A thought this week

As I was working on my talk, and as I was going through this week, I was listening to conference from October. One talk caused me to ponder quite a while.  It referenced the Latin root castus which means to purify, and also is tied to the word we know as chaste. To chasten then is to purify. 

When I pondered on this I eventually rested on the scripture in Hebrews 12:6. Whom I the Lord love, I Chasten. When we think of the Latin root we come to:

Whom I the Lord love, I purify. 

Quite the change in any train of thought I have previously had in my life. 

It is remarkable how we can continue to learn and understand throughout our lives. I hope you never stop learning.

I spent my whole talk discussing our personal journey of conversion. It is remarkably similar to the doctrine of Christ. Faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost followed by enduring to the end. We keep following that path and it continues our personal journey of conversion. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Reflection Quiz

I was in bishopric meeting today and as we sang this song it caused me to reflect deeply. I have been very familiar with preach my gospel and the chapter on Christlike attributes. Especially the quiz section as a tool to reflect on how we are in our own lives. Then I thought of the words and how this is another self reflecting quiz that can enable us to reflect and grade ourselves on how we are doing, and where we  could improve. Think of the words in that way. How would you grade yourself?

1. More holiness give me,

More strivings within,

More patience in suff’ring,

More sorrow for sin,

More faith in my Savior,

More sense of his care,

More joy in his service,

More purpose in prayer.

2. More gratitude give me,

More trust in the Lord,

More pride in his glory,

More hope in his word,

More tears for his sorrows,

More pain at his grief,

More meekness in trial,

More praise for relief.

3. More purity give me,

More strength to o’ercome,

More freedom from earth-stains,

More longing for home.

More fit for the kingdom,

More used would I be,

More blessed and holy--

More, Savior, like thee.

Is has been quite the week. Busy as ever at work, and challenging as I shift roles to do very different things and spend more time on leading and challenging and supporting than doing projects as of myself. I have done that in a way before, but it has been some time. 

I got the trim work finished as Kingreys to complete the parts that he could not do, or was not comfortable doing. That was part of Saturday and then we shopped for food storage and hauled that around during a better part of the rest of the day. And my body feels all of it. Getting old has its pros and cons. 

We had BYD tonight and we have so many questions they ask that we are getting behind in having time to answer them. Really good questions and really good discussions from all the youth. It's great to have so many that work so hard to discover for themselves. 

I had a remarkable experience during the sacrament today. The power of the atonement is so real, and the power in our lives to exercise faith for ourselves and others became so real. Sometimes our own pleading can be exquisite as we exercise faith and draw upon the blessings of heaven. They become real in our lives as we step forward with an eye of faith. 

This weekend is the barn campout for the YM. I am suffering parental withdrawals as these things happen and I have no son to go with me. It's a challenging time for me. It's really an adjustment that I am not prepared for. It has been so long. 

Thank you for all you do. The choices you make, the good you do for others, the joy you bring to me. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Wonderful Week

This was awesome!  Mom got home from a wonderful week being able to see Skjelse and Jeff and that was so nice. I am glad we have both of you!

I had a fun time with Ty and Alysia as we worked the week without mom. We don't do near as good a job but we made it. Alysia was a gem to cook so much, and she did wonderfully. We sort of kept up on laundry and dishes. Ty helped shop when we needed a few things. We certainly did our best by happy to have the master back. There is so much that happens in a home and I am eternally grateful that mom is such a good one at organizing a home where peace prevails.  I also got to talk to Kieren a couple times since mom was not home I answered the calls. Short calls as she walked home but nice to hear about things in life. 

This weekend was one of the two best of the year. I love conference and all that comes from it. I appreciated many of the talks in many different ways. Some for me personally, some for our family, and some for my calling. It always helps me look forward with a brighter outlook for the future. I appreciated Pres. Uchtdorf's talk at the women's meeting on fourth floor, last door.  And the way we need to keep moving forward regardless of the challenges along the way. Whether a challenge in our life, a question we have, or other things, we need to persevere and the blessing will come. I also liked Elder Stevenson and the challenge to replace some of the screen time in our lives with a study of the Book of Mormon. There were many others with messages that helped me consider what I need to do differently to be a better person. 

It was a crazy week at work also. It is the time of year that we do annual performance reviews. So I had to do mine, as well as add the supervisor comments to 7 others and to deliver the review to those 7 and so it took a huge chunk of the week. Plus the rest of the work does not stop. But all in all it's going well. I see more and more how what I learn in the gospel makes me better at work. To be wiser, more supportive, more of a critical thinker, and more of a leader and follower at the same time. I am grateful to have the gospel that helps in all aspects of my life. 

I have seen this week how we can use the atonement to heal so many things. From small to great it can help move us beyond the dismay or the discouragement to see a brighter future. 

Love you all forever, nothing can change that. 

Dad

3 John 1:4