One Yellow Balloon

My sister attended the Portland Temple this week and saw the image of Jesus’ Second Coming by Harry Anderson in the Celestial Room.  She said this time, for the first time, it seemed to be that the Savior was offering her a hug.  She imagined that of all the good hugs she has had in her life, of course Jesus’ would be the best. We often look at the table prepared for the Sacrament.  We recognize the symbolism of the white cloth covering the symbols of the Savior’s body.  We reverently ponder how this funeral changed everything and fulfilled God’s Plan. But I recently heard someone compare it to a dinner table.  This is Jesus’ table.  There is a piece and a cup for all who wish to receive it.  There is room for each one around this table.  This table of humility.  This table of sacrifice and obedience.  This table, most of all, of love.   You belong here.  Even if you are waiting for the time that you can partake of it once...

You will note this was at the beginning of the COVID shutdown.  This entire message came to me in the shower.  I typed it up in about 20 minutes. When I was a teenager, my sister Jaycie and I would argue often. My mom would shake her head and wonder why we just couldn’t get along.  One day one of us responded sarcastically, “what are you talking about Mom? She’s my best friend!” After that, when my mom would chastise us, one of us would respond with that comment. One day after saying it, I realized I wasn’t being sarcastic anymore. Even though we had been disagreeing, it had become true. Jaycie WAS my best friend. She knew me like no one else. She understood me like no one else. She and I came from the same place. Whenever life has knocked me over, she was there to help me get back up. The words I had said over and over had become the truth.  You know how usually when people ask you how you are, it’s easy to say...

When I was a teenager, I was invited to travel to attend the Cardston, Alberta Temple Open House.  We literally drove all night, went to the open house, and drove home.  I was surprised to see the inside of that temple.  It was done in dark wood and fall colors, not the pastels of other temples like the Seattle Temple.  It also did not have an Angel Moroni atop of it.  Not what I expected, but I definitely felt th It is significant that the Savior chose to appear to the people at the temple. It is His house. It is filled with His power. Let us never lose sight of what the Lord is doing for us now. He is making His temples more accessible. He is accelerating the pace at which we are building temples. He is increasing our ability to help gather Israel. He is also making it easier for each of us to become spiritually refined. I promise that increased time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can. —--------- We live in an ever busy, demanding, and...

When we were young, February was a month of feeling love and sharing love.  I remember giving a plate of cookies to a boy my junior year and hoping my feelings were returned.  (They weren’t, but that’s a subject for another day…)  As adults, February can feel different, but maybe thinking about feeling and sharing love is still a good subject. We have great desires to feel that we are loved and we belong.  President Russell M. Nelson said in October 2011, “ When we realize that we are children of the covenant, we know who we are and what God expects of us. His law is written in our hearts. He is our God and we are His people.” Ellie Young, a professor at BYU, gave a powerful talk.  She said, “Being on the covenant path can give us a sense of belonging and connectedness, especially a connection to the Savior. Covenants bind us to Christ, and, because we are bound to Him, we can become like Him. Being bound to Christ means that we know Him. We feel His comforting ...

I recently heard a story of a pastor that had discussed with his congregation how they might decide how many children a family should have.  His advice was to not have more children than you could take care of financially and emotionally.  One day in prayer, the pastor told God, “You have too many kids.  I see people in need emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  It’s obvious You must have too many since You can’t take care of them all.”  God said, “you know my plan” and the pastor questioned, “what plan is that?”   God said, “the way it works is the ones who are able take care of the ones that are not, and the older ones take care of the younger ones.  And the well ones, they take care of the sick ones.  That’s the way it works and everyone is cared for.” This is what it should look like in our ward, in our neighborhoods, in our homes… We are each called to be Jesus’ hands.  Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “ When I think of the Savio...

As our new temple goes up brick by brick, we have been encouraged to prepare ourselves for its completion. I have considered ways to improve myself and my family, but I suggest another thing to build during this time- Unity amongst us. Bishop Gérald Caussé said in the October 2013 General Conference, “In this Church our wards and our [classes] do not belong to us. They belong to Jesus Christ. Whoever enters our meetinghouses should feel at home. The responsibility to welcome everyone has growing importance... We all need to work together to build spiritual unity within our wards and branches... It is your duty to reach out to anyone who appears at the doors of your Church buildings. Welcome them with gratitude and without prejudice. If people you do not know walk into one of your meetings, greet them warmly and invite them to sit with you. Please make the first move to help them feel welcome and loved, rather than waiting for them to come to you.” I often imagine what Jesus would do if...

I have been thinking a lot lately about light.  This time of year, I am amazed how more motivated I feel after a long, dark winter.  The longer days are refreshing and I am less weary.  I often don’t even realize how late it’s getting.  Brynne Wilcox asked in her April Relief Society lesson for us to think of examples of people who shared their light with us.  I have been reflecting on specific friends and moments when someone shared their light with me.  Usually it was nothing monumental to them, but it was profound and meaningful to me.  One friend told me often that she loved me.  A sister from this ward texted that she had been thinking of me.  I have a friend that always gives good advice.  One young woman bore her testimony of scripture study.  So many share their light with me.  It lifts me and helps me find joy.  This light gives me courage and hope. Jesus describes Himself as the “light of the world” (John 8:12)....

As we have studied the life of the Savior this year, I have noticed and underlined where so often it says He “was moved with compassion”.  It happened over and over that right before Jesus interacted with someone, His motivation came from compassion.  I find comfort and encouragement imagining that He feels that way about me, even when I am not at my best. On Sunset Highway, I appreciate the church that has landscaped with bushes to say “Love like Jesus”.  Honestly, I don’t know anything about the other tenets of their faith, but they proudly proclaim this one. What does that look like?  I imagine it’s where we each can find someone who offers us understanding and grace for our individual “back story”.  It is where there is forgiveness and second, third, and fourth chances.  It’s where we are truly treated in a way consistent with the limitless potential we have as literal children of Heavenly Father.  Where others see in us what we CAN be someday and ...

  Last week, we studied about Esther in Come Follow Me, but we didn’t get to have a lesson about her.  We are so blessed to have an entire book of scripture to tell her story!  She showed great courage when she went to the king to ask him to reverse the decree to kill her people.  She did not have an invitation to approach him and could have been killed, but she did it anyway.  I am impressed with her courage and her faith.  Her story reminded me of President Nelson’s talk “Spiritual Treasures” from the October 2019 General Conference and my new favorite scripture. Speaking to the sisters of the Church, our prophet said, “Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God… The heavens are just as open to women who are endowed with God’s power flowing from their priesthood covenants as they are to men who bear the priesthood… Sisters,...

  The new year is here and all around us people have made New Year’s resolutions.  Some people choose a word to represent their focus for the coming year.  The gyms are a little bit busier and the stores are selling more home organization gear.  Some aren’t interested in new goals, or any goal at all!  Or like me, you may be hesitant to choose because how do you narrow it down and how do you know what for sure to commit to this year? One purpose of this mortal life is to grow into all that our loving Heavenly Father wants us to become.  Sometimes we know what He wants us to work on.  Sometimes we choose for ourselves.  Many of us can recognize trials in our lives that were most likely allowed to happen to lead to our growth.  I also remember callings that I was reluctant to accept because they seemed very far from my skill-set or comfort zone.  Because I said “yes”, they led to drastic growth in abilities that I may have found no other w...

  Trevor just finished swimming lessons for the summer.  Trevor is a deep thinker.  On the drive home he posed an interesting question.  “Instead of sinking, why didn’t the guy (Peter) just tread water or hold onto the boat?”  It made perfect sense to him that Peter had options! Matthew, chapter 14:28-31 says:  Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? When we read this story this year, I realized that I no longer thought of Jesus’ response to Peter as a comment of disappointment in Peter, but rather of belief that Peter definitely could have done it....

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Atlanta to accompany my high school friend while she was married in the temple. She lives about 10 miles from my cousin so I was very excited to see them both.  I was amazed at how often I relied on the GPS in my phone to navigate my car rental to my cousin’s house and to all the wedding events.  Even when my pathway was blocked by road construction, the GPS never failed me…  It got me to the temple.  A few minutes late, but as I assured the bride, they weren’t doing anything until SHE got there!  As we passed the exit we were supposed to take, that map app told me the next way to turn and took me right to where I needed to be in a strange city. In the scriptures we read of how Jehovah led the travels of the Children of Israel with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud of smoke by day.  Can you imagine being led this way to where God wanted you to go?  We also read of another ancient instrument of navigation… President Sp...