My Talk

This is the talk that I gave in Church on Halloween. Thought it was kinda funny that the title of the talk that I was given for reference was “O that cunning Plan of the Evil One” by Elder M Russell Ballard. Of course this isn’t exactly what I said but it is what I had written. Hope you enjoy it!

Has Lucifer always been the devil?

This question is answered for us in the Pearl of Great Price.

Moses 4:3-4

3 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

4 And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice

Elder M. Russell Ballard starts his talk by explaining the preparations of a fishermen and how precise his making of the bait has to be. Even if there is only one slight flaw the fish will see it and reject the bait. Then Elder Ballard compares that to Satan and how crafty he is.

Satan even tries to tempt the Savior. While tempting the Savior, Satan quotes scripture to “hide” his evil plan.

Matthew 4:5-7

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God

Why does Lucifer want to take the agency of man?

2 Nephi 2:27 “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

How does say Satan destroy the agency of man?

Addiction

What does addiction mean?

~To surrender to something thus relinquishing agency and becoming dependent on some life destroying substance or behavior

Here are just a few things that might come up if we asked what could be addictive:

*Alcohol

*Drugs

*Pornography

*Gambling

*Food

*Money

*Television

Elder Ballard also added:

Texting – I agree with this one. While at work my co-workers cannot even leave their phones in their locker. They are constantly on them, texting, checking the internet, etc. Also how many accidents on the road could be avoided if we could just put our phone down while we are in the car.

Video Gaming

In Elder Richard G. Scott’s book Finding Peace, Happiness & Joy he says:

“Many in the world are convinced that wealth, power, influence, sexual pursuit and the artificial stimulation of the mind and body through alcohol and drugs are the sources of happiness. Seeking that path to happiness is like looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Not only will the treasure not be found, but the results will almost always be sadness and disappointment, eventually leading to grief, anguish and addiction. Such are consequences of yielding to Satan’s alluring temptations with their hollow promise of “happiness.” Only our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, have given the pattern to acquire real peace and happiness. That is why Father’s plan is appropriately named the Plan of Happiness.” (Page 5)

When Satan has such a grip on us, such as an addiction, is there hope for us to quit? If So, How?

Once again in Elder Scotts book he helps us to understand addiction and sin a little more.

“Have you observed how in the life of someone in sin that serious transgressions become increasingly compelling? Finally, that person is consumed by such appetites. He does things that seem to be totally unreasonable and illogical. It is hard for an observer to understand why the transgressor breaks a growing array of commandments through a pattern of life I cannot bring happiness. The reason is that sin is addictive. Once begun, serious sin is hard to restrain and most difficult to overcome. But it can be conquered with the help of the Lord.” (Page 101)

The church put out a book called True to the Faith. It is a reference book to help you in your study of the gospel. In this book it gives great ways to avoid temptation which I also think would help in overcoming addiction.

1. Center your life around the Savior

2. Pray for Strength

3. Study the Scriptures Daily

4. Fill your life with goodness

5. Avoid tempting places and situations

6. Strive to influence others for good

7. Never hesitate in your decisions to with stand temptations.

Elder Ballard pleads with us, in over coming our addictions, in his talk:

“If anyone who is addicted has a desire to overcome, then there is a way to spiritual freedom—a way to escape from bondage—a way that is proven. It begins with prayer—sincere, fervent, and constant communication with the Creator of our spirits and bodies, our Heavenly Father. It is the same principle in breaking a bad habit or repenting from sin of any kind. The formula for having our heart, our body, our mind, and our spirit transformed is found in the scriptures.

The prophet Mormon counseled us: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love . . . ; that ye may become the sons of God; . . . that we may be purified even as he is pure” (Moroni 7:48).

This and many other scriptures testify to us there is hope for the addicted, and this hope comes through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ and by humbling oneself before God, pleading to be freed of the bondage of addiction and offering our whole soul to Him in fervent prayer.

To those who are dealing with an addiction personally or within your family, I repeat, fervent prayer is key to gaining the spiritual strength to find peace and overcome an addictive craving. Heavenly Father loves all of His children, so thank Him and express sincere faith in Him. Ask Him for the strength to overcome the addiction you are experiencing. Set aside all pride and turn your life and your heart to Him. Ask to be filled with the power of Christ’s pure love. You may have to do this many times, but I testify to you that your body, mind, and spirit can be transformed, cleansed, and made whole, and you will be freed. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).”

Why is it important for us to know and understand Lucifer and his ways?

Quoting Elder Ballard:

“Because our goal is to become more like our Savior and to eventually qualify to live with our Heavenly Father, each of us needs to experience the mighty change in our hearts described by the prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon (see Alma 5:14). Our love for our Father in Heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ needs to be reflected in our daily choices and actions. They have promised peace, joy, and happiness to those who keep Their commandments”

I know that my Savior loves me! I have felt His presence in my life. I am eternally grateful for the sacrifice that he made for me and everyone so that one day we all could return back to Him. I am grateful for the example that he has shown for us in how to live our lives. I am not perfect but He is, and I hope to become better at hearing his gentle promptings to help me to become a better person. It is not always easy but He is ALWAYS there! I am grateful for apostles and prophets who are also there to help us on our journey through this life.

*See Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy by Richard G Scott. Published by Deseret Book 2007

Projects Finished

I haven't blogged in a while because things have been kind of busy. But in the last year I had finished a couple of quilts. The quilts I did this year were for a couple of my friends babies. Here are some pictures:

Aaron, Sandy & Baby Ruston

Whole Quilt

Mike, Genifer & Baby Alyssa Jane

Picture of the Whole Quilt

Right now I am not working on any quilts. Although I do have a project, James' mom wanted to learn how to knit a dish rag. So for her birthday I got her some knitting needles and yarn. We started together on a dish rag so I could show her the pattern. After I got home and working on mine a little more I messed up again, got frustrated with it and finished it early. Then started another one because I wanted to do it perfectly. That is what I'm working on right now. I will start another quilt at the end of October when my mom comes to hang out with me for a week. It's going to be awesome!

Spider Webbs, Hart Strings & A Few Lessons

HERE it is...Ta Da!

This is James and I's family blog. I have actually had this blog since February but haven't done anything with it until now. Don't ask me why I just haven't. Better late than never! Well anyway I think it is awesome. Its going to be kind of progressive but this is what we have now.

Well I have learned a lot of things in the last while. I have learned that the place were I now live will not be missed in my life. The apartment isn't as nice as it looks. They suck money out of you anyway you can, especially when you move out. And the management in the office is ridiculous! Although the maintenance guy is really nice. I am very excited to move! Even though I am moving to another basement it is nothing like the dungeon basement I lived in before. The lady's basement that we are moving into is SUPER nice and the rent is way cheaper! Another thing I have learned is that James me knows me a lot better than I thought or knew he new me. The last couple of days I have been having a ruff patch with a lot of different things. James finally asked me if I was okay and I asked why he would ask me that. He said I was acting weird lately, I was acting like I wasn't telling him something I wanted to. I thought WOW He's good! So anyway I finally busted, broke down and had a bawl fest for about ten minutes. Which is number three thing I learned. It is still good to have a good cry every once in a while. I am so grateful for James! Now that real life is setting in and the "Honeymoon" is over I am so blessed to have a husband like James! He is the best, I don't have the right words to express how much I love and appreciate him!

Well anyway, just wanted to post about my new blog! Hope everything is well with all ofmy readers and enjoy the new blog.

Congratulations James!

A couple of weeks ago James graduated from college with a degree in Elementary Education. I think technically it was a bachelors of science with emphasis on Elementary Ed. Not sure but something like that. He wants to become an elementary school teacher. I cannot wait for James to start teaching. The children that will be lucky enough to be in his class will love him. He is just the perfect role model for the kids! I never really thought about what I wanted my "future" husband to have as a career but now that MY husband is going to be an elementary school teacher I couldn't be more happy and excited! Now the trick is for him to just find a job! Here are some pictures for those who like pictures.

Happy Graduate!

Happy Graduate with beautiful wife! :)

Proud Parents of Happy Graduate! They should get an award too!
I just love this picture because I think that James looks a lot like his dad. His dad looks really happy in this picture. So when I accidentally took this picture I thought that it could be James looking back at himself in many years being happy with his life as a teacher!

This is us afterward at Village Inn for breakfast. I just love James' shirt and tie. Santa brought that to him for Christmas and that was the first time he wore it cause it matched his tassel.
Congratulations James! I love you! so much!

Update!

It has been a while since I have blogged. A lot has gone on since then. The last time I blogged was went I got my haircut which I am still not very fond of to put it nicely. I am still slaving away at staples. I do have to admit that most of the time I like my job and am grateful for such a good job that can support my beautiful family of two. Other than work I have lately been working on some baby quilts for a couple of friends that have just recently or are going to very soon have baby's. I have discovered again how much I love quilting. It is relaxing for me and gives me something to do that I want to do. I have always been on to take care of others first and being married that means that I try to take care of James and our home. Its not a bad thing I sure do love James more than anything and I wish to give him the best life ever but sometimes I need something to do for myself. Quilting gives me the opportunity to do something for myself and for someone else! So here's a couple of pictures of the quilts I'm working on. Neither of them are finished but hopefully you see my vision. :)



The boarder on the pink on isn't really sewed it's just a possibility that I am thinking about doing. I would love to put the dark pink on the boarder but I don't have quite enough. Oh well like mom says its a quilt you can make it look like it fits in. Well that's about it for me.

James is still looking for a job. But the best news in the whole world we got last Monday was that James pasted the Praxsis! That is the test that says he can get his teaching license. The morning that James took the test he was the last one in the room. He forgot his ticket in so I had to go 70-80 mph down Geneva to get it to him on time. I even stopped at the wrong place first to look for him but got back in my car and drove a little more (good thing UVU campus is a circle, somewhat) and found him. It truly was a tender mercy on our part not to mention a miracle that I could find him and also not get a speeding ticket! Good thing it was Saturday morning at about 7:30! But after all that and weeks of worrying if he passed or not we found out HE PASSED!!! I have only been apart of James' life for the last year and a little bit but I am so proud of him and the strength I have seen in him to finish! He has had a lot of obstacles on his journey through school. Some I may never know but I am so proud of him! I am so blessed to have a husband like James. I have no words for how much James' has blessed my life. He is the joy of my world and the perfect man for me!

I guess also since I have written there have been some holidays. Valentines Day this year was on Sunday so James and I celebrated Saturday night by going to our traditional Sizzler. Well that's what we did last year for lunch. Not sure if we will do that next year but anyway I was grateful we got to celebrate Saturday night cause Sunday morning we woke up VERY sick! James had strep and I don't know what I had but I felt yucky! Easter was fun too! The night before while the boys were at priesthood (Cause it was conference weekend too), the girls, Kristine, Jame's mom and I colored eggs! It was fun! I haven't done that in a long time! Then we all went out to dinner like always. Easter was great. The Easter Bunny visited our house. And he also left something for us and James' parents house. A cute little bag of candy and two boxes of girl scout cookies. Samoa's and Thin Mints! (My favorite!) Also so a 72 hour kit for both James and myself. Cool!

Well I think that's all I have. I probably should go get James up so we can start getting ready for church! Hope all is well with everyone! I know I don't tell you guys enough but I love you all and so grateful for the strength you guys are to me!

I love All Y'all's :)

Dear Blog,

Here is my new haircut. I really couldn't stand my long hair anymore so this is what happened. I told the girl that I wanted to donate. She said I needed 10 inches and I said okay take what you need. So she did and then KEPT CUTTING. I think she cut another two inches off. Oh well, at least it grows back. Its taken a little while but its grown on me...no pun intended, no actually I think I meant the pun. :) Anyway here are some pictures.

Dear Blog,

Well so much for getting a blog written once a month since being married. I almost did on last month but decided I was too tired. Oh well here I am now....

Maybe that's why I have blogged anything cause there really isn't much going on here. James finished his student teaching and school in December. With straight A's, I might add. I think we are both really glad that that part of our life is over. Now James spends his time looking for a job, studying for the Praxsis* and being a wonderful stay at home husband by doing the little bit of cleaning and laundry. For his birthday and Christmas last year I got him software for improving his typing skills and a software to create music. He loves to write poems and music and so he has also been tinkering with both of those, now that I finally put them on the computer. :)

*For those of you who do not know what the Praxsis is, it is the test James has to pass to get his teaching certificate. In my mind it's kinda like the LSAT except for teachers.

Well as for me nothing much has changed. I'm still working at Staples. I did find out that because I work at staples I get 21% off my Verizon bill and 25% off accessories. Which is totally awesome! I also got a new AIO (All In One) Printer, Copier, Scanner, Fax. This is because I got a totally awesome deal and because I needed a new scanner because when I moved into our (James' and I's) apartment I lost the power cord to the scanner I had. Not exactly sure how that happened but oh well. As a result I finally got something I wanted for a long time and at a super saving too! The AIO was originally 149.99 on sale for 99.99 then since it was on the end of the fiscal year for staples they had out a 15% off entire purchase so that knocked it down to 85.00 and I had a rewards check for $45 which made my end price $40! Heck Yeah. I also got a software called Print Artist (kinda like print-shop but better) that was on clearance for $14.90 that had a $20 rebate on it. We shall see if I'll get the rebate back not sure, but I sent out for it anyway. If I get the rebate for $20 I've made $5.10! But I wouldn't care if they only sent me the price I paid! I've also been having tons of fun with that! I love it. I think even if I don't get the rebate for the software it was totally worth the $14.90 I paid.

We did get our tax refund back and it was AWWEESOME! Thank goodness for that. We can pay off some debt get a few extra things and actually have a good amount in savings! Thank you Uncle Sam.

I really want to get a family blog going. No I'm not pregnant but I've been wanting one since we got married cause this one is supposed to be my opinions or whatever but I think it would be fun for us to have a different one. James actually has one to but he made it for school and hasn't used it in over a year. Oh well. Stay tuned...

Well I should get to eating breakfast. I'm starting to feel a little sick. Thank you my few blog followers. I hope I entertain you in some way! Until next time!