Virtue Value Experience #2

Virtuous living "at all times and in all things, and in all places" qualifies you for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. When you are baptized and confirmed, you are given the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide all aspects of your life. Since the Holy ghost does not dwell in unclean tabernacles, living a virtuous life is a prerequisite to having the companionship of the Holy Ghost and receiving the blessings of temple ordinances. Read the following scripture references and identify the promised blessings: John 14:26-27; 15:26; 2 Nephi 32:1-5; and Doctrine and Covenants 45:57-59; 88:3-4; 121:45-46. In your journal record what you have learned, and write about a time when you felt the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

I love reading about the promised blessings of the Holy Ghost. I was particularly touched with Doctrine and Covenants 121:45-46-be full of charity towards all men and live in faith and be faithful-be virtuous and the Holy Ghost will be your constant companion and without 'compulsory means' it shall flow unto thee forever and ever. Wow. If I live the right way, the Spirit will just BE there. Love that promise!
I remember when my husband came home from work one morning in August 2007 and said he'd had an 'epiphany' that I could go to work part time for the insurance and he could work per-diem. No benefits, but making a lot more money. It also meant he could cut drastically down on his hours, which were significant.
I was less than thrilled with the idea. I had worked outside of the home before and did not want to miss out on raising my children and being there when they needed me. But I recognized enough in his 'epiphany' that I knew I needed to consider it.
I proceeded to less than halfheartedly look for work and update my resume and references. My husband came home from work one day, mentioning the many people who were moving from his unit to the new hospital once it opened. He had spoken with his manager and learned about some positions that were opening that I was qualified for. He told his manager about some of my experience and the manager asked that I call him. I felt stuck. . .smiling at my well-meaning husband, he went off to bed peacefully, and "grumble, grumble, grumble" went I.
Not being able to procrastinate that phone call very long, knowing that I was expected, I called and we had a chat. The manager of the department wanted to meet with me and we set up an interview time. This process was going a lot faster than I wanted it to! The interview went very well and, pending a reference check, I was essentially hired.
I had put off really praying about going back to work because I was afraid of the answer I would receive. Now it was crunch time. Time to get an answer and I couldn't deny it.
I remember it was in the evening. Either my wise, wonderful husband (no sarcasm there-he really is these things) was at work, or he' gone to bed and I'd stayed up. I knelt extremely conflicted next to the couch and I said a prayer. I was more conflicted than ever and I just cried and cried. As my tears quieted, I realized that submitting to the will of the Lord and truly getting an answer would be much preferable to the conflict I was experiencing. I also knew that the voice of reason to make the decision to submit to His will was not my own, but the very still, small voice of the Spirit.
With the decision to submit made, I prayed. I didn't just say a prayer. I prayed to know what would be right for our family. What Heavenly Father would have me do.
I knew two things at once. That I should accept this job offer, and that it would be a good thing for our family, that it would be a blessing.
From that time forward, I was fine. Truly fine. Countless blessings arose from that time in our lives:
-Our children spent more quality time with their paternal grandparents. Those early months of my going back to work before my husband's schedule was adjusted to be home more were the last few months on Earth that we had with Grandma. A fact we were not aware of at the time I first accepted the job.
-Dad was around a lot more-which was awesome!
-I made many new friends. Good and wonderful people who became lifelong friends.
-I felt successful! And appreciated! I say that so simply, but I know it was something I was in need of.
-I never had to work a night shift. I was scheduled to work Christmas Day the first year there. I was really sad, but we made plans to make the best of it. A week or so after the holiday schedule was released, I received a phone call from another person in my position who wanted to take my Christmas shift. He didn't have any family and wanted the overtime pay.
I am so grateful for the whisperings of the Spirit in our lives. And so eternally grateful that my Heavenly Father and husband know me enough to keep pushing me and have patience with me so that these blessings could be enjoyed!

For the Strength of Youth Standard 1: Agency and Accountability

You can read about this standard here. Agency is a gift from Heavenly Father. I particularly love the line, "You are a child of God with great strength." That applies to every single one of us!

I know choosing right brings happiness. I have experienced this. The results bring me confidence in making choices in this confusing world.

I would love to work on the computer each day. Scrapbooking, designing. . .it makes it hard to want to clean and figure out dinner. However, when I get my work done early and have time later to play I feel so much better, and it causes less stress for me and everyone else. It is also easy for me to step away from the computer when the kids need me. It is hard to turn it off when all I'm looking at is icky work!

I love Alma 41:11. ". . .and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness."

Some people say feeling guilty about sinning is just a product of being brainwashed. That if we hadn't been trained to feel like we were sinning, we would feel no guilt. This simply isn't true.

When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they knew good from evil. There is a difference and we know it because evil is contrary to the nature of God whose children we are. Why would anyone choose to live contrary to the nature of happiness? With this scripture, this is so plain and obvious to me.

Choice and Accountability - Value Experience 3

Agency, or the ability to choose, is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Read about agency in Joshua 24:15; 2 Nephi 2; and Doctrine & Covenants 82:2-10. Discuss the blessings and responsibilities of agency. Record in your journal your understanding of agency and the consequences of choices and actions.

I started this by studying the required reading and wrote some specific things down in my journal about the responsibilites and blessings of agency. I didn't feel as though I had learned much more than I knew. These were scriptures I was familiar with and although grateful to be reminded of them, I felt there was something more for me to learn.

Ask and it shall be given, right? Do you ever pause just a minute when you think about asking for greater understanding? Rarely does testimony grow without some kind of work.

Dave and I found out the other night that a couple that we knew from Kaysville is getting a divorce. It came as quite a shock to us and makes me so sad. Not just because of their marriage, but because I know and love their children. I worked with them often in Primary.

This knowledge came on the heels of my preparation for teaching a combined YW lesson on the home and the family. In my lesson, I used an example of a day at our house when decisions I have made throughout the day lead to a serious lack of organization, particularly at that crazy, busy time of the day. Namely: 4p to bedtime. My disorganization leads to chaos, confusion, and ultimately contention.

Because of my prep for my lesson, I've thought a lot about what I can do to make this time of day go more smoothly, so that I can be there for the kids. If my stuff is taken care of, then I can better handle all of the unexpecteds that go along with six different personalities.

I think of the heartache when someone you love makes a decision you don't like. I have felt sorrow, disappointment, and anger, and I have a couple of wisened years under my belt to help handle that. It is hard to watch my children go through those feelings when they don't like a decision their parents have made. I pray that the anger won't take hold in their hearts and they can find happiness - and, one day recognize where their happiness and true joy come from.

This is something I've watched in one of our children lately. Some days are good, some are bad. Combined with the stress of moving at this age, AND being this age. . .I have been so concerned at times for this boy that some days seems is teetering on the edge. The edge being staying in anger and taking the dark road that follows, or finding some light and realizing that is a happier place to be.

I don't recall days like that for me in my youth, although taking a glance back through journals from that time in my life I am shocked about some of the things I felt some days.

Today is one of those days that words cannot express my gratitude for my Heavenly Father's bounteous blessings. For piercing through the bitterness of a 12 year old to show His love for him. For the Light that today, helped him to just "get it."

Light always helps us make better decisions. Light makes things discernable.