Finally

I finally finished the Ensign of The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints-May 2010 issue. I tried to read one talk a day but some days It just slipped my mind. But the days I remembered it was neat. I say neat because I would read a particular talk about a certain doctrine or principle then that very same day my faith was tried in that very same thing. Or some unpleasant situation would arise and excerpts from the talk I read gave me strength to either get through it or give me a refreshen perspective on the whole matter. I strongly encourage the hungry soul for spiritual food to take time and read a talk when you get a chance and you will feel filled and it will help you to have a desire to become what deep down you know that you truly are. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from various talks:

President Boyd K. Packer, The Power of the Priesthood

"Unless we enlist the attention of the mothers and daughters and sisters-who have influence on their husbands,fathers, sons, and brothers-we cannot progress. The priesthood will lose great power if the sisters are neglected."

Julie B. Beck And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I pour Out My Spirit

"President Spencer W. Kimball echoed this prophecy when he said:
“Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world. . . .

Elder Wilford W. Andersen The Rock of Our Redeemer

"They too are teaching us that hope and happiness and joy are not products of circumstance but of faith in the Lord."

Elder M. Russell Ballard Mothers and Daughters

"Teach your daughters to find joy in nurturing children. This is where their love and talents can have the greatest eternal significance"

Elder L. Tom Perry Mothers Teaching Children in the Home

"Teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in the home adds another layer of insulation to protect our children from wordly influences."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson The Blessing of Scripture

"The scriptures are the touchstone for measuring correctness and truth, and they are clear that real happiness lies not in denying the justice of God or trying to circumvent the consequences of sin but in repentance and forgiveness through the atoning grace of the Son of God."

Elder Koichi Aoyagi Helping Hands, Saving Hands

"Sometimes we feel that we are weak and lack the strength to rescue others, but the Lord reminds us, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40)."

Elder Bruce A. Carlson When the Lord Commands

"Like the two sportsmen, occasionally we believe that there must be an easier way, a shortcut or modification of the Lord’s commandments that will accommodate our individual circumstances. Thoughts such as these fail to acknowledge that strict obedience to God’s laws brings His blessings and failure to abide by His laws leads to foreseeable consequences."

Elder David A. Bednar Watching with All Perseverance

"Youth of all ages, even infants, can and do respond to the distinctive spirit of the Book of Mormon. Children may not understand all of the words and stories, but they certainly can feel the “familiar spirit” described by Isaiah (Isaiah 29:4; see also 2 Nephi 26:16)."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul

"May the joy of our fidelity to the highest and best within us be ours as we keep our love and our marriages, our society and our souls, as pure as they were meant to be"

Elder Dallin H. Oaks Healing the Sick

“Our family’s faith is in Jesus Christ and is not dependent on outcomes.”

Elder Ronald A. Rasband The Divine Call of a Missionary

"At the end of the meeting Elder Eyring bore his witness to me of the love of the Savior, which He has for each missionary assigned to go out into the world and preach the restored gospel."

David L. Beck The Magnificent Aaronic Priesthood

"He has given you His power to do great things. As you fulfill your duty to God, you will strengthen and bless your family. This is your greatest priesthood duty."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Continue in Patience

"I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort."

President Henry B. Eyring Act in All Diligence

"It is to learn what the Lord expects of you, make a plan to do it, act on your plan with diligence, and then share with others how your experience changed you and blessed others."

President Thomas S. Monson Preparation Brings Blessings

"Dress in such a way as to bring out the best in yourself and those around you"

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf You are My Hands

"I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently."

Elder Richard G. Scott He Lives! All Glory to His Name!

"This Easter, as you remember the Resurrection and the price paid and the gift given through the Atonement, ponder what the scriptures teach of those sacred events. Your personal witness of their reality will be strengthened. They must be more than principles you memorize. They must be woven into the very fiber of your being as a powerful bulwark against the rising tide of abomination that infects our world."

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom Turn to the Lord

"No matter the size of the issue, how we respond can reset the course of our life."

Cheryl C. Lant That Our Children Might See the Face of the Savior

"It is our sacred responsibility as parents and leaders of this rising generation of children to bring them to the Savior so that they might see His face and the face of our Father in Heaven as well. As we do so, we also bring ourselves."

Elder Quentin L. Cook We follow Jesus Christ

"Yet there are some who feel that venting their personal anger or deeply held opinions is more important than conducting themselves as Jesus Christ lived and taught. I invite each one of us individually to recognize that how we disagree is a real measure of who we are and whether we truly follow the Savior. It is appropriate to disagree, but it is not appropriate to be disagreeable."

President Thomas S. Monson He is Risen!

"If there is a design in this world in which we live, there must be a Designer. Who can behold the many wonders of the universe without believing that there is a design for all mankind? Who can doubt that there is a Designer?"

Elder Russell M. Nelson Generations Linked in Love

"When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of something greater than ourselves. Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors through sacred ordinances of the temple."

Elder Robert D. Hales Our Duty to God: The Mission of Parents & Leaders to the Rising Generation

"The greatest missionary work we will ever do will be in our homes. Our homes, quorums, and classes are part of the mission field. Our children and grandchildren are our most important investigators."

Elder Bradley D. Foster Mother Told Me

"The Lord has placed upon parents the primary responsibility for the spiritual nurturing of their children."

Elder James B. Martino All Things Work Together for Good

"Our Heavenly Father, who loves us completely and perfectly, permits us to have experiences that will allow us to develop the traits and attributes we need to become more and more Christlike. Our trials come in many forms, but each will allow us to become more like the Savior as we learn to recognize the good that comes from each experience. As we understand this doctrine, we gain greater assurance of our Father’s love. We may never know in this life why we face what we do, but we can feel confident that we can grow from the experience."

Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer Developing Good Judgment and Not Judging Others

"Many a sister has often heard the first story and wondered if she were a Mary or a Martha, yet the truth lies in knowing the whole person and in using good judgment. By knowing more about Martha, we find she was actually a person of deep spiritual character who had a bold and daring testimony of the Savior’s mission and His divine power over life. A misjudgment of Martha may have caused us not to know the true nature of this wonderful woman."

Elder Francisco J. Vinas Things Pertaining to Righteousness

"The spiritual healing of those who have been dead as to the things pertaining to righteousness comes about through the power of the Atonement, conversion to the truth, and adherence to the principles of righteousness."

Elder Neil L. Andersen Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

"We hold in our arms the rising generation. They come to this earth with important responsibilities and great spiritual capacities. We cannot be casual in how we prepare them. Our challenge as parents and teachers is not to create a spiritual core in their souls but rather to fan the flame of their spiritual core already aglow with the fire of their premortal faith."

President Thomas S. Monson A Word at Closing

"I urge you to study the messages, to ponder their teachings, and then to apply them in your life."

Mary N. Cook Never, Never, Never Give Up!

"The scriptures are full of accounts of men and women who showed great courage to do whatever the Lord commanded, even when the tasks seemed impossible, even when they may have wanted to give up."

Elaine S. Dalton Remember Who You Are!

"As President and Sister McKay spoke of their family and their life together, their intertwined hands spoke volumes about their love. Joy radiated from their faces. Hers was a beauty that cannot be purchased. It came from years of seeking the best gifts, becoming well educated, seeking knowledge by study and also by faith. It came from years of hard work, of faithfully enduring trials with optimism, trust, strength, and courage. It came from her unwavering devotion and fidelity to her husband, her family, and the Lord."

On that fall day in Huntsville, Utah, I was reminded of my divine identity, and I learned about what I now call “deep beauty”—the kind of beauty that shines from the inside out. It is the kind of beauty that cannot be painted on, surgically created, or purchased. It is the kind of beauty that doesn’t wash off. It is spiritual attractiveness. Deep beauty springs from virtue. It is the beauty of being chaste and morally clean. It is the kind of beauty that you see in the eyes of virtuous women like your mother and grandmother. It is a beauty that is earned through faith, repentance, and honoring covenants."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Your Happily Ever After

"Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."

"It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop."

"We all search for happiness, and we all try to find our own “happily ever after.” The truth is, God knows how to get there! And He has created a map for you; He knows the way. He is your beloved Heavenly Father, who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. The map is available to all. It gives explicit directions of what to do and where to go to everyone who is striving to come unto Christ and “stand as [a witness] of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.”4 All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan."

"I understand that, at times, some may wonder why they attend Church meetings or why it is so important to read the scriptures regularly or pray to our Heavenly Father daily. Here is my answer: You do these things because they are part of God’s path for you. And that path will take you to your “happily ever after” destination.

“Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s map.

Sisters, please embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ! Learn to love your Heavenly Father with all your heart, might, and mind. Fill your souls with virtue, and love goodness. Always strive to bring out the best in yourself and others.

Learn to accept and act upon the Young Women values. Live the standards in For the Strength of Youth. These standards guide and direct you to your “happily ever after.” Living these standards will prepare you to make sacred covenants in the temple and establish your own legacy of goodness in your individual circumstances. “Stand . . . in holy places, and be not moved,”5 regardless of temptations or difficulties. I promise you that future generations will be grateful for you and praise your name for your courage and faithfulness during this crucial time of your life.

My dear young sisters—you who stand for truth and righteousness, you who seek goodness, you who have entered the waters of baptism and walk in the ways of the Lord—our Father in Heaven has promised that you will “mount up with wings as eagles; [you] shall run, and not be weary; and [you] shall walk, and not faint.”6 You “shall not be deceived.”7 God will bless and prosper you.8 “The gates of hell shall not prevail against you; . . . and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.”9

Sisters, we love you. We pray for you. Be strong and of good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens."



P.s. I need to read these talks over and over and over again until it becomes engrained in my heart fully and it motivates me to make some SERIOUS changes. What good is it, if you think something is incredible but do nothing to really allow the full effects it was designed to do. Sending love, peace, joy & aloha to all who took the time to read this:)

YES!

I finally received clarity as to where our baby girl will be born and who will deliver her. Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeew! It was really hard for me to choose. I interviewed 7 midwives but I really connected with 3. Then choosing from the 3 was so difficult because I think that they were so fabulous in their own unique way. Any how I finally chose who I wanted because every time I thought about choosing someone else I really felt as if I was missing out if I didn't pick the one lady who I finally ended up picking. What solidified it for me was watching how she interacted with people and hearing a birth story from one of her recent mother's that just gave birth. Her experience was something I had envisioned for myself. I'm so pumped to birth my own way! To be in charge of my own birth. Holy molly this will be awesome. Come what may I will spiritually and physically prepare. I'm grateful that my dreams are becoming a reality all thanks to my Heavenly Father who KNOWS me so well and KNOWS what REALLY matters to me. All GLORY TO HIM:)

Things I want to read before the birth to prepare me are:

Birthing From Within
Orgasmic Birth
Hypnobirthing
Spiritual Midwifery

Courses I want to take:

Hypnobabies

Documentaries I want to watch:

Business Of Being Born
Orgasmic Birth

WHOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I'm pumped!