

The kids were excited because they had a cat, a dog, 2 snakes and a ferret to interact with.

 I am sure one of the reasons Addie was on edge was because she caught scent of this dog in the room.  When he finally saw Addie, this was how intent he was...it was so funny!  He really wanted to meet her!
Scott showed me a video today of how a cat saved their little boy from a dog who was attacking it outside in the yard.
I told him about how Addie totally jumped at a big dog that ran up to our porch outside one afternoon...she was out in the yard and ran over and jumped up at him to try to scare him away.  She is pretty protective herself!

Bre also invited me to her school on Saturday morning for ZUMBA!  They had a fundraiser Zumbathon!
We had a blast and stayed the whole time and got a really good workout!
YAY FOR ZUMBA!

The girl taking the photo told us to make a silly face...so, we did.

Seriously, I am looking forward to my classes at the gym again.  I am not really excited to come home and all the work that will be, but I do look forward to the gym.

My friend Dana gave us pedicure certificates that Bre and I used yesterday for some Mommy Daughter time.

We were the last customers of the day, had 2 vietnamese guys do our pedicures and it was so funny...we could hardly understand anything they said to us.  But our toenails look fabulous!

This last shot is of the Birrell family here in Phoenix.  Lance is one of Braden's friends that used to play football with him in Provo, and who moved to Phoenix the year before we arrived.  They were friends while Braden lived here too.
Lance invited Scott to participate in his ordination to Elder in the priesthood.

We love Phoenix and so many people here...it will be hard to leave!

MOTHER'S DAY CALL 5/14

 Last Sunday we had the sweet experience of talking with Braden on the phone for 40 minutes.

His mission does not have Skype capability for all missionaries, so they all call instead.  That was fine for us.

In true Taylor fashion, we spent much of the time being a bit teary...if you were to look closely at my face in the photo, you would see some tears below my eye...what can I say, it runs in the family!

Towards the end of our call, we decided it would be fun for him to hear the voices of Austin and Jenna and their families, so we called them on our other two cell phones and had a "conference call" by holding them like the photo shows.  It was really sweet.  He got teary each time a new family member would first say hello.  I know it meant everything to him to have little Brooklyn say "Hello Uncle Braden...you are a missionary."

Braden is very happy on his mission.  He loves the people and he believes what he is teaching.  I think the most tender part of the call was hearing him tell us about the children he has met, and how sad he is for some of their circumstances where home is not a loving or safe place to be.  That really hit close to his heart.
The fact that he is reaching out to others tells me he is maturing even more and more.  He recognizes Gospel truth and lives it and loves it and desires that truth for everyone he knows.

We get it.  That is how we feel as parents.  There is nothing that gives us more joy than in seeing that our children love God and try to do what it right.  It is a unique journey for each. We are grateful to ALL our family; for who you are and how you live your lives...the love and dedication to family is so important and has made a huge difference in the lives of our children and to us.

Thank you Mothers and Fathers, Aunts and Uncles and Cousins, Brothers and Sisters; for being part of our eternal family!  HAPPY MOTHER'S AND FATHER'S DAY!!  We love you.

If Ye Lack Wisdom- Aidukaitis

Don't you just love his accent!!! We got to speak in a stake conference with him last year and it was delightful!
GO TO:https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/if-ye-lack-wisdom?lang=eng#watch=video

COUNCIL:

• If you need more information...SEEK IT OUT!
• Consider carefully WHERE you seek information
• Study the fruits and good works of this church
• Experiment on the word itself- FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND SEE FOR YOURSELF
• Ask in faith! This requires work! Study, Act, Pray!
• Ask with an honest heart

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• Truth will show forth GOOD FRUIT
• Lives are improved for those who follow its teachings
• Good seeds will grow and enlarge our souls
• Our faith will be strengthened
• We can KNOW through personal revelation what it right and what is not

"Doctrine and Covenants section 8 teaches that revelation is knowledge—“knowledge of whatsoever things [we] ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that [we] shall receive.”7

And the Lord tells us how we will receive this revelation. He says, “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.”8

Thus we are taught that revelation can be obtained by asking in faith, with an honest heart, and believing we will receive.

But notice that the Lord made it very clear when He warned, “Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith.”9 Faith requires work, such as studying it out in your mind, then asking in prayer if it is right.

The Lord said:
“If it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."

I think this is so simple...yet it does require some effort.  We do have to ACT in order to receive the confirmation that what we are asking about is true.  Joseph Smith had to plan and prepare and pray to get the answer to his questions.  We need to be willing to do the same.
I know this is right! It pretty much makes sense that we need to do our part.  I also believe that the efforts of others praying for us make a difference as well.  Sometimes people get "smacked upside the head" by a feeling they need to change, but most of the time, we need to ask ourselves...we may be prompted to ask, but we do need to figure it out ourselves.
I am grateful for the many little answers I have had consistently for many years that make the big difference in my life!  Have a good week!  Cheryl

MOVING BRE!

 May 1 meant MOVING DAY for Breanna!  We spent a couple nights loading up the cars and hauling things over to Breanna's new apartment.  It is a really nice little place, and from the start, we were so glad she got a 2 bedroom place!
Her apartment is about a block from the Mission Office in Glendale, so that is familiar territory for us.  The dangerous thing is that it is also right by the mall, Trader Joes, Target, JoAnns and about every other shopping destination including Sams and WalMart and right next door to Costco!

Scott always came prepared to work on his laptop while we did girly organizing and decorating!








Our Assistants to the President serve in the YSA Ward that Breanna moved into, so they arranged with "a couple" of the men in the YSA to come help move things...well, that couple turned out to be 7 more helpers!


So. we made quick work of things.  They met us at the Mission Home and filled the transfer trailer and the APs truck.  We went and unloaded at the apartment, then went to get a few more things from the storage unit we had been saving for Breanna in case she stayed here...good thing we did!

 We were impressed with the cheerful service that these great young men provided.

 Scott got pizza and soda and chips for a lunch for all of them.  It was really fun and we got to know a few more great AZ people!  Many of these young men are in medical school here in her ward area.


Well, now you know Bre has an extra bedroom...you know what that means...she has room for VISITORS!!!
We know WE are planning several AZ visits over the next year...check it out!

 Breanna is a master decorator and loves color.  We saw this welcome mat and it called her name!


It was fun to see how quickly things took shape and it looked like home.

GOOD WORK BREANNA!!!  WELCOME TO ARIZONA!!!

THE WITNESS- Boyd K Packer

This talk was by Elder Boyd K Packer.  He is special to us because he set Scott apart as a Mission President.
GO TO: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-witness?lang=eng#watch=video

COUNSEL:
Put in the effort to find out FOR YOURSELF...some things cannot be taught, but only learned for yourself!
Participate in personal prayer and scripture study, fasting and pondering
Pray to FATHER, thinking of him as that title
Participate in parenthood
Listen to and follow the promptings of the Spirit
Do everything we do in the name of the Lord
Build upon the foundation of Christ
Come to your own testimony and then share it

PROMISED BLESSINGS:
impressions, revelations and whisperings of Holy Spirit
Promise of increase to all people whether or not you marry here on earth
Our lives will be full, our dreams and yearnings fulfilled
We can come to know the truth of all things
We will be saved, our families will be protected in storms of life

In a nutshell, we need to gain our own WITNESS.  It requires effort, but it will come. Elder Packer describes his personal witness as he asked in a bunker as a soldier.

"I could not describe to you what happened if I were determined to do so. It is beyond my power of expression, but it is as clear today as it was that night more than 65 years ago. I knew it to be a very private, very individual manifestation. At last I knew for myself. I knew for a certainty, for it had been given to me. After some time, I crawled from that bunker and walked, or floated, back to my bed. I spent the rest of the night in a feeling of joy and awe.

Far from thinking I was someone special, I thought that if such a thing came to me, that it could come to anyone. I still believe that. In the years that have followed, I have come to understand that such an experience is at once a light to follow and a burden to carry."

I love that he describes the feeling of both the light and burden of being a witness.  It is not a heavy burden, but one of obligation to share something so precious as knowing we have a loving Heavenly Father who has a plan for us.  This is what we know with all our hearts.  I know God has a plan for us.  There is order in his world, power in his ordinances.  I am grateful to have my personal witness that this is His church here on the earth.  I am grateful to be a witness.  I hope I can live so that it is apparent in my life forever.