Heather's Talk on being a peacemaker

 My name is heather Engel and although my family has lived in the ward for 7 years now, I’d like to re-introduce our family. My youngest is my animal loving 13-year-old, Kiernan. He is 4 minutes younger than his twin brother Dallin. Dallin is shy…until he isn’t. And then he is all in. He just convinced Kiernan and I to play in the rainstorms we’ve had this week and I love his wild and feral little heart. Ethan is my well-rounded kid who loves sports, art, music, science…you name it. Lately he has been carving soda cans into roses, and I love his creativity. 

My son Brennan joined the Army last fall and I will tell a story to highlight his personality. He recently had a AGSU inspection. All night he and the men in their unit were preparing and praying they wouldn’t get Drill SGT Johnson who was MEAN and meticulous. But the next morning as they were all lined up in their Class A’s, to their dismay, it was SGT Johnson doing the inspection. As Johnson went down the line it was FAIL, FAIL, FAIL then he came to Brennan. “Private, your marksmanship badge is 3 mm off center!” Brennan took a breath and said, “With all due respect, Drill SGT, you are wrong. It is centered and correct!” There was a tense silence. I admit when Brennan was telling me this story on the phone, I put my head in my hands. SGT Johnson stepped forward until they were nose to nose. “What did you say private?!” “My uniform is measured and it is correct Drill SGT. You are must be mistaken.” SGT Johnson stepped back and got a HUGE grin on his face, like he’d been waiting for it. Then said, “Well done, private. Pass!” So that is Brennan. 

My oldest, Jonathan, now works at the nuclear submarine facility in Newport News. Now the topic I was asked to speak about today is on being a peacemaker and I am going to start by telling a story about Jonathan. 

He has always been brilliant and endlessly curious. He loved physics and engineering from the time he was little. I remember taking him to a robotics seminar when he was about ten years old. The speaker asked a question about the internal mechanics of a cutting‑edge robot they were developing, and my little Jonathan raised his hand.

I’ll admit—maybe this makes me a bad mom—but I cringed. I was thinking, “Oh no… please don’t embarrass yourself.” And then, to my horror, the speaker actually called on him.

But Jonathan calmly explained the exact correct answer.

I went from “Please don’t embarrass yourself” to “That’s my kid!” in about twenty seconds.

Jonathan has always been brilliant and endlessly curious — and like many smart kids with ADHD, he could go from hyper‑focused to distracted in a heartbeat. Most of his teachers understood him, but one in third grade really struggled. Her discipline became harsh and punitive, and it crossed the line. I think his ADHD and her OCD probably collided in a really unhealthy way. I am not exaggerating when I say she was bullying my son. 

I went full mama‑bear and was ready for war. I had requested meeting with the school administrator and councilor. Before the meeting with the school, I went to the temple to calm down. In the Celestial Room, I was praying for guidance on how to handle the situation and the answer came quickly and clearly. the Spirit spoke clearly: “Heather, if you do it with contention, you will do it without Me.”

For time, I will skip the resolution of the story specifics, and just say that I heeded the warning and handled the situation with respect and as the result Jonathan was tested and moved into an advanced placement class where he was able to be challenged and thrive. 

But the principle I learned that day has been a life lesson about not choosing contention. We cannot choose contention and also choose Heavenly Father. If you do it with contention, you do it without Him. 

On the sermon on the mount, the Savior said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” 

Last fall, Elder Stevenson gave a talk with this title “Blessed be the peacemakers”. In it, he invited us to place ourselves at the sermon on the mount and imagine what it would feel like to hear the Messiah speak these words. This call to peace is especially poignant when we remember that ancient Israel was an occupied land. Roman soldiers controlled the region, imposed heavy taxes, and enforced their rule through intimidation and violence. The people lived under constant pressure, fear, and political oppression.

Elder Stevenson said the people then must have wondered, “Can I truly become a peacemaker when the world is in commotion, when my heart is filled with fear, and when peace seems so far away?”

He then draws a direct connection to our own time: “Fast forward 2,000 years. No need to imagine—this is our reality. Although the pressures felt by today’s generation differ from those of the people in Galilee—polarization, secularization, retaliation, road rage, outrage, and social media pile-ons—both generations face cultures of conflict and tension.”

So how can we choose peace in a world that is not peaceful? 

The scriptures are full of examples of people who were peacemakers despite circumstances. 

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Peace not as the world giveth. Christ’s peace is not the absence of trials. It doesn’t mean there is no noise, no trouble, no hard work, or no confrontation. It means your heart can stay centered and calm in the very eye of the storm. And being a peacemaker does not mean you will never be called to be bold or brave. Peacemaking often requires us to hold firm in a righteous stand. It is a call to action. Elder Stephenson says, “Peacemaking requires courage and compromise but does not require sacrifice of principle.” Truly, avoidance is not being a peacemaker. 

There is a real difference between confrontation and contention. Christ confronted many people. Confrontation literally means to stand in front of, or stand face to face. How often are we told to take a righteous stand?

Contention, on the other hand, means to compete, to strive against, to fight. Contention is the counterfeit. It is incredibly easy for something that begins as a well intended confrontation to slip into contention. We have to be careful—always—to remain peacemakers. 

Because if we do it with contention, we do it without Him.

1. Elder Stevenson teaches that becoming a peacemaker has to begin in our own hearts. That requires us to ask if we are at war with ourselves. inner conflict can show up anytime there is dissonance in our minds: when shame and worthiness collide, when we forget our divine identity, when our values don’t match our behavior, or when emotions and logic pull us in different directions. There are countless ways that inner battles begin.

I remember the first time I felt an internal battle As a teenager. I had my first real test to my developing testimony. I had questions. I felt lost and confused. I turned to scriptures, and books, friends, my mom, and my seminary teacher. I was desperate for answers. I was praying and praying, and then one day an answer came. I felt the spirit say: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Now this was not the answer to the specific questions I had. Those did not come for a long time. But that phrase carried me. Be still. It wasn’t the peace of knowing everything—it was the peace of knowing Him. It was enough. It was not the world’s version of peace, which demands immediate clarity and instant solutions. It was slow, steady, and line upon line. And that command to be still began inside me.

2. Elder Stevenson teaches that the next place we build peace is in our homes, using the Lord’s pattern to shape our relationships: which he says is “persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, and love unfeigned.”

An example of this is A teenage daughter once came home in a terrible mood, slammed her backpack down, and snapped at her mom. The mom felt the sting, but instead of reacting, she simply said, “You seem overwhelmed. Do you want a snack… or a hug?”

The daughter burst into tears. “I’m sorry… it was a bad day.”

The mother responded to the hurt, not the tone. That is peacemaking.

3. Finally, Elder Stevenson challenges us to be peacemakers in our communities and in the world. There are so many examples of peacemakers in the scriptures and in history, but one of my very favorites is the story of the Anti‑Nephi‑Lehies, who buried their weapons of war.

That story has always pushed me to look inward and ask: What are my weapons of war? And how can I truly bury them? Elder Stevenson invites all of us to find ways to choose kindness—whether that’s in our workplaces, in online comments, in civil discourse, in the store, or on the road, or just in the everydaMy name is heather Engel and although my family has lived in the ward for 7 years now, I’d like to re-introduce our family. My youngest is my animal loving 13-year-old, Kiernan. He is 4 minutes younger than his twin brother Dallin. Dallin is shy…until he isn’t. And then he is all in. He just convinced Kiernan and I to play in the rainstorms we’ve had this week and I love his wild and feral little heart. Ethan is my well-rounded kid who loves sports, art, music, science…you name it. Lately he has been carving soda cans into roses, and I love his creativity. 

My son Brennan joined the Army last fall and I will tell a story to highlight his personality. He recently had a AGSU inspection. All night he and the men in their unit were preparing and praying they wouldn’t get Drill SGT Johnson who was MEAN and meticulous. But the next morning as they were all lined up in their Class A’s, to their dismay, it was SGT Johnson doing the inspection. As Johnson went down the line it was FAIL, FAIL, FAIL then he came to Brennan. “Private, your marksmanship badge is 3 mm off center!” Brennan took a breath and said, “With all due respect, Drill SGT, you are wrong. It is centered and correct!” There was a tense silence. I admit when Brennan was telling me this story on the phone, I put my head in my hands. SGT Johnson stepped forward until they were nose to nose. “What did you say private?!” “My uniform is measured and it is correct Drill SGT. You are must be mistaken.” SGT Johnson stepped back and got a HUGE grin on his face, like he’d been waiting for it. Then said, “Well done, private. Pass!” So that is Brennan. 

My oldest, Jonathan, now works at the nuclear submarine facility in Newport News. Now the topic I was asked to speak about today is on being a peacemaker and I am going to start by telling a story about Jonathan. 

He has always been brilliant and endlessly curious. He loved physics and engineering from the time he was little. I remember taking him to a robotics seminar when he was about ten years old. The speaker asked a question about the internal mechanics of a cutting‑edge robot they were developing, and my little Jonathan raised his hand.

I’ll admit—maybe this makes me a bad mom—but I cringed. I was thinking, “Oh no… please don’t embarrass yourself.” And then, to my horror, the speaker actually called on him.

But Jonathan calmly explained the exact correct answer.

I went from “Please don’t embarrass yourself” to “That’s my kid!” in about twenty seconds.

Jonathan has always been brilliant and endlessly curious — and like many smart kids with ADHD, he could go from hyper‑focused to distracted in a heartbeat. Most of his teachers understood him, but one in third grade really struggled. Her discipline became harsh and punitive, and it crossed the line. I think his ADHD and her OCD probably collided in a really unhealthy way. I am not exaggerating when I say she was bullying my son. 

I went full mama‑bear and was ready for war. I had requested meeting with the school administrator and councilor. Before the meeting with the school, I went to the temple to calm down. In the Celestial Room, I was praying for guidance on how to handle the situation and the answer came quickly and clearly. the Spirit spoke clearly: “Heather, if you do it with contention, you will do it without Me.”

For time, I will skip the resolution of the story specifics, and just say that I heeded the warning and handled the situation with respect and as the result Jonathan was tested and moved into an advanced placement class where he was able to be challenged and thrive. 

But the principle I learned that day has been a life lesson about not choosing contention. We cannot choose contention and also choose Heavenly Father. If you do it with contention, you do it without Him. 

On the sermon on the mount, the Savior said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” 

Last fall, Elder Stevenson gave a talk with this title “Blessed be the peacemakers”. In it, he invited us to place ourselves at the sermon on the mount and imagine what it would feel like to hear the Messiah speak these words. This call to peace is especially poignant when we remember that ancient Israel was an occupied land. Roman soldiers controlled the region, imposed heavy taxes, and enforced their rule through intimidation and violence. The people lived under constant pressure, fear, and political oppression.

Elder Stevenson said the people then must have wondered, “Can I truly become a peacemaker when the world is in commotion, when my heart is filled with fear, and when peace seems so far away?”

He then draws a direct connection to our own time: “Fast forward 2,000 years. No need to imagine—this is our reality. Although the pressures felt by today’s generation differ from those of the people in Galilee—polarization, secularization, retaliation, road rage, outrage, and social media pile-ons—both generations face cultures of conflict and tension.”

So how can we choose peace in a world that is not peaceful? 

The scriptures are full of examples of people who were peacemakers despite circumstances. 

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Peace not as the world giveth. Christ’s peace is not the absence of trials. It doesn’t mean there is no noise, no trouble, no hard work, or no confrontation. It means your heart can stay centered and calm in the very eye of the storm. And being a peacemaker does not mean you will never be called to be bold or brave. Peacemaking often requires us to hold firm in a righteous stand. It is a call to action. Elder Stephenson says, “Peacemaking requires courage and compromise but does not require sacrifice of principle.” Truly, avoidance is not being a peacemaker. 

There is a real difference between confrontation and contention. Christ confronted many people. Confrontation literally means to stand in front of, or stand face to face. How often are we told to take a righteous stand?

Contention, on the other hand, means to compete, to strive against, to fight. Contention is the counterfeit. It is incredibly easy for something that begins as a well intended confrontation to slip into contention. We have to be careful—always—to remain peacemakers. 

Because if we do it with contention, we do it without Him.

1. Elder Stevenson teaches that becoming a peacemaker has to begin in our own hearts. That requires us to ask if we are at war with ourselves. inner conflict can show up anytime there is dissonance in our minds: when shame and worthiness collide, when we forget our divine identity, when our values don’t match our behavior, or when emotions and logic pull us in different directions. There are countless ways that inner battles begin.

I remember the first time I felt an internal battle As a teenager. I had my first real test to my developing testimony. I had questions. I felt lost and confused. I turned to scriptures, and books, friends, my mom, and my seminary teacher. I was desperate for answers. I was praying and praying, and then one day an answer came. I felt the spirit say: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Now this was not the answer to the specific questions I had. Those did not come for a long time. But that phrase carried me. Be still. It wasn’t the peace of knowing everything—it was the peace of knowing Him. It was enough. It was not the world’s version of peace, which demands immediate clarity and instant solutions. It was slow, steady, and line upon line. And that command to be still began inside me.

2. Elder Stevenson teaches that the next place we build peace is in our homes, using the Lord’s pattern to shape our relationships: which he says is “persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, and love unfeigned.”

An example of this is A teenage daughter once came home in a terrible mood, slammed her backpack down, and snapped at her mom. The mom felt the sting, but instead of reacting, she simply said, “You seem overwhelmed. Do you want a snack… or a hug?”

The daughter burst into tears. “I’m sorry… it was a bad day.”

The mother responded to the hurt, not the tone. That is peacemaking.

3. Finally, Elder Stevenson challenges us to be peacemakers in our communities and in the world. There are so many examples of peacemakers in the scriptures and in history, but one of my very favorites is the story of the Anti‑Nephi‑Lehies, who buried their weapons of war.

That story has always pushed me to look inward and ask: What are my weapons of war? And how can I truly bury them? Elder Stevenson invites all of us to find ways to choose kindness—whether that’s in our workplaces, in online comments, in civil discourse, in the store, or on the road, or just in the everyday ways we interact with others. To be slow to anger and quick to see the humanity in our brothers and sisters.

My final thought is this: Peacemaking isn’t a strategy to change others—it’s a way God changes us. We choose kindness even when kindness isn’t offered back. We act with compassion because it reflects our character, not becausMy name is heather Engel and although my family has lived in the ward for 7 years now, I’d like to re-introduce our family. My youngest is my animal loving 13-year-old, Kiernan. He is 4 minutes younger than his twin brother Dallin. Dallin is shy…until he isn’t. And then he is all in. He just convinced Kiernan and I to play in the rainstorms we’ve had this week and I love his wild and feral little heart. Ethan is my well-rounded kid who loves sports, art, music, science…you name it. Lately he has been carving soda cans into roses, and I love his creativity. 

My son Brennan joined the Army last fall and I will tell a story to highlight his personality. He recently had a AGSU inspection. All night he and the men in their unit were preparing and praying they wouldn’t get Drill SGT Johnson who was MEAN and meticulous. But the next morning as they were all lined up in their Class A’s, to their dismay, it was SGT Johnson doing the inspection. As Johnson went down the line it was FAIL, FAIL, FAIL then he came to Brennan. “Private, your marksmanship badge is 3 mm off center!” Brennan took a breath and said, “With all due respect, Drill SGT, you are wrong. It is centered and correct!” There was a tense silence. I admit when Brennan was telling me this story on the phone, I put my head in my hands. SGT Johnson stepped forward until they were nose to nose. “What did you say private?!” “My uniform is measured and it is correct Drill SGT. You are must be mistaken.” SGT Johnson stepped back and got a HUGE grin on his face, like he’d been waiting for it. Then said, “Well done, private. Pass!” So that is Brennan. 

My oldest, Jonathan, now works at the nuclear submarine facility in Newport News. Now the topic I was asked to speak about today is on being a peacemaker and I am going to start by telling a story about Jonathan. 

He has always been brilliant and endlessly curious. He loved physics and engineering from the time he was little. I remember taking him to a robotics seminar when he was about ten years old. The speaker asked a question about the internal mechanics of a cutting‑edge robot they were developing, and my little Jonathan raised his hand.

I’ll admit—maybe this makes me a bad mom—but I cringed. I was thinking, “Oh no… please don’t embarrass yourself.” And then, to my horror, the speaker actually called on him.

But Jonathan calmly explained the exact correct answer.

I went from “Please don’t embarrass yourself” to “That’s my kid!” in about twenty seconds.

Jonathan has always been brilliant and endlessly curious — and like many smart kids with ADHD, he could go from hyper‑focused to distracted in a heartbeat. Most of his teachers understood him, but one in third grade really struggled. Her discipline became harsh and punitive, and it crossed the line. I think his ADHD and her OCD probably collided in a really unhealthy way. I am not exaggerating when I say she was bullying my son. 

I went full mama‑bear and was ready for war. I had requested meeting with the school administrator and councilor. Before the meeting with the school, I went to the temple to calm down. In the Celestial Room, I was praying for guidance on how to handle the situation and the answer came quickly and clearly. the Spirit spoke clearly: “Heather, if you do it with contention, you will do it without Me.”

For time, I will skip the resolution of the story specifics, and just say that I heeded the warning and handled the situation with respect and as the result Jonathan was tested and moved into an advanced placement class where he was able to be challenged and thrive. 

But the principle I learned that day has been a life lesson about not choosing contention. We cannot choose contention and also choose Heavenly Father. If you do it with contention, you do it without Him. 

On the sermon on the mount, the Savior said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” 

Last fall, Elder Stevenson gave a talk with this title “Blessed be the peacemakers”. In it, he invited us to place ourselves at the sermon on the mount and imagine what it would feel like to hear the Messiah speak these words. This call to peace is especially poignant when we remember that ancient Israel was an occupied land. Roman soldiers controlled the region, imposed heavy taxes, and enforced their rule through intimidation and violence. The people lived under constant pressure, fear, and political oppression.

Elder Stevenson said the people then must have wondered, “Can I truly become a peacemaker when the world is in commotion, when my heart is filled with fear, and when peace seems so far away?”

He then draws a direct connection to our own time: “Fast forward 2,000 years. No need to imagine—this is our reality. Although the pressures felt by today’s generation differ from those of the people in Galilee—polarization, secularization, retaliation, road rage, outrage, and social media pile-ons—both generations face cultures of conflict and tension.”

So how can we choose peace in a world that is not peaceful? 

The scriptures are full of examples of people who were peacemakers despite circumstances. 

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Peace not as the world giveth. Christ’s peace is not the absence of trials. It doesn’t mean there is no noise, no trouble, no hard work, or no confrontation. It means your heart can stay centered and calm in the very eye of the storm. And being a peacemaker does not mean you will never be called to be bold or brave. Peacemaking often requires us to hold firm in a righteous stand. It is a call to action. Elder Stephenson says, “Peacemaking requires courage and compromise but does not require sacrifice of principle.” Truly, avoidance is not being a peacemaker. 

There is a real difference between confrontation and contention. Christ confronted many people. Confrontation literally means to stand in front of, or stand face to face. How often are we told to take a righteous stand?

Contention, on the other hand, means to compete, to strive against, to fight. Contention is the counterfeit. It is incredibly easy for something that begins as a well intended confrontation to slip into contention. We have to be careful—always—to remain peacemakers. 

Because if we do it with contention, we do it without Him.

1. Elder Stevenson teaches that becoming a peacemaker has to begin in our own hearts. That requires us to ask if we are at war with ourselves. inner conflict can show up anytime there is dissonance in our minds: when shame and worthiness collide, when we forget our divine identity, when our values don’t match our behavior, or when emotions and logic pull us in different directions. There are countless ways that inner battles begin.

I remember the first time I felt an internal battle As a teenager. I had my first real test to my developing testimony. I had questions. I felt lost and confused. I turned to scriptures, and books, friends, my mom, and my seminary teacher. I was desperate for answers. I was praying and praying, and then one day an answer came. I felt the spirit say: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Now this was not the answer to the specific questions I had. Those did not come for a long time. But that phrase carried me. Be still. It wasn’t the peace of knowing everything—it was the peace of knowing Him. It was enough. It was not the world’s version of peace, which demands immediate clarity and instant solutions. It was slow, steady, and line upon line. And that command to be still began inside me.

2. Elder Stevenson teaches that the next place we build peace is in our homes, using the Lord’s pattern to shape our relationships: which he says is “persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, and love unfeigned.”

An example of this is A teenage daughter once came home in a terrible mood, slammed her backpack down, and snapped at her mom. The mom felt the sting, but instead of reacting, she simply said, “You seem overwhelmed. Do you want a snack… or a hug?”

The daughter burst into tears. “I’m sorry… it was a bad day.”

The mother responded to the hurt, not the tone. That is peacemaking.

3. Finally, Elder Stevenson challenges us to be peacemakers in our communities and in the world. There are so many examples of peacemakers in the scriptures and in history, but one of my very favorites is the story of the Anti‑Nephi‑Lehies, who buried their weapons of war.

That story has always pushed me to look inward and ask: What are my weapons of war? And how can I truly bury them? Elder Stevenson invites all of us to find ways to choose kindness—whether that’s in our workplaces, in online comments, in civil discourse, in the store, or on the road, or just in the everyday ways we interact with others. To be slow to anger and quick to see the humanity in our brothers and sisters.

My final thought is this: Peacemaking isn’t a strategy to change others—it’s a way God changes us. We choose kindness even when kindness isn’t offered back. We act with compassion because it reflects our character, not because someone has earned it. And truly, the command is to be a peacemaker—not to make others be peaceful. One is centered on what we can control: ourselves. The other is something we have no control over: other people.

As we choose to bury our weapons of war, as we choose kindness, as we choose to let Christ calm the storms inside us, we become more like Him. Peacemaking is His work—and He invites us into it. I know that as we turn to the Savior, He will shape our hearts, soften our words, and strengthen our ability to bring peace into a world that desperately needs it. His peace is real. His peace is lasting. And His peace begins within us.

e someone has earned it. And truly, the command is to be a peacemaker—not to make others be peaceful. One is centered on what we can control: ourselves. The other is something we have no control over: other people.

As we choose to bury our weapons of war, as we choose kindness, as we choose to let Christ calm the storms inside us, we become more like Him. Peacemaking is His work—and He invites us into it. I know that as we turn to the Savior, He will shape our hearts, soften our words, and strengthen our ability to bring peace into a world that desperately needs it. His peace is real. His peace is lasting. And His peace begins within us.

y ways we interact with others. To be slow to anger and quick to see the humanity in our brothers and sisters.

My final thought is this: Peacemaking isn’t a strategy to change others—it’s a way God changes us. We choose kindness even when kindness isn’t offered back. We act with compassion because it reflects our character, not because someone has earned it. And truly, the command is to be a peacemaker—not to make others be peaceful. One is centered on what we can control: ourselves. The other is something we have no control over: other people.

As we choose to bury our weapons of war, as we choose kindness, as we choose to let Christ calm the storms inside us, we become more like Him. Peacemaking is His work—and He invites us into it. I know that as we turn to the Savior, He will shape our hearts, soften our words, and strengthen our ability to bring peace into a world that desperately needs it. His peace is real. His peace is lasting. And His peace begins within us.

Heather's Christmas Talk on Light 2024

 

One of my favorite things this time of year is seeing all the beautiful Christmas lights. I love seeing all the homes and trees decorated, or driving down Janesville and seeing the electric snowflakes on every streetlamp. Our family has also gotten quite the collection of our own lights, but over the years those strands have also gotten burnt out lights here and there. I would switch out the bad ones with the replacement lights that came with them, but recently I’d run out and I was getting long sections where the lights had gone dark. I’d begun hanging the lights strategically to hide the unlit sections, but this year I decided to declare all out war on the burnt-out lights. I went to the store and bought a special tool that allowed me to test for voltage on the bulbs, sockets and fuses. Right after Thanksgiving, I pulled out our tubs of lights and got to work. Much to my family’s chagrin I plugged in the lights and stretched them across the house from the dining room, foyer, living room and family room so that you couldn’t walk anywhere without stepping over wires and lights. I meticulously started testing each dead section. One by one, I pulled out bulbs, tested them and either returned them or replaced them. I had chosen one strand where I knew the lights were good and used that to harvest bulbs that needed to be replace. It took forever and I must have tested a couple thousand bulbs, but when I was finished, I did a literal victory dance with my fully lit complete strands of lights.

I am going to call this “Heather’s Parable of the Christmas Lights”; in our life we can also experience burn out. We can also have times where it feels like whole stretches have gone dark. But there is also a source of light that we can go to be renewed and restored. Alma 38:9 says, “Behold, [Christ] is the life and light of the world.” And John 8:12 says, “Jesus, spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that folleweth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

When I was a teenager, I loved Michael Mclean and my favorite song was, “Hold on the Light will come”

Lyrics

The message of this moment is so clear;
And as certain as the rising of the sun.
If your world is filled with darkness doubt and fear,
Just hold on, Hold on; the light will come.
Everyone who's ever tried and failed
Stands much taller when the victory's won.
And those who've been in darkness for a while
Kneel much longer when the light has come.

It's a lesson ev'ry one of us must learn;
That the answers never come without a fight.
And when it seems you've struggled far too long,
Just hold on, there will be light.

Like pretty Christmas lights hung on a home for the world to see, it is often through the actions of others that the light comes into our lives.

In 3 Nephi 18:24 Christ tells the Nephites, “I am the light you shall hold up”. The question stands then how do we do that? He has commended us to hold up His light for the world to see, so then how does that metaphor translate into literal action? I believe that we hold him up when we hold each other up. Again and again, the scriptures teach us the intertwined principles of loving God by loving our neighbor.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is: “‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.’

And the second is like unto it: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’

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.” (Matt. 25:37–40.)

Mosiah 2:17 “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

I think Victor Hugo said it beautifully when he wrote, “To love another person is to see the face of God.”

In the last general conference Elder Rasband spoke about holding up the light of Christ by holding up each other. In his talk he told the scripture story of Moses standing atop the hill at Rephidim when the Amalekites attacked the Israelites. While Joshua led their army to fight the Amalekites, Moses stood atop a hill overlooking the battle (see Ex. 17:9). He raised his hands toward heaven, perhaps in prayerful supplication. As the Israelites began to prevail, Moses’ arms grew tired, and he lowered them. The Amalekites then began to win! (see Ex. 17:11). Noticing this trend, Moses’ brother, Aaron, and Hur, rushed forward to support Moses’ hands so that they might remain raised until sunset and the winning of the battle.

Story

Elder Rasband continues, “When we hold up one another we are saying, “I am here for you, not just to hold up your arms and hands when they ‘hang down’ but to be a comfort and strength at your side.”

Story

There was a time of my life where I felt held up by the love and light of others. The story starts with my amazing mother, who was a single mom who had fought hard to make sure our family was safe and independent. But when I was 15, she was diagnosed with cancer. It was so incredibly unfair. After her first surgery, she was dropped by her health insurance because her required treatments would be too expensive. Sick and without options, she signed up for an medical research study that would allow her to receive an experimental treatment in exchange for her participation. But it would require her to be hospitalized for 6 to 12 months hundreds of miles away, leaving my 16-year-old brother, me, and my 10-year-old sister alone. My older brother Jim, who was faithfully serving a mission in New York came home a couple months early from his mission so that there would be an adult in the home. He became the temporary parent of 3 very sad and scared kids. My brothers and I all got jobs to make ends meet. But we were in the unknown. We were all tired. Those were dark times. Our arms were heavy. Far away, and alone, my mother’s arms were heavy.

But then the cavalry showed up. Our ward family rallied for us in an incredible way. The relief Society brought in meals regularly. They came to the house to clean. We had an amazin home teacher who did all the house repairs and taught us along the way. They lifted and served and stood by us. It would take a long time to name all the names and all the acts of physical service that were given to us. And then there was the prayers. I remember my mother telling me over the phone that there were times in the hospital that she could physically feel the prayers of people sustain her.

This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. To lift up the weary. To comfort those that stand in need of comfort. To bear one another’s burdens that they may be…. ‘light’.

I know this only works in English, but sometimes I take advantage of the word “light” being a homograph and that it can mean both ‘not heavy’ and also that light meaning a source of illumination.

When Christ says, Matthew 11:28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Sometimes I think that when we yoke ourselves to the Savior and do His work that His burden really is light. His work is a work of light. By following His example, we are bringing light to the world. We are holding up His light when we lighten the load on our brothers and sisters.

I am so grateful for the Savior. In closing I would like to read a selection from Ian Simkins:

Emmanuel means God with us

That means

God is with us..

In the ER

During Finals

Changing diapers

In prison

 

God is with us…

On the first date

During the ugly cry

In the drop-off line

In the divorce lawyer’s office

 

God is with us

Working the graveyard shift

Working the 12-steps

At the office

At the gym

 

God is with us

In therapy

At the check out

In the delivery room

Doing dishes

 

God is with us

On the bus

At the custody hearing

At the table

In AA

 

God is with us

In the waiting room

During chemo

In recovery

At the funeral

God is with us

At the altar

When we thought we’d be married by now

When “til death due us part” turns into “there is someone else”

When we’re missing the one who’s not here

 

God is with us

When the pregnancy test is positive

When it’s negative

When it’s everything we hoped for

When it’s nothing we anticipated

 

God is with us

When they can’t find the heartbeat

When it’s cancer again

When the kids stop coming home

When they reject what they once believed

 

God is with us when we’re not sure we believe

When we can’t sing the songs

When we’re frustrated, overwhelmed, betrayed

When we feel like we’re on the outside

 

God is with us

Today

Tomorrow

On Dec 25^th

And every day after

 

God is not just looking after us

He isn’t merely mindful of us

He’s come to dwell with us

The word did not become a theory to be debated, a concept to be pondered, or a philosophy to be discussed.

The word became a PERSON to be followed, worshipped, and loved.

The most high became the most low

That is our hope

That is our peace

And God not only wants to bring peace to you

He wants to bring peace through you

There are people in your life right now whose lives are broken loved one’s whose dreams have been shattered, co-workers who feel hopeless.

You have people in your life who have gone through tragedy and are desperately trying to pick up the pieces.

Jesus said to his followers,
“You are the light of the world”

Let’s bring some light to the world.

Testimony

Christ is the light in my life. When He was on the earth, he brought sight to the blind and healed the deaf and the lame. He even raised the dead. In my life he has shown me things that I was blind to. He woke up my deaf heart and helped me to walk when I didn’t think I could ever get off the floor again. He has even raised my shattered dreams from the dead. He can heal things that are impossibly broken and give hope when there is none. I know that He is real. I know that His power is real. I know that His love is real.

And I say these things in his name, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Kiernan's talk on Seeking Spiritual Answers

 

Hello Brothers and Sisters. My name is Kiernan. I am 12 years old, and this is my first talk in sacrament meeting.

I was asked to speak about the talk from Sister Tracy Browning at the last General Conference called, “Seeking Answers to Spiritual Questions”.

In this talk Sister Browning taught us that asking questions to our Heavenly Father is an important part of our spiritual progression.

We believe that we can receive personal answers directly from God. We believe that we should come to Him with our hopes, with the things we are grateful for, as well as our doubts and our questions. In fact, the church in this dispensation all started with the questions of a 14-year boy who had the faith to ask God. In our faith we definitely believe in asking questions!

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf has taught that “asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness,” but rather “it’s a precursor of growth.”

Sometimes when we ask questions, we receive an answer right away. A year ago, I started to read the Book of Mormon on my own. Right away I felt a warm and comforting feeling that I should pray about whether the scriptures were true or not. Before I even finished my prayer, I felt the very clear, but quiet answer, “YES!” When I remember that experience the answer seemed as if someone was talking to me in the same room. This is my example of an answer coming strong and immediately.

But sometimes answers take a very long time. Often, we have to wait on the Lord. Sister Browning said in her talk that there is a space in between when we ask God our question and when we receive an answer. When we learn to fill that space with obedience then waiting on the Lord becomes a sacred space.

In the scriptures we can see many examples of people waiting for answers from God. One example is Adam and Eve: After the Lord gave Adam and Eve “commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord,” the scriptures say that “Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.” We go on to read that “after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.”

Sister Browning says, “Adam’s obedience preceded his understanding and prepared him to receive the sacred knowledge that he was participating in a sacred symbol of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Our humble obedience will, likewise, pave the way for our spiritual discernment of God’s ways and His divine purpose for each of us.”

I am grateful for prayer and for my Heavenly Father and the spiritual experiences that I have had. I am grateful that I can go to Him with my question and that I know I can get answers. I know that some answers will come quickly, and others will not. I know that when we wait for Him in obedience that is how we can grow spiritually. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.  

Heather's Talk on Femininity on Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother’s Day! And just to start, if you are a mom who spent the morning stressed and maybe was yelling at your kids to get their shoes on and get in the car or you’d be late for church again, just know that I see you. And I love you. You are a good mom. If you find yourself questioning your parenting or your sanity because you daily say things like, “Why did you cut off your eye lashes?” or “Take that diaper off your head! And put it back on your baby brother!” or “Why are there Legos in the peanut butter” then let me assure you are still a good mom.

I say this because I have spent many mother’s days at church riddled with mom guilt while we listen to stories about perfect moms. I also want to recognize that today can be very complicated for some of us. Many of us have mothers who have passed away and today can feel heavy and sad as we wish desperately that they were here.

Today can be hard for those women who want children and do not have them as well as those who chosen not to.  

Mother's Day can be especially difficult for those who have lost children. And painful for those who may be estranged from their sons or daughters, or perhaps for those whose relationships with their own mothers are strained or filled with negativity. So rather than talk specifically about motherhood today, I’ve chosen instead to talk about divine femininity.

I hope that my remarks can be safe and sensitive to everyone, and can find you for wherever you are at, in this beautiful messy thing we call life.

I was taught a lesson just a few days ago about the sacredness of messy things. Whenever I think about sacred things, my mind immediately goes to beautiful places: the temple, or a breathtaking view from a mountain top, or a gentle prayer whispered under a perfect starry sky. Sacredness seemed to always go hand in hand with beauty. But I have recently learned that this is the exception. I would suggest to you that it is more common for us to stand on holy ground in the messy moments. The ugly moments. The days when our eyes are puffy, and everything has gone wrong. When we are receptive to our Savior is often when we are at our most vulnerable and raw. Rock bottom is a holy place. It’s not a pretty place. But it is sacred none the less. Even for the Savior himself, the most hallowed event in all of history, the scriptures tell us that in the garden of gethsemane that Christ Fell on his face in the dirt and bled from every pore. The next day, the horror and brutality of the crucifixion was unbelievable, and yet those dreadful moments stand supreme in sacredness. Perhaps the same can be true for us that in our personal Gethsemanes, and when we fall to our faces, that those ugly moments can also be the most sacred moments.  

This paradoxical duality of seeing both the good and the bad, and the good within the bad, was taught to us by a woman. It was our first mother Eve in all her wisdom that understood and claimed with total accountability that she would accept both the bitter with the sweet. I find in her one of the most powerful examples of pure femininity.

One of the unique aspects of our doctrine compared to the rest of Christendom is our understanding of Eve. Where others may believe in the concept of original sin and denigrate Eve as weak and easily tempted, or even a temptress; We honor her.

In Genesis 3:4-5 when Satan tries to beguile Eve, it reads, “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die (That is the lie). For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (That was the truth)

Yes, Satan was trying to deceive Eve, but she did not blindly eat the fruit. He made her question, it made her doubt, and it sent her on a soul-searching internal journey. Ultimately, Eve chose knowledge. The knowledge of good and evil. Eve’s choice didn’t catch heaven by surprise. The fall and redemption had always been part of the plan. (Lund) Satan had attempted to thwart God’s will, trying to pre-empt Him, or derail the plan, but he only acted to fulfil it.  

In preparing this talk I found an interesting point that the etymology of the original Hebraic word “Beguile” is slightly different than our current understanding of the word. Today, we define the word beguile as: to trick, tempt, or mesmerize. Modernly we have lost much of the nuance from The original ancient word in Hebrew which actually meant something closer to; struggle or ponder at great length and with confusion. I like this definition as it brings understanding about Eve. Too often Even gets vilified for eating the fruit, when really the truth is that what she did was an act of sheer bravery and faith. Her choice was a conscious, faith filled leap into the unknown, and her struggle was to do what was right even while making mistakes along the way. (Farell) She accepted that her choice would bring both joy and pain. I have found this same example of courage and accountability in women in my life as they simply try to do the best they can. Over and over again I see this trait of femininity in the fearless pursuit of knowledge, and unwavering responsibility for their choices.

Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that when I talk about attributes of femininity, that I am not doing it in a competitive or exclusionary way to men/masculinity.

The scriptures say that “neither is man without the women, nor the woman without the man.” I am going to share a little story to emphasize how strongly I feel about this. Many years ago, or long, long ago, in a state far far away I was sitting at church with my kids while someone was giving a talk similar to mine in topic. At one point the speaker said, “Women are inherently more spiritual than men.” When he said that I looked down the pew at my five sons. My oldest Jonathan was a new, bright, and shiny priest, Brennan a Deacon, Ethan had just been baptized and the twins were bouncy sunbeams. As I looked at my amazing little boys, I knew I had to say something, so I quietly told them. “What that man just said is not true. Women are not More spiritual than men. That was wrong and we’ll talk about it when we get home from church.” While I believe that speaker had the very best of intentions, I think that we need to do better when we speak about gender and be careful to never, ever attempt to create false competition or stereotypes about men and women.

I do not believe that my Heavenly Mother is more spiritual than my Heavenly Father. While I absolutely believe that masculinity and femininity are unique and different, they exist in compliment, not competition, to each other.

I’ll share another example from Eve to emphasize this point.

I deeply love the scripture in Moses 5:10-11. In these two verses we get to hear the voices of both Adam and Eve. There was a time, as a young newly wed that I found a bit of humor when I would read it. I interpreted Eve’s follow up to in verse 11 to Adam in verse 10 as a wifely correction. But as the years have gone on my understanding of these verses have changed. I believe that both Adam and Eve are teaching separate but entwined principles. As I read, I am going to emphasize certain words.

10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of MY transgression MY eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.

 

11 And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for OUR transgression WE never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of OUR redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto ALL the obedient.

 

Like I said, I used to think that Eve was setting Adam straight with his comments about “me, I, me.” But Now I think that Adam was teaching about one side of a profound principle. Which is that when I stand in judgement before God I will stand alone with my Savior. Salvation is personal. There is no parent, child, spouse, or friend who is responsible for my choices, thoughts, and actions. It is me, and mine alone. The second article of faith teaches us that we will be punished for our own sins and no one else’s, Adam’s or otherwise. We are alone in our accountability. No one makes us feel or do anything. Our joy and our transgressions are our own.

And yet, in the very next moment Eve gives us the opposite and equally important truth. She points us to the interconnection of all things. We do not get to heaven alone. She teaches us about the “We, us, and ours”. It is through our service to each other that we learn and grow. It is my brothers and sisters that lift me up. The plan of salvation is a plan of families, united, for all eternity. It is linking all mankind together. Too often we have a false sense of separation between ourselves and others. In fact, there is no ”other”. There is only US. Zion is the pure and one in heart. Eve is inviting us to see what she sees; our oneness and that we are only whole before God when we care for each other.

These are not mutually exclusive truths. Adam and eve’s teachings are in perfect harmony with each other, and we have to live them out in our hearts in balance. Both the individual and the collective.

Another powerful example of femininity is Mary, the mother of Christ. When I think of her, I think about her resilience. Sometimes I think about the shame and the ridicule that the world and her community may have directed towards her, a young woman pregnant out of wedlock. In Luke we hear her say, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”

 And I wonder how many times she repeated those words to herself in moments of trial through the years. She knew her work was a sacred work. She knew who Christ was and therefore no matter what the world said about her she did not falter and did not turn away from him. She had been called to care for the Son of God. And she did. To the very end. Whatever criticism or names she was called, and I am sure she was called them all, she stayed true to Christ.

I believe that Mary asks us to do the same. No matter what names the world calls us, no matter what shame may come our way, we have an example in Mary to never falter and never doubt that Jesus is the Christ. Her resilience astounds me.

I often think of what it took for her to stay at the foot of the cross. We know she never left her son. I cannot imagine the trauma burned into her mind witnessing the crucifixion. I know a little of PTSD and what it must have cost her, but she was immovable. To see your child tortured and slowly killed in such a brutal way and yet, she stayed. I am convinced that she stayed for one reason: to comfort her son. I think about the moments when their eyes must have met and how they must have willed each other strength. Because Christ, fresh from Gethsemane would know with perfect empathy what she was feeling, and in the way that only a mother can, she must have been feeling his agony as well.

I have seen this same attribute in so many women. Women who sit sleepless night after night with sick children. Women who will not leave their friends to suffer alone. The ones that bring flowers and casseroles and say, “I don’t know what to say, but I won’t leave you.” In divine femininity I’ve seen over and over again women who never run from pain, but instead stay when others leave.

I have been comforted so many times by my sisters. So many in this room in fact.

Sometimes the women that give me strength are women who lived a long time ago, and I do not even know their names.

I once went on a pilgrimage to find the women in the book of Mormon. It was confusing to me how underrepresented women were in the scriptures. I needed them and so I went looking for them. It so happened that I chose this focus of my scripture study at a time when Troy was deployed for long stretches and I was raising children alone. the most remarkable things happened to me while I read. Captain Moroni's wife rose off the pages for me. I found her in the blank spaces between verses and in the dates at the bottom of the page. I cross reference dates and lengths of the wars and excursions. I counted the years she was alone. Stories of her son Moronihah and his age compared to his father's war time missions made me see her, not them. I felt like I could feel her cheering me on, my sister, and my friend. It was an intense year of study and spiritual renewal, definitely an inward journey. Again, I don’t know her name, but I could feel her telling me, “You can do this. Trust in the Lord. I know what you feel. I know what you fear. I know you. I know. You can do this.” I could see her and I felt like she could see me.

Truly the ‘errand of angels is given to women’. I have found the Wisdom of Eve in every woman that I know. And The strength of Mary is in each of us.

Brothers and Sisters, I do not have a definition for femininity that is sufficient. I cannot tell you what it is, but I can tell you that it is divine. Perhaps nothing in mortality can comprehensively list the attributes of womanhood, but I do love the old Young Women’s theme that says we strive to embody: Faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity, and virtue.  

I hope that we can each draw strength from the amazing women around us. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Kiernan's talk on Doing Hard Things

 

Hello, my name is Kiernan and my talk is about being able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

I want to tell a story. Once upon a time there was a little boy name Will. In Will’s backyard was a big rock garden with huge rocks. All the children loved to climb the rocks. For them, it was like mountain climbing because the rocks were so big and they were so small.

One day 7-year-old Will was scrambling up and down with very quickly, but his younger brother, James, who was only 4 at the time, was having a hard time. The rocks were so large compared to his little 4-year-old body. Now, James did not want to give up, but he was making no progress, and his hands were getting scratched from his attempts. His knees got banged every time he slid back down a rock.

His brother Will was watching him. As he saw his little brother’s struggle, he stepped up and said, "You can do it, James. Keep trying. You can do it. I know you can."

With these words, James made one more attempt, and got himself to the top. The boys played at the top for a while. When James decided he'd had enough and started to climb down, Will heard James quietly whisper to himself when his foot started to slip, "I can do it. I can do it." And he did.

In our lives, there are many things that can be like big rocks that are hard to climb. Some rocks might be bigger than others. Some rocks that we might have to face would be getting hurt or getting sick. Or perhaps having a hard time learning something new at school. Sometimes a big rock we may have to climb is feeling lonely or scared.

Just like this story, we have a big brother who is there to help us. Jesus Christ is our big brother. He will help us climb all the big rocks in our life. He is there to cheer for us and to help us when we are afraid.

Once there was a time when I had a nightmare that was very scary. I said a prayer and I felt better right away. I knew that the power of God could help me not feel upset because He can do anything.

I want to read a scripture. Phillipians 4:13  says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

I am so thankful to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ who always help me. I know that they love me and are there for me no matter what.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Ethan's talk on Attitude

 

Hello, for those of you who don’t know me, my name is Ethan.

I’d like to start off by telling you a story:

 

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and almost all her hair had fallen out. She noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

'Well', she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today?'

 

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

 

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?'

So she did and she had a grand day.

 

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

 

'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a ponytail.'

So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

 

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

'YEA!' she exclaimed, 'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

 

In this story the woman was under a less then desirable circumstance. But she chose to be happy. Attitude is everything.

 In 3 Nephi 1:13, Christ says “Lift up your head and be of good cheer…”

Carl B. Cook of the seventy, told a story about keeping your head up and being of good cheer. He said:

At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my first week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded, and my mind was preoccupied with the question “How can I possibly do this?” I left the office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Administration Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down, and I stared blankly at the floor.

The door opened and someone entered, but I did not look up. As the door closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.

I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!)

But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look up!” up!” As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple. When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, “Now, remember, it is better to look up.”

As we parted, the words of a scripture came to mind: “Believe in God; believe that he is … ; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth.”¹ As I thought of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s power, my heart found the comfort I had sought in vain from the floor of that descending elevator.

 

In both stories the message was to be happy and have a good attitude. The scriptures hold many excellent examples of unconquerable attitudes as well as poor attitudes.

One example is of Laman and Lemuel compared to Nephi. When they went on their journey to the promised land, they all left Jerusalem and they all walked the same distance, they all went back for the brass plates, they all went hungry together in the wilderness, they all built the same boat, and they all traveled across the same ocean. The only difference is that Nephi had faith in God, and he had a good attitude. But when you think of Laman and Lemuel you think of one word: murmuring.

Where Laman and Lemuel murmured about how terrible everything was, Nephi kept his head up, looking to God. Laman and Lemuel always acted as victims of their circumstances, but Nephi rose above the trials and became greater and better for it.

John 16:33 says:

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Trials and tribulations are part of life. No one goes through life without their own Gethsemane. Hard times come to us all. But because of those trials we can become better, and we come closer to God. Attitude is part of these trials. Our attitude is the glasses to see the world with.

I love this poem by Red Foley, that talks about the attitude of gratitude.

Today, upon a bus,
I saw a girl with golden hair
And wished I was as fair
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle
She had one leg and wore a crutch
But as she passed, she smiled
Oh God, forgive me when I whine
I have two legs the world is mine

I stopped to buy some candy
The lad who sold it had such charm
I talked with him, he seemed so glad
If I were late, it `d do no harm
And as I left, he said to me,
'I thank you, you've been so kind
You see, ' he said, 'I `m blind'
Oh God, forgive me when I whine
I have two eyes the world is mine

I saw a child with eyes of blue
He stood and watched the others play
He did not know what to do
I stopped a moment and then I said,
Why don't you join the others, dear?
He looked ahead without a word
And then I knew, He couldn't hear
Oh God, forgive me when I whine
I have two ears the world is mine

With feet to take me where I `d go
With eyes to see the sunset's glow
With ears to hear what I'd know
Oh God, forgive me when I whine
I have blessed indeed, the world is mine

I hope to be able to live with an attitude where I look up and see the good in everything around. Like President Monson said, “It’s better if you look up!”

I want to have an attitude where I am grateful for what I have and always try to help those around me.

I bear my testimony that a good attitude is the key to a Christ like life.

In the name of Jesus Christ AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!