My Christmas Program pt. 5

9. I love being a member of the Church. I am the only member in my family, but I love it. At times, I get a little anxious about whether or not my family may come around, but then I am reminded of the scripture that says, Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. The 'Be Attitudes' are an amazing sermon from the Savior. It is all about becoming like Him! I love it. We are blessed when we try to act, behave and think like the Savior. He promises that we will receive mercy, peace and see His face! I believe that if I hold to my covenants no matter what, He'll keep His promises with me. I become clean through His grace. I become more like Him when I try my hardest. I feel the Saviors love when I try to Be like Him.

I hope that one day my family will be brought into the gospel either by me or by some miracle. I believe the scripture that says: "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven." I know He loves me and loves my family. He'll come through, I know it.

- Phil -

10. When I got baptized so many years ago, I remember how nervous I felt getting ready for that day. My mom told me she was so proud of me. I remember getting dressed, all in white. The meeting was short and sweet. They sang the song, "I'm trying to be like Jesus." I looked out at my family while I walked into the pool of water, saw them smiling, my mom crying. Then I looked at my grandpa, who had the authority to baptize me. He raised his arm, said the prayer and dunked me under.
I remember thinking to myself, "Wow. I am actually going to be baptized just like the Savior did. Will there be a dove flying around when I come up out of the water?" There was no dove, but I do remember that feeling of the Spirit that filled my whole body!
I have had other sacred experiences since that time. They have often been when I've focused on just trying my best, that's all. I know the Savior loves me. I know that He answers prayers. I know He has provided a way for all of us to return by living the gospel and believing that all things will work for our good.

- Sandy -

END

My Christmas Program pt. 4

7. I am jealous of those who get revelation. I feel like all I get is silence. It is hard sometimes to believe that God would love me and yet remain silent. I have made it a personal goal to strive to hear God's voice and receive revelations. I have submerged myself in scripture study, lots of prayer, going to institute, serving, you name it, I have done it. Through all my effort, I didn't always think that I was getting much more of anything other than a few whisps of sensation of the spirit. It stayed this way for quite awhile. At times, I distracted myself with good works, school, work and dating. Then one day I had enough. I had it with trying to speak to Him and he wouldn't speak back. I went to bed angry and didn't sleep very well. Then some weeks later, at institute, we had a lesson on listening with spiritual ears and waiting on the Lord. We read Matt 7:24. It was the story of the man building a house upon the sand and a house upon a rock. The impression then came flooding into my mind. You can't build a house in one day or two... it can take months. It takes time to build a relationship with God where He can speak and I can listen. Now revelation comes easier, when I rely and feel after Him. It's still a struggle, but I have learned to be patient with myself and God. You can't build a celestial castle in a day, likewise you can't build a relationship with God in one day either, but you can wait for Him and He will come. He has come to me and He will come to you.

- John -

8. I remember Hermana Anderson was a pain. She woke up late, she didn't like to study with me, she was very lazy, to me. I was counseled by my Mission President to practice patience and pray for it. So I did. I was determined to have patience for Hermana Anderson if it killed me or not. Well, 3 transfers later, I found myself ready to strangler her in her sleep. I was confused and absolutely baffled by why I wasn't able to have patience with her. Everything she did, started to drive me up the wall. I cleaned the dishes, said the prayers, shared my food with her, spoke kindly to her all the time, held in my rage. One night, with my whits end, I pleaded with the Lord to have Him come through with His promises. He was silent. The next day, we went tracking and after 6 hours of blistering heat, rejections and getting unwanted cat calls, Hermana Anderson just stopped where she stood and sat down. I was trying so hard to always have a great attitude no matter what. When she just stood there and sat down, I had it with her. Right before I was about to give her a peace of my mind of how I felt like she was the biggest chain and ball around my neck, she said to me in tears, " Hermana Lopez, why are you so kind to me? How is it that you're so happy despite all the rejection and crappy stuff that has happened today? You never give up and you're so patient? How can you be like this, especially to me?" I realized then that I couldn't always recognize the blessings of the Lord, but they always come.

- Maria -

Continue to Pt. 5

My Christmas Program pt. 3

5. The Savior has been difficult for me to relate to. He's a man. He was born and lived 2000 years ago. He was perfect with a capital P. I have struggled how I could know what He is like and how I could even amount to try to be like him. A couple of months ago, I was inspired by a Sunday School class about the topic of service. I learned that when the Savior learned in his 30 days of fasting, he learned what was going to happen to Him. He learned that He was going to die a horrible death for all of us: those who had died, those who were living and all those who would live, like me. Instead of failing into a state of depression, He just ran into being a service to all. He healed the blind, the sick, the burdened, the sinners, the hypocrites, the unthankful, the faithful, the dead, EVERYONE. All He did was serve and love people, then He was killed by the very people He was trying to save. Since that 'Ah Ha' moment, I have tried to love people. I have prayed each day to be given an opportunity to lift a burden and be loving without a return. It is through this service, I've started to see "How to be like Jesus."

- Jackie -

6. I want to be a dad so bad. When I see my other siblings have families of their own, I get really anxious about starting a family. One time, I was called by one of my home teachee's to give him a blessing. I went and gave him a blessing. During the blessing, I was filled with the Spirit so strong, that I hardly remember the blessing I gave him. He was in tears, gave me a hug and thanked me for being worthy to give him a blessing. Leaving his home, I was filled with the Spirit. Several months later, I ran into him at the store. He pulled me aside and asked if we could talk. He told me that he was so thankful for me being willing to give him a blessing and being so kind to him all the time. He became silent and then said, with a quiver in his voice, "Mike, I was thinking of killing myself that night. I didn't want too, so I called you because that was the name that came to my mind to call. You answered and you came. You made me feel God's love for me. I am here today because of you."

I was overcome with emotion and hugged him. I know from that experience that we are always taken care of in the most amazing ways and that we are all family.

- Mike -

Continue to pt. 4

My Christmas Program pt. 2

3. I loved her so much when I married my Ex. I had dated her for 2 years. Yes, we had our problems, but I believed we could make it, that is what the Prophets advise us: love each other, repent and live by faith. So that is what I did. The moments leading up to my sealing to another eternal soul was unforgettable. That was the last moment I felt the light of God so strong again while I was with her. Six years later she divorced me. I remember sitting there with the signed papers thinking what could I have done? Didn't I love her with all my heart? I kept my end of the deal, why couldn't have God intervened? How could my eternal marriage, my world be ending with this signature and mine together on this piece of paper? My world came crashing down. It was destroyed.

I am still hurt. I am still in pain. Being single again is hard for me. The scripture that has always given me strength is this: 'And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them , and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes' and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.'  Revelations 21:3-4. I believe that there will be a day when there will always be peace. I believe God loves me and it will work out. I look forward to when I can look past my pain, betrayal and feeling abandoned and know that I did my part and the Savior will say to me, " Well done, thou good and faithful Servant." And He shall whisper in my ear as He embraces me, "I love you so much. You're home. Be at peace forever."                                                                     

 - Travis -

4. It's hard for me to be around people. I struggle with managing Anxiety and Depression. And some may know how, but I don't really manage it well. I think the anxiety and depression manage me more often. It's hard to have a mental health challenge and feel powerless over your body and mind. The emotions seem to swell in high energy with anxious thoughts of fear. Then they vortex down and crash on to me like a tidal wave. I lay there in my room, exhausted, hurt, weary, lonely and with no energy to do what needs to be done. I have begged the Lord to allow me to have a normal life. A life that isn't riddled with so much inner turmoil. I asked for a blessing from my dad and he gave me this counsel:

"Celia, the Lord knows the struggles you face. He knows how much your challenges have made it difficult to feel His love for you. Remember Celia that this life is for you to prepare and meet God. You were a great spirit that held true to your covenants and stood with the Savior to come here to this earth to work out your salvation and return home as the Savior is: perfect, full of grace and love. It is thru the atonement that all challenges are overcome. It is thru moving through hardship that we become pure, radiant and Celestial. Know, that the Lord hasn't left you and will continue to be there to lift you up."I look forward to the day when I am free from this battle. I don't expect this battle to end soon. But I have seen His power enlarge me, strengthen me and change my ability to forget myself and be happy. I know that I won't always have to face this huge challenge. I know it hard sometimes, but He helps me feel and believe that I will make it. I can do this! 

- Celia -

Continue to pt. 3

My Christmas Program 2017 pt 1

Dear Delysia,

I am so sorry for ignoring you. I haven't meant too. I don't have much of an excuse, other than I have chosen not to write you. But I have now. I promise that I'll do better. I need to write to you more often. I need solace in my thoughts and you always have helped me.

For Church, given that I'm the Choir director, I created a Christmas program. Usually the program consists of speaking and rehearsing the same story of the birth of the Savior. Normally, I am not opposed to that, but it has become to trite to me, that I felt like I needed to help others to really connect with the Savior. I feel like He is hard to relate too, given that he lived so long ago and He was perfect. No one has a standard to compare perfection too. So I gathered up testimonies of others of how they relate too Christ. Then I had the Choir learn some really great songs that really connect the listener to those testimonies. Not everyone can relate to the spoken word, but music can really strike a cord with people in a way that words do not. So here is the program, with Youtube videos of the songs that would go with it.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Read the testimonies.
2. Listen to the Songs

Above all, pray and feel the Spirit of Christmas and of Christ fill your heart!

* The names of the testimonies have been changed to protect privacy.
**************************************************************************

Mother has always been careful

To keep me from catching a sickness.

But one thing she hopes I come down with

Is a condition called “spirit of Christmas.”

Catching the spirit of Christmas

Is nothing like catching a cold.

It makes you feel warm

And new and transformed

And leaves your heart feeling like gold.

Catching the spirit of Christmas

Is the catchingest of all that goes ’round

During this season

When there’s no greater reason

To lift those whose heads hang down.

Catching the spirit of Christmas

Won’t leave you sick in your bed.

It’ll give you the zest

To start living your best

And love others as Jesus has said.

1. Doubt seems to come to me all the time. I often feel bombarded by feeling like no matter what I do, I'm never good enough. I try really hard to be the best person. I fall short a lot. I don't like to admit it, but I do. I am trying to feel the Saviors love for me when I put my energy and faith in believing that He does love me, that I'm worth it, that He will come when I need Him most. I sometimes doubt that He has come to me in my desperate nights of despair. But I cannot deny that He has come. He hasn't always come when I called, but He has always healed my broken heart time and time again. That is what keeps me going, He has always come to me and healed me.

- Charles-

2. I'm not always sure that God wants us always to believe all the time. I mean, there is no solid proof of anything in this life. Scientific communities of the greatest minds keep coming up with new discoveries in 2017. It seems really far fetched that there is absolute truth all the time. When I think of the story of the prophet Joseph Smith, it seems just that: far fetched. Yet, each time I read the Book of Mormon, every time I bow my head in a humble manner to speak to Him, when I strive to remain clean to commune with God at church and at the Temple, I can feel this power and peace that brings me back to my faith, my hope. When I try, I mean really try, my doubts disappear and I feel Him embrace me with love. I know he hears me and helps me. I have too.

- Sara-

Continue to pt. 2

My Baby Sniffles

Dear Delysia,

I am so sorry that I have neglected you. I haven't done it on purpose. But I have tried really hard not to be negative and dwell on the negative. I want to be better and I think I am becoming better.

I want to share with you some things that have been hard and some things that have been great about the past month or so.

First, my little girl Sniffles, passed away on Aug 31. I couldn't bring myself to write about it. It was too painful. Sniffles meant a lot to me and had spent her whole life in my care and the care of my mom and my family. I loved her. She was my baby. My step-dad texted me that day and said that he was going to put Sniffles down because she was sick and couldn't be helped. I generally don't listen to his point of view, so I called mom. She didn't answer and so I texted her and then called her again. When I called the second time, she answered and said that she had just finished putting my baby down and that there was nothing that they could have done for her. I just bawled over the phone. I bawled and bawled while mama was explaining to me what had happened.

Mama said that Sniffles was crying and mama called to her. She was at the bottom of the stairs and called to Sniffles but Sniffles didn't respond. She just stood there at the bottom of the stairs, with her head toward the floor and not moving. So mama went down and picked her up and noticed that there was blood coming out of her mouth. So mama took her to the vet. The vet said that her kidneys had failed and that her toxic levels were too high, and there was nothing that could be done. They said that her core temperature was 94 degrees, when it should be 100 degrees! Mom said that they wrapped her in a blanket that is made to keep her warm quick. Mama said she took her and held her like a baby and there was tears in her eyes. Mama said she was in so much pain. My step-dad wanted to take her home and let her die at home. Mama said that they were not going to do that and they were going to put my baby down. So Mama held my baby while they put her down. I cried and cried and cried and cried all day that day and night.

I told people that I was having an allergy attack to hide my feelings from people and listened to my favorite song for my baby kitties: Good Company: Oliver & Company. I told Traci about it and he helped me feel better about it. Mama buried my baby in her pet cemetery on her property.

Sniffles was a bridged gap for me. Mama got Sniffles during the time when I came back from my mission and was going to school and not really going back home. It was hard for me to go home, because of the fiasco of what happened with my sister and my step-dad. So mom bought Sniffles to bring me home. It worked. I came back home to love another baby kitty. My first yellow kitty, Molly passed from kidney failure too. Sniffles is what brought me home to be around my family more. It was so hard for me to come back to the house because it wasn't a place of love and safety, it was a place of lies, deceit and betrayal. Having a innocent life, like Sniffles really helped me want to come back home and heal and feel safe and ready to be around the family more. Having her pass has hurt my heart.

When I call my mom, I always mention my baby. On Sept 5, when I called my mom again, I was happy and towards the end of the call, I was about to ask how my baby was, but she wasn't there. She was gone. It was sad. It is still sad to write about it and relive those moments. I loved her. She was mine. She is one of the few things that was mine.

I miss my baby so much. I still talk to mama, but it's not the same. Sniffles was 12 years old.

Dear Seiko

Dear Delysia,

I have a friend that I adore. She is from Japan and I went to school with her. She is a bit older than me but you wouldn't know it by the way she looks and behaves. She is a wonder and a firecracker for a woman from Japan. She speaks her mind and gets straight to the point. All of those attributes I admire. But above all the ones that are naturally appealing to me, I admire her spiritual strength the most. She has it hard or at least has gone through hard things and has remained ever splendid. She was engaged once and then the guy broke it off and then decided to marry another person. Her heart was seriously broken. I remember seeing her and her fiance and Wal-Mart while I was with Tristy. She was so happy. She found out that her ring was from Wal-Mart because that is all he could afford, being a poor college student and coming from a family of small means. Yet, I remember how happy she was and so in love with the idea of being in love and taking care of a man.

I felt impressed to send her a note after she had written this to me:

"I am doing fine. My life has been pretty crazy lately but having fun.

I am sorry to hear that you are working a lot Are you enjoying working there though? I hope so!!!

I just wanted to let you know that I have a boyfriend now. He is not Korean nor Japanese. Crazy, huh? He is from Canada and is 21 years old… Do you know how old I am??? Lol A crazy thing like this happens sometimes, right? Hahaha

Anyways I just started to date him about 10 days ago, and he is now worried that he is not feeling the spirit if this is right thing to do or not… I am not sure why he even told me that he likes me and wants to date me then… haha All things happened pretty quick so he is maybe freaking out or something? I don’t know… I like him but not sure where this relationship is going to be end. I will wait and see for a couple of months I guess.

SO, I am still in the middle of craziness kind of but I just need to trust in God and go forward. When I am kind of confused and such, I always remember you and how wise you are to give me such wonderful advice. Miss you friend! Thank you for your great example of faith and be strong in the gospel of Jesus Christ."

My response:
Seiko,

I wanted to just say, it may seem hard and frustrating to be in the situations that we're in. I mean, I think that you are in a worse situation than I am. You're in your home country, where people don't like to accept compliments or the life is so busy, that you can't enjoy the beauty of being alive.

I put your name in the temple last Saturday and I wanted to share with you this idea that I've been thinking a lot about:

I'm not sure that being married and having a family is necessary for us to make it back. I mean, I think that being a mom/dad and having a spouse is grand, yet, it seems like it doesn't necessarily have to be a thing we need to be like Christ. The gospel of the Savior mentions very little about marriage. It talks about being kind, generous, loving, virtuous, lovely, bright and strong. I think that perhaps some of us can't really become Celestial without having to really rely on the Savior. Would we be so willing to look to Christ, if we were always looking to our spouse or our children? Probably not. I feel like since we are single, it is a great time for us to really become well acquainted with God and His Son.

In my mind, to know the Heavens, to hear His Voice, to See His Hands, to have His Spirit fill our cup to overflow to a brilliant light of Celestial glory is what we all want, yet how we obtain it is different for all. I like that, because we are single, we are on a fast track to see the powers of God manifest more visibly and brightly before our face.

I admire your strength and I admire your ability to see things as they really are. I would suggest that you really reach to be able to see God, for Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see His Face! I am working on that right now, with Temple attendance, fasting, prayer and service. I believe that you'll find marriage, but I also feel you'll be able to to have both blessings in this life.

May it be that you'll never lose hope and always be sensitive the warmth of our God and His presence and that others will see it in you too... for I have, and will continue to see it in you from all the way from the USA.




************************************



She didn't respond, but I hope she felt strength and peace because of it.

Sniffles

My baby girl passed away today. My mom told me that she had acute kidney failure and she needed to put her down, so she did. Mama said that Sniffles was crying and crying. Then mama called to her and saw her at the bottom of the stairs not moving, unresponsive. So mama went down and picked her up and saw that blood was coming out of her mouth. So she took Sniffles to the vet and they ran some test and found that her levels were too high to save her. Mama decided to put her down.

I have cried and cried and cried all day today. I've cried so much that my eyes hurt and my nose hurts and I'm so drained, that I am too tired to cry.

I miss my baby sooo much, because she was mine.

Aug 17, 2017

Dear Delysia,

I have been having a lot of conversations lately with Traci, that have revolved around his blessings and revelations about how his ex-girlfriend is coming back to him. It has been so exhausting to have to listen to him about her. I hate her, as you know. I just hate her. She is a awful human being and he has never learned how to let go of the past, especially when it comes to his Ex-girlfriends. Time and time again, he looks back to try and solve the riddle of the ex girlfriend and it cannot be solved with the past. It can only be solved with a future girlfriend. The ex-girlfriend is gone. She won’t play the game anymore.

I have grown tired of the subject, yet that is pretty much all he wants to talk about. So I am happy to listen. That is all I can do at this point, but it will have to do for now. I love him. I can’t help but want to help him, but I’m not sure much help that I can be to him for much longer. Soon, his lady will come back to him and will bring him the happiness that he’s been looking for his whole life. It brings me a lot of peace that I am able to assist him in some way to help him feel like he is worthwhile.

I love hims. :D

My Talk in Church: Sacrifice

Dear Delysia,

Listed below is the talk that I gave in church yesterday. I hope you like it.

Prior to the Atonement of our Savior, the children of God offered blood sacrifices as a symblol of their reverence and devotion to God. (Moses 5:5-7). Such sacrifices served as both a similitude of the Savior’s Atonement and an offering of something of great worth. In the beginning, Adam and Eve, they were asked to give the best of their flocks and the fruits of the field. The effects of this law demonstrated that the best that the earth had to produce was not for self, but for God. At this particular time of history where it was very difficult to make sure your family was fed, those who sought to worship God, were asked to sacrifice the best source of the mortal life to Him. 

Over time and because of the rebellious nature of the Jews, how to fulfill the law of sacrifice was altered to help the Children of Israel focus on the Savior and His atonement. During the time of Moses there was an expansion in the number and variety of offerings under the law of sacrifice. The Mosaic sacrifices consisted of five major offerings that fell into two primary categories—obligatory and voluntary. The difference between the obligatory and the voluntary offerings might be compared to the difference between the law of tithing and the law of fast offerings. The part of sacrifice that most strongly paralleled the Savior was the offering itself. The priest acted as the bridge between us and God, as the Savior does for us now. 

Here are some small details of how the Law of Sacrifice had been altered to fit the need of the Children of Israel: 

First, like Christ, the animal was chosen and anointed by the laying on of hands. (The Hebrew title Messiah and the Greek title Christ both mean “the Anointed One.”) Second, the animal was to have its life’s blood spilt. Third, it had to be without blemish—totally free from physical flaws, complete, whole, and perfect. Fourth, the sacrifice had to be clean and worthy. Fifth, the sacrifice had to be domesticated; that is, not wild but tame and of help to man (see Lev. 1:2–3, 10; Lev. 22:21). Sixth and seventh, for the original sacrifice practiced by Adam and the most common sacrifice in the law of Moses, the animal had to be a firstborn and a male (see Ex. 12:5; Lev. 1:3; Lev. 22:18–25). Eighth, the sacrifice of grain had to be ground into flour and made into breadstuffs, which reminds us of our Lord’s title the Bread of Life (see John 6:48). Ninth, the firstfruits that were offered remind us that Christ was the firstfruits of the Resurrection (see 1 Cor. 15:20). 

Once the Savior came into His mortal experience, fulfilled His life mission and saved us all and provided a way for us to return, He then again altered the way that we should fulfill the Law of Sacrifice: a broken heart and a contrite spirit. So with this in mind, what is Sacrifice? What is a broken heart and contrite spirit? I gave sent out a survey on social media to get a scope of what we, as the rising generation of the church thought of what this word means. The major of my peers said something very similar to this phrase: Sacrifice is giving up something for something better. 
With this definition in mind and the knowledge that we poses, this answer is incomplete. 

 Here is a list of things, a majority of my peers said were the hardest things for them to give up: Time, Personal satisfaction for sake of spouse/child/friend, relationships online, comfort zones, school, missions, girlfriends and boyfriends, play dates, jobs, clothes and money. There were more looming answers that I came across. 

Girl 1 said: When I joined the church, I was the only one that did at the time. I chose to get married to the love of my life. I sacrificed having all that I loved to be there at the ceremony to see me be married in eternal glory to my husband. I wanted my mom and dad and all my family to be at the temple to celebrate with me. Those in attendance were my husband, his parents, his Bishop and the parents of one of his mission companions. 

 Girl 2 said: I joined the LDS church when I was 17. That was the best decision I have ever made but also the hardest. I have lost family and friend relationships as a result and it have brought me a lot of pain and judgment as well as loss of respect from people that I love. The positive parts are much greater and well worth it, but it is hard. 

Girl 3 said: Having a family has made me completely lose myself. I have found myself in moments of horrible depression, unsure of who I really am. I've given up things I really love. Activities I love, my body, and my mind, all in the name of family and my children. I wouldn't give them up for anything, but the sacrifices I've made have taken their toll. 

Girl 4 said: When my father passed away, I had to sacrifice my after school life when my mom needed me to be a mom the last two years of high school. I helped raise my siblings instead of having a lot of freedom to do what I wanted to do. 

Boy 1: I have sacrificed my hope to live a life with a spouse and a family of my own in this life. Being gay, I have decided that remaining celibate is the only acceptable way that God would have me live. But this decision has come at a great cost: being lonely, seeing others around me have what I want, being thristy, being despised by society and ridiculed by my own peer group because of my choices to remain faithful, make it all really hard. But I hope that all will work out, it has too. 

One way to think of sacrifice is that reputation, social standing, popularity, and success must be burnt on the altar as a sacrifice. Since our lives are going to be lost anyway and all that the world has to offer is meaningless, the exchange is illusory. We are asked to give up what has never been ours to keep. Life is brief and fleeting. Viewed in the proper light, the sacrifice of all things is nothing. You gain everything by giving up what is truly nothing and was never yours to begin with. 

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, “Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed!” 

 So, what are the benefits? Revelation: The Jews sacrificed because they were preparing to be sanctified and to hear the word of the Lord. “And ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken.”(see D&C 43:16) 

Cleansed from Sin: We being willing to sacrifice our hearts and souls allows for the cleansing of sin. “And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood’ yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost.” (see 3 Nephi 9:19-20) 

Eternal Life: When we are willing to sacrifice all that we poses to return to our God, He allows us to return. “And unto him that repenteth and sanctifieth himself before the Lord shall be given eternal life.” (see D&C 133:62) 

May it be my brothers and sisters, that as we strive to believe that we are and will make it back to our Celestial home, from whence we came, it will become a reality. As in the beginning of time, the law of Sacrifice demanded the best of what the earth had to offer: animals and fruits of the field. Now in the days of the second coming of the Savior, the law demands the best of what heaven has to offer, the hearts and souls of God’s eternal children. 

May it be that we all may be willing to sacrifice the animals in ourselves that hide and corrupt the most precious things that are actually ours to give: our heart, our will, our souls. May it be that in our dispensation of prosperity that we will not emulate the rich young man of the Jews in the Saviors time, but that we may be as the Lamanites of the Book of Mormon. King Lamoni and his father who were willing to give up all they had: their flocks, their families, their traditions, their Kingdom and their sins to know God. My promise to you is this, if you struggle to remember your value, sacrifice. If you struggle to remember how to hear God’s voice, sacrifice. If you struggle to remember what it is like to feel God’s love for you, sacrifice, ‘…that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.’ (see Moroni 7: 48).

The Past Revelation

Dear Delysia,

I went to the temple last Friday and I received a lot of help and understanding, so I wanted to share that with you.

I went to the Temple but I was really rushing to get there on time for the endowment session. I didn't want to do anything else really but the endowment session. I knew that iniatories would be full or have a long line and I didn't have any names for the baptisms and I HATE doing sealings. I had also decided that I was going to go the night before with Traci.

I forget that when you become determined to go to the Temple, you really get hit hard with a lot of opposition. I was hit all day Friday with stuff. I was hit with a bad attitude, I was hit with having ugly thoughts come to me. I even had a melt down in the parking lot of the temple and just bawled thinking that I couldn't go because I was hurting and angry. But I pulled myself together and missed the endowment session and had to do a sealing session.

The session was hard to do for me. The sealing session is about marriages and families with kids. There was 5 couples that were there. 3 of the husbands were so handsome. There was a Finish woman and a woman who didn't have her husband, so it was me, 5 couples and 2 ladies. I just started to cry. I was thinking about what it was going to be like with my siblings being in the temple. But the truth is, I am the only one that probably goes as often as I do. The siblings that can go, I'm not sure that they go very often and I do have siblings that can't go. I did a lot of sealings with sons to their parents.

But while I was having a mini melt down, I started to think to myself, Why is this happening? I shouldn't be having a meltdown. I should be feeling at peace and I should be feelings like this is the best thing ever, not me having a meltdown moment. Then when the sealing session was over, I realized that the feelings of hurt and pain were gone. Then I felt this overwhelming sense of peace and calm. I then went into the Celestial room and started to pray.

The lesson I learned was: The refining fire comes to all of us who enter into the Temple. The refining fire burns all the ugly things out of us, if we let it. I had a lot of refining to happen to me that day, especially for me to have the revelation that I requested to have. The Lord was going to give me what I requested for, but I needed to be more holy in order to receive the answers in the way that He choose fit to give me. A refining fire comes to all of us. 3 Nephi 24:18 to the end; talks about that refining fire. All of God's children will pass through the refining fire but only the children that rely on the atonement and grace of the Savior are able to withstand the fire.

So when I was in the Celestial Room, it was full of people. The other other temple in the valley was closed for cleaning for two weeks. But I didn't have any problem concentrating and clearing out the noise of the many whispers and shuffling of the crowd.

I asked the Lord about Traci. Traci wanted to know if Adi comes back to him and that that opportunity is one that will lead to marriage. I asked about that and the Lord shared with me that she does come back and that if Traci wants to marry her, she'll be ready for it and if he wanted it, he could marry her if he wanted. I saw it! I saw him and her in wedding clothes.

Then I asked the Lord about my friend Reid. I asked Him what needed to happen more for Reid to obtain the things that he wants: a wife and a good mother of faith. These answers didn't come so freely. It was as if it was an act of mercy that the Lord was allowing for me to ask about Reid. What the Lord shared with me was, Reid needed to humble himself and put his life back together. Reid needed to be more dedicated to the gospel and not be so reliant on his own skills.

What is interesting about it is, I spoke with Reid the day before about his concern for the future. Reid has a great job and is pretty much set for life when it comes to resources. But what Reid cannot provide is an environment of faith. His family wouldn't make it back to God if he can't provide that environment. So I told Reid that if he can't provide the best environment for his family to flourish in the gospel, then why would God give him a wife and children? He wouldn't in my mind. So Reid said he'd humble himself and try to be the best person he could be.

Then I asked about myself. Traci had told me in a conversation a couple of days ago, that I would be given two new friends that are as good or better than Traci. So I asked the Lord about this and found that one of them, is coming to me in Aug/Sept time. I know what he looks like too, I don't know his name or what he's about, but I do know what he looks like and when he'll come to me.

I am very happy and very pleased about these answers and I hope that I can be ready for it.

Love you Delysia.

The Fading days with my Puppy

Dear Delysia,

The past couple of days, as I have spoken with Traci and the things that are coming to him, he has shared with me that I need to find more close friends. Traci's life is getting to a point where he won't have a lot of time to interact with me. The reasons are, his business is about to launch, his dating life is picking up and he's finding friends and is feeling the pull to be with people to help them.

This news made me really sad. Though, I know that I've had to find new friends. My support system is really diminishing. I don't know what to do about this yet.

The Wedding of Boo Boo Kitty

Dear Delysia,

Boo Boo Kitty got married and I am so happy for her. She married Kody and she looked and seemed amazing!

I took two days off to help with the planning and execution of the wedding. All 8 of her sisters came to support the wedding. And to my surprise, I was put in the procession. Boo Boo put me in as a bridesmaid! I had joked about being a bridesmaid with her a long time ago, but I didn't actually believe that she would put me in as one of them. Her dad was a little concerned that I might be offended, but I wasn't offended. It also made sense that Boo Boo was asking me a lot on what I was going to wear to the wedding. I kept telling her that I was going to wear a gown, with lace and it was going to be champagne color. That was funny to say that, because her wedding dress is the same color and lacey.

The wedding was so much fun. Mikayla and I were in charge of the Bachlorette party. I brought over teeth whitening stripes, charcoal masks, essential oils, sugar scrubs and fruit that was dipped in chocolate. We just had a great time, where we just had masks on, and just chatted about the good times in our lives. It was really nice to have that with most of the sisters and Boo Boo's mom.

I was really happy that I was involved and included in the wedding like I was family. I was a bridesmaid with all of her sisters and Mikayla was also a bridesmaid. It was just really nice to be included. I felt like I was a part of the Cooper Clan!

I'll send some pictures to you soon, but I am really happy that I was able to participate with the wedding.

OH,

So, the sealing in the Temple was really amazing! So the Sealer spoke about some really amazing things. He spoke about how in the marriage ceremony, the man and wife don't make covenants with each other, they make the covenant to God. And the covenant is really them promising to God that they'll be nice and take care of each other. The wife and husband aren't accountable so much to each other as they are to God for the marriage! I was really blown away by this truth!

The other thing that I really liked about the sealing ceremony, prior to the actual ceremony, he spoke about how the sealing ceremony and the baptism ceremony are the only two that use all three names of the God Head! All the other ceremonies don't use all the God-Head's names. I thought that was pretty awesome.

The last thing that I really liked about what he shared before he performed the ceremony, was when he said that Baptism and it's covenant open up the gates to Heaven. The Sealing covenant opens up the gates to the Celestial kingdom.

These three things were absolutely amazing! But I just really enjoyed the moments and my opportunity to go to the temple and enjoy the moment!

Keto Diet

Dear Delysia,

So, at work, I have this wellness program going on. The challenge is for 8 weeks and we are supposed to see who can loose the most percent of body weight in  that time. So I've decided that I will do the Keto diet. The diet is basically turning your body into a place where it eats your fats and not your carbs. It's difficult. There is so much carbs and sugar in almost everything that you eat that it's hard not to eat so much carbs.

I've done good so far. I've been eating a lot of good fats, protein and very little carbs. I have lost 8 lbs. so far and have really enjoyed the results so far. Though, I want to lose more weight. Because I work two jobs, I'm very non-active. Yet, losing weight is really about what you eat. So I'm trying really hard to be the best that I can, so I can lose the weight and be more healthy.

Being on these types of diets, really helps me make better eating choices when it comes to food. I've not really eaten a lot of protein before and really enjoyed juicing. It just made me feel better. Switching over to the Keto has been hard because I love to make this juice that has a lot of sugar in it naturally: Australian Gold.

Australian gold has pineapple, bell peppers and ginger in it. Though, to make it not taste so nasty, I would add golden beats carrots and lemon. But since root vegetables have lots of starches and pineapple is packed with sugar, it's been hard to stay away from that juice. It helps with inflammation. So, I've had to make ginger tea to help with all the typing that I do for work. LOL.

It's really a hard thing to starve yourself off of sugar. I've been grumpy the past couple of weeks because of it. But overall, my body feels better.

Time Slipping By

Dear Delysia,

I feel like I'm slipping again with trying to keep up with life and what i going on with me. Though, the times when I think that I have have time to catch up with you, I just don't make time. I am sorry Delysia.

Some of the interesting things that have been happening with my life is, when I've been talking to Traci, we've gotten into a lot of different fights here and there. Yet I've felt very comfortable and at peace when I've gotten in those fights. He and I see things and life very different, as you know. But I've been very satisfied when I've been able to say things that I really feel and may have been mean, but that is what I've really felt. What has been really cool, is that when we fight, when been able to overcome the disagreements. We are able to work through the ugly, hurt feelings and come out of the conversation feeling a lot better. We've also decided to always leave our conversations with positive things. So we never end our conversations with sad, negative things, we leave each other with happy news.

The most recent fight that we had was today. Though, I told Traci that I don't like it when he says things that equalize the situation of his life and mine. I also made a point that his suggestions for me are not satisfactory for him, so why must they be satisfactory for me? He can date, marry, have a family. That is what the church talks about all the time; that and the atonement of the Savior. I was able to lead him to the conclusion that his answers for me to find peace and happiness are not the answers for me because he doesn't gravitate to them, so why should I have too? It shut him up more about him trying to tell me that things will work out if I just do X, Y, Z. Even though it was sort of a harsh conversation, it ended really good at the end.

I will miss him a lot. He brings me a sense of peace, stability, happiness and I rely on him. I will miss him a lot when he's dating again and working like a mad person when he gets his business working. He won't have time and the time he does have, it will be for his girlfriend, who will become his wife. I love him.

Traci and Boo Boo Kitty

Dear Delysia,

The past couple of days have been really interesting. Trevor has experienced a lot of amazing things lately in his path to try to be the best person he can be, especially in regards to having a wife. He has prayed and prayed and struggled to make it so that he could marry that cement chain call 80, but to no avail. Even though, he felt like the Lord had told him that things could work out for him and her, they didn’t. So Trevor has been whining, crying and moaning about the whole ordeal, but has had some really cool experiences.

1- Trevor prayed and got some really telling details about his situation with 80. He was doing all that he could to be ready for a relationship and she wasn’t.

2- God wasn’t lying to him about it working out with 80. He was trying to convince her and give her all she wanted, but she needed to be willing to change and she choose not to. There is no forcing of agency.

3- Trevor will still get one more chance to date her, but the Lord said that the likelihood of him choosing will be slim.

4- He heard the voice of the Savior, as he tried to take and use the atonement in his prayer.

5- He was told that the relationship that she is in now, will not work out and she will learn her lessons the hard way.

To me, I am so relieved and so happy that 80 is out of his life forever! I hate her, I HATE HER! Trevor deserves so much more than that piece of diseased victim. I am really happy that he is having these type of experiences. It means that I need to get my butt in gear. I’m falling behind in my devotion and that shouldn’t happen.


I also went to lunch with Boo Boo Kitty. She is getting married in a month and we had lunch and shopped for some fabric to make a veil. I love her! She is such a great friend! I just love how we just mesh together and enjoy each other’s company. She came into my life during a time that I was really struggling with Cory. And she has become a friend like Traci has become a friend to me, in half the amount of time. I am very happy that she is able to get married and move on in this life. I really hope that Traci will get that opportunity soon as well.

Despite my ugly feelings about God, it is nice to see that I have been blessed with good people that care and love me, even though it is a shadow of what it could be. I’ve been told that I’ll always have something or someone, but it won’t be the same person, it will be different people.  

This song reminds me that there are some mistakes that we'll always have to pay for in this life. May it be that I never make those types of mistakes. 80, Cory and Trevor have made those types of mistakes. I do not want to be guilty of that either.